By Your Side

"Cough!"

"Are you ok?"

"Why?", she asked, "Why did you save me?"

He was taken back by that question. Why did he save her? He wanted the kingdom and for that, she needed to die. So, why did he jump in the waters ?

He did not know.

"That is not how you say 'Thank you'."

" 'Thank you' ? What should I thank you for? For attacking my people? Thank you for starting this war? " She stood up, picking up her sword, "It would've been better if I would've died in the river. At least, this bloodshed would have ended then. "

"You can still end this. You don't have to die for this."

He unsheathed his sword.

She raised her own sword, anticipating an attack.

To her surprise, he dropped the sword.

"Just kill me."

"What? "

He took a step forward. Her sword flew up to his neck as a warning.

"Just kill me and this will all end. You don't have to give up your life."

He took another step ahead, the sword poking at his neck, drawing blood.

"Just take mine."

With that, he took another step ahead. The sword was about to pierce through his neck, when she threw it aside.

"Have you gone mad?!"

She was surprised by his sudden change in attitude.

"Why did you throw it away? I am willingly giving you my life. Why the hesitation? "

He is right. Why did she do that? He bared his neck to her. Why did she not behead him on the spot?

He attacked her kingdom for God's sake!

Just pick up the sword, kill him and hang his head on the castle wars as a warning to other kingdoms.

She looked at her sword, thrown to the side and looked back at him.

He stood there, arms open to show that he is not hiding any weapons.

He was observing her the whole time.

"Why did you change your mind?"

"I just found something more important than the empire."

"What could be more important than becoming the king of the two strongest kingdoms of the continent?"

"Becoming your king. "

"I would never bow to you. "

He chuckled.

He did not wish for her to bow to her. He wished to stand by her side.

"You misunderstood me. I wish to be your king - " , he lowered his arms, " - and for you to be my queen."

"You see, it seems I have fallen in love with you." , he circle around her, " Seeing you fall in the river, I realised I did not want that. And before I could figure how what was happening, I had already jumped in to save you."

" Then why the war? You could have just sent a proposal. We could have discussed it in peace."

She was angry. He attacked her and now he claims that he loves her! What kind of love is this?

" At first, I wanted your kingdom only and I was ready to kill for that. But overtime, seeing your glory, your intelligence, your grace, I guess, I fell in love. " He stood before her, his eyes meeting hers, " Alas! I realised it too late. You see I was in denial. I started this war hoping these feelings would go away, thinking that I was only getting distracted from my goal. But now I know, it was all true and it is still true. I love you, my queen. "

"I will never be your queen! " She cried.

"Then pickup that sword. Kill me here and end all of this."

She picked up her sword and pointed it at his chest.

"Yes! Be my queen and rule the two kingdoms together! Or just kill me and become the most powerful ruler of the continent !"

Her eyes teared up. She willed herself to move, but she could not push the sword further.

Has she fallen too? When did that happen? Why him? Of all the people she could have loved, why did it has to be him?

But it was no use thinking about that now.

She could not kill him either.

It was true. She had fallen in love too.

The sword slipped from her hands, and she fell on her knees, crying.

"Why?! Why you, of all the people?! "

He sat down next to her and hugged her.

" It's alright. We'll be the strongest in the whole continent. Your people will not suffer again, ever. I will guarantee that. "