-Yorda-
By Julie Danskin
Chapter 14 - Daydream -
Author's Note: Well wasn't that exciting folks! Bet I all had you crying your hearts out . . . ha ha! Hee hee. Hoo. REVIEW! Now this is quite a long chapter, but it wasn't supposed to be! Oh well, I think it turned out quite good . . . see what you think and REVIEW! Hee hee. Hooo. Seriously.
Yorda awoke from her dream of Ico with a light heart, knowing that last night they had kissed! She hadn't had to ask him how he felt, she had known and felt doubtful and said they didn't belong in the present. He had told her otherwise, and set her worries aside with a kiss.
She had agreed to arrive the following evening, after dinner. She wasn't sure if she wanted another effort like last time. Ico promised Siania would be in bed by moon-rise so they could talk properly.
She almost ran down the stairs with joy to breakfast. Ico had kissed her! Or she had kissed him, she wasn't sure which. It had been a simultaneous decision, a mutual affection towards each other. How she really felt about him, she wasn't sure.
"Hello, Keoden!" she said cheerily when she reached the dining room. He was alone at it until she joined him, but she noticed another place set adjacent to her. She was going to hug him like she did every morning, but suddenly remembered his plot to kill her, and could not bring herself to show any more love towards him. She wanted to strangle him and ask him why he had become like their mother.
"Hello, Yorda," Keoden replied, surprised at his suddenly icy reception, "How are you this morning?"
"Fine," Yorda acknowledged, "Who's the extra place for?"
The servants came in and laid out the breakfast, including a plate for the empty seat. The food mainly consisted of fine fresh fruits and bread. Yorda took a sip of her water, glaring at Keoden opposite her.
"Someone to see you especially, Princess," Keoden drawled. He rarely called her Princess. So it must be-
"Giannias?" Yorda guessed, "I thought as such. When is he coming?"
Keoden chuckled, " I hadn't even told you yet. Yes it is he. Our guest will be arriving shortly. In fact-" a knock at the door sounded coincidentally, "How convenient. He is here now,"
"Wonderful. You say he is here to see me?"
"Just to make a little offer."
"I see. Do I have a choice on the matter?"
"That will depend on the matter."
"I meant do I have a choice on seeing Giannias?"
"Do you mean you would deny me, Princess?" a low, unpleasantly smooth voice dragged from the doorway.
Yorda did not reply.
"Hello, Giannias," Keoden greeted, "Karen has set you a place at the table next to the princess. Feel free to join us."
"Thank you, and I will," Giannias agreed, and moved slowly over to the table. Yorda felt an uneasy feeling in her stomach as her heart began to beat faster.
Her unwanted guest walked past his chair to where he was sitting. For a moment Yorda thought he was blind and was about to direct him to his seat, but he bent over slightly at where she sat and held his palm up for her to place his hand in his. She did so reluctantly and Giannias raised her hand to his lips. When he kissed it, she shivered unpleasantly and attempted to hide her disgust. This man was plotting to kill her!
"My Princess," he soothed, now moving backwards to his seat and sitting in it, "It is an honour to be in your lovely presence again."
I wish I could say the same for you, slimeball.
"Thank you Giannias. It has been a long time," was all she said. She thought it was sufficient. She thought he may have been expecting; "The honour is entirely mine, Sir" or even "Marry me!" Never could Yorda bring herself to say either of those things. She wished Ico were here to protect her. She would have to look after herself for now.
"So what do you have planned for today, Princess?" Giannias asked.
"Tonight I go and see the horned girl I have been making a decision about. I do not know what my brother thinks of the situation," she replied coldly. Giannias turned to Keoden, and Yorda continued to eat her fruit. She could not quite believe she was dining with the two men that could change their plans at any moment and stab her now. She shivered again.
"What is this matter the Princess speaks of, Keoden?" Giannias asked her brother, who looked up from his food with a scowl.
"It is a silly matter that could be sorted in two minutes, not two days. I expect it will be longer too. Yorda just enjoys having a couple of misfits in the town and wants to keep them here as long as possible, isn't that right, dear sister?" he said angrily, more to Yorda than answering Giannias.
How dare you call them misfits, you traitorous bastard?
"Indeed it is not, Sir," Yorda retorted, as calmly and as politely as possible, "I wish for the girl to stay no longer than she has to. She longs for her parents and I detest seeing her suffer when she has been through so much. She is but a child."
Keoden gave her a funny look and Yorda avoided it by going back to her melon slice.
"And what of the man that accompanies her?" Keoden asked suspiciously. Yorda felt a twang inside but kept a calm mask and waved her fork around carelessly in the air.
"What of the man?" she returned viciously.
Forgive me, Ico. God, please don't let Keoden have seen him eavesdropping.
Giannias obviously looked uncomfortable and shifted in his seat.
"Anyway, we will talk on this later, Princess. Now I will urge you and Giannias to go up to the main chamber and talk about what Giannias has to discuss. On with you, now," Keoden pushed.
"But I have not finished eating!" Yorda stalled for time.
"Well take it upstairs with you then!"
"It does not matter. Come along then, Giannias."
Yorda did not see the funny look exchanged between the two men, but she was sure the news Giannias had to offer would not be of a substance she would enjoy to listen to.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Ico hummed a random tune in his head as he made his bed, cleared up Siania's toys into her patchwork bag and cleared the remains of last night's plates away. He walked out into the garden and sat under the tree, thinking of what had happened last night. When he had taken her home, she did not say a word about it or kiss him again, but she did not need to. She had said they would talk the next day.
He looked up to the sky and thanked God.
"You made her smile, didn't you?" Siania said from the doorway, leaning against the frame knowingly and cheeky, holding her rabbit doll Mary. Ico grinned at her and winked.
"I'd say she more made me smile, Sai, but yes I did," he replied happily, "See? I keep my promises."
She looked up at him in a hurt fashion, but she burst out into a grin.
"I never said you didn't!" she objected.
"Whatever. Anyway, I'd say it's time for something to eat, wouldn't you?"
"Hell, yes!"
"Sai! What would your mama say if she heard you saying that?"
"Go to your room, young lady." Siania had a somewhat sad look on her face when her family was mentioned.
"You'll see them soon, Sai. The Princess will make sure of that."
"Promise?"
"I swear."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Yorda sat as far away from Giannias as she could but he was still in reach of her, he would not find it difficult to stab her if he wanted to. She sat on the edge of the sofa with a cushion held tight against her, imagining it was Ico holding on to her. Why was she thinking about him so much after just one kiss? It wasn't even that long anyway!
"So," she said emptily, "What did you want to talk to me about, Giannias?"
"Oh Princess, I think you know," Giannias said silkily, moving towards her. She tried to shuffle away more, but the armrest restricted her movement. She dared not move lest he strike her. But he was so disgusting, so demeaning-
"You see, I want you to marry me, Princess," he continued.
"I know you do," Yorda replied quietly.
"And what do you think about it?"
"I don't, because it could never be."
"It hurts me to hear you say that, Princess."
Not as much as it would hurt me if I said otherwise.
"I'm sorry, Giannias. Is that all you have to say?"
When he said nothing, Yorda stood up and began to walk to the chamber door. Giannias darted towards the door and blocked her path.
"Please, let me pass," she said, mustering her courtesy. She even managed a slight smile that faded instantly under his steady gaze. He had hard, grey eyes and cold looking lips. His skin was not as pale as Yorda's, but it would burn easily under a strong sun. He had a small beard that cast a shadow under his chin.
"I don't think so," he replied. Yorda tried to move the arm that held the doorknob. He was too strong for her, though.
"This is hardly gallant, Sir," she said harshly, and stomped back to the sofa, sitting down on it arrogantly, "Now say what you have to say and leave."
Giannias stalked over to the sofa and walked behind it. Yorda didn't look behind her, but she knew he was at the back of her, looking down on her. It made her shiver and she clasped her hands into a fist.
"I can hurt you, Princess," he said silkily, making it sound more like a promising offer than a threat, "I can make you believe you have nothing to live for."
Not while I have Ico.
"Please go," is all she said, "Now, or I will call . . . a servant."
"None will hear. I made sure we were alone."
Giannias reached down and began to stroke the top of her hair, the same length Ico had always known it to be, with the ragged edges at the end still remaining at the ends. "You are beautiful," he whispered.
Yorda stood up immediately, unable to bear his touch, and ran for the door. She could have wept when she discovered it was locked. It was the only door leading out into the living quarters. She rattled at the latch but he pulled her away by her waist, just like the Spirits used to. She screamed and began to kick wildly.
Giannias covered her mouth with his hand and Yorda beat his arm with her angry, terrified fists. Was it going to end today, before she had a chance to tell Ico how she felt? What would happen to Siania if she died today?
"Don't scream, don't kick, and you will not be hurt, understand?" Giannias bargained, and Yorda really had no choice but to nod her head frantically. His clammy hand was removed from her face, but his other hand remained painfully tight around her left arm. He used his now-free other hand to hold her right arm, and spun her around to look at him. She closed her eyes tightly.
"You are shaking, Princess," he told her, "Now-"
There was a knock at the door, and Giannias tutted. He knew as well as Yorda knew the alarm would be raised if no one answered and they new the Princess was inside.
"Say nothing, alright? We will talk again," Giannias promised, and walked to answer the door, opening it with a silver key. The interrupter was Biocha who had heard her screaming. Yorda shook her head frantically at him. He looked puzzled.
"I - uh, came to inform Princess Yorda that I will be taking her to see the visitors tonight, and that I would - uh, come and collect her here. I also have a private message for her," he babbled, walking past Giannias into the room, as if to protect her.
Giannias clucked his tongue and shot a warning look at Yorda.
"Goodbye, Princess, I hope to see you again soon," he said, and swept out, slamming the door behind him.
Yorda collapsed onto the sofa behind her, panting. Biocha ran over to her and held her rising and falling shoulders, worried.
"Are you alright, Princess?" he asked her frantically, "What happened?"
Yorda told him and made Biocha swear to keep it a secret, she would tell Ico tonight. He reluctantly agreed, and insisting on staying with her until it was time to take her to Ico's house. He had a servant bring her lunch and dinner, but she ate none and drank little, just shivered.
"Would you like a bath before you go, Princess?" Biocha asked her kindly, "I can have Mary give you one, if you'd like."
"No, no it's alright, thank you, Biocha," Yorda replied, calmer now, "There isn't enough time, anyway. I will just go and get changed, alright? Watch my door, please?"
"Of course, Your Majesty," bowed Biocha, and Yorda entered her dressing room, still shaking, still terrified. She had never been this scared for over four years, and even then, she had had Ico.
Ico.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Yorda arrived at Ico's shack with Biocha, who insisted on coming back for her personally at midnight, still four hours away. Ico was surprised at his funny behaviour, and let Siania up and play with him for a while. Eventually after her endless prattling, she convinced Ico to let her ride around the town with Biocha until it was time for Yorda to go home.
And so they were alone. They went and sat under their tree again and Ico asked her what the matter was, and if it was to do with him. She said no, and broke down after that, much to his astonishment.
"Oh Ico it was so terrible!" she cried helplessly, throwing herself into his arms. She was crying, so he took her inside so no one could hear. They went into the bedroom and sat on the double bed Ico slept in, his right arm around her shoulder.
"Shhh, what was?" he asked her then, very concerned at her behaviour.
"It was this morning, at breakfast," Yorda explained, "Keoden invited Giannias round, who wanted to talk to me. Giannias is the man Keoden wants me to marry. He is also the man you heard the other night," Ico nodded in acknowledgement, "And we went up to my quarters, sitting in the living room. He had locked the only door out, all the other rooms were my dressing room, bedroom and bathrooms. I went back to sit on the sofa and he said he wanted me to marry him, and I said no. That was when I went to the door and he wouldn't let me out. I tried to be nice to him, but he wouldn't let me."
Ico said nothing, but his presence told her to go on. Her voice quaked, but she had started now.
"I sat back down again on the sofa and told him to say what he had to say and then he - he began to stroke my hair and I couldn't stand it. I tried to get out, that was when I discovered he'd locked the door. I was so stupid to leave the keys in - I didn't think he would-" she fell off, and felt Ico's reassuring breath on her neck. He began to stroke her hair, as if wiping Giannias' presence from it.
"You can't expect something like that to happen to you, Yorda," he said gently, "What happened next?"
"He - he tried to pull me away so I screamed for help," she continued shakily, "And I tried to kick and shout but he covered my mouth with his hand, and I couldn't get free, Ico. I was so scared-"
She felt Ico stiffen beside her with fuming hatred for a man he had only ever heard the voice of. He didn't say anything, so she carried on.
"He told me he would let me go if I promised not to scream, so I stopped resisting," she told him, "Then he grabbed both my arms and turned me to face him, and then there was a knock at the door. Biocha had heard me scream - he must have been walking past. It was his day off, you see. Giannias left and told me we'd speak later, and Biocha insisted he stay with me and take me to see you instead of going home to his family. I gave him tomorrow off, but he refused."
Ico bit his lip. Yorda could have been seriously hurt, killed perhaps. Biocha had saved her and Siania all at the same time, and he wanted no reward. But then, he too wanted no reward when he had first rescued Yorda from the castle.
"He wanted you to marry him?" he asked blankly, with no emotion.
"Yes," Yorda replied, confused, "Ico, I don't know what-"
"You must never agree to marry him, Yorda!" he cried, "You mustn't! No matter what he says-"
"Yes, yes I know that now. I promise, Ico," she smiled and hugged him tight, "I'm going to try and convince Keoden to let you and Sai stay in the castle, so I'll work on that."
Ico nodded, "I'd feel a lot better knowing I could protect you," he told her meaningfully, remaining still and unemotional. Yorda thought he was having trouble deciding how to react to her after she had been through a terrible time this morning.
Yorda nuzzled him, "This isn't how I thought we'd end up when I found out it was you," she said, "But I'm glad."
He pulled apart from her and held her at arms length. She found herself sinking in the green seas that were his eyes.
"Yorda, how do you feel about me? Is it just a spur of the moment happening, or do you - care for me?" he asked her. She could tell it had been eating at him. He had just been wondering when to ask her.
"Ico, I - I love you. I knew it when Giannias threatened me. I thought I'd never be able to tell you-"
Ico cut her off with a kiss.
"And know this, Yorda. I love you. I always have and I always will. Never, ever, let anyone tell you otherwise," Ico told her, and kissed Yorda again.
"You - you love me? After all I was so blind-"
It hurt Ico to remember that she left him in that cave, but still his answer remained:
"Could you ever doubt it?"
"I missed you-" she told him, "And I never realised it until you came back that I had been empty without you."
"I didn't mean it when I said I was sorry for what you had become-"
"Yes you did, Ico, and you were right. But not anymore. Not now I'm with you, where I should be."
Yorda lay down on the bed and faced the wall. Ico did the same and faced her back, stroking her hair and face tenderly. He felt tears on her cheeks and he wiped them away. He wrapped her arms around her and they lay there like that.
* * * * * * * * * * *
When Siania and Biocha returned, they couldn't bear to wake them. Biocha whispered to Siania that he would be back tomorrow afternoon for her, that he would inform the people at the palace that someone was dying in the village and had requested to see the Princess, as that often happened dead at night. Although no one was dying, his instincts told him not to interfere but that this . . . relationship? Infatuation? All the answers led to trouble on both Ico's and the Princess' behalf, inevitably affecting young Siania. He would speak to the Princess later.
Not now, when she looked so peaceful.
"Biocha-" Siania whispered in the dark, "Biocha, what's happened?"
"They - they've fallen in love-" he answered unenthusiastically, "Come on, young lady. Grab some spare clothes, I don't think you should stay tonight, leave your brother in peace, you can come to mine. Be silent, Sai."
He waited for her outside and she came with a bag. They hopped on Biocha's horse and rode into the village silently.
"Biocha?" Siania asked him, and he turned to see her, "It's not normal for a Princess and a peasant boy to be in love, is it? Never mind that she's a bit older than him!"
It was unheard of in that place and time for a man to be younger than a woman and have a courtship. When it was a Princess and a peasant boy it was unheard of and a scandal.
"No," he replied honestly. Then, "They used to know each other, didn't they?"
"Ico used to be a horned boy," Siania told him, as quietly as she could, "He rescued Yorda from the castle four years ago, he lost his horns fighting her mother so Yorda could be saved. He nearly lost his life, but Yorda managed to get him in a boat and save him. He said he woke up on a beach and found her lying there, and she could speak his language. She hadn't been able to do that before, and Ico had broken the spell the Queen had on Princess Yorda."
"Did they love each other before?" Biocha asked.
"Maybe. He didn't like to speak of her much. He thought she was dead before the day we first came to the palace to meet the Prince."
"Ah, now I understand why he looked so shocked. Well, that's an interesting story, Sai. Now, here's my house. I think you'll get on very well with my wife."
Siania smiled.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Ico woke up to see Yorda had instinctively turned over in her sleep. Her hair and breath were tickling his face, and he marvelled to see her there looking so peaceful. Their arms were around each other and he caressed her back, the thin material sliding elegantly along her pale skin where he touched. He wondered if she still had the garment he had given her in the cave.
He thought not, but it didn't matter anyway. He had her here. He looked at her face, her violet eyes protected by slightly flicking eyelids - she was dreaming, her small nose providing her breath, and her pale but oh-so-soft lips adding a touch of elegance to her perfect features.
Suddenly, without thinking, he leant forward and kissed her. Yorda's eyes opened almost immediately, sleepy and interrupted but smiling. They kissed for a long time.
Is this what Heaven is like? Ico thought happily.
When Ico dropped off to sleep, it was Yorda that watched him. She moved her nose down slightly so they were almost touching. Then she fell asleep in his arms.
She was breathing his breath, and he was breathing hers.
Chapter 14 - Daydream -
Author's Note: Well wasn't that exciting folks! Bet I all had you crying your hearts out . . . ha ha! Hee hee. Hoo. REVIEW! Now this is quite a long chapter, but it wasn't supposed to be! Oh well, I think it turned out quite good . . . see what you think and REVIEW! Hee hee. Hooo. Seriously.
Yorda awoke from her dream of Ico with a light heart, knowing that last night they had kissed! She hadn't had to ask him how he felt, she had known and felt doubtful and said they didn't belong in the present. He had told her otherwise, and set her worries aside with a kiss.
She had agreed to arrive the following evening, after dinner. She wasn't sure if she wanted another effort like last time. Ico promised Siania would be in bed by moon-rise so they could talk properly.
She almost ran down the stairs with joy to breakfast. Ico had kissed her! Or she had kissed him, she wasn't sure which. It had been a simultaneous decision, a mutual affection towards each other. How she really felt about him, she wasn't sure.
"Hello, Keoden!" she said cheerily when she reached the dining room. He was alone at it until she joined him, but she noticed another place set adjacent to her. She was going to hug him like she did every morning, but suddenly remembered his plot to kill her, and could not bring herself to show any more love towards him. She wanted to strangle him and ask him why he had become like their mother.
"Hello, Yorda," Keoden replied, surprised at his suddenly icy reception, "How are you this morning?"
"Fine," Yorda acknowledged, "Who's the extra place for?"
The servants came in and laid out the breakfast, including a plate for the empty seat. The food mainly consisted of fine fresh fruits and bread. Yorda took a sip of her water, glaring at Keoden opposite her.
"Someone to see you especially, Princess," Keoden drawled. He rarely called her Princess. So it must be-
"Giannias?" Yorda guessed, "I thought as such. When is he coming?"
Keoden chuckled, " I hadn't even told you yet. Yes it is he. Our guest will be arriving shortly. In fact-" a knock at the door sounded coincidentally, "How convenient. He is here now,"
"Wonderful. You say he is here to see me?"
"Just to make a little offer."
"I see. Do I have a choice on the matter?"
"That will depend on the matter."
"I meant do I have a choice on seeing Giannias?"
"Do you mean you would deny me, Princess?" a low, unpleasantly smooth voice dragged from the doorway.
Yorda did not reply.
"Hello, Giannias," Keoden greeted, "Karen has set you a place at the table next to the princess. Feel free to join us."
"Thank you, and I will," Giannias agreed, and moved slowly over to the table. Yorda felt an uneasy feeling in her stomach as her heart began to beat faster.
Her unwanted guest walked past his chair to where he was sitting. For a moment Yorda thought he was blind and was about to direct him to his seat, but he bent over slightly at where she sat and held his palm up for her to place his hand in his. She did so reluctantly and Giannias raised her hand to his lips. When he kissed it, she shivered unpleasantly and attempted to hide her disgust. This man was plotting to kill her!
"My Princess," he soothed, now moving backwards to his seat and sitting in it, "It is an honour to be in your lovely presence again."
I wish I could say the same for you, slimeball.
"Thank you Giannias. It has been a long time," was all she said. She thought it was sufficient. She thought he may have been expecting; "The honour is entirely mine, Sir" or even "Marry me!" Never could Yorda bring herself to say either of those things. She wished Ico were here to protect her. She would have to look after herself for now.
"So what do you have planned for today, Princess?" Giannias asked.
"Tonight I go and see the horned girl I have been making a decision about. I do not know what my brother thinks of the situation," she replied coldly. Giannias turned to Keoden, and Yorda continued to eat her fruit. She could not quite believe she was dining with the two men that could change their plans at any moment and stab her now. She shivered again.
"What is this matter the Princess speaks of, Keoden?" Giannias asked her brother, who looked up from his food with a scowl.
"It is a silly matter that could be sorted in two minutes, not two days. I expect it will be longer too. Yorda just enjoys having a couple of misfits in the town and wants to keep them here as long as possible, isn't that right, dear sister?" he said angrily, more to Yorda than answering Giannias.
How dare you call them misfits, you traitorous bastard?
"Indeed it is not, Sir," Yorda retorted, as calmly and as politely as possible, "I wish for the girl to stay no longer than she has to. She longs for her parents and I detest seeing her suffer when she has been through so much. She is but a child."
Keoden gave her a funny look and Yorda avoided it by going back to her melon slice.
"And what of the man that accompanies her?" Keoden asked suspiciously. Yorda felt a twang inside but kept a calm mask and waved her fork around carelessly in the air.
"What of the man?" she returned viciously.
Forgive me, Ico. God, please don't let Keoden have seen him eavesdropping.
Giannias obviously looked uncomfortable and shifted in his seat.
"Anyway, we will talk on this later, Princess. Now I will urge you and Giannias to go up to the main chamber and talk about what Giannias has to discuss. On with you, now," Keoden pushed.
"But I have not finished eating!" Yorda stalled for time.
"Well take it upstairs with you then!"
"It does not matter. Come along then, Giannias."
Yorda did not see the funny look exchanged between the two men, but she was sure the news Giannias had to offer would not be of a substance she would enjoy to listen to.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Ico hummed a random tune in his head as he made his bed, cleared up Siania's toys into her patchwork bag and cleared the remains of last night's plates away. He walked out into the garden and sat under the tree, thinking of what had happened last night. When he had taken her home, she did not say a word about it or kiss him again, but she did not need to. She had said they would talk the next day.
He looked up to the sky and thanked God.
"You made her smile, didn't you?" Siania said from the doorway, leaning against the frame knowingly and cheeky, holding her rabbit doll Mary. Ico grinned at her and winked.
"I'd say she more made me smile, Sai, but yes I did," he replied happily, "See? I keep my promises."
She looked up at him in a hurt fashion, but she burst out into a grin.
"I never said you didn't!" she objected.
"Whatever. Anyway, I'd say it's time for something to eat, wouldn't you?"
"Hell, yes!"
"Sai! What would your mama say if she heard you saying that?"
"Go to your room, young lady." Siania had a somewhat sad look on her face when her family was mentioned.
"You'll see them soon, Sai. The Princess will make sure of that."
"Promise?"
"I swear."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Yorda sat as far away from Giannias as she could but he was still in reach of her, he would not find it difficult to stab her if he wanted to. She sat on the edge of the sofa with a cushion held tight against her, imagining it was Ico holding on to her. Why was she thinking about him so much after just one kiss? It wasn't even that long anyway!
"So," she said emptily, "What did you want to talk to me about, Giannias?"
"Oh Princess, I think you know," Giannias said silkily, moving towards her. She tried to shuffle away more, but the armrest restricted her movement. She dared not move lest he strike her. But he was so disgusting, so demeaning-
"You see, I want you to marry me, Princess," he continued.
"I know you do," Yorda replied quietly.
"And what do you think about it?"
"I don't, because it could never be."
"It hurts me to hear you say that, Princess."
Not as much as it would hurt me if I said otherwise.
"I'm sorry, Giannias. Is that all you have to say?"
When he said nothing, Yorda stood up and began to walk to the chamber door. Giannias darted towards the door and blocked her path.
"Please, let me pass," she said, mustering her courtesy. She even managed a slight smile that faded instantly under his steady gaze. He had hard, grey eyes and cold looking lips. His skin was not as pale as Yorda's, but it would burn easily under a strong sun. He had a small beard that cast a shadow under his chin.
"I don't think so," he replied. Yorda tried to move the arm that held the doorknob. He was too strong for her, though.
"This is hardly gallant, Sir," she said harshly, and stomped back to the sofa, sitting down on it arrogantly, "Now say what you have to say and leave."
Giannias stalked over to the sofa and walked behind it. Yorda didn't look behind her, but she knew he was at the back of her, looking down on her. It made her shiver and she clasped her hands into a fist.
"I can hurt you, Princess," he said silkily, making it sound more like a promising offer than a threat, "I can make you believe you have nothing to live for."
Not while I have Ico.
"Please go," is all she said, "Now, or I will call . . . a servant."
"None will hear. I made sure we were alone."
Giannias reached down and began to stroke the top of her hair, the same length Ico had always known it to be, with the ragged edges at the end still remaining at the ends. "You are beautiful," he whispered.
Yorda stood up immediately, unable to bear his touch, and ran for the door. She could have wept when she discovered it was locked. It was the only door leading out into the living quarters. She rattled at the latch but he pulled her away by her waist, just like the Spirits used to. She screamed and began to kick wildly.
Giannias covered her mouth with his hand and Yorda beat his arm with her angry, terrified fists. Was it going to end today, before she had a chance to tell Ico how she felt? What would happen to Siania if she died today?
"Don't scream, don't kick, and you will not be hurt, understand?" Giannias bargained, and Yorda really had no choice but to nod her head frantically. His clammy hand was removed from her face, but his other hand remained painfully tight around her left arm. He used his now-free other hand to hold her right arm, and spun her around to look at him. She closed her eyes tightly.
"You are shaking, Princess," he told her, "Now-"
There was a knock at the door, and Giannias tutted. He knew as well as Yorda knew the alarm would be raised if no one answered and they new the Princess was inside.
"Say nothing, alright? We will talk again," Giannias promised, and walked to answer the door, opening it with a silver key. The interrupter was Biocha who had heard her screaming. Yorda shook her head frantically at him. He looked puzzled.
"I - uh, came to inform Princess Yorda that I will be taking her to see the visitors tonight, and that I would - uh, come and collect her here. I also have a private message for her," he babbled, walking past Giannias into the room, as if to protect her.
Giannias clucked his tongue and shot a warning look at Yorda.
"Goodbye, Princess, I hope to see you again soon," he said, and swept out, slamming the door behind him.
Yorda collapsed onto the sofa behind her, panting. Biocha ran over to her and held her rising and falling shoulders, worried.
"Are you alright, Princess?" he asked her frantically, "What happened?"
Yorda told him and made Biocha swear to keep it a secret, she would tell Ico tonight. He reluctantly agreed, and insisting on staying with her until it was time to take her to Ico's house. He had a servant bring her lunch and dinner, but she ate none and drank little, just shivered.
"Would you like a bath before you go, Princess?" Biocha asked her kindly, "I can have Mary give you one, if you'd like."
"No, no it's alright, thank you, Biocha," Yorda replied, calmer now, "There isn't enough time, anyway. I will just go and get changed, alright? Watch my door, please?"
"Of course, Your Majesty," bowed Biocha, and Yorda entered her dressing room, still shaking, still terrified. She had never been this scared for over four years, and even then, she had had Ico.
Ico.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Yorda arrived at Ico's shack with Biocha, who insisted on coming back for her personally at midnight, still four hours away. Ico was surprised at his funny behaviour, and let Siania up and play with him for a while. Eventually after her endless prattling, she convinced Ico to let her ride around the town with Biocha until it was time for Yorda to go home.
And so they were alone. They went and sat under their tree again and Ico asked her what the matter was, and if it was to do with him. She said no, and broke down after that, much to his astonishment.
"Oh Ico it was so terrible!" she cried helplessly, throwing herself into his arms. She was crying, so he took her inside so no one could hear. They went into the bedroom and sat on the double bed Ico slept in, his right arm around her shoulder.
"Shhh, what was?" he asked her then, very concerned at her behaviour.
"It was this morning, at breakfast," Yorda explained, "Keoden invited Giannias round, who wanted to talk to me. Giannias is the man Keoden wants me to marry. He is also the man you heard the other night," Ico nodded in acknowledgement, "And we went up to my quarters, sitting in the living room. He had locked the only door out, all the other rooms were my dressing room, bedroom and bathrooms. I went back to sit on the sofa and he said he wanted me to marry him, and I said no. That was when I went to the door and he wouldn't let me out. I tried to be nice to him, but he wouldn't let me."
Ico said nothing, but his presence told her to go on. Her voice quaked, but she had started now.
"I sat back down again on the sofa and told him to say what he had to say and then he - he began to stroke my hair and I couldn't stand it. I tried to get out, that was when I discovered he'd locked the door. I was so stupid to leave the keys in - I didn't think he would-" she fell off, and felt Ico's reassuring breath on her neck. He began to stroke her hair, as if wiping Giannias' presence from it.
"You can't expect something like that to happen to you, Yorda," he said gently, "What happened next?"
"He - he tried to pull me away so I screamed for help," she continued shakily, "And I tried to kick and shout but he covered my mouth with his hand, and I couldn't get free, Ico. I was so scared-"
She felt Ico stiffen beside her with fuming hatred for a man he had only ever heard the voice of. He didn't say anything, so she carried on.
"He told me he would let me go if I promised not to scream, so I stopped resisting," she told him, "Then he grabbed both my arms and turned me to face him, and then there was a knock at the door. Biocha had heard me scream - he must have been walking past. It was his day off, you see. Giannias left and told me we'd speak later, and Biocha insisted he stay with me and take me to see you instead of going home to his family. I gave him tomorrow off, but he refused."
Ico bit his lip. Yorda could have been seriously hurt, killed perhaps. Biocha had saved her and Siania all at the same time, and he wanted no reward. But then, he too wanted no reward when he had first rescued Yorda from the castle.
"He wanted you to marry him?" he asked blankly, with no emotion.
"Yes," Yorda replied, confused, "Ico, I don't know what-"
"You must never agree to marry him, Yorda!" he cried, "You mustn't! No matter what he says-"
"Yes, yes I know that now. I promise, Ico," she smiled and hugged him tight, "I'm going to try and convince Keoden to let you and Sai stay in the castle, so I'll work on that."
Ico nodded, "I'd feel a lot better knowing I could protect you," he told her meaningfully, remaining still and unemotional. Yorda thought he was having trouble deciding how to react to her after she had been through a terrible time this morning.
Yorda nuzzled him, "This isn't how I thought we'd end up when I found out it was you," she said, "But I'm glad."
He pulled apart from her and held her at arms length. She found herself sinking in the green seas that were his eyes.
"Yorda, how do you feel about me? Is it just a spur of the moment happening, or do you - care for me?" he asked her. She could tell it had been eating at him. He had just been wondering when to ask her.
"Ico, I - I love you. I knew it when Giannias threatened me. I thought I'd never be able to tell you-"
Ico cut her off with a kiss.
"And know this, Yorda. I love you. I always have and I always will. Never, ever, let anyone tell you otherwise," Ico told her, and kissed Yorda again.
"You - you love me? After all I was so blind-"
It hurt Ico to remember that she left him in that cave, but still his answer remained:
"Could you ever doubt it?"
"I missed you-" she told him, "And I never realised it until you came back that I had been empty without you."
"I didn't mean it when I said I was sorry for what you had become-"
"Yes you did, Ico, and you were right. But not anymore. Not now I'm with you, where I should be."
Yorda lay down on the bed and faced the wall. Ico did the same and faced her back, stroking her hair and face tenderly. He felt tears on her cheeks and he wiped them away. He wrapped her arms around her and they lay there like that.
* * * * * * * * * * *
When Siania and Biocha returned, they couldn't bear to wake them. Biocha whispered to Siania that he would be back tomorrow afternoon for her, that he would inform the people at the palace that someone was dying in the village and had requested to see the Princess, as that often happened dead at night. Although no one was dying, his instincts told him not to interfere but that this . . . relationship? Infatuation? All the answers led to trouble on both Ico's and the Princess' behalf, inevitably affecting young Siania. He would speak to the Princess later.
Not now, when she looked so peaceful.
"Biocha-" Siania whispered in the dark, "Biocha, what's happened?"
"They - they've fallen in love-" he answered unenthusiastically, "Come on, young lady. Grab some spare clothes, I don't think you should stay tonight, leave your brother in peace, you can come to mine. Be silent, Sai."
He waited for her outside and she came with a bag. They hopped on Biocha's horse and rode into the village silently.
"Biocha?" Siania asked him, and he turned to see her, "It's not normal for a Princess and a peasant boy to be in love, is it? Never mind that she's a bit older than him!"
It was unheard of in that place and time for a man to be younger than a woman and have a courtship. When it was a Princess and a peasant boy it was unheard of and a scandal.
"No," he replied honestly. Then, "They used to know each other, didn't they?"
"Ico used to be a horned boy," Siania told him, as quietly as she could, "He rescued Yorda from the castle four years ago, he lost his horns fighting her mother so Yorda could be saved. He nearly lost his life, but Yorda managed to get him in a boat and save him. He said he woke up on a beach and found her lying there, and she could speak his language. She hadn't been able to do that before, and Ico had broken the spell the Queen had on Princess Yorda."
"Did they love each other before?" Biocha asked.
"Maybe. He didn't like to speak of her much. He thought she was dead before the day we first came to the palace to meet the Prince."
"Ah, now I understand why he looked so shocked. Well, that's an interesting story, Sai. Now, here's my house. I think you'll get on very well with my wife."
Siania smiled.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Ico woke up to see Yorda had instinctively turned over in her sleep. Her hair and breath were tickling his face, and he marvelled to see her there looking so peaceful. Their arms were around each other and he caressed her back, the thin material sliding elegantly along her pale skin where he touched. He wondered if she still had the garment he had given her in the cave.
He thought not, but it didn't matter anyway. He had her here. He looked at her face, her violet eyes protected by slightly flicking eyelids - she was dreaming, her small nose providing her breath, and her pale but oh-so-soft lips adding a touch of elegance to her perfect features.
Suddenly, without thinking, he leant forward and kissed her. Yorda's eyes opened almost immediately, sleepy and interrupted but smiling. They kissed for a long time.
Is this what Heaven is like? Ico thought happily.
When Ico dropped off to sleep, it was Yorda that watched him. She moved her nose down slightly so they were almost touching. Then she fell asleep in his arms.
She was breathing his breath, and he was breathing hers.