Chapter 3

After the two of us kissed, we went back downstairs, talking and smiling. We decided that our friendship should be shown, but not our love. Our parents didn't need to know about that. They would make it weird, anyway.
A few hours later, the council disbanded and went to back to their kingdoms. Lanius snuck a kiss to me before he left.
I blushed and whispered to him, "14 sunrises from now. Who will marry us?"
"My priest. I'll make sure he doesn't tell my dad." He kissed me again and I smiled.
"I love you, Lanius."
"I love you too, Skiyo."
"Go before you get in trouble. Make sure to call me at nine o'clock."
Lanius wrapped his arms around me and smiled. "I will. Kiss me again."
My arms went around his neck and I pressed my lips against his.
"Lanius!" I heard his father call, loking for him. My hands pressed against his chest and I softly pushed him away. "Lanius, if you get in trouble, I will not meet you in 14 sunrises. Come back soon, please. I love you."
He kisses me one more time then walked off, smiling at me.
Once he was gone, I exhaled and fell against the wall, clutching my heart. "14 days. 14 days!" I shrieked and giggling madly, causing the servants to stare.

Later on that night, I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around me. I grabbed another one and started to dry my hair with it.
A moment later, the white and gold, antique style phone near my bed rang. I pulled on a nightgown and picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Good evening, my princess."
I smiled and giggled. "Hello, Prince Lanius." I could hear him chuckle, then he replied, "Princess, have you decided what you are taking?"
"Not yet." I paused for a moment. "Lanny, I'm nervous."
"About what, Skiyo?"
I looked off and laid back on the bed, not speaking for a moment.
"Skiyo, did I lose you?"
"N-no. I um. What if my dad gets angry?"
The teen boy on the line exhaled. "Nothing will happen, I promise. I promise you that, dear."
For the rest of the night, we stayed up, talking to each other about our childhood and old memories.
I heard him yawn and told him to go to bed.
He started to sing a song that I haven't heard, but it was a calm and romantic song.
My cheeks got red and i hugged the phone as he sang to me. "I love hearing you sing. Remember when we used to do that? Sing together?"
Lanius chuckled and and replied with a yes. We went silent and after a few minutes, I softly said his name.
"Yes?"
I pulled my blanket close and curled up with the phone even more. "Nothing. I just love you."
He chuckled and started to sing. "Sleep sweetly my dear, sleep sweetly my dear, soon you prince will be near. You have nothing to fear, soon your prince will he near. Listen and hear-"
"Soon, my Prince Lanius will be here." I said sleepily.
"We'll run away, just you and I together forever. But for now, we must go to sleep..."
I smiled softly and told him I was going to bed.
"I love you." He said, yawning.
I giggled and said the same, then hung up the phone and passed out with my arm dangling from the bed.

About a week after the kings met, I skipped downstairs, and saw my father in an forenign outfit.
It was pure white, the type we reserved for weddings, funerals and wars. He had some type of heavy fabric on. It looked hard to move in it. I moved closer and saw that it was an armor of some type. My father was handed a gilltering helmet, and he slipped it on his head.
My father was getting ready for war.
I walked up to him and saw that his usual smile was replaced with a look of grimice.
"Daddy, what's going on? Why are you wearing the war outfit?" I twirled my hair around my fingers and nervously looked at him.
He coldly regarded me and pouted slightly. "King Asaroth has decided to wage war on us. He sent an offical declaration  of war late last night. He gave no reason." My father paused for a moment. "It saddens me that my best friend would turn on me." He started to head out the door.
"Um, Daddy? What are you doing?"
He turned around. "I'm meeting with my council."
I looked down then piped up. "Does this mean.." I slightly faltered. "Does this mean that I can't see Lanius?"
"I do not want you to have contact with him. You have no business with him."
I shook my head, starting to cry. "Daddy, Lanius is my best friend. Hes the only other one I have; you can't tell me not to speak to him!"
My father pouted and laid a hand on my shoulder. "Skiyo, I am your father, and if I don't want you to see him, then you will not see him." Without another word, he turned and walked down a long hall.
Tears rolled freely down my face. It became harder and harder to breath. I placed my hand on my chest and took a few deep breaths before I ran upstairs.
I reached for the phone and dialed Lanius' number quickly.
"Please, please, please." I slightly sobbed. "Please pick up, Lanius!"
One ring.
Please be there.
Two rings.
I hope he's there.
Three rings.
He's not there.
Four rings.
Oh, please, no.
Five rings.
It's too late.
Six Rings.
He's left.
I slam the phone down and start to sob. "I can't lose him, I can't! Please no! I just got him back!" I wrapped my arms around myself and sobbed louder than before.
There was a knock at my balcony door, and i looked over.
The shilloutte of a person is the only thing i can make out.
I jumped up and ran over to the door, nearly tearing it off the door frame as i pulled the door open.
"Skiyo, we have  to go!" Theroit says, grabbing my arm.
My eyes well up again, and i tank my arm away. "No, I can't!"
He grabs at me once more. "Skiyo, we have to go!"
"No, just give me a second, please!"
Theroit looked in my eyes and nodded. "I can't give you long, just hurry up and take a few things." He walked out of my bedroom door, and I ran out onto my balcony.
A boy in black  pulls up on a turquoise and onyx motorcycle. He pulls his helmet off, and shakes his head. I can see his handsome face.
I want to call out to him, but I'm afraid if I do, the guards will see him.
I back away, my hand over my mouth, sobbing softly. I hear him climbing up the ivy that grows on my outside bedroom wall. He pulls himself over the balcony ledge.
Lanius started to say my name, but stopped when he saw me. "Skiyo, why are you crying?" The teen walked over to me and wrapped his arms around ym small, shaken fame. "Don't cry, darling." He kissed the tears streaking down my face.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and sobbed into his chest. I could feel his lips press against my forehead, and him starting to stroke my hair. My hands made fists around his clothes. "You shouldn't be here, Lanius! If my dad catches you, who knows what'll happen!" I started to cry more and buried my face into his chest.
We were silent for a while, then my prince softly pulled me away from his chest and kissed me. He whispered softly in my ear. "Run away with me."
I pulled away from him and looked at up.
"I have a secret place for us in the mountains. It's between our kingdoms. It's all set up, the second mountain, theres a hidden cave. Run away with me."
I bit my lip and looked off.
Should I run away with Lanius, or should I stay here with my family?
Finally, I had an answer. "I can't leave, Lanius. I'm sorry. I want to be with you so bad. I just feel like I need to be with my family during this."
He looked slightly hurt, but the boy nodded. "I understand. Take this." Lanius pulled a box from his jacket pocket and handed it to me. "Open it when you are in a safe area. I'm going to come see as much as I can. I love you." He took my shoulders and kissed me deeply.
I looked at the box in my hands and nodded. "I love you too, Lanius. My prince." I kissed him back and hugged him. A few more tears ran down my face, and again, he wiped them away.
Lanius pulled away and game me another kiss before walked back over to the balcony. I watched as he leapt over and disappered.
I grabbed a few things, then Theriot burst in the room. "Ok, let's go, Skiyo!" He grabbed my arm and pulled me out of my room, and into a secret hallway.