Here is another chapter…
Now my nerves were frayed to the quick. In my building anxiety, I constructed elaborate rationalizations for why everything would turn out alright, but still, the nagging voice in the back of my mind spoke of nothing but doom ahead.
The witches are gathered around me, their words unknown to me, to most.
I am just to sit here, that was my task as their voices tuned to each other, their words overlapping the one next to them. Colors flashed but none lingered for too long and this not knowing was driving me closer to madness. My body was dripping sweat for no reason but their intensive chanting causing my body to shake and shutter so often.
Their words tumbled from lips like little pebbles onto the sand. They dropped too fast for you to catch them and landed softly in their lap where their left hand clasped their right. Each word seemed to flow seamlessly into the next and was spoken so softly that it caressed the ears without transferring any meaning. But it felt like my insides are burning, being moved around but no real pain just the strain was taking hold of me.
Like a flame being snuffed out, their voices cut off and the immense relief washed over me. Theo's mother struggled to her feet giving me a loathing look, "Pure of the body that is sure, never has he touched another in those ways. Pure of mind and soul are a very dark subject, death you are the one created for death, to harness, to bring forth, to bring to those close to you. You have done great deeds and done most horrible deeds, you will be judged," I would be, and when that day happens my soul was doomed, but I would take our father's judgment with grace.
I offered, "But I am pure of body and can marry our Princess,"
Her Grandmother grunted in anger it seemed, "I wish it otherwise, Commander. You're not the man we saw her marrying your hate and anger lead you to another path. My granddaughter, she should have more, and you know this deep down. But you are a selfish creature and will doom her," she spat at me, I should turn back and leave her to find another. But none are worth her, not a human nor Gargoyle was worth her, and she spoke my name choosing me to be her husband.
Barachel and Levi brace my shoulders as if I could attack her, or even would. "I am selfish,"
When the doors started to slam, my heart dropped even though it was only my mother it was her entrance that worried me. Thea cocked her head, "My old friend, you know better. You deep down know better, but tell him,"
"I do know, but he is my son. And I love him above even the Queen and our father Michael. My son, Princess Shaylee has left heading to Perth, seems your father and brother have made contact with our ally, he asked for her and only her,"
White knuckles from clenching my fist too hard, and gritted teeth from the effort to remain silent, my hunched form exuded an animosity that was like acid - burning, slicing, potent. My face was red with suppressed rage, and when Gale even set a finger on my sweat covered shoulder, I swung around in anger. "Barachel and Levi, go. Find her and escort her home,"
They left without words as Thea spoke before the door shut behind her, "The Queen and her daughter will be most angry with you acting as if you rule, this might be the last time. I am going to try to convince the Queen to halt this marriage, you fill it with death, anger, and possessiveness,"
I pray the Queen does not, but for now Gale brings me food as I can not leave. The witches still sit around me, looking at me at times mumbling. "Love", "Dedication,", "Devotion", and "Death," each, in turn, talk to the Queen, and I pray they tell her that I did love her daughter, more than my own life and that of even her, the Queen.
Gale speaks, "Gideon, the time has come. You must stop this, you act before thinking you have no power to issue certain orders. Princess Shaylee is going to be very angry and might change her mind,"
"I know, I know. But hearing that she left, no matter who or how many are with her, she is in grave danger out there. The Dark Prince desires her she does not remember him coming to take her so long ago. Now I am stuck here with these hags while she is in danger, every time she leaves something bad happens to her," the words pouring out in desperation all he can do is nod.
"But she has grown, in power and determination and you can't treat her like those humans treat their woman. For us women are supreme, we take our orders from the Queen and not the King, we are above such petty matters concerning sex,"
My mother held a wooden platter towards me. There was a piece of warm bread with a slab of melting yellow butter and a thick, hearty slice of roasted pork. Right now, I felt no need for pretentious manners and grabbed the pork, ripping a chunk off with my teeth. I was worried, these next few hours would either pass as a blip in the course of our life, or they would be the final trauma that broke me.
My two friends, her mother's guards have returned hours ago waiting with me. The Queen herself came and gave us all a tongue lashing we understood this was our last chance, my last. Both now more scared of her wrath than my own, that on its own made me smile. "I am sorry, I was wrong for sending you to drag her home. I seem to always be mistaken on what she will allow to happen," my mother was humming while she was shinning my armor for tomorrow. In twenty-four hours we could be allowed to see the other, I hated being here knowing she was out there not as protected as she would be with me with her.
I have long since drowned out their chanting, but nothing could drown out the sound of the doors bursting open. My father stood his chest heaving his armor was covered in blood, our blood by the glowing blue. I don't think my body reacts seeing this, I towered over most and all backed down.
"Where is Princess Shaylee?" my father, his stern face crumpled this alone sent my panic into overdrive.
So strained and defeated his voice rang clear, "Brice has turned on us all, he joined the Dark Prince in his anger. He attacked Princess Shaylee, she was able to kill many, she fought him alone, but we had to flee with our numbers low. She was hurt, but she will be fine my son. I am sorry, sorry I didn't protect our Princess, my daughter," he went on one knee in apology.
"Stand, we need a guard back to Perth, make sure none have turned with him. Even if that means you will not be here at my wedding," I say.
Thea snarled, "We will go as well, our magic can protect him and gain truth from your clan," I wanted him at my wedding, but this was far more important.
Not but an hour later with my temper growing tired and shorter, Keziah walked in her face set in a frown. "Hand thy top over to me, our Princess is unwell, and this might help," if it could help it was her's, I pulled it off leaving my chest bare she rushed off with it. The witch in her craved me, her mate and us being apart was harder on her and with everything I was it took every ounce of willpower to not go to her.
They say once you have mastered being alone, you are ready for the company of others, that doesn't make it easy though. When everyone's life journey separated from my own, when the only heart beating in this room belonged to me, it wasn't something most could take. I guess the good news is that in time, after many unpleasant days of chanting and missing her, I am okay. Then you find joy again, or maybe it finds you. After that, your journey can change, take on new and exciting adventures...
I was starting mine in a mere few hours, it was half past midnight, I should be sleeping but I sit here watching the sky. I don't make a move when the door opens with no low groan, waiting for them to speak but it shocked me to hear the Queen. "Gideon, you should be resting,"
"How can I? She left and was hurt, my brother turned on us and I was not there to protect her as I should have been. I am failing her already,"
Her slender body just moves to the lounge chair, she rests but her voice is awake. "All this will be handled, you will bring me his head for his actions. But for now, your wedding is most important and if you and Shaylee both look so ill it will not be much of a joyous occasion now will it,"
Her words soft, but they caught me. "Princess Shaylee is still un-well?" my body up and moving to the Queen to look at her face in the light.
"Yes, it hurts her to be far from you right now. It had before but her sharing your chambers for these last few weeks have made it better for her. Oh yes, my dear friend, I knew and said nothing. For she means everything, everything else comes after my daughter. You know it was not always this way, this rule was created by my grandmother in hopes my mother would flee and marry another instead of my father," she was right, but her face was telling me all I needed to know as I walked from the room heading to the North bend tower, to her.
Other than the darkness and myself all that seemed to exist was the chilly wind that's harsh bite could be felt on my bare chest. I could feel the hairs on my arm raised and the bite of the wind had left its mark in the form of small bumps that were tingling on my arms, but its bite was more than flesh deep. Now my blood ran cold through my veins and my bones were chilled. The flames of my torch may have looked as though they burned warm, but their heat did not reach my skin.
I can not be seen, the door was only feet in front of me when Ophir himself stepped from the shadows. "Hello Commander Gideon, are you out for a nighttime stroll?"
Being caught was not what I had been planning, "No, I was going to sneak in and see Shaylee. I can not take knowing she is ill, I just need to hold her until she finally sleeps," I hated this but if I had to plead and beg, so be it she was worth it.
He moved to the side with ease, I gave him a look. "Go in, she means more to me than these blasted rules. But not too long if Keziah happens to return, I will knock to alert you to jump from the window," he was a good man as I walked past clasping his shoulder. "Thank you, Ophir,"
The room was so dark, but she seemed to glow, her hair shimmered as I fell in waves on the armchair. Like magnets, I move to her. "My Princess," she stirs staring at me in the darkness. Like rocks in an ocean, I drop to my knees in front of her my hands taking her waist pulling her to me, the feeling was everything. Having her pressed into me was safe, it was I who should make her feel safe not her making my weak self-feel safe.
I whisper, "The rules don't matter, I needed to see you," even when the tone was harsh, never one to break our rules but I would time and time again. Shaylee needed sleep gathering her fragile form in my strong arms I take her to the lone bed, it was warm, unlike this chamber. Together we lay, bodies pressed together while my fingers trail over the creamy pale skin of her arm moving to her neck, last was her silky hair. "Sleep my love, my Princess. Tomorrow you will be my wife, and myself your husband," she was sleeping soundly nearly right after, I wanted more time but this was all I was going to have and for now, it was enough.
I whisper, "Never doubt my love, for you no rule matters, no life comes before yours. Anything you ask will be done," a slight knock was heard as I scattered to the open window, I leaped hearing the door opening. I escaped back into my groom chamber seeing the Queen still waiting a smile graced her face.
I offered a smile, "She is now sleeping and Keziah never saw me, I jumped from the window. Ophir, bless him let me in. He must have known that I might try and see her,"
She stood, "He did, Theo snuck in to see me before our wedding. Such a night we had," a blushed covered her pale face as I chuckled. "I will try and make you both proud of me, to be worthy to be her husband,"
She patted my face before leaving me alone once again, but this time sleep came fast. My last thought was gaining momentum, our wedding night.