Chapter 7: Green Rider Found

Estora sat alone in the dark. She could call to a servant to light the torches in her ante-chamber but she did not feel like sitting alone surrounded by the grandeur of the Royal apartments. She clutched at the small book on her lap; she had ordered it to be fetched from the library after Laren Mapstone's recommendation to read to Zachary when they were alone. A book of brave and heroic deeds, she mused, not unlike Karigan's life. Far away from life here in the palace.

She sighed as she remembered watching the King pacing his chambers desperately. He had not been wearing a mask when he had said Karigan's name. She could guess all too well what had been in the Knights last letter to the King. Estora had seen the feelings of her old friend clearly before she had left for Blackveil but it was not that that had upset her. She could accept Karigan's feelings for the King after all she too had fallen for him.

Zachary loved Karigan. Zachary cared for a dead woman more than her. She shook herself, hadn't she come in to the engagement in love with a dead Green Rider? But she was not in the mood for being rational. She had loved Fryan and would have given up anything for him. Zachary felt the same she had felt for F'ryan about another. Yet she could not make herself see it that way.

Thinking of F'ryan made her feel guilty. She who had sworn that she would find a way for them to be together and that she would always love him had failed. She had fallen in love with another after his death and even married for the alliance that her father had always wanted. Had she really changed so much since F'ryan's death.

Estora shook herself. I must do something, she sighed, envying a dead woman is not what the Queen of Sacoridia should be doing.

The irony of her situation did not escape her. Once she had longed to be born of a different station just to be with F'ryan and yet if he had not died Karigan would have never met the King. But then again if F'ryan was alive I would have never married another, she mused. Neither of us would have fallen in love with Zachary.

She sighed and stood. Her husband would return soon and she should be there to greet him with warm words, she would comfort him if only in the hope that one day he would love her in the same way.

Karigan groaned. Her head hurt and her body felt like it had been subjected to a gruelling three hour session with Drent. Karigan knew she would have to get up soon, find out where she had 'travelled' to this time, but she wanted to rest for a little longer. Dimly she remembered the pull of her broach bringing her to wherever and whenever she lay now before weariness had overcome her.

Her body felt so much warmer than the other times she had travelled; perhaps she was getting used to slipping through the deeper layers of the world. She allowed herself a wry smile. It was more likely that in her semi-conscious state she had found somewhere warm to rest. She stretched a little in hope of moving her body towards the source of warmth and was rewarded with a rush of heat through her body as she lay against something pleasantly warm. As she moved she felt finely woven soft fabric fall onto her bare hand. Her hand jerked back in surprise and she opened her eyes to see a beautifully carved stone ceiling above her, and a familiar face clouding most of her vision.

Relieved almond shaped eyes stared into her own, the warmth against her body moved and encompassed her. She blushed as she realised that her source of warmth had been... was...her monarch's body. She could feel his strong arms pulling her closer to him.

Just like when we kissed, she smiled at the memory. But it never happened for this Zachary... he doesn't know how I feel about him.

"Karigan," he murmured, "You're alive, thank the gods."

"Highness..."

He hushed her with one finger pressed lightly against her lips; she had to fight the urge to kiss his calloused finger. She desperately wanted to tell him she loved him, just to feel those soft lips upon hers once more, but her duty to Sacoridia stopped her before she could even find the words.

I am the daughter of a merchant, a commoner, she reminded herself. He is the High King of Sacoridia, there will never be a place for us except in dreams.

"We thought you were dead." He murmured. "You've been missing for months."

She shivered as she remembered Estora's tomb—the High Queen of Sacoridia ambushed, along with Captain Mapstone and an age of sorrow to come. Unless she could stop Mornhavon from gathering his strength. She doubted the King would be happy to let her return to Blackveil, but she had to defeat Mornhavon before he gained enough power to cover the lands in darkness.

Pushing away the dark thoughts, she looked into his sad eyes.

"How long was I gone?" She asked hesitantly.

He sighed and she felt him hold her more tightly. She could not stop herself from thinking about the kiss they had shared in the future—the kiss she could never allow to happen. His lips, she found herself thinking, so perfect, so irresistible...

Tearing her thoughts away from the impossible Karigan noticed she was not the only one that had become distracted. Looking away pointedly, disturbed by the warmth and understanding in his features, she tried to sit up but was prevented by the arms encompassing her.

"Your highness?" She asked hesitantly.

Karigan allowed herself a slight smile as she looked up at her monarch who was obviously still lost in thought unaware of her question. Just thinking where those thoughts might be made her shiver in anticipation, of what she did not know. The darkness clung to them as if cloaking them from the rest of the world and pushed away thoughts of the Weapons Karigan knew would be watching over them with an ever silent vigil.

Zachary seemed to pull himself together as she heard footsteps coming towards them. Wearily he helped her sit in time to see Ben hurrying along the corridor towards them. For some reason when Ben saw Karigan he blushed a deep shade of crimson before issuing instructions to the King and the Weapons in order for him to do his work.

After many minutes of examining his patient Ben seemed satisfied and stood up. He gestured to Fastion to come help her stand. Gratitude washed through her for the mender separating her from the Kings touch. It was too much for her to try and resist the urge to tell the King the truth in her current state.

"Kari... Rider Sir G'ladheon will accompany me to the Mending Wing and remain there until I deem she is fully recovered," Ben announced. "Weapon may I borrow you?"

Fastion nodded and helped Karigan follow the rider mender towards the Mending Wing.

The King watched them go his heart suddenly lighter. She's alive, He smiled, and she loves me. Despite his marriage to Estora he became more determined than ever that he would protect the woman he loved.

I added the small section from Estora's POV to this chapter. Karigan x Zachary shouldn't be the only relationship explored.

Any ideas or comments? Don't forget to R&R :)

Rhi