CHAPTER 7 :

Prince Noah was in the garden with Alicia and they both seemed tense.

“Why did you call me my prince?” Although Alicia knew why she had been called.

“Alicia you do know very well why I have called you.” Noah looked pointedly at her face.

“I am afraid milord. But no, I don’t have any idea why I am here.” Alicia did not want to argue. But this meeting was bound to happen. She had to get over with it because she did not have any choice.

Noah had to take a deep breath with frustration, “Alicia. At least go and see him. He is not letting any of us near him. My father and mother both are disturbed. He doesn’t want to go for the treatment. You were always there with him. Even in war fields. Then why not now?”

“Prince Noah. With due respect. Last time you did tell me that even the best doctors have given up on him. They are not happy with the reports. Please accept it. But nothing much can be done now.” She knew she sounded bitc^y but this was the reality and they needed to accept it.

“But Alicia …” Noah raised his head closing his eyes. “We can’t give up. Can we? Giving up would mean my mom…” Noah was having difficulty completing it. But he had to, to make her understand. “My mom won’t be able to survive without him.”

“I know Noah. Believe me when I say this. But I can’t see him like this. Please try to understand. It hurts me to even think that a dear friend of mine is crippled. My heart goes out to him. I can fight in a war field with a barbarian. It’s easier than seeing your best friend going through this pain. I just can’t meet him. Forgive me, prince. Please forgive me. That’s too much you are asking.” A sob escaped her lips making him a little angry.

“Are you telling me that …” Noah started strolling, clearly disturbed. His disheveled hair showing he had been brushing them with his fingers several times.

“Alicia. You are his friend. Don’t leave him.” He kneeled in front of her, almost begging her.

“Prince Noah I …” Alicia stood from the bench. She was a beautiful girl with a strong aura around her.

“Prince Noah. I can’t.”

Noah did not know what went into him. He stood and held her arms, his fingers prodding in her flash. “Were you after his rank then? His power? You were there because you wanted power? Authority? Tell me, Alicia. Tell me dammit.”

Alicia flinched. There were unshed tears in Noah’s eyes.

“Alicia. I wish I could kill you.” He whispered, “I truly wish I could ...” He moved his hands away from her arms and stepped back.

“You are such a disappointment, Alicia.” This time he let the tears roll on his face. “I used to feel so much jealousy whenever I used to witness your closeness with him. But I guess it was all a pretense. Fake.”

With that, he turned around to leave, took few steps, and stopped, “Alicia.” He called her without turning towards her.

“One day it might happen to you too. Imagine yourself sitting in a wheelchair not able to see anything. Sitting all alone with only darkness around you. Do imagine it, Alicia. Please do.”

With that he left her there, taking long strides. She did feel guilty. Her father had asked her to stay near him. He had told her a long time ago

Alice, stay with him. Stick around him. If you want to become a queen then he is the door. He is the path to the throne.

But the day he lost his legs and eyes, her father had told her to leave the kingdom.

Go to your uncle child. Stay there. The Royals would expect you to stay with him. They would ask you to become his physician. But you are not a physician Alicia. Just leave the place and they would forget about you.

But father! He needs me. He deserves to …

Enough Alicia. No, he doesn’t need you. You can’t do him any good. I repeat, leave the place. When you would return they would have forgotten about you by then. Trust me on this.

…

“Milord. His highness requests your presence in his office.” Noah was going to his room when he got the message.

He entered the office to find his father looking out the window opening towards the gardens.

“Father.” He prayed to God that his father had not witnessed his meeting with Alicia.

“Noah. Did you talk to Alicia?” His back was still towards Noah.

“Father.”

“It’s ok son. You can tell me.”

Noah stayed quiet. He did not know what to tell his father. Alicia did not want to meet him. Did not want to see him. Her childhood friend needed her the most right now.

King Lucas James of Kavoda kingdom was still standing there, looking out the window.

“Noah do you see that tree?” he pointed outside. Noah came forward and stood beside him but did not give any response.

“Noah I planted it when you were only two.” King Lucas closed his eyes as if trying to imagine it, to relive it.

“My son. You and your mother helped me to plant it. And from that day onwards it’s been your favorite spot.”

“When you plant something with your own hands, help it grow, to nurture. It makes a place in your heart. Somewhere very deep. It might not be related to you by blood. But when any harm comes in its way then you suddenly realize that its roots have penetrated not only in your heart but also deep inside your body.”

Taking a deep breath, at last, he turned to his son, “I don’t know why I am telling you all this Noah. But if Alicia doesn’t want to meet him. It’s ok son. But if he does not want to see me, or you or your mom then believe me. He needs us.”

“Maybe he is pushing us away because he wants us to fight back. To get closer to him. Maybe if we would try hard enough then he would let us in. I think instead of asking someone else to come to our aid, we should take it into our hands. And we should start it with your mother. Yes, Noah.” The king suddenly seemed eager, enthusiastic. “We would send your mom. He would never say her no. ”

Now was the time to speak up. He had to tell his father. He could not hide the fact before it was too late.

“Father. We cannot take risks.” He said quietly.

“My dear son! There are no risks in loving someone who is your own.” Making a fist of his hand he clapped it to the other palm in excitement.

Noah came nearer and held his father gently by placing his hands on his shoulders.

“Father. You need to sit. We need to talk about it.”

“What is it, Noah?” King Lucas sat on a chair looking at Noah’s face.

Taking a deep breath Noah knelt in front of him, “We can NOT force anything father. Otherwise, we might have to bear consequences.”

“Consequences?” Now king seemed confused, not understanding a thing. “What are you talking about?”

That was when Noah told everything to his father. The wheelchair, the girl, and last but not the least, the suicidal attempt from the rooftop.

He also told him about the girl who could help them in achieving their aim, without mentioning her name. He wanted to keep her safe.

Palace politics was not for her. She was there just to facilitate them.

King Lucas James started pacing in the room. He was stressed. Agitated.

Noah was there leaning against the table. He knew his father would get worried but he had to tell him.

“Father. You don’t need to worry …” But he could not continue. The king did not let him.

“Don’t need to worry? No need to worry? Noah do you know what does it mean? Do you know … Oh God!”

Now the king was sitting again on the chair. They both were in the main office and Noah was expecting this reaction.

“Noah!” king seemed to be in pain.

“Father. Please trust me when I say this. I have everything under control now. Believe me. We can trust this girl.”  Noah sat near his father and held his hands.

“I am scared, Noah. Never in my life have I feared so much.” Noah knew how sensitive his father was about him.

“I know father. But let’s stay out of it. We both need to give it some time. We have to respect his privacy. If he wants it, then we will give it to him.”

“Even at the cost of his life?” The great King Lucas, who used to fight wars, had always enjoyed bloodshed on the battlefield. Today he was scared. Too scared to lose someone. Someone who fought so many battles beside him, who was a true warrior. And that brave fighter tried to suicide!

This was something too hard to digest.

“If we will try to interfere, that would also take his life father. We both cannot afford to lose him. Do we?” Noah tried to reason.

“What about this girl? How can you trust her?” Noah felt a little uncomfortable with the question however he needed to answer it.

“Leave it on me. I assure you, she knows nothing.”   

“Who is she by the way?” He inquired.

“She is a naïve village girl. Knows nothing about our intentions. So right now we are safe.”

He did not tell his father that the girl was his classmate, wore a wig, and was one hell of a brilliant student.

“Son. This needs to stay inside the walls of the palace. It should not go beyond that. You do know that. Right? We cannot afford rumors right now. We need to hide it from media as well.”

“I know father. And it would not go out beyond the walls of this palace. Just trust me on that.”

“Noah.” When he called him the voice did not belong to a broken father this time but a king who knew how to control and how to rule with grace and style.

“Yes, father.” Noah sensed it and felt a little uneasy for some reason.

“If you find even a little bit doubts or have slightest of suspicions.” He sighed. “Then don’t wait. And kill that girl.”