I apologize that this chapter took so long. I work at a riding camp and getting enough energy after those long hours to think is as close to impossible as they come. I hope the chapter is satisfactory and adds a few twists to the story. I am currently on vacation, so I'll have a bunch of time to start the next chapter too.
-Moon Falcon
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Amilyn Warluss felt like a gigantic frog had somehow gotten into her throat. It blocked her breathing and made her feel like crying constantly. And she would deny it to her grave, but she knew why.
Two words: Zacharius Farendan.
She still felt the unexplainable attraction to him that had latched onto her heart. The emotion squeezed it, making the organ pound whenever she thought of him. When he passed by her in the halls, she crept to the shadows to watch him. At those times, more than a few tears would fall.
There was only one explanation, she reasoned to herself. She was in love, completely and overwhelmingly. But it was a foolish love. In him, she found those special love-at-first-sight kinds of feelings. It was dangerous and she didn't like it, not one bit.
Despite the threat it posed, though, that thought both excited and terrified her. She wanted with everything she had to be with him, but because she knew it could never be so, she never allowed him to see her. She feared punishment from the law for acting as and deceiving a noble. And, she had to admit that she also feared his rejection. True, she thought bitterly, the only thing she had lied about at that damn ball was her identity, but it wouldn't matter. Rules were rules and despite what everyone claimed, they were not meant to be broken.
Today, Ami sat with Serenity in her chambers, discussing their views of the three remaining nobles. Serenity had been given quite a shock when Jayden announced his withdrawal to her, but she had wished he and Reilana the best of luck with their marriage, which would take place in the great hall of the palace of Solovine. The princess' heart hurt, as she knew her choices were narrowing. Now, she only had Nathaniel Morodithe, Malachi Zendas, and Zacharius Farendan to choose from.
Ami had been aghast to learn that Serenity was actually leaning towards her beloved Sea Lord as the best candidate for the throne. She reasoned that he was wise, knowledgeable, a good leader, and would be aloof of whatever relationship should ensue between the two of them. Ami had, in spite of her own denial of any sort of connection between her and Zach, tried to sway Serenity to her second choice, Malachi Zendas. She gave proof that he was a fantastic leader if he had journeyed all the way back to the Mountain realm to defend his people. She also voiced that he was brutally handsome, a quality that she found herself overlooking.
Of course, right in the middle of the heated debate, who should decide to show his unwelcome/terribly-wanted face, but Zacharius Farendan. Peeking his head through the door, he called, "Princess Serenity, may I have a word w---" his speech left his mouth as his jaw fell to the floor. Beside the Princess! There she was! And her face! She was more exquisite than a water nymph, her finely boned features soft and her eyes blazing with inner passion.
"Amilyn!" he cried out. He leapt inside the room and threw himself at her feet, "Why did you leave me that night? I haven't had any sleep because I've been thinking of you. The mystery of your existence haunts me in my bed. I told myself that you were a dream my mind envisioned to fill the lonely ache in my chest, but now you sit before me! I know it is you, do not deny me! Speak to me, let me hear your voice, sweet Amilyn!"
Ami could do nothing but open and close her mouth in stunned silence. Thoughts chased each other through her mind: Serenity knows. Does he love me? I'm not a noble! Shall I run? What does he want me to say? Goddesses, I LOVE HIM! Throwing away thoughts of laws and impossibility, she breathed the words that her heart had been screaming at her since she had first seen him.
"I love you." His eyes became riveted on hers.
"Do you?" he whispered reverently, "Then why did you abandon me? I need you with me! Please..." he begged.
Ami felt tears gather in her eyes as he pleaded with her for nothing. "You have to leave," she breathed hoarsely.
"Only if I know that I will see you again. Tell me how to find you."
She smiled at him sadly, "You have to let me find you, Zach. Just trust me."
"With all my heart" he said softly. He rose shakily and walked to the door. But paused on a thought and turned back to her, pulling something out of the inner pocket of his leather vest and tossing it to her.
Ami caught it in the air and looked down at the necklace in wonder. A water droplet encased in the thinnest glass she had ever seen lay in her palm, obviously enchanted against breaking. It was set in a small golden pendant that, when turned around, read: One of many tears that I would cry without you. She raised her head to thank him, but he had disappeared.
A gentle clearing of a throat drew her attention to her forgotten friend, "I think we need to speak." She said with a sly smile. Ami let out a small whimper. This was going to take a while.
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Lita was pacing back and forth in front of Starlight Morodithe's door. She heard the gentle tick of the wall clock fall into rhythm with her footfalls. She had been waiting like this for an entire hour and NO ONE had emerged from the tiny girl's room. Nathaniel was inside with the healer, who was trying desperately to diagnose her with some sort of recognizable illness, but was failing miserably. The child had practically fallen over sick, no way to tell before hand and no time to prepare.
Lita wasn't just praying for Star, though. The man she loved was her father and Lita knew that without his daughter's bright light in his life, Nath would be little more than a shadow of himself. She was sick with worry over him. He wasn't eating and, since she had been sleeping in the quarters that were adjoined to his, she knew from his movements at night that he did not rest either. He had been looking ghostly for the two days that Star had fallen ill.
After another fifteen minutes, the two men emerged, one looking bedraggled and weary and the other utterly perplexed. Lita shook her head in question and the tall chestnut haired man did the same in reply. She felt tears of frustration gather in her eyes and turned away so the other two wouldn't witness her shame. She heard the door open and close, signaling the exiting of the healer. A gentle hand came to lie on her shoulder and she gave in to her emotions and spun around. Wrapping her arms around his middle and burrowing her face in the crook of his neck, Lita sighed half-heartedly.
"I'm scared." She mumbled.
Nathaniel squeezed her tightly, "I know...me, too."
She looked up into his dark navy eyes and sobbed, "What if---?"
"Don't say it. It isn't going to happen." He rasped. She nodded and left the room quietly, mind numb from too many mixed emotions.
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Nathaniel lay in bed that night and began to think about Celeste. He knew he didn't love her in the way that most believed. They had known each other since childhood. Celeste had been his only friend. When their marriage was arranged, Nath couldn't have been happier. They produced an heir to appease their people, but they both knew that their relationship was not as lovers. When she died, he lost the only person in life who had ever understood his way of thinking. There was no one else to keep him in life but Star......and now Lita.
Lita. With her, he felt that emotion that never existed between him and Celeste. He craved it, like a man starved, which was why he could barely control himself around her. She offered him the forbidden fruit, the one that, by some twist of fate, had been denied him for these 23 years. He was drawn to her, a moth to the flame, soon to be completely scorched.
He jumped when the door to his chambers creaked open. Narrowing his eyes, his battle instincts emerged instantly, sliding a dagger from its place under his pillow. He waited and listened as the soft footsteps paused briefly in front of Star's room and for one terrifying instant, he thought they were going in. However, the person continued on as Nath heard a gentle sigh. The figure approached his side. Without a clue as to why, Nathaniel Morodithe allowed a hand to reach out and stroke his brow. Immediately he realized who had walked in.
"Lita?" he sighed. He heard a muffled sob as she tried to stifle it. His heart was wrenched in his chest at the sound. Without any words at all, there was a mutual agreement as he lifted the covers to let her in.
"I can't let her die, Nath." She cried quietly as he ran his hands through her waves of auburn hair, "I think if she died, the both of us would go right along with her." He nodded, knowing her words to be true. She turned her head up, showing him her tear-streaked face, "I have a connection to her Nathaniel, like she's my own little girl. I...I can't explain it, but I know that I have to be there for her, even.... even after this whole campaign is over, I still want to be her nanny."
Nath felt warm tears cascade down his face, "You will...that I promise you. But I won't let Star have you all to herself. Lita...you won't be Star's nanny." He closed his eyes in conclusion, "I'm going to make you her mother."
Lita drew in a sharp breath, all her sorrows disintegrating "You mean..."
"Litara Diacse, I am going to marry you when this is all over. I don't care if you are a maid; to me you are a princess" After he whispered this, he bent, curling his arms around her supple-skinned body, and kissed her lips passionately. She whimpered softly and wrapped her long legs around his, pulling him closer into her body. "Let me love you" he purred, "I've been waiting for you my whole life, let me have you now."
Lita's breathing was labored. She wanted him, wanted to live a life with him, wanted to be a mother to his daughter, wanted to be the Lady of his lands, wanted to please him, wanted to love him. "I give my all to you, Nathaniel Morodithe."
He had already begun to trace a path of kisses down her neck to her collarbone, sucking gently each time. Both of them were crying as he stopped and went to her lips again in a wildly arousing meeting of tongues and teeth. He reached down and pulled her rosy nightgown from her body. Not wanting to be left behind, Lita yanked his silken shirt over his head and forced his trousers.
There was no time to waste as he entered her. She cried out in pain, the tears that had stopped once again starting. Nath murmured to her soothingly. He had taken Celeste's virginity as well and knew that the experience was not an entirely pleasant one. He waited until the pain abated before thrusting into her gently, his smooth strokes building up her pleasure. He kissed her stomach, moving upward over her breasts. He continued until he reached her face once again, ravishing her swollen lips. He was so close.
She bucked her hips against his, her walls squeezing his manhood until he joined her in paradise.
Lying in the afterglow, Lita felt tears prick her eyes. "I can't believe this is happening to me." She breathed in awe, "I'm in love with the most wonderful man in all of Xeralda and I get a daughter in the mix. I don't think I've ever been this happy."
Nathaniel smiled and rolled her onto his chest, then stretched his neck up to lay a sound kiss to her brow, "I love you, Litara Diacse."
"And I love you, Nathaniel. No matter what."
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Mina's blue eyes fluttered open wearily. She groaned, making the person in the chair beside her kneel quickly. A man's voice rumbled her name. "Malachi?" she questioned softly.
She felt the person's hesitation, "Forgive me, my Lady, but the Lord had no choice but to journey on without you after the first two days past and you did not wake. I am Stephen, the man whose child and wife you saved. Lord Malachi made me swear to have at least one person by your side at all times."
"How long has it been now?" she rasped.
"A week since you fell ill, my Lady." He said quietly, "You seemed dead for so long and the Lord did not want to leave your side if word of another attack had not reached him. He swore he would return for you as soon as was humanly possible."
Mina felt sleep weigh heavy on her eyelids again, "I will rest now. If Malachi sends word, tell him..." What? That she had been saddened to find that it was not he beside her when she woke? That she wanted to see him? "...That I am well."
She saw Stephen nod as she went once again into the web of tangled dreams and nightmares that chased themselves in her mind.
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When she next woke, it was to the sound of clattering hooves on the streets outside. She could tell that there were many horses. A voice called the halt. Mina sat up as quickly as she was able, despite the rocking of the room. She went to open the door, just as it burst open.
Instead of the Lord she had expected, there was a man dressed entirely in spiky, coal black battle armor. He bowed to her shocked face mockingly before hauling her bodily over his shoulder.
Mina found her voice and screamed, piercing and loud. The large man carried her out of the house and she saw the body of Stephen Groft and his wife. The child she had helped to bring into the world was crying in its crib. She watched in horror as a soldier walked forward and effectively silenced the child. She was flailing wildly now, tears coursing down her face unchecked. They killed her. They killed the one who was the most innocent of all. She stopped moving and simply sobbed as her captor pulled her onto a horse in front of him and swiftly set off at a gallop.
The horse charged forward, muscles bunching with its pure power and strength. Mina didn't realize she was doing it, but she was yelling into her surroundings, "Malachi! Help me, please! MALACHI!"
A horse's whinny was all the warning they had before a great number of warriors flew out of the woods. Their leader was a silver clad knight waving a brilliant crescent sword. He called for a full out assault right before going into a full drive himself, his dapple gray moving as a blur.
As the two groups collided, she was flung from the saddle, landing in the tall grass amidst stomping hooves. She crawled to her feet, taking up a dropped short sword in her shaking hands. She was no stranger to the tides of battle, having been taught in the art of the sword since she had been old enough to hold one. She surveyed the fight, taking into account the raging fireballs that came mightily from the hands of the silver knight, the great columns of water that sprung up at the black knight's bidding, and the tornados that were careening everywhere from her own power. She was alarmed at this. Wasn't she completely drained? Her powers were acting of their own volition!
At that moment, a straying soldier from the black knight's side took note of her. He ran forward, knowing that they needed this woman for blackmail purposes. Mina turned just in time to see him and her sword came up automatically. His countenance was stunned even as he dropped to his knees, blood pouring from the slash across his chest. Mina was finding it increasingly hard to breathe as her wind wreaked havoc on the field. Her orange gown was blowing fiercely, chilling her as the thin fabric was permeated. She dropped to her hands, the energy being torn from her ruthlessly.
She collapsed as it ceased, eyes wide and tortured. She knew that Malachi had won, for her gifts would have stopped for nothing less. The gentle warmth of a sparking fire brought her focus to the worried face above her.
"M...Mina?" Malachi whispered, fearing the worst, "Mina...are you alright."
She smiled slightly, "I don't think anything's broken or bruised, except maybe my sanity."
He gave a great laugh in relief and grabbed her middle, pulling her into his awaiting arms as he sat down on the grass. He buried his face in her sunny hair and inhaled deeply, "I received word of the attack two days ago. I didn't want to leave you at the village, but I wouldn't risk your injury by moving you. Thyden was attacked. Though the city did not fall, I knew that I had to go. It wasn't until it was almost too late that I learned of the enemies' plot to hold you as a hostage against me." He tilted her chin up to face him, "Never in my life had I been as scared as I was then." He breathed.
Folding her feet beneath her, she systematically began to remove his armor. "Are you at all hurt?" she questioned worriedly, peeling off his chest plate.
He smirked down at her, busy hands working at his outfit. He grasped them in his own and raised them to his lips, kissing their palms softly, gray eyes catching and holding her blue ones. "Besides a sore bum from the crazed ride here, I'm a lot better than I was when I left Thyden."
Mina was becoming increasingly aware of their proximity. She raised a hand to touch his slightly rugged face. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen. She traced the scar that ran down the side of his face to the bottom of his neck. She felt the air catch in his throat. Mina found herself wanting, craving intimacy with him. She followed the path of her fingers with her lips, small kisses that served to comfort, thank, and arouse the man who embraced her. Malachi took matters into his own hands as he drew her face to his, hungrily taking her lips with his, bruising and animal-like. His tongue snaked into her mouth and she groaned.
If one of the Lord's men had not approached and coughed to get their attention, things would almost definitely have progressed from there. Mina broke away from him with an embarrassed squeak and burrowed further into his embrace, her head tucked under his chin, facing away from the interloper.
Malachi didn't even try to hide his annoyance as he snapped at the man, "What?"
"My Lord, we must ride for Thyden immediately, before news of the enemy's defeat reaches his commander's ear." He swallowed nervously.
Malachi sighed in defeat, "Ready my horse. Lady Minalaya will ride with me." He turned back down to said Lady and was surprised to feel the tears that were sinking into his tunic. "Mina, what's wrong?"
Her body quaked as she said, "I just remembered...what happened when they came for me."
Rage coursed through his veins in an instant, "Did they touch you?" he hissed, "Did they pain you in any way?"
"Not in the way you'd expect." She whispered.
His thoughts turned to the sick perversions of the enemy's mind. Had they raped her? Was he really so late? "Did they....... Did they force themselves on you?" He thanked the Gods when she shook her head.
"The family, the man, Stephen, his wife, Adelle, and their child....... all murdered brutally. The babe......" she paused to gather her bearings, "They named their daughter after me. Minalaya is dead."
He hugged her close and pulled her to her feet with him, "No Mina" he said solemnly, "She lives. Her name came from one of the greatest women in all of Xeralda. In you, she lives on."
"Oh Malachi" she sighed.
He lifted her up onto his steed, and then mounted behind her. The journey would be rough, but after what she had seen, Mina was ready for the entire army of bandits and more.
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Endymion approached Serenity's door around midday, rubbing his blood shot eyes in apprehension. Endy knew that he was completely enamored of the young princess of Xeralda and that she in return felt something great for him. How was he to tell her of the news he had received late last night? He ran a nervous hand through his ebony hair and knocked on the gold-inlaid black wood.
She opened the door readily, almost as if she had been waiting behind it. "We must talk." She spouted instantly. He nodded and she allowed him inside. The princess turned to him and at last noticed how awful he seemed. "Goddesses, you look terrible!" she cried.
He smirked bitterly, "Thank you for pointing out that very obvious fact, but I think I'll be alright."
"No, no! Sit down at once!" she ordered, "I'll fetch some tea. Get comfortable. I won't leave this room until you are feeling well again."
Endy waited for the door to close before leaning his head back with a groan. 'Wait until she finds out the reason for my discomfort.' He thought sullenly, 'I think it will tear her apart.'
The night before, he had received a very covertly delivered letter that had no specified writer on the envelope. He was reluctant about opening it at first, but did so anyway, curiosity winning the inner battle. He was shocked to see the letter's scribe was none other than Diamond Soroden, his recently shamed brother. It was a scant few sentences long, but the message it carried was more dire than anything that Endy could ever have imagined.
The click of a lock brought his attention to the present once more. The blond haired nymph had returned with a steaming kettle in her grasp.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts, "You have my gratitude Princess. Forgive me for snapping at you earlier."
She gave him a questioning look for his fine speech, "Your apology is, of course, accepted. I have concern only for your well-being." She hesitated before continuing, "Now I must say something that you may not want to hear." He simply gazed at her, unnerving blue eyes gently assessing her. She took this as a cue to go on. She sat down slowly in the seat directly across from him, "Our...interactions so far have been...more than those of friends. Though your brother is no longer in the running for the kingship, I must continue at my vigil to seat a man on the throne." She paused to glance at him, but his face was unreadable, "What I mean to say is that our...relationship cannot carry on in the manner it has gone."
Now she was silent, waiting for him to say something in return. She was slightly surprised when he rose from his seat and came to rest right beside her, staring deeply into her eyes. "If you want me to leave you alone, then stop me." With that said, he leaned in and kissed her lips sensually, pouring the love that he felt for her from his soul into her heart.
It was Endymion who finally broke away, watching her as she emerged from the haze that his love had created around them. He brushed the hair from her face tenderly and put his forehead against hers. "I will not let some other man simply steal you away from me. Rei's leaving me. I have no one else, but I want you. I love you so much it's killing me, Serenity."
"Does this mean I love you?" she asked in a breathy voice.
"You're the only one who can answer that, I'm afraid, but remember this: never deny your heart the things it desires for you shall only end up destroying yourself." He said.
"We can't be together!" she leapt up and cried, a sudden burst of anger emerging, "You can't be with me!"
"That's why I have a plan, Sere." He sat her down again, "It will be difficult, near impossible, but I know that we can do it together." She nodded mutely, "I am the next in line to become the Count of Maritell Viden. If Diamond relinquishes his rights or dies, the place goes to me, making me eligible for the throne."
"That's crazy!" she exclaimed, "How will we get close to him? No assassin in Xeralda could do the job."
Endymion looked down ay he floor and mumbled, "That's the part that you won't want to hear and the reason for my recent upset." And he prepared to give her the most horrifying news of all...
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When the next few days produced no further improvements in Star's condition, Litara Diacse had enough. Picking up her skirts, she ran from the room where her love was cursing bitterly and towards the royal wing. It was time to talk to Sere.
"Sere!" She called as she shoved the doors open, "Serenity, I need your help desperately!"
She scanned the room and her frantic gaze landed on two people out on the balcony. She gasped.
Standing out there, locked in a passionate embrace was her dear princess and the young Soroden Lord! He held her so tenderly it was breathtaking. Did Lita see tears in the other woman's eyes?
She flew to the closet in Serenity's chamber as they broke apart. Endymion left quickly, was that sadness on his features?
After long moments of hearing her friend sob brokenly, Lita emerged hesitantly. "Sere...?" she whispered. The princess whipped her head around. Lita saw the shock freeze her in place. But the maid made a decision and ran to her, hugging her fiercely. "What happened? Please tell me what's wrong." Serenity just wailed and buried her face in her tall friend's shoulder.
Next in the door was Ami, gasping at the scene before her. She, too, held their friend close, whispering comforts in her ear. Finally, Rei, Jayden, and Nathaniel drifted in beside them, waiting with bated breath as to why the ruler of their entire kingdom was being tormented.
After what seemed like hours, Serenity raised her red, tear-streaked face. Her blue eyes glowed fearfully as she said quietly, "Diamond Soroden marches on Solovine." Everyone's eyes grew wild, "He has the most magically driven army in the known world. The man I have come to love is called to be his General. Endymion leaves at dawn."
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How do you like that twist? I figured the story needed some spice, so I am adding in an entire war. I want to know if you think I should do a lemon for every couple, cause I kinda feel like it makes my story less classy and well written. Please give me answers in the form of e-mails or reviews. Something I really need to know. HAPPY READING AND PLEASE REVIEW!
-Moon Falcon