The Princess's Swordsman

Sunrise

Chapter 14

The Princess ran through the palace calling for her father urgently. Suddenly, she slammed into someone. But it wasn't her father she met contact with... it was Pratus!

"Where is he! What have you done with him?" She demanded, gripping his black collar mercilessly.

"The green haired lad? Why my dear Princess, didn't you know?" he asked with a shocked look on his face, which was obviously fake, "He was charged this morning with kidnapping the Princess, and assaulting her! His sentence will not end well I must say." Poor Robin was taken back, her eyes were wide as saucers.

"What sentence?" she asked, bewildered. His face turned dark...

"Tomorrow at sunrise... he will be beheaded." She took a few steps back, her hand over her mouth. She shook her head slowly, "No..." She turned her back to him, walking without thinking where she was going.

"It's a shame don't you think? He could have lived his life!" Pratus's voice came out like a growl, "Instead he messed around in other people's business." Robin suddenly stopped in her tracks, she turned slowly. She glared at him in disbelief.

"You did this..." She took a step closer, "You put him in danger! You put him in harm's way!" Hot tears ran down her face. Her fists her clenched.

"I was only doing what I had to! He got in my way and so this is the price! Come to think of it..." He took a step close to her as well, "It really isn't my fault... It's yours." Her eyes shook, "You're the one who joined him. You're the one who traveled with him. You're the one who fell in love. You're the one who let him fall for you. You're the one who let him in the Palace. You're the reason he's going to die!" She buried her face in her hands. He was right. She was the reason for all Zoro's suffering. Or so she thought. She fell to the floor, crying bitterly. Smirking madly, Pratus watched as she wept, her sweet tears falling on the Palace floor.

"I'll tell you what," he began, "If you swear to be my wife and never complain ever again... I'll let the boy live." Her head shot up as she stared at him. She sniffed.

"Do you truly mean it?"

"Yes," he replied with a fake smile on him face. She stood up, and looked him in the eye.

"If I marry you, you'll let him live?"

"You have my word as a king!" She swallowed hard, but held her head high.

"Deal." Then she walked off to her room.

"One more thing!" Pratus called after her. She stopped and waited, "When we're married, I don't want to hear you say his name... ever!" Her tears would not cease as she ran to her room. She then flung herself on her bed, and did not come out of her room the rest on the day.

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She spelt the whole day crying. And into the night she wept over her lover. Pratus had her believing Zoro's pain and suffering was her fault. She felt as if her heart was wrenched out of her chest. Her pillow was soaked with her tears. She had so much to cry over. In fact, Maid Mattie would knock on her door, but the Princess would only say, "Go away!" and poor Mattie would leave the girl in her room, without knowing what was wrong.

Her room was getting dark, the sun had set, but Robin would not allow anyone in to light the candles of her room. So she stayed in the dark, her eyes red from the tears shed. She didn't try to sleep. She really couldn't. How could she?

"Zoro... I'm so sorry."

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Her eyes fluttered open. She had fallen asleep, remarkably. She sat up abruptly... It was almost sunrise. She was already fully dressed, so there was no problem there, as if she noticed. Here mind rushed as fast as she moved out her door. Even though Pratus swore to make sure Zoro was safe she couldn't go by that. She had to make sure herself. She had to make sure he was safe.

But, once she made it to the gate that lead to the quart yard, the guards standing watch stopped her, "I'm sorry your majesty, but King Pratus has ordered that you should not enter the quart yard."

"Don't be ridiculous." She tried to pass them but they stopped her. That is when someone grabbed her from behind. She heard Pratus's voice, "Don't worry, I'll take the Princess to her room."

She tried to escape from his grip as he dragged her back to her room, "Let me go!" She demanded.

He then threw her unto the floor of her bedroom. She stared at him fiercely, "What do you think you're doing!? Let me pass!"

"Why? You want to see him? You are a stupid girl for believing I was going to let him live! I don't want him in your mind once we are married! The very thought of him still walking this earth sickens me! He deserves to die!" He then slammed the doors shut. Her eyes shook when a clicking sound could be heard. She rushed to the doors and pulled on the handles. She couldn't get out. She was locked in. Pratus laughed on the other side. Robin panicked... it was sunrise.

A/N: What's gonna happen? She's in a locked room with now way out, so... I have no idea. What do you guys think? Hope you don't like Zoro too much 'cause I don't think he can wheel his way out of this one. *sweats*