The Heirs

Ethan: Our Time

Chapter 17:

(Damira POV) -Albuquerque-

I held onto him as we sat on the bed. This hurt so much but, I knew that the moment I left it was going to be so much worse. I hated the idea of leaving him but, I knew that he would never be the one to tell me to leave. I had to be the one looking out for both of us. Neither of us were talking so I pressed my ear up against his chest and listened as his heart beat. I needed to hear it, to feel it, to memorize it. Ethan moved a strand of hair out of my face and his fingers brushed up against the scar I gave myself. I shuddered. I had done that to anger Eliza but, now... I was fine with living with it but, something about Ethan seeing it, "Hey it's beautiful." He whispered as if he knew what I was thinking. I looked up at him and he gave me a little smile.

I snuggled my head into his chest as he held onto me tighter. "So after I win the World Championships what are we going to do?" I looked up at him, "Ethan." I started but he stopped me, "You are mine for the night and I want us to talk about what could have been had things been different. If we could be together what would our lives be like?" "Ethan..." I started but he looked down at me, "Indulge me." She let out a breath. "Alright, well after you win the World Championships you take a small break however you are still planning on defending your title next year. You train at least twice a day every day but, when we are together, it is only about us. We go wherever we want and do whatever we want." He nodded his head, "And you are a knight. You trained as a squire under one of the greatest knights around and you got assigned to my kingdom and we spend every moment we can together. We get married and we move into a grand cottage outside of the castle." "Wouldn't we live in the palace? With your family?" He shook his head and laughed, "No, I mean we are close by if they ever need us but I want to keep you to myself. Plus, I know that you would never be comfortable in the castle, with all the rules and regulations, I figured after everything you have been through you wouldn't want that. I would say that we live in a manor but, I get the feeling that you wouldn't be comfortable with that either." I rolled my eyes, "I'd love to see what your idea of a cottage is." We both laughed.

He pulled me in closer, "And when the time was right we'd have a kid or two. Maybe a boy and a girl. They'd both be smart and tough just like you." I felt myself tearing up as he talked about kids. My hand moved to the scar on my stomach and I shut my eyes while I choked back the lump in my throat and spoke, "A boy and a girl. And they would be just like you. Kind, loyal and dedicated to whatever they decided to do." He nodded his head on top of mine, "Yeah and although we both are busy sometimes we have a weekly family dinner. All members of the family are required to come and we can all be together." "We could all be together," my voice broke. He looked down at me, "Hey, no crying." I nodded my head, "I know."

He sighed, "Is there anything that I could do that would convince you to stay." I shook my head, "No." He then looked down at his shirt and released me from his grasp before taking a pin off of it, "Then keep this." I looked at it and recognized it as a Clararose pin. I looked up at him, "To keep you safe." I pined it to my cloak, "Ok." He pulled me into another kiss and it quickly was deepened into something more.

(Ethan POV)

All I wanted was more. More time, more moments, more everything with her. The only problem was that she wasn't willing to give me anymore. So I had to take what I could get. The future we talked about sounded so perfect and I just wanted to be able to make it happen. I reached over and gave her my pin. Clara had been protecting me, my entire life. Mira needed someone looking out for her. I wanted it to be me, but that didn't seem possible. Everything in me wanted to fight for her but, unless she was willing to fight for me to I knew that it was ultimately pointless.

When I woke up the next morning. I saw that Damira was still in my arms. I wanted her to stay here with me and I held onto her tighter. In this shack we could be together. In this shack we could be us and I wanted to hold onto it a little while longer. I looked over her and saw all her scars. Her face, her shoulder, on her stomach and on her leg. I knew that she hated them but, they just showed how strong she was. I saw her start to stir. No, no, no I needed more time. I saw her eyes open. Her crisp ice blue eyes were looking at me and a sad smile came across her face. We both knew that this was going to be it. She rolled over and grabbed all her belongings and got herself ready. I did the same. I then looked back over at her and she gave me a reassuring nod. She went into a curtsey, "Goodbye Prince Ethan Asher Albridge the First. I wish you well." I went over to her, "Mira..." But, she stopped me, "I need you to promise me that you are going to let yourself be happy. I need to know that you will let yourself be happy." "I can only make that promise if you do to," I leaned in closer and she let out a breath before nodding her head, "I promise I will try." She kissed me on the cheek, "You should go first. Everyone is probably looking for you."

I nodded my head and left the shack. I made a few strides forward before I realized that I needed to go back. I couldn't let her go. I was about to turn around when I heard someone shout, "We found him." I closed my eyes and groaned. Knights soon surrounded me, checking me over and making sure I was alright before escorting me back to the castle. My family was all waiting for me in the ballroom. "Ethan where were you?" Mom asked very calmly but I could tell from everyone else's stares that they were really mad at me. I looked down at the ground and took a breath, "I was just... saying goodbye." Saying it out loud made it feel more permanent, like it was actually happening. "I-I-I... I needed to say goodbye," I began breaking down and Mom and Dad rushed over and wrapped me in a hug. "It is alright, we understand but you can't disappear" Dad whispered. This was not how things were supposed to end. "She's gone. I'm never going to see her again," I spoke softly taking a pause between each word. They just held onto me. I didn't know what to do. I just didn't know what to do.

As it sunk in, I knew that was a lie. I knew what I had to do. I had to go to her. I had to get her back. I looked around the room and knew that I couldn't tell them she was alive, but I had to get out. I looked at all of them, "I have to go." I went to run out the door but, I felt someone wrap around my waist. I turned back and saw Emma, "Please don't go Ethan. I need you." My entire family was looking over me and I sighed. I kneeled down and looked Emma in the eye, "Emma. You know that I am never going to leave you. You always will have me, but there is something I have to do right now. I will come back." She nodded her head giving me her permission to leave. I looked up at my parents and they nodded as well and I set off. I ran off back to the shack. Maybe I wouldn't miss her or I could see where she went. I opened the door and couldn't believe what I saw...