Misunderstanding

"Other feelings? Like what?" She asked and Amara who saw it coming almost shook her head. This princess really knows how to ask questions! She thought and chuckled inwardly.

"It's not something your highness would like to hear. You're too young to know them." Amara explained.

"I want to know." She insisted and Amara nodded.

"You s-start thinking abbout him romantically. Like doing more intim -"

"I understand. No need to say them." She said as she didn't want to hear more than that. 'Eww! I never thought of him romantically! Never! Well, it's good because I don't love him. It's a relief then.' She convinced herself but she still wasn't satisfied with these little answers. She needed more!

"Are there more?" Ellie asked and Amara nodded.

"Then I want to know them." She said and Amara replied with a 'yes, your highness.'

"You start to miss them even if they left just few moments ago." Amara stated.

'I'll admit I do miss him sometimes, nothing much, only when I'm lonely and I think of the annoying times we spent together.'

"You want to always go close to them for every opportunity you get."

'Every opportunity? No. I try my best to stay away from him.'

"This may sound complicated but you'll always try hard to stay away from him just because you're denying having any feelings for him." She said and Elen was puzzled.

'I always stay away from him too. Is it because I'm denying my feelings for him or I'm just staying away because I find him annoying. Ahh! All of this is so complicated! How do I handle this?'

"Amara? The last one you mentioned, does it happen to everyone?" Ellie asked and Amara shook her head.

"No. It only happens if you believe you never liked him. You'll always try your possible best to deny your feelings and end up staying away from him." Amara explained.

"Thank you for taking your time to explain to me. I w-would like to...to be left alone." She said with shaky breathes. Amara saw the princess's countenance had changed and she began to worry. Did she say something she shouldn't have?

"Are you alright your highness?" Seeing that this maid was worry for her, she hastily nodded to assure her.

"I-I'm fine. I just need time alone." She said and Amara hesitantly nodded.

"If you need anything just call for me." She said and Ellie slightly nodded. Amara left Ellie pooling up in her own countless thoughts.

"No. I'm thinking way too much. I don't love him. Why would I? But wait. Why can't I love him, he's never done anything to harm me. Why do I even get annoyed when I see him."

"Arghh! What am I even saying? I don't love him! He's just a friend I care for way too much."

She laid on the bed and closed her eyes. Rest. She needed it so badly. She haven't gotten much rest these past few weeks and maybe that's why she's thinking things she's not supposed to.

"A quick nap wouldn't hurt. It's just for a while. I'd wake up as soon as I can." She said to herself but it still didn't feel right. She couldn't sleep comfortably when Amir was still fighting for his life. Taking some things into consideration, she finally came up to a decision to set her tocsin*.

"Two hours wouldn't hurt. Just two hours." She said as she set the tocsin. It was evening already so she decided to set it to two hours.

After setting everything, she finally laid on the bed and covered herself with the fluffy blanket. She closed her eyes and finally succumbed to the sleep she had been yearning for.

....

Bang!

A loud sound echoed in Ellie's chambers and she abruptly woke up which made a maddening headache fall her back on the bed. The noise was so loud that her body reacted out of reflex. She checked the tocsin she had set and was disappointed to see that she slept for more than two hours. She stood, though the headache wasn't letting her. She still tried her best. Her hand pulled open the curtains and she realized it was late night.

'Ahh. It's night already! Is Amir okay? But what was that noise? My dream?' She mentally said. It didn't sound real to her so she could only conclude it was her dream.

'I think I'm starting to go crazy. Even in my dreams.' She concluded and went into the bathroom to wash her face. She needed it, she wasn't seeing clearly and this headache was something she didn't know if she could handle.

After washing her face and drinking some water, she sat back on the bed to clear her mind. 'Should I check on him n -'

Bang!

That sound, she heard it again and this time she knew it wasn't her dream. It's reality. She did hear that sound! But what is that? Is there a problem? War?

No. There's no war and maybe she's just misunderstanding things. She stood up to leave her room to check things out. She knew it was dangerous as she didn't know what it might be, but her curiosity subsided her fear a little bit.

She took in a deep breathe and then let it out. She stepped out of her chambers and noticed that only a few guards were left standing guard. Her heartbeat increased its pace as she looked everywhere. Almost all the guards were gone. 'Is it really war?! It better not be. Amir's in a critical condition and... No, father knows how to handle the kingdom and he would never result to war unless it was the last option. This is not war! I refuse to believe so!'

With a shaky breathe she took another step forward. She was heading towards the throne hall. If at all there's war, then everyone would be at the throne hall. Their faces would be grave and serious.

With each step she took forward, her heartbeat increased it's pace. She could even here some commotion in the throne hall. 'gods please let this just be my imagination!' She mentally pleaded.

Bang Bang!!

She heard it again and this time louder. That was the sound of a gun used to pass down an important announcement. What's the occasion? Is everything fine?

______

*Tocsin - an alarm bell or signal.