Chapter Four

When she got to her mother's door a tall elderly man with dark hair was leaving her room. Adryanna smiled and ran to him wrapping her arms around him. He smiled down at her and ruffled her raven curls with his hand. "The older you get the more you look like her. Expect your eyes. Those are the same violet eyes as your father. May he rest in peace."

"Uncle, I am always so happy when you come to see us. I know mother misses you dearly."

"I miss her as well." He once again ruffled her hair. "But I must return home."

Adryanna nodded. "Of course. Tell my cousin's hello. And tell my more stubborn uncle to come see mother as well" He nodded as he walked down the hall.

Adryanna entered her mother's room and took her place next to the bed. "Good morning, mother." She smiled weakly at the frail queen."How are you feeling?"

The queen looked up at her daughter and gently touched her check. "I'm doing well. A visit from my brother always leaves me feeling refreshed."

The princess looked down at her, "you're such a terrible liar."

She smiled. "You're the only one who thinks that, Adryanna." She sat up slightly and got a serious look on her face. "I'm dying, Adryanna. And I won't be able to rest in piece knowing that you are unwed and unprepared to lead this county."

"I've been studying to become queen since I left the womb. I am ready."

"You shouldn't have to shoulder the responsibility of ruling alone." She smiled. "I also want to see you become a bride."

"Mother," she sighed. "I don't want to marry Christof."

Her mother got a serious look on her face. "Why?"

"I just don't think he will make a great husband or king." She sighed. "You witnessed his behavior at the games."

The queen thought for a minute. "He is still young Adryanna. Wisdom comes with age."

"Mother, please! Don't make me do this!" She felt tears hanging in the corners of her eyes.

"Then who? Your knight?!" Adryanna gasp. "I know you've been spending a great deal of time with him lately."

"Allyn has nothing to do with this." The tears were now wetting her checks.

"Adryanna..." The queen sighed and took her hand. "The kingdom needs the wealth Duke Littleton can offer. And even though Duke Umberlan is nearly as wealth, Allyn gave up any inheritance and his title to become a Knight of Morea."

"Mother... If only..."

"If only what?"

"Nothing... It's nothing." She sighed. All she wanted was to tell her mother of every awful thing Christof had done to her but she didn't want to cause her mother any unneeded worry or stress.

"You will marry Christof in three days."

Adryanna nodded and got up and walked to the door. "I'm sorry for the trouble." She then left pulling the door shut behind her.

She walked down the halls with tears streaming from her eyes. Without realizing it she walked straight to the royal guards quarters where Allyn had been assigned a room since he was staying in the capital. She knocked on his door with no hesitation. Not long after he answered and looked down at her face covered with tears. "Princess, what's wrong?"

Without answering she buried her face in his strong chest. He paused for a brief moment before wrapping his arms around her. He stood there holding her as she cried for minutes not knowing what to do. Eventually she met his gaze, "Allyn, I'm being forced to marry Christof in three days."

He tightened his embrace. "I'm sorry. I don't know how to help you." He then stepped through the door bringing her with him. She went over and sat on the bed as he closed the door behind them. He then walked over and sat next to her. "I can't stop this marriage, Princess. Even if I wanted to..." She nodded at him. "But if I have to spend every hour of every day by your side to make sure that he doesn't hurt you, I will." He then pulled the silver cross from under his shirt and held it in his palm. "I will protect you, like I promised."

She looked deep into his eyes and smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Allyn."

He continued to look into her eyes, "don't cry anymore. I can't stand seeing you so upset." She was surprised at his sudden confession but continued to meet his gaze. Slowly his face drew closer and closer to hers stopping once he was close with enough that she could feel his breathe on her lips, "what did I tell you about looking at men like that." Before she could answer his lips where touching hers gently.

"Mhhm..." She was completely startled by his advance but slowly closed her eyes.

What started as a gentle brush of lips then turned into a real, passionate kiss. He then pulled away pushing no further. He looked at her with a warm smile but she sat there silent with wide eyes and a red face. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't ha..."

"No," she took his hand. "I'm happy..."

"Good" he smiled as he squeezed his hand. "You should return to your chambers before someone notices your missing." He stood up and lead her to the door. "I'll see you when I can break away. I would walk you to your door but I'm already late for training."

"Oh, I'm sorry... I didn't realize you had somewhere to be!"

"It's okay." The corners of his mouth turned upward in a devious smiled that she had never seen. "I would rather be kissing you anyways."

Her face got instantly red at his jest and she cast her eyes away. "I-I'll see you later, Allyn."

Later that night after she finished her studies she decided to go for a walk in the gardens. She had a lot to think about as she made her rounds with one of the palace guards. She stopped and sat by the fountain with a long sigh. "Your Highness, is everything okay?" Her guard asked.

"Ah, yes." She smiled. "It's just been a long day of studying."

"Surely your lessons have doubled to prepare you for your wedding and coronation." The guard smiled innocently.

She tired to hide the sorrow she felt and smiled. "More than doubled." She laughed lightly.

"You've always been such a hard worker princess. Try not to over do it."

She smiled, "thank you, I won't."

"Of course not. We wouldn't want you to exhausted to enjoy our wedding." Christof said as he walked over to where she was sitting. Instantly she felt the blood drain from her body.

"Good evening, Marquess Howell."The guard smiled.

"Good evening, might I get some alone time with my bride to be?" Christof gave the guard a smiled.

"I was instructed not to leave the princess alone but if she is okay with it I could go get something to drink."

Adryanna went to object but she felt the weight of Christof's glare and really didn't want to make him angry so she just nodded to the guard who then walked away. Christof then grabbed her hand pulling her to her feet. "Hello, Adryanna."

"Christof." She spoke in the strongest voice she could muster.

He smiled a twisted smile. "Give me a proper greeting." She then curtsied to him. "That's not what I meant." He then grabbed her chin and leaned in to kiss her.

"Christof, please." She begged turning her head.

He laughed. "Playing hard to get I see."

"We should behave properly. That's all." She said still not looking at him.

"And who decides what's proper?"

"Me." Allyn said as he walked to where they were standing.

"Why are you here? You have no business here!"' Christof hissed.

"As of today I am princess Adryanna's person retainer, by order of the queen." He smiled at Christof. "I will be at her side from now on. And you won't be able to trick me into leaving."

"What?" Christof and Adryanna said at the same time.

Allyn then pulled out the crest worn by all royal retainers and placed it on his armor. "You're days of pushing her around are over."

Adryanna went to move closer to Allyn but Christof grabbed her arm and pulled her back forcefully. "You are mine." He gave her a dirty look as he squeezed her arm tightly.

"Ow! Christof you're hurting me!" She cried out.

Allyn drew his sword and stepped closer. Christof responded by twisting her arm behind her back forcefully and pulling her in front of him as a shield. "My arm!" She cried out as tears began running from her eyes.

"Adryanna!" Allyn yelled. "Let her go! Can't you see you're hurting her?!"

"I don't care. She's nothing but means to an end for me." He twisted her arm harder and she fell the her knees in pain. He then kneeled behind her and smiled at Allyn. "Come save your princess. I dare you." He laughed and turned his attention back to Adryanna. "You're too weak to stop me. You hold all this power but you won't use any of it. And no matter what I do to you you're going to marry me just to keep your dying mommy happy for her last pathetic hours." Adryanna gasped in surprise and Allyn ran towards them. Christof responded by holding a dagger of close enough to her face that she could feel the cold metal against her skin. Allyn stopped dead in his tracks which made Christof laugh uncontrollably. "Pathetic!" He continued to laugh as he shoved Adryanna to the ground face first at Allyn's feet. He then stood up and walked away laughing.

"Adryanna!" Allyn called as he picked her up. Her forehead was bleeding and her face scrapped. He looked at her with sad eyes. "Let me see your arm." With tears in her eyes she placed her arm in his hands. He examined it. "It's broken." He sighed. "I'm sorry... I failed you."

"Allyn..."

"We need to get you to the infirmary right way." He said nothing more as he picked her up and began carrying her. She also stayed silent as she laid her head against his chest.

He kicked open the door setting the healers into a panic. One of them ran to him once he realize that he was holding Adryanna. "Princess, what happened?!"

Allyn said nothing but waited for Adryanna to answer. "I... Uh, I fell from my horse."

Allyn said nothing but instead handed Adryanna to the healers and walked out the doors.

As he walked down the halls he could feel rage building inside him like he had never felt before. He was pissed that Christof hurt her. Even more pissed that she was lying to protect him. And furious with himself that he just stood there while that bastard broke her arm. He couldn't understand why he was so angry. He stopped walking and punched the wall with all of his might. As the blood ran from his hand he finally began to understand his feelings. "I... I love Adryanna." The words slipped from his mouth softly at first but then louder. "I love Adryanna." He smiled softy but then his smiled faded as he realized he could never tell her his feelings. It would only be cruel to her since she had to marry Christof.

A little over a day later Allyn went to Adryanna's chambers to check on her. He knocked on the door and was called in where he found Adryanna sitting at her desk. He walked up to her but was stunned silent when he looked down and saw her arm in a bandage cast. She looked up to him and smiled a gentle, caring smile. "Allyn, I'm glad you're here." She stood up and turned to him. He just starred at her with sad eyes. She laughed and then wrapped her arms around him.

"Adryanna, what are you..."

"You didn't fail me." She whispered into his ear. "If you would have attacked him everything would have turned out worse than it did. I'm just happy you were their to stop him from stealing something that belongs to you." He gave her a confused look and she responded by standing on her toes and planting a kiss on his soft lips.

He pulled back for second allowing his red eyes to meet her calming gaze. "I may have to marry Christof, but my heart is yours, Allyn." She then kissed him again.

"Adryanna..." He called her name between the touching of their lips. "what are you saying?"

She stepped back, "I love you, Allyn." She smiled.

"Since when?" He asked with a strange look on his face.

"Hmm," she thought for a second. "Probably since the first time I ever laid eyes on you." She smiled. "Since when do you use my name?"

His checks grew instantly red. "Ahh," he chuckled nervously. "Since... I realized that I feel the same as you."

She smiled at him as she grabbed his arm pulling him to her bed. With a level of confidence that Allyn had never seen from her before she pulled him on top of her as she kissed him once more. "Adryanna, what are you doing?" But she did not answer with words. Her only response was her placing sweet kisses all down his neck.

As the sun set the pieces of her dress and his armor where tossed about the floor as they laid under the sheets in each others arms. Allyn's hand was gently stroking her bare back as she kept her head on his chest listening to the sound of his heart beat. Neither one of them spoke for a long time but they were both lost in thought. Finally he spoke, "Adryanna, thank you. Does it hurt?"

She shook her head as her fingers traced his chest. "I love you, Allyn."

As he was about to say something there was a knock at the door and the maid entered without warning, "My lady..." Her eyes widened as Adryanna pulled the sheets up to cover herself. The maid then turned her back, "My lady, the queen wishes to see you." She then walked to the door. "Nice to see you taking good care of our princess, Sir Allyn." They could hear her laughing as she closed the door.

They both laughed out of embarrassment and then kissed once more. "Will you help me dress so I can go see mother?" She asked sitting up.

"I'd rather not." He said as he pulled her back down and kissed her softly. She returned his kiss before getting out of the bed picking up her underskirts. "You look so beautiful right now, this is how I want to remember you for the rest of my life." He spoke gently and she looked over her shoulder at him and smiled softly. "Just stay just like that for a minute."

She stood there taking in his gaze for a few seconds before beginning to move again. She gathered up all of her clothing and then turned to him as he laid in bed watching her. "I wish we could spend every day like this."

He got off the bed and walked over to her pulling her into his arms. "If I have my way, we will." He whispered sweetly into her ear.

"A-Allyn!" She pulled away. "I have to go see mother." She smiled giving him one last kiss before dressing.

Adryanna entered the queens room at sat next to the bed. She looked down at her mother who was covered in sweat. Adryanna took a towel and dabbed her forehead. "Hello, mother."

"Adryanna," she got a serious look on her face. "I heard that you were injured."

"Yes," she tried to hide the complex look on her face. "I fell from my horse and broke my arm."

The queen's face narrowed and she put her hand on Adryanna's bandaged arm. "Are you sure that's what happened?" Adryanna almost fell from her chair in shock at her mothers question. She looked away from her mother and nodded saying nothing. "Very well." The queen sighed. "I love you."

"I love you." She smiled weakly as she stood up. "Get your rest mother. Tomorrow is a big day."

The queen nodded. "You as well." Adryanna walked to the door and pulled it open. Just as she was about to leave the queen spoke again, "give Sir Allyn my well wishes." Confusion took Adryanna's breathe away as the door swung shut.

As she walked down the hall Allyn approached her. "How is the queen?" He asked sincerely.

She said nothing as she stepped closer to Allyn laying her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and they stood there for a long time. "Let's go to bed..." Adryanna finally spoke.

She took his hand and lead him back to her room where she crawled into bed. "Are you sure?" She nodded to him and he took off his armor and got into the bed next to her. She moved closer to him taking in his warmth as she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.

The sun rose the next morning as they lay in each others arm. Neither one of them moved until the maid came through the door. "Princess! Why are you still in bed?! It's the day of your coronation! We have so much to do!"

Adryanna sat up breaking free from Allyn's arms which woke him up. He looked around the room while stretching his arms over his head, sleep still dancing in his eyes. Paying no attention the the maid he kissed Adryanna. "Good morning, beautiful."

Adryanna's face turn bright red as she look the the smiling maid. "I don't mind." The maid smiled as she pulled a beautiful white dress from the closet. "Come my lady, we need to get you bathed and ready. Say goodbye to your lover, you'll be too busy to visit with him until after you're crowned queen."

Adryanna smiled and kissed Allyn, "I'll see you later." He nodded and laid back down in bed closing his eyes.