Chapter 2 Love and Duty

KIARA

The leaves crunched under my feet as I walked. Directionlessly and mindlessly.

There was no destination for me. I walked and walked. Until I could not anymore.

Then, I suddenly stopped. My breath was a little ragged from walking so much.

Turning around on my heels, I glanced back at the big castle that stood before me. My home. A castle made of stone. Stronghold and own white walled. One of a kind. The strongest castle that did not fell even after countless attacks. Yet, the walls were slowly falling.

I wondered what it would have been like if I was born a century ago when this same castle stood big and omnious, high and well-fortified because now if it was still a glorified sight, it looked simply just horrible.

The memories of bloody war were etched upon those strong walls and it was not long before these walls were going to fall, leaving the people of Mylvania without any humane Ruler.

I inhaled deeply, the foul smell making my head dizzy. The smell of blood and destruction. I should have gotten used to it already but everyday, I felt like I inhaled it for the first time. I silently wished for a day to come where I would be able to just take in the fragnance of beautiful flowers and Earthy smell of the rain.

I threw my head back and stared at the sky that was pinkish in this Fall season. The leaves had fell leaving the trees exposed. The grounds were covered with those fallen pale leaves that were dead now - gone.

Everything was gloomy. Winter was approaching. A harsh winter that was going to push the people in a season of great famine. There were going to be dead bodies lying around everywhere. Dead bodies of people dying from hunger rather than the bloody ongoing war.

It's been fifty years already. We fought for fifty years but never gave up but now...

Fighting was just too hard.

If we wanted to stand a single chance, we needed to forget who our enemies were and form alliance.

Alliance. The word was so foreign to me yet at the same time it became the most dreaded one.

" Kiara. " The soft masculine whisper coming from behind me caught my attention.

My head whipped around and my eyes met with those captivating, deep emerald green eyes. Eyes exuding the aura of mysteriousness and at the same time...Power.

He was standing behind me at some distance wearing his blue armor. His features were still hard.

His thick pinkish lips were pressed in a straight line, his straight nose stood proudly, his black hair tousled a little, his spine as straight as possible which highlighted his huge height.

He was taller than me. Alot more taller than me. I barely reached his shoulders even If I had the ideal height for a woman.

" Calic. " His name rolled off my tongue efficiently sounding more unfamiliar that it ever did.

Perhaps when my soul was falling apart, everything felt foreign to me now.

He marched to me, each step precise and measured. He stopped a feet away reminding me about how we both needed to stay far away from each other.

His hand that was placed on the hilt of his sword, left it as he pulled it forward and clasped both his hands together. A habit of a general. The general of the Army of Kingdom Mylvania.

" You are leaving today? " There was no hint of emotions in his voice but his eyes. His eyes spoke volumes. They conveyed all his emotions to me.

Pain, Sadness, Anger, Disappointment, fear and Love...

All for me. Just for me.

His eyes made me think of the future we both planned, the future we both were never going to have. We did not even get the chance to let the beautiful feeling of love settle inside our hearts and we already fell apart - torn away from each other.

" I am leaving today General. " I whispered, a sad smile curving up the corners of my lips.

He did not say anything. He did not move. It seemed like he did not even breathe.

Time was skipping past us. But we two were lost in each other's eyes. Only if time could be lenient enough to stop and let us stay here - right in this moment and nowhere else.

Without minding what I was doing, I crossed the distance separating us and placed my hand on his armor, his heartbeat covered by the thick protection of steel, iron.

He watched me. When I raised myself on my tiptoes and let my cold lips come in contact with his warm one's, he let me do it.

Just for the last time. Just for the last time, I wanted to know how he tasted and what it felt like to kiss him.

Sighing against his lips, I stayed unmoving relishing in the feel of his warm lips that tasted like cherries. My eyes were closed tightly but I was sure that a traitor tear had left them, breaking all boundaries to let him know about my true feelings.

Slowly, he snaked his hand around my back and pulled me closer letting my soft body press against his hard armor.

His right hand rested on my neck sending chills down my spine. He deepened the kiss letting me stay in his embrace for a little longer without caring that someone might see us here in the open.

Having him kissing me, my mind went back to the old times. The times when he sat down beside the trees behind the castle to stay in each other's arms. The times when we talked about love, future, hopes.

More tears fell down my eyes. The salty taste of those tears invaded our mouth but he did not let me go. Letting go was hard, like one's soul was ripping apart. Slowly and Painfully.

I wish Calic...

I wish we could stay like this until the end of time.

I wish we could be with each other just a little while longer.

I wish we could relish in each other's warmth and feel each other for the rest of our lives.

I wish...

I wish with all my heart Calic.

He pulled away abruptly like my touch was gradually burning him just like his touch burnt me now.

Stepping away, he left me. He left me colder than before, allowing the coldness to settle in my heart instead of the hopeless love.

He did not say anything when I opened my eyes to stare in his emerald orbs once more. He did what was best for both of us. He turned around and started walking away.

My eyes were glued to his back. My ears took in the sound of his armor and sword clinging with each step he took. The sound started fainting just like his figure.

Until Calic Kroner, the General of Great Mylvania Amry, disappeared.

Leaving me standing there alone.

" My Princess. " I heard the familiar small voice which pulled me out of my grieving trance.

" Your Highness - Crown Prince Zuko is waiting for you, My Princess. " I turned around to face Lily, my lady-in-waiting, a personal maid who accompanied me from the start of my life.

Some said she along with other two of my lady-in-waiting were born for me and it was an honor for them to serve me but I did not want this.

" The time has come right? " I sighed out trying to confide in one of the three loyal people I had in my life.

People who knew me - everything about me.

" Yes My Princess. The time has come. " Her head was bowed down in respect as it was forbidden to look a royal in the eye.

I hated this. I hated how she behaved like my slave but I could not do anything about it. I asked her so many times to stop doing this but she never listened.

Atleast Lara and Mary listened. They were alot more friendly to me than Lily but I had some kind of special attachment to Lily.

She looked after me like a mother even when she was just a kid herself when the Queen - My mother died. I was only ten at that time when an uncurable illness took her life. I did not even get to see her dead body. They said the illness might spread, So they burnt her.

At that time, Lily was there for me. All the time. She was only fifteen herself yet she acted like fifty and looked after me well because I refused to let anyone else come near me.

" No one can go against fate and duty here My princess. " When the defeaning silence between us stretched horribly, Lily finally glanced at me and said those same words that she had said for so many times I could barely ever forget them.

" There is no fighting fate or duty. " I nodded my head slowly and marched towards her.

" Don't leave me alone Lily. " I raised my chin as I whispered to her and I bet I could see a smile trying to break it's way on her lips.

" Never in this life My Princess. " She declared as she waited for my next step respectfully.

Sighing for the nth time, I raised my chin and fixed my slumped posture. Standing tall while wearing a Golden, Gold Embroided gown...I looked like the princess I was.

My amber - Golden hue rare eyes matched the dress perfectly. My red tainted lips tingling with the taste and warmth of Calic's lips were pressed together, their heart shape highlighted. My amber hair fell on my back in curls that Lily made sure looked as smooth as they could. My pale white skin complemented the whole look.

The final thing that completed my identity was the crown resting on my head. A Golden Crown with small red stones embedded in it. The identity of a royal.

I was ready. Not emotionally but Physically.

I was ready to leave my home behind because of the duty or more like Vengeance that resided in everyone's heart here.

As I started walking, Lily followed behind me. I knew her eyes must be at my dress that trailed behind me smoothly.

I kept my head raised, my eyes void of any emotion. I would act as the Princess of Mylvania now. Princess Kiara Sindlaire who was going to marry the Crown Prince of the former enemy Kingdom - The Kingdom of Keragania.

Walking gracefully to reach where everyone was waiting for me along with the Royal horses and carriages, Knights, Maids, Protectors, Gifts to complete a marriage and my Elder Brother - Only brother and sibling, Zuko Sindlaire.

My eyes met his Light brown orbs from far away as I read the complain in his eyes.

You should have met father before leaving. That was what he wanted to say but I did not care.

Your grace - My father, King Manuss did not care either.

All heads bowed down in respect, curtsies were presented yet my eyes never left Zuko's orbs. He was in his formal wear of a Crown Prince, his crown resting atop his head arrogantly.

I did not know what fate had in store for me but I wished I did not have to marry Crown Prince Kylo Antiglone who was rumoured to be in love with someone else. Someone that was not me.