Heres the next chapter. I'm sorry I havent been online. Havent had internet for weeks and weeks.

Moving house so things have been evry hectic!!

Hope you like.

191026

4.

Nausea pulls me from my dreams of endless lush green flowery fields with a breeze floating through it urging the plants to sway to an unknown erotic dance.

Snapping awake, all thoughts of my wonderful dream vanish as I throw myself out of bed and through to the small bathroom attached to my room.

Barely making the snow white porcelain sink I heave up my insides even though there is nothing inside me to heave up. Falling onto the tiled floor I begin shivering violently. Probably through dehydration.

How much longer will this illness go on for?

Weeping to myself I slowly try to stand back up only to feel the sickness rising in my throat once again. Gagging into the sink again my whole body quakes under the pressure of forcing something to come up which just is not there.

Twenty soul draining minutes later, I find the strength to pull myself off the bathroom floor using the edge of the bath tub to haul myself upright albeit shakily. Slowly turning the steaming shower on I climb in on wobbling legs to wash off the remnants of the horrid morning I have had so far.

As I dress in my usual yellow dress I wander over to the window in my room and gaze out at the rocky dangerous mountain paths of Mount Ryde and the Road to Amabat. The early morning yellow sun sends shadows of the mountain path reaching up towards the sky. The heat of the sun bathes my pale face causing a warm glow to spread across my ghostly white features. I do love the very first rays of the sun. So hauntingly beautiful as they spread over the horizon slowly creeping towards me.

Soon enough I am wandering lost in thought down the winding corridors of the Temple.

"What's he doing right now? Is he fighting? Is he alive? Will I see him again?

Its always questions. Constant unnerving questions.

"Reith! Watch out!"

CRASH!!

I tumble onto the floor with a loud thump. I hear glass shattering all around me. Feeling around I feel that I have landed on a nice soft….chest?

Opening my eyes I lock onto a set of grey eyes staring angrily into mine. I am so close to the body below me I am breathing in the sweet scent of freshly washed silver hair. Raising my head I take in the ferocious looking features of General Agreian.

"Reith! Get off me you clumsy….female!"

Gasping I scramble around trying to pick myself up. On moving my legs from between his I accidentally shove my knee into his….

"Ahhh Reith! Get off!!"

Scrambling quicker I do the same thing again but this time while standing up. Stepping back I cannot help but burst out laughing at the sight of the fearless, unbeatable General of the Alliance Army cringing and squirming about the floor in pain, clutching at where I crushed under my knee.

After a while he painstakingly stands up, brushes himself down and coughs a few times to sort his voice out. Then all he does is glare at me probably wishing me gone.

"Well thank you very much you idiot. You just smashed all the expensive new vases I was going to put in my mothers room!"

They look very expensive….

"They were!"

I'm s-sorry General. I-I was pre-occupied.

Heaving out my strangled reply I clutch my hands tightly together infront of my breasts. A nervous little habit I picked up that day I woke up in that cave.

As I look back into his cold eyes I notice him cock his head to the side and grin at me slightly. I have never seen him smile before when something good had happened. Great….I'm about to be sent to jail.

"So that's how it is eh? He asked you to marry him?"

Cheeks burning red I nod vigorously before edging quite rudely past him and carrying on down the corridor.

"Reith? You're hiding something? There's something else isn't there? I feel a strange power about you. Nothing I've felt from you before. What are you hiding?"

Choosing to ignore him, I carry on walking, acting as though I have not heard him.

"Wait!"

I hear his heavy booted feet chase after me down the corridor. He grabs my wrist and forces me to turn round. His face is so close I can almost taste his breath caressing my face and neck. Still not leaving my gaze he raises my left hand and lightly kisses the ring sparkling on my finger.

"I give you my congratulations….and I owe you an apology for shouting at you the way I did before. Care to accompany me to the food hall? I could use the company."

Looking at the almost pleading look in his steely grey eyes I find it hard to come up with an excuse not to go with him.

I would love to General.

He offers me his arm. I take it quite happily. We walk the short distance down the Temple corridors to the small eating area. I almost squeal in delight upon entering the hall. Food is everywhere. Immediately abandoning my escort I fill up my plate and bowl with every delicacy I can grab. Fruits from Strawberry, Kiwi, Grape, Raspberry and apple. Then onto more wholesome food. Eggs, Sausage, Hash Browns and Feral Lynx Meat. Finally a mixed fruit drink to wash it down with. Heaven.

As I thump my plates down on the table the General has picked out for us I am surprised to see he is not eating.

Ummmm, General? Why are you only drinking water? Are you not hungry?

"No, I guess I am not. This will suffice. Are you sure you have enough there Reith? You and Calintz are very well suited. Have you ever seen him put food away?"

No. How? Is it scary?

"That's my whole point. He is so fast, one is lucky just to catch a glimpse of the food on his plate. I have no idea how he stays so thin."

Giggling slightly I carry on with my meal.

Food aside I glance up to see the General looking at me with the same look he had when he spotted my ring.

Is something wrong General?

"Not really. I am just wondering what it is I feel from you….that's all."

What do you mean?

"I have only ever found this sort of residual energy coming from women who are….expecting."

I stare at him with a confused air surrounding me. He must sense my naivety as he sniggers at me slightly.

"Surely you know what that means?"

Shaking my head, hiding my blush, I fool no one.

"I mean women who are pregnant. Let me ask a simpler question. You know what sex is don't you?"

Nodding my head furiously, every shade of red touching my cheeks I stutter my reply.

O-of course I know what….sex is!

"Well? Are you?"

Am I what General?

I can see he is getting impatient. His left eye twitches slightly.

"Are you pregnant Reith? I know for a fact that you and he have….well….anyway. Are you?"

Of course I'm not! I think I would know! You're probably just sensing my divine powers growing. I can feel them expanding each day. That's all.

"Whatever you say Reith. I have enjoyed your company today but I have matters which require my attention. Please excuse me."

I watch him stalk out the hall, my mouth agape. How forward can someone get? Once again I find myself lost in my own thoughts until a small voice pulls me from dreaming.

"Ms Reith? Mistress Ladrinne would like to see you in her room at once."

I wonder, what she could want?

Hope Agreian is ok so far xx