Chapter 4
Love comes at the worst of times, and that's the reality for Grayson, a revered knight stationed as the temporary personal Guard for the oldest princess of Piltover. She found it hard not to fall under the princess's charm and eventually, succumbed to it. The only problem was they had two months together before an arranged marriage was proposed, and only one month when the princess was set out to be shipped to a distant land.
-
Your days were perpetually boring, being a princess meant doing nothing and everything. From the meaningless classes to make you more presentable to suitors, to the boring time when you had nothing to do but explore the castle you had already memorized, made life dull.
That is what you would have said mere months ago, but something had changed. It all started with a bottle of ale and two bodies huddling together in the serene silence of the castle gardens. Soft lips against yours, strong hands holding you tenderly, and gray eyes staring into yours with a look that could only be described as pure adoration.
Ever since that night, the only solace you had from the dull life of a princess was in the arms of Grayson. Listening to her soft murmuring as she regaled you of some tale from her youth, or laying your head on her chest being soothed into sleep by her heartbeat. Everything was perfect until it wasn’t. You knew eventually your happiness would be shattered, you just didn’t think it would be so soon.
The first minutes after your dad announced at dinner that he had arranged a marriage for you were spent in shock, you sat in your chair feeling a cold sense of dread. Your eyes were drawn to Grayson standing guard near the wall, but her face was irritatingly neutral.
After dinner, you find yourself aimlessly walking through the castle, and for some reason, you decide to go to the roof. You push open the heavy oak doors, a light breeze ruffling your dress. A shiver runs through you, and you rub your arms to warm them. On the far end of the roof, you see a figure leaning against the ledge. Despite them being on the other side, you could tell who it was.
“Grayson,” You approach cautiously.
She turns her head towards you her expression unreadable. “You shouldn’t be up here princess.” You roll your eyes at the title.
“Since when do I do what I’m supposed to?” You grin, sidling up next to her. Your smile falters when she shifts away from you.
“Don’t do that, don’t start pushing me away because of how you feel about what my dad announced.” You reach out to grab her hand, but she moves away.
For a split second, you see guilt on her face before it turns back to neutral, “I’ll escort you back to your room.” You huff in frustration. She had a habit of doing this, being closed off when she was struggling with her emotions, you thought she was getting better but it was evident she wasn’t.
“Grayson, please don't pull away from me," You pleaded, she fixed her gaze on the city below. The moonlight cast a soft glow on her tanned skin, creating a captivating sight.
She leans against the ledge palms forward, closing her eyes and breathing in deeply, “You’re right, I'm sorry, I just don’t like feeling helpless like this.” You nod putting an arm on her arm and squeezing it gently.
“I know, my dad dropped a bombshell on us.”
She sighs again taking a step closer, she cups your cheek rubbing it with the pad of her thumb. She leans her forehead against yours, closes her eyes, and breathes in deeply almost as if she’s trying to commit your scent to memory. You sigh softly leaning into her touch.
“I don’t suppose there's a chance you can convince my dad to let you come with me as my permanent guard?” She smiles sadly shaking her head.
“He’s already given me a new position to take over as the new commander of the knight's guard.”
“So this is it then?” You whisper your voice cracking. She smiles sadly brushing away a tear you didn’t even know slipped from your eye.
“It’s alright little one, we knew this would happen sooner or later.” You let out a bitter chuckle.
“Why don’t we run away or you could challenge the prince for my hand, you’re a well-respected knight I’m sure my parents wouldn't mind me marrying you.”
“Do you really want to live with the constant stress your parents might find us? There’s no telling what they’ll do to you or me, and would you really be willing to leave your family, and the only home you’ve ever known for me?” You sigh knowing she’s partially right. While your dad might be more benevolent than most kings he had quite the temper when it comes to his children.
You touch her hand on your cheek, staring deeply into her eyes, “For you i’d do anything.” You whisper kissing her wrist, a small shiver running through her body.
“I can’t ask you to do that for me little one.” You make a sound of protest when she kisses your forehead before pulling away. “I’ll escort you to your chambers my lady.” the stoic knight Grayson is back.
-
The next few weeks are spent in a flurry of wedding planning that you didn’t get to decide on, and being heartbroken by the fact that Grayson was ignoring you. Usually, when she started acting professional and indifferent towards you, you could snap her out of it with a kiss or by being overly affectionate, but neither of those was working.
Whenever you tried to make conversation with her she would say professional answers, especially when you tried to talk about where you both stood. It hurt, to say the least, to go from the loving and romantic Grayson you grew familiar with, to the indifferent and neutral one was jarring to you. No longer did you spend nights curled against her chest, or days walking through the gardens and holding hands when no one was around. Now life was as it was before you met her, dull.
-
The carriage jostled on the bumpy road of the forest, the only sounds were the horses thumping hooves on the dirt road. You sat in the back staring at the book on your lap, you’d been stuck on the same page for almost an hour. Your brain is a whirlwind of thoughts. You had about a day before you reached Zaun, and from there you’d be married to a prince you’d never even met. You couldn’t stop but think of Grayson. She’d left a day before you did to get to her new post.
The carriage screeches to a stop and there's a loud commotion outside, “There’s been a change of plans. I'll be escorting the princess alone, there's assassins following the carriage so you need to lure them away.” You perk up at the sound of a familiar voice.
There's a few minutes of low murmuring before the carriage door is opened, Grayson stands with her hand outstretched, “Princess come with me.” You grab her hand and she gently pulls you out of the carriage. She leads you to her horse helping you mount it, climbing atop the horse herself. Your arms wrap around her midsection, relishing in her closeness after weeks of nothing.
She cracks the reins and the horse immediately sprints down the dirt road. “Grayson, what's happening?” You ask now that you're farther away from the carriage.
“Isn't it obvious we're running away?”
“From assassins?” She chuckles, shaking her head.
“No little one, from everything.”
Your eyes widen and your face breaks into a grin, “I like the sound of that.” You snuggle closer, burrowing your face into her back.
No one said love was easy, but running away sure is.