Chapter 15- Backed into a Corner

Thom held Emilie's left hand aloft to allow the diamonds to capture the soft morning light. It amused him greatly that his life had changed in his first whole year at court as a black mage but more importantly as a man. He smiled as he remembered the first time the way that Emilie waltzed into his rooms as if they hadn't seen each other for eight years.

There is so much that I don't know about her. Thom thought as he gazed upon Emilie's sleeping form, so many questions I will have to ask…but I am willing to learn. Her breathing soothed Thom from the panic which was building inside him at the idea of having his future sealed already. I'll make mistakes but at least I know that I have the woman I love beside me to pick me up when I fall.

He knew that he sounded like those romantic fools that he use to snigger and mock but that was when he was jaded from his first encounter of love. As he replaced Emilie's hand on his upper part of his chest, he felt normal and at peace.

He knew that he wasn't anything compared with his mother and her temper, or excitingly interesting when father appeared into a room, his siblings could probably beat him in having wild, crazy adventure but he was never fascinated with being something but happy just to be.

Maybe I will bore Emilie he pondered this considerable with a heavy frown on his face until a voice broke his concentration.

"Thinking often hurts."

He gave Emilie a half-smile as he wasn't fully confident in himself and in seconds Emilie was sitting up, alert and cupping Thom's chine, swivelling his big violets on her. "What's the matter?"

"Will I make you happy?" Thom asked hesitantly leaning into to stare directly into her eyes.

After a slight pause Emilie stated, "Nothing in this life is certain Thom, you know that" Thom nodded feeling uneasy, "but I have complete faith that you will make my life blissful because I will be at your side. Do you understand?"

Thom contemplated Emilie's answer. "I think so."

Emilie took a deep breath and dropped her court mask and Thom saw a young, vulnerable woman sitting next to him. "The one thing I am most scared of is the loneliness of the future and its uncertainty …I know all of us get frighten once in a while, but I have this thing that constantly question me…it makes me petrified and at times I freeze…remember that night at the Priestess dinner, walking back? That is what happens to me…it is foolish…." Emilie started to cry, it was so unexpected to Thom that he didn't know what to do.

Comfort her, said his inner head.

"No its not", Thom interrupted as he hugged her while a few tears fell onto his shirt, "I'm so glad that you told me this…makes me feel better at my own worry thoughts."

"Glad I could help", hiccupped Emilie as she pulled away. "I love you to much for worry lines to start appearing…and it's not fashionable."

"Oh, are you going to trade me in for a better mount?", Thom teased as he searched to tickle her sides.

"Never! I love with your wrinkly face anyway", she replied through fits of giggles.

Thom scowled before, leaning in and kissing her on the mouth. "Good morning to you too."

Emilie laughed and squealed as Thom started tickling her.

The future is definitely looking rosy Thom thought smugly as he finally manage to wrestle Emilie's arms above her head and took his sweet time showing his affection.

"We need to go to breakfast", Emilie gasped as Thom nibbled her earlobe and totally ignored the words, "before you compromise my modesty."

Thom stopped and reddened considerable as guilt flooded his face. He pulled back and scrambled off of Emilie's bed with lightening speed and began to straighten his clothes with a little bit of magic.

He felt ashamed at his lack of self control on his emotions. He had promised Emilie whole heartedly that he was happy to wait until they were properly married before making love to her. Although he secretly wished that the day would hurry up because it was beginning to be slightly difficult in holding back. Thom realised that Emilie would probably not know what a smile in his direction or the certain way her eyes changed into fathom green which bewitched to the extent he forgot everything. Thom sighed aloud at his frustration and combed his hands through his knotted locks untidily.

"Must be hard waiting", stated Emilie from her bed with her assessing look on her beautiful face.

"Yes", Thom uttered before thinking.

"I'm sorry", mumbled Emilie as she got up and revealed a very loose nightgown hanging off her shoulder. Thom eyes lingered slightly below until his brain realised she was apologising for something.

"For what?"

"Never mind", she waved his advances off as she headed for the bathroom, "must be a man thing to be completely absorbed at looking at his fiancée as a piece of meat when she is asking for forgiveness at making him wait."

"Hmm", Thom eyes trailed the movement of Emilie's hips from the behind before looking into a very bemused Emilie at the door of the rest room.

"Thom."

"Yes love."

"Go for a cold shower." With that she flung him an impish smile over her shoulder closing the door.

Women are evil Thom grumbled into his mind as he said a spell which instantaneous sent him to his own room.

It was clear to her that she needed her plan to take action as soon as possible. Watching the happy couple, striding across the ground in the early morning, laughing was too sickening, particularly when Thom held Emilie so tightly against him as if she would run away.

Nataila brooded from her window ledge and contemplated what was taking her partner so long to communicate with her …if a letter did not arrive soon then she would be forced to do something rash.

She mentally pictured, grabbing Lady Emilie's throat over a cliff edge and having her scream for mercy, denouncing Thom in every way before Nataila's hand would slip off and hear the fine court lady wail until she heard a thud.

The anger was barely contained when Nataila had arrived to find that Thom had announced his engagement to a court lady. Emilie Queenscove was supposed to be a nuisance not an obstacle in the plan. She had seen them smiling at one another when the whole hall congratulated them and felt ill when Thom leaned in for a passionate embrace. Everyone had cheered except for her.

She knew that Thom was not overjoyed at her appearance especially at that moment. She noted that he subconsciously pulled that witch closer to his side as if she was in danger.

When I'm done here, I might have a little fun with Lady Emilie she thought smugly as she eyed her dagger with interest. Firstly it's business.

Nataila could not believe that Thom had dropped her for that thing…a hussy…a whore…someone insignificant; when she had given him everything, then one day he was gone…no word… nothing.

It is payback time Thom.

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Ok, ok I can already hear the cries of it being too short but the fact is I have seven essays to do before the 12th of December all 3000 words so I will have to change the structure slightly. But hopefully (for me) this story will be rounded up in the next two chapters! (hurray for me again) HOWEVER this does not mean that you stop reviewing…my dears it is your wonderful sassy (love that word!) comments which moves my backside into gear! Thank you for reading.