Autumn blow and blood

Dan was sitting as my head lay on his thigh . My head hurts very bad .

Suddenly , I saw the room was dim lit . I asked Dan, " Where are we exactly ?"

He answered," You used your Dragon's power to save us, it was dangerous to stay there any longer ".

"How long was I asleep ", I said .

He said ," For two days , you were out and had fever ".

He arranged the carriage and we were travelling to a city . I got up a little , I was wearing a black shawl dress , hiding my res hair . I could see the meadows leading to the city infrastructure soon.

I was still weak and feeble . My body was aching and I could feel an energy loss . I had a medicore strength .

We reached Annabel, the city of lovebirds. The city was magnificent .There was a big fountain in the middle of the city. There was a cathedral behind the fountain. People were wandering about with arms in arms. Lovebirds could be seen. It was the casino capital of the Dunmore Kingdom. Las Vegas sort of. It was evening. The light show of the fountain was on. I stood in the crowd along with Dan watching it. The laser light formed a pattern along the flow of water. The tributaries of water coming from the hoses was dazzlingly dancing with some music. It was the Dunmore Kingdom's requiem. Dan pointed out the fact. The applause was definite. There were people kissing while sitting on the bench. Love was in the air. The atmosphere smelled of scented roses. An old man was selling roses on the streets. He offered me one. Dan threw a penny towards him. He accepted it gladly.

I smelled the rose. The petals were soft as Dan's lips. Stop thinking of Dan. The way was hopeless. The sign board of a dead end was present there along the road that leads to Dan's heart. No one was welcomed but only books. Maybe, he has a girlfriend to whom he is overly devoted. But guess I am making up things on my own.

Suddenly, someone pulled me by hand into a corner of the block. Dan followed me. The man put his hand over my mouth to block my voice. Dan stood in front of me. The thug spoke, "Give me all of your money".

Dan's eyes were open in shock as some more men approached him. They surrounded him. One of them pushed him towards the other. The other did the same. They were playing with him. One of them punched him in the stomach and blood came out of Dan's mouth. They started kicking him as he fell down on the ground. He was outnumbered. After some time, they stopped and they snatched the bag from his hand. They took the gold coins, all of them. They threw the golden mirror at the wall thinking that it was a girly object. It won't worth more. They threw away the clothes while searching the whole bag. Everything was a mess. The man pushed me off. My head hit the wall and it started bleeding. I was sitting on my knees with an open wound. I spoke, "Dan, Dan! Help me".

I saw his eyes looking towards me before I fell onto the ground unconscious and unconcerned.

Dan POV:

I saw that the thug were gone. Anna lay on the cold ground. The blood was flowing from her head. It could be a serious injury. I was extremely worried. I somehow gathered up my strength to reach towards her. I stumbled on my way to her but I made it. I took the handkerchief out of my pocket and tied it around her head. This was the second time that she hurt her head. I need to take her to the hospital. I collected the belongings and placed it inside the bag. I carried her in my arms. The lady in the reception asked me to fill the form. I filled it and she asked to pay for the surgery. I didn't have any money on me. I looked at her pitifully.

She understood. She said, "Sir, give you some time as a day to pay us. We will continue the hospitality and your wife will be operated. Arrange the money somehow within the stipulated time".

I was helpless. I sold myself to a lady for a night to earn some money. She gave me ten thousand duns. I was young and her type. I gave myself in prostitution for my soul mate. I don't even love her. Do I? But I did anyway. After three hours of lustrous work, I felt ruined. I ruined my innocence. I was a prince not a man whore. I was felt degraded. I thought that prostitution was prohibited in this city but I guess a lot of things were happening behind my back. Thank God, I used protection. I didn't want to diagnose myself with a sexual disease. My bruises were awful. The woman who bought me was extremely reckless. She hurt me knowingly. A monster. What a fallen woman she was. I paid the hospital fees and asked the doctor look after my wounds. I slept on the bed located beside Anna's bed. I watched her face. They took for a minor surgery. She was fine. For the next four days, we were in the hospital. The hospital was going to discharge us. I didn't tell her how I managed to put her on the hospital bed. The thought of her not asking me about that was bothering me. My heart broke a little. There was an ache. Unknown ache started to convince me that the bud of love started to sprout in the corner of my heart. I can't love her, just can't. I won't, simply won't. This was not happening, just not with me.

Anna POV:

My sweet disposition was feeling the air. I smelled the lilies kept over the table in the hospital. Dan was injured but he was recovering. I wondered about how he managed to bring me here and admit me in the hospital. As I can recall the thug took away all the money. I wanted to ask him so badly. There was questions on my mind. But alas! My pride set me back.

Erase it, Anna. It was a mistake.

Those words were haunting me. My woman wit forced me to question him.

I spoke, "Dan, how did you pay for the surgery?"

He replied by turning his back towards me, "That's none of your business".

I know that he was hiding something from me.

I said, "Dan, will you tell me?"

He replied, "You won't let go of this. Won't you, Anna?"

I replied, "I won't. Did you rob someone?"

I was hoping for something like that. But his answer completely shocked me.

He said, "I sold myself for a duel ".

My jaw dropped. My eyes were about to pop out of my socket. He ruined himself- his reputation , his honorable title for my sake. He is a prince after all.

Tears slipped up to my eyes. I wiped the sweat off my cheeks.

I said, "You should have just let me be, Dan. I don't worth it ,it was my fault and anyways , I am a toxic being , nothing but a danger to you and your world".

He replied, "Forget about it. Anna, it's okay".

"It is not okay, Dan. You should let me die. Why didn't you? Why? ".

" Because you are precious. Damn it and one more thing - your heart is different than those before you ".

What did he say just now? I was precious. Precious to him.

There was an awkward silence between us.

I was important. Important to him. I was not a trivial thing. Precious.

I spoke, "Dan, thank you for saving my life. I am in debt to you for the rest of my life".

Dan didn't reply. He sighed. He closed his eyes perhaps acted to go off to sleep.

We were now out of the hospital. Bandages were covering our body. Dan hung the bag over his shoulders. We bought some fruits and with some left over money, we headed towards the North. Camelot was not far away now. It would take two days to reach there. Camelot, here we come- the lady of shallot along with my dear lovely Lancelot.

Dan said to me that someone was trying to target me , we need to be careful and also , the thieves use the special blade to hurt the mystic dragons . He told me that surgery was done to remove the pieces of the blade in my wound and blood . I was now safe and still , I need to rest .