"Then you should," she said. Please, please let it slide. “I-I know it was a terrible thing to do, and I can understand why you aren't inclined to trust us. But I really do think it was done out of fear. After everything we've been through...it's hard for us to feel safe."
He thinks about it for a few minutes.
" I'll let it slide, just this once. But if anything and I mean anything, goes missing again...I'll act first and ask questions later."
She nodded. It was the best she could hope for.
And then his tone shifted to something softer, kinder. "I got you something," he said, looking over at her.
"What," she asked, surprised by the change in subject.
"A present," he said.
"A...a present?"
"Yes...is that another thing you don't have where you’re from? Marriage and presents," he asked, fighting a smile.
"Shut up," she said, rolling her eyes. "I'm just a little surprised, is all."
"You know...if anyone else spoke to me in that manner...I'd probably take their head," he said, all traces of his smile disappeared.
"I-I didn't mean it like that, I swear, it's just that," she began, fear rising in her chest, "I mean, I didn't seriously-"
But he cuts her off with a laugh. "I'm kidding, Aria," he said, the smile on his face making him look so much younger.
"Oh my god...you-" she said, shaking her head, "for a second, I thought you were serious." She put a hand on her chest, willing her heart rate to slow down.
"Relax. I don't take heads for things like that. You'd have to say something a lot worse for me to at least consider it."
She shook her head in confusion. Why was he acting like this? So relaxed? Like they were friends or something?
"So, what'd you get me," she asked, her curiosity from before returning.
"I've left it in my room," he said, getting up. They walked back in silence until they reached the doors leading to his quarters. He greeted the guards there and went inside.
Since he hadn't invited her in, Aria stood by the door, waiting for him to return.
He came back a few minutes later, and they walked down an adjacent hallway for some privacy.
"Here you go," he said, handing her something wrapped in parchment paper once they were alone again.
"What is it," she asked, looking at the present in wonder.
"Just open it," he said, rolling his eyes.
She fought the scowl she wanted to throw his way and opened the package.
Inside, there was a little book. The binding was leather, and she opened it to find thick blank pages—a small journal. And behind the journal, she found brand new pencils. Already sharpened and ready to use.
She looked up at him. "How-how did you know?"
"I asked around," he said shrugging. "Brent had mentioned something about you having been a teacher, but you were actually a writer, so..."
Aria looked back at the present. It was nice. Too nice.
"I can't accept this. It's wonderful, but..."
"Relax, Aria. It's a present. It's not a big deal," he said, shaking his head.
"Um...okay then. Th-thank you," she said blushing. She wasn't sure why he'd done it. Why he'd even thought about her long enough to get her something while he was away. Why he questioned Brent about her. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you're gonna get married, she thought, you idiot.
"I've had a long journey, so I'm going to bed, but I'll have one of my guards escort you back to your room, or wherever you'd like to go," he said, yawning.
"Okay, um. Thanks again. For-for the present," Aria said, feeling a little awkward.
He only nodded in response.
She decided to go to her room, not really wanting the others to see that she'd gotten a present. She still wasn't sure how she felt about it. Part of her felt weary. The other part felt flattered.
She put her gift under her pillow and went back to the throne room to talk to her people. She told them about what Lex had said, about this being the only time he'd be understanding of the situation. She told them about his threat, hoping that it would prevent them from doing anything like this ever again.
That night, she really wanted to write. It'd been a long time since she'd gotten the opportunity to do so, but she didn't want the other girls in the room to see. And besides, she wasn't sure what she wanted to write. The first entry had to be something special. It was a new journal, after all.
The girls said goodnight, and Aria finally felt the effects of the past few sleepless nights, making her eyes droop, pulling her towards sleep.
She was almost asleep when she decided on her new book's first entry: a poem about a man with dark, deep eyes and curly brown hair.
"Get up," the man yelled from above her.
She clenched her jaw in frustration, getting up. She'd been thrown to the floor for the third time that day, and she was sick of it.
She positioned her feet like he'd showed her to, transferring most of her weight to her left side, her stronger side.
He swung his right arm, but this time she was expecting it, leaning back far enough for it to go right past her. Use your opponent's weight against them, he'd said, so she did. She placed both hands on his exposed shoulder, pushing him hard enough that he stumbled but didn't fall.
"Good," he said, "Maybe we'll make a warrior out of you yet."
She trained with him for another hour before heading to the bathroom to wash up before dinner.
A few days ago, she'd decided to begin training with the rest of her friends, figuring she needed to get her strength back.
After her bath, she made her way to the throne room and ate dinner with the others. She'd lost track of how many days they'd been there. But that morning, a few guests had arrived for the wedding.
Lex had
