Unexpected Ever After

Chapter 3

A/N I hope you all are enjoying this book so far and if you have any constructive criticism (not just saying what's bad but explaining why) then please tell me.  There should be less spelling and grammar issues since I am having a friend of mine check to see what's wrong.  Mainly because she asked me if she could fix things since it was bothering her so I hope it is better for those of you who also were bothered by my mistakes.  Also I'm sorry I'm not good at choosing pictures and once I get my drawing tablet to work I will draw my own images for the story but until then just bare with my horrible picture choosing. 

Warning!!! This chapter will include:

-Hints at a tramatic past

-Crying 

-Arguing for a short while 

Time ~ Same Day the Last Chapter Started at ~ Tyler's POV~

Location ~ Kingdom of Flowers ~

    It was about one in the afternoon, and I was reading a rather interesting book on the flora and fauna in distant lands. Unfortunately, I was interrupted by my father rushing into the room with some maps in his arms.  He reached me, clearly out of breath. As he gasped for air, it seemed as though he had something to say. However, my book was more interesting, and it looked as though he wouldn't be able to piece any words together for a while.  I decided to ignore him and go back to reading. I didn't even bother to look at his maps because I knew he probably just thought that I might find it informing. He always got excited whenever he thought he found something I would enjoy.  Maybe it was because I just didn't enjoy anything except for reading or talking to Ashley. If I do anything other than that, I feel empty. While I was contemplating my existence my father finally caught his breath.

     "Son!  I have some news that you may not be ok with, but I'm gonna tell you anyways!" my father exclaimed.

     "What is it?" I asked, uninterested in the current conversation.

     "Ok so! Don't be mad... but I kind of used you in a bet.  But! You will possibly get a wife out of this. I know you don't like going outside or socializing but it will be good for you and the family."

     "What!?  I can't believe you would make me a part of a bet!  Let alone one one that involves meeting someone new that I will end up having to spend the rest of my life without getting to know them first!"

     "Look I know that you don't like the idea of having to meet someone new and then immediately having to spend the rest of your life with them... but think about the benefits for the family.  You would not only be allowing us to keep our family jewel passed down for generations, but also we would gain the Kingdom of Swords' prized armor. You may not like what I am making you do, but you have to think about the benefits."

     "I don't care about the benefits if it means that I'll have to be with someone that I don't know and don't love until the day I die!  If that's the case then I would rather just die!"

     "Son.  I know you're upset, but it won't be the same situation I had with your mother.  I promise that if she is anything like that woman then I won't force you to marry her.  I would rather lose that jewel than have you go through the same pain that I did."

     "Dad.  I-I don't wa-want to go through that again.  I-I c-can't stand to feel th-that a-again," I said through tears. 

     "I know. I know son.  Don't worry. Neither of us will ever get close to anyone that reminds us of that awful woman."

     "I-I just don't understand why she would do that t-to you.  When all y-you ever did was l-lo... love her."

     "Son.  There are just some people that are like that.  You don't have to worry. If you ever find someone then I will make sure that they won't ever do that to you.  Do you understand?"  I was only able to nod in response.  He hugged me and then walked out and the moment he closed the door I began to sob.  I tried to stop but that only made it worse so I just let the tears flow. It wasn't until I heard the door creak open that I began to try to hide any evidence that I had been crying.

     Once I realized it was Ashley, I ran to her and broke down again.  She petted my head and waited for me to calm down before she spoke to me.  After a couple of minutes I was able to pull myself together and waited for her question.  She waited a few more seconds and then nodded just to be sure. I nodded back in response and waited for the question.

     "Tyler what's wrong?  I haven't seen you cry or show much emotion in general since... she was around," she said hesitantly

     "I-it's n-nothing," I muttered.

     "It's not nothing!  You never get upset unless it involves that horrible women.  So unless there's another one you better tell me why you're even thinking about her!"  Her yelling had me pushed me to the edge and I began to cry again. After a few seconds she realized that she had been yelling and asked me to please stop crying.

~ Ashley's POV ~

     I hadn't realized what I had done until it was too late.  I tried to calm him down to stop the tears with little to no success.  I then used the most successful tactic, I brushed through his raven wing black hair with my hands until eventually his sobs quieted and he fell into a peaceful slumber.

     I got up very carefully as to not disturb him and started to leave but stopped when I barely heard him say that he would go on the quest for his father.  I smiled at him and then proceeded to leave the library. I then informed his father before falling asleep myself so that tomorrow would come much sooner and I would get to see Tyler go on his first ever quest.

~ In the Morning ~ Tylers POV ~

     I was nervous but I ignored it and proceeded to mount my horse Daisy (whom Ashley named) and waved good bye to my father and friend before heading out on the quest that would determine whether my family would keep its gardens or not.