Secrets of the Realm Series: The Dark Knight

Chapter 7

                                                                                     Veara

He turns his broad back to face me. He isn’t as built as Ruven, but is visibly strong. His hair is long and is a beautiful auburn orange. I have never seen such a color. He walks closer to me and I step back.

“Do not be afraid of me Nin lóth(my flower), I will never hurt you.” He calls me his flower but I do not know him. I cannot deny the unexplainable feeling that I have towards him. I feel drawn to him. I feel safe. As he gets closer I see his eyes are different; one is a beautiful mix of green and the other almost of the color of his hair but more brown. He is handsome. I can’t keep my eyes off of him. Before I notice he is so close I can almost feel his breath on mine. I do not move. I cannot move. 

“I have waited so long for this Nin lóth.” I feel his hand lightly graze my cheek. My eyes close at the feel of his touch. I didn’t realize I yearned for it so much. He chuckles and it sounds like music. I feel him steps back. 

“Who are you?” I ask. He only smiles.

“In due time, you will know. But for now you must not tell anyone about me. ” He sees my hesitation “Please," he pleads with me "I know you don’t know me but I need you to trust me. I would never hurt you.” Although I want to refuse, I feel as if I trust him completely. His eyes search mine and he must find the answer he is looking for because he comes closer but a rustling sound comes from the woods behind me and look back to see Ruven coming into the clearing. I turn back around and he is gone. I still feel his lingering presence but the hold he had on me was gone. Why was I so effected by him. I felt as is I couldn't refuse him, and I couldn't tell him no. All I wanted to do was be with him. I feel a hand on mine, for a moment I forgot why I even came out here. I don’t turn around remembering all that happened and yank my hand back. I know I should hear him out but right now I am angry and want to hurt him. I can hear him sigh, his breath on my neck, sending shivers down my back. I didn’t realize he was so close. 

“Veara, I am sorry. I wasn’t trying to hide anything from you. I just wanted to..” 

“Protect me?” I turn around not letting him finish. The anger evident in my voice. He looks hurt and I have the urge to comfort him but I stand strong. I would not be weak and easy.  “Ruven, last time I checked, I am not damsel in distress. I trained just like you. I have the same capabilities as you. Never mistake me for being weak. I can take care of myself. I don’t need your protection.” I am surprised when he looks frustrated. 

“Veara, I understand that, but I can’t exactly help it.” He rakes his hands through his hair. 

“Then make sure you can help it, I will not be treated like some helpless woman.” I say turning around but I do not get the chance to storm away because I am pulled back into his embrace and his lips come crashing on mine. Like a drug I cannot pull away. I want to be angry but I can’t. Any lingering feelings I had from before are gone. I only want Ruven. I honestly cannot even remember the feeling I had when that man was with me. They have completely disappeared. When we stop our kiss he puts his forehead against mine. 

“I never thought you were weak. You are the strongest women I have ever met. I am sorry it seemed that way.” I lift my head to look into his eyes, my anger now dissipating. He seems to be contemplating something. 

“Can we sit down? There are some things I need to explain.” I nod and we untangle from our embrace, Ruven grabbing my hand and leading me to sit near on the brook at the edge of the waterfall. 

“Look, love does not come easy for me.” He looks up waiting for my expression. It takes me a second but I realize he is telling me he loves me. He doesn’t wait for me to answer but continues on.

                                                                                Ruven

I do not know whether telling her I love her was wise because she looks confused. I am nervous but there is no turning back now. So I continue. I need her to understand, I want her to know me. 

“My mother, Lyra Varoris, was a great healer. She traveled to the wizards realm to seek more guidance and be taught in the ancient forms of healing. After being taught all she could, she traveled to the Human kingdom to seek refuge, but before she could reach there, she was attacked by ogres. She was able to run away from them but was injured badly. While stumbling around she lost her way but found a small cottage. No one was there, she was exhausted from running and her injuries, so she entered the cottage and took refuge to gain from strength. When she woke up, she heard the ogres. They were coming after her.  She came out to run and saw one ogre. She wanted to run the other way but the other ogres were there. Thats when my father came and fended them off. He was a greats swords man. She was still very exhausted and collapsed. My father brought her in and when she woke it was dark and he was making a fire.” 

She is looking at my so intently. I can’t help but wonder what she is thinking. But I continue.

 “He helped nurse her back to health which took several weeks. She couldn’t heal herself as her wounds were quite deep. In these months my mother and father got to know each other and they fell in love. My father would go to the capitol from time to time to get supplies and to make money. After 2 months of being together my mother found out she was pregnant. My father was gone for longer than usual and she was too excited to wait so she ventured to find him in the capitol. Once she reached the capitol she found there was a large celebration going on. When she managed to make her way to see what the large commotion was about she found my father on the castle balcony with another women. He was dressed extravagantly. Everyone was cheering. She asked around, and was told her that the King and Queen were expecting a child. She was crushed. Not only was he a king but he had a wife and she was pregnant. He wasn't coming back to sell things and get supplies but rather to take care of his kingdom. She felt used so she ran back to the cottage packed her things and left without a trace. My father searched for her and one day he found us. We lived near the elven realm but no one knew we really lived there. We worked hard to conceal out identities and location. My mother said it was better this way. We had a woman, Lura Crathyra, come to visit us and bring us supplies. My father was was shocked when he found us. He wanted my mother to come back and become his mistress but she said she could not put me in danger and would never be someones mistress. She was afraid that there would be competition between me and the crown prince. My father agreed to let us live in peace as long as he was able to see me once a year. So every year until I was 16 I traveled to see him. I met him a the cottage where my parents first met and for whole week we would spend time together. My father was a good man and my mother didn’t tell me otherwise. She never spoke of him. I suspected it hurt her to talk of him. Once I found out why we were kept at a distance and the their whole history, I stopped visiting and decided to enroll in the elven royal army and become a solider. It was against my mothers will. She wanted me to stay by her side and learn healing. I rose in rank quickly. When I was 18 my mother died. I was devastated and so I quickly guarded my heart and became cold and threw myself into every battle. I wasn’t trying to die, just wanted to be distracted. I took every mission and every battle I could. I didn’t think of love or life. I lived in battle on the battle field and in my heart.” I finally stop to look at her. She has tears in her eyes. She gently places her hand on my face. 

“I am so sorry Ruven. Your father was cruel. He should have loved your mother with all his might. She sounds like. remarkable woman.” I look thoughtfully at her. Fear creeping into my heart.

“Veara..I am afraid to be like my father. I do not want to hurt you. I am afraid I am doing exactly what my father did.”

“Ruven, never think like that! You are nothing like him. You truly were looking to protect me. But Ruven… I do not want you to shut me out. I do not need to be protected. I want to be by you side. I want you to trust me. I can take care of myself and with you by my side, nothing can happen to us.” She kisses me. Its gentle and sweet. This is where I want to be, I feel strong. She is all I want and need. There is a rustle and we break away from our embrace. One of the Kings knights comes running. 

“Your highness! The the King has been attacked!”