Double upload - i'm just sayin'. Double. Upload. what can i say? i felt bad for the soppy chapter last time - we're getting to the serious shit right now. S-E-R-I-O-U-S.
"Dead?" Brigan repeated in shock "What happened?"
"Ivan was found in his house in the North with sword wounds." The Captain said gravely "We think bandits invaded his home and attacked him when he tried to protect it. Some expensive items were taken."
It was the week before the Winter Solstice, the week-long festival celebrated with markets on the streets and fine goods sold – gloves were exchanged for kisses, necklaces for a dance in the square, flowers given freely to those of a kind and good heart. Brigan had been woken by his most trusted Captain in the early hours of the morning to receive the bad news.
"I can't believe it." Brigan whispered, lowering his head to his hands and closing his eyes.
"Leave us." Fire told the Captain quietly, and crawled over to Brigan. She wished she could sit in his lap and wrap her body around him. She wished she could hold him tight to her chest as he cried his grief onto her shoulder. But she couldn't – she couldn't even see her toes, let alone wrap herself around him. But that didn't stop her from trying – she hugged Brigan all she could, with their baby between them, and he hugged back, tears streaking his face.
I love you, Fire kept on murmuring to him, sending him the fire of her heart as he had done to her once in a time of need, I love you, husband. I love you, father of my child.
"I have to go to the funeral." Brigan rumbled after a lifetime of embracing. Fire rubbed her stomach, as she was wont to do when she was worried or unhappy.
"I'll come with you." She murmured.
"No." Brigan replied immediately "It's too dangerous, and too far. Not in your condition." Brigan placed his hand on her stomach too, and smiled tightly "I must do this alone."
"Take a guard." Fire begged "Brigandell, you promise me you will take a guard with you."
"Yes." He sighed tiredly "I promise, Love. And you will be in my thoughts – it is but a week journey."
"And a week coming back – and who knows what will need sorting out at the estate." Fire grabbed Briagn's hand and gripped it so tightly Brigan's skin turned white "I cannot do without you long, Brigan. Whenever you are not near, I feel like I am drowning."
"My love," Brigan looked at her tenderly "oh, my heart. Nothing can keep us apart for long. I must do this thing. He was my best friend."
"I know." Fire let his hand go "Do not forget, I have also lost a dear friend before. Just. . . hurry home, Brigan."
Fire watched from a window as Brigan raced off into the distance the next morning, wrapped in a thick shawl to ward off the cold. They had exchanged no words – they hadn't needed to. They just looked each other in the eyes so intensely that the few onlookers averted their gaze, as if they were invading upon an intimately private moment. Brigan had kissed her eyelids and her lips, and then bent down on one knee and kissed Fire's swollen stomach, caressing it with his hands and saying a quiet "goodbye" to his unborn child.
"We will miss you." Fire whispered in a thick voice.
"As I will you, my Love. Both of you." Brigan whispered back, so that they went unheard. For a second, he rested his hand on her cheek, rubbing her tears away with his thumb – and then he was off, barking orders angrily at his guard, who were staring at Fire, enchanted at how beautiful this weeping, pregnant woman was.
When Brigan was safely away from the Palace, and prying eyes, he reached into his pocket and took out the small package Fire has pressed into his hand wordlessly. It fit into his palm perfectly, wrapped in brown paper and tied up with a plain piece of string, as if designed not to attract attention. With a quick glance around, he pulled at the strings and the paper fell off the package in his hand. He was startled by what he beheld – sitting in a cocoon of brown paper was a small locket. It was made of crystal glass, and form of glass made in the south that was known for its strength, which was second only to diamonds. The sides were covered in a silver-like metal, with miniscule engravings of flowers and vines entwined around each other as if they were dancing. But it wasn't the locket that was so enchanting to Brigan – for inside, the locket held within a swirling coil of blood-red hair, streaks of pink and orange darting through it like flames. Brigan recognised Fire's hair immediately, and quickly snapped his hand over it so that no one else would see. Turning it around, he saw an engraving on the back – Truth, love, and peace will guide you, my Love. Brigan's heart swelled; he bowed his head and kissed the locket, wishing it was Fire's real hair he was kissing, and pushed Big faster.