Two Princesses, One Throne

Chapter 16

Amara ran as far as she can go. She clutches her chest as she breathes in and out. Luckily, as she ran, she was able to grab her clothes. Amara changed into her clothes covering her naked body, her heart still beating hard inside her chest.

“What? Why?” Amara asked herself frowning and confused.

“Why him? I mean, he is my hunting partner, and I am closer to him than anybody else but why him?” Amara continued to ask herself.

Squeezing her eyes shut Amara added, “Things will get really strange from now on, and I left him there clueless about-----“

Amara sighed. She let a long sigh before she decided to walk back to the camp but it seems like her feet are heavier than usual. She walked around in circles thinking what she’ll say, in case Damien asks her about it, which she knew he would. Amara made up her mind and decided to just ignore him and avoid being alone with him.

Amara finally walked back to the camp in a rather slow pace and as she reached there, she saw the group sitting around the fire, as well as Damien. Seeing Damien, her heart skip a beat and she tried to take a step back but Rosella saw her.

“Oh, Amara. I was about to call you. Come on, dinner is ready.” Amara smiled awkwardly and she glanced at her usual spot beside Damien. Shaking her head, she decided to sit beside Rosella.

“Wow. You are one of the finest cooks I’ve known Rosella.” Amara commented taking a spoonful of Rosella’s cooking.

“I don’t think Rosella deserves all the credit, Amara. I too played an important role in making tonight’s meal.” Richmond inserted.

“Oh, you mean butchering the fawn in a horrible way? You almost destroyed the best parts of it.” Rosella retorted which was seconded by Barbara. “I couldn’t agree more, as an eye witness, I mean.”

“You guys are evil. Come on, say something Wilson.” Shaking his head Wilson tapped Richmond shoulder and said, “Just accept it Rich. Such talent is not meant for you.”

Everyone’s laughter echoed through the dark forest but Damien was the only who’s been quiet the entire time; although it’s not something new.

“Damien, you should at least abandon your habit and try to defend me from these guys.” Upon the mention of Damien’s name, Amara’s laugh turns into an awkward smile.

Giving Damien a quick look, Amara saw him looking at her making her look away. Damien knew something was wrong right from what had happened a moment ago and now, Amara’s seemed to be avoiding him. Wilson noticed a strange atmosphere between Damien and Amara but he kept it to himself.

Damien stood from his heat and as he moved, Amara’s heart is beating so fast, nervous about what Damien would do. Would he approach her and ask her about what happened? Amara swallowed her own saliva and just by the looks of her Damien knows that now is not the time to ask her about it.

“I’m sleeping.” Damien simply said, before he got into the boys’ tent. Amara smiled and continued to eat her meal with the rest of the group.

“Amara, Rosella, I’m sleeping first.” Amara nodded her head in response to Barbara whilst Rosella replied, “I’ll be right there as well.”

“How about you Amara?” asked Rosella as she turned to her.

“Maybe I’ll sleep a little later. I’m still not tired.” Amara answered. Rosella nodded her in understanding and followed after Barbara inside the girls’ tent. Later on, Richmond followed into the boys’ tent leaving Wilson and Amara alone.

Looking up to the moon Amara thought, ‘I know I’ve been asking you a lot of questions for the last couple of hours but I’m still gonna ask, why now Goddess Selena? Or should I say, why just now? For the last ten years that we’ve been together, why just now?’

“Did something happen between you and Damien?” Amara drifted her eyes away from the moon and to Wilson when she heard his question. Amara blinked her eyes trying to think of something to cover what really happened.

“No, not exactly. Damien and I, we just have different perspectives. There are things that he believed in that I don’t, and things that I believed in that he doesn’t. It’s complicated.” Amara reasoned silently praying that Wilson would believe it.

“It’s hard to reason with Damien.” Wilson said. Amara mentally sighed in relief when Wilson actually believed what she just said.

“I know.” Amara whispered.

“If there is something troubling you, you can always tell me Amara. I will always be here to listen.” Wilson added as he looked at Amara.

Amara smiled awkwardly knowing that after she rejected him, he is still treating her nicely.

“Wilson, I’m ----“

“It’s alright Amara. I’m still thankful that you’ve been honest with me and right now, even if you rejected me, I still want be a friend or a brother that you can count on.” Amara smiled giving Wilson a quick hug.

“Thank you Wilson.”

~~~~~

Amara woke up early to hunt. They have been away from home for quite some time and it’s time for them to come back to the Dark Forest. This time, they are only a few miles away from home and what they needed is food when they got home.

Amara got out from the tent and saw Rosella and Barbara preparing for breakfast before they leave.

“Barbara? Why are you helping Rosella? Where’s Richmond?” asked Amara as she got near them.

“Well, I kind of pity Rosella for having such a lousy partner so I decided to help her.” Barbara answered and seeing Amara holding a bow she added, “You’re going hunting? Shall I call Damien? I asked him to fetch some water.”

The idea of being alone with Damien almost gave Amara a panic attack as she quickly said, “No, no, no, it’s alright. I can manage. Eventually we need to hunt on our own. We can’t just rely on the boys all the time.”

“You don’t need to hunt Amara. We can find meat on the way home and if we can’t, we have more than enough money to buy us some food on the towns that we pass by.” Rosella inserted but Amara knows this. It’s just that she doesn’t want to stay on the same place as Damien without feeling awkward. She knows Damien already noticed it.

“It’s alright, I just feel like I needed a little exercise. I’ll go on ahead Barbara. I’ll be back before breakfast.” Amara started to walk and Barbara yelled, “You have an hour.”

Amara raised her thumbs up and was completely gone right after. Right then, Damien appeared with a bucket of water in both hands.

“Where is she going?” asked Damien staring at the area where Amara disappeared to.

“She said she’s going hunting.” Rosella answered taking the bucket from Damien’s hand.

“I told her to wait for you but she insisted on going on her own.” Barbara added.

“Tsk.” Damien stormed off and followed Amara but before he could do so, Amara came back.

Damien frowned. “What---“

Amara’s eyed grew wide seeing Damien in front of her but then she blinked her eyes and walked past him.

Barbara and Rosella frowned in confusion seeing Amara’s come back. “What happened?” Barbara asked.

“On second thought, I realized Rosella’s right.” Amara answered but the reality is, knowing Damien, she knows she can never hunt alone because Damien will eventually follow her and it would only result to them being left alone and Damien asking questions about last night.

Amara then decided to help Barbara and Rosella in cooking their breakfast which made the preparation faster. They all gathered around and ate their breakfast before they travel back to the Dark Forest.

“Amara.” Rosella called causing Amara to raise both her eyebrows waiting for what Rosella has to say.

“You’re a sorceress right? Have you met your soulmate?” with this question, Amara almost choked. She nervously looked at Damien who is busy eating his food.

“W-W-What?” Amara stuttered.

“Well, I heard stories that when the full moon is at its highest peak a sorceress may or may not find her soulmate. The only thing that would determine that she has found her soulmate is as their skin touch under the light of the moon, a white spark will appear.” Amara blinked her eyes and laughed awkwardly as she replied, “How would I know such a thing? I’ve never really experienced it.”

“Really? You’re over two hundred years old and you still haven’t found your soulmate?!!!” Rosella exclaimed almost not believing it.

Amara forced a smile and glanced at Damien which she regretted the second she did because their eyes met and he’s looking at her rather intently.

“After over two hundred years of waiting, did you not get tired Amara?” Barbara asked. Amara drifted her eyes away from Damien as she answered, “Honestly, I’ve tried having several suitors and marriage proposals but they all don’t work for me. There is always something missing.”

“You mean me?”