Runaway Royalty

Chapter 2

 Chapter 2

As we entered camp I checked on everything. The meal for the night, that we had enough food for everyone, that the stable boys had taken care of all the horses, and the sick and wounded were being tended to. I am co-leader of our team, and it's my duty to help take care of them, to take some weight off Princeton’s shoulders. Prince and I had gone our separate ways on our return to camp. I ended up staying with a wounded member of our team to give our healer a break.

-Princeton-

I watched Sin tend to a wounded man, and I stayed hidden in the shadows. I always did this, for I liked to watch her kind gestures take place. I love Sin. I really do. But it just would never work between us. I'm older, and from a rare bloodline. She would never love someone like myself, I’m unworthy of such a gem as she. If she ever found out who I was, and what I have done, she would probably turn and run for the hills.

          I must have made a noise becasue Sin looked over her shoulder at me. I raised two fingers in greeting and she did the same in reply before again focusing on her work.

          She is very smart and caring. She also has good self-esteem and doesn't shy from any work. She's passionate about helping.

"Prince," She said, yanking me from my train of thought, "I need some help here." Her patient's wound had re-opened and was bleeding. The patient, Lion, moaned in pain as she pressed down on it. I walked briskly to her side; I would not fail her when she has asked for me. I knelt by Lion and saw that Sin was pressing a pad of cloth to his chest where his wound was bleeding profusely. I placed my hands on top of hers and added more pressure, “Why is it bleeding?” She shook her head, “I have no idea, it is very strange.” She stared at the cloth as it slowly began to turn red. You could tell she was commanding for it to stop bleeding in her mind.

I looked at Lion, he was gazing up at Sin. She noticed as well and told him, "None of that. I'm working." His face flushed and he closed his eyes. I smiled little at Sin's 'zero tolerance' for certain things. I looked at her silently, watching sweat gather on her brow. Suddenly those grey eyes were trained on mine, "Your pressure went down," She said matter-of-factly, "you must not get distracted, Princeton." I replied softly, "Yes. I am aware. It has slowed." "Oh," She said, frustrated she hadn't noticed it herself.

I took her chin between my thumb and index finger and turned her face back to me. Under her eyes dark circles had formed, and her face seemed unnaturally pale. "Go to bed, youngling. I will take care of Lion for the remainder of the night." "But –" she started, I held up my index finger to silence her, "Others are sleeping as well, Sin. Now go. That's an order." She sighed and glared at me. I stared at her, not shying from her silent challenge until she stood up. She took two steps and then swayed. I stood immediately and caught her as she fainted. "Sin," I scolded quietly, "you work yourself too hard, my sweet." I hesitated a moment before kissing her forehead. I laid her down on a cot next to Lion's and she opened her eyes slowly, "Prince?" She grumbled. "Shhh, go to sleep, Sin." "No," she responded angrily, trying to get up, but I pinned her shoulders to the cot so she could not get up. "Why won’t you sleep?" I asked, lowering my voice. "I have to get away." She mumbled, thrashing languidly. “Away from what?” I didn’t realize Sin had nightmares. “Away from Lamar,” She grumbled, “I have to go now!”

She wrapped a strong, wiry arm around my neck and pulled me onto her cot next to her. "Oof!" I grunted. She began choking me in her half-sleep, "Sin – Stop. Wake up!" I managed to get a few words out to awaken her. Sin’s eye lids fluttered and she looked at my chest and down my body. Her face crinkled in confusion and she looked up at me. She cursed in a foreign language and shoved at me, then put her hand to her forehead and groaned. "You were acting odd... You said some strange things as well, Sin. Are you alright?" I asked. "No," She replied, sounding as if she were in pain. "What happened?" She demanded quietly. "You fainted from lack of sleep, possibly lack of food also. So I got you on this cot and you began talking…" I trailed off. She nodded slowly and began to sit up, "Okay, okay... I'm going to go get-" "Absolutely not," I interrupted, "you're not moving from this spot until you're better, Sin. And I mean it." "But-" She began. "No buts, Sin," I said, "now relax, I will fetch you some tea and bread."

She sighed and laid back down. I went to the tent where Cook made meals. I found some bread and Sin's favorite tea. I took it back to the Healing Tent and found Sin on the brink of a death sleep. "Sin!" I whispered loudly, shaking her awake. "Unh?" She grumbled. I pushed the tea to her lips, "Drink!" I commanded.

-Sin-

"Drink!" A man's voice demanded. I did, for some reason I trusted this beautiful, male voice. I tasted something I liked, and swallowed it. I then felt bread press to my lips. I bit it and chewed, it hurt so bad, my jaw ached fiercely and I groaned. I felt strong arms hold me and a man's lips kissed my temple. "Wha?" I began to come to my senses. I blinked and saw Prince's throat. He was holding me close and tight. I could feel his biceps flexing and he was kissing my temple whispering, "Please be okay.." repeatedly, rocking slightly. "Prince?" I said softly. "Sin!" He hugged me even tighter and nuzzled my neck. "What are you doing?" I asked loudly in shock. "Gods, sorry!" He said, releasing me. I fell to the cot with a thud. I yelped at the sudden pain. "Sorry, Sin!" He said, pulling me back to him again. I whimpered and huddled close to him, "Don't do that again." "I won't let you go, Sin," He promised quietly. I blushed a dark red and hid my face in the crook of his arm, "Please put me down." "No," He replied, "I promised I wouldn't let you go." "You promised not to drop me again..." I whispered into Prince's forearm. "But I refuse to let the possibility of you getting hurt happen again, Sin," He said. I looked up at him, my eyes wide. "You're drunk," I said numbly. "I most certainly am not!" He replied, hurt by my bluntness. I felt heavy and my head began to loll to the side. Prince looked at me closely, concerned, "Are you alright, Sin?" "No," I replied before I blacked out.

-Princeton-

I cradled her in my arms sadly. Her head fell to my chest, resting there. "Sin..." I whispered. "Gods, just get me to a healer..." She groaned. "I won't fail you!" I said strongly into her soft hair. I stood and began running to find our healer - carrying her in my arms.