Two Princesses, One Throne

Chapter 15

Amara and Wilson walked back to the group in silence. Rosella was the first to notice the two as she said, “Where have you been? The meal’s almost ready. Damien is such a jerk for leaving---“

“Rosella, why don’t you call Barbara so we could eat together?” Rosella scowled as she was cut off by Damien.

Amara frowned when she noticed Damien’s mood. “What’s gotten into him?” Amara whispered to herself.

Wilson walked past her, feeling down after Amara’s rejection. Amara admittedly feels bad but she can’t force herself to be with someone who’s not her soulmate. A few years ago, Damien told her about Wilson seeing her in a different way so she already expected him to confess but even if she knew, she was still caught by surprise.

The first time Damien mentioned it, he was so grumpy about it. He would get pissed and if Amara asked further about it, he’d walked out on her; such attitude.

“Princess.” Amara blink her eyes when she heard a voice and she was surprised to see Damien standing in front of her. Amara took a step back clutching her chest.

“Seriously Damien?”

“It’s time to eat princess.” Rolling her eyes Amara answered, “Yeah, yeah.”

Amara walked past him bumping his shoulder but she turn her head back when she heard him chuckle. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.” Amara frowned and noticed Damien in a very good mood.

“Let’s go.” Damien walked over to her and placed his arm over her shoulder. Amara’s frown deepened, finding Damien’s actions weird.

Wilson watched the two and realized that only Damien could do such thing to Amara and only Damien is allowed to do so. He knew right from the beginning that there’s something between the two but he keeps on denying that certain fact. Because he thought Damien was simply taking responsibility over Amara but that seems not the case.

“Do you think Wilson is mad at me?” Amara whispered to Damien as they eat. Damien leaned back to her ear and answered, “Why would he?”

Sighing, Amara told Damien what happened as well as the things she told Wilson.

“I don’t think he’s mad at you but I don’t think he’s okay.” Damien commented.

“Really?” Damien nodded his head as a response. Amara secretly glanced at Wilson and saw his sad-looking face.

“Damien?” Amara called.

“Hmmm?”

“I think I should give him a chance. I mean it won’t hurt if I let him be my suitor, right?” Damien did not response, instead, he ignored her.

“Hey.” Amara nudged him to the side but Damien’s not responding. Amara rolled her eyes and focused on eating instead.

“What are you guys whispering there?” asked Rosella. Amara glanced at Damien but he was too busy munching his food to even care.

“Nothing.” Amara answered.

They all ate in silence and when they’re done, Amara stood from her seat and was about to walk over to Wilson when Damien grabbed her arm causing her to look back at him.

“Yes, Damien?”

“We need to train.” Amara narrowed her eyes at him and said, “I’ve been training for the last ten years Damien. I can literally beat you up with my eyes close.”

Damien smirked, “Really? I’d like to see you try princess.”

Damien pulled Amara spinning her around and twisting her arm behind her. Amara chuckled, “You really need to stop using the same technique to me Dami.”

Amara used her elbow to counter Damien but he caught her elbow way too easily. “You really need to stop using the same technique to ME, princess.”

Damien releases Amara but she didn’t waste her time to attack again, Amara kicked him to the side but Damien flipped backwards. Rosella and the rest blinked their eyes surprised by the sudden match between Damien and Amara.

“People are still eating. Kindly please take it, somewhere far from my food.” Richmond commented before he took a mouthful of food. Amara gritted her teeth and walked away but not before seeing Damien’s victorious smile.

~~~~~

“Today we’re gonna have a contest.” Richmond announced as he stood in the middle of the group.

“Barbara and Wilson, Damien and Amara, lastly, Rosella and I. Whatever team hunts and sells more meat will be the winner. NO CHEATING.”

Damien and Amara glanced at each other and shrugged. They’ve been hunting partners for almost ten years and Amara somewhat got accustomed to how things works in the wild.

“Before the sun sets, everyone should be here. The winners will be given a month off, of all the chores except hunting, of course.” Richmond added after everyone walked on their separate ways.

“We should split up.”

“I think we should split up.”

Damien and Amara almost said in unison. Amara rolled her eyes and walked off but Damien stopped her.

“Are you still mad at me? You know if you want revenge I can always stand here and let you beat me up as long as you want.” Amara march her way back to Damien punching him. Damien stumbled back and smiled, “That’s so unlady like princess.” Damien wiped the blood off his lips with the back of his hand his tone sounded with pride.

“Shut up.”

Amara sighed and looked around as she added, “I really think we should split up.”

“Can you handle it on your own?” asked Damien teasingly. Amara gritted her teeth and replied with much confidence, “I can do it. You would only slow me down if you’re around.” Amara walked off on her own increasing her senses as much as possible. She looked back and noticed that Damien’s no longer standing on their previous spot.

Amara’s been very careful with every step she takes not wanting her presence to be known. Amara heard a snapping sound and with her bow and arrows ready, she followed the sound as quiet as possible.

The sound led Amara to an oversized grizzly bear that can only be found in the Dark Forest. Amara shot the arrow without second thoughts but the bear was able to dodge it. The bear turned to her direction and it went wild. The bear chased after Amara as she ran. Amara shot an arrow again, this time hitting the bear on its leg then a split second later she shot an arrow directed to the other leg.

The bear is still going wild but wasn’t able to stand anymore. Amara approached the bear slowly, trying to calm it down but it was no use. Amara sighed placing her palm on the bear, taking its soul and turning it into her magic.

From a distance, Damien stood on a branch of a tree watching Amara. But then he saw a wild boar coming closer to Amara but before he could aim is arrow, Amara shot the wild boar down and a second later an arrow was directed towards him. He moved his head slightly to the side to dodge the arrow and saw Amara glaring at him.

Amara stuck her tongue out and signaled him to come and carry the meat. Damien jumped off the tree and approached Amara.

“The last arrow wasn’t really necessary princess.” Damien commented the moment he got near her.

Amara narrowed her eyes as she replied, “I always knew someone was watching over me.”

~~~~~

The contest is coming to an end with Damien and Amara’s duo selling their last catch.

“Thank you Mr. Burns.” Amara and Damien left the pub and looking up the sky Amara added, “It’s almost time.”

Amara and Damien walked off the road to avoid anyone from the castle to track them. Amara’s been wondering why Arianna haven’t made her attack for the last ten years. The last time she attacked was ten years ago but then Amara figured that it might be because of her mother’s amulet. Arianna was able to find her when she took off the necklace.

Amara and Damien reached the campsite and Richmond had a smug look on his face as he said, “I think we already have a winner.”

The group gathered around the fire and they all laid their money. Richmond placed their money with a confident smile and it counted to 300 gold coins and 400 silver coins. Wilson placed their money and they gained, 400 gold coins and 500 silver coins which made Richmond’s smile fade. Damien placed their earnings down and it counted to 600 gold coins and 800 silver coins.

“We win.” Amara announced and smiled. Richmond scowled and said in protest, “There has to be something you did.”

“We didn’t do anything.” Amara defended.

“Before we left, all our pockets and bags were empty, not even a single coin.” Amara reasoned.

“I guess you will be doing all the chores for the next month Richmond.” Barbara teased which was answered by a grunt from Richmond.

~~~~~

The sun has finally set and while Richmond and Rosella are preparing dinner, Amara decided to go to the lake to take a long bath.

Amara dipped her body to the beautiful lake and sighed. The lake reflects the full moon making it breathtakingly beautiful. Damien saw Amara walk off and he sighed thinking that Amara lacks caution. Damien followed Amara and there he saw her bathing on the lake. Damien stared at her; Amar’s beauty is very enchanting as the light of the moon shines upon her.

Damien unconsciously walked closer to her and Amara looked back when she heard the water splash from behind her but seeing it was Damien, instead of screaming and kicking him out of the water, for the first time, it seems like Amara was drawn to him. Amara never bath during the night; making this as her fist time.

Amara reached out for Damien’s face when she saw small dirt on it but before her hand could touch Damien’s face, he caught her hand. Upon the touch of her hand to his, a spark of white appeared between their palms.  

Damien frowned in confusion while Amara had her eyes wide knowing exactly what it meant.

“Princess----“

Not wanting to hear anything from Damien, Amara ran away leaving a very confused Damien.