Ch.14- Secrets

Brianna looked to the desk. Yomi's bag sat on it. She came over to peer inside. She shouldered it and exited the office. She ascended the stairs to the top of the fort. Once she reached it, she looked to the singed metal flagpole. She pulled out some rope and fed it through some holes. She could barely reach the top even on the edge of the building. She glanced down to see Yomi with the men. She stepped down from the edge pulling one end down. She pulled a Gandarian flag from Yomi's bag. She fed the rope through the first hole in the flag then she knotted the rope to keep the rope in place. She fed the rope through the rest of the holes. On completion she raised the flag and tied it in place. She stepped back on the edge to look look over the battle seen. The trees swayed in the forest below as the sky darkened above. Her power was tremendous. She began to glow brightly. Some of the trees moved out from around the fort into the battlefield. Lightning began to strike other parts of it. A path opened for Yomi's tired army. A raging fire broke out on Mukuro's side, burning soldiers and all the land it touched.

When Brianna's glow began to fade, she felt exhausted. More exhausted than when she escaped. Her eyes shut and refused to open. She felt herself starting to fall forward, but arms grabbed her from behind.

She jerked awake feeling herself falling again. She sat up straight in her bed. She felt her chest. She had summoned the breast plate, but it wasn't there. She looked around frantically. From a dark corner, she heard Yomi's voice.

"Are you looking for this?" he asked. She focused her eyes in the dim light. She could see the glimmer of the breast plate. "One thing you forgot to mention to me in all the things you shared with me was that you found this… Not to mention the fact that you can use it quite well."

"It was only my second time ever." she said taken aback. "I didn't tell anyone about it." He stood up and came closer. She looked into his face as she sat in the bed. He looked upset. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you." she said hoping his demeanor would change. He seemed to get angrier.

"Now where do we stand, Brianna?" he asked. "You have this land back. Everyone saw how strong you are. If they knew about this," he said raising the plate, "some might get nostalgic and push you to reclaim the Domini throne. That's what your father hoped for when he married your mother, when he had children with her. He looked to secure the throne."

"I don't want a throne." she hurried to say getting onto her knees before him on the bed. "I am happy to live under your rule."

"You ordered me to fuck you in front of your brother simply to destroy him." said Yomi. "The mentality that must take! It's not one of someone who is content on being ruled."

"What are you saying?" she asked. There was a long moment of silence between them.

"I think I let this situation cloud my judgment." he stated. "I will be leaving soon… with this!" he said raising the breast plate a little. "You will stay here and prove your loyalty by holding the border. Should I hear of any suspicious activity or should you leave your post, there will be serious consequences!"

"I understand." she said. He started to the doors. "When will you be coming back?" she asked.

"Not anytime in the near future." he replied. "What we had is over, Brianna. If I return, it will strictly be as the ruler of this land." Brianna sat there on the bed stunned and hurt.

"I understand." she said again, but this time her voice cracked. Yomi hesitated at the door wondering if he was doing the right thing. Then he opened it and left. Brianna breath quickened as she felt the overwhelming weight of what just happened hit her. She thought of running after him but didn't see what good it would do. He made up his mind. She went to the window of her room and looked out. She waited there watching until she saw his carriage leave. The tears had been gathering for a while. Finally, she just let it out. She put her back to the wall and slide down until she was sitting on the floor with her head in her hands and knees to her chest. She felt just as trapped now as she did before.

Then she heard soft, but swift footsteps coming to her. She looked up to see Risha rushing to her. The mighty, little woman pulled Brianna to her feet to hold her. Brianna's arms went tightly around Risha. She was truly grateful for her.

"It's okay, sweet girl." she said comfortingly. "As they say, the first cut is the deepest. He is foolish to treat you so."

"I said I understand, but I don't." Brianna cried. "I thought he really cared for me."

"Men have a way of saying things they don't mean." said Risha holding Brianna at arm's length now. "I think deep down he does care. That terrifies him so he found an excuse to push you away. If time doesn't heal the matter, you will move on and find some who accepts you for exactly who you are." Brianna nodded after she wiped her eyes. "For right now, let's plan how to spend Gandarian money on restoring this place. We have a budget and priorities, but you're the governess so you make the plans." Brianna nodded. Risha led her out of the room. In the office they found maps of the fort that had been surveyed by Mukuro's forces. They began to make plans. The work started right away when the workers arrived.

The days turned into weeks and the weeks to months. The restoration of the fort was almost complete. The villagers returned and were living in the restored village. A good number of soldiers were also residing in the fort and village to protect the civilians. Brianna was doing a fine job as a governess of the land despite her recent bouts of illness.

One morning, Risha came into the office to see Brianna pacing behind the desk.

"You will fall through that floor soon if you don't cease and desist." she joked to Brianna, who looked at her filled with concern.

"How late is too late?" asked Brianna out of the blue. Risha wasn't sure what she was talking about, but at least Brianna was still now. There was a long silence between them. "Risha," she said seriously, "I haven't had my cycle in about three months!" Risha's eyes widened in shock.

"Goodness, deary!" she exclaimed softly. "It sounds like you might be with child!"

"Clearly!" replied Brianna. "What do I do?" Risha came over and sat her down at the desk. She grabbed a piece of parchment and put it in front of Brianna.

"You write Lord Yomi." said Risha. "He needs to know."

"I can't just write him that I'm pregnant!" she said. "He's blind! Someone will read this for him!"

"It's sweet of you to wish to spare him the embarrassment, but he needs to know." said Risha. Brianna looked at her unsure as she walked out. "I'll leave you to it."

So, Brianna wrote Yomi numerous letters over the next two months. Somethings two, three times a week. She refused to take Risha's advice and outright tell him her condition. She used the restoration as an excuse. Another time was to request more soldiers. Each letter asking for advice or aid as if she needed to be overseen by him so perhaps, he would come. None of her letters received a reply nor did Yomi come.

Her condition was getting harder to hide. She began to isolate herself. She feared the judgment of those around her. The only one who knew was Risha, who encouraged her to not feel ashamed. One morning at dawn's first light, Brianna was rushing to get herself some water.

"Finally, down from your tower I see." came a familiar voice causing her to jump. Her back was still turned to Dominic.

"I always fetch my water early." she replied. She heard him chuckle.

"Does running this place keep you that busy?" he asked. "Nobody really sees you much lately." She could hear him coming closer. "Val has been wanting to invite you to dinner since she and Senju have their house in order." She turned to the left as he came around her right side.

"I haven't been feeling well lately." she said as she grabbed her bucket. She used it to hide her bump from the side. "Once I feel better, perhaps..."

"Well, here let take-" he said coming over swiftly to try to take the bucket out of her grasp. She tried to jump back. The water ended up spilling on both of them as the bucket dropped to the ground. Dominic looked at where the water had spilled on Brianna. His mouth dropped. "Brianna!" he exclaimed softly. "You're with child?!" She looked mortified.

"Please don't tell anyone!" she begged. "Please, Dominic!"

"Lord Yomi is the father?" asked Dominic. Brianna looked into his eyes pleadingly. "Where is he?" Brianna looked down to the ground ashamed.

"Gandara." she replied. "I presume. We haven't spoken since he left after the battle." Dominic looked applauded. Brianna looked to him again.

"That bastard had the nerve to steal you from me, rub it in my face then leave you alone with child?" he asked.

"Please don't tell anyone!" she begged again. He took her hands in his.

"Not a word about him." he said. "I'll claim the child." She looked him in the face in disbelief.

"What?" she asked after a moment.

"I'll say it happened the night before the wedding." he explained. "I'll say we were both too drunk to know when to stop and you got scared so that's really why you called the wedding off."

"Do you think people will believe it?" she asked still shocked by his response. He nodded.

"I have always loved you, Brianna, and I always will." he stated. "I will take care of you and the baby." In this moment, she felt so moved by his word she pulled her hands from his to wrap her arms around his neck. Her lips met his. His arms went around her. After a few tender kisses, they just stayed in an embrace.

"I love you too, Dominic." she whispered.