A few others spoke up, claiming that Aria was innocent, that they didn't do anything.
"Be quiet," Lex yelled. And thankfully, all of them shut their mouths.
"Lex," Aria said, cautiously putting a hand on his forearm. "Please just- just talk to me for a few minutes...I-I swear I didn't do this..."
"I told you I'd let it slide the first time. I don't want to hear anything you have to say."
"Just give me a fucking chance," she yelled, "Please just talk to me."
He looked at her for a few seconds.
"Fine, let's talk," he said, grabbing her arm and pulling her towards the doors.
A few people spoke up, asked him to leave her there. She was just about to turn back to tell them that it was okay, that everything would be fine, when she saw Ben coming towards them in her peripheral vision.
Before she could say anything, Ben grabbed Lex by the back of the shirt and yanked him back.
"No," he yelled, "You're not taking her anywhere!"
"Ben," Aria yelled. She couldn't believe he'd actually just done that.
The king's guards ran forward, but Lex turned and put his hand up, making the guards stop in their tracks.
"What the hell do you think you're doing," he asked, lowering his voice.
"You're not taking her anywhere," Ben said, pushing Aria behind him.
"Ben, stop this right now, or I swear-" Aria began, but she was cut off by the sound of Lex's fist connecting with Ben's face. Aria moved out of the way. The hit knocked him off his feet, and he fell back.
"Do not, under any circumstance, ever touch me again," Lex said, looming above him.
He turned back around and walked through the doors, not waiting to see if Aria would follow.
Chapter 11
He walked so fast, she had trouble keeping up. They walked until they reached the spot where he had given her the journal.
"So, what have you got to say this time," he asked, his voice cutting like glass.
"I-I don't know what to say. But Lex, you have to believe me, I didn't do this, I swear, you know I-"
"I don't know shit. And I don't have to believe anything. Even if you didn't do this, one of your people did."
"I know, I know that. It was obviously placed there for a reason. Whoever took it, whoever put it under my pillow, knew you'd react like this. They knew you'd kick us all out if you thought that-that it was me, but Lex, I swear it wasn't me! Why would I do that? I've been trying so hard to make this work. I've agreed to your terms. I've agreed to marry you. Why would I throw all of that away for a dagger," she asked. She knew she sounded desperate, but she didn't care. She was desperate.
He looked at her for a few moments, his eyes searching hers. He sighed and turned away, looking at the village below them.
"Lex...." she began, walking up to stand beside him. "Please, you have to believe me."
He turned to look at her.
"I do. I believe you, Aria," he said. He wasn't yelling anymore; he didn't even sound angry. He sounded...disappointed. Which somehow made her feel worse. "But that doesn't change the fact that someone in your group did this. How am I supposed to let you stay now? How am I supposed to trust any of you?"
"You don't have to. But you can trust me, you know I wouldn't-" she said, but her voice caught at the end of the sentence.
He shook his head. "I can't have this. I can't have your people around mine. Yeah, this time, it was only a dagger. But it was placed under your pillow; I can't have sabotage-and deceit. I won't tolerate that. You have to leave," he said, looking away.
She felt fear and desperation clawing at her chest.
"But I-I don't want to go," she said, her voice quiet and pleading.
"I don't want you to go," he said, turning to face her.
"So don't make us. Don't make me..." Aria whispered. And before she really knew what she was doing, she grabbed his hand. A little cautiously, at first. But when he didn't pull away, she laced her fingers through his. For a moment, she was overwhelmed by how much smaller her hand was, how much softer.
"Aria..."
"You don't have to trust them. But you can trust me..."
"What am I supposed to do? Let it go? Do you have any idea what my people, what your people would think of me?"
"I can't speak for anyone else. But it'd only make me think of you as...as kind and forgiving. And I know you're both; you've shown me that already. But please don't...don't let one person make you turn your back on all of us. We're good people, Lex. And we're so grateful for everything you've done for us. You have to believe me..."
She was still holding his hand.
"I do, Aria. I believe you...that's not the issue. Your people...I can't-"
It was a lost cause. She could see that he'd already made his mind up. But still, she didn't let go of his hand.
"I-I understand," she said after a while. She felt like crying. Tears pooled in her eyes. The thought of going back...
He sighed again. "I'm sorry," he said, giving her hand a little squeeze.
"I know," she whispered.
They stood in silence for a few minutes, looking out the window, past the village. Still holding hands.
"Thank you for what you've done for us," she whispered. Lex turned to look at her, but she couldn't meet his eye. "I-I'm sorry for how this has turned out..." She finally pulled her hand from his, "I won't forget this," she said, finally looking back at him.
He sighed. She turned to walk away, but he grabbed her hand again.
"If-if I let you stay, it'll be different. You people will be under constant surveillance until I find out who's behind this.
