Sorry for the delay with these chapters… things have been hectic lately, it's unreal, and it's slowing me down, but anyway, now I'm done, so enjoy!

Oh and to lilyofthevalley- Thanks for the support and reviews! It's great to have support like that! Thanks! God bless!

yente

Chapter Eleven- War!

Ecclesiastes 3:8- "…a time for love and a time for hate, a time for war and a time for peace."

Pain… intense pain… music… music? Sweet, sweet music…

Folk music from Hidon… she was dancing with Erete…

The music stopped, and Tielle numbly felt even more pain as she crashed to the floor.

Floor… what floor? Where was she?

Footsteps faded away, and she was alone, but not for long. Again she heard footsteps, this time coming towards her. They came, and gentle hands lifted her up.

"Up," she murmured, but could not seem to get any more words to come out of her mouth.

"Shh," a voice said, "it will be alright. You'll be fine." Tielle was set down on a more comfortable surface, and the voice continued. "Just rest."

Rest…

Softness touched her forehead. Lips? It was comforting, and Tielle tried to say so, but was silenced as a hand touched her lips. "Don't speak. Just rest. And-" the voice broke off, "I'm sorry, Tielle. I'm sorry this all had to happen."

Tielle tried to say that she was sorry too, but her fatigue overcame her and she finally let go of consciousness and slipped into nothingness.

When she woke many hours later, she did not remember how she had gotten into the room or anything about the incident or the voice.

***

King Partini addressed the Inner Space System the same day that Faihn had revealed his capture of the princesses.

His tone was somber, his manner grave, but all who watched him did not miss the spark of anger in his eyes and the breath of hatred in his voice.

Billions of Hidonians, enraged by Fareari's horrible actions, grimly cheered as their King said his last words to the system:

"Because of our love for the princesses, King Faihn hopes that we will be weak and give him control of Hidon for them. But I tell you my daughters, and especially your Heir, Princess Tielle Alaissyiss Nucona, would not want us to show any cowardly behavior and would rather die than see Hidon under corrupt Farearian reign. So, even in light of these heinous crimes against us, we will not falter. We will not hesitate. We will overcome Fareari by any means possible, which means that war is inevitable.

"So I feel no regret or remorse in formally declaring war against Fareari."

***

Faihn had been prepared for this turn of events, although he would have preferred the stubborn King Partini to just surrender immediately. However, he had known that that would not happen.

And so he gave the order to blockade Hidon, sighing even as he did. Now there would be a long drawn-out war that Fareari would eventually win, but not without casualties.

But it *would* be fun to watch Hidon fight to its death.

***

Klane was slightly irritated. How much simpler it would have been if the assassins had just been able to kill the princesses! Now he had to make plans for if Hidon won the war, or if Fareari won the war. He would have to play both ends against the middle.

But he was always up to a challenge. And he was resourceful, planning for all circumstances, and knew exactly what to do.

Smiling slightly, he keyed the order for his personal space ship to be ready to take off in an hour. He would be going on a fairly long voyage to a planet called Malaar.

***

Light streamed in through a small window a small electric field to prevent escape. Not that Tielle was in any shape to escape.

The light woke her up, and as soon as she opened her eyes, she wished she hadn't. Opening her eyes hurt, as did moving even any muscle, no matter how small or insignificant.

Hidonian photographic memories were not *truly* photographic, Tielle reflected as she lay there in pain. They only remembered about 98% of everything they saw or heard.

But even that was far too much for an interrogation. Tielle wished that she could wipe those memories out of her mind forever.

Footsteps drew near, and Tielle fervently hoped that it wasn't Hristen. She was not in the mood to see him.

It wasn't Hristen. It was Chayden.

Relief filled Tielle. She tried to smile and say something, but Chayden quieted her.

"I know you're in a lot of pain right now. That's the toxins in your blood- they infiltrate your blood cells and flow with them everywhere they go, causing pain in your bloodstream and in your nervous system, but they self- destruct in about twelve hours and after that will not hurt you."

"Side effects?"

"None. They only create pain, and then disappear."

"Hidon?"

Chayden hesitated. "I probably shouldn't tell you this, but I will anyway. Hidon has formally declared war on Fareari, and I suspect that Shansire and Ziex will also."

"Shansire will," Tielle got out with some effort.

"What makes you so sure?"

"Kall."

"Kall?"

"Prince. Fiancé."

"Prince Kall is your fiancé?"

Tielle nodded. Shansire would indeed support Hidon in their fight against Fareari. They probably would have even if Tielle weren't unofficially engaged to Kall. Fareari was not well liked in the Inner Space System.

"Is there anything you need?" Chayden asked, returning Tielle to the present.

"Water."

"As you wish," Chayden nodded slightly, and Tielle felt more like a guest than a prisoner at that moment.

***

Engaged! Chayden numbly shut Tielle's door behind him and sent for water. She was engaged? To Prince Kall of Shansire? It made sense; she was next in line for a very powerful throne, and Shansire and Hidon had always been allies.

Chayden wondered whose decision it had been for Tielle to marry Kall. Did she love him? Or had it been an arranged marriage, one that she had no say in?

He doubted it. Tielle would have protested if she didn't like the idea of marrying Kall. She was far too opinionated and outspoken to do anything that she didn't want to do.

Chayden was surprised at how much that revelation hurt him. He should have known that Tielle, as Crown Princess and Heir to the throne on Hidon, would be engaged. Even had she not been, Chayden's feelings for her led to a place that he could not go, as a Farearian royal and a believer in a different religion.

Although lately he had been wondering about Fareari's religion. It seemed so petty, so stark, compared to the monotheist religion of Hidon. And he didn't seem to get any comfort by praying to any of Fareari's gods. He never had.

But then if Tielle's god was real, why was He letting her suffer so? It made no sense. None at all.

Maybe when Tielle was better he'd have the opportunity to ask her.

Chayden walked into the room where Hristen was speaking with King Faihn through a viewscreen. Chayden stopped and waited.

King Faihn was speaking. "-was expected, and so I've given the order for our ships to lay siege to Hidon. They will resist, but I am confident that our ships can take whatever they have. Our ships have been training hard in the last couple of months, preparing for this, but Hidon has recently been in upheaval with the deaths of their prince and princesses, and then with the Recognizing Ceremony for Princess Tielle, so they will not be ready to fight."

"Yes, Father. And what should I do with the princess?"

"How is she?"

Hristen gestured to Chayden. "Chayden could tell you better than I. Here he is."

Chayden stepped in range of the viewscreen and dutifully reported, anger welling up in him, "The princess went to sleep after the interrogation and woke up about a half hour ago, in pain and thirsty. After the toxins wane, however, she will still be sore and battered from the beatings."

Faihn nodded. "Excellent. Was she thirsty when she woke up?"

"Yes. I made sure she received water."

"Good. Bring her back to good health, nourish her. I want her to be healthy."

For the next interrogation, Chayden knew. But as livid as that made him, he carefully replied, "Yes, Father."

"Excellent." The viewscreen winked out, and Chayden put up mental barriers so that Hristen couldn't sense the fury growing in him.

***

Shansire did indeed pledge their support to Hidon and also declared war on Fareari. That had been expected, but Partini hadn't been sure about Ziex. So he was pleasantly surprised to receive a transmission from Queen Tenia only a day after declaring war on Fareari.

"King Partini," she somberly greeted him, her solemnity meaning nothing in itself. Ziex were always solemn. "My people and I sympathize with you and your fight against Fareari. What Faihn has done is unacceptable and angers even us on Ziex. So I have the full support of my Senate and my people when I tell you that I also will support you and will declare war on Fareari."

Partini felt relief flood through him. He had hoped for, needed, Ziex's support, for Shansire and Hidon even together would be hard-pressed to defeat Fareari. But he had never dared to count Ziex among those who would be his allies, for even though Ziex had supported Hidon before, Ziex were a cautious people.

"Queen Tenia," Partini started, allowing a small smile to cross his face. "I speak not only for myself, but also for all of Hidon when I say thank you. Together with Shansire, I have no doubt that we will be able to crush Fareari beneath our feet."

Chapter Eleven- Thirsting Desire and Reluctant Defeat

Jeremiah 46:5- "…They are terrified, they are retreating, their warriors are defeated…"

After a day or so, Tielle finally regained her strength enough to stand up and move around. She still ached everywhere, and bruises covered her sore body, but she ignored the pain and eagerly accepted Chayden's proposal to venture outside, to the ocean.

She shakily rose from her cot in her cell and unsteadily walked through the door that Chayden held open for her. The small distance wore her out, and Chayden noticed.

"Here, let me help you." He looped an arm around her waist, but Tielle shook him away.

"No, I'm fine, really," she insisted, but Chayden was not convinced.

"I can sense your emotions, you know. I know you need the support." And he placed his arm around her waist again, ignoring her protests.

They slowly made their way past the inmates that Tielle laboriously avoided looking at, even with their crude, repulsive comments and jeers, and they stepped outside into the salty air. Tielle breathed deeply the unfamiliar sent of the ocean and thanked God that she was alive to smell it.

Alive. Instantly Tielle felt guilty, for Arilana was dead, and she had never been to the ocean. She had never done a great many things, like join the military, come of age in Hidonian society, fall in love…

Tielle snuck a glance at Chayden, and suddenly felt uncomfortable with his arm around her waist. She pulled away and sat down on the warm sand, not caring that she would get her dress dirty. Nothing else in her prison was clean.

Chayden was, though. He sat beside her, and Tielle breathed his scent, and not the ocean's in her next breath. He smelled good, like a cool breeze blowing in a warm valley.

Looking out into the ocean, Tielle asked Chayden, "Where are my Holy Books? Are they still at the Purification Retreat?"

Chayden shook his blond head. "I brought them here with me, and I forgot to give them to you. I can do that when we go back inside." He paused and seemed to be collecting his thoughts. "Tielle, you still believe in your god, right?"

Surprised at his question, Tielle answered honestly, "Yes. I do."

"Why? Why, even after all that's happened to you? Arilana was assassinated- " that caused tears to rise in Tielle's eyes, and Chayden hastily continued, "and you were tortured, and you're being held a prisoner on an enemy planet-" he stopped there, but Tielle mentally added, *and your three older siblings were killed in a hover-car accident, and your planet is involved in a war.* So many bad things *had* happened to her.

"I still believe in my god," Tielle said slowly, "because I have felt Him. He is there; I know it. And He's promised that He will bring prosperity and not harm to me. There's a verse about that in the Prophets. It talks about how God will give hope and a future. So I know that good will come out of this."

"How?" Chayden asked incredulously. "Your sister is gone; your world is at war. You are held captive here. How will good come of this?"

Tielle thought she had an idea, but she wasn't about to share it with Chayden. So she just stubbornly replied, "I don't know *how.* But I know it will."

***

They stayed outside for a while longer, Tielle playing in the surf, letting the waves cascade over her feet, and Chayden watching from a distant to make sure she wouldn't collapse, thinking.

What if she was right? What if there was really one god, one god who ruled over the universe and cared for each of his followers individually? What if He did make good out of all circumstances for his followers?

What, then, did He do to unbelievers?

Chayden shivered. It wasn't a thought he'd like to entertain.

His thoughts bordered on blasphemy, he knew, and he would be punished if anyone knew that he was thinking about the possibility of Hidon's god being real. But how could he not? Tielle had such faith, such steadfast confidence in her god that it *had* to make him wonder.

He glanced over at her, sitting by the shore, letting the waves touch her feet. Her sense was one of grief, and he knew that she was grieving her sister. Her head was bowed, her crimson hair covering her face, and he knew that she was hiding tears, not wanting to appear weak in front of him.

Weak! As though he cared! And he didn't think she was weak. She was perhaps the strongest person he knew, to have withstood such turmoil and yet keep going. She had indomitable strength, and she would make an excellent queen one day.

Chayden frowned. If she got to be queen.

He reluctantly rose. It was time to bring Tielle back to her cell. He walked over to her and offered her his hand. "It's time to go inside."

She nodded, her eyes glittering with tears, and took his hand. He helped her to her feet, and, when she was standing, did not let go of her hand. She looked at him, puzzled and uncomfortable, and then shocked as Chayden leaned closer… and closer….

Then she relaxed and raised her face to his as their lips met.

Chayden touched her hair with his other hand and drew her closer. She willingly moved closer to him, and their kiss grew more intense, more heated…

Her pleasure and desire flooded Chayden. The force of her bliss vibrated through his mind like a resounding symphony, and his hand slid from her hand to her jaw as he continued his kiss. The moment seemed to last forever, frozen in time, and yet when she pulled away, he wanted it to continue…

"Let's go back," she murmured, not meeting his gaze. Chayden felt her guilt and shame, and something inside of him tore in two.

***

Tielle was shaking as she returned to her small cell. What had just happened? Why had Chayden kissed her?

And why had it taken her so long to pull away from him?

She had enjoyed it. She had felt longing pleasure as their lips had met, and she had craved that feeling of elation. Her heart had taken over, her mind momentarily stunned and out of control.

She had been incredibly foolish to let the kiss continue for so long. What had she been thinking?

She hadn't been thinking.

With a groan, the tormented princess flopped down on her uncomfortable cot. And the worst part wasn't the kiss itself; it was the fact that even as she berated herself for it, she felt a thirsting desire for another.

***

In the capital city of Citeage, King Faihn met with his advisors and military personnel to discuss their next course of action after Hidon's blockade was firmly established. They discussed the princess also, and it was decided that, if after the princess underwent two more interrogations King Partini had still not surrendered, the princess would be executed.

***

From Hidon's magnificent palace, King Partini listened as the reports of large warships gathering around Hidon came in. It didn't look good. Fareari had obviously been preparing for this move, and they carried it out with excellent efficiency and competence, whereas Hidon's military had to scramble to assemble a defensive force.

All communication frequencies had been cloaked, save for the Hidonian ones. But the Hidonian ones couldn't reach Shansire or Ziex and ask for assistance.

Queen Shari stirred beside Partini. "What will happen to us?"

Partini grimly replied, "Unless Klane can petition Shansire and Ziex for assistance and they quickly come, Hidon will fall."