Throw Caution to the Wind

He traced his fingers through her hair. Their lips met in a kiss that was both tender and impassioned, each moment drawing them closer. Her lips were soft, her breath a warm whisper against his skin, and her scent—like a trance—enveloped him, leaving him lost. She was undeniably real, not a mere figment of his dreams. The intensity of their connection was overwhelming; he wanted this moment to last an eternity. Despite the fervor she demonstrated in initiating the kiss, he could sense a hint of hesitation in her. Yet he drew her nearer, deepening their kiss. She gasped softly, a sound that ignited a fire within him.

He became acutely aware of every nuance of her response—the gentle caress of her fingers, the rhythm of her breath, her voice, her gasps, her delicate hesitation. He sought to imprint each detail upon his memory, every touch and murmur, and even the brief moments of hesitation he would not allow her to fully process as kissed her to make her forget it all. It was as if he were trying to capture the very essence of her in this single, electrifying encounter. The world beyond them ceased to exist.

A distant thud startled maya, causing her to pull away, but he was unwilling to relinquish the closeness they had achieved. He pulled her back into his arms, his lips reclaiming hers with a desperate urgency. The fireworks in the distance painted the sky with brilliant hues, their sounds a stark contrast to the intense silence of their moment. She pulled away again, her gaze returning to the reality that intruded upon their sanctuary.

"We should not," she said, her voice imbued with a gentle but resolute gravity.

"Why?" John inquired, his voice filled with a mixture of longing and dissapointment.

"This is a sacred place of prayer, Your Highness. We must show respect."

"I was not aware that you were religious."

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"I am not, still," she responded.

He regarded her thoughtfully, recognizing her need to adhere to her principles. Reluctantly, he released her and took a seat on a nearby bench, gesturing for her to join him. She followed his instruction and took a seat as well.

"I guess, we should have been more considerate of the setting. So if you're not religious then why did I find you here?"

"I don't know......"

She hesitated, her eyes revealing the depth of her inner conflict. John noticed her reluctance and offered a soothing presence.

"You need not disclose more than you are comfortable with," he said gently.

They fell into a reflective silence, the tranquil atmosphere of the chapel surrounding them. The space was bathed in the soft luminescence of moonlight, filtering through the stained glass windows and casting an enchanting glow upon the stone walls.

John, lost in his thoughts, contemplated the all the scenarios he had envisioned if he met her again. All the pessimistic and optimistic ones. After a moment, he posed the question that had been troubling him, despite already knowing her likely response.

"Why did you act as you did? Why did you take that arrow?" His voice was deep, laden with solemnity.

"Your Highness, you are already aware of the answer. You are the sole prince of this country, and the hopes and aspirations of countless subjects rest upon your shoulders. Should anything befall you, it would bring despair to the entire nation..."

"Stop!" he interrupted, his tone filled with frustration.

"You are a source of exasperation at times. You are still the same I see. I loathe the fact that you and all of them, how you all throw yourself in front of me like I am worthy of such a sacrifice" he continued, his voice softening as he covered his eyes with his hand. "I just want you to live. So please do."

She was taken aback by his outburst but she knew the reason behind it. He was burdened and feeling guilty. She knew him to be always like that. She remained calm, her gaze fixed on the chapel's serene front. Though she wanted to offer the usual reassurances of loyalty and patriotism, she found herself unable to do so. And knowing him that never worked on him. Instead, she spoke with a quiet resolve, addressing the profound emptiness between them.

"I comprehend your anguish. You bear an immense burden of guilt, witnessing the sacrifices made in your name. It must seem as though these lives are given in vain, and you carry that weight of their deaths with you. You live on as they have died saving you. It is difficult but this is the burden of the crown you carry. You must learn to live with it."