Be With Me

"Be with you?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This guard knew full well of what was going on between the prince and I, and he was being riskier than anything. 

Just because the prince is not legally able to be with me, doesn't mean he wouldn't attempt to behead the guard. 

"Yes, you're nearly 19 and have yet to marry or have children," the guard reminded her of the rule about turning 22. "I'm nearly 20, and I can be banished just the same," he reminded her. 

I raised one of my brows, "are you not immune for serving them?" 

"Of course not. They need productive members of society, ones that will increase their population," he snapped, his tone changing from sympathetic to frightening. 

I put my hands to my stomach, "thank you for the offer, but I'm fine." He looked where my hands are and scrunched his brows as he studied me. I wasn't trying to give clues, but the idea that Oliver's child was growing inside me was a marvelous feeling. 

"Are you pregnant?" He asked me. 

I hesitated for a moment, "yes," he already knew of the prince and I, there was no sense in hiding anything more. "A few months," I added. 

He only shook his head, "you may pass," then headed towards a small shack the guards called their post for the gate. 

After the awkward encounter, as soon as he gave me the okay, I dashed for the forest, refusing to turn back until I felt alright enough. I missed Oliver so much. 

We barely saw each other throughout the week anyways, but 2 weeks of not seeing each other in general was ripping my heart out. 

The willow wasn't far, it only took me longer than normal because of having ran a race earlier and I was becoming out of breath easier and easier with every passing day; but I reached it none the less, just not in record time.

The crickets chirped loudly, and I even heard distance frogs croaking from a nearby lake. The streams created a rhythm for the forest to sing to; it was some of the most relaxing noises mixed together in one, and I wanted nothing more than to relax at the base of the willow.

Despite the bugs that most likely surrounded me, especially the spiders that I for some reason had an extreme phobia of, I plopped down, refusing to move from sitting against the tree, my back being supported by its trunk. 

My blue eyes peered into the now black sky, lit only by the moon and stars once more. It was so close to the city, but such a different view; like a separate world in its own rite. 

I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, listening to the songs of the woods, and the feeling of the grass sway against my fingers. 

One day it'll all be alright, I thought to myself. 

As I nearly fell asleep, I heard the soft footsteps of someone approaching me. My eyes instantly shot open, and I frantically rose to my feet to see where the steps were originating from. 

When I turned towards the path that I heard them upon, there was nothing there. I began to get antsy, finally making the quick decision that it was time to go. I've never come alone before, and perhaps that was why I never thought of the dangers; Oliver was always there to protect me. 

Without looking back I started towards the gate once more, but as I began to leave, I heard the footsteps get closer. 

The realization that the steps were never coming from the path hit me, and I looked over my shoulder to see a small, tan cougar getting ready to pounce. Its butt was in the air like a cat, and it's upper half was low and ready while it's yellow eyes pierced the night looking right at me. 

I turned to face it, wanting at least a fighting chance. I knew it was about to attack no matter what I did, so I did what needed to be done. 

I screamed with every part of soul, echoing as far as the gate; though the only one I could see running towards me was but a single guard. I could only assume which one it was too. 

With the sound of my screams, the predator pounced, instantly knocking me onto my back with a loud thud. Luckily, it had landed just right that it didn't put any pressure onto my stomach, missing it by mere centimeters. However, one of its front paws was digging into my chest, its nails protruding from its toes and was coming extremely close to puncturing my skin severely.

I began to cough as the weight of the feline pressed down on me, with the only thing holding its head back being my own two, very weak arms; but I was using everything I had in me to stop it from killing me. I was using strength I didn't know I had. 

As I held it off, simply on the defense, the guard that had asked for my hand previously had stepped in, instantly shoving his sword into the feline's heart from its back, saving me from imminent demise, though not of stains. The blood from the beautiful predator had unfortunately doused me in the warm, red liquid that once coursed through its veins. 

"Thank you," I sheepishly told him, trying not to vomit from both the blood and now knowing I was forever indebted to him. I was panting from exhaustion, my arms shaking from using strength they shouldn't have been using to begin with. 

Without saying a word he knelt down to where I was still laying, too fatigued to move. 

Running, fighting, heartbreak; today was a day that I had yet to experience throughout my entire life. 

"So, about my offer?" He slyly smiled. It was almost like he had someone plan it all out. I pictured him making a deal with a cougar. He held out his hand for me to take, but I ignored it, helping myself up. 

Unfortunately, I knew now that I had no other choice. If a man of a higher class saves a woman of one lower, and they ask for marriage, she has no right to refuse. After all, she was considered swine otherwise. 

"Sir Gregory, thank you for saving me," I was becoming choked up, "but please talk to my father, as you know as much as I he has the final say." 

Even though I knew my father would say yes more than a million times, it would still keep me from having to answer now. Not even having to dig deep into his actions, I knew he was attempting to take a jab at the prince knowing full well the prince would be unable to act without extreme measures being taken.