The Unspoken Vow

*disclaimer - this scene was written before the final draft of “The Unspoken Vow” was in publishing :) It will not be in the novel. Enjoy this scene that inspired the Kindle Vella series/novel!

WILLIAM

“I forbid it!” My father’s loud voice rang out through the room. 

 I held myself from flinching, knowing that this would be his answer. 

 Beside me, Ari flinched and I could feel her become smaller, her head bowed submissively as she had been raised to do, her eyes cast down. 

“You will not marry a servant,” he spat out, “you are the crown prince and I will not let yourself disgrace yourself this way.”

“Father,” I looked him in the eye, “she is no servant. Do not speak of her as such!”

 My father stood and approached me, “You will not marry a servant. That is my final word.”

 I leveled my eyes at him, “Then I shall not marry at all.”

 He slapped the wooden desk behind him, forcefully, “You will be married by the end of the month. I will not let you make the same mistake as Prince Ashton has made.” He then muttered under his breath, “he has made a fool out of his own kingdom.”

“He is to be married.” I defended him. 

“Nonsense, he cannot marry the girl that will not benefit his kingdom.”

“That girl is saving his life.” I ground out, infuriated by my father’s way of thinking. 

 He looked at [Ari?] beside me, looking her up and down. I stepped between them, preventing her from becoming the object of my father’s wrath. 

“I can see why you would want her.” He turned towards his desk, but continued addressing me, “You may keep her, but you will marry according to your rank. No lower.” His tone stated finality. 

 I fisted my hands in anger at his insinuation. I glanced at Ari, but she was concealing her gaze from me.

“I would rather die than disrespect her or sully my lady’s reputation.” 

 My fathers head sharply turned towards the both of us, “What did you call her?”

 I refused to back down and stared at my father openly. 

“You vowed yourself to her?” It was more of a statement than an inquiry. 

 Ari took a step back.

“You! You deceitful little-”

“Enough!” I shouted, surprising all in the room. I shielded Ari, guiding her behind me. 

“You will not disrespect her. I will not tolerate it!”

 My father’s face was visibly turning different shades of red. 

“You are correct. I pledged myself to her as her knight.”

“You, out of all, understand what this means!”

 As her knight, I would not be able to pledge or vow myself to anyone without her explicit permission or consent. 

“Release him from his vow!” He yelled at Ari. 

 In a moment, I was by her side, hugging her to myself. Her hands were tucked against herself between us. Her head was bent and rested against my chest. I could feel her breaths come out shakily. 

 I looked over her head to my father, “No matter if she releases me from the vow, I will continue to pledge myself to her again and again.”

 I looked down at Ari’s head for a moment before I looked up at my father, “You have upset her. We will take our leave.” 

“William.” 

 I clenched my teeth at hearing my father use my given name. He did not have a right to it, especially after this conversation. 

“Your Majesty.” I muttered as I bowed and escorted Ari out of the room. She did not need to continue hearing his thoughts on the matter. 

 Once we were out in the corridor, I guided her until I found a secluded area of the castle. I finally turned her around. 

 Her gaze was downcast, her eyes refused to lift up to mine. 

“Ari, love, what is the matter?” I lifted my hand to her cheek, and tilted her gaze up to mine. 

 She continued averting her eyes. I stepped closer to her, her back against the wall. She shook her head and then bent it low. 

 I gently placed my fingers under her chin and lifted her face back up to me. I leaned in, as if to press a kiss to her cheek. My left hand gently held her waist, preventing her from running. 

 She finally looked me in the eye and what I found hidden in her eyes broke me. Her eyes were flooding with thick tears. Her eyes told me of her resignation and hurt. 

 I stroked her cheek with my thumb, the rest of my hand splayed against her neck. Her dark soft hair teasing my fingers. 

 She lifted her hands to my hand on her face, but then hesitated. 

 She finally took ahold of my hand and firmly removed it from her face. 

“We cannot.” She whispered and then lifted her hands to her face, swiping at her tears, “We cannot,” she repeated, “continue this. It has gone too far and it is impossible.”

“It is not impossible.” I firmly stated. 

 She glanced at me, “Your father has made it quite clear his thoughts on the matter and I cannot live like this. I refuse to engage myself in something that cannot last.” 

 She swiped at her face, once more, “My apologies,” she whispered. 

 She started to take her leave, but I held her firmly in place, “Ari, we can make it work. I believe so.” 

 She finally met my eyes, “How? How will it work? You are the crown prince and I am just but a servant.” I could see her resignation, but also resolution, “I refuse to be your housemaid, Your Highness.”

 I let go of her, shocked; she knew I would never disrespect her in such a way. 

 She took the opportunity and fled. I stared after her, unsure of what had just transpired between us. 

Ari

 Something inside me broke into a million pieces.

 I continued wiping at my eyes, unable to clearly see what was in front of me, “Apologies.” I muttered over and over again, as I tried to make my way out of the palace. 

 I finally ended up on the outside of the palace, I found a secluded area away from the servants and nobles inside. 

 I found myself next to a large oak tree. I finally let myself crumple to the ground in a flood of tears and sobs. My sobs wracked my body and I held myself as I cried against the tree. 

“Why God?” I cried, “Why?!” 

 I couldn’t make sense of it. All of my life I had lived miserably, depending on the charity or lack of charity of others. William had appeared in my life and I had hope that I would finally find my happiness. 

“Why?!” I screamed, frustrated and angry. I crumpled into a pile of tears unable to see anything, but my hands that futilely wiped at my tears. 

 After a long moment, I hugged my legs to my chest, burying my face in my arms.

 I rocked myself back and forth trying to find some sort of comfort when I had no one. I gripped myself tightly, trying to remember what it felt like when, so long ago, I had found comfort in the safety of my father’s [or mothers?] arms. 

“You’re all right, you’re all right.” I whispered to myself over and over again. I desired to find my way out of this mess of emotions that confused me. 

 I cried until I felt out of breath and energy. 

 When I finally was able to calm down, I took several deep breaths and looked up.  

 My eyes widened at the sight before me. 

 The palace was placed on high ground, below me was a large crystalline lake surrounded by large pine trees amidst many more trees. I could see the reflection of the trees off of the water. The dark lush grass around the lake and beneath me was soft and cool. There were several mountains in the distance and between them, the sun was setting. Its rays touched everything around it like a gentle touch. The sky above was full of beautiful orange, pink, and purple colors that ended in blue. Off in the distance I could hear the sounds of birds chirping in the distance. Followed by the far-off chatter of the people in the nearby villages. 

 It was absolutely stunning. 

 I felt my eyes well up with tears at the realization that I would never see something like this again. 

 It was not meant to be mine. 

 My chest contracted and I felt a burn of frustration and anger burst once more. I grabbed at my chest, feeling the physical pain. I rubbed at it as tears streamed down my face. I bent over, my face near the grass. I could smell the sweet scent of the grass, but it only bitterly reminded me of what I could not have. 

 When I couldn’t take it any longer, I screamed at the top of my lungs, for the first time in my life, not caring who heard me.

 I wailed loudly, frustrated and in pain both physically, but most of all, emotionally. 

 My mind conjured William’s handsome face and kind eyes. The way that he had proven time and time again, how much he loved me. All of his actions, words, gentle touches had all proven it. 

 The ache in my chest intensified, “God, I love him. I truly do.” I sobbed. 

“Why can’t you let me love him? What did I do wrong?” I cried. “How did I ever offend You?” I looked up at the sky saying, “Just let me love him!” I screamed exasperated and on the edge of losing it. 

“I can’t,” I moaned, helplessly grasping at the grass, trying to find something, anything, to take my pain, “I can’t do this. I can’t.” Tears flowed down my face and I let myself submit to the emotions that I had suppressed for so long. 

 All of the hurt and confusion came crashing in like an unexpected flood. All of the pain and hurt, mistreatment and misjudgment. The harsh criticisms and scoldings. All of it. My mind sharpened on the words of the king that we had just encountered. Servant, the word echoed in my mind over and over again. 

 I then felt the familiarity of strong arms wrap around me from behind. In vain, I tried to free myself from them, knowing who it was. 

“No,” I cried, “no, no, no.” I tried refusing the comfort that he offered. 

“William,” I breathed, “go. Leave me be. We can’t.” I sobbed, unable to look at him. 

 I only felt his arms wrap around me even more tightly, “I refuse to let you go.” He whispered against my hair. 

 I cried for a long moment, letting him hold me. I couldn’t fight him off even if I wanted to.

“Wil-” He stopped me from speaking when he pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek. 

 I wiped at my eyes with my left hand and finally looked towards him. 

 He leaned close and softly pressed a gentle kiss to my lips. 

“So beautiful.” He whispered, his green eyes stared into my own and then traced down my face. His thumb stroked my cheek in a comforting gesture. 

 I couldn’t do anything but stare at him, shocked. He turned me in his arms and then pulled me close, wiping away my tears with his thumbs. His large hands made quick work of wiping them away and brushing my hair away from my face. 

I tried pulling away from him, but he held me firmly against him, “Ari, there is no other being in the world who I would rather live the rest of my days with. I refuse to let you go without a fight.” 

 His words stilled me. 

“William.” I couldn’t help but say his name, stunned. Love for him overwhelmed me so much, tears filled my eyes, but this time for a completely different reason. 

“What is the matter this time?” He murmured, a small smile on his face. 

 I sniffled and unexpectedly laughed, confused by the mixture of emotions. I looked him in the eye, pleased to see that he was smiling. 

 I shook my head, not knowing how to answer his inquiry. I took him in, looking at how handsome and caring he was. I felt my bottom lip tremble, a knot formed in the back of my throat and tears stung the back of my eyes. 

 His expression quickly changed from amusement to concern. 

“Love, what is it?” 

 I shook my head slightly, unable to talk even if I wanted to. 

 I buried my face in his neck and let him hold me. Silent tears made their way onto his shirt and I tried to keep from ruining his princely attire. 

 Prince. My mind grappled with the word that would forever determine our life. It was impossible to marry the prince. No matter how much he loved me. It was forbidden. 

 As he held me, I felt him gently rub my arm back and forth in a comforting gesture. It was the same way that my father had once held me so long ago. The thought startled me and I knew I should not be submitting to the pleasure and comfort that was found in his arms. 

 I finally opened my eyes and looked over his shoulder to see that I could not see anything past the bushes and trees that kept this place hidden. 

“You found my secluded area,” I could hear his teasing voice reprimand me in a playful manner. 

 I turned my head to rest on his chest and adjusted my legs so that I was sitting beside him instead of facing the opposite direction. I tucked myself against him, not saying a word. 

“Ari, no matter what occurs, I will not let you be harmed.”

 I nodded my head against him. As my knight, I knew it was something he took seriously. 

“That also includes your emotions.” He whispered against my hair. 

 I felt my heart squeeze in my chest; he couldn’t promise that. I shifted to look up at him, “You cannot.” 

“No, but I must try.” He stroked a stray strand of hair out of my face and rested his hand against my head, “you are my most precious treasure and I cannot but have the need to protect you and safeguard you from all who wish to harm you.” He rested his forehead on mine, “Let me protect you.” He whispered. 

 I looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity in his gaze. His sweet words melted and mended my hurting heart.

 I closed my eyes, tuning myself into the sensation of his hand resting at the base of my neck and his fingers splayed into my hair. His forehead resting against mine, gave me the security that I wasn’t alone.