Page 132 of A Kingdom's Heart
“No!” I cried, stepping in front of William before they could reach him. My arms spread wide. “Stand back! He didn’t do anything!”
“Iris,” William rasped weakly behind me, his voice barely a whisper, “don’t—”
“No!” I turned, my voice rising with desperation. “All of you, stay back! He’s done nothing wrong!”
The guards hesitated, glancing at one another uncertainly. The sound of metal shifting echoed through the cave as some lowered their blades while others kept their grip tight.
Then the air changed. The heavy rhythm of boots approaching filled the cave.
And there he was.
My father.
King Henrik stepped through the circle of guards. His gaze
flicked from me to William, who lay bleeding behind me.
“Someone,” he said, his tone cutting through the air, “tell me what happened here.”
No one spoke. The silence stretched, heavy and unbearable.
His eyes narrowed. Then they landed on William.
“You,” he said, taking a step forward, his voice low with fury. “You dared to lay your hands on my daughter? To abduct the princess of Elarion?”
My heart twisted. “He didn’t!” I said quickly, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “He didn’t try to abduct me.”
My father’s gaze snapped to mine, sharp and furious. “Then what happened?”
I swallowed hard. My hands were trembling. I could feel every eye on me, waiting for my answer.
“I ran away with him,” I said.
The words echoed through the cave.
Gasps broke out all around. The guards exchanged startled glances. Even the air seemed to stop moving.
My father’s eyes widened, his face darkening as the weight of my confession settled. His voice came out quiet but dangerous, each word trembling with fury.
“You what?”
“I couldn’t live the life you wanted me to live,” I said, my voice
trembling. “I can’t live with a man I don’t love and have him call me his wife. No, Father. I couldn’t.”
For a moment, he only stared at me. His jaw tightened, his
breath sharp and controlled. Then, slowly, he turned his gaze toward William.
“And you,” he said, his tone low and dangerous, “you helped my daughter escape?”
“No,” I said quickly, stepping in front of William again. “He didn’t help me! I chose this. We did this together. Because I love him!”
The last words seemed to hang in the air, heavy and final.
My father’s eyes widened, and for a heartbeat he was silent. Then his face darkened with a rage so fierce it made the soldiers flinch. He looked as if thunder itself had struck him.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” he roared, his voice echoing through the cave walls.
