The Heirs

Ethan: Plans Change

Chapter 19:

(Damira POV) -Albquerque-

"Alright?" I said looking up at him, "ALRIGHT! Are you kidding me? I just told you that you would have to give up everything, your title, your land, your power and your future family and all you are going to say is 'Alright.'" He smirked at me and shrugged, "Mira, I don't care. I mean I would love to have all of that with you but I don't need a title, land or even a kid to be happy. We can figure that all out. What I don't think I could lose is you." I bit on my lip, "Ethan, you say that all now but what about down the line. When life gets hard and you can't get back what you gave up,  you will end up resenting me for it."

(Ethan POV)

I sighed and leaned back. How could she still not understand, "Mira, what do I need to do to convince you that this is what I want? Honestly, because I have been pretty clear. Unless, do you not want to be with me?" "Ethan I can't give you the life that you deserve," I had to stop her. Life I deserve? Seriously! "Let me be the judge of what I deserve and answer my question do you want to be with me?" She looked me in the eyes and my expression softened, "Say no and I will let it go. I won't disturb you, I won't try to find you, I will leave you alone. But, if you do want to be with me then you need to know that I want to be with you." I held onto her hand and she looked toward the ground for a moment before looking at me, "I want to..." Her voice was soft and quiet but, I knew that I heard her right and a smile spread across my face.

(Damira POV)

"Great, so first things first you are staying here and continuing your studies under the knight and then we are going to have to..." he started but, this time I had to stop him, "Ethan giving up all potential power includes being a knight. I can never be a knight." He was stunned, "What but isn't that your dream?" I sighed, "I want to be able to keep people safe. Gabriel did that for me and I want to pay it forward and being a guard is the closest I am going to get. So I will be taking the guard position in Corinthia for right now." "Corinthia?" He asked and I nodded my head, "We wouldn't be the first courtship to have to work across two different kingdoms." "Why can't you get a guard position here?" I sighed, "It still isn't safe for me here. Even if your family is going to let me live, people will keep hunting me down and none of the other guards here will trust me." "Corinthia," he said again. I nodded my head, "For now at least." "Well I guess I could..." but I shook my head, "You are staying here. Your family needs you more than I do right now." He groaned, "You're right I just promised Emma I wasn't leaving." I laughed at that, "See even your sisters know that you are still needed here. Besides where else are you going to have a world class skating rink on standby."

He nodded his head but I saw a thought go across his face, "So all you want to do is protect people?" I nodded my head and I could tell he was planning something but, he wasn't going to tell me now. He stood up and held out his hands for me, "I think it is time you talked with my sisters, they have been asking for you?" I took his hand, "Alright, I know that is not what is on your mind right now, but I kind of want to check in on them. Being in the mountain prison can be..." I stopped, "I want to talk with them." He walked me over to their room and he knocked on the door. Emma opened the door and Ethan spoke, "Emma, do you remember when you were asking me about the lady that saved you?" She nodded her head and then he nudged me forward, "I want you to meet Damira." I went into a loop-sided curtsey, "Princess Emma." I saw a smile spread across her face. She looked up at Ethan, "Ok, you can go. Damira can you come in?" I held back a laugh as Ethan scoffed. I looked her in the eye, "You can call me Mira." Ethan then looked down at me, "You told me I had to earn that right." I looked up at him, "She earned it." He mumbled something before walking away.

(Ethan POV)

I went to talk to my parents and after I talked to my parents I went to go talk to Alden. I found him in the library reading in the corner taking a break from everything. Whenever he felt overwhelmed or stressed this was the place to find him. This was why I had to ask him again. I sat down next to him. He closed the book and looked over at me, "Hey Ethan. Is something wrong?" I smiled at him, "No." He nodded his head, "What happened in the the throne room earlier though?" "The girl that those men brought in was Damira. Mom and Dad both talked with her and she is going to sign away her rights to any type of power ever." He let out a breath, "Well that is a lot." I nodded my head. "I wanted to talk to you about something else though." He gave me his full attention, "We have talked about this before and you know that I have no interest in becoming king" He nodded, "and that my plan was always to abdicate." He nodded his head. "I wanted to make sure that you still wanted to be king. I know that you are next in line but, if you really don't want to, I won't abdicate and will figure something else out." He sighed, "Ethan I want to be King. I like the idea of being able to help everyone and I like the idea of making decisions that will have a real impact on everyone. I won't take it away from you but, if you want to abdicate. I want to be King." I smiled and slung my arm on his shoulder, "You know that if I abdicate you will still never be the boss of me right?" He laughed, "We'll see Momma's Boy." "Book worm," I mumbled and we both started laughing. I knew that Alden would be alright. He was made to be king and I was made for something else and now that everything was in place I needed to find Damira.