White Roses and Dark Blood
"Its outrageous! I've never heard such a request in all of my life"
"Nor have I"
"Nor have any of us I would imagine"
"I would have thought you a man with far better sense then to bring such a request before us General Orin. Let a lone condone it, especially from your own nephew" Orin Stonesheild stood in the war room of the army of Mithas, which was mostly dark illuminated only by torchlight. Across from him was a long table and seated at it were his two fellow Generals, the Major, and the Commander General, all in their dark uniforms, weapons near by, all displeased. Orin him self was also in his uniform, black leather lined with thick silver to show his rank, his broad sword strapped to his back. He had known this would most likely be their response. As he had told Marz nothing like this had ever been done before. There were three ways a man could leave the army, in a box, under the lash, or honorable discharge and none of them applied to this. But he had said that he would do all he could and that was exactly what he intended to do.
"With all due respect sirs surely it is not such a hard thing to understand. He wants the best for her and their future family"
"They shall have that and more once he gets his promotion," said the Major, his one good eye glinting in the light of the torches. Orin nodded.
"Yes that's true but what they wont have is he. Do you not see? It's not money that he cares about or a promotion, or a home. What he wants is for Mara to know that at the end of every day he will be coming home to her. He does not want for her to be a widow before she's had a chance to be a wife. He wants his child to have a father, not a vague memory. Knowing that is it really such an outrageous request?" The four Minotaurs fell silent. The Major leaned forward in his seat to rest his arms upon the table, one hand adjusted the patch over his left eye, a nervous tick of his. The two Generals, both about Orin's age, sat with their arms crossed and their eyes upon the table. The Commander General sat squarely up right in his chair, regarding Orin head on, his expression carefully made blank. When he spoke it was in a slow and calm tone that he might have used when addressing a man of a simpler mind then the one that now stood before him.
"Your nephew is a good man General Orin and a brave one. He has served his command and the Emperor well. This request speaks of his good character and his honor, however it is highly unusual and will take much discussion"
"I had thought it would sir and I told my nephew so"
"And while we make our decision there is another matter at hand that must take prominence"
"What matter would that be sir? If I might be permitted to ask"
"You may. Sir Marz Stonesheild and his command are to be sent north tomorrow morning at o-seven hundred to uproot an army of rebels that would see a return to the wars that nearly tore this Empire apart"
"A battle? But sir, Marz is to be wed not but a week from today"
"That is irrelevant"
"Irrelevant? But sir"
"This is an imperial order General Orin and you will relay it to your nephew or face charges of disobeying a direct order, your nephew will spend his wedding day in chains and you along with him. Do I make my self perfectly clear?" Orin straightened and nodded.
"Yes sir"
"Now as I said we shall continue to consider your nephews request. Until then he is still a soldier as are you and you would both do well to remember it. Dismissed General Orin"
"Sir" Orin saluted the four officers, turned on his heel and marched from the war room. Only when he had reached the open air, leaving the palace behind him did he at last allow a sigh to escape his lips. Marz would have his head for this.
* * *
The Temple of Kiri Jolith looked the best it had ever been in years. The grand domed and pillared structure was alive with activity. The gardens were being run over with a fine toothcomb, not a single leaf for bloom was to be out of place. White ribbons and barrelfuls of white roses were being used to decorate the temples interior. Every surface polished till it gleamed in anticipation of summers end. At the head of the temple near the altar stood Kalas, Khurn, Magdar and Darius, ensuring that everything was to theirs and Mara's liking.
"This will most likely be the biggest wedding this temple has ever seen my friends," said Magdar.
"Only the finest for our sister eh Kalas?" Khurn winked at his brother and smiled.
"Naturally"
"Say how does the groom feel about all this? After all he is a follower of Sargonnas is he not?" Kalas nodded.
"Yes that's true but if he does have a problem with it he hasn't said anything about it. Least ways not to me, you Khurn?" the younger Minotaur shook his head.
"Nor to me. Then again since it was Mara's idea I cant see him objecting even if he does have a problem with it" Khurn grinned, the three other minotaur laughed.
"Truer words never spoken my brother"
"What do you think of his plans to leave the army of Mithas Kalas?" asked Darius. Kalas shrugged.
"It's his decision and he has a good reason for making it so I have nothing to say against him"
"Well if you ask me it sounds a little odd"
"Is it so odd that a man wants to live to see his children grow up? And to want to spend the rest of his life peacefully? Coming home every night to a beautiful wife? Personally I don't think it sounds like such a bad idea. I admire the man and even envy him for having the strength of will and spirit to make such a decision" said Magdar, using that leader like voice that they all knew and loved. Darius shrugged.
"Well if I were a man in Marz's position I would know where my duty lay and would die before leaving my command" Magdar side glanced at him.
"There are times when I think you like the aspects of being a soldier just a little too much Darius my friend"
"Anything wrong with that?"
"Possibly" a silence passed between the four and it likely would have remained if not for Khurn.
"Well in any case looks like things are coming together well in here. Lets go find the love birds and see what their up to. Who knows we might even catch them at something" Khurn laughed and dodged a punch that Kalas aimed his way. "Your getting slow brother"
"Come back over here and say that"
"No thank you" Khurn laughed, the others joined him and followed him out of the temple.
* * *
Marz and Mara stood in the shadow of the tall silver birch that grew in the center of the temple gardens, wrapped in one another's embrace. Truly this is heaven there can be no other explanation thought Marz as he continued kissing her. He had never felt love so strongly before. In a weeks time Mara would be his wife and, if all went well with his superiors and his uncle managed to make good on his word, he would be free of the army. Free to live the life of a smith, of a husband, and father. Free of all other responsibility save for those he would have toward her. Nothing mattered anymore except for her and the life they would be sharing together. Their lips parted and he smiled at her.
"I love you Mara" she returned his smile, and placed a hand to his face.
"I love you too my gallant captain" he chuckled and pressed his lips to hers again. She wrapped her arms around him tighter and held him close. He did the same, pressing her body close to his. She felt so soft, so warm; he could feel his body react to her closeness.
"Gods how I wish I could make love to you right here" Marz whispered this in her ear. Mara felt her self blush.
"Do I really light such a fire in you?"
"You do, my beautiful Mara" he kissed her again and she returned it lovingly. When their lips parted again her eyes wandered the gardens.
"Are you sure your alright with this? Getting married in the Temple of Kiri Jolith?"
"Mara it could not matter less to me where we get married. We could be wed in the middle of a garbage lined back ally way and it wouldn't matter to me as long as you and no other were standing next to me. Sargonnas will not fault me for marrying the woman I love in the temple of another god, so long as it was her idea" Mara chuckled and kissed him again.
"Kissing like that and not even married? Shameful! Just shameful!" the two looked up to see Khurn, Kalas and the two others approaching. Marz took his arms from around Mara and straitened up, thanking Sargonnas that his black fur disguised the fact that he was blushing, he scratched the back of his neck. Mara righted her dress and side glanced nervously at her husband to be. Khurn strode up to Marz and elbowed him gently. "I'm kidding of course" Khurn laughed, Marz smiled at him and shook his head, Mara giggled.
"You'll pay for that Khurn," said Marz as he took hold of Mara's hand.
"Oh no! Kalas hide me" the younger Minotaur ducked behind his brother who sighed.
"Knock it off Khurn" Kalas turned to Marz and Mara. "Things seem to be going pretty good here so I was thinking we might head back to the house and get some dinner. That is only if you two don't want to stick around" a smile tugged at Kalas's lips as he said this. Marz scratched at the back of his neck again.
"That sounds like a good idea to me Kalas, what say you my dear?" Mara nodded.
"I agree, there don't seem to be any problems here so no sense in staying. Besides I am a little hungry"
"That settles it then lets go" Kalas turned to face Magdar and Darius. "You two are more then welcome to come along as well if you wish"
"Wouldn't miss it my friend, thank you" said Magdar.
"Same here"
"Alright then and Khurn if you don't…Khurn?" Kalas spun round looking for Khurn who was no longer standing with them.
"Well are the lot of you just going to stand there all day or are we going to eat?" bellowed Khurn from somewhere they could only assume was on the other side of the temple. Marz laughed and after a few minuets the others joined him as they began walking.
* * *
It was nine thirty by the time Orin arrived in Taladas and ten by the time he arrived at the house of his nephews soon to be wife and brothers in law. Standing on the doorstep the General could hear the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses; guilt twisted a tight knot in his stomach and prevented him from knocking.
For a brief moment he considered turning around and heading back to Mithas. He could say that he had been unable to find his nephew, but surly such a thin lie would never stand up to heavy scrutiny. Such a lie would also put his nephew and him self in chains awaiting court marshal. When the options where weighted out it made better sense just to obey orders till a decision was reached. Marz wouldn't like it but he was a smart man, it would not take him long to see the sense in it. This in mind Orin took a breath, raised his right hand and knocked sharply upon the door. It was answered by a dark mahogany minotaur the general recognized from his nephews descriptions, having been busy trying to convince his fellow officers and the Commander General to approve Marz's decision, he had not had the chance yet to meet the family.
"Are you Kalas?" asked Orin. The other Minotaur nodded.
"I am" Orin nodded in turn and offered his hand.
"I am General Orin Stonesheild, Marz's uncle. It is an honor to meet you at last"
"The honor is mine General. Would you care for an ale?"
"I would, thank you" Kalas let go of the general's hand and stepped aside for him to pass.
"Please come in"
"Thank you" Orin walked past Kalas into the warmth of the kitchen where his nephew, Mara, a white minotaur he knew to be the younger brother Khurn, and two other minotaur that he did not recognize at all, both almost as black as Marz and the taller of the two with a blind right eye.
Marz grinned as his eyes settled upon his uncle and strode forward to take one of his hands in both his own.
"Well this is a surprise. Its good to see you uncle"
"And you nephew, and you" the generals eyes shifted to Khurn. "I have heard much about you but I do not believe we have met before now" Khurn stood and offered his hand.
"Indeed we haven't General, I am Khurn. Welcome to our home" Orin nodded and took Khurns hand.
"Thank you"
"I am War Marshal Magdar. It is an honor General Orin. I have heard much of you" he took the generals hand in a warrior's handshake, causing a slight smile to play about Orin's lips.
"And I of you Marshal" Orin turned to the last man, who bowed before offering his hand.
"Darius at your service General" Orin nodded.
"Darius"
"Well now that you've hand your hand shaken off here's that ale I promised General Orin," said Kalas holding out a frothy mug of ale, which the General took gratefully. Orin drank, feeling the eyes of all upon him as well as their happiness, dreading what was to come and hoping it would be avoided for as long as possible.
"What brings you here uncle? The last I heard you had a great deal of business to attend to in Mithas" asked Mars before taking a drink of his own ale. Orin sighed inwardly, no such luck it seemed. He could stall but that would only make what he really needed to say harder to get out. No it might as well be now. Orin nodded stiffly.
"I did, and I do, actually that's the reason I came here today nephew. I have something to tell you but before I do let me first say that this was not my decision, I would not have come here had it been mine, I would not have had the courage" the General looked his nephew head on. "You and the men under your command are ordered to march north at o seven hundred hours tomorrow to confront and uproot a rebel army that has gathered there. I am truly sorry nephew" a heavy silence settled over the room. Marz regarded his uncle with a mixed look of confusion, shock, and disbelief. Mara made a small sound in the back of her throat that sounded almost like a strangled sob as she placed a hand upon her fiancés upper arm and leaned against him. The other four Minotaur in the room didn't move or make any sound at all, their expressions oddly detached and calm. After a while Marz shook his head slowly.
"No uncle, I wont do it. Tell them to find someone else"
"I cannot do that"
"Yes you can!" Marz's voice rattled the windows. "You already know my mind uncle" his voice softened as he turned his eyes to Mara and placed a hand to her cheek. "Mara and I are to be wed a week from today. I wont go, I wont make her my wife only to make her a widow"
"I am afraid that you have no choice nephew"
"That's what you think"
"Its what I know" Orin strode forward to stand between Mara and Marz, pushing Mara gently away with one large hand. "Now you listen to me. Your decision to leave the army has not yet been approved and until it is you are still a soldier and so honor bound to obey orders. This is an Imperial order Marz. If you refuse to carry it out you will force me to arrest you. You will spend your wedding night in chains. If you attempt to flee you will be seen as a traitor and a deserter and it will fall upon me to meet out punishment. It will be my own sword that takes your head at your execution" Orin's voice softened and he placed a hand upon his nephew's shoulder. "Please Marz I beg of you do not force my hand" the black Minotaur found himself unable to look his uncle in the eye, both of his hands clenched. He felt a hand upon his other arm and looked to see Mara smiling at him. She turned her eyes to Orin.
"Could I speak to Marz alone for a little while General?" Orin nodded and removed his hand.
"Of course, take your time" Mara nodded and led Marz away into her old bedroom. Orin watched them go before turning to face the others.
"Do none of you have anything to say about this?" Kalas shrugged and his eyes wandered from his brother to his two friends.
"We are all of us warriors so we understand well enough the importance of following orders. But personally I think this is a cruel thing that you do to Marz and my sister"
"As do I. As I said it was not my decision. I promised Marz that I would help him in any way I could. I put his decision before my fellow officers but it is as I thought. Nothing like this has ever happened before. Such a decision does not make sense to them. But they are still deliberating over it. So there is still a chance that they will agree to it"
"And if they don't?" asked Khurn.
"Then heavens help them because I wont be able to restrain Marz for very long" a light chuckle passed through out all of them and then silence as they waited for Marz and Mara to return.
* * *
For long moments the two said nothing, there was a comfort to be had in silence and neither wanted to let go of it. Marz took hold of Mara's hands and held them gently, still not breaking the silence. Her eyes remained upon their clasped hands as she said.
"We can postpone the wedding. It's a small matter" he held her hands tighter.
"You want me to go?" Mara shook her head slowly.
"No" she looked up and her eyes were full of tears. "But we do not have a choice"
"Yes we do Mara. We can flee to the main land get married there. The reach of the Emperor is not so far"
"Is it not? There would be men sent after us. Every night one of us would have to stay awake to watch the door. We would have to watch over our shoulders constantly. That's not the kind of life I want and I know that's not the life you want either" she let go of his hands only to place her arms around him. She smiled slightly as his own arms moved to hold her tight. "Your uncle is right. Until your decision is approved you're still a soldier and so still subject to the responsibilities, codes, rules and the punishments that come from breaking those rules and codes. I love you Marz and the life I want with you is the one that you have described to me so many times late at night when I have been in your arms" his embrace tightened as he struggled to bite back tears. Another silence passed between them, warmed by their love.
"And you will have it" he leaned away gently to look at her. He lifted a hand to wipe away her tears. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes"
"Do you trust me with your heart?"
"Yes"
"Do you trust me with your life?"
"Yes"
"Then will you trust my word when I say I shall return to you and make you my wife?" she smiled at him and nodded.
"Yes" he kissed her then for what he hoped and prayed would not be the last time. They held each other again for long moments before walking back into the kitchen hand in hand. Marz let go of Mara's hand and walked to stand before his uncle where he snapped to attention and raised his right hand in salute.
"Captain Marz Stonesheild of the Imperial army of Mithas, awaiting your orders General" Orin nodded grimly and set his mug down upon the table before facing his nephew again.
"You are to report to the barracks tomorrow at o seven hundred hours and there receive further orders as to your exact destination"
"Sir!" a smile cut through the Generals serious expression.
"And further more, until o seven hundred, you are ordered to attain a pleasant level of intoxication and enjoy the remainder of this evening. Do I make my self clear?" Marz grinned.
"Yes sir!"
"At ease" Marz did so and held a hand out to his uncle.
"Thank you" Orin took his nephews hand and pulled him in to a lighthearted embrace.
"Your welcome nephew" the dark red Minotaur stepped back, releasing his nephew. "Well I had best be on my way. I'll be at the barracks to see you and your men off nephew"
"My thanks again uncle" Orin nodded and turned to Kalas and offered his hand.
"It was a pleasure meeting you I am sorry it could not have been under happier circumstances"
"You were carrying out orders. Not a one of us here can fault you for that General" replied Kalas as he took Orin's hand. The General nodded and turned to face the others.
"A good night to all of you and hopefully the next we meet it shall be a happier occasion"
"It will be General don't you worry" Khurn smiled, "The next we meet will be at the wedding, right Marz?" the black Minotaur nodded.
"Right"
"Until then" Orin bowed and gave his nephew a final smile before departing. Khurn walked over to where Marz had set his mug, picked it up, refilled it, and placed it in his soon to be brother in law's hand.
"You heard the general, drink up and that's and order"
"Order? Now see here you can't pull rank on me League man"
"Your right but I can pull age on you though. So drink" Marz laughed and raised his mug.
"Yes sir!" all joined Marz in a laugh and drank. It was three hours past midnight by the time Marz and Mara reached their home back in Mithas. Before falling asleep Mara prayed to Kiri Jolith to watch over Marz the next morning when he and his men went on the march and that he would bring Marz back home safely to her.
* * *
The following morn as he and his men marched from the barracks and headed north Marz said similar prayers to Sargonnas. He asked also that he watch over Mara in his absence and keep her safe. He would return, no matter what happened, he would return to her. Nothing in this world or the next would keep him from making Mara his wife.
