Fallen Kingdom ✔️

Love Locked

"You... you heard all of it?"

I nodded. "Then I heard what you said after Gwenyth said what she said and before I went to sleep. I've known that whole time and couldn't say anything."

"You know that after Irseval is dead, I was..."

"Was? Are you not still going to?"

"I'm not sure anymore. If you're hiding knowing my secrets from me, what else can't I trust you about?"

"It's not you, I swear. It was me. I wasn't sure what to think. I was scared. You saw what Cordelia showed. I can't loose someone else I love." I spouted, crying harder.

He held me closed, arms locked around me. "I'm so sorry, Vic. I promise that we'll kill Irseval. We'll figure out what to do after that. You could come to Servania again. You could be plain old Vic again. I'll stay with you. We can fix Servania together, me from the inside and you from the outside. We could be lovers."

"Nothing like that. I can't change who I am or what I feel, Bowen. I can't change what is right. The hardest part is there are multiple right things to do here. Only one choice can be made. I'm scared I'll die or you'll die. Then what? The future king of Servania is gone and what will I do? Go back to my original plan of being alone forever? I don't want you to die."

He held my shoulders, forcing me to look him in the eye. "Then I swear I will stay alive for you. As long as you stay alive, I will too."

"Of course."

"Now," he helped me stand, "you haven't slept in a long while and you are very tired. Let's get you to the camp ground and get you to sleep."

"Bow, I'm cold." I told him, shaking.

He smiled brightly. "I won't leave your side tonight, Vic. You're so tired you don't know what you're saying anymore. You'll feel better in the morning."

I fell asleep holding onto Bowen. I was too scared to let go. He just whispered to me that he was there and wouldn't leave until I was sleeping. He was so kind and gentle. I keep thinking it and saying it, but he will be a great king. I will be there for him the whole way through.

"Good morning, Victoria." I heard as I was rubbing my eyes.

"Good morning to you, Bowen. What's that you have in your hands?"

"A warm cup a tea for the brave woman who needs to wake up."

I giggled. "Already hand delivering my morning beverage? How did you know this was my favourite blend?"

"I pay attention to you, Vic. Or at least I try to. I tend to remember the most important things to me, rather then what most people would think to be important. I don't have a memory like yours."

I drank my hot beverage carefully so not to burn myself. "How are the others?"

"Gwen hasn't come back from seeing Cordelia, and the others are eating breakfast. Would you like anything?"

"I'm not very hungry. Have you eaten?"

"I was waiting for you. If you aren't eating, would you mind if I go eat?"

"Not at all. You'll need your strength. Please, go and enjoy the food."

I was left in the tent. Drinking my hot drink, I remembered there was somewhere we would have to go before the battle. The Ruins. A place nobody dares to go. Nobody but the Wyverna royal family. It was sacred grounds to us. Something we'd need. After getting dressed into riding clothes, I walked out. I looked like the stable girl again, but I was happy since I felt like I was me.

"Victoria, welcome back to the world of the living." Striker told me. "You seemed to be sleeping the longest you have this entire trip. I'm glad you slept so well, but you cannot do that. You're one of the fighters."

"Come on, Striker. She needed the sleep. We're in the land of the gods. There's nothing around here to hurt us."

"Mind your own business, Servania. Why don't you talk to your fiancé about sleep while I talk to mine."

Bowen stood up. "Merradath isn't my fiancé! My parents tried to force it on me! She knows that! She saw another girl and got threatened! Vic is a strong woman and she doesn't need you to pretend like you own her!"

"She can fend for herself, pretty boy!" Striker yelled, standing up too.

"Stop! We're on the same side here. Start acting like men and less like boys fighting for the hand of a princess. Striker, why don't you and Merradath speak to one another? She's looking for a husband."

Striker looked over at her. "Really? You're a friend who's been rejected too?"

"For many years."

"And a princess?"

"Yes. Imfrom a small kingdom just outside the known lands. Somewhere north of Servania."

Once they started talking, I sighed. Hopefully they'd hit it off. I did not want to have to deal with Striker trying to become my prince while I had to protect everyone here.

Coopska sat beside me. "You're a good problem solver. I know that Merradath is a mean girl when it comes to me and Bowen. She seems nice to those who aren't in her way though."

"I've noticed." I told him laughing. "Coopska, I have done everything I could to protect Bowen. I've risked my own life for his. I am just as loyal to him and you are. I hope you don't feel threatened by me."

"Threatened? Not at all. If anything you're more beautiful then you were before, and stronger. I think you've grown up well and Bowen is lucky to have someone like you looking out for him."

I smiled slightly. "I believe it's me who should be thanking you. Looking after him all this time and putting up with him and his mind. He has always been out going from what I remember. There was only three times he acted for his parents instead of himself that I know of. Having to follow him around must have been hard. Worrying about him when he ran away must have been even worse."

"I must admit I was scared he would get himself killed, but knowing you were there with him when he went to fight Irseval makes me feel a whole lot better."

"Next time, just let him do what he feels is right. He has a good sense of that. You'll be a royal guard to a king soon enough and you'll have to follow him nearly everywhere."

"Nearly?"

"Well, when he gets married he'll want time alone."

Bowen looked offended. "You mean if I get married?"

"No, I meant what I said. When you get married."

"Bold of you to assume I will be."

"Bold of you to assume you won't."

All three of us started laughing. That is, until I saw Rathelia and Jovsin. They cuddled into each other in the slightly cold air. I remembered the night before, what I had said. I still hasn't admitted to it being him. Though Bowen is such a dunce that he wouldn't realize what I implied.

Standing up to stretch, I also got some apples for the horses and Jagg. Magic was so very useful. They had so much energy because of the magic in the cabins. It was like they were carrying nothing. Jagg also got his apples because he's been there for me in my worst times. He was doing a great job. I needed him to know that.

After breakfast, I let Jagg rest in his magical home while we left. Sitting in the cabin, I fell asleep on the bed. I was so tired. It was strange how tired I was. It must have been from me exhausting myself for weeks on end. I knew Bowen would keep me safe while I rested. He did love me after all.