It's been quite some time since I updated. Well, this is a must-read chapter. Cuz there'll be the appearance of a special someone...
Love Story
Chapter 35
"Malchior?" Rachel asked.
The man smirked. "Greetings, M'Lady."
"Oh, Malchior, where have you been? Many things had happened!"
"I know," he took a step closer. "King Trigon, your father, was dead. He was murdered by Slade!"
Rachel looked at the ground, her eyes brimming with tears at the mention of her father's death. Malchior lifted her chin up, so that their gaze were locked. "But my Princess, do not worry. Though I have no power to revive the Late King, I have managed to win the Kingdom back."
Rachel gasped. "How?"
"I killed Slade in the war. My allies and I, we have been tracking him down for months, and finally, fate had befall on us. We battled for many gruesome hours. We defeated Slade! Now, I am the King Malchior of Azarath!"
Rachel immediately bowed down with grace. "Long Live King Malchior."
Malchior hurriedly pulled her up gently. "My Princess, I have a gift for you. My men are waiting in the forest. Shall we?" He took her hand in his.
"I beg for your mercy, you highness, but please, I am no princess since Slade conquered my father's land. I would appreciate if you just call me by my name, your highness."
RxR
"Good, we are here."
"Where are your men?" Rachel was getting suspicious.
"I have no idea..." he trailed off.
He began to speak, "Rachel, you are the most beautiful woman that I have met. During the days when I was away, my heart aches so much that I thought I could die. Though the time we have spent together was not enough for me to say this, but still, I feel like I have known you for a very long time, like we were lovers in our past lives."
Rachel's eyes widened as she knew what Malchior was implying. Without hesitation, Malchior went on his knees and took out a ring decorated with diamonds and amethyst, "Will you marry me?"
Rachel kept silent. She looked away, deliberately avoiding his gaze.
Suddenly, a shrill cry broke the silence, "Oh there you are, Rachel."
Rachel and Malchior turned their attention to the disturbance. It was Arella, with Mal Duncun behind her.
"Who are you!" Mal Duncun ran towards Rachel.
Arella saw the position Malchior was in and grabbed Duncun before he could go to Rachel. "Shut up, you!"
Arella turned towards the two flushed adolescents, "Sorry, I see that we were interrupting. We are going back now, please... please continue." She pulled Duncun back into the thickets where they came from.
"But—"
Arella hissed, "Look, that handsome young lad is proposing to Rachel. Can you just leave them alone!"
RxR
Once they were a few meters from them, Duncun stopped. Arella shot him an angry look.
"I think we should hide and observe them," Duncun suggested as he felt Malchior was not a nice man.
Arella misunderstood the purpose of it and agreed, a sly smile forming on her face, "I guess you are right..."
RxR
"King Malchior... I... I just..."
Malchior turned his pale blue eyes on her, and from his brows to his chin, an unsettled wash of hurt crept across his face. "What is it? You think I'm not sincere enough? I have my men behind with gifts for you."
"No, you highness."
"Then what is it? I have gold, I can give you as much as you want. Or you want more servants? I can give mine to you!"
Rachel shook her head. Malchior said, "Or is it land that you want? I have conquered so many kingdoms. I can give them to you. You want to have your own kingdom back? As the king of Azarath, I can give them to you entirely. I have come prepared, Rachel. What is it that you want? Name your price!"
RxR
Meanwhile with Arella and Duncun...
"Oh, he is a king!" Arella squealled.
"Rachel is really very very stupid," she muttered under her breath.
Arella gasped, "He is the new king of Azarath! Oh Heavens!"
Without a second thought, Arella yelled, "Marry him, you silly girl! He can give us what we want!"
RxR
Rachel and Malchior was disturbed by the obnoxious woman again.
Rachel blushed and her hands clenched into fists, "Mother!"
"See, Rachel? Even you mother approves of us!"
"No, I can't. I sorry."
Malchior had seen it coming. All his cards were used, except for the Trump Card.
"Prince Richard is dead."
Rachel gasped. How can this be?
Although Duncun had already knew (he specifically banned this news from spreading in Steel City), he gasped. How can he tell her just like that?
Rachel was too horrified to speak. How can Richard... He promised me. He promised me that he will come back alive. How...? I...
Arella was shocked, but than her mood became even better than before. Finally! That brat is dead! Serves him right.
Malchior spoke softly, "I know that you can't handle this right now, but I promise that I will take care you just like Richard did back then, I promise. Richard may have broken his promises, but I love you too much to break this oath."
Duncun thought, "If you really love her, why did you tell her? Why did you? You know that Princess Rachel will not be able to survive without Prince Richard. You know that she will not be able to take it. Why did you still break her heart up when you claim that you love her!"
Rachel barely heard what Malchior had said. Why? Richard, I thought you loved me? How could you leave me alone? You told me to wait for you, why didn't you wait for me? Do you know that I love you so much that it aches? How could you die without my permission! Do you know how I feel right now? Did you even spare a thought for me? How could you bear to do this to me?
"Rachel..."
"Tell me that this a joke."
"I'm sorry, Rachel, I can't..."
"I thought you loved me," she whispered. Did you know how much my heart ache right now? It is shattering...
Malchior thought that the sentence was directed to him and he replied. "I have always loved you!"
You know what, Richard? I hate you. I HATE YOU! You don't love me, you didn't even love me from the beginning! I must be so stupid to fall for your lie. I hate you!
"Yes."
"What?" Malchior didn't catch it properly.
Rachel looked into his eyes, "Yes. Yes, I will marry you. I hate Richard to the core. He didn't even love me. I fell for it. I totally fell for his lie. I am so stupid, I am a fool!"
Malchior was so overjoyed. He never thought that it was that easy to win her heart. All he could hear was "Yes, I will marry you."
Duncun yelled out in frustration, "WHAT?"
Arella cheered, "Holy! This is the most sensible thing you have ever done. As your mother, I am very, very proud of you."
"Really, Rachel? I... I..." Malchior couldn't stop smiling.
He snapped his fingers and five men appeared from the bushes with boxes of treasures in their hands. "Here, this is my gifts for you, my future-wife."
Duncun literally gagged at the last word. Arella rushed up to accept the dowry, oh goody!
"No! Stop!"
All of their attention were now on the intruder. There was a loud thrashing from deeper in the woods. Then, Victor Stone materialized out of the fog with a pure white horse.
"No, Princess! He—"
"Cyborg?" Malchior squinted. "You are a spy!"
"No, Princess, He was the one who—"
The arrogant king interrupted, "Seize him!"
All his five men went into action. However, with the incredible speed of the white horse, not only did they missed their aims at Victor, but were wounded by him. Suddenly, two arrows scythed out from the darkness. Two men were shot dead. Victor sliced the third man's head off and left a deep cut on Malchior's arm.
"Get here, you two!" Malchior ordered.
The two soldiers scrambled to his side. "What about us?" Arella cried.
"You have Duncun!" Victor roared. "Besides, I won't hurt you."
"Don't you dare talk to me like that!" Arella screamed.
Two more arrows were pulled and all Malchior's men were dead. He was left unguarded.
"Seems like you are alone right now." Victor pointed his sword at Malchior.
"You are to late, traitor!"
"I can slice you into halves right at this instance."
Malchior chuckled. Victor shouted, "Princess, he was the one who killed Prince Richard!"
There was a loud gasp followed by a hollow silence. From the silence, Victor knew already that it was all too late, Rachel had said "yes".
"I told you, you were too late!"
"Shut up!"
"And you are too stupid to think that I only came with five men." He whistled and a dozen of men appeared. "Seize them!"
Once everyone was captured, he pointed to Rachel and Arella, "Lock them up. Make sure they don't escape!"
He pointed to Victor and Duncun, "Imprison them!"
He glared into the darkness, "As for the mysterious spy... search for him! Make sure he does not leave this forest!"
"How could you do this to us!" Arella hissed.
Malchior slapped her squarely on the face. "Shut up, woman! On a second thought, You will receive nothing from me! Not even a small piece of gold! Those dowry shall return to its rightful owner!"
"You're a liar," Rachel spat as the soldiers carried her away.
"Whatever you say, wife."
"Don't ever call me that! I shouldn't have believed you! Richard's still alive and he will save me!"
"Of all the words that I have said, the one where I said that Richard was dead, is true."
"Go to hell!" Rachel cursed.
Malchior laughed, his laughter fading as they were marched further away from the forest.
"You are a liar."
RxR
"Malchior. He's lying, right?"
Victor looked away from Rachel. "I'm sorry."
"No! He can't be dead." Rachel stood up. "He promised..."
Rachel glanced at the sky, beyond the vertical bars the caged her. The moon held high in the velvet night sky. Anger simmered slightly. She clasped the bars tightly, "He will come back."
Victor kept quiet. He hated to admit, but he still kept that slim hope that Richard was still alive somewhere. But even if Richard was still alive, what could he do? Come back, and what? Victor had no doubt that he would be hanged the next day. He looked at Rachel, as for the princess, she could still live if she promised to marry Malchior.
A malicious laugh broke the tranquility. All attention was fixed on the darkness overhead, the source of the laugter. Rachel squinted her eyes, Arella went back to staring at the moon a while later.
A figure stepped out from the shadows. He stretched out his hand and tilted Rachel's chin, "How are you feeling, darling?"
Rachel turned her head defiantly to the side so that the man couldn't get hold of her. "Let me go," she hissed and pronouced each syllabel clearly.
"Well well..." the man snapped his fingers and two guards went forward and unlocked the door.
Rachel's looked at Malchir, wide-eyed. Malchior just smirked. The guards then went in and escorted the princess out of the cage. She attempted to shrugg them off of her, but to no avail. They grasp were too strong. She narrowed her eyes at Malchior.
Malchior laughed, "Well, my soon-to-be wfe needs a proper lodging to stay in. I can't possibly let her pass her nights in this awful prison." He bent low so that their eyes were at the same level and his breath was on her lips, "I hope you do not feel seasick later on."
Rachelhad the urge to give him a big tight slap across his cheeks. How dare he come this close to her!
Malchior flicked his wrist and the men marched her to the dock nearby. He watched her go until she was out of sight.
Malchior took out his sword in a swift movement. Arella instantly went on her knees, "Oh lord, please have mercy! Please do not kill me!"
He laughed, "Oh my! Look at Queen Arella..."
"You will not lay your filthy hands on the Queen nor the Princess," said Duncun protectively.
"Shut the hell up." Malchior hit Duncun of the head with the pommel of his sword with such a great force that he fell down, unconscious.
"I will obviously not kill you, Mother. Unless..."
"Please tell me what I could do! Please, I will try to help you with it."
"Try? What try? You will do it at whatever cost." Malchior threatened his sword at her.
"Yes, yes. I will!"
"You see, I will be engaged in a war for the next few months. I want you to..."
RxR
"Holy! What happened, Babara?"
"Master, while Victor and I were at Steel City, we were ambushed by Malchior and his men, dozen of them." Babara panted as she wiped some blood away from the corner of her lips.
"Where's Victor?" Bruce gazed expectantly at the thickets where Babara came from.
"He's been captured, sir."
RxR
"Go to the docks. My men will be there waiting for you. Once you're there, get up there. The ship shall take you and your daughter away from this wretched place. You shall fufil your oath there. Go now."
"Thank you. Thank you, your Majesty."
Arella walked away from him, relieved that she would not be spending the nights in the wilderness. Malchior warned, "You will not escape, woman. Just a word of caution, I will find you, no matter where you hide. And this time, you will be very, very sorry."
Arella guled and turned back, " I will go to the docks and board the ship just like you commanded. Please be at ease, you Majesty."
Malchior watched her go off and then glared at Victor. "As for you two..."
Victor glared at him, bracing himself for the worst. Richard, please be alive.
"I will dispose of you personally."
RxR
Rachel was at Gotham, attending the funeral.
There lay Dick Grayson, her Robin, as though as asleep, wearing a small sweet smile.
A plain white shroud covered his form. In the soft light, the muscled planes of his torso gleamed a darker gold.
She reached down and touched his face. Oh, how she wanted those beautiful blue eyes to open again; how she wanted those playful fingers to interwine hers again.
"Miss you," she whispered. Tears trickled down her face onto his.
He said, "Wake up, Raven."
No. she didn't want to leave the dream. Deep down inside, she knew that she was not going to see him again, except in dreams.
"Raven, wake up."
She tried to say no, but nothing came out.
She opened her eyes to darkness. A hand covered her mouth. It wasn't her hand. It was strong, and... familiar.
There was it. Ocean blue eyes. His.
A deep voice growled, "Don't be afraid."
She choked out the four words on a sob, as her arms went around his neck: "I. Don't. Do. Fear."
What did Malchior tell Arella? Will Slade and Duncun be saved; or Bruce would be so heartless that he leave them to die? Who's this mysterious intruder? But more importantly, what will happen between him and Rachel? So many questions!
Reminder: Again, there'll be 2 more chapters (excluding the epilogue) left.