Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Keeper Of The Crown ❯ No Need to Run ( Chapter 11 )

Keeper Of The Crown

Chapter Eleven: No Need To Run

OOOOOO

 

“Hold still, Miss Anzu.”

Anzu sighed and did as told, allowing her servant to tie a golden sash around her waist. “Kisara, I don't want to go,” she said, staring straight ahead of her. “I don't want to meet Prince Varon, because I know already that I'm not going to love him.” She turned when the sash was tied. “Mother and Father are going to force me to marry him, because they want me to produce an heir as soon as possible. All they care about is keeping the family name...they don't even take a minute to consider my feelings.”

Kisara gave her mistress a sympathetic look. “I know it seems all bad, Miss Anzu, but I'm sure if you keep a positive attitude, things will not be so horrible.” She gave a reassuring smile. “You don't have to love Prince Varon, but you can try and accept him. I'm sure it would make things all the more easier.”

“It's easy for you to say!” The Princess yelled, taking a few steps away from the slave girl. “There's no one forcing you and Seto apart! You two can stay together and be happy. Yami could be dead right now for all I know, and nobody has even stopped to sympathize with me! To my parents he was just another commoner, and to you he was nothing as well. But at least you could try to make me feel better. I've just lost the person I love more than life itself. I will never accept anyone who tries to take his place!”

And with that said, she hurriedly rushed out of the room. Back in the Princess' chambers, the blue haired slave sighed. “I'm not happy,” she whispered. “How can I be happy when I can't even be with Seto in public? At least...you had your time with that boy.”

OOOOOO

 

Pharaoh Akunamukanon sat with his wife and daughter, awaiting the arrival of the Royal Family of Rome. Glancing down the long table, he noticed the melancholy expression on his daughter's face. Placing his hands firmly down on the table in front of him, he decided to say something to try and comfort her. “Anzu, my darling, do not fret over that boy. He was nothing. I am sure Prince Varon will be a suitable substitute. Not to mention he'll make a fine king of Egypt.”

Anzu shot her father a nasty look. “That's all you care about, isn't it? Who will take the throne? Who will the next king's heir be?” She stood up abruptly. “Maybe you should take the time to think about the present, and how much your only child is grieving.” She stared at her parents angrily. “Though he may have been a nobody to you, Yami was - and will be - the only person I've ever loved. No one you arrange to marry me will ever take his place in my heart. And no one else will be a fit king of Egypt, because even though he was only a peasant, he had all the qualities a good king should have.”

Leila slapped Anzu's hand. “Now that is quite enough. I suggest you hold your tongue in the presence of your Pharaoh.”

Anzu rolled her eyes. “Forgive me,” she whispered. “It was not my place to say such things.” When she saw the satisfied look on her face, she opened her mouth to add something more sarcastic to the comment, but did not have a chance to do so. As soon as she tried, the doors of the dining room were pushed open, and in entered the Prince of Rome, along with the Empress.

Akunamukanon stood, reaching forward and kissing the hand of the Empress, Giovanna. Giovanna smiled and gracefully seated herself at the opposite end of the table. Varon stood by her side, bowing lowly when the Pharaoh approached him.

“Great Pharaoh,” he began, his voice barely above a whisper. “It is an honor to dine in your fine palace, in the presence of you and your lovely wife and daughter, tonight.” He smiled, straightening himself up and glancing in the direction of the Egyptian Princess.

The brunette blushed. In her mind, she had formed an image of the Prince Varon...thinking him to be ugly and much older than she. But in actuality, he was quite a handsome young man. His hair was light brown, as was his mother's, and his eyes were colored cloudy blue-grey, evidence that he was in fact the son of the late Emperor of Rome. Though she hated to admit her parents were right - they were. If she hadn't been as in love with Yami as she was, she and Prince Varon would make a very lovely pair.

Varon seated himself next to Anzu, a cheerful smile on his face as he took her and in his own and gently kissed it in greeting. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you. You are even more beautiful in person than I had imagined.”

`Who does this guy think he is?'

Despite her initial anger at him kissing her, the Princess was quite embarrassed. His words had caused her entire face to flush and, the Queen, noticing this, took the opportunity to gloat.

“Did I not tell you, my child, that you and Prince Varon would make a handsome match? Is that not what I said?”

Empress Giovanni nodded. “You look very good together. A wise pairing indeed. Together, they will produce a lovely, strong heir for both our countries.”

The Pharaoh smiled. “We can only hope.” He shot a look at his daughter, who glared black with equal ferocity.

Anzu sighed, leaning back into her chair. There was no point arguing now. After the banquet, she would talk to her parents and try to make them reconsider. Varon was a beautiful man and all, but she could never accept him as her husband. She would never love him, and she wouldn't be forced into this relationship without putting up a bigger fight. True love was not something she was willing to throw away easily. If her parents so badly wanted her to marry...she would. But she would not bind herself to Prince Varon. She would be with Yami.

...Somehow.

OOOOOOO

 

“Princess Anzu, will you honor me with a dance?”

Anzu sighed, reluctantly taking Varon's hand. Slowly he led her to the center of the room, and they danced to the slow beat of the background drums. As they twirled together on the floor, cerulean eyes spotted a familiar head of hair. Pulling away from the Prince, Anzu leaned to her right to get a better look.

`Could it be?'

It was. How he had gotten into the Royal Dining Hall, the Princess couldn't fathom, but he was there. He was actually there! Maybe now was the time to convince her parents? Bowing to Varon, she quickly made up an excuse and left his side. Slinking over to the marble pillars, she grabbed Yami by the ear and dragged him out of the room.

“What are you doing here?! Do you want to die?!” Anzu hissed, all the while hugging him tightly.

Yami smiled, rubbing his ear. “I couldn't just let you marry someone else. We made a pact, remember? We would stick together no matter what, and I'm not letting some snobby Prince from Rome take that away from us.”

The brunette's grip on him tightened. “Yami...”

The tri haired teen put a hand to her lips to silence her. “I can't stay here long. I injured another guard to get out of that prison...no doubt the rest of them are after my head. I need to know right now,” he grabbed her hands and his expression turned to that of a desperate man's. “Do you want to stay here in the palace, with your family and your Prince and all your riches...or do you want to come with me. Because at the moment, those are the only two options you have.”

“Yami, I want to be with you. Forever.”

“Then we have to move quickly. Silently and quickly.”

Anzu nodded, taking Yami's hand in her own. “Ready when you are.”

The peasant frowned, glancing at her through the corner of his eyes. “Are you a hundred percent sure? Because once we're out, we're out. There won't be any turning back, because we'll both be killed for treachery.”

“You're scaring me a bit.”

“I want to make sure you have no doubts.”

There came a cry from the dining hall. The sound of glass breaking reverberated through the room and echoed down the hallway. The blue-eyed girl jumped, her gaze landing on the door of the Hall. “What the...?”

“Assassin!”

“Pharaoh, you must guard yourself! You there, Mahado, escort the King, Queen, and their guests to a safe place!”

Anzu let out a small cry. “Assassin?!”

Yami's frown deepened, a crease mark appearing on his forehead. He looked to the doors as they opened, and watched a screaming Leila be carried from the room.

“My daughter! My daughter is missing!” Leila thrashed in the guard's arms, tears flowing freely down her porcelain face. “Anzu is not safe!”

The brunette hid as her parents, the Empress, and Prince Varon were lead away. The Prince stopped in his tracks; glancing briefly in the direction the Princess and the peasant were hiding. A sad look filled his eyes, but he said nothing. Regaining his regal composure, he followed the guards.

Yami peeked his head out from behind the curtains in front of him. “I think he saw us,” he exclaimed, grinning. At not hearing her laugh, he turned to Anzu. “What's wrong?” he questioned, worry evident in his eyes. His expression soon became one of grief as he read the look clearly on her face. “If you don't want to come with me, I completely understand.” He smiled reassuringly. “They're your family.”

“But I love you...I don't want to lose you when I know I could be with you forever. 't handle that. I want to be with you, but this is just a lose-lose situation. If I go with you, I lose my family forever, but if I stay, I'll lose you. I don't know which is worse.”

“Anzu, I know how it feels, trust me.”

“No you don't. You may have lost your parents, but you didn't have to choose between the people you love more than anything.”

Yami shook his head, his blonde bangs falling forward into his eyes. “You're wrong. I did have to choose. I had to choose between my freedom and my friends...my whole life that I used to have, and a woman who would eagerly marry me if I asked her, and you. I left behind my entire life for you, because I love you very much. I love my friends too and my old house, and I love Shizuka...but I loved you - and still love you - more. And I wouldn't go back and change that, either.”

The Princess nodded slowly, a few tears leaking out from under her closed eyes. “I know what to do now, Yami.” She hugged him tightly. “I'm sorry for doing this, because you've given up so much for me...” She looked down the hallway, still faintly hearing her mother's yells. “I can't leave them like this. I'm their daughter, and they need me just like I need them.” Bringing herself to stand on her tip-toes, she placed a soft kiss on his lips. “I'll miss you.”

“I miss you already.”

Yami then turned without saying another word. Slowly, he exited the room. Anzu raised a hand and wiped the tears from her eyes. Watching him go, she wished for him to be safe, and to find the happiness he so badly deserved.

OOOOOOO

“Pharaoh, it is with a heavy heart I must tell you that I can't marry your daughter.”

Pharaoh Akunamukanon looked up, startled, at the Prince Varon. “Excuse me?” he sputtered.

Varon lowered his gaze to the floor and uttered a small apology. “I can't marry your daughter,” he repeated, his voice slightly louder than before.

They two Royal Families, including Anzu, stood in the Throne Room. It was later than evening, the assassin had been captured and the Princess had returned to her family. Queen Leila and Empress Giovanni stared wide-eyed at the Roman Prince. Varon's mother, as well as Pharaoh Akunamukanon, looked aghast, the dream of uniting their two great empires crashing down.

“I'm sorry to disappoint you, mother,” Varon said, his face parallel to the floor. “But marrying a woman that has no feelings for me is just not something I can do. She's in love with someone else, and to take that away from her would make me no better than the men who use pleasure slaves.”

Anzu's eyes brightened. She felt like kissing Varon at the moment. Now she saw what her mother saw in him. She was right...he was a smart, handsome young fellow. And he would make some other girl very happy. Just not her. Shrugging her shoulders, she decided there was no harm in it, and threw her arms around the brown haired Prince. Giving him a kiss on the cheek, she released him. “Thank you so very much,” she whispered, tears in her eyes. “That means so much to me!”

Varon nodded, a smile on his face. “Though I had eagerly awaited the day of our marriage, I am willing to give you up.”

Akunamukanon slammed his fist on the throne. “I will not stand for this,” he bellowed. “I will not have my daughter marry a slave. She will marry a Prince, she will marry you, Prince Varon, and together you will unite the Roman and Egyptian empires!”

Giovanni nodded in agreement. “Really, Varon, I have no idea what you're thinking, but I forbid it!”

Varon shook his head. “You can't do that, mother. Besides...” he looked out the large window. “She's already gone to find him.”

The Pharaoh, Queen, and Empress glanced over to Anzu's seat, seeing that the Prince was correct and that she was really gone. Leila smiled slightly. She was happy for her daughter; that she got to be with the one she loved. Even if it wasn't the person they had picked out. “Maybe it's better this way,” she said reassuringly. “Maybe the gods are telling us that there will be a new Pharaoh soon...one that we hadn't expected.”

OOOOOOO

 

Anzu ran down the dirt path towards the shores of the Nile River. Spotting the small shack near the docks, she grinned. A frown appeared on her face when she noticed no candle light in the house. `Could he have left already?' she wondered.

“Anzu?”

The brunette turned quickly at hearing the familiar deep voice. Not even waiting for him to ask her why she was here, she threw her arms around him in a tight hug. “Yami,” she whispered. “Let's get married at my home.”

The tri-haired peasant didn't know what to say. Turns out he couldn't anyways, because she closed his mouth with a sweet kiss.