Chapter TWENTY-FIVE: To Really Be Free-DEVIN

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Hours later, Devin was carefully inspecting his once mud-tainted boots as he took them close to his fireplace to get a better look. The light-brown leather and soles looked almost brand new from all the polishing, all thanks to Tailor.

Devin had run into him after the ball ended and Tailor had offered to repair his boots for him. The two now had been sitting in Devin's barrack midway into the night as Tailor mended them with precision and ease. It surprised Devin that Tailor was skilled at shoe restoring and was exceptionally talented; something very unexpected for a knight.

He looked up at Tailor and smiled satisfied with the overall results. Tailor grin contently, pleased with himself, but tired.

"Well, buddy, I must say I am extremely impressed! Are you sure being a knight was supposed to be your calling again?" Devin asked teasingly.

"Shut up, you blue-haired moron! This is just something I do on the side. I prefer beating you any day with a sword!...And, if you ever need anything again ask someone else," Tailor ranted on, annoyed.

"Come on, I was only kidding. I appreciate the work. Err...How much do I owe you?"

"Nothing. It's on me so long as you don't go blabbing about this to the whole battalion."

"Deal, Tailor! You have my word," Devin said; though, his insincere expression made his thoughts readable as he was already thinking of who he was going to tell first.

Tailor playfully grabbed hold of his friend's head and rubbed his blue-hair violently.

"...It's late... and I am tired!... I'll see you tomorrow!" Tailor muttered loudly as he let go of a very irritated Devin, who respond with a missed punch to Tailor's arm. Tailor then quickly opened the door and ran out into the rainless dark forest to escape Devin who was right behind him.

Devin shook his head as he thought of getting back at his friend tomorrow, but he was too tired himself to go after now. He then went to change out of his knight attire into common clothes. Suddenly, he remembered Alicia's ring and searched for it in his pockets.

His heart jumped when he was unable to find the ring.

Devin frantically searched his room, realizing that he was sure he had it when he left the castle and that he must have either dropped it in his room or outside.

Once he finished thoroughly searching his room, he rushed to put on his freshly mended boots and cautiously walked out into the night to retrace his steps.

The moon, fortunately, loomed brightly enough, for the meantime, for him to scan down onto the forest path towards the castle. He hoped anxiously that no one had found the ring, and thought the chances were still good for him finding it since it had been raining and it was dark out.

Midpoint to the castle, as he started thinking about giving up, Devin suddenly spotted something faintly shining in the middle of the muddy trail. To his fortune, it was Alicia's ring partly covered in mud; but nevertheless, safe in his hands again. He cleaned it off and thanked the gods for his luck as he turned to go back to the knight's quarters, certain that he would finally give it to her in the morning.

Devin then had an urge to look back once more towards the castle again, thinking he had heard something.

From a near distance, among the trees, Devin's eyes grew wide thinking he was seeing a ghost in white inching closer. The appearance of the being made him realize that he was unarmed too. He grew somewhat scared as it inched closer; yet, he stood still waiting for it to come close enough for him to see it more clearly. As the figure rapidly approached, he rubbed his eyes, now thinking that it could possibly be an angel, at first glance, but soon realized it was a woman running towards him.

"Alicia?!" Devin stammered out loud, shocked as he saw her coming down the muddy path slope; apparently, not hearing him as she ran even faster. She had tears trickling down her eyes and was wearing a robe over a night gown, with her feet bare covered now in mud.

"Devin?" she said weak and tired, but then she rushed to him and grabbed a tight hold.

"Alicia! Why are you here?! Is there something wrong with the king-With Thais?-Alicia, say something, please!" Devin demanded as she sobbed uncontrollably, but only shook her head to deny his questions. He held her securely, wondering what had happened; but soon the moon was once more covered by clouds, and droplets began to sprinkle. "We can't stand here all night. We need to get you back to the castle."

"No, Devin! Not right now. I came to stay with you," Alicia whimpered as she hid her face against him. She suddenly felt her hand being raised up and the small weight of a ring in her palm.

"I have something for you. I found it in my room. I nearly lost it tonight," Devin said carefully, trying his best to cheer her up as he wondered if this was the reason for her being out so late.

"What?..." she said as she lifted her head to see her ring, but turned immediately away from it. "I don't want to see that! It's my mother's ring...I don't want it! You can keep it if you'd like! I am not a Pendragon anymore! I will not be getting married!" Alicia said enraged as she cried even louder.

Befuddled, Devin took the ring back from her and secured it again.

They didn't have much time before it really would begin to pour, so Devin decided that it would be best to take her with him. He stroked Alicia's head to calm her down, now profoundly worried for her.

"Okay, Alicia, I will take you with me..." Devin permitted as he looked down at her bare feet, realizing it was inappropriate to carry her. But he couldn't just let her walk either way without anything on her feet. "Alicia...step on my boots. I think I can balance you."

"Huh?" she looked up at him a little perplexed, but did as she was told and held him close.

They wobbled at first, but after a few steps they were able to shimmy easily on the moist dirt path. Devin covered her as much as he could as it began to rain even more.

They both thought of the funny pose they were in, but they remained silent the whole way.

Alicia suddenly began to giggle softly, making Devin laugh also, as she swayed backwards and forwards with his strides. She felt as though they were dancing again in the forest, and knew that she would never forget this happy memory.

They reached his barrack, and he pushed the door open, still supporting her on his boots. She closed the door with her free hand. Devin guided Alicia over to his bed to let her down. Suddenly, however, she accidentally kicked his ankle making him topple over her.

The fireplace crackled loudly behind them. They stared into each other's eyes, still holding on to one another. They both got up from the awkward position. Devin continued to stare deeply into Alicia's eyes. He saw hints of lilac shine eerily in her irises for the first time, which he gazed at for a few moments as she smiled lightly towards him.

Alicia worried briefly that he would move away from her again. The thought of trapping him crossed her mind, but she soon realized it was unnecessary. For the allure of their warmth and years of repressed feeling drew them towards one another as he caressed her hair gently again. And finally, after suppressing his feeling for so long, their lips met lovingly in an uncontrollable siege.

After several minutes of euphoric bliss they continued to kiss endlessly until Alicia stopped him.

"Devin...I am in love with you," she whispered and then kissed him again.

However, Devin suddenly pulled away from her.

"Alicia...why are you here?" he murmured suspiciously, but also out of guilt for being out of his place as a knight; and of course, because of Talia never completely having left his wits. It bothered him that he couldn't decide if he was cheating on Talia; yet, that he could love Alicia with such intensity. And even the possibility that he could love them both, loomed over him. On top of all of this, she was Queen of Thais. Where did that put him? He was only a knight, not a prince or nobleman. And he had been a deserter for the last two years. Not really meeting top criteria for a future king, he thought.

Devin reluctantly turned to a chest in the corner and began looking through it for a pair of shoes Alicia could use and found Talia's old winged sandals. No...This is what Talia would have wanted...To be happy, Devin thought hesitantly about Talia and their short past together.

Alicia, tired, sat on the bed and became teary again over Devin's reaction, making her wonder if he was still thinking of Talia; but even more, she cried about his questioning about her untimely visit as though she purposely planned their encounter. She sat up straight as Devin kneeled to clean off her feet, then slipped on the sandals.

Afterwards, she stood up to leave, but this time, Devin embraced her suddenly, realizing that he should have been kinder. Alicia held him close and finally began to explain why she was driven out of the castle in the middle of the night.

"Destiny is cruel... After you left, I went to tell father of my horrible ball. I thought he would be understanding of the outcome, but he wasn't, and already knew of the little mishap we had with the Mountain Prince...Oh, Devin, you should have seen him! I almost forgot the old man was sick. He scolded me and told me that he already had a backup plan.

"He said he had sent Master Gerrith to some place in the Eastern Isle, called Veldarah...He said that the empress' son was willing to marry me as soon as he arrives-tomorrow! And that I would have to marry him! That's why I left...I don't want to be queen anymore. I don't want to marry some empress' son that I've never met before.-I want to be with you, Devin!- We can go far away from all of this..." Alicia finished as she cried heavily in his arms.

Devin's mind raced with everything that had happened. Either way he knew his life would never be the same. Having Alicia with him again, as always, had brought hope and joy to his life and she made him happy. However, she was queen and she had duties to fulfill. He suddenly knew what he would have to do, and most of all, what he wanted.

"Alicia, I-I..." he begun, but Alicia intercepted.

"-Devin...I meant what I said the other day after I fainted. I believe you can be king. You are already king in my eyes," Alicia said, sensing that he doubted himself. Devin looked at her and smiled, flattered that she had really meant for him to be king. Though, the thought of being king didn't register with him, at least not yet.

"Alicia, I will speak with your father tomorrow. I won't let him marry you off to someone else...But this is all I can do for us. You have to be queen. Who else would rule Thais if your father worsens?" Devin answered with what he wanted to say before she interrupted him.

Alicia wanted to feel comforted by his words, but her father had set his mind and not even Devin could change it. She moved towards the door, but Devin kissed her lightly and pushed it closed with his back.

Not wanting for her to be out so late, he carried her to his bed, pushed the sheets aside, and tucked her in. Devin then found a spare blanket and lay on the rug beside and looked up at her in deep thought.

Alicia leaned over the bed's edge to talk with him as she pretended to be optimistic and spoke about all the king's duties he would soon be responsible for, then fell silent, only to wake a short while later to gaze at him again; however, Devin had already fallen fast asleep. She rolled off the comfort of his bed to cuddle beside him on the cold floor.

The queen wept quietly as this would likely be their last and only night together.