For the Love of Amity

Ten

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Ten
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"Seth," Obadiah raised an eyebrow. "Amity is out in town with her brothers. She won't be back for a while." The old man informed the young man.

Seth clears his throat. "Actually Mr. Turner, I've come to speak with you." Obadiah crossed his big, burly, arms over his even bigger and burlier chest. Seth gulped and took a deep breath. "I'd like to ask for your permission to marry your daughter."

"Marry my daughter." Obadiah repeated monotonously. Seth nodded his head. Obadiah shut his door and walked outside. Seth followed alongside him, hoping for an answer. "Why? What can you give her? You're just a blacksmith, you do not make enough to keep her stable. I do not want to see my daughter struggling or die of stress or too much work. Why should I let you marry her? What good could that do for her?"

Seth saw his point. He knew he would have to bring up his identity sooner or later, and to marry Amity, he would. But he was hoping he could tell her first. Seth ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Sir, I'm afraid I haven't been completely honest with you."

Obadiah stopped and looked at the young man. There was always something off about Seth that the man could never put his finger on. He was always so eager to work, even in the most mediocre job. He walked everywhere, which wasn't uncommon, but the boy enjoyed it like he had never walked anywhere before. Not to mention how unnaturally pale and weak he was at the beginning months he was living here, since then he'd tanned out some, and gained some weight and muscle, but it doesn't change the fact he was just too different from everyone in Pyven.

Obadiah looked down at the boy. "So tell me then what you haven't been honest about."

Seth bit his lower lip. This could go one of two ways, Obadiah would be pissed and turn down his proposal to Amity, or he would be indifferent and tell him as long as his daughter was stable, Seth could marry her.

He hoped for the latter.

"Well, sir, um," Seth cleared his throat nervously. "my, my surname is Hastings."

Obadiah's eyebrows rose in astonishment. Hastings was the royal family's name. He began shaking his head. "No. No, leave."

"Please sir, hear me out." Seth pleaded when the old walked away from him.

"No, I do not want you near my daughter. I deny your marriage and if I see you around her anymore, I'll kill you." Obadiah sent him a deathly glare and Seth feared for his life. But he feared more what life would be without Amity.

"I've already asked her!" He shouted, stopping the man dead in his tracks. "Please, I've already asked her to marry me and she said yes. Mr. Turner, I love your daughter, and she loves me. You wouldn't have to worry about her dying from stress or working too hard. I'd do anything to keep that from happening. I would give her anything she desired, anything at all. The same goes for her family, I would do anything to make any of you happy because I know it would make her happy, please allow me to marry your daughter." Seth begged, Obadiah turned to him scowling.

"Why?! So you can take her away from me?! She's mine! She's not yours to have! No means no." The old man yelled, Seth was stunned. This wasn't what he was expecting, he was expecting the man to be concerned, but not scared to lose his daughter.

"You can see her whenever you want, I'll make sure of it. But, I love her." Seth could cry at this point, he just wanted the old man to say yes. He wanted to marry Amity.

"Seth? Father?" Her voice sent chills through him. Both men turned at the sound of he voice, Seth smiled seeing his beautiful to-be fiancee. Obadiah scowled and looked between the two as they gazed at each other.

He knew love when he saw it. But how could he give away his baby girl? He couldn't, but he knew he had to. It was time.

"Alright Seth. You have my permission." Obadiah whispered suddenly very tired. He ignored the young, happy couple and walked back to his little house.

"Thank you so much sir!" Seth grinned and ran over to Amity, lifting her up into his arms. She squealed and held onto Seth laughing. "He said yes!" Seth cheered, then kissed Amity hard on the mouth. She gasped, pulling away from him embarrassed.

"Seth, not here." She whispered. Seth just grinned at her and hugged her close.

"Amity, your father said yes." He leaned his head on hers and she smiled widely.

"He said yes?!" She cheered and kissed Seth like he had kissed her. He laughed and held her in his arms, she sighed contently. "Seth, I love you."

"Not as much as I love you." He said, he held her face in his hands, making her look into his eyes. "Amity, I'm going to tell you something very important and I need you to understand that the only reason I didn't tell you earlier is because I was afraid you would look at me differently if you knew. But please, don't be angry that I didn't tell you to begin with."

"Never." She promised, holding onto his wrists.

"Amity, my surname, I never told you what it was, it's Hastings." He said softly. Her eyes widened and she took a step back.

"What?" She gasped, covering her mouth. "But, but, you're a prince! Why are you here? Why aren't you in Roswen?"

Seth sighed and told her about his home life. How much he despised his life, his father, and the thought of ruling a kingdom. He told her how he much rather work in the blacksmith's shop, work honest work.

"Oh Seth," She cupped his cheeks. "you have to go back."

"No, I can't." He shook his head. "Not without you."

She smiled sadly. "Seth, I'm not, it's not possible."

"Nothing has to change Amity, please, I love you so much. I won't go back without you." He held her hands, she shook her head.

"Seth, I can't leave my family." She said, stepping back. She knew this was what was best, Seth had to go back, he had to go back and rule the kingdom. And she knew it wouldn't work between the two of them, not now. Maybe yesterday, but not now.

"Amity-"

"I'm sorry Seth, but I won't marry you. I'm sorry." Tears filled her eyes as she spoke. She didn't want it to be true, she wanted to go back to yesterday when they were joking around and kissing, when they were just happy. This wasn't fair, it couldn't work now. Not that she knew he was the prince.

"No Amity, please." Tears filled Seth's eyes and she had to pretend not to see them. "Please Amity, I'll talk to my father. I'll go back, but please come back with me. Be my wife, you'll still see your family all the time, just please don't leave me." Seth dropped to his knees in front of her and she looked away. She was going to give in, they both knew it.

"Seth, just go back." She whispered.

"My father is coming to Pyven in a few weeks, please, wait until then. We'll talk to him. If there is no way I can marry you, then I'll leave and go back to Roswen, but don't walk on me now. Not when we might have a chance." He pleaded, Amity broke. She nodded her head and took Seth's hands, falling to her knees in front of her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, crying into him softly.

"Oh Seth, I love you." She cried.

He held her tight. "And I love you."