-Yorda- By Julie Danskin
Chapter 13 - Truth -
Ico started his day with worrying about Yorda. It came unsurprisingly after he had discovered Yorda's brother wanted her dead so he could become king. The man Giannies was a fool, Ico thought. How can he not know that when he is accused of murdering Yorda, that Keoden will simply turn away?

He could not let Yorda die.

"Ico?" Siania queried over breakfast, "What's wrong? You're pale. Are you not well?"

"I'm fine, Sai," Ico returned automatically, taking a bit of his bread and placing it in his mouth in a robotic fashion, "Just a little tired."

Siania huffed for a while after that, but Ico played with her after managing to stop himself worrying quite so much. Before they knew it, it was mid-afternoon and Ico and Siania began to make dinner.

"Sai what are you doing? Come chop the vegetables!" Ico cried at his sister, who was on the look out for Yorda's horse.

"Oh my God!" she shrieked suddenly, "She's here!"

"Siania, don't say "oh my God"," Ico scorned, "Now go and answer the door. Tell her dinner will be ready in about an hour. Keep her amused, but DON'T annoy her!"

"Alright Ico!" Siania said, "Don't you want to come and say hello?"

Ico shoved his meat-covered hands in her face, and she made a face.

"Guess not then!" she giggled, "Alright! Alright, take your hands away, I'm going!"

Ico chuckled to himself as he watched Siania running to the door wiping her face desperately, and turned back to the chicken.

"Hello, Princess!" Siania cried happily when she answered the door, "How are you today?"

"Very well, thank you," Yorda replied, then nodding to the kitchen, "What's going on in there?"

Siania giggled mischievously.

"He says he's very sorry but he will be another hour-" she stopped, as a loud curse came from the kitchen, "He's cooking chicken, you see."

Yorda burst out laughing.

"So what do you propose we do while we're waiting then?" Siania asked in her politest voice.

"Well, I have some very important news I received this morning, Siania-"

"Call me Sai," Siania interrupted, "Come sit down."

Yorda smiled courteously and followed the little girl to the dinner table.

"Well?" Siania asked, without realising she sounded rude.

"Well . . . the villagers have voiced their opinions and-"

"Yes?" Siania was leaning far forward, her eyes fixed on Yorda's. The princess began to feel very uncomfortable.

"Some of them say that they don't mind any horned children with them, but-"

"But what?"

"Others say they aren't happy with someone that's "cursed" living near them. So the villagers have decided that the matter is going to be decided by me. That means that I am the one who makes the final statement. This could save all the horned ones. But, there is a but, I am sorry, Sai. It is that I am going to argue very hard for your life your life to be saved. Do you know who with?"

Siania shook her head.

"My brother, Prince Keoden," Yorda said gently, "Now I am willing to argue to the bitter end, but he will have to meet you, which means you and Ico might have to live in the castle for a few days. I am going to sort this out with him. Alright?"

"Alright," Siania whispered. Yorda had never heard her speak so quietly. But then, it was about her life at stake.

"I'm sorry it's taking so long. I will make it as brief as possible."

"What does brief mean?"

"Short. I will keep your stay here as short as possible."

"What if your brother doesn't give in?"

"I have my ways, Sai."

Yorda winked, and Siania smiled. She showed Yorda her clothes, toys, the house and the mare, Riia. They groomed and fed her, then washed up for dinner as by that time Ico was serving the chicken on a ceramic platter.

"This looks delicious, Ico," Yorda soothed, sitting down and staring at it hungrily.

"You're telling me, he's never cooked anything like this before-" Siania shut up when Ico kicked her under the table and bit her tongue. Yorda stifled a laugh.

"Nothing like you're used to at the palace though, Princess," Ico said, almost apologetically. Yorda glowered at him and looked down at her food.

They said a prayer and ate their dinner in silence, except for the random outburst from Siania attempting to make conversation, but the other two were too deep in thought to pick up on what she was saying.

Yorda was pondering on her feelings for Ico, while he was contemplating on whether or not to warn her about her brother's plan. He decided he should tell her the truth. He owed her that much at least-

"Well, that was delicious, bro, thanks for that!" Siania piped in, breaking Ico and Yorda's thoughts simultaneously. Yorda seconded the opinion, and Ico beamed graciously.

"Well, hard work pays off, I suppose," Ico said simply, and Yorda smiled, knowing he was thinking of the work he - they - did to escape the castle.

"Well, now for dessert!" Siania exclaimed, and Ico groaned, cleared the plates away, and began to prepare the fruit.

After the huge yet delicious fruit salad had been consumed, Ico left Siania to wash up, as that was her job in the house, and walked into the garden with Yorda.

"De ja vu," Yorda said to herself more than Ico.

"Pardon?" Ico asked, wide-eyed.

"It feels like we've done this before, walked out into the garden while you made Siania clear up," she repeated at length.

"I feed her, she just does her bit," Ico said defensively.

"I didn't mean to offend you, Ico," Yorda apologised.

"I know."

They sat under the same tree again and Yorda looked at the floor at Ico's feet.

"Yorda . . ." Ico began croakily, and swallowed. Yorda looked up, concerned.

"What is it, Ico?" she asked, "Tell me."

"Well, last night, when you were getting changed in your room?"

"Yes?"

"Well, I heard voices in the room opposite."

"Keoden's study?"

"Yes. Well, you see, I - they were talking . . . about . . . killing you."

Yorda looked at him, bewildered.

"Are you sure?" she hissed, "You didn't imagine it?"

"I wish. You see, I was leaning against the door and I heard two men arguing. I recognised Keoden's voice, but I didn't know the other one's until I heard Keoden call him Giannias?"

"I don't believe you. My brother would never-"

"I didn't want to believe it, Princess, I didn't. I tried to shake it out of my head but I heard them. They said they had to get rid of you so Keoden could become king!"

"WHAT?"

"Giannias didn't seem to think it was a good idea at all but he seemed weak. Keoden said that they would kill you after you and the other man were married so it looked like Giannias did it! Then Keoden promised that he would make sure his friend didn't hang, but I could tell he was lying," Ico finished, glad he had had the courage to say it, distraught at the look on Yorda's face.

They sat silently.

"I had better go and put Siania to bed. I'll take you home in a while, Princess," Ico said, getting up, leaving Yorda sitting under the tree in the dark looking forwards in disbelief. He didn't blame her. He had the same look when he was put in the crypt.

He met Siania looking out of the window.

"Why does she look so sad?" she asked Ico. He picked her up gently.

"Time for bed, Sai," Ico told her, "You've had a busy day."

"Why were you sitting quiet for so long?" she asked.

"Did you finish the washing up?"

"Yes - but why is Princess Yorda so sad?"

"Because."

"Tell me."

"Not just now, idiot. You have to sleep!" Ico attempted to joke.

"Please Ico?"

"It's secret. But it'll be okay, I promise you."

"Is it about me?"

"No."

"Are they going to kill me?"

"NO! Of course not. I would never ever let that happen, alright?"

"Alright. Night, night."

"Night, night, Siania. Dream of going home to see your mama and papa."

He nestled her down and she closed her eyes, only to open them again when he reached the door.

"Ico?" she asked.

"Yes?" he replied, expecting a request for a glass of milk.

"Make her smile again."

* * * * * * * * * * *

Ico wandered outside again, Yorda still under the tree, rocking her knees slightly.

"Yorda-"

"It doesn't matter, Ico. I can stop it. I just won't marry Giannias. I'll change my heir, I'll-"

"He'll still kill you. If he wants to."

"I know that, but there's not much else I can do, is there?"

"No, I suppose not. You could always come to my village."

"Furwha? I couldn't. The people need me here."

"The people need you alive."

"No, Ico. I can't run away from this. He'd find me anyway."

"We'll sort this out together."

"You really believe that?"

Ico turned to look at her solemnly. He took her hand in his and put his hand on her knee firmly to stop her rocking.

"Yes, Yorda. I really, truly do," he told her. A tear pricked her eyes and fell. Ico caught it with the hand he held hers with, "And don't cry. I'm here."

She turned around to face him; they sat side by side, their torsos turned so they could look at each other. Ico and Yorda looked into each others eyes, transfixed and trapped in their gaze, neither wishing to break free.

"I can't believe I found you-" Ico whispered and moved his face nearer to hers, almost intimately.

She turned away, eyes lowered to the ground. Ico didn't move. Yorda shook her head slightly.

"Another place, another time, you and I-" she whispered sadly. Ico turned her head towards his slowly, her mouth slightly open and uncertain, like the old Yorda. Her violet eyes burned like irons into his soul.

"I know nothing of another place or another time," he interrupted gruffly, "All I know is here and now."

"Ico . . ." Yorda whispered, and they pushed forward their faces simultaneously, and they kissed.