#𝐝𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 » henry

[xlostparadise]

@wintcrstcrfall // continued from x

Clearing his throat quietly, Henry took her hand in his and led her towards the center of the room with an air of confidence in his steps. Although he wouldn’t be caught dead or alive boasting of it, he knew his way around a dance floor. His father, the king, was rather notorious for hosting the most extravagant parties their kingdom had ever seen, and needless to say, the young prince had more than enough practice in dancing with the fairer sex. Often it was he was one of the few still enjoying themselves long into the early hours of the morning. That was a while back ago, of course, before he was a changed man. “It does, I believe,” came his playful response. “Wouldn’t you agree?” His blue eyes sparkled with amusement. With one arm secured carefully around her waist and his other hand holding hers, he pulled Emmalynn close as he began to take the lead in their waltz. He hadn’t expected to feel this nervous, and yet, being so close to her, his heart at once began to frantically beat within the confines of his chest. “What makes you hesitant about me?” Henry asked, bold and direct. “Am I not handsome enough for you? You couldn't bear the thought of waking up the rest of your days to my unsightly face? Is that what it is?” he teased, although he was entirely serious about his initial inquiry. 

[xlostparadise]

Henry winced, his eyes downcast as the harsh truth of Lynn’s words lacerated his heart. It made him sound tremendously and awfully selfish, and perhaps, that he was. The prince swallowed thickly. The guilt was already much too heavy for him, a burden he would be forced to carry for the rest of his life. He had failed to foresee that a mere visit with the princess would result in carnage and bloodshed, loss of life that could have been avoided if only he hadn’t dared to dream and follow his heart but the two had not yet come into an agreement to marry! No, no, no. This was all senseless and barbaric. A simple visit, surely, didn’t warrant a hostile response from their mutual enemies. Admittingly, when Emmalynn withdrew her dagger, he felt instantaneously at ease, but he didn’t know it until she had done so. When she explained that her trust was to be earned gradually, he couldn’t help but grow more fond of the redhead. Truly, she was all he had hoped she would be. “I pray I’m wrong about this, princess,” was all Henry could offer. What else could he say when now was not the time for matters involving the heart. “But if I’m not -- well, I needed you to hear it firsthand from me before elsewhere.” Now that this weight had been removed from his chest, he gently urged her to lead the way through the secret passage. He couldn’t be certain what course the night would take them. However, what he was certain of was he was prepared to fight tooth and nail to protect her and keep her out of harm's way. Although… the young prince was also fully convinced Emmalynn was rather capable of defending herself, what with the dagger in her hands and the purposeful fire ablaze in her eyes.

Lynn wanted to protest when the prince got a hold of her hand. Instead, the intensity of his gaze made her to stop, despite how urgent this moment was. They had no time to waste and yet, Henry was talking about his decisions prior to coming to her castle, to her home, and the heavy truth that he wanted to share with her suddenly downed onto her. The princess swallowed, hoping that it would be enough to eliminate the gasp rising within her. Her other hand, the one grasping the dagger, got a hold of it even more tightly. What he was saying was madness, but it wasn't unheard of. Suddenly, Lynn's head was spinning with theories and emotions, one from the other more devastating and dangerous. "So you're telling me that you think the mayhem tonight, all of the people that are or will die... is because of your decision?" It was a dangerous thing to claim, especially to the face of someone who loved all of her people so dearly. There was no doubt that she knew by name those who had already lost their life and even that thought made the sorrow unbearable. "Thank you, prince Henry. For your honesty." The princess managed to utter as her eyes shifted downwards, to where he was holding her wrist. "The dagger is of no threat to you, do not worry." As a proof, she moved it a little bit to the side, so now the pointed end wasn't towards him. It was then that the redhead realized he'd called her 'Lynn' and just like that, her eyes were back on his. "But my trust is not win over just like that. It's a gradual process, towards which you've made the first step. But it would've been better if you've told us this from the beginning too. All of this will be blamed upon someone. But I see no reason for that someone to be you, prince. You just did what was right. You searched for love." // @xlostparadise

[xlostparadise]

Henry took the torch that she gave to him, but before the princess moved any further than where she stood, he grabbed her wrist with his vacant hand and held the fiery light between them, so that they could see one another’s faces clear as the light of day. “Wait... There is something I need to tell you,” he said gravely, suddenly struck by the guilt that he hadn’t thought to mention it before. Although he was more than certain they were the only ones in the vicinity, his voice fell to a wary murmur. “Before I journeyed here, word of my intentions to marry you spread all throughout the kingdom, as well as our neighbors…. There are those who aren’t exactly in favor of a union between the two of us.” The idea of two great kingdoms merging into one powerful entity was threatening enough. If it came to fruition, there was no telling what they could achieve or what their mutual enemies would scheme against them. However, gaining power and control was far from Henry’s agenda. With this revelation, he would somehow have to prove that. “I cannot say with full certainty, but that could be the reason why... Lynn, if I believed for a moment that my plans would have led to this then I--” He couldn’t ask Emmalynn to trust him. She hardly knew him. He shook his head. Never mind what he would have done. That didn’t matter anymore. “If that is the case, then I alone will bear full responsibility for what has happened here tonight.” Henry swallowed. He should have mentioned it sooner and was now regretting he had acted rather foolishly and selfishly. His blue gaze flickered between her eyes and to the dagger she held between her fingers. “You have some reason to trust me now, or else I wouldn’t have bothered informing you, and with a sharp tool in your possession no less.” @wintcrstcrfall

Her heart was beating so loudly that it almost drowned the screams all around them. Emmalynn still couldn't fully process what was happening and why it was happening; not once in all of her years had she ever witnessed anything more than a few rebels that were inevitable. Other than that, everyone loved her father, everyone was happy with his reign - not to mention that everyone loved her as well. But by the shouts and the screaming, one might say that an uprising was underway. "This way," the princess nodded towards one painting, a hidden pathway visible once she pushed it to the side. Maybe it was foolish to trust her safety to a man who she all but had said at least a dozen times she didn't trust his reformed life - yet here they were. She just hoped that the trembling of her voice hadn't been too noticeable. With her free hand she deftly pulled a hidden dagger from her skirt - it wouldn't do much good, but it was better than nothing, until she could get her hands on a real weapon. "I don't understand... Why-... Why is this happening?" Her words weren't pointed at Henry, but he was the only one to hear them. "We need to get weapons, I need to be next to my father," she insisted before handling him a torch, so they'd see where they were going. "There's a path that leads straight to the armory," Lynn whispered, shuddering when a spiders web brushed against her cheek. That was just who she was - weapons wielding princess that was still afraid of spiders. "Are you ready? I don't know what's at the end of that path." // @xlostparadise

[xlostparadise]

"Not at all," answered Henry not a moment later, his mouth curving into an almost cheeky little smile. "But since we are on the matter, do you mean to tell me you truly don't care what the love of your life, the person you wish to spend the rest of your life with, looks like on the outside? Suppose this man appeared... beastly, yet -- yet you knew for certain he had a good, pure heart. His looks, then, really wouldn't matter to you?" At his own 'challenging' question, he raised a brow, eagerly awaiting the her response. "No, you haven't. You should know, I don't give up easy. No war in the past would have been won if the soldiers cowardly ran away at the smallest sign of resistance from the enemy. And I regret to inform you, you're not very convincing," Henry teased further. He could no longer decide what he was enjoying more at the present moment: the dancing or their conversation, but regardless both were equally as pleasant as the other. "Your concerns aren't unfounded. I understand why you hesitate as much as you do, princess. You are exceptionally wise beyond your years, and I admire that about you, among a many other things. Whoever you do decide to marry in the end will be the luckiest. It is rather unfortunate that I cannot change my past, but even if it were so, I don't think I would, for it has shaped me into the man that stands before you today. For that, I can't regret anything I've done before."

As much as it was natural for her to want to have the last word, at Henry's question the princess remained silent, head turning to the side, so she could hide the small tug at the corners of her lips. Even if she had inquired in a way that should've suggested she meant to take a jab at his supposed abstinence, somehow the prince's reply served as a reason enough to make her a little bit flustered. To her horror, of course. And he proved himself quite the decent dancer too, which was to be expected of someone from his position, of course - but Emmalynn had seen plenty of princes who were just forced to learn a couple of steps, yet it was evident that their heart was not in what they were doing with their partner. That couldn't be said about Henry and Lynn had to be able to admit it at least to herself. "Why, you must really think I'm so shallow to ask me such thing, don't you?" This time she couldn't be sure if he just used those words to tease her, or did he really wonder about the real reason. It wasn't like the princess hadn't already hinted of what she thought, of course, but she could repeat it one more time. Just this once. "I just don't believe that one can truly leave the debauched lifestyle behind them. You're always one temptation away from becoming who you once were. And my heart is not to be played with." Head turning to face him, Lynn smiled honestly. "It's not personal. If it was anyone else in your place, I would've said the same thing, prince Henry. Have I convinced you yet that you're sadly wasting your time?"

[xlostparadise]

Despite his readiness to take flight with her, Emmalynn’s brief hesitation gave Henry the moment to debate whether leaving the others was the right thing to do. He had always been taught to fight when the time called for it. And wasn’t this now the time? Of course, he was utterly defenseless. He had no sword or weapon of any kind on him. Although, if he were to leave, wasn’t he acting purely out of fear and cowardice and selfishness? But looking at the princess’ face, looking into her eyes, he knew more than anything -- despite if others were to deem him gutless and cowardly -- he had to keep her safe. Yes, he had to. Because they were together, she was his responsibility, and he would never be able to forgive himself should something happen to her under his watch. Before he knew it, she was pulling him away from the carnage. Horrifying screams unlike anything the prince had heard before pierced through the room. He prayed that the king’s guards would protect her father and would put a stop to the ambush at once. For now, it wasn’t safe for either one of them to remain where they were. With their hands holding one another with a vice-like grip, his heart raced, pulse quickening, as they weaved through the crowd thrown into consternation and uproar. Henry had hoped to be the one to lead Emmalynn to safety, but it seemed as though he was the one at her mercy, trusting that she knew where to run to for safety from the slaughter. 

For a moment too prolonged in time, the only thing that mattered was the warmth radiating off of Henry's hand resting on Lynn's back. As if his constant presence, that undeniably brought to her so much warmth to begin with, wasn't enough of a shocking distractions, now the prince had decided to literally be as close to her as it was appropriate to be. Emmalynn's eyes darted for a second around, seeking the judgmental faces of those around them, but she wasn't able to find any. For now. Exhaling a little shakily, the princess opened her mouth, words on the ready to tell him that he was toying with a dangerously close invisible line... but then the noise started. At first she thought it was simply some of the servants creating a sort of clamor, maybe someone had dropped glasses or anything of the sort - until she saw the people that flung open the doors. As if from somewhere far away, Henry's words came to her ringing ears. "N-no, my father-...", she tried to protest but casting her eyes all around, she saw that he was already surrounded by guards, getting ready for an inevitable clash. As if on instinct, her hand clasped that of the prince next to her before she gave a slight nod. "I know a secret way out, let's go!" Even before the words were out, she was already tugging him away with her.

[xlostparadise]

Henry could have laughed, yet he didn't. Instead, amusement had fully captured his features, all the while the princess captured his heart. Did she realize, he wondered, how fond he had grown of her in such short of time? And each time she opened her mouth to speak, he found himself further and further drawn in by her thoughts, her desires. He wanted to be exactly what Emmalynn wanted in a husband, but even more than that, Henry was hopelessly convinced that, without needing to change, as he danced with her that very moment, he already was. Now all she had to do was realize it for herself too. Leaning in close, as if about to share a secret, mouth slowly curving into a smirk, he whispered, "Worry not, I won't tell a single soul." Drawing back, he gave a light chuckle. "There is no shame in wanting to be attracted to the one you're spending a lifetime with. I believe God intended it to be this way. Besides, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, is it not? Not everyone finds beauty in the same things. Quite similar to one's man trash being another's treasure." Without being fully aware of it, Henry's fingers moved against the small of her back, where he held onto her, as if caressing. He took a moment to consider her question and when he parted his lips to give a response, there came a clamor of metal and footsteps stomping almost in unison as the castle doors suddenly flung open. The entire room fell silent and still for just a moment before it dawned on the people that these intruders were not friend but foe. Then, pure chaos erupted. Alarmed, he held onto Emmalynn more tight and secure. "We must go. Now. Right now!"

She had walked right into that trap prince Henry had so cleverly set for her and Lynn had no one else to blame for it but herself. The answer to his question should've been pretty straightforward and yet something kept interfering with how she wanted to reply. "Why do I have a feeling that no matter what answer I give you, you'll always think that I'm not entirely honest, prince Henry?", Lynn narrowed her eyes, allowing them to flick just for a second between his lips and gaze. That simple silly action brought a blush to her cheeks, a sense of being caught doing something wrong. So, naturally, she hurried to reply: "If I tell you that what my chosen one looks like truly doesn't matter, you wouldn't be fully convinced, because of course we all like to look at pretty things. But if I tell you that yes, I do wish for my husband to be handsome upon other things - won't that seem so shallow? And I'd like to think that we both know I'm anything but this." The dance had started to slightly take her breath away, yet the princess wanted to finish everything she had to say. When one of her hands landed softly upon his shoulder once again, her next answer was already thought of. "I must admit, this is an admirable quality, if you're truly that changed man." It was needless to be said that her heart kept being guarded about this possibility. "But don't you wish to be able to have that special connection with your chosen bride? To know that she'll be only yours and you - only hers? I think that feeling is so sacred and special. But maybe... maybe that's just me and my romantic nature. Am I too hopelessly romantic?"