Adremedian Prince 11 Why Hold Out Hope?

Everyday for the next week, James did what he could to stay out of bed. He shuffled down the castle halls. He haltingly climbed and descended the stairs that led to the stable. He brushed and rode Torta around the field. He was finally starting to feel relief from the ever present tiredness that accompanied being up when an unmarked carriage pulled into the courtyard. Several men dressed in servant garb stepped out then helped a weak, but healthy looking, Carthago from the carriage. He crossed the courtyard.

"James!" Carthago yelled.

"Cathago? What…?"

"Did you not get my letter?"

"I got it. I just… didn't expect you back yet."

He nodded. "Willow and Lilly worked tirelessly to help…." Carthago stumbled and nearly fell.

James supported his brother. "Let's get you inside."

Carthago didn't argue.

James helped Carthago to his room. He let his brother sink into one of the chairs as King Chasio entered the room.

"My king," Carthago said, trying to rise to his feet.

"Do not strain yourself, my son," King Chasio said, sitting in the chair beside him. "I am just glad you made it home."

"It is good to be home."

James patted his brother on the shoulder. "We'll catch up later. There is something I need to attend to."

"James," his father said, stopping him.

He turned back.

"Are you sure you are up to attending to that task?"

"I am."

His father nodded.

James headed for the stable to saddle Torta. He headed for the forest and hoped he didn't have to search fruitlessly to find Lilly. He started to turn Torta one way, but he gave a short squeal and turned the other direction. James saw the large cat washing herself before his eyes fell on Lilly. He climbed off Torta and knelt beside her. He caressed her cool cheek with the back of her fingers. She stirred, but didn't open her eyes.

'Lilly?' James asked. 'Lilly, will you look at me?'

She opened her eyes and turned to him. 'Prince?' she replied.

'Did you heal Carthago?'

'He's made it home already?'

'Yes. He told me you and another Adremedian helped him.'

'So, you came because you doubt your brother?'

'No. I...' He started to lean down as if he were going to kiss her again.

Lilly rolled away from him. She stopped in a crouch a few feet from him. Her brow furrowed as she glared at him. 'Have you forgotten the poison already, Prince?!'

'No. But I've recovered. I should be immune to….'

He stopped when she shook her head.

The sun broke through the clouds and illuminated the bottom half of her face. In the sunlight he saw how dark the turquoise, rose, blue, purple, and topaz colored Adremedian poisons were as they shimmered across the skin of her lips. When the sunlight faded, her lips looked normal.

'Why have you done this Lilly?' James asked crestfallen.

'The choice was not mine, James. This is the result of the Forbidden.'

'Poisons that affect Humans as strongly as they affect Adremedians.'

She nodded as two tears ran down her face, burning two new grooves into her cheeks. Then she bowed her head a moment. 'You must excuse me, Prince. Duty calls.' She stood.

'Answer me one question before you leave,' he said.

'Alright.'

'Why else have you pulled away from me?'

'Because you are Human.'

James watched her walk away. Her words had been soft and gentle, but they stung. He couldn't bring himself to leave yet. He could still see Lilly. Her steps were a little uneven and heavy. She walked to the edge of the stream before kneeling. From the soil she pulled up a root and ate it. Lilly finished eating the root and fell forward into the river.

'Lilly!' James cried. He ran and pulled her out of the river. 'Lilly! Lilly.'

She pulled out of his hold.

'Go home, Prince.' Then she ran off before he could stop her.

'Do you have any feelings for me, Lilly?' James wondered.

She didn't respond.

James returned to the castle, emotionally torn between his deepening love for Lilly, despite her distance, and his euphoric joy that Carthago was alive. He listened with interest to Carthago's stories, but retired early to weep over his loss of Lilly. Her heart seemed to be made of stone and no amount of care could soften it. Still, he couldn't stop himself from trying.

With a few hours sleep he made up his mind. He needed to know how Lilly truly felt about him. She needed to hear her speak her feelings. Taking Torta, he went to the forest to search for her. Many times he called to her with no response. He spent what time he could in the forest, but not long after Carthago returned home King Chas...o...b..came very sick. The royal doctors tried everything.

During the night, while his sons slept, Lilly came to see him. Even the advanced healing of the Adremedians would not be enough to heal him. The king told her about James. He apologized for his part in trying to keep them apart. She forgave him and told the king her own reasons for the distance. He understood, but asked she not shatter his soul completely. Lilly had just stepped to the door when James walked in. He ran into Lilly and knocked her to the floor. He was half asleep, but woke up completely when he landed on her.

'Lilly?' he asked, getting up.

'Yes, Prince. I was just leaving.' She got to her feet then turned to leave.

'Before you go, please tell me how you feel about me.'

'I love you. I have for years,...but we can never be together.'

'Why not?'
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'We are just too different. Goodbye, James.'

As he watched her move down the hall, he felt nothing; no anxious desire to being her back, no anger for her words.

"James?" his father asked softly. "Is that you?"

"Yes, Father. I'm here." He sat by his father's side, until they both fell asleep.

Carthago came by early the next morning to find both of them asleep—James on the floor and his father resting peacefully for the first time. As he turned to leave, James woke up and softly said his name. Softly the two of them talked a little more about what happened while Carthago was away before the topic turned to Lilly. Carthago could understand why James loved her beauty, but the stern face and seemingly cold att.i.tude he didn't. James then told Carthago all that had happened between them, but he still didn't understand.

"Why do you still hold out hope, when you can't be together?"

"I'll find a way. I love her too much to even think of another woman in my life."

"Lilly isn't even Human James, Do you really think you could be happy living separated from the one you love? Only being able to see them for brief s.n.a.t.c.hes of time before they are gone again? And what if she gets sick again? What's to say she won't make it?"

"Stop it!" James whispered, tears burning his eyes. "I'll make it work." James was about to leave when a messenger arrived with news of an invasion.