FORTY-NINE
Jindra awoke, once again wrapped in Folken's arms, the rain continuing to fall outside. It was hard to judge how late in the afternoon it was, as the clouds had lengthened the shadows within the room. Stretching a little, she felt a chill and pulled the bed covers up over her shoulders. It must be the rain -- it was so warm this morning. She was tempted to wake Folken and ask him to light the fireplace. I should let him sleep -- gods know he's earned it. She smiled to herself and blushed as she thought about their afternoon of lovemaking -- it had been everything that Folken had promised her it would be and more.
Snuggling deeper into her husband's embrace, Jindra closed her eyes; but after a while she found that she couldn't go back to sleep. Moving gently, she sat up and stretched a bit. Slipping from the bed, she picked up her robe where it lay pooled on the floor among Folken's hastily discarded clothing. Tying the sash at her waist, she went to the windows and pulled back the sheer curtains and looked out. The beautiful morning had turned into a wet, dreary afternoon as the rain continued to fall. With a sigh, she turned away and went to the fireplace. Kneeling down, she saw that there was a canister of long-handled matches on the floor next to a basket of small logs.
After a few minutes, Jindra had a small blaze started and patiently fed it until several of the larger pieces of kindling caught. She carefully added a couple of small logs and replaced the screen. As she gazed into the fire, Jindra blushed at a picture that came unbidden into her mind of her and Folken making love in front of the fireplace. So vivid was the scene that she could see the shadows of firelight as they danced across her husband's skin and reflected off his mechanical arm.
Quickly turning back towards the room, she took the canister of matches and lit a few of the small lamps that were scattered about. Very cozy; she thought as she saw how the light played on the polished mahogany of the furniture. Going back towards the bed, she stopped to pick up the clothing from the floor. Hanging Folken's coat on the back of a small side chair, she looked over at the bed. Folken had shifted onto his side, his mechanical arm flung across the spot where she had been earlier. No, let him sleep . . . she said to herself, a sad look in her eyes. Jindra sighed as she thought about the argument that the two were going to have when he awakened and she wanted to put it off as long as possible. She stood and watched her sleeping husband for a few more minutes before turning away.
Jindra ran her fingers through her hair as she passed into the small dressing room. She emerged a few minutes later with a small case and went into the washroom, gently closing the door behind her.
Folken drifted back towards consciousness, his hand groping on the bed next to him. Opening one eye, he looked at the pillow opposite him only to find it unoccupied. Pushing himself up, he looked around the room and noticed that the fireplace had been lit, as well as several lamps. Must have been Jin -- but where'd she go? He moved to the edge of the bed and put his feet on the floor. Yawning, he looked down and saw that his clothes had been picked up as well.
"Jin?" He said aloud; but there was no answer. Getting up, he went over to where his clothes had been folded and neatly stacked. Grabbing his shirt and trousers, he slipped them on. As he finished dressing, Folken noticed that the door to the washroom was closed. Going over to it, he lightly tapped, "Jin? Are you in there?"
"I'll be out in a few minutes," came a slightly muffled reply and Folken thought that he could hear the splashing of water. Folken smiled as he thought about her in the bath. No -- let her have some time to herself. "Take your time -- it's alright." He said through the door, just as a low growl sounded in his stomach.
Going over to the front door, he pulled the bell cord. After a few moments, there was a knock on the door and Folken hastily threw his coat over his right shoulder before answering it. Trying to keep his right side behind the door, he ordered dinner from the young maid that had answered his call. The woman looked at with wide eyes as he spoke and gave him a quick curtsey before departing.
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Jindra stepped out of the washroom, wearing her robe, winding a drying cloth around her head. "I'm sorry Folken, I didn't mean to take so long . . ." She broke off as she saw the set table and the small cart loaded with covered dishes.
"I don't know about you, but I'm starving." Folken came to her and took her hand, leading her towards the table. "I haven't been able to eat anything for the past two days, I was so nervous." He raised her hand and kissed it. "I hope you're hungry, there's enough here to feed a small army." He said as he pulled a chair out for her. Jindra kissed his cheek and smiled as she sat down.
Folken poured out wine and handed her a glass before sitting down across from her. "I think we should make a toast." Reaching over, he wound his hand with the wine glass around Jindra's so that they were locked together. "May the future hold us together with love, faith, devotion and trust." The two drank together, their eyes on each other. Holding the lock on their joined arms, Folken looked at her for a few moments. "I love you Jindra -- you are my heart, my breath, my reason for being."
Jindra swallowed at the tenderness in his voice. Disengaging his arm, Folken put his glass down on the table and reached across the small table and touched her cheek. "You've made me the happiest man in the world. Despite all the disappointment and heartache that could have separated us, our love has persevered and grown stronger." He smiled at her, "I've become a better person for having met you Jindra -- for having loved you."
Jindra blinked her eyes against the tears that she felt forming; but before she could say anything, Folken smiled and gave her a wink, "All right, let's save all the sweet talk for later. What I really need is food -- hopefully before it all gets cold."
Reaching for one of the covered dishes, he lifted the lid and offered the serving spoon to Jindra. "Beautiful wives first." Jindra smiled at him and then helped herself to the steaming dish.
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"Jin, you can't be serious -- it's our wedding day!" She could hear the anger in his voice. I knew he wasn't going to like it . . .
Jindra sighed and squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. "Folken . . . you had to know that I couldn't stay the whole night." She reached out and touched his arm, "Do you think I want to leave you? If I could, I'd lock myself in this room with you for the rest of my life. I don't ever want to be without you again -- but -- but I can't . . . not after . . ." She shook her head, "I've been gone since early this morning -- I have to go home tonight. My parents are probably worried about me already . . . I can't do that to them -- not again." Jindra's voice started to break and she turned away from him as she finished speaking.
Folken looked at her back for a few moments. Sighing heavily, he moved towards her, wrapped his arms around her from behind and rested his cheek against her hair. The two stood together silently for a few minutes. Folken felt Jindra relax against him and he tightened his arms around her as he kissed her hair. "I hate this -- I hate that we have to hide . . . gods Jin, we're old enough to get married and we still have to play games like children." Jindra could hear the frustration in his voice, "I can't wait until we leave here -- we won't have to answer to anyone but ourselves . . . no one will ever be able to come between us."
He loosened his embrace and turned her to face him. "Jin . . . ;" Folken hesitated for a moment. "I know you said you could do this -- but . . . are you sure -- are you sure you'll be able to leave here when the time comes? You must know that your parents are going to be worried -- and once we're on that ship you won't be able to come back to them." His eyes searched hers as he spoke. "I have to know that today wasn't a mistake -- that you're not having second thoughts. I don't think I could handle that . . ."
"No! Our marriage wasn't a mistake -- please Folken, don't -- don't even think that, you know that's not how I feel; and I am going to leave here with you, but . . ." Jindra dropped her gaze to the hollow of his throat, not wanting to see the reaction on his face. "But I'm going to do it my way -- and that's why . . ."
Her voice fell to a whisper, "That's why I'm going to tell them -- I'm going to tell my parents before we go."
"What?" Folken dropped his arms and stepped back from her. "Jin . . . you can't! You know what will happen . . ."
"No Folken, I don't!" Her voice rose as she lifted her eyes back up to his face. "You're just assuming that they'll try to break us up -- that they'll try to stop us from leaving; but you don't know that for sure. We're married now, there's not much they can do -- we're both of legal age . . ."
She shook her head, "I can't just leave them without some kind of explanation. I don't want them to think that something horrible happened to me or that -- that they drove me away. I-I-I owe them that much."
Jindra sighed and turned away from him, going to stand by the window. "You don't know how hard this has been for me -- to see them everyday and not being able to say anything. I love them Folken -- as much as I love you." Her voice softened as she looked out the window. "With Coren gone, I'm all that they have left. My father – he . . . he's been . . . you don't know what it was like that night when I came home -- I can't put my parents through that again," she turned back to face him; "not even for you. I married you because I love you Folken, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you . . . but I won't do it at the expense of my parent's feelings."
Jindra stepped back towards him until she was facing him once again. "I-I-I was hoping . . . I thought that -- I thought that we could do it together. If they see us – see how happy we are . . . I know they won't exactly be thrilled, but -- but maybe they'll at least try to accept it."
Her voice finally broke, "Gods Folken, I may never see them again -- at least give me the chance to say goodbye." She turned away from him and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Folken remained silent for several minutes, his eyes darting glances at Jindra as he thought. I've asked her to give up so much for me -- her home, her friends, her family . . . and what if it were my family? He snorted; hell, my family thinks I'm dead – dragon fodder. Folken let out a frustrated sigh, not wanting to pursue that train of thought.
But to just disappear . . . Jin is right, we are legally married, there's nothing they can do about it now. The worst they could do is throw us out -- gods, that will hurt her even more . . . I just don't want her to get her hopes up . . . they aren't going to accept our marriage -- I know it -- they'll blame it all on me and Jin will be in the middle again. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment; no matter what we do, someone is going to get hurt . . .
Folken sat down on the bed next to his wife and took her hand in his, "When did you want to tell your parents? I think we should do it as soon as possible -- give them time to get used to the idea. It'll also give you the chance to spend some time with them before we leave."
Jindra looked up at him, her gray eyes moist with tears. "T-T-Thank you, Folken." Releasing her hand, Folken brushed away her tears with his thumb and kissed her. Wrapping his arms around her, he rested his cheek on her hair as Jindra laid her head on his chest. The two remained that way for several minutes.
It was Jindra who finally broke the silence. "I guess this qualifies as the first argument of our marriage. We couldn't even get through the whole day."
She lifted her head and gave Folken that coy little smile that she knew he loved, "I guess now comes the part where we get to make up." Folken laughed and smiled at her in return. "Oh, I don't know . . . I'm not sure if I want to make up with you, Jindra. I think I might stay mad at you for a little while longer."
Jindra pulled out of his embrace, put her hands on his chest and pushed him back down on the bed. "Bet I can change your mind." She leaned down and kissed him, sucking on his bottom lip as her hands smoothed across his chest. Lifting her head, she looked at him. "In fact, I bet you're not angry with me anymore -- are you?" Her finger traced a path down his chest, stopping at the waistband of his trousers.
With a growl in his throat, Folken reached up and pulled Jindra down over him. "Don't think you're going to get your way all the time, my little seductress." He kissed the hollow of her throat and gently rolled the two of them over so that Jindra was pinned underneath him. "Most of the time, but not always," he said with a smile. Rising up to his knees, he pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it to the floor. Settling back down next to his wife, Folken covered Jindra's mouth with his own while his hands worked at the sash of her robe.
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Anton Lefebvre sat on the edge of his bunk, reading a letter from one of his sisters when there was a knock on the door. Leaving the pages on the bed, he rose to answer it.
"Ah Lefebvre, glad that I caught you in -- we need to discuss a few things." The man pushed past Anton and entered. Glancing at the small, sparse room he turned back towards the younger man. "It seems that things have changed since the last time we spoke." The man sat down on the bed, noticing the letter on the bed. "Enjoying some news from home, Sergeant?"
Anton hastily reached for the papers and quickly refolded them. "Changed – what's changed?" He remained standing.
"Some recent events have come to light which have changed our previous plans."
Anton narrowed his eyes, "What events? What are you talking about?" The man waved a dismissive hand, "It's really of no immediate importance. But it does mean that our time table has been moved up a bit."
"How much?" Lefebvre asked.
"Three weeks. This matter must be concluded in three weeks."
Anton raised his brow, "That's not a lot of time. Why the hurry?"
The man shrugged, "Apparently the novelty has worn thin." The man gave Anton a cold smile, "Just think Lefebvre, in three weeks you'll have your heart's desire. I hope you'll still think she's worth it when the time comes." Inside the man was laughing at Anton as he thought about what Lacour and the girl were probably doing right at that moment. Oh yes Lefebvre, will you still think so highly of her once you learn she's been whoring herself to Folken Lacour? Gods, this just gets better and better . . .
Anton's eyes narrowed again and his jaw tightened. "Why don't you just get on with it -- what do you want me to do?"
The man smiled at him again, "Now that's the attitude I like to see, Lefebvre -- cutting right to the chase. Why don't you sit and let me tell you what I've planned."
Anton pulled out the chair from the desk in the corner and faced the man as he laid out his plans for the fall of Folken Lacour.