Thought/Flashback/Dream

Chapter 31

"Shhh." He didn't want to hear her sad, broken voice. Elmont wrapped his arms around her waist. Without hesitation Elissa reached her arms around his neck, burying her face into the crook of it and letting out the last of her hot, salty tears.

He wanted to know why she was crying. He wanted to help her, to ease her pain and suffering. He was about to speak when she tightened her hold on him, body shaking.

In the heat of the moment, he only knew one thing that might help ease her from her worries and calm her down. Slowly, he pulled away and he found a confused look in her beautiful grey eyes, it drew him in and he kissed her.

He kissed her soft and he kissed her slow, her lips were warm like the heat of the sun upon his skin in the long days, her skin soft beneath his fingers felt like coming home, felt like light and was done with darkness, he needed her more than anything in the world, he needed her love.

She loved him, Elmont knew by the way she respond to his kiss and touch. When he slid an arm around her, he felt her trembling against him, a sharp gasp left her. He ran his hand down the side of Elissa's face, wishing he didn't have armour on, and she pressed her cheek to his hand briefly.

"Elmont…"

"Don't talk, my love." He leaned closer to her, and she knew instantly he wanted to kiss her again, and she would let him, she couldn't resist it. It wasn't a deep, passionate kiss, it was soft and gentle and loving and entirely too brief. Then he step back and he lifted her hand to his lips, kissing it lightly on the knuckles before turning it over to place a warm kiss on her palm. He hesitated a moment, staring into her eyes. "I love you."

She pulled her hand from his.

"Elmont, please…"

"I have to say it, one last time. I love you." Her eyes were pleading with him to stop. He nodded. "I will leave you… Princess" Her heart pounded as she watched him leave the room, Elmont was hoping that she would plead him to stay but nothing left her mouth, he already had said more than he should had, but she didn't plead, she didn't say his name, and the door closed firmly behind him, and a sense of lost and loneliness filled him.

He had to give her the space she wanted and needed, he had to let her go.

It had been a week since Elissa and Elmont had talked about them, in her opinion they hadn't actually talked, she didn't talk much and it had been Elmont to say everything he had felt and felt about what had happened between them and what was happening.

Elissa refused to let her emotions rule her but it was happening and she felt powerless.

"Higher!" she raised her sword higher and Elmont's swords hit her hard making her stumble. Elmont didn't wait and attacked her, he almost smile when Elissa spin and dodged his attack.

She was improving...

Their relationship had improved but Elissa keep pushing him away and he didn't press her, he wanted to be patience but he knew time wasn't something they had, Elissa was marrying Roderick in the next week and he didn't know what could change her mind.

It was disconcerting, this self-imposed dilemma she found herself in. All of this heartbreak and pain that she was feeling, all this distrust and insecurity…most of it was due to Roderick and her actions. Yet, she wanted to seek comfort and some respite from all those feelings…with him, with Elmont. She knew she couldn't and shouldn't but she had done it in that night and she was willing to admit that what had happened was something she wanted to happen because she missed him, and she wanted to feel him close again, feel the security of being in his arms, even if it was just for one night...

When he was standing in front of her, his eyes pleading with her, Elissa had realized that not only she wanted to bring comfort to herself, she wanted to give it to him as well.

The hard part was figuring out what came next, and dealing with the consequences. Elissa looked at him, looked at his eyes as he came to her, deciding what she was going to do. She would talk to him. She would tell him everything. But first she had to deal with Roderick.

The rain smashed angrily against the solid window and the wind was howling, Elissa signed and closed her eyes, a candle lighted the room and footsteps could be heard outside the door, then Isabelle groaned and rested her head in the table before her.

"Why are we even here?" she asked, her voice muffled. Elissa signed again, she looked like a little girl who couldn't sit still.

"We've been through this Isabelle and I have no intention to tell you again," Elissa said as she began reading.

"And I don't understand what we are doing... No, what are you doing?"

"Shh… I'm reading" Isabelle groaned and got up from where she sit, and began to look at the bookshelves filled with old books.

Elissa had been in the library for a long time and Isabelle was bored, she didn't even knew what she was reading.

"Princess you should sit" Elmont whispered to Isabelle and she jumped, startled. He was beside her... Elissa looked at them annoyed but Elmont saw amusement hidden in her eyes. "I beg your pardon"

"Freely granted..." Elissa whispered, for a moment their eyes kept locked in each other.

"I'm bored," Elmont signed and when he looked at Edwin, he saw the tired eyes of the young guard, he approached him.

"Go find rest some Edwin"

"I'm alright, sir"

"Do as I say"

"Thank you"

The guard bowed and left the room, when he turned to looked at Isabelle and approached her, she was looking intently at Elissa.

"What do you think she's reading?" she whispered and he smile.

"It's not my place to tell…"

"I'm here, you know Isabelle? You could ask me"

"You wouldn't answer… Elmont, please" He shook his head.

"I can assure you that's something you don't find any interest in"

"You can't know that…"

"He's right. And Elmont knows you, far more than you think."

"No one tells me anything" She said frustrated "And why did Edwin leave?"

"Isabelle, you are acting like a child. Behave yourself" Elissa smirked and Isabelle groan.

"I told him to rest, he needs it."

"And you don't?" Elissa asked, a frown was placed in her face. Elmont smile softly seeing in her worry.

"I'm very well Princess, I can guarantee."

"Elmont you must stop pushing yourself to hard. There are people who need you…"

I need you.

She longed for him, to feel his arms around her.

"You're different Elissa"

"Excuse me?"

"You're different. But don't you think, Princess that it's to late to change..."

"No, I can't think that for my sake... and yours..." Elissa whispered the last part but he heard. Elmont looked at her but her eyes were locked in the table.

"Hope… Something the simple peasant lives his day by and something no one can afford to lose. And you hoping, as do I, that tomorrow may rise as a different day, a day full of joy and happiness" His voice, that beautiful, gentle, calming voice was talking now. Elissa looked at him and saw the smile in his eyes, the gentle and loving smile in his face. Isabelle looked at him and then looked at Elissa, but she didn't say anything. "Here…" Elmont took a book from the book shelve and handed to Isabelle "I'm sure you will like this one" Isabelle smile and opened the book.

"Fee-fi-fo-fum

Ask not whence the thunder comes.

Ask not where the herds have gone.

Nor why the birds have ceased their song.

When coming home, don't take too long.

For monsters roam in Albion."

Elissa looked at Isabelle and shook her head.

"You had to give her that special book, didn't you Captain?" He smile to her. Elissa's eyes widen, upon realizing she had found something. "Ah…" Elissa got up from where she sit and began rooming through the bookshelves. "You should see something Isabelle; I acquired this book one day in the market… It's about Eric, the great but in this story there's something different…"

"Something different?" asked Elmont curious, Elissa looked at him but from where she stood she hardly could see him.

"Yes. Tells a story about a druid king and how he created the giant race" Elissa found "here…" she opened the book and put it on the table.

"Back when man and earth were one

When peaceful tribes rule Albion

Before there was a word for war

It was born a child who wanted more"

"Eric?" Isabelle asked shocked.

"No… No, you have to listen until the end"

"This angry, wretched thing

Could find no rest until he be King

And if no man would follow him

In his ranks no man would be"

"What do you mean? what did he do?"

"Hush now Isabelle… You should listen first.

The druids packed, with earth he break

and use her gifts for evil's sake

When salt and iron, straw and mud

Forbidden incantations, blood and hate

without a reason why

when mixed with fire and sky

born to serve the crown with no choice but to obey

and so this angry, wretched thing,

declared himself the druid king."

"a stretch of land from earth was torn

a kingdom in the sky was born

from here, beyond the reach of man

the plague of giant descend"

"They acquired a taste for acquiring things.

But the one taste that caused them to lose all control

Was a taste for the mankind blood, bones and all."

"And on this went, until comes a lad

who most thought simple, if not quite mad

no different was Erik, no fool was he

he hatched a plan to set men free"

"To Gantua he stole away

to make the wretched druid king pay

he found the king and stole his crown

the Erik the great let his people back down"

"mankind in earth were no longer one

the craft of the druids forever was gone

the druid's king's relics were all that remained

and king Erik destroyed them..."

"...or so people say," Isabelle whispered

"Or so people say"

"But jealous eyes are looking down

on peaceful fields in Albion

an enemy vowed that will come a day

when giants returns and giants stay

to avenge a thousand years old sin

and eat the last of Erik kin"

"So, all the stories mother told, what I always heard was wrong?

"No, I'm not saying that. It's a fact that the story we always heard is so much alike, don't you think Elmont? I mean you heard the story but according with this story, everything begun with Erik the great."

"I'm not following Elissa"

"The Kingdom. Peace, war… Everything changed with him. Maybe some facts are true in this story… discarding the giants and…"

"Why can giants be real?"

"Because no one ever saw one. I never saw one."

"But that doesn't mean they don't exist. If you believe some part of this story is true, why can the giants be? And that doesn't mean they don't exist." Elissa looked at her sister and smile.

"You're completely right, they could be real and according with the stories they would be in Gantua"

"Anyway, there's nothing you two can do about it" Elmont said softly "And it's late"

"Father" Elissa said, startled to see him standing in the doorway of the library.

"Hello Elissa" he said quietly, his eyes softening as he looked at her. He walked over to her and gave her an enormous hug, squeezing her tightly. "Why do you seem so sad, my child?"

"I'm not, father…"

"You can't fool me. I may had tried to deny it, I'm not proud of it, but I did tried…"

"You have a kingdom to rule, your daughter seems the less problem to solve" Elissa said, smiling softly. She sat and looked at the book before her.

"Nothing should be more important than the ones you love. But anyway it seems you have some things to talk to me" Elissa laughed, and shook her head.

"Are you ready father? I will tell you my darker secrets" The King smile and sat before her.

"So, tell me these dark secrets…"

"Where should I begin?"

"From the start of course. Where's Isabelle?"

"She was tired, so she gone to her bedchambers,"

"And why are you alone in here? Shouldn't someone be guarding you?"

"Well… I asked Elmont to escort Isabelle to her room and command him to seek a little rest"

"Did he listen to you?"

"I not sure… We should know in a few moments, don't you think father?" The King chuckle

"Without a doubt." The king looked at his daughter "Sometimes Elmont worries me…"

"Why is that Father?"

"Something happened to him…"

"What do you mean Father?"

"I already suffered for a woman; I know how it feels to lose some part of you to another, the pain in been torn apart and feel like we lost hope…

"You suffered for Mother?" The king smile.

"She was a stubborn woman. I loved her very much, and after so many years without her I still do, my child. And she did make me suffer, I though she loved to play with my heart…"

"What happen?"

"Everything happen when I meet her, she was stunning in her blue dress. I introduce myself…"

"But of course, she already knew who you were"

"She knew… she had seen me in the castle, along with my family. In that afternoon, she left me without giving me her name…" Elissa smile "And I didn't give up, everything in her made me interested."

"You ended up marrying her…"

"And she gave me two wonderful daughters, but it wasn't easy. She was engaged to someone else, and how couldn't? She was beautiful and when I discovered, it crushed my heart. It was in that moment that I realized I had fallen for her…"

"Then how father?" He smile softly

"I kidnapped her in her wedding day" Elissa's eyes widen "I almost regret that decision when she started to scream at me, telling me what a fool I was… But everything worked out" Elissa laughed.

"I can't believe you kidnapped mother just to make sure she didn't marry anyone but you."

"I wanted to know what she felt for me"

"Why couldn't you asked her?"

"She avoided me, most of the time. Later she said she had been afraid to lose her reason, to show me what she felt for me and disrespect her fiancée as well as her father"

"I'm glad everything worked out "

"So do I, my child… Elmont tries to conceal it but he can't, in the end he is different of me, he has a determination I didn't have.

"But you married mother"

"I did but I waited too much" Her father caressed her hand and smile softly "You and Isabelle have so much from her, Isabelle has her appearance and you her spirit…" Elissa looked away, she loved Elmont, she didn't want to marry Roderick. She was afraid of losing him forever. "What's in your mind, Child?"

"You already know the answer father." The King nodded.

"Your marriage… Don't worry"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"We've been through this Elissa, Roderick will take care of you… I know you will learn to love him…"

"I can't…" He looked at her, her eyes widen with fear "I can't love him… I know we could find a way father to make you and I happy…"

"We?" Elissa looked at him, her eyes widen "Tell me, Elissa, What do you pretend to do? Rule the Kingdom alone when I'm gone? What efforts have you made in this past months?" Elissa remained silent, her hands clenching tightly the fabric of her skirts. No matter how capable she became, her father could never see her as a responsible and intelligent young woman, to him she would always be his daughter incapable of seeing more than her life in the castle, surrounded by her guards, doing imprudence's in running away with her younger sister in search for adventures. He made her feel like a little girl fighting for approval. Her father straightened his posture. Clearing his throat before speaking once more. "Roderick will marry you and he will rule this Kingdom, like no one has done it before, not even me…" Elissa did not meet his eyes, but his gaze was unwavering as it bore into her.

"How can I show you how capable I am if you don't let me demonstrated? You don't know what I know about this Kingdom, you don't know what can I do to change it, to make it better. You only listen to him and you believe him when he tells you how irresponsible I am. What lies does he forge about me?"

"Show me then someone more prepared to rule this Kingdom them Roderick?" Elissa stood from the chair and leaned into the table looking deeply in her father's eyes,

"What makes you think I can't rule alone? That I need a man. If you are so worried about your Kingdom, why don't you make him your son and heir? If my happiness doesn't mean anything to you what am I doing here?" Elissa's tone had become biter towards her father, but he began speaking as if he did not notice.

"Do you really think your happiness doesn't mean nothing to me?"

"Yes, I do. Ever since mother died, my happiness doesn't mean anything to you. I love someone… And I love him so much father. But it doesn't matter to you, does it? I thought I had a chance to be happy, that you would listen but his words are stronger, you don't listen to anyone besides Roderick…"

"Elissa…"

"You may think I don't know what is love but… I would give my live for him; I would give up everything for him and you don't know what I'm capable of doing."

"Elissa"

"Why can't you understand father that I will never learn to love Roderick. I despise him. But Isabelle won't go through this, she will love someone and when that time comes, she will marry him. I will make sure of that…"

The door of the library opened and when they looked at the door, they saw Elmont.

"I'm sorry, your majesty I didn't know"

"Are you finished, Elissa?" without another word, the Princess turned and made her way out of the library. Elmont stood there, looking at the King as he rested his head in his hands. He wanted to follow her, to make sure she was alright but he forced himself to stay. Elmont had seen her tears when she passed through him, and he now worried about her.

"Sire?"

"What am I doing wrong Elmont? She's not ready to rule…"

"With all due respect, sir but she's more than capable of doing so" the King looked at him, his eyes clouded with regret and pain "I have seen it in years now but you can see for yourself her efforts" he pointed to the book that she had left opened.

"You didn't listen to her" The king looked at him and smile "She was so certain you wouldn't and so did I" Elmont looked at the King.

"Can I talk openly with you, sir?"

"Of course"

"She always did the best she could for your approval, majesty. To show you what she had become, to make you believe she was capable of ruling and loving your people, to let her be herself and choose her destiny but you didn't let her choose, Sire. I can assure you it would be an honour to serve her and she wouldn't disappoint you. The people of Albion already love her." The King nodded. The room became silent.

"Elmont… Do you know the identity of the man Elissa claims she loves?"

"Yes, Sir"