Triplet Queens' mysterious Guard

Under the sun, under the rain ii

Jon took the jacket from her and took out the portrait from one of the pockets. Luckily for him the portrait had been wrapped in leather so the rain had not affected it in anyway. He looked at it now and was sure that Elle had to be one of the most beautiful women on the continent. He could have said that but he didn’t want to be saying stuff like that yet so he said something instead. “You are a really pretty lady.” He said turning to look at her.

“Thank you, I would say pretty is an understatement, but thank you.” Elle said and they both shared another lengthy laugh like they had been doing all day. He had found a really big shirt for her to change into while she took of her gown behind the silk partition on the side of the tent. He had given her a blanket as well so she wouldn’t be cold. It was time he took care of himself.

He was a man so he didn’t see the need for going behind a silk partition to take of his shirt. He stood up and took the shirt off before walking to the entrance of the tent and wringing it there. He walked back into the tent and dried his shirt next to the fire in the middle of the tent. It was a smokeless fire so he didn’t need to worry about the tent having no opening because that would have let the rain seep in. He sat some distance away from in Elle in order to not scare her. She just sat there next to the fire covered in a blanket but not really caring about the cold, rain, fire or anything else. Right now she couldn’t take her eyes off a shirtless Jon sitting opposite her on the other side of the fire. Unlike her who had tucked her feet together, Jon sat in a leaned back way with his legs stretched out that had all his muscles visible and rippling. He was a very fit man and she could see that. She was surprised that he had brought her into a secluded tent and was acting like he owned the place only to end up keeping his distance from her.

“So will you now tell me why this place is far from the rest of the tents and why you don’t seem at all worried about us being in a stranger’s tent?” Elle asked standing up from where she was and moving round the fire to seat next to him. There was still some distance between them but at least now she was next to him and could control her eyes from eating him up.

“This is a lover’s tent; couples pay silver coins to the owner and come in here to exchange words of love and a kiss, or two but nothing more than a kiss. If it is open and you come here, there’s a long line of couples waiting from the entrance to the main street.” Jon explained running a hand through his long black hair and laughing softly as he remembered being here last year.

“So I guess you know who owns the tent then?” she asked looking into the fire and not at him.

“Of course I do. I set this tent up with Ferran and some other friends early this morning before scouting out the other places and knowing the best places for us to visit.” Jon said also looking into the fire.

“You really planned today out, didn’t you?” Elle asked excitedly.

“I did and you’re welcome” Jon retorted quickly and they both shared a soft laugh.

“So I guess this Ferran is the same one who bet on your wrestling matches during the last carnival, I definitely wouldn't have missed you wrestling for anything” she stated confidently and provocatively.

“Yes, he knows how I am so it’s easy to be around him. I normally don’t like knowing any particular person for too long.” Jon said. “I think he is the only one I agree to go out for drinks with more than once a month, I have a lot of friends, but I have just one friend that’s like a brother. Do you understand me?” Jon asked looking over at her.

“I understand, I also have a lot of friends but my best friends are my sisters.” Elle said without thinking and became quiet when the realization of her words hit her. She changed the topic of discussion to something else. “Your friend Ferran was the one at the ball dance yesterday?” Elle asked to which Jon simple nodded in affirmation. “He came up with a genius idea; this lover’s tent thing would fetch him a lot of money. He’ll make a lot of coppers, silvers and maybe even some gold.” Elle said sounding genuinely impressed.

“Thanks for saying that, I appreciate it. Ferran doesn’t own this place though. It is owned and run by my mother. I came up with the idea two years back when my dad died. She enjoys the distraction of young love even if just for a day.” Jon said laughing and then laughing even harder when he saw the look of shock on Elle’s face.

“You are joking right?” she asked and Jon simply nodded but not in affirmation this time. “It is a wonderful idea and a wonderful thing you did for her.” Elle added turning to pat him gently on his right knee. “I am genuinely impressed.”

“There is nothing to be impressed about, you get to be royalty and attend royal stuff, help make decisions and organize an entire kingdom alongside the Queen, which is way more impressive than anything I do.” Jon said and Elle could see it in his eyes that he really meant it. It meant a lot to her because that was a real compliment intended for not just her fake persona as the Queen’s cousin but as the Queen which was who she really was.

“What do you do to earn money, you look really good.” Elle said giving him an actual compliment. His jacket and boot were not the stuff of royalty but better than most commoners.

“I am a hunter, trained by my dad before he passed. Weeks back I killed a stag in the forest just north of Nirvana. I sold it for a lot of gold pieces to a nobleman who wanted to keep it as a trophy; stags are very rare on the continent. I can take care of my mum and even that lazy Ferran for the next few years with what I got. I am also into importing stuff and moving them between the great kingdoms using ships and boats. I am currently trying to be doing a lot of things. I don’t want to be a commoner forever.” Jon said with a shrug of his wide shoulders. Elle sat there getting much more impressed by this specimen of a man. He was not royalty but the grace with which he carried himself would probably surpass most of the members of nobility that had tried to court her so far. “What about you, you spoke about your sisters. How many are they? I am an only child but I always imagine how having siblings would be like.” Jon asked with raised brows.

“My sisters are the worst, but I love them.” Elle said with a smile obviously not willing to say anymore. “You have been to Oldtree forest, that’s impressive.” She said changing her position and leaning back like he had been doing this entire time.

“I have been to Gallina, the capital of the kingdom of Cresha to the south. They have a beautiful Princess. I have been to Forteza, the capital of the great kingdom of Venera to the north.” Jon said with a smirk obviously proud of his exposure.

“That means you have been to the three largest kingdoms on the continent. That’s a rare and impressive feat for a young man.” Elle said clapping her hands now.

“Nirvana is the most beautiful country, but Venera with all its snow, ice and gigantic walls is quite magical. Cresha is pretty amazing as well. I can’t pick from the three under normal circumstances but my heart goes out to Venera. I have been to more than 10 of the smaller kingdoms on the continent as well; it is part of who I am.” Jon said with a shrug.

“So you consider yourself nomadic, have lived most of your life in Nirvana, but consider Venera your soul place. That would really annoy Queen Isabella if she ever met you.” Elle said laughing.

“I definitely wouldn’t be this honest with her majesty.” Jon said laughing hard as well. Elle almost ran out of breath now, she laughed even harder now. She was the Queen or at least one part of the three that made up the queen but he was probably never going to know that and she found some part of it amusing. It took some time but she regained her composure, she had something she wanted to ask.

“You said the Princess of Cresha is beautiful, but you called me pretty earlier. Just how beautiful is she?” Elle asked with raised brows, mimicking the look on Jon’s face whenever he asked a question.

“She is beautiful, I saw her at an archery contest at the outskirts of the city. However I must say that you are the most beautiful lady on the continent, I was just being dishonest earlier. I haven’t met or seen Queen Isabella but I have heard she is the most stunning lady ever. I don’t think anyone would stun me more than you did yesterday, not even Queen Isabella.” Jon said with a soft laugh on his lips but an intense honesty in his eyes. Elle felt touched by his words and found her body unconsciously begin leaning in towards him.

“What did you say this place was for? You said something about exchanging words of love and a kiss or two.” Elle asked looking into Jon’s eyes.

“Yes I did say all that.” Jon said slowly and thoughtfully.

“You clearly just said words of love to me, so what comes next according to what you said.” Elle asked and waited a second for the look or understanding that appeared on his face. The moment had been building up since the moment at the wrestling stall hours ago and she didn’t see why she shouldn’t act on impulse with an amazing man for the first time in her life, someone she might never get to see again. She didn’t think about it any longer before leaning in and kissing him passionately. He leaned into her as well and kissed her back. He was still shirtless and she had left her blanket crumpled in a heap on the floor as their bodies began closing up the distance that had been between them the entire time before.