The Princess and her Bodyguard // One-On-One // CLOSED

Maddie ate her meal and watched as Andion's cuts and bruises started to disappear.

Once he finished, Andion sighed, “You put some of your healing magic in it, didn’t you?”

"No," Maddie replied, straight faced.

“I know for a fact that my back was in serious pain a few moments ago and now it feels fine, you did so don’t lie.” Andion said with lethal calm.

Maddie didn't say anything and instead started to stand.

Andion grabbed her hand and pulled her back into the seat, “Say it, say you put healing magic in the dinner.”

"I must have given you the wrong bowl. I fell down before and put the magic in my bowl. I must have given you mine."

“Don’t lie, tell me the truth.” He replied, meeting her eyes with a cold stare.

"I am telling you the truth," Maddie said, and behind her back she was burning part of her arm, hiding her wincing. "See," She said, pulled her arm out and showed him.

Andion looked at her face then at the wound before standing, “Don’t harm yourself, ever. Never do it again, do you understand. And don’t lie your way out of this one, never harm yourself.”

Maddie put her palm onto the burn and it glowed a soft gold as the burn healed.

Andion sighed, “Never do that agin.” He said quietly.

"What difference does it make? Whether I'm hurt, or well, or happy, or sad. What does it matter anymore?"

“I will not see my princess hurting herself because of a stupid lie. You are not to speak like that.” He spat. She’d hit a nerve, and a bad one too, not that Andion would admit it. He turned and walked out onto the railing.

Maddie followed him. "It's just….I'm sorry. I'm not used to this yet. For 20 years, everything was done for me, and I hadn't a care in the world. Then suddenly, my parents are turned to stone, my throne is stolen from me and I'm kicked out of the place that had been my home all my life."

“No, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have talked to you that way…” He said, looking at her for a moment.

"No, it's partially my fault. I just feel so useless now."

“You’re not useless, you just need to learn how to survive,” Andion sighed, “Promise me, Highness, you won’t harm yourself ever again.” He said quietly.

"You don't know that. And it's been two months Andion, and I still haven't learned how to survive."

“Promise me.” He said again, grabbing Maddie’s hands and making her look at him.

"I can't promise you anything. I just can't."

“Please…” He met her eyes, his eyes filled with sorrow and emptyness.

"I…….can't. I'm sorry."

Andion sighed, “Fine…” Hs voice was barely audible.

"I'm sorry, it's just I don't know what's gonna happen. I might not wake up tomorrow, or I might wake up and decide that I can't take it anymore, or…….I just don't know."

“I know… I don’t want that to happen, I don’t want to see you in that pain, ever. I can’t take that… not again.” He said the last word a little softer then the rest.

"If I promise it to you, you have to promise something to me. If I promise you that I won't harm myself again, you have to promise me that you'll be more kind and understanding. Deal?"

“My job isn’t to be kind and understanding, it’s to protect you at all costs, Highness.”

"Well then I guess you don't care if I hurt myself," Maddie answered, making a knife appear in her palm and starting to put (but not cut) it to her forearm.

“Fine, fine I promise.” He said, quickly.