The Hero King

Chapter XV

**Ike's POV**

I heard the faint thump of hooves, and I immediately knew who was about to show up. When the thumping got closer, and eventually stopped, I gently removed Amelie from my chest and lay her against the tree. I took extra care not to wake the poor sleeping girl, she'd been through enough for one night.

"How could you?!" Marth hissed, I roughly grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the tree.

"How could I? Really, Marth? Do you know that this girl cried herself to sleep over you?" I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms. The king hesitated before finally speaking.

"You know how I feel about her." His tone came out cold as ice.

"You hurt her." I pointed out, "If you loved her as much as you say you do you would have never upset her in such a way."

Silence.

"Marth, go home. Let her rest, Gods only know she deserves it." I let out a sigh and turned away from the king.

"Are you going to take her from me?" His voice stopped me in my tracks.

"I had no intention of doing that, but now I do think it's best if she comes back with me. She doesn't deserve to live here and see you with Caeda, and be treated like dirt every day."

I felt his fingers wrap tightly into my cape as the king fell to his knees.

Sobs wracked down his frame, as he buried his face into my back. Marth never lost his composure, at least not since I met him. I had seen him stare death in the face without so much as flinching. This was unbearable to watch.

Calmly I pulled him from my cape, and kneeled down in front of him. I put my hand on his shoulder reassuringly and watched as he buried his face into his hands.

"Marth, think about Amelie. She deserves to be happy. I'll ask her in the morning if she wants to come live with me, it'll be her decision. Remember that you're married to another woman, you can't be with her now."

I removed my hand from his shoulder and waited for him to get back up.

"Alright." He choked out, "Yeah, if that's what she really wants to do then she should do so." He slowly pulled himself off his knees.

I nodded and watched his face with concern. It had went from twisted agony, to a stone cold gaze. He was swallowing his emotions.

He climbed on his horse and looked down at me.

"If she does decide to go with you, you better make damn sure she stays happy." I met his icy gaze calmly.

"It would be an honor to make her happy."

With that said, Marth rode off.

Quietly I went back to the tree. I couldn't help but smirk a little at Amelie's sleeping frame. She looked so serene, and her face took on a childish appearance.

Gently I took my cape off and pulled her against me, wrapping my arm around her shoulder. Her head rested on my chest. I pulled the cape over her like a blanket and rested my chin on her head. She was warm and smelled sweet like flowers, I didn't like the way I felt so comfortable with her like this.

Mostly because I had never been comfortable with a woman before.