by Aubrey Moyes
“Why not he’s the King’s best man? Why couldn’t he have said that?” Colin wondered aloud.
Would it matter with her reaction? Then he pictured the coldness in her eyes and voice as she had said she knew who he was. Aiden had felt his heart being cut like a knife at that point. But he swore he saw something else in her eyes at first. Was he only hoping for more than what was there? He thought he might be going crazy.
Chapter 6
Kyla didn’t sleep well that night. All she dreamt of was Aiden Scott and how he had betrayed her friendship. To her it was him saying that he didn’t think she was important to him. It had hurt her so much since she had cared about him.
She had to admit though that she never told him how she had felt. The fact was she hadn’t realized how much he had meant until it was too late. He had been gone, and she was mad at him for leaving.
“You shouldn’t be mad at him.” She said to herself in the night. Kyla knew it was true. She just didn’t want her thoughts to betray her while he was here. If he had left once before, he’ll leave again. Kyla couldn’t let her emotions make her feel like she loved him. Not again, I can’t feel that pain of him leaving me.
By the time morning came around she hoped she could see him and not react in anyway like she truly felt. Instead she hoped that her emotions would allow themselves to be shut off for the next few days. Kyla wanted to be cold and distance from Aiden, she didn’t want to be hurt again.
“Kyla did you know your brother is back?” Her mother said as she came down the stairs.
“Yes mother I saw him last night.” Kyla stated.
Kyla thought about pointing out that her childhood friend was the one who rescued him. But then she felt her heart flutter at the thought of his name.
“Well you should be sure to thank that brave soldier who saved him.” Her mother said.
“I will mother.” Kyla answered. Clearly her mother didn’t realize that the brave soldier was her childhood companion Aiden. Kyla knew if her mother knew that she wouldn’t be pushing her so much to thank him, unless her mother’s thought of Aiden had changed. She knew that when he had simply been the son of the blacksmith, well her mother would never have agreed to the marriage of the two. Had Kyla actually wanted that such a young age? She didn’t know for sure, but she knew her feelings for Aiden had been more than just a passing fancy. Of course it had taken him leaving and not seeing him for years to realize it.
How stupid could she be? She wondered and almost asked aloud. But her mother wouldn’t know what she was talking about Kyla was sure of that. Instead she walked down to the dining hall; she could hear the man talking there. As she approached them she became more nervous. Kyla was still so hurt about him leaving like he did, she wanted to act upset at him, but didn’t know if she could do it.
“Well good morning Kyla!” Her brother was the first to see her when she walked into the room.
Aiden turned around and saw her. He stood up and bowed to her once again. “Good morning.” He said and pulled out a chair for her to sit down beside him.
Kyla didn’t want to sit there, but couldn’t figure out a reason to not be pleasant. After all he had saved her brother; she shouldn’t be too mean to him. “Thank you and good morning everyone.” Kyla sat and said looking at her brother and father, but trying to not look at Aiden.
It was helpless though he asked her a question, and she had to look at him. As soon as she looked into his green eyes though she realized she didn’t remember his question.
“I’m sorry I missed your question.” She said, and tried to sound cold and hard, but thought her voice sounded too pleasant.
“I asked if you ever married.” He stated again.
“Well I don’t know if that is any of your business or not.” Kyla said her voice harsh. She had been shocked by his question. But mostly she had been mad at it, and at the fact that he had left with no word to her.
He was shocked by her reply; she could see it in his eyes. Her father though was the first to speak. “Kyla I don’t think that is a very nice response. Aiden here was just asking a simple question.” Her father reprimanded her.
“I’m sorry father.” She looked down at the ground. Then she looked over at Aiden, she was unable to hide the pain in her eyes though. “No I never married. The man that I loved left in the middle of the night; he didn’t say a word to me about it.” She stated.
Aiden’s eyes widened at the comment. He wanted to ask if he was the man, but didn’t dare hold this conversation in front of the other men in the room.
“Kyla, I think perhaps you need a little more sleep.” Her father shouted at her.
Kyla turned towards her father and said. “I think you are right father, I didn’t sleep well last night. Excuse me I must go back upstairs.” She stood up and walked out of the room quickly.
She hadn’t been able to control her emotions around Aiden at all. Kyla had hoped that she would be able to converse with him and not show any emotion. Instead she had basically told him she loved him right there in front of her brother and father.
Her father had shouted at her so quickly Kyla hadn’t been able to see how Aiden had reacted to her comment. It could have told her a lot about how he felt though. “Why do you keep thinking he cared, he left in the middle of the night?” She stated to herself.
Kyla knew she was just a foolish young girl still at the age of 21. But she had always wanted him since he left, and before even, if she would admit the truth to anyone.
She lay on her bed and cried. Kyla had nothing else to do but cry. She didn’t even want to attend the feast when it took place. She was sure that he would avoid her after today. If she had to watch him dance with another female it might kill her. The pain in her heart felt like it covered the whole area.
Chapter 7
Aiden hadn’t said much after Kyla left the dining hall. He had been so shocked by her comment about the person she loved leaving in the middle of the night. It had to be him, and the look he had seen in her eyes. It had been unmistakable to him, she was in pain. He had listened to the King’s apology for his daughter and accepted it. But what he really wanted to do was track her down, go up to her room and explain himself. However, that would be inappropriate.
He also wanted to ask the King or Colin who Kyla had been talking about. He was still afraid to hear the answer though, because maybe there had been someone else. It could have happened he had been gone for 5 years now. Aiden wondered if he was just hoping that she had been in love with him.
After all wouldn’t Colin or the King give him some insight if they knew that Aiden was the man? Instead he excused himself. “I’m sorry but I think I’ll go and help my parents out around their place for a while.” Aiden finally said.
“Sure, but don’t forget the feast will be later, so be sure to be here.” The King reminded Aiden.
“I will be here.” Aiden responded and then left.
He was not sure how he felt. He looked up to where he was sure her room was as he left the castle. She was in the window, but not looking out. Aiden stood there for a few minutes and stared up at her. He wanted to yell out to her, tell her how he felt. Eventually though he walked away and down to his parents’ house.
“What’s wrong son?” His mother asked him a little while later as he sat and looked out the window. “Do you miss being gone?”
“No mom, I’m wondering what would have happened had I stayed here instead of going off and joining the army.” He admitted to his mother.
“Well one thing is certain; Colin Fleming would be dead now if you hadn’t joined.” His mother commented.
“We don’t know that mother; someone else could have rescued him.” Aiden stated. “I’m not the only person who knows how to do that mother.”
“I think he would be dead. You know everything happens for a reason. Your reason for joining the army had to be this. I can’t say I was happy about you doing it, but now I know you made the right choice.” His mother stat
ed.
Aiden wondered if his mother was right. She had always told him that things happen for a reason, and that we don’t always understand them. But if he would have stayed in town would he be married to Kyla now? Or was she talking about another man.
“Mother do you know if Kyla was ever courted by a man while I was gone?” Aiden finally asked. It was the perfect way to find out. After all he knew his mother loved to talk to the ladies in the village.
“No she never did. Though a few men did come in from other places and asked for her hand. Each time she would refuse the men. I heard she was waiting for someone to come back to town.” His mother stated.
“Who mother?” Aiden asked, tired of guessing at this game.
“Are you really that blind son? Do you not know that she cared about you for years?” She asked him.
“It can’t be me; I’m no one in the kingdom.” Aiden stated.
“Go and see her, tell her how you feel.” His mother said.
“She can’t marry me mother; you know I don’t have the rank for that.” Aiden said.
His mother shook her head. “Son, don’t you realize it doesn’t matter your title, if you love each other.”
“I don’t know if she loves me anymore though. If it was really me she felt for, her eyes said something else.” Aiden stopped and thought back to the look in her eyes both times he had seen her so far.
“Stop thinking and go talk to her.” His mother smacked him on the back of the head.
“Ouch, mother really?” Aiden asked rubbing his head at where she had popped him. “I’m going okay.”
Aiden put up his hands and went off to the castle. He wasn’t sure if she was right or not about Kyla, but why shouldn’t he take a chance. The worst thing that could happen now was she would laugh in his face. If that happened he would simply go back to the army and visit his parents from time to time, or even move them to him.
He was tired of not knowing. Aiden approached the castle and saw that she was still sitting in the window. This time he got her attention. “Please Kyla come down and talk to me.” He pleaded.
She finally left the window, and he hoped was on her way down to see him. Aiden waited for what seemed like forever before he saw her coming out of the castle. “Thank you for coming down.” He said.
“What do you want?” She asked, her eyes showing a hard coldness that he didn’t enjoy.
Aiden looked down at the ground and took a deep breath. “Look I should have let you know I was leaving when I did. But the truth was I couldn’t bear to see you before I left. I wouldn’t have been able to go away if I had to look into your eyes and say good bye.” He said.
“But why did you leave? Why didn’t you stay?” Kyla asked him.
“Well in all honesty it was because I knew you would never marry me. I wanted you and knew I couldn’t have you. If I would have stayed I would have had to watch another man marry you, it wouldn’t work well for me.” He said.
Kyla looked into his eyes. “Do I look like I ever got married? I told you I didn’t marry. Do you know why I never got married?” She asked him, her voice was getting louder.
“No I don’t know why.” Aiden admitted.
“Because I loved you. That’s why and you left me like you didn’t care at all. How am I supposed to feel about that?” Kyla screamed.
Aiden was shocked at the anger that was coming out of her voice. “Look I didn’t know that, how am I supposed to know that?” He asked.
“You should have come and talked to me.” She stated.
“But the last time I saw you why didn’t you say something?” He asked her.
“Because of your friend showing up and he wasn’t leaving. I hoped that you had gotten the hint I wanted to talk to you. But you never sent him away.” Kyla said.
“How is it my fault then? I figured you didn’t or couldn’t marry me. I’m just a blacksmith’s son after all, how could the princess marry me?” Aiden confronted the other issue he felt they were facing.
“Don’t you understand that it wouldn’t matter? If I told my father I loved you that would be enough, he would let me marry just about anyone.” Kyla said.
“What about your mother? You always said she wanted you to marry a prince.” Aiden asked.
“My mother wants me to be happy. She would love for me to marry a prince, but only if he was someone who would bring a smile to my face. We’ve talked a lot in the past few years.” Kyla admitted.
“Will you marry me Kyla Fleming?” Aiden asked. He figured there was no better time than the present to ask. After all they had both just admitted that they loved one another. If she had loved him before, perhaps she still loved him.
“Will you leave me again?” She asked the pain was in her voice.
Aiden took her hand into his. “Kyla I will never leave you again. I am so sorry that I did the first time. It was my fear of not being enough for you that made me run. As long as I know you love me, I will be by your side!” He said to her.
Chapter 8
Kyla looked down at him; he had gotten down on one knee. She wished she felt positive about his words, but there was a little fear in her mind about him leaving. “Did my father put you up to proposing to me?” She finally asked.
His face showed the shock that she had expected. “Why would he do that? No he didn’t ask me. I was talking to my mother and I told her how I felt about you. She said that I was a blind fool and that you had cared about me for years. I just can’t help but wonder what our life would have been like if I would have said something to you before now.” He told her.
She shook her head. “I’ve had that thought more than once in the past 5 years too. We can’t change the past and I can’t hold you responsible for something both of us could have admitted too. I was just a young girl and unsure where my wishes would stand with my mother. I admit that I was worried about how she would take me wanting to marry you too.”
He looked up at her. “What changed your mind about that?” He asked her.
“I told you I talked to my mother many times in the past about this subject. There have been some people who have asked my hand in marriage. I talked to my mother about who I wanted in my life, not by name, mind you. But I explained to her that I wanted to love the person I would finally say yes to. I didn’t expect her to actually go along with my thoughts at first. But she had understood. She told me how she had waited for my father, that she hadn’t loved anyone but him. She had been asked to be married about 4 times before my father approached her. It was a long and beautiful story honestly. One day she will share the story with you I’m quite sure.” Kyla said to him.
“Does that mean you will give me your hand in marriage?” Aiden asked.
“Yes it does. Please don’t break my heart though and leave again.” Kyla commented.
Aiden kissed her quickly on the lips. “You’ve just made me the happiness man in the world! I will never leave your side.” Aiden stated. “But I really must ask your father for your hand in marriage too.” Aiden commented.
Kyla laughed. “You can do that, but I know exactly what he will say to you.” She said.
“What will he say?” Aiden looked puzzled.
“He’ll tell you it is up to me. I’m his little girl still even at my age. Whatever my little girl wants is what she will get! That’s what he will say!” Kyla stated.
Aiden laughed. “Well let me go and ask anyway. That way I know I did this the right way.”
“If that was the case why didn’t you ask him first then?” Kyla asked him.
“Because I know what he’ll say too. Remember I’ve known you since you were 4 years old. You were always a stubborn girl!” Aiden laughed.
Kyla smacked his arm. “That’s not very nice.”
“It is honest though, and from now on I will always be honest with you. I am so sorry that I’ve stolen so many years from us out of my fear. Let me work to make your life the best ever from now on though.” Aiden said.
&n
bsp; Kyla kissed him on the cheek. “Go ask my father. Maybe we can have the wedding at the feast!” She said.
Aiden went off to ask the King about Kyla’s hand in marriage. She had called it right; the King did say it was up to Kyla. So Aiden went off and told her the news.
“I must go and talk to him about the wedding!” Kyla said. She gave Aiden a kiss on the lips lightly and said good bye.
He watched her walk off and smiled.
Chapter 9
“Father can we have the wedding at the feast?” Kyla barged in on her mother and father in the living room.
“I told you he asked me.” Her father turned and said to her mother.
“So I take it you said yes!” Her mother smiled up at Kyla.
Kyla smiled at her parents. “Yes I did. So can we have the wedding then?” She asked again.
“Isn’t that a bit quick?” Her father asked.
“Thomas, she’s waited for 5 years don’t you think this is perfect timing?” Her mother said to her father.
He looked over at Kyla and said. “So this is the reason why? I don’t see why we can’t have it then.” He stated.
“Can I go tell him?” Kyla asked.
“No you need to get ready and you aren’t supposed to see him the night before. Let’s stick to a few traditions. I’ll have one of the men tell him the news.” Her father said.
“Yes father.” Kyla said and smiled.
“Let’s go and get my dress out, I think it will fit you nicely for tomorrow.” Her mother got up and took Kyla up the stairs.
The rest of the night went by quickly and soon she was laying down for her last night as a single woman. Kyla was happy to finally know that her and Aiden would be together for the rest of their lives. She had to laugh about the misunderstanding they had so many years ago now. But it also made her sad to think about the wasted time as well.
“Tomorrow I’ll be his wife!” She smiled and shut her eyes for the night.