The Lost Princess

Chapter 31 || Goodnight, My Love

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It's over. We did it. I can't believe it's done. Arabella will be Queen. Then, it hits me. Queen Arabella shouldn't be with a soldier, she needs a King by her side. I see her in the arms of her lady's maid, Idean, and can't help the overwhelming sadness that this is the end for us. I must have been staring for too long, for suddenly I'm looking into bright green eyes. She walks over to me. "You did it, soldier!"

"Aye, we did it," I reply, trying to match her excitement, but fail.

"Leathan, what's wrong?" She asked, taking hold of my hand, but before I can come up with something to say, Aiden speaks up.

"Arabella, I believe you have someplace you have to be," he states, pushing her into the waiting arms of Idean, who rushes her out of sight, she only just has time to shoot me a worried glance. "Alright men, these fallen need to be taken out and given a proper burial before we can announce our new Queen. Thomas, send the messenger to the villages saying the Queen is here. Get some hands, we have a mess to clean before the party," Aiden orders, before turning on me. "And you, don't even think, what you are thinking right now. The battle is over and we have won. Arabella loves you. I am an alive. There is nothing for you or me to gloom about, so help me get this Castle looking fit for a Queen."

All of us worked tirelessly, but we did it. Two days later people came from all over the Kingdom to say hello to their new Queen. The wall was taken down, and the people rejoiced. Arabella, herself helped in the distribution of food, and clothing. Tax collectors were told cruelty would not be tolerated, and that taxes were not be collected for a year, so the people could recover, and even then they would pay the bare minimum, for the treasury is full.

People cheered and Arabella blushed. They loved her as much as she loved them. We haven't had any time together, for I was put in charge of the new guard. Aiden had to travel home to be with Llayla, who is pregnant. Aster, Davison, Aiden, Thomas, and I are part of Arabella trusted council. Every day since the battle, Arabella has had people to meet and problems to fix. Carpenters were assigned to villages to repair damaged homes. She was doing everything I knew she would.

Today, however, was different, she sat in the Throne Room, accepting people to come in and talk to her, but I walked in. I bowed to her and knelt down on one knee. "Your majesty, I have a problem. I am desperately and, at times, maddeningly in love with a woman, who is much higher in status, than I. I wish her to be my wife. I wish us to love together and always, but you see. She is the Queen and I am, but a soldier, and there is a rule about royalty." I look down then and miss her running to me until she throws herself at me. Effectively knocking me to the ground.

"I don't give a damn about the rules," she says, before she adds,"I love you, Leathan." We were wed later that same month. William gave her away, and Aiden stood beside me. A pregnant Llayla cried in the audience, as well as, a happy Idean.

Nine months later we welcomed our first child, a little girl, with bright emerald eyes, and dark black hair. We named her Evadean after my mother and Idean. Our second child followed soon after, a boy named Arathan William because I wanted her name somewhere, and she argued if I put her name into the name than I had to put mine. We fought, and laughed. Loved and slammed doors, but through it all, she is always grá mo chroí.

My one regret is I could not hold my promise. I searched, but it seemed Mo Misneach would suffer the same fate as my father. As the years passed the herbs worked less and less. There were times when she would go weeks without being able to walk because the pain in her chest was far too great. I would go nights without sleep holding her, praying to anyone, who would listen, to protect her.

Soon she was never leaving the bed. Her fiery red hair losing it's shine. Her skin growing pale. Her eyes opening for brief moments, before closing days at a time. So, I would sit on my side of the bed, and tell her of the children's adventures. I would tell her of Aiden's parenting advice, which always centered around some joke. I would hope for a giggle to come out of her chapped lips or a smile to play, but none did. She was right I did feel pain, but I fought it has she would want. I held her close in my arms and tried to fall asleep.

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Leathan held me in his arms, my Leathan, but I know my time is up. I smiled at him. How these last years have changed him. "Soldier, don't you go getting sentimental on me," I whisper to him, and feel him looking down at me.

"You're awake," Leathan smiled.

I tried to convey that this was it to him, without having to say it. "God has been good to us," I whisper to him, and he nods solemnly. "You must never forget how lucky we are. Please don't forget."

"Do not worry, Princess. Trust me. I know how lucky we are, but don't believe I will not miss you, and long to be by your side. I shall stay. I promise," he adds, taking my hand in his and giving it a firm squeeze.

"Hell, yes, you will stay. If you follow I'll be livid. You are King of the Erailbaen. You are the father to our children, and our people. You will ensure peace. I know you can do it, for you have shown me you can do anything. And when the time is right, and only then, you will join me," I try to smile.

My breathing is growing harder, as I lay. "All my life, I've known what to say, but now, words fail me."

I laugh at his confession. "I love you, Leathan. I believe I loved you the second I gazed upon those piercing blue eyes, I just didn't know it at the time. You have given me peace, and I love you."

"I love you too, Arabella. I fall in love with you every day. You have my heart and always will, Mo Misneach."

"Goodbye," I smile at him, feeling the pull.

"Goodnight, my love," he replies softly, and I close my eyes. When I wake there is a glowing light beside me. "Hello," I ask.

"Hello, thank you, for loving my son," the light says, and then my eyes adjust and I see her. A beautiful woman, who looks a lot like Leathan, is standing above me. She offers me her hand, and I accept.

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Hey, fellow bookworms! Fun fact: Arabella's P.O.V in this chapter was actually the third chapter I wrote of the book! I really hope you all enjoyed the book! Thank you so so so so much for all of your support and love on this book! It's my first History Fiction/ Fantasy book, and I had so much fun going on this journey with all of you! I will be going back and editing every Tuesday from now until it's perfect in my eyes. I hope you all know how thankful I am to you for allowing me to share my story in such an awesome environment! 

Thanks again!

Love you all!

Stay Awesome!