WIND WARRIORS

Chapter Nine: Home Again

Merle

I so knew my father wasn't going to approve of my marriage. But it was already done and I didn't want to back away from it. This time I was happy, I loved the man I was wed to. But I – like my dad – wasn't so wild about my father-in-law, and apparently my feelings were shared by my husband.

Husband…

I never thought I would call Rafer that, but at the same time it was so natural.

Anyway, Rafer and I decided to tell my father about our marriage before we had to deal with Roger.

"Dad?" I asked/yelled when we entered my old house. "Daddy?"

"Merle?" I head my dad yell from his study, in no time he was in the sitting room with Rafer and me. "It took you forever to come back!" he said, giving me a hug that let me breathless.

"I was healing, and Rafer didn't want to risk making the journey back if I wasn't totally recovered." I said and only then my father noticed that Rafer was there too.

"Thank you for bringing Merle back." My father said in a formal voice.

"It was my pleasure." Rafer answered, seemingly obvious that my dad had just given him cue to leave.

"Daddy, we got something to tell you."

"We?" He asked. Donovan Raleigh was many things but dumb wasn't one of them.

----

Rafer

"Yes, we." Merle said, passing her arm around my waist in a half hug.

"Merle Cavett Raleigh," Donovan said, clearly not pleased narrowing his eyes. "Explain at once."

"We married." I said, keeping my voice calm and controlled in spite of the murderous look Donovan was giving me.

Donovan gaze caught on Merle's hand, the one that was resting on my stomach, he saw the ring that dueled there: a thick, heavy gold band, leaves and roses were craved into the metal; it was an ancient ring, Nathaniel had given it to me so I could give it to Merle, it was the same ring Nate gave to his human wife, Amrei, about 200 years ago.

"So you married," Donovan said to Merle, ignoring me. "Without my consent and against my wishes. Very well then." His icy tone made Merle shiver, "Boy, take your wife and leave my house, neither of you is welcomed here."

With that he turned on his heels and walked away.

"That didn't go well." I said.

"Oh, at least he didn't try to kill you," said Merle attempting lightness. "He'll come around, you0ll see. Dad just needs time."

I wasn't sure if she was trying to convince me or herself so I just nodded and said "Everything will be fine."

…

Dealing with my father was different but not more pleasant. King Roger was happy with my choice of wife – which only spoke of the big hypocrite he was – and was pleased with what I had done with the Braeden's territory, though he acted incredulous, not believing I had done something good. I didn't say anything about it. What for? King Roger had his mind already made when it came to me.

"Well, father, Merle and I are tired and want to go home." I said after diner.

"Oh, yes, you might retire to you room."

"Actually, we won't be living in the palace."

"Rafer," he said and I could tell he was about to lose his patience. "You and your wife are the crown princesses of this kingdom. You ought to live in the palace."

"There is no rule that says that I have to. And as such, I rather keep my wife far away from you. Who knows, next you might try to order her to divorce me and marry Josh."

My father gapped at me in surprise, he hadn't expected resistance. Taking advantage of his surprise, I went and said goodnight to my mother and retrieved Mer from her grasp. Since our arrival, mom had taken Mer away from me and was telling her how happy she was that we had married. Coming form mom, I really took it like a sincere "Congratulations".

----

Merle

I was surprised when Rafer told me we weren't going to live in the palace. I felt relived, surprised but relived. He took me to a house in Cloud City; it was big but not so much that it felt like it would be too much for just the two of us.

"It was my grandmother's house, before she married my grandfather." Rafer explained unlocking the doors. "I sent word ahead to have the house ready to live in, but you can change everything till is done to your liking." I just smiled, letting him pull me inside. "I just never felt really at home in the palace, and I thought this could be a good place to start our own home."

"It's lovely." I said, and I really meant it. It was a warm, comfortable looking place, the furniture was elegant and of good quality but it also had a homely feeling about it. The place looked lived in and I liked that. "Where is the kitchen?" I asked eagerly, I loved to cook, I needed to know.

"Off the left of the dining hall, milady." Came a calm voice, it was a kind voice but it also have a touch of steel that left no room for argument. "But, may I ask why milady wishes to know where the kitchen is? Traditionally the lady of the house doesn't go to the kitchen."

I blinked, but Rafer answered to the woman for me. "Nan," he said, "Please, is late and I'm tired. Merle likes to cook, if she wants to go into the kitchen she will go, like you said she is the lady of this house. And besides, I won't stop my wife from cooking me breakfast, that's for sure."

"Who said I'm cooking for you?"

He rolled his eyes, kind of like saying 'Oh, please, like you can resist. I'm totally adorable and you love me.'

"Rafer…"

"Merle…" he said matching my slightly annoyed tone.

"Traditionally," Nan spoke again. "The Master and the Lady of the house don't fight in front of the Housekeeper."

We both laughed. "Fat chance." Rafer said, hugging me. "I'm going to take Merle upstairs. Can we do the whole presentations thing tomorrow?"

"If those are milord's wishes, I've the servants ready first thing in the morning to introduce them to your graces." Okay, so many 'lady'-s and 'lord'-s were irk some, but 'graces' was really… well, you know.

"How many servants are them?" I asked. I wasn't used to be waited on… I had the feeling that if they were too many I would feel uncomfortable.

Rafer stopped for a second, as if he was doing the math in his head but then he said: "I'm not really sure."

I was about to tease him when we reached the door to our room. There was something written on the door, something that I couldn't finish reading and didn't understand.

"What was that?" I asked as Rafer closed to door behind us. "The legend on the door"

"Some family thing, I don't know. I mean, do you know what Raleigh means?" he asked, it wasn't a challenge but I answered anyway.

"Field of birds. And Merle means Falcon and Cavett was my mom's maiden name, in case you were wondering."

He grinned. "I wasn't but it's pretty." He said, placing his hands on my hips and drawing me closer to him. "What I was really wondering was how long would it take me to take your clothes off."

"Rafer!" I said blushing but allowing him to undo the buttons at my back.

"What?" He asked innocently. "Buttercup, we have been married for three nights and three days… and we haven't…" We hadn't been 'together'. "First because we were starting the journey home very early next morning and I know how cranky you get when you don't get enough sleep;" The 'I wasn't – I'm not- planning to tell you sleep much at night' was implicit in his eyes. "And then we were sleeping in the forest and I didn't think you would be comfortable."

So sweet of him to think of me first. I tiptoed and kissed him while letting my dress fall and starting to pull his shirt out from the waistband of his trousers.

We undressed each other slowly and… well; some things are better left private between man and wife.

What?

I didn't marry him just so I could look at him

---

Rafer

I fully think it was a good idea to wait till we were home to make love to my wife. We pretty much did everything I knew and them some.

So yeah, sex was good, and I suspected that it will always be good between us, but that wasn't the base of our marriage… the fact that I loved her and life without her was hell, now that was the base of our marriage.

When I woke up in the morning, Merle was sleeping so peacefully, knowing that nothing bad would happen to her because I would never let it. That was the thing about Mer; she had faith in me…like she really believed in me. Only my mother had ever showed that kind of trust in me.

Funny how since I laid my hands in her bare skin I knew there would be no others for me. Merle was it for me. People say that love changes you and it's true, though I always made fun of whoever that said such corny phrase, it was true.

I realized of it as I lay there, holding her close, watching over her dreams… I had never been a cuddler, and I hated lazing around in bed while the 'other occupant' slept… I used to much rather take a bath or get some food. In fact, I don't think I ever waited till the 'other person' woke up to leave the bed, hell, sometimes I didn't even wait for them to fall asleep in the first place, it always seemed a waste of time.

But when the other person in bed was my wife, then watching over her as she slept was time well spent….

Love made all the difference.

Then she opened her eyes and looked around, confused; after a few moments she just snuggled closer, her head on my chest and closed her eyes again. I thought she had gone back to sleep till I heard her sigh…

"I really like this sound." She said.

"What sound?" I asked. I couldn't hear a thing.

"Your heartbeat." She answered. "It makes me feel safe, lets me know that I'm home."

I smiled, so that's why she did it. Each time we feel asleep together, she would always put her head on my chest, right above my heart. I always thought she was just using me as a pillow but it meant something to her.

I kissed Merle and we just stayed there for a while before going for breakfast.

It was definitely time well spent.

Love definitely made all the difference.

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End of Chapter Nine.