A King's Love

14

"Rudo," she heard as she stepped outside.
"I hate the outcome of your anger. If you were defending me, or my honor words could have inflicted as much pain as your fists. Yes it's in men's nature to act like brutes but why be like the rest. How many times must I ask this of you for our friendship to survive?"

"I need to just work on controlling this," he said.

"To be honest there is anger and then there is this," she said pointing at him. "You are not just angry at that man for poisoning me, there is something else and until you let it out you shall forever be a slave to the matter at hand."

He turned his gaze away from her.

"Good day my king," she said softly not waiting for his response.

----

A few days passed  by without them speaking to each other. Focusing on healing she shut the rest of the world out as he submerged himself in his work.

What baffled him assistant was the fact that he was not lashing out on anyone for their mistakes. He looked more stressed about this impasse with the young lady than he did about work.

"Send for Gareth," he stated as soon as he finished his first meeting for the day.
A few minutes later a knock sounded on his door and in walked Gareth.
"You called for me your highness."
"I need you to do something for me. Go see Flora, she has a delivery of mine that needs attention. Take with you several hands and...." He stated

---

Just as she put away the last of her dishes she heard a knock on her door.
Opening the door she found a palace maid holding a flower arrangement. Looking at the girl who wore a shy smile she scoffed knowing who they were from. Shaking her head no she asked the girl to go back with them however the maid did not leave.

Thirty minutes later another girl showed up not even bothering to look at the flowers she shut the door becoming angry with the fact that he couldn't even come to apologize himself but sent other people.
This continued and upon begging the people to return to the palace it all proved futile.

"He did apologize Ru," she thought to herself as she sat in her living room pondering over what to do. The people outside had been standing out there for who knows how long without any food or water.

Looking at her food stocks she realized she needed more fruit. Grabbing a bag she stepped out of the house to find Gareth making his way towards the house also holding his own arrangement.
Shaking her head in defeat she simply greeted him as she made her way out of the compound.

Returning an hour later from the market she stopped in her tracks at the gate to find Gareth still there.
Stepping into the house she shut herself in before a knock sounded later in the evening.
Cracking the door open she saw the glimmer of lanterns as they chased away the darkness.

Holding a bunch of flowers he slowly made his way towards her before stopping beside Gareth. That's when she realized the reason behind the servants before her. Each arrangement was made of two different colors but only one formed a letter. The first one had an "F" followed by an "O" all combined to spell "FORGIVE ME". However Munya didn't have a letter in his arrangement instead his was that of a heart.

She stood speechless as he slowly made his way towards her.
"I have come to realize something these past few days. I don't like it when you are mad at me," he whispered for her ears alone. Please forgive me love," he whispered looking down at the flowers in his hands avoiding her gaze.

"I promise to become someone worthy of you," he said in a low but clear tone as she took a step back shaking her head no. Looking at her he saw the tears running freely down her cheeks as he parted his lips to utter more words.
"I don't want you to change because of me. Change for your benefit not anyone else's," she whispered. I on the other hand only voiced out my concerns about your anger."
"Which I am working on," he said moving closer towards her.
"That's good to hear," she said averting her gaze from him only to see several pairs of eyes looking at them, her in particular. Each person wore a pleading look like she was their savior.
Looking back at him she saw the worry lines etched on his face as he took a deep breath looking hopeless.