Kian's POV

"Are you comfortable? Don't be scared or nervous. I'm right here, with you." I assure Archie who's literally trembling.

After comforting Archie and making sure he's okay, we're now at the horsecamp. Dean has already started riding the horse all around the area while Winny is getting ready to take off as well. As of Archie and me, I decided first I would help Archie to learn the basic instructions and tips before he ride on his own. So, I brought him to my own horse and made me sit on it as I sat behind him to guide him. This being his first time, he's feeling nervous and his body is shivering. I understand his fear but he doesn't need to be scared. As long as I'm here, he's safe.

"Are you ready to go?" I ask him after I make him hold onto the rope.

He nods at me so I tighten my hands on his own and slowly start moving. As this is my own horse, I have total control on it. It moves the way I want in the most easiest manner. Which started as a slow and steady move, gradually increases the speed. Archie eventually gets the gist of it and at a point I slowly let go of my hands and let him take control. Wrapping my hands on his waist, I give him the full control while making sure he's safe. Archie steady move gives me a good feeling that he's able to get the grip of it. We continue this for some more time before I think maybe he should once try on his own, without me.

"Archie." I call his name after coming to a stop and he turns his head back to look at me, "do you want to try on your own?"

"I-I I'm not sure." He whispers as he looks down.

"If you're not ready then it's fine. We can try some other time." I tell him while lifting his chin up and making sure he gets I really mean it.

"Maybe I can try, just once." He suddenly changes his mind.

"Hmm, as you wish." I agree and get down the horse.

Archie tightly grabs my hands when I get down the horse and ready to move. He looks at me with panicked gaze which makes me want to just take him away without training him.

"Just for few seconds." He mumbles and I nod as I stand by his side.

I don't understand myself. I've been hating him for past five years and when I had to marry him, I thought I have to find ways to get him out of my life. I even told him all we have to do is pretend and that have to leave eachother at some point of time. But everything is changing, very quickly. Now, all I feel is wanting him for myself. I don't like when others get close to him. I don't like when I have to be away from him. I don't like when he apologizes for something he didn't do wrong. I don't like how he puts others before him. I got angry when Dean raised his voice at him. Most of all, I hate seeing him cry. It's my very recent discovery. When I saw the tears glistening in his eyes at Dean's words, my heart literally broke.

When he told me about how Winny and him became friends, one thing I realised was he has always been alone and the thought of being with someone either scared him or he didn't know how to befriend people. And when I thought about how he never included himself in anything with his family during my visits those times, I understood I got him wrong all these years. It's not that he don't want to get involved, like I thought, but it's that his family never made him feel he's a part of the family. That made me feel so bad and I cursed myself for always misunderstanding him. That's why I told him we're going to be there for him from now on. Perhaps, he don't have to leave anymore.

"Okay, I'll start now." His voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

I smile at him before taking his hands in mine and giving them a light squeeze. I step aside and watch as he slowly gives a pull to the rope signalling the horse to move. I watch him cautiously as worry engulfs me but I slowly start to relax because he's doing a great job. He meets the end line and turns around to get back. My smile vanishes and I run to him as he loses the balance of the horse while turning and crashes onto the ground. He lets out a loud scream as the horse steps on his ankle in the process.

"Archie!!" I scream his name while running towards him.

He holds his leg in his hands as he cries out in pain. I stumble down beside him and look at his ankle which turned red because of the wound. I immediately take off his head guard and gloves before lifting him in my arms and making my way to the physician's lab. All the way to the lab, Archie continues to cry and I keep telling him not to because it's hard to see him cry. And knowing I'm the reason for it making me angry at myself. I should have never brought him with me. I shouldn't have asked him to try on his own. It's all my fault. I'm the reason why he got hurt.

"King, is something wrong?" The medic asks when I burst into his chamber.

"Archie injured his leg, tend him immediately." I order while looking at the now passed out Archie.

He nods before leading me to the examination room. I place Archie on the bed and leave the room so that the medic can tend him. I walk out and wait for Archie. My whole body shivers and I plop down onto the chair. I hear some footsteps and see my parents, Dean and Winny coming.

"Kian, how is he now?" My mom asks while sitting beside me and taking my hand in hers.

"I don't know, the medic still haven't come out." I reply to her and then silence surrounds us.

After few minutes of waiting, the medic walks out and I stand up immediately.

"No need to worry, king. Nothing big, just a small crack on his ankle. I bandaged the injury already. It takes atleast two weeks to heal and the bandage needs to be changed regularly for faster healing. Don't let him walk as any movement of the leg while walking makes it hard for the crack to rebound." He explains and gives the precautions.

"Thank you, New." My father thanks him and he smiles before walking away.

I head into the room and see Archie lying on the bed, still sleeping with his leg covered with bandage. Sitting on the chair besides the bed, I hold his hand in mine and I take into his sleeping form with somber feel. I place my other hand on his face and gently wipe the traces of the dried tears on his cheeks. Just sometime ago I was thinking how I hate to see him crying and now I became the reason for his tears. I don't know for how long I sat here by watching him. But few minutes later, he slowly stirs in his sleep before opening his eyes. He looks up straight at the roof for a minute and then turns to me.

"Do you want some water?" I ask him but he shakes his head no.

"I'm sorry, Archie." I apologise.

"Why are you apologizing?" He questions while getting up so I help him to sit up.

"Medic said your ankle bone is cracked because of the accident. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't get hurt. I'm sorry for that ." I explain remorsefully, I just feel so bad for what happened.

"It's an accident, not like you wanted this to happen. Don't beat yourself, it's fine." He says while smiling, "what else did he say?"

"He told it takes almost two weeks to heal and that you should rest till then. You shouldn't move your leg as it may delay the healing process." I tell him.

"Okay, can I get back to the palace now or have to be here?" He queries.

"We can leave." I reply.

The medic didn't say Archie should stay here, so I assume he can leave.

"Can we go then?" He asks and I nod.

I get up from where I sat while Archie pushes the blanket away.

"What are you doing?" He squeals when I bring my hands to him.

"I'll carry you. Remember, the medic told you shouldn't walk." That stops his protest.

I put one hand under his nape and the other under his knees as I lift him off of the bed and into my hands. He drapes his hands around my neck while our eyes locked into eachothers. A shade of red coloring his cheeks.

"Ready to go?" I inquire and when he gives a nod, I leave the room.

When I come out, I see everyone is still waiting here.

"Archie, are you fine?" My father asks.

"Yes, I'm fine." Archie answers my father.

"I'll call some guards to carry you to your chamber." My mom says to Archie.

"It's okay, mom. I'll take care of him." I stop her before she would call someone.

I don't have any problem to carry Archie and the way he tightened his hands around me for a mere second tells me that Archie wouldn't like for others to carry him. Now that I think, he doesn't like people to touch him. Even when general Tommy helped him before, he moved away from him immediately. Apart from Winny and I, I have never seen him touching others or even being close to other person.

"Fine, fine, just take him to the room already. He need to lie down and rest." My dad says and urges us to move.

I agree with him and walk directly to our room. The doors get open by the guards when they see us walking. I enter the room and gently place Archie on the bed. I put a pillow under his leg and then cover him with the blanket.

"King, you asked me to meet you?" Rema, who walks in just then, asks me. When we got here, I couldn't find her so I informed a guard to call her.

"Yes, Rema. As you can see Archie got an injury. As you're his caretaker, I want you to look after him every second. I know you does everything for him, I just want you to be extra careful and be with him whenever I'm not with him. Doctor said he shouldn't walk, so bring everything to him, from food to anything he needs. You understand?" I order her.

"Yes, king. I'll do as you said." She bows.

"Now, go and bring him some fruit juice." I tell her and she leaves the room.

I sit beside Archie as we wait for Rema to return.