A forbidden love

Chapter 11 : Wait for me

"Well? What did he tell you? You were in there almost three hours."

It felt longer than that. I looked up at my expectant mother. We were sitting across one another with Evelyn next to us in the study. "He didn't mean any harm, he said he was camping out with a small group of soldiers spying of a small nymph village nearby." It was the truth, but clearly not enough to convince my mother, without telling her Aanan was...my soulmate. The thought made me want to smile, I had to keep a straight face. 

"Then why was he so close to our borders?" My mother was ready to throw any question she could think of my way. It seemed like she was looking for a reason to punish him. "You can't blame him for being curious as to what our lands look like, all we know of each other's land is what we read in books. Maybe he wanted to see it for himself." 

"That doesn't change the fact that he was near the barriers Arya. He'd seen enough of the forest, he had no reason to travel any further. He was probably trying to get into the kingdom, he could be a spy." I found it rather amusing being the only one that knew why he was actually here, but on the other hand, it pained me that they thought so negatively of him. "If he was truly innocent, he'd have nothing to hide and would have told us everything when we first asked him." The only thing he was guilty of was being my soulmate. 

"What are you saying mother?" It was clear that she had already made up her mind about Aanan. "We have to make an example out of him," she turned to Evelyn, "will you tell the nobles that I've given my permission to proceed with tomorrows arrangements?" Evelyn nodded and left soon after. "Mother, this isn't who we are, this is cruel."

"I know Arya, but it's the only way we can warn the fae to stay away from us." "Are you planning on sending him back to the fae kingdom after beating him?" My mother looked away from me ashamed, "Mother! That might only start an uprising! If what the fae said is true, then we might be the the cause for the start of another unnecessary war." I didn't want to see Aanan in pain, but I also didn't want our mate connection to be the whole reason this simple war would spark all over again.

"Then what do you suggest we do Arya, let him walk off with all the information he's already gathered about us? I think not." "I understand your frustration mother, but please don't let your feelings towards the fae cloud your judgment,  you know just as well as I that this isn't a wise idea." She walked towards me and placed a hand on my cheek, "You've always been able to see the bigger picture. You'd make an excellent queen after me." She looked at me for a moment longer, and then took in a deep breath. 

"The nobles will be expecting he is made an example of, so I cannot disappoint them, but I won't send him back harmed." She was still determined to go on with the plan, she cared more for pleasing the nobles and her image, than doing what was right. "Mother! You can't-" For the first time my mother rose her voice to me, "I will not hear it Arya! My decision is final, now leave me."

I stood up and walked out slamming the door behind me. I can't think of a time my mother and I ever fought, this was the first time. I felt a heavy weight settle in my heart. It was getting late and the sun began to set. I dragged my feet with my head drooping down as I walked the long journey to my bedroom. As I got to my room, my mind drifted to Aanan. Now that things were finally sinking in, I sat on the sofa and said to myself, "I found a soulmate." It sounded unreal, I. Found. A. Soulmate. I said it again and again to myself, trying to grasp the idea, until I was jumping around excitedly. 

I don't know why, but it just made me happy, I felt like I really found that person Aanan said filled your heart. I was devastated that of all species he had to be a fae, our worst enemy, but I was glad it was him. I started thinking about when our skin touched, the feeling of tingles in my hands, and the way he said my name. I fell onto the bed, kicking my feet in the air giggling. 

I sat up when I remembered how cold his skin was under mine. He must be cold. I grabbed a blanket off my bed and rushed to the door. It seemed like I was looking for any excuse possible to see him now. "No, think Arya, if you leave while the sun is still shining, some one might see you." I sighed and walked over to my balcony, wrapping myself in the blanket watching as the sun slowly crept away behind the tree canopy's in the horizon. 

My mind drifted off, and I began thinking about what Aanan had said. We could be together... Anywhere we wanted. We could explore the world. There was so much to see, unfortunately I've never been outside the forest borders before. I haven't even seen a vast open field, only the small meadows in the forest. When the first star shone in the sky, and the bustle of people down bellow dulled down, I made a run for it. 

I stopped in front of the dungeon doors, blanket in hand and eyed the surrounding area making sure no one saw me and I wasn't followed. I pushed through, and crept into the dark room yet again. I made my way to Aanan's cell, but it seemed to be empty. "Aanan?" I heard shuffling in the darkest corners of the cell and a raspy voice, "You shouldn't be here princess." What was he talking about? "Aanan, what's happened? You don't seem well." I waited a while, crouching down in front of his cell hoping he'd come into the light so I could see him. 

Slowly he moved closer towards me so I could see him in the dim light. I gasped when I saw him, he was bruised and cover in blood all over. "W-what happened?" He shrugged against the wall, wincing at its cold embrace. "Your psycho boyfriend happened." He was talking about Soren. Truth be told, I never thought Soren was capable of doing something like this. Reaching out to him, I gently placing my hand on his battered cheek. He winced as I touched him and then placed his hand on mine leaning into my touch, breathing in my perfume. 

"I'm so sorry, I should have known he'd do this. I shouldn't have left him here with you." Aanan slowly shook his head, "It's not your fault, I'm just too good for his ego to handle." I couldn't help but laugh, "now's not the time for jokes, you're in pain." I reached through the iron bars and attempted to wrap the blanket around him, "here, this should keep you warm, that's all I can do to help." I watched as he tried to give me a smile, it pained me to see him force his body into doing something it was incapable of at that moment. 

"You being here is more than enough help." I sat on the cold floor, with my back facing him, against the cell bars. I listened as he shifted in his position, fixing himself in the blanket as he moved closer to me. His warm breath touched my neck, I waited to see what would happen. He leaned towards me, and gently kissed the back of my neck with his soft, warm lips. My hairs stood on end and I felt the tingles in my body going down my spine to my toes. 

Is this what having a soulmate felt like? This feeling of pleasure and completeness? Subconsciously, I leaned back towards him, closing my eyes as his hand reached through the bars separating us, and wrapped around my waist. I hated that we had to be separated with cell bars between us. It wasn't exactly the ideal romantic experience, but this had to do for now. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, and relaxed in his embrace. 

He was the first to break the silence, "what's bothering you?" I was taken aback by his question. He could probably tell something was on my mind. "My mother... She won't stop tomorrow's arrangements. The nobles want to have you punished in front of the kingdom. I tried to stop her, but she's not interested in hearing what I have to say."

Aanan moved around a little, tightening his hold around my waist, "can you promise me you won't be there?" I tried to turn around to look at him, but he was looking away. "I don't have a choice Aanan." He turned to face me, "I don't want you to watch." I had to be there in case things got out of hand, bit it seemed he'd already accepted his fate. 

"Arya, promise me." "I can't make a promise like that." He was about to protest when I stood up, tearing away from his warm touch. My body felt cold, it wanted to crawl up into him. "I will do what I can to try and stop it. If I can't I'll be here before they take you, I can find a spell that can limit your pain at most, or maybe something that can heals these wounds you already have." 

"Arya, please-" "No, please have some more faith in me, I can't let them do this to you." Before he could say anything to try and stop me, I walked away. I fought hard not to look back at him. I missed him already. What was this pull doing to me? I was willing to defy my mother for a man I just met. 

As I opened my bedroom door, I was greeted with a warmth from the fireplace. I don't recall leaving my room with the fire still burning. Confused, I walked in to investigate. On the sofa in front of the fire sat Soren, he looked back at me as I approached him. Before I could say anything, he stood up and walked towards me, "Arya...where have you been?" I honestly didn't feel like talking to him. I fought my body's will to slap him and make him suffer like he did to Aanan. 

I flinched as he put his hand on my arm, and I looked away. Soren stepped back, looking away as well. "Today was the first time we ever fought. Arya I don't ever want us to fight again." There he goes again, making it all about what he wanted. Arya, don't go to the fae. Arya, I can protect you. Arya... you get the point. I didn't like fighting with Soren either, but I didn't see him as the man I used to. 

He cupped my cheek and lifted my face so that I was facing him, he looked at me with guilt. "Please, forgive me." He was apologizing for the way he spoke to me. Truth be told, I would have forgiven him if that was all he did, but he hurt Aanan, and seeing him like that hurt me. I wanted to bring it up, but it meant revealing that I went down to see him. So instead I just nodded my head.

He sighed with relief and pulled me into a tight hug. I wanted to push him away from me. "Where were you just now?" He's always on my case, can he not just leave me alone to do my own things? "In the kitchen, I was hungry." Soren made and 'Oh' expression, and then pulled me in the direction of the bed. I hesitated against his pull, it felt like I was being forced against my own will, but I couldn't make him think that I didn't still have feelings for him, otherwise he'd suspect something was up.

Getting into bed, I lay dead still and he pressed his body against mine. "Why are you so tense, relax love." He kissed my neck, and his hands started to roam my body. I begged for someone to walk in on us, anyone. I wanted this all to stop. So I tried to focus on something else...Aanan. Soren moved closer to me, removing all distance there was between us. I could feel his erection pressed hard against my back. "Soren please, can we just go to sleep?" He sighed, and rolled flat onto his back, my body immediately relaxed as he did so. This was going to be a long night.