With him/her? NEVER!

Damsels in distress

Barak

- Took you long enough...Darling. - Nara said with blood dripping from her mouth. Her golden hair looked now like an injured fox's fur, covered in blood and dirt. Her dress was in pieces clearly showing where the kidnappers attacked her, yet she was smiling at me and mocking me. I've jumped off of my horse and managed to catch her before she fell on the ground.

- Is Amy okay? - she asked in a low voice and I've nodded. Nara smiled and sighed.

- Great. - with that she lost consciousness. I felt her skin getting colder, while her blood got sticky on my hands. I've groaned and threw her gently onto my horse's back, sitting behind her. I secured Nara to the saddle and as fast as my horse could run, we rode to the others. I stopped my horse when I saw the clearing full of Royal knights. Elda was giving some hot drink for Amelia, who already had a blanket over her back and shoulders. She had been shivering nonstop since we found her. I'll never forget the fear in her eyes as the fragile princess held onto the running horse. As soon as she noticed my arrival, Amelia rushed to us. I got off and held Nara in my arms, that's when I noticed something that made me furious. Amelia stood in front of me and she didn't dare to say anything seeing my face. Elda ran to us as well and seeing Nara covered in blood and injuries, she asked in a low voice.

- Did Lady Blackwell lose her life? - I looked into my sister's eyes with fury and shook my head, handing Nara to her.

- She is just asleep. - without saying another word to either of them, I've marched to wash the blood off of my hands. "That crazy tomboy! She fall asleep after getting sliced up?! What kind of monster Nara is? She looks like a knight after a war, yet she was simply asleep." - I kicked a nearby bucket in anger and that's when I heard someone gasp. I turned around and immediately felt humiliated... Amelia was looking at me with sadness and fear. I bowed deeply avoiding to look into her eyes.

- I'm sorry for showing my least favorable side, your Highness. Are you okay? - I lifted my head and this time, her eyes met mine. Those sparkling blue eyes were filled with tears. Suddenly, Amelia bowed to me and with a voice shaking from crying she said.

- I apologize Lord Wolfie, if it wasn't because of me, Lady Blackwell would've never been hurt. - I've held her hands and lifted her gaze.

- Princess Amelia, please don't apologize nor cry. Lady Blackwell should've never let this happen to you in the first place as your personal assistant and guard. - Amelia shook her head violently, and her curly brown hair flew around. Her dress was also covered in dirt, but apart from a few light scratches, she was fine.

- That's not true! Nara never wanted to leave the castle! I insisted it! It is completely my fault that she is between life and death now! - she cried and I didn't know what to do. I wanted to hold her like a man, and console her, but even if I tried to cheer her up as a friend, there were too many eyes around us. The rumors that Lord Wolfie was hugging the Princess while his fiance was fighting for her life, would spread like wildfire. "Nara even ruins this by simply being her." For my greatest luck, a horse approached us and Arty jumped off running to Amelia. He hugged her and tried to calm his sister while the relief that she was fine was written all over his face.

- Everything is alright Amy, please try to calm down. You'll need your energy for the road to the castle. - he said and Amelia sobbed. Elda walked to the pair of royals and she bowed.

- Your Highness! - she greeted Arthur and gave a quick report for him. I saw worry in Arty's eyes and even my stomach twisted a bit, while my sister spoke.

- Luckily, thanks to Lady Blackwell's quick intervention, the Princess managed to escape without any serious injuries. On the other hand, Lady Blackwell got shot by at least three arrows, on her left side two, on the right three of her ribs broke. Her left wrist twisted, but fortunately, it didn't break. She might have some internal injuries and bleeding. She magicians are already checking her state and along with the royal physician and priest they are working on assisting her. In her current state, it is a miracle that she is still alive. The kidnappers kicked and hit her head as well, so she might've suffered a concussion, but we'll know more about it, once she wakes up. I've already warned the Blackwell Duchy about the incident, as soon as she is in a state to be able to be transported, we will escort her home. - Arthur thanked Elda for the report and, my sister asked for a moment alone with me. Both Arty and Amy left and Elda snapped at me.

- Your fiance is fighting for her life right now, and you are trying to console the Princess?! What the f**k did you think Barak?! - I groaned.

- I didn't do anything! Also, how could you snap at mr like this, when you know very well how I feel about all this! - Elda rolled her eyes and I saw her hands clenching into fists.

- Grow the hell up Barak. She might not survive this night! - When Elda said this my anger got blown away. I looked towards the tent where the magicians, priest and physician tried to fight for Nara's life.

- But... You said they are helping her... - Elda buried her face in her right palm and sighed trying to calm herself down.

- I didn't want to scare the Princess, but Nara's condition is highly critical. - she turned her back to me and walked towards the tent, but before Elda got far she turned back and said.

- Maybe your wish about escaping this arranged marriage will come true, sooner than you have expected. - she left and I felt like I was the only remaining living person on Earth. My knees gave up and I sat on the ground. My hands were shaking and what Nara said when I found her was running around in my mind... "What else could I have done for her? I brought her here as fast as possible... Should've tried to stop the bleeding?" I looked at the tent, and saw the silhouettes inside getting more visible as the night got darker. The only figure that haven't moved a single inch, was Nara. I didn't want to marry her... I was in love with Amelia, but suddenly, the thought of never seeing Nara ever again attacked me like a snowstorm, biting my bones with its coldness and leaving me without breath.