Legends (The Revival)

Chapter Five

Although Conrad was of the House of Lalin, as a trainee for the Revival he was to stay with the other of the Lords at the retreat as part of the Revival. Elizabeth and Isabella had become friends during the time of their training at Khalon, and the Lady of Lalin was excited to take Elizabeth on a tour around Lalin and the castle. The young Lords and Ladies of Layrim’s tribes hardly visited other territories. As the ladies walked around Lalin, Elizabeth noticed the armor of the men were modeled after Conrad's as were their swords and this amazed her, the most amazing was the stone and wood crafts of the young Lord on Maje with his sword pointed toward the sky...

"What exactly is Conrad to the people, I hear he doesn't head them as a royalty... How is it they worship him like Lalin himself?" she asked Isabella curiosity eating into her, she became more curious when she remembered her conversations with Conrad and how much he doubted himself.

"He has a charm"

"A charm? Yes, he does, I've seen that" Isabella was not oblivious to the worry in Elizabeth's voice, though others found it difficult to understand Elizabeth. It was not the same for her.

"You should not worry about self-control with Conrad. He’s dense like that. He will not think less of you if you put the wall down" Isabella encouraged. She knew well how much Huston, Lord of Taliha trained Elizabeth to have control over everything, so it was not Elizabeth's fault that she felt vulnerable and insecure when something went beyond her.

"Some emotions have no leash" was Isabella's last words before the people went wild with cries of joy and praises, the Ladies stopped and turned to look around them. The men who were once looking at them with dreamy eyes had turned away and were now shouting Conrad's praises. They stood on the streets and watched this craziness until Conrad came within their view... He rode on Maje with his armor and Elizabeth began to fidget, she always did when around Conrad but no one could see it as she controlled herself well. This time though she was with Isabella who knew her well she took the later's hand to calm herself.

Conrad approached them and Isabella rolled her eyes at the drama he caused.

"What? they just missed me" he defended. He jumped down and half ran to a young boy who was very excited to see him.

"Hey Travis!!" he called kneeling to hold him in his arms.

"Conrad, Why did you leave us? Lucy cried most of the time while you were gone. We missed you" the child said almost crying, Conrad held him closer and as he did, a little figure came running toward them, Conrad let go of the boy and waited for the incoming girl, she ran fast into Conrad's waiting hands and he threw her up while she giggled.

"I thought you left me." She asked grinning happily

"I wouldn’t dare"

"But you did leave" Travis frowned.

"I apologize. It was urgent, father did not allow me to say goodbye" Conrad apologized and Travis was smiling again, the three were talking when Elizabeth and Isabella approached them. As Lucy looked up and caught sight of them she ran toward the Ladies screaming.

"Lady Isabella!!" Isabella knelt on one knee and waited for the running child, but she never came. Lucy stopped in her tracks and looked from Conrad to Elizabeth...

"Who is she?" Lucy asked with a tone of anger and unfriendliness which confused Elizabeth though she did well in hiding it with a smile.

"She's Lady Elizabeth of Taliha" Conrad answered and Elizabeth bowed smiling at the girl who seemed to get angrier at her though she couldn't understand why. Lucy walked back to Conrad taking his hand and staring at her fiercely. It was then Elizabeth understood the reason behind the girl's anger, she did her best to hold back from laughing as she watched the possessive child.

"Conrad, did you get married?" the girl asked saddened that her Lord was with a Lady as that only meant one thing.

"Oh, Lucy. I did not, she's a friend" Conrad looked up to Elizabeth as she smiled at the child admiring her courage, something she seemed to lack.

"A good friend" Conrad added not taking off his gaze, Lucy saw the look on both of their eyes and leaned closer to the kneeling Conrad.

"Then why are you looking at yourselves like that?" she whispered.

"Wh...what? Come on Lucy" he burst out surprised. The girl ignored Conrad and walked to Elizabeth, as she came closer she put a hand over her head and measured herself with Elizabeth, she was only a child and only reached below the Lady's waistline. Lucy put a hand on her hips and looked around them, she saw Conrad's horse and she climbed on it with difficulty. Standing on the horse now she was taller than Elizabeth.

"I don't share." She said staring down at Elizabeth angrily.

"But since he likes you, I'll let you have him" she added laughing at the three adults and their shocked faces, she climbed down the horse and taking her brother's hand she ran to a throw's distance from them.

"I know you Lady Elizabeth, from the scrolls. I love you, you can keep Conrad" she shouted laughing with her brother at Isabella, Elizabeth, and Conrad as they looked on in shock.

"I love you too" Elizabeth shouted back smiling. She was shocked at first but was quick to regain composure.

"That did not happen, did it, Bella?" Conrad asked still staring at the retreating children.

"I think it did your highness" Isabella replied mocking Conrad and walking away from the two, she mouthed stay to Elizabeth who wanted to go with her. Conrad looked away from the children and at Elizabeth who smiled in recognition.

"I would apologize for that, but you knew of something and did not tell me so we are even." Conrad said with a half nod toward the departing kids.

Elizabeth said nothing in reply but she knew exactly what Conrad spoke of. He helped her on the horse and took the reins as they continued around Lalin.

"Why did you say nothing?" Conrad asked looking up to Elizabeth in the eye. She kept the gaze for a moment.

"I am a girl and you are Conrad" she finally answered and turned away from him, staring at the waters and admiring its peace. Conrad couldn't stop looking at the Lady of Taliha in amazement, it was at this point he understood why his presence at the retreat of Khalon affected her self-control, she was a girl, yes, and he Conrad was the desire of many maidens in Layrim, Elizabeth was no exception. But the way she expressed herself was intriguing.

"You do not also want this do you?" he asked curiously referring to the marriage arrangement.

"I can not say I do not. I would be honored to be married into the house of Lalin"

Again her reply was confusing because she said it was just a simple deal.

"But?" Conrad asked again, he was sure there was more to her words.

"We are the Revival and at this point, we need to focus on, training. That is what the elders expect of us" she answered, again not turning to look his way.

"What the elders expect of us… How about you? What do you want?"

"How do you think the knights got so great? How do you think they fought wars without losing one of them?"

"I don't know, did that happen?" he asked. His eyes falling to the sand, he noticed he had been asking a lot of questions since he met Elizabeth, even asking about things he wouldn't normally think about.

"They loved themselves, Conrad, as one. It was one protecting the other, that was the utmost. Not striking down an enemy"

Conrad thought over her words for a few seconds and couldn't help but ask the one question her words raised.

"Wouldn't that put themselves at risk?"

"When love exists between two, each one looks out for the other, when you look out for your mates, you find someone watching over you too"

"From your words, it almost seems as if females were part of the lost. You seem to be talking about romantic affection"

"Perhaps they were" she answered making Conrad's eyes widen...

“To achieve the balance you need an eye outside the circle, men feel the urge to fight many problems out. Women are subtle and want to sneak up on their enemies or outsmart them or even negotiate. They needed the balance, besides, every man has feelings of responsibility for a woman and wants to protect her, she on the other hand wants to attend for him. They did not need to be betrothed or single to have such feelings" she explained

"Forgive me My Lady for this question but from what scroll did you read this?" 

 "The lost has been gone over two hundred years, you do not need a scroll but your thoughts. I considered every possible reason for that war where the knights fought for survival in a forest without casualties and that is the only way" she answered.

"You did not answer the question" Conrad grumbled.

"Conrad we may be betrothed but that doesn't mean this works, you already know how I feel about you and the elders' expectations, you have the bow and the arrows, you decide if, where, and when to shoot. I will follow whatever you chose, even if it is not in my favor" Conrad perceived the sadness in her voice as she said the last part, she had just exposed her heart to him in the most balanced means she could and now it was left for him to decide if he would court her or wait till after the training, keeping in mind that even then he would have more responsibilities then. As Elizabeth rode Maje away leaving Conrad to his thoughts, Isabella approached and touching her brother by the shoulders she said.

"There is never a good time to begin a relationship, life brings its quests and it only gets more, never less," she said, and sitting beside him, they enjoyed the understanding silence of true friendship. She didn't listen to their conversation but she knew Conrad well, he wanted to know how she felt but did not bother telling her about himself.