Chapter 43

Nalani's POV

After dealing with the assassin, I headed to the servant's quarters. I could have stayed and alerted the knights to arrest the intruder but there was one tiny problem.  How could I explain how I subdued the enemy? After all, I was perceived as a weak young female servant.  How would I explain my fighting skills?

It would only make me more suspicious than before. I was yet to be cleared of the crimes, I didn't commit. So this incident would only do more harm than good to my reputation. My prayer was no one saw what I did. I pushed all my thoughts to the back of my head before I opened the door to our shared room.

I found Kellen lying lazily on the bed. What was up with her?

" Kellen" I whispered.

She turned her head towards me and back to its original position before she turned again.

" Nalani!" She cried rushing towards me.

I opened my arms wide to receive her. We hugged for what felt like a century. We had missed each other.

" Nalani.." she started.

I felt my shoulder get wet as she sobbed. Kellen was the nicest person I know. She must have been anxious after everything that happened. She deserved to live her life worry-free. However since she was entangled with me, that would be a lot harder to achieve.

This was why I wanted her to be moved to the other castle. There she would be safe and away from the drama that seems to always follow me around. I desired nothing more than to keep her safe. As I hugged her my resolve grew steady. I will plead with the King. Whatever he asks for in return for this huge favor I will pay. I would pay anything for my friend.

" Don't cry Kellen, please" I begged her as I soothed her.

She eventually stopped crying and let me go. We sat on her bed. She stared at me and refused to take her eyes off me.

" What is it?" I asked

" I can't believe you are here. I almost lost you" Her voice trembled as her eyes threatened to spill again.

" I am safe and healthy as you can see. Please stop crying"

" If you saw what I saw, when I came to visit you in the dungeons you wouldn't be so calm right now"

" I'm sure I looked like I was run over by a horse" I joked

" Now is not the time for jokes Nalani"

" I'm sorry I won't do it again" I chuckled.

"I'm glad you are alive. I don't know how I could survive without you"

" Kellen, I know what happened scared you " I began "It scared me too"

" We can't trust anyone here" Kellen announced.

" You are right. We can only trust each other"

" The culprit is still in the Castle. I can't sleep at night when I think about it" Kellen shivered

" He should be caught by now" I slipped

"Are you sure? How do you know?" She asked

"Call it a hunch"

" Okay"

" Kellen I need you to trust me "

" What are you planning Nalani?"

" This will be for your benefit. I plan to tell the King to transfer you to the other Castle "

" Which Castle?"

" There's another Castle. It's mostly used for vacations by the King. So most of the time, it is empty"

" Will you be joining me?"

" No, I need you to be safe and you can't be safe when I am around you" I explained

" No"

" Kellen, please, you have to listen to me" I begged

" No! Nalani, remember we promised to stick together "

" I know but someone is targeting me and I don't want them to target you as well"

" I don't care Nalani. We will stick together " she decided

There goes my carefully thought-out plan. I didn't account for the fact that she could refuse me. What was hard to understand? My motives were pure, yet she refused to accept it. What was I supposed to do now? I could try to trick her but she would still refuse me.

" I know what you are thinking Nalani and I can promise you, it won't happen. No matter what elaborate plan you come up with, I will not leave you"

She was loyal, I give her that. But she was taking loyalty a little too seriously. This was not the time to declare her loyalty. We were at war with an invisible enemy.

"  If you don't want to, I can't force you. I hope you understand what it means to stay by my side"

" I do"

" You do realize you will be in danger?"

" Yes I do and I will gladly embrace danger if I have to but I refuse to let you go through everything alone"

Her words stirred something inside of me. No one has ever stood up for me like this. No one has ever chosen to stay by my side. Everyone I have ever loved has left me. My parents for instance. I have always been by myself. I had been so used to being alone that I had forgotten I had a friend.

Not just any friend. She was family. My eyes filled with tears but I refused to let them fall. If I started crying, Kellen would cry as well. No, I had to reel it back in.

" Thank you" my voice broke.

" What are friends for?"

We sat for a minute. Each holding back tears. We were more alike than I thought. Even though Kellen seemed meek, she was strong and hardheaded. She dared to face the unknown without complaining. She was my friend. I was so proud of her.

Now I had both lives to protect. Hers and mine. And I was sure as hell not letting anyone mess with us. I will protect her with everything I have. Since she refused to leave my side, I had to think of a way to keep her with me at all times.

We chatted for almost half an hour before I had to go back. We said our goodbyes and I rushed back to the King's chambers. I hoped he had not returned to his chambers and found me missing. To my surprise, the missing knights were back. This time instead of two, they were four.

What was going on?

Since there was no other way to enter the King's chambers, I walked past them and opened the door. Judging from their increased number, the King was aware of my disappearance. I wondered what he would do to me.

I closed the door behind me quietly as a thief.

" You are back," he said

I almost jumped out of my skin. He was seated waiting for me. Judging from his posture, he was annoyed by my behavior. I prepared myself for a scolding.

" I'm sorry," I said before he had a chance to scold me.

" Nalani...." he started but stopped.

I suddenly walked towards him and stopped in front of him. I went down on my knees.

" I'm sorry I went out despite your concerns. It was wrong of me to do that and I won't do it again. I promise" I said with my eyes on the ground.

I waited for what felt like forever. He wasn't speaking. He must be mad. The King was an outspoken man. He always said what was on his mind. I raised my head to peek at him. To my surprise, he was smiling. How could he smile at a time like this?

" Nalani" he called " Look at me"

His index finger raised my chin forcing me to look at him. His pretty brown eyes held mine. Searching for something deep inside me.

" We are leaving tomorrow," he said.