Chapter 30
2344 Words
“I am so excited to see what tomorrow brings,” said Roman in a happy tone, as they reached his door, and Ashta smiled brightly at him.
“Me too!” she said, cheerfully, as she smiled at him.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and Chantelle looked up at them with a startled expression.
“There you are!” she exclaimed, as she looked at both of them.
“Mom. Yeah, we are fine,” said Roman, as he chuckled.
Immediately, she gave him a stern look, and his smile quickly faded.
“You are not fine. Not if that girl doesn’t get home and get ready for the last night of the ceremony. They have been looking for her,” she said, as she looked at Ashta with a firm look.
Ashta looked at her in question and then she straightened.
“That’s tonight?”
Chantelle nodded, and Ashta quickly looked at Roman.
“I have to go, but I will see you tonight, right?” she asked, eagerly.
Roman tilted his head, and then he grinned at her.
“Perhaps. We had plans to go on a date tonight, remember?” he asked in a smooth tone, and Ashta grinned shyly at him.
“Yes, that is right,” she said, as she gave his hand a squeeze, and then she ran off toward the castle.
Unexpectedly, Roman snatched her arm quickly, and she turned to him with a puzzled look on her face. Without a word, Roman took Ashta’s face in his hands, and he kissed her. He then let go of her arm, and she smiled at him. He nodded and she ran off toward the castle. At that moment, Roman turned to his mother, and she looked at him oddly. He smiled at her as he sighed a happy sigh.
“What? She is the princess, and she has chosen me,” he said, as he chuckled happily.
Chantelle smiled at her son, and she was glad to see him finally happy. She turned and they walked into the house together.
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As Ashta made her way through the village, the villagers stared at her in awe. Uncomfortably, she waved, and then she quickened her pace. She wondered why they were all staring at her like they were. Relieved, she had made it to the castle, walked inside and then went into the throne room. Gale and Liam turned to her and smiled.
“Hi, I just came to let you know that I was back, and that I was safe,” she said, frankly.
“Good. Because we have a ceremony to attend,” said Gale, as he smiled at her proudly.
Liam looked Ashta over oddly, and then his eyes widened.
“Say, what is that on your back?” he asked, as he pointed to Yinlin’s sword.
Ashta glanced behind her and saw the butt of the sword, and then she looked back at Liam.
“That is my grandfather’s sword,” she stated, as she pulled it from her back.
Gale and Liam stared with wide eyes and in awe.
“It has been years since I have seen that sword,” stated Gale, as his eyes filled up with tears.
Even Liam seemed to have misted eyes. Carefully, Ashta replaced the sword on her back. She hoped that they didn’t plan to take it from her. Yinlin had left it to her, and she would protect it with her life.
“Did you know that there was one other made with that sword? The legend states that if these two swords are brought together, a great magic can be wielded,” stated Liam, and Ashta looked at her uncle curiously.
“Where is the other sword?” she asked.
Gale looked at her and shook his head sadly.
“The queen has it locked away, somewhere in the depths of Taitum,” he explained, and Ashta thought for a moment.
“If we can get that other sword, maybe we could end the division between the two kingdoms,” she suggested, and Gale and Liam looked at her.
“That is a great idea, but how would you possibly get the sword?” asked Liam, as he studied her, and Ashta looked at him thoughtfully.
“I have a friend,” she said with a grin.
“Who?” asked Gale eagerly.
He really wanted to know the name of the man that had captured his niece’s heart. Ashta smirked at him and then she looked away.
“A friend, and that is all I am willing to share right now,” she said, softly, as she looked back at her uncles.
“Now if you would excuse me, I have a celebration to get ready for,” she said politely, and then turned and walked out of the throne room. She decided she would talk to Roman about the sword tomorrow when they had snuck away from everyone.
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“Listen, Ashta. It is getting harder and harder to lie to everyone about where you have been going,” stated Lashanna, as she came out of the bathroom with her cream-colored dress on, and Ashta looked at her thoughtfully.
“After tomorrow, Roman and I are going to make the announcement about what we are together.”
Lashanna looked at her with concern.
“Are you sure that is the right thing to do? I mean, once Roman really outs himself, won’t your uncle lock him away?” Lashanna asked, and Ashta shook her head.
“No, I don’t think so. Once, my uncles realize that he is the other piece to the puzzle. Him and I are the key to stopping all of this,” explained Ashta, as she grabbed a strawberry from a tray that was sitting on the table.
Evidently, Lashanna and Ashta had gotten ready, and they were waiting for everyone else to get ready to go to the village. Ashta was wearing a dark purple gown with black sleeves and her hair was done up in an updo. Lashanna’s hair was also done in an updo, and she had on silver jewelry.
“Okay, if that is what you want to do,” she said, thoughtfully.
“It’s the right thing to do,” stated Ashta firmly, and Lashanna only nodded.
“So, do you have feelings now for this prince?” she asked, as she tilted her head, and Ashta couldn’t help but smile.
“Maybe,” Ashta said, shyly, as she grinned.
Lashanna gave her a knowing look and smirked at her.
“I knew it. So, have you guys kissed yet?” she asked, prying.
Ashta huffed and laughed, and then she nodded. Suddenly, Lashanna squealed as she threw her arms around her friend happily.
“Okay, let’s get to this ceremony so you can see your prince,” she said excitedly, and Ashta giggled as she nodded in agreement.
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“So, you and that girl have gotten close, I see,” stated Chantelle, as she grabbed a glass out of the cupboard.
“Yeah,” said Roman with a shy smile, and Chantelle smiled at her son.
“So, have you two made the bond?” she teased him, and he scoffed at her, as he rolled his eyes.
“Mom!” he exclaimed, as he shook his head in disbelief, and Chantelle giggled.
“I am just teasing. Really, I do not want to hear about what you do in your relationship,” she stated, and Roman laughed.
“Well, your answer is no, mother,” he said and laughed.
“Are you going to the ceremony?” she asked, thoughtfully.
He glanced at her and nodded.
“Good, I am happy to hear that you are adjusting well,” she said, as she took a seat at the table.
Roman grabbed his clean clothes from the hamper and looked at his mother thoughtfully.
“I really didn’t have a choice,” he stated matter-of-factly, and Chantelle eyed him as she took a sip of tea from her glass.
“Sure, you did. You always have a choice.”
Happily, he grinned at his mother and then he walked into his room to go get ready for the ceremony. He was so happy to have Ashta in his life. Seemingly, she made him feel something no one had ever made him feel in his entire life. He felt free and happy. Happily, he hopped in the shower.
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“Ashta, my dear niece, you look beautiful,” said Gale, as she and Lashanna walked into the throne room.
“Thank you,” she said politely, as she bowed her head.
“As soon as the guards arrive, we shall make our way to the celebration,” said Liam with a smile.
“Okay, but do we really need guards?” asked Ashta, and Liam looked at her oddly.
“I thought you and your human friend fancied the king’s guards?” he asked in question, and Lashanna and Ashta giggled.
“Lashanna fancies Xavier, and Damian and I are friends,” Ashta explained, and Lashanna nodded in agreement.
“Oh, you two sure are confusing,” stated Gale, as he shook his head.
“What did you expect? We are girls,” Lashanna giggled, and Liam looked at her seriously.
“Women here in the village do not make things difficult as much as you two do, '' stated Liam, as he crossed his arms, and Ashta looked at her uncle, thoughtfully.
“I guess you learn something new every day,” said Ashta matter-of-factly.
Gale and Liam just looked at her, as she giggled. A few moments later, Damian and Xavier walked into the room and they were both dressed in black tuxedos. Liam smiled happily and then he clapped his hands together.
“Alright, shall we?” he asked, and Gale nodded.
Xavier held out his arm to Lashanna and she politely placed her hand in the crook of his elbow. Damian did the same to Ashta, and reluctantly she put her hand in his arm. She really didn’t need Roman thinking that something was going on between them.
For some reason, Roman acted very jealous when Damian was around, and Damian acted the same. However, she didn’t want to make a scene in front of her uncles, so she just smiled and nodded. They all walked out of the castle and headed into the village, toward the ceremony.
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Happily, Roman left his house with his mother and they headed toward the festival. Roman wanted to tell Ashta how he truly felt about her, and that she had changed his life. Instead of being angry at the world, because of her, he saw the world differently.
Back then, all that he wanted to do was fight the next challenger, and make his dad and the queen happy. Now, he just wanted to see the world through Ashta’s eyes. She was so full of life and kindness, and that was one of the things about her that was making him fall in love with her.
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Suddenly, Lashanna’s eyes lit up as she heard the line dance song that started to play. Immediately, she grabbed Ashta’s hand and pulled her amongst the others that were dancing. Ashta laughed as she gave her friend a knowing look.
“And that, my friend, is how you ditch your unwanted company,” Lashanna said, as she grinned and danced.
“Thank you,” Ashta said, happily, as she danced with her.
Carefully, Ashta scanned the crowd as she danced and she didn’t see Roman anywhere.
He must not be here yet, she thought to herself.
Happily, she continued to dance with Lashanna, as they laughed.The fast-paced dance song came to an end, and suddenly there was a slower song playing. Noticeably, Damian and Xavier approached them.
“May I have this dance?” Xavier asked Lashanna, and she nodded, as he took her hand.
“May I?” Damian asked, as he held out his hand to Ashta.
Quickly, Ashta scanned the crowd, and she still didn’t see Roman anywhere. She turned her attention back to Damian and nodded as she took his hand. He smiled at her as he placed his hands on her waist, and she rested her hands on his shoulders. She kept her eye on the crowd for Roman, as Damian twirled her around the dance floor.
“You know, I want to tell you something, but I don’t know how to,” he said, and Ashta looked at him curiously.
Don’t do this now, she thought to herself, as she saw the lust in his eyes.
“Ashta, I like you a lot,” he said, and she stared at him in disbelief.
She swallowed hard and then she straightened.
So, he was going to do this right now! she thought, annoyed.
How was she going to tell him, without breaking his heart? she wondered to herself, and that is when the unexpected happened, Damian leaned in and kissed her.
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Unknowingly, Roman had found his way to the dance floor and he saw them kissing. He didn’t see who kissed who, but his heart shattered into a million pieces. Chantelle had seen the same thing and she looked up at her son. Unnerving, she saw her son’s heart break.
“Roman?” she said, as she grabbed his arm.
Angrily, he shook his arm out of her grip and looked at her seriously.
“I am sorry. I can’t do this anymore,” he said, and before Chantelle could utter another word, within a blink of an eye, he was gone.
Chantelle looked back at Ashta just in time to see her pull back from the man and glare at him angrily. Chantelle realized that the man had kissed Ashta, and she didn’t want him too. At that moment, Chantelle knew she had to go find her son. He had taken the whole situation all wrong.
- Writer
