His Protection

Arianna woke up the next morning. The reason, her stomach. She didn’t have dinner last night and now she was hungry. She tried to get off the bed but felt a sharp pain around her legs. She groaned. Why? She was still hungry. Her stomach stopped complaining, when she opened her eyes to look at her room. It had changed.

There was a beautiful chandelier hanging from the ceiling, it sparkled evidently even in daylight. She also noticed that her dream destroyer machine was gone and the bed was a hundred times bigger than before. Not to talk about way more comfortable than before and the room painted golden.

Arianna thought she was in heaven. Maybe the lord decided to bring her home.

And maybe get rid of that stupid alarm.

She rubbed her forehead and noticed a bandage wrapped round it and immediately she remembered her encounter with the man. Her first thoughts went to the prince and his wellbeing. She gasped. She tried to get off the bed, but her legs were refusing to stand. She just had to do it the hard way then, she rolled and fell to the floor, her face kissing it.

The floor was harder than she expected it to be. She groaned in pain, just until Rob walked in with a tray in his hands. He rushed to drop the tray and lifted Arianna unto the bed.

“what are you doing?!!?!!” he asked scared. Arianna opened her eyes widely to see Rob. She grabbed his head and started examining it. She turned it both sides and upward.

And when she was done with his head, she took his arms and started examining them for any cuts or wounds.

“Arianna, I’m fine.” he grabbed her hands and placed them down gently. He sat on the bed beside her, “you’re the one who got hurt, not me.” she looked at her hands bandaged, she hadn’t even noticed.

“but-” she was cut short by a fake angry glare by Rob which she believed was real.

“no buts. You could have died out there!” he scolded her. He was really angry at her. Arianna’s head drooped. She didn’t want to make him upset, she just wanted to protect him.

“where did you learn to do that?”

“learn to do what?”

“fight like that.” she looked at Rob, his eyes glittering with curiosity. Arianna flashed back to the incident when she fought the man. His question instantly reminded her of her dad.

The times they’ve spent together. She choked back her tears. She didn’t want him to notice, she brought her eyes to look at her legs. He was the best. They went hunting, mountain climbing, took long walks around the town and even showed her some of his famous sword tricks. She smiled,

“my dad” she looked at him, her voice mixed with sorrow, anger and happiness. Rob regretted asking that question, so he quickly changed the subject.

“I brought you breakfast!” he shoved the plate towards her with his trademark smile. She looked at the plate, her favorite meal of scrambled eggs and toast with pineapple juice stood waiting for her to devour them, although she was hesitant. She looked at him, meeting his trademark smile. She took a bite. It was good. It was very good. Soon her mouth was filled with eggs and toast,

“man!! This is awesome!! Ruby really added her touch to it.” she scarfed down the food. Rob chuckled,

“Ruby didn’t make it. I did.” Arianna’s eyes opened,

“you made this…….” He nodded, smiling even wider. She looked at the plate and then at him,

“you?!!!!”

“yes, me. Just because I’m a guy doesn’t mean I can’t cook Arianna.” he chuckled. She giggled at his response.

“my prince-” Rob gave a stern look,

“I mean Rob, you were almost attacked, are you sure you’re alright?” she looked at him,

“remember, you got hurt. Not me.” he stood up and went to a drawer, he brought out an ointment. It looked rather expensive. He returned to his place, beside Arianna. He wanted to apply it until she stopped him

“no, this isn’t right. You can’t do this, you’re a prince and I’m just a maid.”

“Arianna, please. It’s the least I can do for you after you saved my life.” his eyes drooped.

“but it’s not right Rob.” she pressed on,

“so it ain’t right to do good to someone?” the question stunned her “if that’s what you think then why did you save me??” she couldn’t answer.

“if your mother or my mom comes and sees you like this, what would I say? You saved me from sudden death and I didn’t take care of you? How would your mom feel if she saw you like this?!” he pressed on, “Arianna. You are the only thing she’s got. Don’t take that away from her. She loves you, we love you, I love you.” laying emphasis on himself.

She looked up at him, her face stained with tears.

“don’t you think it’ll hurt us if you got hurt?” he stared deeply into her soul.

“I’m sorry” was all she could muster.

“it’s okay Arianna.” he placed his hand on hers. “I understand.” he wiped her tears,

“oh Rob, how I wish I could tell you everything. But not like that. You’ll be hurt and I don’t want to hurt you.” she thought.

“Rob, it’s really nice of you to take care of me but I need to get back to work.”

“but Arianna-”

“no buts. Remember I work to get paid and if I don’t work, how do you expect me to feed?”

He sighed as he thought “this girl is smarter than I thought.” he gave a smirk, “okay, suit yourself. But if I hear one groan, you’re coming back to this bed.” she smiled,

“trust me. You won’t hear a thing.” She tried standing up but her legs won’t budge.

“need help?” Rob asked, a grin plastered on his face

“no, no, I can handle myself.” she tried again. One leg off the bed and the second, she put all her strength to standing. Using furniture and the wall as support, she made it to the other side of the room and took the crutches. Then she exited the door.

Rob sighed, “she’s very stubborn too.” Then the door opened again. He looked back and saw it was her,

“back so soon?” he smirked.

“I forgot something.” she went to the bed and drank the pineapple juice in one go. His eyes popped out at the burp that followed. She laughed and said “excuse me.” and exited the room once more. Rob smiled and finally realized that he was in love. With Arianna.

Arianna walked mid way across the corridor and entered into her room. Hers wasn’t far from his. Just a few rooms away. She closed the door behind her. She looked at her boring room. She honestly just wanted to go back his room and stay there forever.

“the letter!” she went to her table. She didn’t see it, “where’s my letter?!!!” she dropped her crutches and scattered her desk. It wasn’t there. She searched everywhere and in the end it was nowhere. She sank to the floor crying. She couldn’t write another one because her hands were not in good condition.

“maybe Ruby knows where it is” as she was about to leave, Eleanor stopped her. She backed down,

“hello sweet Arianna, you looking for this?” Eleanor dangled the letter in front of her. She tried snatching it, but failed.

“oh Arianna, you’re so stupid. You think you could just give me up like that. No sweetie you can’t.” Eleanor smirked.

“but why? Why did you do this to him??!! What has he ever done to you?!!!” her anger growing by each second,

“you’re so foolish!” she shouted “I want his kingdom and money!! I want to rule this place!!!. How would such a simple girl like you understand that?”

“Eleanor you are pathetic! You claim to love a man and you’re sleeping with-” she was cut off by a slap from her,

“the only person who’s pathetic is you Arianna! You are a worthless bitch!!!!!!” with that she tore the evidence into pieces. Arianna fell to the floor trying to put them together. A mixture of anger and sadness swelled within her,

“no, no, this can’t be happening!” she felt her reality shatter. Why is it always the one she loves? Why?

“you better believe It Arianna. You can’t win!” she turned to leave, “and I make a promise to you. Before the end of today, you’re going to leave this castle.” she left. Tears fell from her eyes to the floor. She looked at the pieces of paper. More tears just fell.