14 Once Was..

Joey ran turns the gate. Panting heavy. Feeling the pounding of his heart beating against his ribs. Heavy sweat clings to his skin as it slowly drips down from his forehead. He lifts his head up to see a coach approaching him. Excitement overwhelms him. With a pin of pain sting his heart.

Staring out her window gleam of anger arises within her eyes. A crooked smile emerges across her face. She spotted his face out in the distance. Wishing she could go back and be by her true love side.

She wanted to produce a new heir for his throne and soon as possible and be done with this dirty work. All she wanted to prove she was not like the rest of those filthy women by his feet.

She stays silent hoping he would leave, but seeing a smile on his face. She noticed the love he had for only her in his eye. Her love for him had died long ago. She felt her coach stop at a jolt. She felt her body jump ever so slightly.

She pushes her head outside the cart. Smiles of disdain form across her face. Leaning her head out the window. Masking her true nature. Her coach stops at a full halt. The doors of her coach open up. Before she could step out of the coach, she felt warm arms wrapping around her tightly.

Every hair on her body stood tall. She turns her head to stare into his emerald green eyes. His brown curls brush against her face. Sending shock waves of hate through her body. Lost in her thoughts. Why did she once foolishly loved this man? Every inch of him makes her body burn with rage. Her ear twitches at the sound of her name. That seems so distant to her.

"Mariah?"

She left up to her head. Smiling back at him. "Darling, Oh how I miss you," she said to him.

Joey held her in his arms. "My Beautiful Love, How long I miss you. Promise you to stay by my side."

Mariah stares at him laughing softly. "Silly man I must return home to go take care of my parents. My younger brother is only there now to take care of them until I finish my work here."

Joey felt his heart tighten. "Why not… just bring you, family, here? Why must you keep them back in your home country?" Joey knows he doesn't feel right. He felt like questioning her. He knows her parents for years. They wouldn't turn down moving into the castle. But he heard the pain crushing no. his heartache.

He presses his head into her neck. Doubt slowly crept its way into his heart. He loved her so much. Yet she kept him at a distance. He knows something wasn't right yet his love for her left him blind. He left his head up to bitterly smile once more.

His once-bright eyes turn glum. Without thinking he said "Your younger brother hasn't sent me anymore letter or the years? How is he doing? Does he still seeking the path of knighthood?" Mariah was in shock. She slowly brushes his curls out of his face. "Darling, Of course, he does, but put it on hold. Until my parent's health recover."

Joey's eyebrow rose slightly. Mariah notices the doubt in his eyes. She presses her lips against his erase all his doubts and questions. The light in Joey bright. "My Love let's return to the castle, You must be tired from your long journey back to Verilin."

She grins to herself with joy. Finally, he stops talking and his doubt has slowly decreased. Joey unwraps his arms around her. Putting her down onto the ground. Mariah wraps her arms around his arm. As they begin to head turns the castle. As they were walking Joey notice a few roses.

He told her to stay there and wait for him to return. Mariah nods her head lightly. Sighing to herself. Wondering what this fool is doing. Masking her feeling from the crowd around her. Few minutes go by as a bouquet of roses begins to move turns hers. She stares at the approaching roses. She felt embarrassed, she didn't want her disdain to show itself.

A smile from across her face. The roses came to a stop in front of her. As a pair of green eyes stare back at her. "I know this isn't much, felt embarrassed not showing up with roses. While waiting for your return my love." He smirks as he let her embrace the rose.

Mariah took one sniff of the roses. "Are these Blood Roses." Joey smile with joy. "Yesh there are. There in bloom this year. A lot begin to bloom around the kingdom lately."

As Joey scratches his head. "it weird though. They used to be only found in the Black Rose Wood." shrugging his shoulder he admires the beauty in front of him. Feeling like the luckiest person in the world.

Mariah looks up at him feeling like she begins tormented. She wanted to rush back to her turn love side. She felt her time ticking away every time she was with this fool. "Darling Let continues our way back to the castle." Joey nods his head as they head farther to the castle.

He watches her for a few minutes. A question slips out his mouth unconsciously. "How long are you stay My Love?"

Trying to keep the conversation short Mariah replied "Only three weeks. This time around." Joey felt a crushing pain within his heart. His eyes begin to darken. They begin to walk through a field of flowers He detours them into the field of flowers. He wanted to spend more time with her. He knew once they enter the castle. She will become busy and won't spend time with him at all. All Joey wanted to enjoy every second with her, but a sharp pain aches his heart.

Every time she didn't want to be with him. He noticed she always kept herself busy no matter what. So this time he going to steal time for them. Even if have to be greed. As much time as possible. As much time she will let him enjoy with her. Even though she wants money to take back home to take care of her family. She wasn't noble, but he loved her anyway. His parents accepted her. He felt his world slowly slipping away.

Mariah begins to notice that they were detouring away from the castle. Her voice rising slightly. "Joey, where are we going?"

He leans his head back. His brown curls bounce each step he took. "Just the outskirt of the castle. for a few minutes"

She stopped in her tracks. "Why?" Stops in his tracks.

Letting go of her hand. No longer guiding her through the field of flowers. "Nobody going notice if you're not back on time. You're just a maid. You're my fiancé. Not spend enough time with you. It is not right.

Anger begins to fill Mariah. "I may just be a maid, but I have things that come first." Joey didn't know how she can get angry at him. What did he say wrong? His anger flared up. He couldn't control it and he begins to yell back at her. He felt wronged. He wanted to shower her with love. Both continue to argue not noticing they have approach two people in the field.

Mariah begins to feel frustrated with herself. She started to wonder why hasn't killed this idiot yet. Like the rest of the men around her. But it started to dawn on her. He was the Queen's, right-hand man. The closest knight to the queen. He is just one of the few that even know the queen's secret. She only needs him for information. She also needs to find Winter at all costs. She begins to fall silent. Not bother to argue with him anymore.

Joey notices her becoming silent. He suppressed his anger. He breathes out softly getting his anger under control. "I'm sorry, Love. I just wanted to spend more time with you." Mariah's head perks up behind the roses. Sigh softly. "Once I complete my chores and I make sure my parents no longer sick. I will have all the time in the world for you." Joey pulls her within his embrace. Feeling needles pricked from the throne against his flesh. Trying to mold her body into his body.

Mariah felt disgusted as she felt her body pressing against his. "Darling your crushing me." She whimpers.

She knew she needed him for her final plan to going to action. She doesn't want this meaningless argument to ruin that. She must pretend to love this fool at all costs. she heard his chunky. Lift her head. Staring into his emerald green eyes. Brush his curls out his eyes.

She pressed her lips against his. Watching as the light in his eyes darken. His mind begins to go blank. He blinks at her for a moment. A smile begins to form. "My love why are we standing in a field of flowers." "Darling you, just wanted to admire its beauty. You getting forgetful my dear." Joey begins to chunky scratching his head.

He took her hand. "Let's return to the castle. It's starting to get late." Mariah leans against him. "Darling, have you noticed any strange female around the castle lately?" Joey looks back at her. For a moment. "There was no strange female within the castle or outside." he rubbed his chin thinking to himself. "I still haven't figured out who Raine is honestly. The Queen spoil him. Don't get why."

He pulls Mariah close into his embrace. "You should keep your distance away from him. Something about him. That doesn't sit right with me." Mariah sigh to herself. Looking at his fool. She less interested in this so call a man named Raine. He may be handsome but compared to her Love. He nothing but a pebble among rocks. She slowly lost in her thought. If Winter not here. Where can that good for nothing be?