Hi all, sorry that it's been a while. I went back to college, went through a lot of losses, went into a bad place mentally, then immediately upon graduating, moved to a new state and a new job. This is my first attempt in so long that I've written anything. This is totally AU, a thought that came to mind a couple days ago and I thought I'd try it out. Feedback is always appreciated, especially now that I'm trying to write things again. Love you all.
The sun beat down on the smoke-filled battlefield. That sun made beads of sweat run down his face and the smoke made a cough force its way out of him. Victorious Sacordians milled about the field checking bodies and putting felled Second Empire troops out of their misery. He looked around himself, looking for her. He needed to know that she was safe. Coughing some more, King Zachary wiped his face with his good hand. His eyes roamed until he finally found her standing over the charred body of Mornhaven the Black. His heart leapt in his chest at the knowledge that she was safe.
King Zachary pulled aside one of his generals, General Ephrais, "What are our numbers general?"
General Ephrais ran his hand through his bloodied blonde hair, "So far we've lost 400 men with 300 injured. Last I've been told, there are 75 menders milling about serving the injured."
King Zachary nodded, "Have the men transport the injured to the south end of the field. It'll be easier for the menders if they didn't have to find all of our injured. And have all of our dead moved to the west so we can begin identifying them."
The general glanced at Zachary's still bleeding shoulder, "Should I have a mender round on you sire?"
"No, no. I'll be fine," the king responded, waving him off with his good hand.
"Yes sire." The general bowed and hurried off to carry out his orders.
Taking a deep breath, King Zachary began his approach to Karigan, King Santanara, and Salvistar. Karigan turned to him as he approached, "Sire". She quickly bowed before returning to her conversation with the Eletian king. Zachary took a brief moment to glance at the blackened remains lying on the torched ground.
King Zachary glanced back up and asked King Santanara and Karigan, "He's gone? Permanently?"
"The Black Star did what it was made to do. When it exploded, it killed Mornhaven in the process. And Galadheon's and Westrion's work ensured that Mornhavon's spirit was fully destroyed," King Santanara explained.
King Zachary looked at Karigan, fully examining her and looking for any injuries. She must have misunderstood him and said, "He's gone Majesty." Then suddenly, she gasped. Her hand flew to the Rider brooch on her shirt.
Zachry reached to her, "Kari-". She quickly managed to unpin the brooch from her shirt and let it fall to the ground. Both she and Zachary stood in shock and stared down at the brooch on the ground. "Karigan, did your brooch-"
"I've been released," she whispered. Zachary stared down at her. She was clearly in shock as her breathing had quickened, her eyes were wide, and she stood so still.
A lump formed in Zachary's throat at the implications of what was to come from now on. He reached out to her, "Kari-"
"I feel that this is a conversation best left to the two of you," King Santanara quietly said. He turned to leave, then turned back briefly as he whispered to Karigan, "I am sorry for this Galadheon. You saved two kingdoms today. Never forget that." Karigan looked up at him and jerkily nodded.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," she whispered.
As the Eletian king finally left King Zachary and Karigan, Zachary bent down to pick up the brooch. Karigan looked up at him and King Zachary watched her, concerned. In all the years that he had known Karigan, she was rarely so quiet. He gently took her elbow, to support her, "Karigan. What can I do?"
She held up her hand, "Please, don't say anything right now."
Zachary's mind whirled with all the questions that he wanted to ask her. All of the things that he wanted to tell her. She was released from service; she was going to leave. Leave the castle. Leave him. She was going to go back home and live the life that he always wished he could live. What could he do to help her? He wanted to help her. To comfort her. But he couldn't. They were too public right now.
"Karigan?"
Her eyes fell shut and the king saw tears fall down her cheek. Zachary waited with bated breath as her mouth opened and she said, "Where's Colonel Mapstone?"
"I can find her. Do you want to wait in your tent?" King Zachary asked her. The gold brooch still laying placidly in the palm of his hand.
Karigan nodded, "Yes please."
King Zachary nodded and pretended not to notice that Karigan shrugged off his hand from her elbow. They both left Mornhaven's remains with the silent Salvistar. They left the battlefield and headed back for the camp where Karigan's tent sat among the Rider tents. The king stopped at the entrance to her tent and it was there that he silently gave the gold brooch back to it's former user. She looked up at him, her eyes still swimming with tears, and said, "Thank you."
King Zachary silently nodded and simply responded, "Your welcome. I'll go find Laren." Karigan nodded and ducked inside her tent. Zachary stood outside of it for a moment. Composing himself and taking in the fact that she was going to be leaving. Possibly for good. After that moment, the king took a deep breath and left.
It took a while for King Zachary to find Laren. And when he did finally find her she was visiting with a wounded Mara and Ty. She straightened up when he approached, "Your Majesty, thankfully there have mostly been minor injuries. Many of the menders have treated the wounded and either are keeping them for observation or sending them back to camp. Mara has some burns that is being treated- Zachary Davriel Hillander! You're bleeding, why haven't you been seen by a mender-?"
"Laren-"
Laren looked around them, "That is completely unacceptable, why has no one treated that arm?"
"Laren!"
Laren stared at him wide-eyed, "What? There's no need to yell, Exellency." King Zachary took Laren by the arm and pulled her away from prying ears. "What- what is going on?"
"Karigan's brooch has rejected her, Laren," he whispered.
Laren started at him, "What did you just say?"
"Her brooch has rejected her. She needs someone right now. She wants to speak to you privately," he explained.
Laren blinked and sucked in a deep breath. "Okay, um. Where is she?"
"She's in her tent, she's waiting for you," he answered.
She took another deep breath, "Okay, I'm going. But can you get that arm looked at though?"
"Yes Laren, I'll get it taken care of," he promised her. Laren nodded and left him, heading back for the camp and Karigan.
Two days later, King Zachary stepped out of the castle with Queen Estora. They entered the courtyard where all the Green Riders gathered around Karigan and Condor. Inside, Zachary's heart broke and only his years of schooling his features kept it a secret. He is the king and a married man with twins. And all he desired was the quiet life and with Karigan by his side. He wished that he could speak with Karigan alone, to implore her to stay. But that was not possible, and she might not even want to be alone with him.
With all his heart, he wished he could tell her how much he loved her.
Steeling his resolve, King Zachary smiled.
Karigan turned and watched him and Estora as they approached. When they stood in front of her, Karigan bowed low at the waist. "I'm sorry to see you leave Karigan," Zachary said. "I wish would reconsider leaving. You have been one of my most trusted and devoted servants, and one of my truest friends." And my greatest love, he thought sadly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Karigan answered. King Zachary felt a shot to the heart at the title. He's always tolerated his title as king and until now, he was beginning to hate it.
Shaking himself from his thoughts, King Zachary offered Karigan the scroll that he brought with him. "I understand that you are returning to Corsa and to your family, but for your service to Sacoridia, the Queen and I wanted to give you the title to some land. It can be anywhere you desire to live. You deserve so much more, but we thought it would be something that you can appreciate the most. And you are free to come back here at any time. You are always welcome."
"Thank you, Your Majesties. I am honored and I do appreciate it," Karigan replied. She looked around her and he sensed that she wanted to leave. Karigan looked to Estora and she bowed low at the waist for her.
"Be safe Karigan," Estora said, a soft smile gracing her lips.
Once again, Karigan bowed specifically for Zachary. She looked at him and said, "It's been an honor to serve you sire. I appreciate all that you've done for me while I've been here." And for a brief moment, their eyes fixated on one the other and Karigan's eyes said more than what she could. Zachary watched as her eyes watered again before they flicked away.
"Write to me?" he asked her as she started to turn away.
King Zachary watched apprehensively as she looked back at him. A small smile grew despite her tears, and she answered, "I will, Your Majesty." Zachary finally smiled in return, his heart lifting slightly.
King Zachary watched as Karigan finally turned around and started exchanging hugs with the other Riders.
"My King?" Zachary heard from beside him. He looked at Estora, who watched him carefully. "Are you ready? We cannot be late for our meeting with the treasury."
Another shot to the heart. He put on a fake smile and his heart sank once more, and he answered, "Of course." Estora looked at him, her eyes seeming to try to reach into his soul, and then she nodded. King Zachary took one more moment to look at Karigan before he turned away, Estora following beside him. And as they walked away, he felt his heart crack and break further and further.
4 Months Later
"Da da," Esmere said as she raised her arms for Zachary. Smiling, he bent to pick up his daughter and hold her close to him. Esmere cooed as her father looked despondently out of the window, watching the storm rage outside. But even as he held his youngest and, to any normal person, had all that anyone would ever want, Zachary was depressed. Tears fell down his face and his daughter looked up and wiped them away.
This wasn't the life that he ever wanted. Now more than ever, all Zachary wanted was to life a quiet life. He wanted to be away from the conning nobility, the fake pleasantries, the mundane and overexaggerated crises, and the loveless marriage. As time droned on, he felt himself falling into a deeper and deeper hole that not even hours' worth of riding out on the plain could lift.
"Da da sad," Esmere said.
Zachary looked back at his daughter and smiled sadly, "Yes, da is sad."
Esmere's eyebrows rose, "Kisses make it better?" Then his daughter leaned forward and kissed him sweetly on the cheek.
Still smiling slightly, he lied, "Of course, little one."
Zachary heard the door open and Estora said, "Ez, it's time for bed."
"Aww, 5 more minutes," Esmere said, hugging Zachary's neck close.
"It's already past your bed-time. Little princesses need their sleep if they're going to grow big and strong," she replied, gently prying their daughter's arms from Zachary.
With a wide yawn, Esmere assented, "Okay."
Estora looked closely at Zachary as she turned and walked away. After the door closed behind her, Zachary turned away from the window to uncork his bottle of brandy and pour a glass. With glass in hand, Zachary retreated to the couch in front of the fireplace and sank into it with a sigh. A little while later, he heard the door open and close again. Estora came into view, standing and watching him. They stared at each other.
Estora moved to sit on the other side of the couch. They continued to stare at each other, until Estora finally asked, "What's wrong?
Looking away from her and taking another drink, he answered, "Nothing."
"Don't lie to me. I may not be the woman you love, but I am your wife. I think I deserve better than that," she countered.
Zachary looked sharply at her, "How did you-?"
A smile spread across her lips, "You called for her, on our wedding night."
Zachary took another drink and the room went silent for a while. A heat rose up in his chest as he thought. A welcome feeling, after feeling nothing for so long. It wasn't the alcohol, he knew that. As he sat on it and thought, it was a determination. He was at rock bottom and now all he wanted to do was make that change that he wanted to do for so long. Finishing his drink, Zachary stood to refill his glass. "This isn't about Karigan," he said as he refilled it.
"Then what is it Zachary? What has you in such a state? You haven't been the same since she left 4 months ago," Estora asked.
With a refilled drink in hand, Zachary went and sat back down on the couch. With a sigh, he dove in. "I want to step down as king."