The Heirs

Andrew and Amara: Nerve Wracking Discussion

Chapter 26:

(Andrew POV) -Tangu-

I received word from Amara that she had some time between her meetings today that we would be able to talk. I felt myself getting nervous. I shouldn't have been, but the idea of this conversation scared me. Amara made her way out of her meeting and he was right on her tail. "Oh, you are here again. Twice in one week, how lovely" he said as he saw me. He looked back down at his clipboard, "Well Princess Amara your next meeting is in about half an hour. I will go make sure everything is ready." "Thank you Malcolm" she said dipping her head slightly. He went into a bow, "Princess Amara." He turned and saw me, "Squire Winslow." He quickly walked out of the room.

I turned to Amara, "So we have half an hour." "Yes, that was the best I could do," She said. "It's perfect. Anywhere we can go where we can be alone?" She nodded her head and guided me away. We were soon up in the tower away from everyone. "So there is actually something I need to talk to you about as well." She started looking out at the view. "Oh, well you go first," I said. Her voice was still with no indication of what this was going to be about and that was making my nerves that were already on edge go haywire.

(Amara POV)

I didn't know how to start. I didn't want it to sound like I was accusing him, but I had to know what was going on. "Amara? What did you want to talk about?" I turned to face him and began playing with my hands, "It is about the other day. When you came to the castle." He nodded his head. "Yeah, that is actually what I wanted to talk to you about too." I looked up at him, "Malcolm was talking to me the other day. He said some things that didn't sound like you. I just wanted to clear everything up because I am sure it was a misunderstanding." Andrew's fists were clenched but his face was still stoic and calm.

He calmly asked, "What did he say about me?" I walked closer to him, "Well he mentioned when you arrived here that you were demanding to see me. When he tried to explain that I couldn't that you were saying that you were more important than what I was doing and when he tried to help you figure out something else you blew it off." 

I was looking for any response from him but he stayed quiet and focused on a point on the ground. He waited until I stopped and spoke quietly, "Do you believe him?" "I believe that is what he thought happened but I am asking you what happened. I believe you and if you tell me that it was a misunderstanding I am sure that I can clear it up."

He let out a long breath, "Amara I came here to talk to you because your assistant..." "Yes?" I said looking for some kind of answer. "Look, when I got here that day I was going to come in to see you. If you were busy I was going to wait until you were available and say hi to your parents or something. Then I ran into Malcolm. When he started talking to him, he didn't even give me a second to explain before he took out his clipboard and started saying that he could pencil me in sometime next week. I asked if we could talk to you and see if we could figure something out but, he kept insisting that you were too busy and was clearly annoyed because I didn't use your title." I nodded my head. That felt like it made sense.

(Andrew POV)

"Amara," I started and she turned to face me "There is something about your assistant that I don't like." She rubbed the back of her neck, "Well I am sure that it is just because of the last..." I stopped her, "Amara. I don't like him. I have this gut feeling that he is not a good person. The way he talks to me and acts it just... there is something that I can't put my finger on it but I don't trust him." She gave me a look, "Andrew, you have spoken with him three times? I am not sure if you really know him." I let out a breath trying to figure out how to explain it to her, "Can you just please be careful. For my sake?" She sighed, "I will keep a closer eye on him but, I think that it might just be a misunderstanding." "Amara after a certain point it stops being misunderstandings," I said. She nodded her head, "Yeah, I guess."

There was a clear tension in the air between the two of us and I hated feeling like that. "Amara are we ok?" I asked. She turned to face me when the door opened and Malcolm walked up, "Princess Amara your meeting is in 5 minutes." "Thank you Malcolm, I will meet you in a moment." She went to stand up and she turned to face me, "Andrew we are." She went to leave but I called out, "I am leaving tonight and will be at the place around 11. If you want to meet me there." She turned to face me and gave me a soft smile, "I will see what I can do."

I watched as she left before I made my way to the front of the castle. I was about to leave when I heard someone calling for me. When I heard the name that was being called I immediately knew who it was, "Squire Winslow." I turned to face Malcolm and hid my frustration, "Yes." He had his clipboard with him, "Well, seeing as you have made a habit of popping in unannounced throwing a wretch into the schedule, I just wanted to know when you are coming again so I can schedule around it seeing as you are oh so important." I let out a breath, "My schedule is not finite. I have no way of knowing when I can visit again. I am sorry for such an inconvenience for you," I said my voice dripping in the same sarcasm that was in his voice. "Well then I guess I could look forward to your company whenever you have the impulse. After all if things go the way that it looks like you are planning you shall be King one day anyway."

I tensed up at the comment, "I'm sorry." "Well I apologize for being blunt but Princess Amara is the heir to the throne and as you are courting her you will one day be King. Which I guess implies that you will not be a knight for long. I don't understand why you are still enrolled in Chivalry Hall, it is an absolute waste of time." I turned to face him doing everything I could to maintain my composure, "I will take you suggestion under advisement." I went to leave and felt anger bubbling under my chest. The worst part of all was that a part of me worried that he was right. Did Amara expect me to just become King? Did she expect me to stop being a Knight? I had to get out of here.

(Amara POV)

I didn't like the tension in the air between Andrew and I but, Mira was right we had to talk. I thought that it went well and when he asked me to see him before he left I felt like we were in an ok place. I got through the rest of my meetings and looked at the clock. It was 10:30 and I could still make it to the Well in enough time to see him off. I got my cloak and wrapped it across my shoulders as I made my way through the castle. I was about to leave when I heard someone call, "Princess Amara." I turned and saw Malcolm, "Oh sorry, is there something else on my schedule?" He shook his head, "No, but I was just going to go over your schedule for tomorrow." I smiled, "Tomorrow is Monday. It tends to be the same. I have classes starting at 8. I come home and then go to a meeting or two." He hissed, "Yes usually, but tomorrow your Dad has that meeting with Albuquerque and he asked that you would come before school." "Oh, I didn't realize that was tomorrow." He nodded his head, "Yes, the King is leaving the castle at 6 tomorrow morning."

"Right of course," I said turning to head out again. "Where are you going?" He asked. "Just going to take a little walk before retiring for the evening." I said. "Are you sure that is wise?" He asked. The more he talked the later it was becoming. I saw a clock on the wall and it was already 11:10. He would be gone by the time I arrived. "You know what I believe that I am going to retire to my chambers." He bowed his head down, "Good night Your Majesty." I headed to my room and went out to the balcony. I wished I could have said Goodbye. I wished we would have had another chance to talk to each other, but I would see him again soon. At least that was what I told myself.