Lady Blackthorn and the Pendragon Princess - Part 11

"You confuse me, Princess," Oliver said, shaking his head gently, her fingers still latching on his wrist. "Everyone has pain behind their eyes, do they not? That is where we keep it, or we would spend all our time crying. You, now, more so than me. And you wonder why I feel guilt when I see you? You've lost it all, haven't you? That which makes it worth it."

Her fingers twitched, startled, as her eyes fixed on his. She tried to turn away in time, but could not. The tears were already pouring from her eyes. She hurriedly tried to brush them away, and make up some excuse, but Oliver had hit the heart of the issue, perhaps cruelly.

"Not that… Not that, at all, Ser Patrick…" She insisted, but her tears had already begun to wrack her shoulders, and make her voice croak. "A Princess expects to… be alone… A Queen, even more so… It is privilege, and a responsibility…"