Page 98 of Crown of Hearts
“I’m one of these people now, in case you forgot, Ray.”
“No, you’re not. You’re not like them, Lara. How long are you going to pretend?”
“Pretend?” Her voice rose a little. “You think I’m just pretending? This is my life now. This is who I am, and if you can’t accept that...” She shook her head. “Then you’re not the same person I grew up with.”
“If anyone’s changed then it’s you. You used to hate these people and now you’re trying to marry a king.”
“I’m going to marry a king,” she insisted.
“Don’t marry him, Lara.”
I stiffened but resisted the urge to intervene.
“Why not?” She was clearly annoyed.
“Because you don’t need him or his kingdom. You are strong enough to rule on your own.” He placed his hand atop hers, and my fist clenched at my side.
“You know nothing of this world,” she said, more softly now. “If I don’t marry him then I won’t survive my reign.”
“But are you really willing to spend the rest of your life with someone that you don’t love?”
Elara looked away and I swallowed hard. Even though she’d said that she would marry me and that she cared for me, Elara had never told me that she loved me. I couldn’t blame her. Love was something that took time to grow.
“I know you better than anyone else,” Ray persisted. “And I know this isn’t going to make you happy.”
“You’re right,” Elara said after a few seconds, and I thought my heart stopped. “I have changed. No matter how much I miss the girl I used to be, I don’t think there’s any way back to her now.”
She removed her hand from Ray’s and stood up. “I’m going to marry him. And nothing will change that.”
* * *
We packed up our little camp and continued our journey back to the palace the next morning. It was early enough that the sun had yet to rise properly. Hues of orange and red surrounded us, while many fallen leaves coated the forest floor.
I wondered what the Evernean Forest would look like in the height of winter. If Aries did plan on attacking Norrandale, I hoped he would wait until spring. The only thing worse than sending an army out was to send them out in the middle of winter. They’d be marching to their deaths.
“How much further until we reach the palace?” Cordelia asked. None of us had a chance to reply before an arrow came flying out of the trees and straight into Ray’s chest.
It happened so quickly, Elara’s scream, Ray’s body falling to the ground. The guards screamed something. More arrows flew.
I was off my horse before I knew it, running towards Elara.
She was crouched over Ray’s body, holding on to him as if it would save his life.
“Elara, we need to go.”
“No!” she cried and pulled out of my grasp, her eyes welling with tears.
“I’m sorry but we can’t save him.” I had to make a choice, no matter how broken Elara’s heart was. Her life was more important. And as for Ray... Ray was gone.
She was near hysterical as I pulled her away.
With every second, more armed men emerged from the woods, clad in Argonian armour and symbols. The sight of them seemed to bring her back to some sense of reality. Swords clashed, men cried out in pain, our guards prioritising our protection. I pulled my sword from its sheath, shielding Elara.
Except, when I reached for her, she wasn’t behind me anymore. I swerved to see her jumping onto the nearest horse and kicking it into motion.
“Elara, wait!” I called as she galloped away. One of the Argonians came at me before Jack stepped in his way, giving me enough time to mount one of the other horses and set off after her. She couldn’t be too far ahead. The trees and branches went by in a blur, the horse’s hoofs echoing off the pathway.
My worry intensified with the realisation that I wasn’t catching up to her, and so I eventually slowed the horse into a trot. I listened for any sound that could hint at which direction she went in.
