Sorry, for the wait; I am in nursing school which made life harder. But it's here!
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Riding onto the grounds he sees his men all aligned preparing themselves for battle, he glides by each of his men- wanting desperately to ease the worry drenched on their face, to place hand firmly on shoulder and remind them that he is here and that they need not worry about joining Hades in the underworld but as he walks past them none of his men recognize him without his armor, his mask. It is an odd feeling that Grey Horse can't describe; to walk beside his brothers in total anonymity.
He stares at his comrades one last time before returning back to his chambers with Stephen and the men. Having embraced the light, he must admit his view on war and death have changed slightly since meeting his little fox; things that once amused him now way deeply in conscious. Is this a life he wants to live and if not is he even capable of being normal?
Standing amid the battlefield, bodies lay where they had been struck down, parts severed, hacked and maimed in glorious victory. Blood muddied ground; the smell of death mingled with earth heightening senses in almost grotesque splendor
"Brothers, you fought with honor and courage; the gods are pleased by your actions as is your king!" The prince shouted to the thousands of men standing ogling him, heeding to his every word. He chuckles softly at his brothers words, throughout the battle he looked for his brother but never saw him on the battle field, as if not enough proof his armor is in pristine condition as he speaks to the tired men. His brother was the voice and he was the body, he never talked, many did not know he actually existed under his brother's charisma but he preferred it that way; always has. He never liked people watching him, he loathed the fact that they knew him and he knew nothing of them-leaving him at the disadvantage, the showcasing that belongs to Theo, the blood and war –that is his.
"Why did he allow a child to fight in a man's war?"
Theo jumps in shock at the voice in his chambers, grabbing a knife he speaks to the voice without turning around "A child is not here but a man; how did you enter my chambers?"
"Guards won't always be there to save you; you must learn to save yourself."
He turns around and throws the knife at the man only to see his missing brother standing in front of him, holding the knife he just threw in his hands. He is at a loss for words at the sight, his brother is without is armor and judging his appearance his brother has gotten himself to another predicament.
"Fitz." He ask in shock
"Theo." He states clearly
The brothers embrace, joyfully and happily. Grey Horse playfully slaps his brother's cheeks before sitting across from him as he dined on wine and bread.
"Brother, what brings you to travel outside the realms of the palace and worse of all with my men." Grey Horse teases as he takes a sip of his wine.
"I do prefer the comforts of the palace but when my brother has disappeared without trace one must take his place at the realm."
"And you call yourself taking my place?" He questions noticing the quick falter in his brother's face.
"I have no choice; father has grown concerned as has the rest of the kingdom with your disappearance."
"They do not look for Fitz but Grey Horse."
"You are Grey Horse, brother."
"Is that why you are here?" Fitz asked ignoring Theo's statement
"Yes, the king has grown distressed with your absence and wished for me to find you somehow and summon you, and I have business elsewhere while on this trip."
"What business do you have on this side of the earth brother?" Fitz asked curious.
"That is not important to you brother."
He fixes his eyes at his brother, deciding whether to say something or simply ignore it.
"Our king needs you." Theo states "The world has begun to believe that you are dead."
"Yet I breathe."
"They wish to see Grey Horse, if you could send a message and let your men and the king …"
"No." Grey Horse states before sitting up moving closer towards his brother "It is not the world that looks for me but its foolish people who has inhabit it. I kill there people and they cry for the gods to intervene yet when I am gone they miss the monster?"
"Even a monster, can be comforting in the night."
"Not this one."
"You are not all bad."
"I am not all good either."
"The king needs you."
"Do not call him my king." Grey Horse sneers as he swallows the rest of his wine before refilling it
"How about father?"
He snarls at his brother before once again refilling his cup. "Tell your king, father, and god, whatever you choose to call him, that Grey Horse is dead."
"Brother, I was the only one privy of your where about, why have you chosen this life." Theo pauses as he notices the slight gaunt look on his brothers face "Why have you endured this pain when you can easily leave."
"I have business that I must see too."
"I went in search of you and you were nowhere to be found brother, you lied to me."
"Now you know why."
"Brother, you are badly beaten, end this game."
"No."
"Why?"
As he watches his brother, he notices something unusual about him. A unique lightness to him even covered in dirt he remains bright as if the sun was placed solely on him.
"You are bewitched."
He does not reply at his brother's statement
"Has Aphrodite placed warm hands on your cold ones brother?"
"Something like that."
"What is her name?"
"You shall never, know."
"Why?"
"You refuse to tell me your business and so I will share same sentiment."
"Brother…"
"What." Grey Horse states as he stands up and moves around the room, suddenly feeling suffocated at the thought of Olivia and there last encounter.
"Are you in love?"
He moves to a window and stares at the bright star. The dream he had was unlike anything he has ever felt before, the world in which they resided in was extraordinary, and the kaleidoscope of colors displayed on the grounds and air assured him that wherever he was at he was where he desired to be. He licks his lips as he can faintly still taste her on his tongue, he thought he was attacked but when he had woken up he was in the comforts of his bed and absent her presences.
"I do not believe I am capable of love."
"It appears you are, and whoever the lady is must be a siren to have lured you."
"Do not insult her, she is no siren and she did not seduce me. I seduced her." Regardless of relationship to him he would not and will never allow any man or woman to insult Olivia, and to be completely truthful Grey Horse was as offended as he could be by his brother's statement. Theo has grown so accustomed to his mask that he believes the two are one. His relationship with Olivia, however torrid it is, is theirs, and there's alone; and he will not have anyone demean their relationship not matter how short it may be.
"Apologizes, brother."
"Accepted but do not make foolish mistake again."
"Will you return home?" Theo asked changing the subject all together.
"That cell is not my home."
"As supposed to the cell you currently reside in."
"What makes you think I am in cell?"
"It does not take sorcerer to see raw wounds on body, and cheekbones tight against skin."
Being Rowan's prisoner has left him worn and beaten, his strength is not as it once was, he needs time to heal, to regain strength though he fights and wins even he grows tired with slaughtering of men. Regardless of exhaustion, he will endure all pain if it means he can live within her orbit, he does not wish to live with her but to be a part of her world. If he had a choice in her living quarters, he would place her far away from other, setting her in a palace protected by him, and selfishly he would remove her from all others so that all she shall want, see and need is him.
"Brother, I wish for you to be happy…"
"But…" He turns coldly towards his brother, his voice lacking any emotion.
"There is a hunger to you, a darkness she may have never seen."
"Speak before I lose patience." He knows what is Theo is going to say, he has said it to himself a thousand times.
"Can you control the monster inside brother?"
He moves slowly towards his brother before standing in front with mere inches separating them, he sees his brother freeze slightly at his closeness, alarmed by what he might do next.
"Do I scare you brother."
"No." Theo replies shakily refusing to allow his brother to bully him.
"Liar." He states as his eyes harden "I am frightening at times and you are right, she has yet to see all that I am- all that I possess" Grey Horse pauses "But if she sleeps with the monster what is there to fear?" He walks away leaving his brother to ponder on the question he just gave him.
/
She tends to his wounds, patting the area thoroughly before rewrapping the injured area. "Tell me more about the awful beast?"
"Menelaus?" Jake ask turning to look at Olivia
"Yes, I believe that is what you called him."
"Ahh, he is nothing but filthy dog." Jake replies lifting his hand with disdain at the thought of talking about Menelaus, when he feels there are far more pressing matters to address. "I must tell you Olivia, you warm my heart seeing you tend to my wounds."
"Someone must." She smiles softly as she dabs the cloth into the bowl of water. "Besides, I must know about this dog because he has hurt you Jake, and I wish to know everything Jake, I do not wish for us to have any secrets; do you?"
"No." he shakes his head amazed that Olivia has finally wished to acknowledge his presence and the possibility of more.
"Good, now tell me about how this dog came to be here." She rings the cloth before cleaning his arm.
After telling her everything he knows, instead of filling answers it left her with more questions. Why does Fitz go by the name 'Menelaus?' what do they wish to turn him into and why does he allow such violence, but the biggest question on her mind is who is Fitz? Since her dream of seeing Fitz covered in blood she has felt it was her mission to find him, but instead of finding him she found someone else.
"Olivia?"
"Yes Jake."
"I wish for you to know that I do love you, and though I am with shortcomings, loving you is my only strength."
"Jake." She whispers suddenly feeling guilty for using him and playing with his heart to extract information she needs, in order to find Fitz, if that is even his real name. Everything about Fitz is shrouded in mystery, his name, his origin, his life, the only thing she knows to be real is his body that she touched and in turned allowed him to touch her. What exactly is his motive and why does it consist of him being with her. The pang to her heart as she thinks about him laughing at her, mocking her for loving him when he clearly does not love her and perhaps never will.
"Olivia, I am saddened that I was not able to join the men in battle but…"
"But what?" she ask looking at him sadly
"But I believe Aphrodite has placed me where I am meant to be." He says reaching for her hand, cradling it gently in his own as he stares up at her with adoration.
She looks down at their joined hands, and she fights the soft cry threatening to come out. Their hands do not belong together, his hand is sweaty and rough even when he traces the lines on her palm she feels the calluses on his fingertips rubs against her making her wanting to recoil, but instead she allows herself to have this moment with him. With Jake she knows who he is, and what he wants; loving a man like Fitz will only leave her heaving from pain and anguish at his lies and absence
"As do I" she licks her lips as she feels suddenly parched and in need of thirst. "Goodnight Jake." She dislodges his hand from hers before moving swiftly out of the room and into the shelter of her home. She unfolds the scroll her Yaya gave her, watching as the flower Fitz gave her roll out it, she smiles softly at the flower. It seems that even in her room she cannot escape Fitz, everything she does or sees reminds her of him, but instead of ignoring the feeling she accepts it and rereads the scroll as she plays with necklace she has refused to take off. Olivia finds comfort in reading the scrolls her grandmother gave her, every time she rereads them she somehow feels closer to him then before but wherever he is at, and whatever he must do, she does pray that he makes a safe return even if not to her.
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This chapter is short compared to others but is needed to move the story. We haven't reallly seen the darker side of Grey Horse and we are beginning to see his struggle with control and Olivia is learning more about Fitz which is making her contemplate who she loves and better yet who is 'Fitz?'
Hope you liked it, until next time XOXO