they were preparing to leave. as much as she couldn’t stand to have father carden and his paladins in her home, it was the monk she couldn’t bear to have gone. she still didn’t even know his name, and yet it felt like there was a tether between them. ‘ please, ‘ she begged as she found him alone, making final preparations for departure. the princess of carmelide, begging. something else that only he would know of. she approached him, grasping desperately to the front of his cloak. if there were tears gathering in her eyes, she refused to acknowledge them. ‘ please, don’t go with them. stay. ‘ they were going to attack another fey village. to kill more innocents. if she could just keep him away-- desperately, one hand moving to cup his cheek, she reached up to kiss him, her lips meeting his softly, barely there no matter how much she wanted to push for more. as she dropped from her toes, their lips separating, her hand dropped from his cheek. she rested her head against his chest, desperate to hide the tears blurring her vision. ‘ please stay. ‘