In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.

~Albert Schweitzer

Chapter 10: The Consort.

She waited outside his office, she always has.

When she was younger, she had done it out of spite, to drive home the fact that she was not happy and would not take the liberties of a wife. When she became older and wiser, it became a show of respect.

Alima stood up when the door opened to reveal Master Anwar. The greying scribe smiled at her and bowed before he stepped out of the way for her husband. Skyhawk smiled as well, though his was deeper and more familiar when he stepped closer to her and inclined his head.

"My wife," he said quietly and moved his hand away from his body ever so slightly. "It is good to see you."

She smiled at him and stepped forward at the silent invitation to take his hand and kissed him on the cheek.

"Husband," she acknowledged him before turning to the other man. "Anwar, how is life treating you?"

The man inclined his head again, smiling. "Life is treating me well your Highness," he said. "It's your husband that's the trouble."

Skyhawk snorted before she could enquire. "This man," the king said, "has dreams that stretch further than his wings can and a head full of fool's folly."

Anwar sighed and shook his head. "It was merely a suggestion," he said. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I have some duties to attend to. Are you well Queen Alima?"

She knew that it was a quiet enquiry to her health but she refused to play into it. "I'm well," she said with a smile. "It was good to see you Anwar, I'm sure we'll catch up later."

The scribe nodded before he turned to the king and bowed his leave. When he left them alone Alima sighed softly then turned to Skyhawk who was still looking at her. There was softness in his eyes that she felt inadequate to deal with. Clearing her throat, she slipped her hand out of his and entwined her fingers in front of her.

"Are you busy?" she queried. "Or do you have time for a word or two?"

Her husband smiled and motioned her into his office. "You can make it more than one or two words Alima," he said. "I haven't seen you in weeks." He closed the door behind her and motioned her to one of the seats beyond his desk. "Are you well? You are fading Alima."

She touched her face self-consciously and looked away. "I am well," she repeated her mantra. "I have brought Skyla with me this time Skyhawk. You will hardly recognize the girl."

The king sat down on the seat next to her, but moved it a bit away so that she could have more space. "I heard," he said. "Is she well?"

Alima held up her hand and sighed. "As can be expected," she said. "It's been a tough year for her, but I have to say that she's really made a name for herself in the other world."

Skyhawk made a considering sound. "Do you think that she will choose to remain there?" he queried.

Alima nodded slowly, folding her hands in her lap. "That's what she says," she said slowly. "I've brought her back with me so that she can go and see her father's brother. He has been taking care of the family estates if you remember. She's considering to sell the farm to him and then use the money over there." She hesitated. "I suggested the idea."

He smiled, but didn't comment on it. Rather, he settled back and gave her a knowing look. "And?" he queried softly.

Alima blinked and sat up straighter. "What do you mean?" she snapped with a touch of guilt in her voice, winching as Skyhawk chuckled softly.

"I know you Alima," he stated. "With respect my wife; there are very few things that would bring you to my door this quickly upon arrival. I can see it in your eyes, there is more to come of this."

She snorted and stood up briefly to sit down in another position. She wanted to say something but changed her mind and shook her head.

"You have no tact," she snipped. "Yes, I confess, there's more."

The king laughed softly and motioned to her to continue. "Please wife," he said softly. "Tell me what has been brewing in your mind. This one is going to be big, I can tell."

Alima sighed and sniffed indignant. She looked out to the window of the office and watched the clouds for a bit.
"When she is older, I want you to appoint Skyla as the next caretaker of the academy," she said slowly. "I want to give her that, as her home."

His reaction was every bit the one she expected. Skyhawk sat back with a shocked expression on his face and touched his beard. Alima gave him a pointed look before she stood up and went to stand by the window. She gave him a few moments to get use to the idea before she continued. "She loves the academy," she said without looking at him. "And, she has had some interesting ideas how to make it economically sustainable. I realize she's still young, but I think when she's older she will have the right hand for it."

The king barked a laugh and sat up. "You can still take my breath away woman," he said. "I didn't expect this. How did you come by this thought?"

Alima sniffed and shrugged. "Tradition speaks that, when Skyler marries, his wife should take over the academy and stay there," she said quietly. "But, I want my son to marry for love Skyhawk. Therefore, the kind of marriage that we had would not be the best thing for them. Skyla knows the academy and loves that flightless world. It's is her refuge as much as it has become mine. When Skyler marries, and it is time we start thinking about that, I don't want someone to take that away from her."

Skyhawk frowned at her and took a deep breath. He stood up to Alima's surprise and joined her by the window, standing across from her.

"So, you want her to be the guardian of the realm and, if the future queen wishes to join her there, protect the woman?"

Alima nodded quietly, watching her husband. "Yes," she said. "Let the queen be there at Skyla's leisure. Skyla knows that realm better than I do, she would be the perfect consort and guide to anybody we send there."

Skyhawk returned her gaze then abruptly shook his head. "I cannot make such a decision now Alima," he said sombrely. "You assume that Skyler has not chosen a wife yet." There was a brief look of sadness as he carefully reached out and laid his hands on his wife's shoulders. "The situation has changed Alima, Skyler has chosen his betrothed…"

&&&

The sun was already setting when Skyla finally reached the place that the letter had directed her to. Its message had been frustratingly brief, merely telling her to go to the cliff face some distance away from the wingdom. It was like an island in the clouds where they use to play as children. Its sides were riddled with caves that legend said people lived in before they decided to build homes and it had still provided a perfect place for them when they camped as children. Skyla held onto those memories as she became older, because she truly believed that she would never be as happy again as she was in her childhood. It was bitterly sweet therefore to return to the place that featured so prominently in her memories.

As she flew up to it she could see that things have changed though, even in the dim light of the setting sun. She saw a figure moving around at the highest point of the escarpment in front of a newly build veranda and light a few lamps.

Feeling awkward, Skyla approached the veranda cautiously and landed just outside the rim of light. There she hesitated, watching the figure as he moved around.

Skyler's hair was even longer than the last time she saw him and he wore it tied back in a tight, thin braid. Although it was hard to see in the light it looked as if he wore a thin leather band around his forehead along with it and there was a thin sheen of sweat on his naked chest as he finished lightening the lamps.

Skyla winched and looked away, her face burning suddenly as she remembered the last time she saw him half naked. She shifted awkwardly and took a deep breath before she turned to look at him again. This time, he was looking at her.

There was a light in his eyes that she had not seen before and it took her breath away. His mouth formed words though she didn't hear them as he put the towel down and slowly walked towards her. She almost stepped back further into the darkness but his gaze held her as captive as his arms had almost a year ago.

"I had hoped that you would stay longer," he said suddenly, his voice piercing through her stunned senses. "I am not ready yet Skyla."
She didn't know what to say, but found the words; "I'm sorry," rolling off of her tongue. He smiled and shook his head as he reached her, his eyes still bright with their light.
"Don't be," he said with a laugh. "To be prepared, I would've needed days." He reached out and took her hand in his. "Do you want to see?" Before she could reply he pulled her forward into the ring of light. Skyla barely managed to mask the shiver that went through her body at his touch.

Skyler took her to the steps of the veranda, spreading his arms wide. "I've been busy here all summer in my free time," he said. "I had Master Anwar help me with the design. I didn't want to ruin the scenery if you understand."

Still reeling from his touch Skyla found herself shaking her head. "I… don't think I do Skyler," she said carefully. "What is this?"

His eyes seemed to drink in her very presence as he grinned at her. "I plan to get married here," he said, his voice low. "And, hopefully betrothed."
She tried not to winch but none the less the words acted like a blow as she pulled away from him. "So, you have chosen a wife?" She turned her back on him so that he couldn't look at her face when he answered.

He didn't move to touch her or turn her back to face him, merely replied calmly; "Yes."

Skyla knew that this day would come, that one day these words would be spoken. She had been preparing herself for them ever since she went to the other realm with her mother and Alima yet, knowing that this day was upon her now brought a feeling of desolation in her that she was quite unprepared to deal with. It took all she had not to scream or allow her legs to buckle in underneath her.

"Who?"

The words escaped from her mouth but it didn't sound like her. Rather, it sounded like the desperate plea of someone falling. Give me strength and courage to face these words…

Skyler's laugh send chills up her spine as she felt him reach out behind her and lay his hands on her shoulders. He brought his face close enough to hers so that she could feel the slight scratch of his beard's day growth.
"You," he whispered in her ear and turned her around. "I want to marry you Skyla Zavere."

The words seemed to come from a dream she had had a million times but Skyla refused to be drawn into the fantasy. Closing her eyes she pulled away from Skyler and pushed his arms away as he tried to touch her again.

"Do you want to kill me with hope?" she hissed. "You know that it cannot be Skyler! We've discussed this!" To her indignation he chucked and reached out for her again.

"Kill you with hope?" he laughed. "Skyla, I want to save you with it. And, I am the king, or will be one day. It will be. I will not marry anybody else but you."

Her legs did give way underneath her then but when Skyler tried to reach out to her she waved him off. She covered her eyes with her one hand while she braced herself on the ground with the other, she could feel Skyler's eyes on her as he hunched down beside her.
"Skyler," she said carefully, controlling her voice with every scrap of dignity she had left. "I love you. I have always loved you and I will always love you. But, we cannot do this. They won't allow us, you know this as well as I do. You are a king to be and I am a farmer's daughter." She looked up suddenly, her eyes filled with anger. "For crying out loud, I came here to say good bye, not build a new life!"

For a moment Skyler's gaze faltered. "Good bye?" he queried.
Skyla closed her eyes and moved her legs so that she could sit cross legged. "I'm going to sell my family's farm," she said. "I'll give my uncle first choice but if he doesn't want it then I'll put it on the open market. I'm not going to come back again once it is sold. I can't keep on living like this Skyler."

He sat back in the dust, staring at her. "Like what?" he queried. "Skyla…"
She shushed him. "In two worlds," she said. "We ended it Skyler, we both agreed to end it. I am just taking the next step because I can't fully release myself from the wingdom and the hope that one day you might speak the words you did earlier if I still have reason to return here. When I sell my family's farm I can return to that world and dedicate the rest of my life to it. If I don't have to keep on returning here then… Then I can stop hoping…"

Skyler barked a laugh. "That I'll ask you to marry me?" He shook his head. "Skyla, I've just done it! I asked you to marry me!"

She sighed and shook her head.

"Skyler, they won't allow us to get married, no matter who you will be one day. If they would've, we wouldn't be where we are now. I am a farmer's daughter."

Skyler looked at her then shook his head and carefully reached out to cup her face in his hands.
"A farmer's daughter?" he said quietly. "Skyla, that was then. Now, you are my mother's ward. If she wills it, you can inherit her titles and her land. They can't pass it on to us because then her family's lands will become a part of the crown's property and she was an only child so there are no other siblings to which the lands can pass. I've been thinking and she really has no other choice than to give it to you. With her title, I can marry you."

Skyla gaped at him, her face starting to burn where he was touching her. "Skyler…" she whispered. "Skyler, you cannot plan this out without her. Does she know?"

The young man had the grace to blush. "No," he admitted. "I mean, I discussed it with her once or twice as a sort of in general enquiry but we haven't actually… I mean…"

Skyler drew his hands away from her. Skyla watched him for a few moments then sat back, smiling.

"You can't just make decisions like this for your mother Skyler," she whispered. "If I have learned anything about her this year, it's that she does not take kindly to being dictated to, you should ask her. Have you spoken to your father?"

Skyler relaxed a bit and nodded. "I have told him of my plans," he said. "Skyla, they cannot say no. I will not have any other wife except you." He reached out again to touch her. "Lady or no Skyla Zavere, you will be my wife… If you choose to be." He hesitated. "Do you?"

She stared at him, feeling for the third time in her life as if her world was being turned upside down. The first time had been when she found out that he was to be the heir to the Skyswirlstone and she realized that they would not have the future they had dreamed of even as children. The second time had been when her parents died. Now though she started feeling as if her world was turning for the better.

Skyla reached out to caress his face before she leaned forward into his arms and embraced him.
"Yes," she whispered. "If your mother agrees, then yes… I will marry you. I have wanted to all my life…"

&&&

To Be Continued…

AN: And, she writes from South Africa, she writes from the United Kingdom and NOW she writes from Australia… International author am I… :P

Hey there everybody. I'm still alive and happy down under. I had some time and a nagging need to write so I thought I'd give you something. I hope you enjoyed this! More to come when I have time to write again. :)

Alyss

2-;--