Crossing Paths

24

Chaol's POV
I sighed, my hand placed by her knee. She looks pale, her cheeks lacking the usual tint that blooms when she is, more often than not, embarrassed.
I smiled slightly, and she slapped my leg.
"And why are you smiling, Captain?" She demanded even in her weakened state, her arms crossed.
"Because you are beautiful." Her eye lashes fell, her now staring at the ground. Her oddly well kept nails picked at the back of her hand. Looking up, her eyes gleamed. Wet with tears.

"Chaol, I-"

"Don't, please." I grasped her hand, our callouses joining.
"I will not force you into anything you aren't ready for. Nor will I pressure you." Once the whisper left, she started to play with one of my hands, her new toy. "I know I am not who you wish to be with."

"Celaena," her eyes flickered to mine, "you have no idea of my desires." Her expression held something I couldn't decipher. She brought her hand up and touched my face, her thumb grazing just below my eyelashes. I took hold of it, of the warmth, placing it between us instead.

"But I will not kiss you." Her wants burned into me, and it took great will to not surrender, to her and only her. I wonder if she could feel my own.
"As much as I want to." I stated, gripping her hand tighter. I felt her tense.
"Alright." She whispered softly, her voice portraying everything.
I couldn't meet her eyes. "Celaena, I crave your touch. Crave you, in every way possible and more." She blushed.
"But we need to be smart. It is impossible for us to get involved right now." She rubbed her eyes, placing her hands in her lap. Her sigh escaped and with it I knew came sadness.
"Hey." She looked at me then, her smile trying to trick me into thinking she is alright.
"I'm fine, don't worry about me." She smiled, again fake. Does she not know how easily I can read her? She cannot lie to me, even if she wishes to.
Her facial expression became serious. "I am okay." Her voice said to not question her further than had been done already. So, I got up, straightened my coat, and bid farewell. "I'll see you later within the day, Sardonthien."
She smiled, barely, and titled her head in goodbye.
As she lay there saying nothing, it made me think of how delicate she is. Despite everything she has been accused of, everything I have seen her do, I still love her.
-/-/-/
Third Person POV
Amber Reeves and Cal Calore's laugh filled the descending, empty hallway. They ran after the other.
Amber giggled when Cal pushed her against a wall, his body very close. A blush escaped her.
"Shhh, we must be quiet, Cal." She smiled, her arm wrapping around him to lessen the still obvious gap.
"And why is that, Miss Amber?" He teased, a dorky smile gracing his mouth.
"Dorian's dear brother could hear." She reminded.
"He's in his lessons." He murmured, his hand going to her cheek. Her eyelashes fluttered shut as he gently grazed just below her eye, a small smile forming. A hand went to his chest, stopping him from causing more giggles to echo down the halls.

"You are quite charming, I can admit that, Cal." He grinned a tad more.
"And I have fallen for you." She breathed.
His arm encircled around her waist once more.
"But I can still mend things with Dorian." She stated gently. His eyes became sad, and his grip lessened.
He sighed, and she placed a hand on his neck affectionately."I still have a chance."
"I don't think you do." He all but blurted. She gaped, and crossed her arms as he moved back and away from her.

"Excuse me?" Amber Reeves was a girl of high ranking, but even she got the slightest annoyed when she was just so blatantly insulted.
Cal shrugged. And she raised a perfectly kept eyebrow, a manicured finger tapping against her arm.
"Cal, I am not in a gaming mood." She bristled.
He rubbed at his handsome face, "It seems Dorian Havilliard is spoken for."
She ignored the pain that shot at her heart, a fire igniting the anger within her. The sheer agony, it hurt.

"By whom?" She murmured, hearing her own voice waver, a weak song bouncing down the hall.
"That is not my information to give." She met his eyes, and ran her hands down her dress. Clearing her throat, "Well, then, I'll see to it that I know that information."
"Amber-"
"Please." She stopped him from going further. And she walked away.

Maven's POV
"Maven! Maven, please open this door!" I shut the book and leaned back in my chair, sighing as I stood. Cal had come not even a day ago, and already he was starting to get on my nerves. But he had to admit, he missed his brother's presence.
I unlocked the door and there stood my brother, his hair a mess and his stare penetrating mine.
I frowned, waiting for him to say something. In the next second he pulled me into my rooms and shut the door behind him, ushering my scullery maid out.
I looked down at my vest, "Now that you've wrinkled my attire, what is the matter?"
"You are bedding His Highness Dorian Havilliard."

It wasn't a question.

Cal's POV
"You are bedding His Highness Dorian Havilliard."
My brother never broke eye contact with me, and his mouth hung open in slight shock, perhaps because I knew. Knew they've been sneaking around
His mouth closed. "You really have gone mental, haven't you?"
"Do not mock my intelligence. It is true." He began walking, his back to me."Do not deny it."
"I am denying nothing, Cal. You've simply lost your head." He murmured.
"I saw you embracing," Maven stilled, "his lips against your own."

Maven's POV
"...his lips against your own." I closed my eyes, my head throbbing.
"You...fell into him, as if you trust him with your life, as if you trust him completely."
I turned, and Cal looked to be hurting. For me, or his reputation, I did not know.
"And where do you think you witnessed this display?" I questioned. Testing him.
"From-" He stopped himself, closing his mouth automatically as if he has remembered something, "just passing down the halls, following a girl."

Impossible. Dorian and I were always careful as to where exactly we displayed affection. If Cal is pursuing her that means that she was passing by his rooms, their rooms. Probably a girl void of title but swathed with money, given it is Cal. Dorian occupies the tower, and I one of the many quest rooms on the upper level of the castle. She would have no business walking among us, let alone sharing a hall.
"Cal." He looked at me.
"We are brothers, and can share much with the other." He waited. "Let that be the last lie you tell me."
He stood, lost for words.
"Maven, I saw you!" He yelled.
I turned, grasping the lapels of his coat, holding the heir of Norta against the wall.
"Do not dare to accuse me of such without a lack of evidence. Do you know what a single sentence can do, coming from someone of your importance? Don't be so careless." I released him, and he looked at me as if I have lost my mind.
"You are being very naive, little brother. To even contemplate that his father will allow this, I cannot even fathom the idiocy." He placed his hands upon his hips and the look he gave was condescending.

Maven was so tired, so incredibly tired of hiding who he loved for "the better of the future". What future, if this is now? Living a lie is so exhausting that there were days Maven forgot himself. He just wanted it to stop. He wanted to be with Dorian happily and freely, without all the prying eyes.

So, Maven replied.

"There is nothing idiotic about loving a man."

A/N- guys I finally finished this chapter! Oh my god, this was so incredibly difficult because this story is coming to a close soon and it's hard to quite wrap up everything! But I did it!! So sorry but thank you for your patience!