NEXT MORNING

JOHN POV:

I woke as I felt the heat in my skin. Probably it was the rays of the Sun... I slowly moved. My body was feeling heavy. My head still hurt. Ahh!! what happened to me?.

Ugh... yes I remember... it was my wedding with Patricia yesterday. After leaving her home, I went to my usual place. The secret place which I and Jenny use to know. I was emotional. It all felt like a Deja Vu when I got married to Jenny.

FLASHBACK, LAST NIGHT***

How can I possibly forget her? It is not easy. She is in every part of me. The pain and sorrow which I was hiding in my heart, was no longer in control. So to forget all that I drank a lot yesterday. the emotional rush was killing me. Patricia was indeed a good girl but I can never give her the love that once I gave to Jenny.

She agreed to this marriage after knowing everything. I was one way happy that she is understanding me. But seeing her in a wedding gown was too much. Jenny's face was flashing before my eyes every time.

I feel guilty towards her. But I am helpless!!!. I love Jenny and will only continue to love her. Why...? Why did you leave me? I know I am a bad husband... But why did you let me marry someone else? How am I supposed to forget you? No... I cannot.

I drank so much till I can forget the pain. I don't remember after that.  

END OF FLASHBACK***

I tried to open my eyes as it felt a little heavy. My body felt some weight as I frowned a little. I opened my eyes to see as I saw Patricia was sleeping while Hugging me!!!!

My eyes widen to see her this close. I looked at myself. The two buttons of my shirt were opened. Did we?... We didn't... I am sure... I-I can't...!!! I was scared. Did I lose my control last night? Did I get intimate with her? No way... I gasped as I closed my mouth with one hand. I was looking at her with shock.

How can I? How can she? She knows that I only love Jenny... Then... How? Why?... I felt betrayed. I was drunken. She was not... Then how did she allows it? Why did not she stop me?... She was not innocent as she looks. This was all in her head after all? Is this why she married me even after knowing my heart belongs to Jenny? She is an evil woman.

I was too angry to even look at the matter as a angrily pushed her from me. She fell in her sleep as she screamed a little-" AHH!!! "

She opened her eyes in confusion and shock asking-" Wh-What happened?"

She looked at me innocently. My blood boiled looking at her fake innocent eyes. I yelled in anger-" How dare you seduce me when I am not in my consciousness? Is this what you are? An evil person? Who trick people...?"

She frowned as she looked at me with her confused eyes. She asked blankly-" What did I do?"

I chuckled as I replied-" Oh yeah... What did you do... right... You took advantage of me while I was drunk!!!"

Her eyes widen in shock. She was about to say something when I cut her off by saying-" jenny trusted you... they all said you are a good kind-hearted woman. Also I have started to think so too" tears started rolling out my eyes. I continued-" this is what you are? You knew my heart only belongs to Jenny... You knew everything... Then how?..."

I was yelling at her. I saw tears were forming in her eyes as she kept looking at me with confused and broken expressions. But I didn't give any attention as I continued to insult her.

" ENOUGH!!!"- She yelled back as she stood up, looking at my eyes. they were strong and angry. her voice was firm. My heartfelt something. I paused with her sudden voice as I stared at her.

She looked at me with pity and anger. She wiped her tears as she said-" Enough!!! Stop... You said Enough!!!. Think before you speak John. I had no such intentions. It was you who came dunk last night. Crying about Jenny. I helped to bring you to your room. It was YOU who stopped me and pulled me. It was YOU who didn't let me go from your grip. I tried... But you were too strong for me!!! This is why I had to stay as u pleaded."

She sighed as I kept looking at her with guilt in my eyes. I was wrong... I misunderstood. Oh My God, what did I do?. Before I can ask for an apology she left the room making me stare at the closed door. I pushed my hair in frustration as I fall back on my bed.

ON THE WAY BACK TO WITCHDOM PALACE

SHAWNA'S POV:

Finally, John and Patricia got married. Jonathan got his mother... and John... I don't know yet, how will he react to her, but I am sure he will not misbehave. She is a good woman. I hope she takes care of the family. Grandma left early as she had to attend some work. I know she is digging for information about King of Doah. 

Today, when John and Patricia were taking vows, I was looking at John's face. His situation was kind of like mine. 

The carriage was running at its speed from the road when suddenly the coachman stopped the carriage in middle. Due to the sudden break, I almost lost my balance and was about to fall from my seat. My heart started beating a little older as fear in my eyes was being seen. I remember about the last time. Perhaps, I am attacked again?

I put my hands on my left arm which was hurt a few days ago. I gulped in fear as I slowly peeped out of the window. But the road was clear. then why did he stop? I frowned as I asked from inside-" What happen?"

The coachman replied-" Your majesty, that-there is a log in front"

"log"-I asked in confusion. I wonder how a log can be in the middle of the road. I looked at my knights who were behind me and they nodded before going to remove it. I was looking from the window. Somehow I am feeling scared and not being able to get down from my carriage. 

There was a silence. A silence that was somehow feeling disturbing to me. Just like the silence before the storm. And then... A few men jumped to attack us. They were covering their faces. So it was hard for me to recognize them. My knights began to fight with them.

From the attire, they looked like the knights of the Harnem Kingdom. One of our enemy kingdoms. Harnem has the purple flag and dress code which didn't take me much time to finally understand who they are.

I knew we are stronger than them. I have to fight for my Kingdom, my people. So I didn't hesitate to get down holding my swords in my hand. I attacked them. we began to fight as it was not much easy to defeat them. We were stronger than them. We won.

We all were panting heavily as we saw the bodies lying on the ground. I asked-" Is every one of our men okay?"

They all nodded as I said once again-" Let's go back... I need to inform this, granny"

We nodded and were going towards my carriage when suddenly a few more men jumped getting us in surprise. We were not ready for this sudden attack as they killed a few of my men. I tried to fight but this time, they attack me all of a sudden which make my sword fall from my hands.

they saw I am bare-handed right now. I gulped as I began to step back slowly. They were keeping an eye on me as they began to come towards me slowly too. I was afraid as I didn't have my wand or my sword now. 

I thought to distract them with words so I said in a very dominant tone-" I know who you are... And if you wish to live, you may leave now and no one shall get harmed."

I maintained eye contact with them. But it was of no use. They attack me. I closed my eyes waiting to take the sword when I heard another sound of a sword. Also, I didn't feel any pain.. which means... Someone saved me. I slowly opened my eyes to see what is going on. There was a young man in black standing in front of me defending. I looked at him in a little shock. He saved me. But who is he? I tried to look at his face but his face was covered too. 

He didn't look like one of our men too. I frowned and just stood there looking at his sword skills. Which are indeed commendable.

He was looking like a war god, easily taking each one of them down by himself. I was amazed by his fighting skills by now. The eagerness of knowing who is he were getting higher now. My knights also started gaining powers and fighting back with his help. I was in a little shock in the process of all these. Suddenly he turned back to see me who was still staring at him. He said in his deep husky voice-" What are you doing here princess? Go... RUN... Save your life"

That voice... this was so familiar... Who is he? Do I know him? I tried to take a look at him once more but due to the movements in the battle, it was not clear. He looked at me once again while defending a sword at him and yelled-" RUN!!!"

I flinched at his words a little and finally came to my sense. I started running from there, giving a glance for the last time towards them. I was running to save my life. They were too many. Indeed he was strong but he is outnumbered. I need to reach my kingdom as soon as possible so that I can send help. 

While I was running as I lost in the forest, I heard someone's weeping sound. I stopped immediately while frowning. Is there someone here? Who is crying? I asked in an unsure voice-" Hello....? Is anyone here?.. Don't worry I am Parsahwna Macduff, Queen of WitchDom. I can help!!"

I waited for the response for a few seconds when suddenly heard the noise of the bushed from behind. I looked back and waited. I saw a girl... It's Tiara. Duchess of WitchWorld. daughter of general Henry Croft and lady xu yang. She is the finance of Willaim!!! 

my eyes widen to see her here. I immediately asked in a concerned voice-" Tiara? What are you doing here? Are you okay?"

She was crying. Her eyes were red and puffy. She looked sacred. Her dress was a little torn too. I felt bad looking at her. I quickly went over to her and wrapped my royal cardigan to make her warm.

Tiara and I met a few times earlier at Witchdom. She was much younger than me. A naive and sweet girl. She and William were childhood sweethearts, William has mentioned her so many times before. She was a polite and sweet girl. But maybe calling it unfortunate, she is the cousin of Jennifer. Though they both share the opposite personality but are united by the family. Tiara was nothing like her. This is why William falls for her head over heels.

But what is she doing here? She looked lost too. I patted her back to cal,m her down who was crying continuously. I asked-" Tiara? What are you doing here? How did you get lost in here?"

She looked at me with her doe eyes and replied while sobbing-" I-I was at-attacked!!!"

I can understand it is no other than Harnem knights. I asked-" where are your men? Where are the guards?"

She replied while sobbing-" I-I don't know... They are..."

Before she can complete her sentence we heard some noise. We were afraid, thinking it must be the opponents but soon the voices were clear enough to hear-" Tiara!!!!, Madam... Are you here?"

It was her guards!!! I looked at each other in shock as we shouted to alarm them-" WE ARE HERE....!!!!"

Soon they reached us and I told them how I was attacked. They agreed to help me as we went back where my people were at. I saw the Harnem knights were lying lifeless on the ground. My knights were injured but they were alive. I looked around to trace that man who helped us, but her was not there anymore. I was a little upset not to see him. I had to thank him for today. I asked my knights-" Where is that man, who helped us?"

One of them replied-" We don't know your majesty. He was not seen after they defeated the Harnems."

I was a little upset not to find him. I sighed as I said-" Okay, let's go back. Bring one of them who is still alive, we need to ask a few questions"

Tiara's men helped us. Tiara and I sat on my carriage towards our kingdom. I asked again-" Are you feeling okay now? Are you hurt somewhere?"

She nodded and replied-" I am okay Shawna." She paused for a bit before asking-" How are you?"

I looked at her with a sad smile on my face as I replied-" Just holding up... To be okay."

She looked at me with pity and said-" I missed you, Shawna. But... You must move on now... I have heard, Priam has changed into a cold person. He barely talks with anyone. William tells me all about him..."

I looked at her, listening concentrated. She continued-" You know he has suffered a lot after his father's death. He is a different man now. I wonder what changed him so much."

She paused as she looked at me and said-" He is getting married next week. They say that the queen is very beautiful... I am sure she is... But not more than you"

My eyes began to get wet with tears as I tried hard to stop them. She puts her hands on my shoulder and said-" I know it is hard for you... But you must move on... for your good. Don't get hurt because of him."

She was right... He has indeed changed. I have to move on too. I must. For me, now what matters the most is my kingdom. I sighed while closing my eyes. I am determined now. 

We reached Tiara's house as she got down. We bid goodbye. I came back to my palace tired. As soon as I walked in grandma come hurriedly as she asked-" My goodness Shawna. are you okay?"

I am sure she got to know by now. I smiled at her assuring her that I am okay. I said-" I am okay granny... don't worry about me. They were from Harnem. I have brought a few men who are still alive to ask questions."

She nodded while checking me out. I looked at her in a serious expression as I called-" Grandma?"

She looked at me with a frown and asked-" Yes?"

I replied with a serious expression-" Prepare for the wedding. I am ready!!!".

A drop of tear rolled out to my cheeks. I don't know from where I got this confidence but I am ready now. nothing is important than my country anymore. She smiled while giving me a big hug.

She said-" Oh dear... I am so happy for you. You took the right decision"

She left with happiness on her face as I stood there alone fighting with myself. I looked at my necklace for the last time which was gifted by Priam. It was the only thing I have of him now.