Royal Disaster

Chapter 9: Tension

Emrose

I woke up to a shrieking voice, and a rather familiar one too. I bet it's the horse. I refused to open my eyes and instead, rubbed the sleep out of them using my free hand. The other was comfortably tucked under my pillow. Why was the horse screaming so loud this early of a morning? I was suddenly annoyed by the horse that is disturbing my sleep and depriving me the comfort of my bed.

"What the hell, Emrose?!" hearing my brother's furious voice struck my eyes open and realization dawned on me. I was not in my room. I was not in my bed. The shrieking voice was not the horse, it was my mother. I was lying on the chest of Alas, my hand tucked safely in his non-injured arm. What have I done? Have I purposely lay on him like this? If I was my mother and I could see myself right now, I would do more than just scream. I would slap myself out of oblivion.

"I'm so sorry! This is a mistake. It is not what you think, mother!" I stuttered while quickly standing up. I can see Alas waking up from his sleep now, he too was surprised and stood up.

"I'm going to kill you for this!" Elchard raised his voice and motioned for Alas. I quickly stood in between them to stop him.

"Elchard! Stop! You're not gonna hurt him!" I screamed. He was not going to punch Alas again. He's asking for a death sentence.

"What are you thinking, protecting this man?" Elchard was more furious than ever. I can't blame him. I never acted this way. I always put my family first. I always put him first. But if I do that now, it will be like I'm volunteering to put their heads on spikes... "Have you given your heart to this man, Emrose?" my brother asked in a low voice, but disgust was evident in his tone. I was dumbfounded. Why will he think that?

"Do you have a problem with that?" I can't make out the voice who answered back. Either because of shock or because I don't believe it... What does he think he's doing? He is certainly not helping me with the situation here.

"What did you just say, boy?" Elchard grabbed Alas's collar, pinning him to the tree.

"I asked if you had any problem with that. Your actions don't match with that of a brother. I know, because I have seen how beautiful your sister is. If she's really even your sister, that is." Alas bit back, and he knew that punch was coming so he dodged it breaking free from Elchard's grasp. Alas was quick to spin around, and place Elchard to where he was recently pinned a while ago. Elchard was strong, but Alas's arm on his neck stopped him from moving. "I had given you countless chances to threaten me and I even let you hit me. But no more!" Alas drew his sword, one I did not notice him bringing, and pointed it between my brother's eyes.

My mother grabbed my arm to lead me away from the men fighting but I knew I was the only one who could stop them before one of them gets killed. Alas wasn't backing down right now and I was not certain what he was capable of doing. I only met him yesterday and knew him last night.

But I took a leap of faith and freed myself from my mother's arm. "Please, stop." I touched Alas's arm beggin him to spare my brother, he turned to face me and his eyes softened. He loosened his grasp, but did not release it. "Forgive him, please. He has no knowledge of anything." I begged some more.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Elchard yelled at me but his glare was at Alas. "This man kidn*pped you, Rose! Why the hell are you protecting him? If we haven't found you, who knows if we'll ever see you again!"

"Elchard stop! You don't know what you're talking about! I was the one who came after him!" I reasoned out to my brother, no matter how much It'll hurt him.

"What?" Elchard's face fell. I knew it, hurt and disappointment was written all over his handsome face right now.

"I ran after him. I was guilty I sent him away and I was worried he might get hurt." I choked back tears and hiding my embarrassment at thesame time. "I am so sorry I lied, mother, Elchard." I apologized to Elchard and my mother.

My mother started sobbing, "Darling, we were all worried sick!" she rushed to embrace me. After hugging her back, I turned my back to my brother and Alas. "You see, Elchard, this was all on me."

Alas released his grasp on Elchard's neck and leaned closer to his ear, but obviously had no intent to whisper as what he said to my brother afterwards was clear as day.

"I never laid a hand on your sister. And as much as I want to, I'd have to marry her first."