Interruptions

A season has passed. I let the wall I had built around my heart down to Folken. Never had I expressed my true feelings to any man not even Keith who was a brother to me. Folken and I settled into a routine. Keith even came over for dinner a few times. I think he and Folken got along.

"So tell me Folken, are you really the one who designed the stealth guymeleffs?" Keith inquired one night.

"Yes that was my invention as well as a couple of others," he answered sipping his wine. We hardly ever drink wine but when Keith comes over he always brings us a bottle.

"What are the sorcerers up to Keith?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"We found a storage of guymeleffs stored within the palace, the sorcerers want to mass produce them but they know nothing of building them so my guess is that they want to find your sketches Folken," he explained to us.

"And I assume all three of them voted for this so you're powerless to stop it," I concluded.

"We sort of rearranged different matters of state to each person, I am mostly in charge with organization of the city, external and internal. For me to intervene would be overstepping my authority," Keith stated.

"Rest assured Keith, there are no copies left," Folken said.

"Let us just hope that."

"So next time you will bring Flora, Keith," I commanded as I walked him out the door.

"What?" he froze and spun around. "Why would I want to do that?"

I closed the door behind him and jabbed my finger into his chest.

"Are you telling me that you don't feel a slight attraction to her?" I accused. "Besides she suits you."

"Is that right?" he mused.

"Yes she is the only one who can make you stutter!" I exclaimed.

He narrowed his eyes at me and began to walk away. I slipped my arm into the hook of his elbow as I caught up with him.

"Seriously Keith, Flora is smart, intelligent and witty. She is right for you why don't you for once let down your act? Once she sees this, she'll know you aren't joking."

"I know, it's just that all this acting that I do makes everyone believe it is me," he sighed.

"So give it a try for her, you'll never know unless you try," I chided.

"Thanks for dinner Shayla, see you later," he hugged me briefly and disappeared into the dark.

I watched him slip into the dark void and then went back inside. Folken was washing the dishes when I entered the kitchen. A smile lit up on my face. I crept up slowly behind him and placed my hands over his eyes.

"Very funny," Folken said taking my hands off and kissing them.

"What are you hiding from Keith?" I whispered into his ear as I placed my chin on his shoulder.

"Can't hide from you, eh?" he asked stroking my palms with his thumb.

"I already know everything there is to know about you," I said.

"Do you now?" he sounded amused. He teasingly moved his hand up my arm. I wracked his hand with mine.

"Stop it, you know what I am talking about, the copies of the guymeleffs aren't all destroyed and you know where it is."

"I do, but it's not on paper, it's up here," he pointed to his forehead.

I laughed. "What?" he turned his face so we were nose to nose.

"Oh, just how all these gadgets that Zaibach used to conquer was invented by a man who wasn't even a citizen, just think of the irony. I would love to see the face of anybody who thinks that those were theirs."

"It is ironic isn't?" he questioned. I nodded and pulled my arms around his neck. He leaned closer and within seconds as his lips met mine I forgot of everything: Keith, the sorcerers and most of the missing link to my dream, who was I?

I hummed to myself as I inspected the plants in my garden, cutting ones that were ripe with a small knife and placing them in a small basket. I looked up at the sky and sighed. It was now fall and winter could be approaching. I turned my attention back on my flowerbed. I wanted to have as many picked before the snow pelted the ground. To tell the truth, I never liked winter because it brought back bad memories. I shook those thoughts from my head and resumed my work with the flowers. I was so concentrated on my work that I didn't notice the time past by. I glanced up to hear footsteps coming in my direction.

"Hungry?" Folken asked strolling over.

"A little bit," I tilted my head to view the sky the sun was beginning to set. "Let's eat outside."

"See that cross shape up there, that is the Northern Cross and it connects the stars of Altair, Deneb and Vega," Folken explained pointing into the vastness of the sky.

We lay side by side on our backs gazing at stars after we had eaten.

"What about Fanelia?" I asked turning my head to look at his profile.

"Fanelia is north of Zaibach, one day I will take you there," he replied turning his head as well.

"Really?"

"Of course… what's wrong?" he sensed my sudden silence.

"Nothing," I snuggled closer to him. He placed his arm around my shoulders. "This cottage has been my home for 15 years, it seems strange that there is still a whole world out there that I don't know of."

"One day Shayla I'll show you the entire world," he promised.

"It's a promise then." I said kissing him lightly on the lips.

"Shayndel," he breathed against my lips. His lips were inches from mine. He began to place small kisses from my chin down to the base of my throat.

"You really like saying that don't you," I asked as he continued to press his lips against my throat.

He mumbled and then his head was lifted as I pulled him in towards me. Here we were kissing passionately on the grass and the most unexpected interruption spoils everything. Rain.

"Folken… the rain," I reluctantly broke off. I pushed myself up and felt several drops hit my face.

"Oh my god, the flowers," I gathered up my skirt and ran over to the garden. I grabbed the flowers that were laid out on the ground and put them into the basket that contained the herbs and vegetables.

"Folken!" I shouted as the rain began to pour down hard.

"Go, I'll be right behind you!" he assured and I ran for the cottage. By the time we reached the door we were soaked.

"Well, that wasn't what I was expecting," he commented as I set the basket on the counter.

"Quickly, get out of your clothes!" I ordered.

Folken changed in the bathroom while I was in my room. I put on my warmest nightgown and then added a light robe over it. I started piling whatever blankets I could find on the bed. My hair was still wet. I undid my braid and began to dry my hair with a towel. After that I took my wet clothes to the bathroom.

"Folken are you done?" I asked knocking lightly on the door.

"Yes, hold one minute," he answered.

The door opened and he came out dressed grey tunic and beige trousers.

"Wait for me in the bedroom," I said rushing in to take care of the wet clothes. I managed to wring some water from them and then hung them up on a line that ran above the bathtub. I returned to my room and found him sitting on the edge of my bed drying off his arm.

"Your hair is all wet," I commented taking the towel from his hand and drying his hair for him.

"So is yours…but I know a better way to get warm." He grinned. He took the towel from me and began to dry the roots of my hair. When he was done he tossed the towel over his shoulder. I started to protest but he pulled me in with his arms wrapped around my waist. With Folken sitting he could still match my height. I placed my hands on his face and traced the purple markings delicately. I took my time running my thumb over his lips. I could feel the heat rising and Folken pulled me in closer, his body pressed to mine.

I am walking through the forest; everywhere I look I see snow and trees. Alden! He is standing a couple of feet away from. I start running towards him but abruptly stop. Everything I see is red. My hands, the snow even the trees. I sink to my knees, too many bad memories.

Do not despair child

My head jerks up in surprise. In front of me was a dragon as majestic as Alden except its skin was lighter. Something about it seemed familiar to me.

You are the dragon I called Yes, the time has come are you ready

For what

Pain and suffering

Are you the one that Alden spoke of?

No, be strong child

Wait how do I find you?

The dragon started to fade away from my sight.

I'll find you

Keith is now in charge of affairs both inside and outside of Zaibach: he's kind of the leader of the army and controls turmoil stuff like that. Another soldier like Keith is in charge of trade. The three sorcerers are in charge of money, hearing the complaints of citizens, things like that.