A Dance Of Blades and Hearts

cracks in a high wall

"that went well " uncle said as I walked him back to his quarters, I rolled my eyes, the meeting with lord feng Lou was far from well and all I could think about was the look in kiaras eyes

I clenched my fists tightly just thinking about it .

"I'm sorry uncle, but I couldn't let him belittle her like that " uncle sighed and stopped, turning to face me. His eyes didn't look angry, he had a soft smile on his face and his eyes were intense, I felt his hand on my shoulder and I looked down at him curiously.

"feng lou might be a lord, but he was out of line, you had the ability to do something about it and you did, I don't fault you for that nephew, your mother would have been proud" I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and nodded

"I knew you would speak up for her " he said, sly smile on his face, I stared at him eyebrows raised " you knew I would lash out at feng Lou? How? " I asked eyebrows creased, uncle only smiled.

"you can't look into your own eyes nephew, but I can" he said and began walking again leaving me thoroughly confused.

"what does that even mean uncle!?! " I said exasperated, following after him.

I sat at my study, arms folded, uncle hadn't said anything more and I retired to my study, familiar desk of parchments staring back at me

I had tried looking through them but all I could think about was kiara and the look on her face back at the outer garden, I felt anger towards feng lou but the worry I had for kiara overshadowed that.

The door to the study came open and my eyes widened, there by the door stood the woman who had invaded my mind for the past hour.

*************
I had half the mind to avoid him but general song placing me beside him wouldn't let me, I couldn't handle facing him and everything I could see in his eyes,

everything like the immediate worry that appeared on his face once I stepped into his study

I breathed in and walked towards him, I was going to secure his study like I should have been doing for the past weeks and get as far away from him and those eyes as possible

I couldn't handle their intensity today, or any day.

"kiara " he breathed worry itched into his eyes and I clenched my fists tighter

I stood opposite him, fixing him with a blank look.

"your highness " I said bowing.

*************
"I secured your study before you came, I'll be outside with the guards " she said face carefully blank even though her eyes were burning and it added to my worry

she moved to leave and I reached for her hand before realizing it.

*********

"are you okay? " he asked hand on my wrist. I could see worry clear as day on his face and I just needed him to stop.

"I'm fine " I replied but I knew he wasn't convinced

he held unto my wrist tightly, jaw setting in determination but eyes so impossibly soft that it threw me off.

His hands carefully pried open my hand and I saw his jaw tighten when he took in the crescent shaped marks on my palm.

"you don't look okay kiara " he said eyes borring into mine and I looked away.

"I am, your highness " I replied and I could see frustration itching into his features.

"I know what happened to you today affected you -"