LARA’S POV
She was smiling as she looked at me and this made me relax a little as I could not bear the thought of getting her annoyed with my dreary face.
“Never mind, I don’t need you until mid-day though,” she said.
She took a few steps towards me. “You look so dull, Lara, why is your face so gloomy, or should I say that you look tired?” she asked with a worried look. “I might as well say that you have been crying”
“No, Chamlar, not at all. I think I had very little sleep” I objected and tried to brighten up.
I must not admit that I have been crying. What if she decides to know the reason, how would I bring myself to tell her that while she has been up day and night, thinking of how to better our lots, I have been curled up in bed thinking just of myself.
I tried to put up some smiles.
“Sleep” she exclaimed. “Then I should not have waked you. See I will only need you later on. You can go ahead and sleep. You should sleep on my bed” she offered, concern written all over her.
“Not that, I am not feeling sleepy in the least. I am here now and awake. I just find it hard to sleep for the full length of the time” I said.
“Oh… but why is that so? Do you think you are sick? I can get the doctor for you immediately. Have you talked to Rich about it?” she asked.
“No. But I don’t think I am sick” I replied.
“Come sit, Lara” she requested.
She led me to the bed in a gentle manner and after I was seated, she sat beside me.
“Lara” she called and I looked at her. “How is Rich doing… I mean you two”
I blushed. “He is amazing so far, but you know he has been caught up in this fight and is hardly around”
“Okay,” she murmured.
“Thanks for asking,” I said with a smile.
“I think it has been long and we need to have this talk, Lara” she suddenly said.
“About what?” I inquired a little startled.
“You and Rich. The marriage that I set up between you two. If you want I can annul that immediately. See, I actually thought as at the time that I did that that it was the best for your two” she replied.
“But we are not complaining,” I said and grabbed her hands.
“You are not?” she asked in surprise.
I nodded in the affirmative and she stared at me in shock.
SCARLET’S POV
All I wanted to do was to make this right. clearly, I was thinking more about the kingdom when I made that arrangement and I thought I was also thinking about my friends, but now I have come to realize that I was not.
I agree that both of them are great people and whoever ends up with them as a mate would be fortunate. But what if they were not meant for each other, what if they cannot stand each other as mates?
While thinking of what I believe was great for my friends, I might just as well have succeeded in recreating a replica of my marriage with alpha Jake. What if they are never truly happy but have refused to show it less they annoy me?
I would have to make this right. I created it and now it is up to me to right it.
I watched her as she tried to defend the union and it left me feeling even more guilty and selfish.
“See, Lara, I did that arrangement because I was going to be gone from the kingdom and I wasn’t sure how long that would take. I did that to shield the kingdom” I said. I could feel a tear making its way throw my cheek and Lara brought out her hand and wiped it off.
“It is alright, dear, you did the best thing” she consoled me.
“No, it was not the best thing. I should have found another way around it and not gamble with the lives of my best friends” I said.
“Yes I agree that it might be seen as a gamble, but it led I and Rich into something great. Something unique that we might not have noticed on our own if we were not pushed a little harder” she replied with a cute smile.
I dried my tears immediately and sat up. “No, you are joking, right?” I asked in high hopes.
There was no way she could be joking with a thing of this nature, I could see the sincerely in her voice. She was not trying to make me feel good but was being honest. It was as if a heavy burden was lifted from my chest, I was almost going crazy thinking that I have done nothing but brought pains and endless miseries to the life of my friends.
“I cannot be joking with a thing as crucial as this, Chamlar, I am very happy with your decision,” she said.
“Oh my God this is good news” I exclaimed as my eyes flickered on my friend. I have been so caught up with politics that I have almost forgotten about her desires. “See I have always known that you and Rich got something for each other but when it lingered for too long without either of you showing it, I dismissed my thought entirely. And the truth is, I have been meaning to do this for a very long time now, even right from Black Moon. I felt you two would only be happy with each other”
I was overjoyed. My assumptions have been right, and I am glad that I made this happen.
“I love Rich so much, Chamlar…”
I quickly cut her. “Enough with the title, Lara. Oh no I am so happy for you”
“Title…” she was perplexed.
“Okay, maybe when we are outside. But right now, I need that girl that would always refer to me as Scarlet and would share all her thoughts with me. I need us to go back to those times when you can tell what I was thinking without me having to open my mouth” I begged.
She hugged me and began to sob. I know they were tears of joy, and slowly, mine started to flow freely too.
“Thank you, Scarlet,” she said.
Hearing my name from her lips after what appeared like ages, I held on tightly to her and could not let go.
“I love you, Lara, never forget that” I whispered into her ears while we allowed the tears to flow for a little longer.
“You are right, Scarlet. I have always loved Rich but I was afraid you got something for him. I wouldn’t want any tussle between us as a result of any man” she said as she was freed away from my grip.
“I did not think of him in such a way, Lara. I was so young and naive and all I wanted was a man that would pull me away from my misery” I explained.
I took her hands into mine and looked into her face. “You deserve this happiness, Lara. See, Rich will return soon and this night, permit me to throw you two a proper wedding” I offered.
She was shocked and her eyes almost pulled out of their sockets. But suddenly her face dropped and she said quietly. “There is going to be a war. I think a glamorous wedding would be out of place now”
I thought about what she had said for a moment. She was right everyone was focused on the battle ahead. But who says we cannot have a little fun with the two most important people in my life? To hell with protocols.
“We are going to do this for you, Lara. Soon Rich would be off to battle and I want you to have something nice to hold on to while he is away” I replied. “Come, I have somewhere to take you to” I held her and pulled her hand.