What I Have Left To Give

14: Love me?

Achi~

I was in my castle as usual, my father yelling through the doorway. Yelling me if I didn't let him in I would be punished, and like always I couldn't move I just sat there looking at myself in the mirror. Scars covering my face and body. My hair looking as though I just got out of the bath, but in reality I was just done with training.

I touched the open cut on my forehead, a different place every time. Today was this memory.... Then suddenly it got quiet... Usually my father stormed in right now, but instead silence. I began to get nervous, scared. Then I heard a large crash behind me. When I turn I expect to see my father, but when I do it's not him.

Balchazar is standing there, my father dead in the hall.

"Acki, come with me," he holds out his hand I take a step back draping my arms around myself.

"I can't... Bal you'll get hurt..." I look down, my tattered training wear is replaced with a red and black dress, my hair weaved in a crown of golden thorns with jeweled, black roses running through it.

"Do you like it? I had them made for you." I looked up at him unsure what to say. "You tried to hurt me, it didn't work. I promise, Acki, it's ok. Come with me I'll protect you."

I slowly reached out toward his had.

Protect me. Hold me. Save me. Protect me. Hold me. Save me. Protect me. Hold me. Save me.

Over and over whispered in my ear... I took his hand, a bright light shown around us.

Love me.

That was the last thing I heard...

......................................................

I woke up laying on something hard, but warm. What happened last night... Slowly the night before came back to me. I told him.... Why did I tell him?

"Good Morning little archer." I paused looking up, I was sleeping on Balchazar's chest.

"Ugh....no such thing as a Good morning." I laid my head back down to His chest listening to the rise and fall. I was somehow at peace by this.

He laughed, "Come on," he kissed the back of my head, I have something I want to show you."

He kissed my forehead again and got up, "Meet me by the stables in 10 minutes," then he walked out, I didn't even get to say anything.

I say up running my fingers through my hair. Didn't I always know what to do? Why is this so different, and what the hell was that dream?! I could barely remember it other than the words chanted in my mind:

Protect me. Hold me. Save me.

Then for whatever reason I knew it was directed towards Bal...

Love me.

Love me... Why would I all him to Love me? Better question, why would he Love me? I'm not even capable of Love, why went did I ask him to love me in my dream?

"Meet me by the stables," he had told me...

I sighed, "Might as well... How much worse can this get, right?" but I didn't move.

Why?

Why should I go? I don't have anything else to do, I can't go back home now, not with someone who knows me alive. How would I even explain this to my father? Sorry dad, couldn't kill him, decided he was too much of an ass. Ha! That would bee absolute hell!

I looked at the clothes in front of me, should I go? I kept asking myself the same question, over and over again.

What more do I have to lose? I've lost my home, my pride, my dignity, my control, even my secrets all too this man. This man who putters a crown on his head and calls himself a king, who had kept more alive despite of everything I've done to him out of pure interest in me. Who I dream about constantly, who has embedded himself in my mind forever with his strength and skill, and kindness, compassion, forgiveness, power, looks-

Ok that's enough Achi! Just go and get it over with!

Or I could enjoy it, I mean he is treating me like an honored guest... Why not make it home?

Bal

I waited with out horses by my side. I hope she likes this... I waited watching the sun, ten minutes went by... Where is she?

Then 15...

Then 20...

She's not conning you idiot. She has to be...

Then right as I was about to believe the voice in my head, I saw her red hair pop up over the hill.

"Sorry I'm late.." then I saw her, her hair was up and flowing letting two perfect curles frame her face. "You didn't give me much time to get ready."

Beautiful. That's all I thought, she wore the regular pants suit, but this one was amazing on her. Her half corset helped it frame her body perfectly. She was even smiling.

"Its alright, shall we?" she took the reigns and jumped into her horse.

"Lead the way," I did as she asked, something Was didn't about the way sure carried herself. She seemed less like She Would slice my throat at any moment, more like a Human being. Maybe She finally decided to try to like it here. I guess today I'd find out.