Karigan took her new clothes back to the bed and quickly shimmied into the pants, fastening them at her waist without him seeing a bit of skin. She looked up and finally saw how closely he watched her. Smiling with a mix of shyness and want, she turned her back to change shirts. Quickly and with an economy of motion that warred with her nervousness, she slipped out of the large shirt and into the smaller one leaving Zachary with only a moment to see the delicate lines of her spine. He found himself fascinated with the way her waist flared to her hips and how the skin there glowed in the firelight.
As she began to stuff the tails of the shirt into her pants, he suddenly snapped out of his trance. In one long stride her crossed to her side and spun her around. Startled, Karigan clung to his shoulders to stop her twirl. Zachary bent his mouth to hers and kissed her with such depth and passion that their previous moments on the bed seemed pale. As if the magic of this place had somehow opened up so many previously shut doors in her heart, Zachary was overcome with the fear that once they walked through that small cabin door this happy moment would shatter. He poured all of his love and hope into that kiss, praying to any listening god that she would not forget this moment. He broke the kiss to take in her heavy lids over passion filled eyes and parted lips holding back panting breath.
Wanting to stake some claim on her but not knowing how, Zachary dropped to his knees before her. Gently, he slid her shirt tails up just high enough to reveal the scar along her ribs. He felt her silence, breath held back, as he slowly kissed the scar from end to end. Soft kisses, the kind meant to convey love beyond passion, sprinkled the scar along her ribs. Zachary rested his forehead against the soft skin of her belly.
"I want you to know that I love you," he said in a voice hushed with emotion.
Karigan whispered huskily back, "I know."
"I will love you and only you for the rest of my life. I am so deeply sorry that your calling to the Riders has ever hurt you, but I can't be sorry that it brought you to my life. I have never felt so much love... not the way I feel for you." He drew in a shuddering breath. He felt her arms tighten around his shoulders as she pulled him closer, comforting him in the circle of her arms. She pressed kisses to the top of his head as she smoothed her hands over his shoulders in soothing motions.
Slowly, they broke apart and began gathering their things and setting the cabin up for the next occupant. Together, they worked to saddle Condor and pack their bags with new supplies. Zachary had never felt such peace. They were quiet with each other, but gone was the sort of barricade sensation that he had felt between them for so long.
They rode out of the forest heading south towards the crossroads. Though they hardly spoke, Zachary reveled in their easy closeness. Karigan relaxed back into his chest as they rode slowly. They both repeatedly scanned the area for anything out of place, but he still carried the sensation of warmth and love cocooning them together.
Karigan suddenly straightened in the saddle as the call of the out-of-season sparrow warbled through the other sounds of forest chatter. Zachary felt a moment of panic knowing his Weapons were in hiding scattered around the approach to the crossroads. Worry that Karigan would begin reconstructing walls around her heart once they were back with the group assailed him.
As Weapons dressed in the muted tones of peasant clothes began to move out of the cover of the forest, he quickly went in to his "king" role. He took in ever face, looked for wounds, limps, or any hint of injury from the six faces coming towards him. Finding his voice, "Fastion, thank the gods, you all look well. Tell me what happened."
Fastion stepped close the the king's side as he said, "It went quite quickly, sir. There was only ten. After the fight we followed their trail a ways. It seems the attack was a moment of opportunity for them and they were not sent specifically to attack us."
"Injuries?" asked Zachary.
"None worthy of mentioning, sir. A couple scratches here and there that won't likely even scar."
"I'm glad to hear it. Shall we continue onwards then?"
"Gladly, sir." Fastion turned to the others, and, with a gesture, two Weapons flanked Zachary as the others brought forth the horses from their cover.
Regretfully, Zachary dismounted from his perch behind Karigan and accepted the reigns of his own mount from Willis. Trying to be covert, he glanced back at her as she bantered easily with Fastion about their escape. She gave a very edited version of their escape and shelter at the waystation, although the mention of the cabin brought a blush to her cheeks that Fastion didn't notice.
Over the next few uneventful days of travel, Zachary was overjoyed to see that Karigan still seemed so calm and relaxed towards him. She seemed as at peace as he felt. When they were only a half a day's ride from the growing encampment at the D'Yer Wall, she rode up next to his mount and asked to speak with him.
"Of course, Karigan," he said with an easy smile. They spoke only briefly since rejoining the group, but he watched her unabtrusively every moment he could. He saw the soft smiles she would smile to herself in unguarded moments. He saw the blush rise in her face with no outward explaination and knew she dwelled on their time together.
"Zachary," she said quietly, "have you thought of a way to break the engagement with out angering the eastern lords?"
Suprised but pleased that she was thinking about this he said, "Not yet. They are holding this marriage over me with all their might. And I desperately need their support with the state of the Wall, the Second Empire, and Mornhavon all learing in the future. If I am forced to make unpopular or hard decisions on the kingdom's behalf, I will need their backing. But don't worry, love," he added quickly, "I will find a way for us to be together."
"Oh, Zachary," she said looking at him with such a combination of gentleness, love, and sadness. "They are holding you to this marriage like a knife to your throat. And when the time comes for their support to be given, even reluctantly, you can reverse the manuveur and hold it against them. In the years since I've come to the castle and learned more of the nobility, I have found that nothing motivates them as well as a marriage bond." Taking a deep breath she smiled and said, "You have to go through with it."
"What?" His startled exclaimation came out louder than intended and a few of the Weapons glanced reflexsively towards them. "How could you say that? We love each other; we should be together. There has to be away to break the contract and keep them on my side!"
"How?" Her calmness cut through his anger. "What way can you find? I know you. Since the moment you signed this contract you've tried to think of a way out. It's been months now. Where is your solution?" She paused here and smiled that little peaceful smile he had noticed over the last few days. "There isn't a way out for you. Not for either of us, really. We will be married, raise families, but not with each other."
"Karigan, how are you so at peace with this? You are more of a fighter than any I've ever known. How are you giving up?"
"I think because those moments in the waystation brought me more happiness than I'd ever hoped to have since I began to love you. What peace I have is just me, holding that time close to my heart. It's mine and can't ever be taken from me." And now she looked at him fully with all her love in her eyes regardless of those who may be watching or listening, "I will love you and only you for the rest of my life. I hate that the difference in our stations has caused you pain, but I will never be sorry that my service for the Green Riders you brought you to my life. I can never feel as much love for another... not the way I feel for you." And with that, she guided Condor to a run that left him surrounded by his Weapons and she led the way towards the encampment.
Zachary would never forget the pain he felt as he watched from a distance as Karigan and Alton spoke after the king's initial welcome to the settlement at the D'Yer Wall. He tried to keep his king's mask in place as he saw Karigan nod and smile to Alton, but he knew his pain slipped through when he saw Alton's face light up as he swooped and embraced Karigan with enthusiasm. Their kiss was brief, but intimate enough to make Zachary's heart break. He never thought he could feel such a deep and permanent pain.
He was wrong.
King Zachary Hillander attended the wedding of Lord Alton D'Yer to Karigan G'ladheon that took place just a month before his own would to Estora. Many commented on such a distinguished guest:
"Would have thought the King would be too busy getting ready for his own wedding to travel all the way the D'Yer Province."
"I'm just surprised he even came. Who'da thought of a Lord marrying a common girl? Can't believe any of the lords 'n ladies showed up for this."
"Common my arse! Her da's the richest man in the kingdom."
"Aw, I think it's sweet. They were both Green Riders together for the king."
Many more speculations spread through the province, but everyone agreed that there must be something special about this girl for the King and his intended to attend the event.
Inside, King Zachary was trying desperately to find the peace Karigan found. As Alton stood before the assembled just prior to sunset in his white and golden arraignment, Zachary remembered the sight of Karigan's lips after his ardent kisses. When Karigan approached the sun and moon priests in a dress the deep blue of the night sky with it's sprinkling of silver complimenting the flawless silver crescent moon at her throat, Zachary thought of how her skin felt under his fingertips. And when the sun and moon priests bound the couples' hands with gold and silver cords just at sunset, Zachary thought of how her telling him she would love him for the rest of her life made his heart warm.
As he finally found peace settling around him, Karigan G'Ladheon, the women perfectly fashioned for him, became the wife of another.
Please, don't throw anything at my head. This is just the only way I saw this story resolving itself. Now, I will throw a royal snit fit if Alton and Karigan end up together in the book.
I do sincerely hope you have at least enjoyed the story, even if you disagree with the end. It has been my pleasure to write for you all.