A/N: Hello everyone! First of all, I wish to thank whoever stopped by to follow and read this story so far! Special thanks to whoever found the time to leave a review on this tale (I can't thank you individually If you post a review on "guest mode", but please know that I really appreciate your feedback). Comments and reviews are what encourage me to write further. So don't be shy!
Once again, I apologize in advance for any mistakes you might notice.
Chapter Twelve: Promise
«Are you sure?»
The soldier lowered his gaze, biting nervously his lip. Sensing the man's hesitation, Lord Cyrus turned around and glanced questioningly at him.
«I cannot be certain, my Lord», the soldier finally answered, «but Lord Elam was suspiciously surprised when he saw her. Also, he's usually very meticulous when he inspects people who have to meet His Majesty, yet he let her go after just a quick check. He didn't even personally look at the tray she was carrying. It's quite an odd conduct.»
«An odd behavior indeed», Cyrus commented stroking his beard. He took a few steps toward his private balcony and let his gaze wander over the sleeping inner gardens of the Palace. The quietness was suddenly disturbed by the soldier's voice.
«His Majesty also asked me to tell his personal physician he wouldn't need any other treatment for tonight, and that he will call for him when he will need his assistance».
Cyrus listened carefully to his words and a mischievous smile bent his lips.
«So, what you are saying is, that the young woman that you just escorted to the king's bedchamber was none other than that Lusitanian commander posing as a nurse?»
«I-I am not sure…», the soldier stuttered. The cold stare that Lord Cyrus cast him made him start in fear.
«But you do suspect it, don't you?», the nobleman asked him, keeping his eyes fixed on the man's face. The soldier hesitated for a few seconds.
«I do», he finally confessed, taking a deep breath. «I thought she looked familiar, but I couldn't remember where I had seen her before, then it occurred to me. She was in the Palace's square this morning, when the king came back».
Cyrus nodded thoughtfully and moved his gaze back beyond the balcony. A few minutes passed in silence.
«You did well reporting this to me», Cyrus finally said without turning.
«Sir…», the man replied bowing slightly.
«Now go, and if you notice something odd regarding the king or any of his closest companions, or even those savage Lusitanians, come and report to me», he ordered the soldier, turning around to face him.
«As you wish», the man answered. He bowed again, then exited the room.
Lord Cyrus stared at the closed door for a few seconds, then let his gaze wander around his richly furnished room. The walls were covered with colorful marble plates and the ceiling had been decorated with plaster and gold. On the shelves leaning against the walls were dozens of exotic objects embellished with precious stones, family relics and rare books. The few oil lamps placed in the room illuminated the rich tapestries and the inlaid wooden furniture.
Cyrus moved his gaze beyond the balcony once again. The night sky was dotted with hundreds of stars, shining around the bright moon. The Palace was pleasantly quiet and the silence was interrupted only by the clinking of the armors of the guards patrolling the inner walls.
A vicious, mischievous grin bent the nobleman's lips. How fortunate that one of his loyal subjects had been charged with escorting that woman to the king's chamber that night. He still couldn't be certain she was Commander Étoile, but he sure didn't find it difficult to believe it.
Lord Cyrus knew there was more than mutual trust and friendship between the king and the Lusitanian girl. He had been suspecting it since her arrival at the Capital and the young sovereign's behavior had strengthened his beliefs. Cyrus still remembered very well King Arslan's fierce gaze and clenched fists when his fellow councilmen criticized Étoile and her origins during one of their latest meetings, and what happened at the Moonlight Festival dispelled any doubts he might still have.
But to think that she would go as far as to sneak into the king's bedchamber at nighttime, with Elam's complicity moreover. Cyrus couldn't hope for a better opportunity. He still hadn't understood if the young sovereign had truthfully fallen for her or if that Lusitanian savage had seduced him with some sort of wicked charm to manipulate him later, but he didn't care to find out yet. The nobleman's grin grew even brighter: the king himself was already unconsciously demolishing the consent not only of the Council, but also of the Court. Now all he needed to do was tell the other members of his group that his suspicions were now a truth.
The noble councilman left the balcony and reached a low, square table on which rested a golden goblet and a jug full of red wine. He grabbed the jug and poured the dark liquid into the goblet. He raised his hand and murmured a silent pray before taking a sip of wine. Cyrus lowered his gaze to the goblet's shiny surface, observing his reflection on it. He could already picture in his mind the faces of his comrades when he would tell them about their king's indecent affair with that Lusitanian woman. The gods were finally on his side: he wouldn't have wasted that chance.
Arslan finished tying the bandage around his chest. He gathered the damp cloth he had used to clean his wounds and any shreds of bandage left and dropped them among the other medical tools on the tray still resting on his bedside table. He cast a quick glance at the large window opening on the southern wall of his chamber. The thick curtain that closed it let him glimpse a narrow strip of sky. It was still pitch dark and the stars were still shining brightly.
It was still night then, Arslan thought. He honestly couldn't tell how long it had been. How long had it taken him to change his bandages? How long had he been sitting there on his bed, with only a white sheet covering his hips, messy hair and his heart still beating frantically, so overwhelmed by his own feelings, that everything else seemed blurred? From the moment his eyes had met Étoile's, he had lost track of time.
A soft smile graced his lips. He turned his gaze to his side, and he saw her, lying there next to him, her eyes closed, and her blonde hair sprawled over the pillow. Arslan couldn't care less about how much time he spent staring at the skin of her bare back, at the elegant line of her shoulder, at the curve of her neck or at the gentle rise and fall of her chest, barely covered by the white, silky sheet.
He wished that night would never end.
Arslan lay down next to her, pulling the sheet over his naked body. He brushed her exposed arm with his hand and pressed a gentle kiss on her shoulder. Étoile shuddered slightly, clenching the sheet wrapped around her chest. Arslan moved his fingers up to her shoulder and along the line of her neck. He tucked a lock of blonde hair behind her ear and bent down to kiss her on her neck. The young woman murmured something incomprehensible, quivering under the touch of his lips. Arslan stopped and looked at her. Étoile slowly opened her eyes and turned her head to face him.
The young king smiled gently at her.
«Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up», he said apologetically.
«I wasn't sleeping», she replied resting her head back on the pillow. A faint blush covered her cheeks.
As if she could sleep after what had happened, she thought.
Arslan embraced her and held her tight. He buried his head in the crook of her neck and resumed kissing her.
«Are you in pain?», Étoile asked, feeling the bandages brushing against her back when he pressed his body on hers.
«Don't worry…», he whispered.
«That's not an answer», she replied plainly. Arslan stopped kissing her and chuckled softly.
«Fair enough», he said, lying on his back. «I am a bit sore», he confessed resting a hand over his chest.
Étoile stayed motionless. She was feeling guilty for acting so coldly toward Arslan, but she was still too overwhelmed with the emotions she had just experienced, too embarrassed to even look at him. She mentally reprimanded herself for not being as good as he was at controlling her feelings and obeying her heart. After a couple of minutes, she finally mustered enough courage to turn around and face him.
Arslan was lying peacefully on his back, his eyes closed and his lips slightly apart. The sheets covered him up to his hips, leaving his torso and the bandages that wrapped part of his chest exposed. Étoile observed his face, his elegant profile, his thin lips, the sharp yet graceful line of his nose, his long, black eyelashes and his silver hair, sprawled over the pillow.
Never before had she realized how handsome he had become. She had had to almost lose him to understand how much he meant to her.
Her hand moved on its own. She reached for his face and caressed his cheek. Arslan didn't move. The girl's fingers traced gently his jawline, then brushed his lips.
The young man raised his hand and pressed her fingers against his mouth, kissing them gently. Arslan opened his eyes and turned toward her, smiling tenderly. His deep, sweet gaze had the power to calm down her agitated heart and Étoile finally smiled back at him.
Encouraged by her blissful grin, the king gathered her in his arms and kissed her passionately. The young woman cupped his face with her hands and kissed him back with equal ardor. When the two lovers parted to catch their breaths, they kept staring at each other smiling happily, still panting heavily.
Étoile's hands hadn't left his face and as she stared at his deep, blue eyes, an unsettling sensation started to insinuate in her heart. Her smile soon faded.
«What now?», she suddenly asked him, her voice was little more than a whisper.
Arslan cast a questioning glance at the girl, then chuckled softly.
«I was thinking… a good night's sleep would be nice. Today's been quite full of surprises», he answered nuzzling her cheek.
«That's not what I meant», Étoile said rolling her eyes. Arslan stopped teasing her and lay his head back on the pillow. He could clearly sense something was unsettling her and as much as he tried to ignore his own feelings, he knew that what was troubling her was the same sensation that was seizing his heart.
«You know we have just complicated things, don't you?», she asked him. The young man looked at her without saying a word. Even in the dim light of the room he could see the veil of sadness that clouded over her amber eyes.
«We can't possibly think of wandering around and behaving as any couple would. You… are the king of Pars and I… I am an officer of the lusitanian army. I'm lusitanian. I think not even your loyal companions would accept this. Not to mention my men. God, if my men were to find out…».
Étoile's voice was more and more agitated, but Arslan didn't stop her. In part, because he wanted her to vent all her discomfort, in part because he, unwillingly, agreed with her.
«Besides, no matter how many more times I'll delay or what other excuses I might tell myself, I can't stay here forever. I have to go back home. I must bring my men back to Lusitania», the young woman added. She lowered her gaze and took a deep sorrowful breath.
«You are right», Arslan told her. Étoile looked straight back into his eyes, an expression of both affliction and disbelief painted on her face. She was relieved that he wasn't trying to deny the unquestionable truth in her words, but part of her still wished he would have opposed.
«I'm aware you'll have to leave eventually, but…», he said. «I wish you could stay here a little longer».
«I've already been staying here for longer than I was supposed to…», she reminded him, fiddling with the hem of the sheet.
«What if I told you that I need you?», Arslan said taking her hand. Étoile sighed.
«Arslan…»
«What I mean is, I need your help, as well as that of your comrades», he added. The young woman cast him a questioning look.
«What are you talking about?»
«When the war ended, a few Lusitanian people demanded to stay and live here. Some of them regretted what they had done during the siege of the Capital and asked to help rebuild it, some were slaves who had been freed and some others had even fallen in love and wanted to raise their families here. I had nothing against it of course, but the matter was complicated. And even now, after four years, many of them can't integrate with the other citizens. The Parsians can't forgive them for what they've done during the war, and the Lusitanians seem to have given up on even trying to be accepted. They just resigned themselves to live in the humblest areas of the city. No matter how hard I try, the situation is not going anywhere. But now that you're here, you can help me find a solution. I'm sure they'll be more willing to talk to you fellow Lusitanians than to me. Maybe they'll trust you enough to tell you what I'm doing wrong and what we could do to improve our social system».
Étoile listened to him looking straight into his eyes.
The enthusiasm in his voice proved that he was sincerely worried about his subjects, both parsian and foreign, and that he was truly asking for her help. His concern was touching, yet she couldn't believe he was using that as an excuse to make her stay in Ecbatana.
«Our diplomatic mission is over, and we are expected to go back home as soon as possible. I've already changed plans once, we shouldn't even be here in the first place. I'm not sure my comrades will be happy about this», she tried to reason with him.
«I'll talk to them. I'll personally ask them to lend me their aid», Arslan replied confidently.
The young woman chuckled sarcastically.
«We Lusitanians are not that easy to persuade», she told him.
«Challenge accepted», he exclaimed pressing a kiss on her hand. Étoile sighed and cast him a disapproving look.
«Would you seriously lie and take advantage of your power just to make me stay?», she wondered.
The young king frowned.
«I'm not lying. I'm truly worried about the well-being of whoever lives in this city and in this kingdom. Your help might make a difference. I'm not an idiot. I know that sooner or later you'll have to go back to your homeland, and if I have one chance to make you stay here a little longer, even only one more day, then I won't waste it», he told her reaching for her face and caressing her cheek. «I just can't stand the idea of being separated from you… not yet».
Étoile felt a warm sensation radiating from her chest raise along her neck and reach her cheek, where his hand still rested. She wished she was as good as him at expressing her feelings, she wished she could show her emotions like he did, rather than being trapped by them.
She knew that deep down she had already made up her mind. If necessary, she was ready to personally convince her men. She would have stayed, she wanted to stay and be with him for as long as she would be allowed to.
In that moment, she wished nothing more than telling him how grateful she was for his concern toward her fellow countrymen, that she was willing to help him in the best way she could, that, although unavoidable, the thought of leaving was as painful for him as it was for her. But she still had to deal with her bashfulness and pride.
Her voice was muffled in her throat. No matter how hard she tried, Étoile, fearless knight and brave commander, couldn't bring herself to put into words the feelings and passion she felt for the man that was holding her so closely, not when he stared at her with that deep, transfixing gaze of his.
That night, however, he himself had helped her learn something new about her personality: she was much better at conveying her feelings through her actions than with words.
She leaned in and closed the distance between them. The kiss was so fierce and passionate that Arslan felt his whole body being pressed against the mattress. He hugged her and pulled her even closer to him, as her hands traced the muscles of his shoulders. They melted into each other, sharing the warmth of their bodies and their excited heartbeats. When they parted to catch their breaths, a blissful grin graced their faces.
«Does this mean I have good chances of persuading you?», Arslan asked still panting.
«Let's say you might succeed», Étoile answered smirking, before giving him a quick peck on his lips.
They spent a few minutes in silence, enjoying their closeness, getting lost into each other's eyes. Soon enough, however, the light that illuminated her gaze began to fade.
«Tell me what else is bothering you», the young king asked her. Étoile had expected that question. Arslan could read right through her mind and heart just by looking at her, she thought.
«If I stay here, I don't think I'll be able to go on as if nothing happened», she told him, and a fair blush colored her cheeks.
«Well, I have no intention of living as I did until now, pretending you're nothing more than a friend, one of my many allies. You're a lot more to me», he tried to reassure her, but the girl's gaze became even darker.
«Tell me honestly Arslan, who in their right mind would acknowledge this relationship? Not even your friends would accept it, not to mention the Council or the Court».
Étoile's words reawakened in the king's mind some unpleasant memories he had tried to erase. During one of the latest meetings with the Council, Arslan had confessed that the Lusitanian commander had helped him find a solution to the city's problems. The hostile reaction of many councilmen and their open criticism of Étoile's origins proved that the aristocracy was still deeply intolerant of Lusitanian people. They sure wouldn't have been thrilled to know their king had fallen in love with a Lusitanian woman.
«If my men found out…», the girl added, «they would be so disappointed in me».
Arslan hesitated for a few seconds. What Étoile was saying was painfully true, but he wasn't willing to surrender yet.
«I cannot deny that many would be against us, but I won't let someone else decide whom my heart belongs to. I thought I was ready to give up my feelings for you, but now I'm not sure I can do it», he said.
Étoile looked at him with concern. She had bent her beliefs and gone against her duty for him. There was nothing she wanted more than being in his arms, but Arslan needed to face reality and understand what they were getting into.
«You are the king, Arslan. If anyone found out about this, it would be a scandal. It might very well undermine the consent you earned from your subjects. We must keep this a secret», she told him firmly.
His gaze clouded over. Étoile knew he had grasped the meaning of her words and she could sense that he reluctantly agreed with her. She ran a hand through his silver hair and waited patiently for his response.
After a few seconds, a tender smile appeared on the young man's face. He gave her a quick kiss and sat up.
«Wait a moment. I'll be right back», he said getting out of the bed. Étoile sat up as well and cast him a questioning look as he put on the pants he had just collected from the floor. Arslan reached his dresser and opened the upper drawer. He pulled out a small wooden box on which was engraved his royal emblem. The young king opened it and took out a bundle of red cloth. He left the box in the drawer and rejoined Étoile on his bed.
The girl was still looking at him with narrow, suspicious eyes. Arslan sat next to her and handed her the red bundle.
«What is it?», she asked taking the object. Arslan didn't answer and urged her to open it.
Inside was a gold filigree ring, embellished by an almond-shaped amber stone.
«It's wonderful», Étoile commented taking the ring.
«It belonged to my wet nurse, the woman who raised me as if I was her own child. It was a gift from her husband», Arslan explained. «You know, looking back at those years, I think their affection was sincere. I never met my real parents, I'll probably never know who they really were, but what my wet nurse and her husband gave me was the closest thing to a normal family I've ever had. This ring is all I have left of them », he added smiling bitterly. He took a deep breath, then spoke again.
«I want you to have it».
Étoile widened her eyes in shock.
«No! I can't accept it. It must mean a lot to you», she exclaimed.
«Please», Arslan replied taking the precious jewel. «Whenever you'll look at this ring, remember that there will be a time when we won't have to hide anymore. I know I can convince my friends, the Council, my comrades and yours that there's nothing wrong with us, that although we can't erase the past, we need to look ahead and choose love and peace over prejudice and sorrow. It might take some time, but I know I can do it if you're by my side. We just need to be patient», he told her, caressing gently her cheek.
Étoile's gaze softened and her eyes filled with tears. His words had set her heart on fire.
«I'll accept only on one condition», she said smirking ambiguously. Arslan looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
«Whenever we are together and alone, call me Estelle», she whispered.
Arslan was in disbelief. Only shortly before, overwhelmed with desire for the woman in his arms, he had called her 'Estelle'. It had been a slip of the tongue, and he was sure she would have been upset. He had already thought of what words to say to apologize, but apparently, he needn't worry any further.
She had opened her heart to him, they had experienced together the most intimate bond, and now she was giving him permission to call her by her real name, rather, she was asking him to do so.
Arslan kissed the golden ring and grabbed her left hand.
«It's a deal», he told her putting the ring on her finger. It fitted perfectly.
Arslan stared at her hand for a few seconds, then raised his gaze on her face. The gem on the ring matched her shining amber eyes, just as he had thought. The young man pulled her against him and held her so tightly that for a moment the girl thought she couldn't breathe.
«Someday we will be free to be together without shame. I promise you, Estelle», he whispered placing a kiss behind her ear. Étoile quivered under the soft touch of his lips, as he moved to her cheek and finally reached her mouth.
When they parted, a gentle smile graced the Lusitanian woman's face.
«I look forward to it».
A/N: Thanks again for reading this Chapter! I look forward to your feedback.
- Kiara