Two Princesses, One Throne

Chapter 7

Damien wrote a message to his foster siblings letting them know about the situation and the place to meet. He tied his letter to a crow’s leg then it flew away.

“Are we meeting your siblings here?” asked Amara biting a mouthful of rabbit meat. She’s been trying to learn to hunt ever since she decided to travel with Damien and ever since then she changed her principle about not taking lives. She decided to kill but not to take their souls for her own benefit. She’s only taking life force which was given to her.

“No, we’re not meeting them here.” Damien answered sitting beside Amara.

“Next time you have to catch more than these.” Damien commented taking a stick of rabbit meat from the fire. Amara snorted as she replied, “At least I got us one rabbit each. Don’t you think I’m getting better? You have to admit I’m a fast learner. I caught a bird on the first day, one rabbit on the second day and two rabbits today. Maybe I should catch a-----“

Amara was cut off when Damien stuffed her mouth with food. Amara glared at him as she silently swallowed the meat angrily.

“You’re noisy and to remind you it has been a week since I taught you to hunt.” Damien said making Amara roll her eyes at him.

“I already know how to hunt.”

“But you don’t know the nature of what true hunting is.” Damien pointed out.

“How old are you Damien?” asked Amara out of the blue making Damien frown.

“Older than you.” Damien answered which made Amara chuckle. “Believe me, sir, I am much much much older than I look.”

“Really.” Amara sighed in frustration because of Damien’s lack of interest with the conversation but she continued anyway saying, “Really. Believe it or not, I am two hundred eighteen years old. Although, I’ve only been using my powers for eighteen years since my father sealed them away for 200 years.”

“He doesn’t want anyone to know that I am born a sorceress; well, I’m not the only one. My sister Arianna is a sorceress as well and I can tell that she already mastered her magic. If I were to take the kingdom back I need to be stronger.”

“You can’t win a war on your own. It will only lead you to your death.” Damien commented making Amara glance at him.

“I know but I also can’t let people die for me; especially if those people are my father’s beloved people. I can’t just waste someone’s life.” It became quiet for a second until Damien saw a mark or a tattoo on either side of Amara’s shoulders. He wanted to ask about it but Amara got him first.

“So how old are you?” Amara asked again.

“Thirty-two.”

“Pretty old huh? So, what happened to you? How did you end up in the church?” Damien just stared into Amara’s eyes without saying anything but Amara waited until Damien finally answered, “Go to sleep princess. Tomorrow is our final stop.”

Amara turned poker-faced when she heard Damien’s reply. “You know you’re so not fair.”

“I know.” Damien whispered before standing up about to take a step when Amara added, “Damien I was just thinking…….” Damien turned his head and waited for what Amara is about to say.

 “….since we’re traveling together for a while now, I think we should start getting to know each other. I know I’m quite talkative but you don’t need to be shy around me. Since you helped me several times I figured I could-----“

“One more word princess and I won’t hesitate to kiss you.” Amara bit her lip when she heard Damien say. She wants to think that it was just an empty threat but after a week of traveling with Damien, she learned that the man is not the type to joke around.

Sighing, she said instead, “Well then, good nigh-----“

She didn’t get to finish her sentence when she saw Damien closing in fast about to give her a kiss. Good thing she was quick enough to block her lips with her hand thus Damien ended kissing the back of her hand.

“One more word, remember? Nice reflex princess. Next time, you will never see it coming.” Damien smirked before he turned his back on her and lay on the opposite side of their small bonfire.

Amara blinked her eyes when she saw Damien casually sleeping on the opposite side of the bonfire with his back turned on her. Letting out a long sigh, she decided to go to sleep as well. She spread a blanket on a leafy ground and lay. She stared at the star-filled sky and wondered if she was stronger, will Arianna still succeed in taking the kingdom? Will her father still lives? Amara’s fingers found its way to her mother’s amulet stroking it as she whispered, “If only you were here Mom.” Amara closed her eyes and a single tear fell. Turning her body to the side, Amara fell into a deep sleep and that was when Damien opened his eyes turning his body to face Amara’s back.

Amara’s tough when facing others and she tends to talk a lot but Damien figured that that is her way of distracting herself. Ever since Amara decided to travel with him, he can hear her silent tears almost every night. The Amara with him right now is different from the Amara he saw during an arrow shooting match.

~~ (The day before the rebellion) ~~

 “Do we have another challenger?” asked the man hosting the match. Damien stood at the side silently watching the match. He looks bored as he watched the self-proclaimed best archer of them all.

“Hey, you’re quite the shooter, right Amara?” Damien turned his head to the side when he heard the woman beside him.

“Mafalda, I know I told you to take me out of the castle but I don’t want to participate------“

“Are you sure? I heard you’ve been practicing very well with Gordon.” Mafalda teased making Amara narrow her eyes at her attendant shaking her head in disapproval.

“Come on, it will be fun.” Mafalda still insisted.

“This isn’t even a real competition Mafalda. You see that supposed champion right there? Even a castle trainee can beat him.” Amara answered crossing her arms over her chest. Seeing Amara’s face for the first time and hearing the conversation, he then concluded that Amara is the kingdom’s princess.

“Hey!!!” Mafalda shouted getting everyone’s attention. Amara’s eyes grew wide and tried to stop Mafalda but she was too late.

“The lady beside me said she wanted to challenge the champion.” Mafalda smiled from ear to ear and the crowd started whispering.

“What are you doing?” asked Amara in a rather panicked voice.

“It’s okay Amara, it will be fun. Besides this is just a neighboring town, this not the capital, so none of them knows who you are.” Amara glared at her then Mafalda pushed her in front.

“You want to challenge our champion my lady?” asked the host making Amara smile awkwardly.

“Y-yes.”

“Are you sure you can even lift a bow?” asked the host making the crowd laugh and it sparked something inside Amara.

“You better back out little miss.” said a man from the crowd which made Amara smile.

“I bet 1000 silver coins she misses the first mark.” Another person from the crowd says then all the rest followed placing their bets, most of them betting on the champion and on her missing the target. Sighing Amara ignored the crowd and just wanted to get the match over with.

“50 coins the challenger will defeat the champion.” Damien shouted getting most of the crowds’ attention including Mafalda’s.

“Wow. 50 huh? But still, his bet is low.” One of the spectators whispered.

“I meant 50 gold coins.” Damien corrected surprising everyone. Amara noticed a little ruckus on the crowd but she ignored it. They were just probably belittling her.

The first to make the shot was the champion and he was able to hit the second mark. He had that smug look on his face as he glanced at Amara. Amara held the bow tight on her left hand and aimed the arrow firmly on her right arm. A small smile appeared on Damien’s lips as he watched Amara’s form. He knows she will surely hit the first mark and with the way she stretches the bow, the arrow’s going to be buried deep into the target.

~~~~~~

Before, the Amara he saw had a lot of confidence and was stronger. Right now, Amara seemed to have lost faith in herself and her strength. Damien wanted to see that side of her again. He never expected Amara to come with him but if in case she didn’t; he would’ve forced her to come. He doesn’t want to leave her alone knowing that the new Queen is still hunting her. Damien figured that Amara wanted to take the kingdom back and in the name of King Edward who helped him find his new home, he will never let his heiress fight on her own. He will be her shield and her sword.