Good-bye and hello
1382 Words
-------------CONTENT WARNING: ATTEMPTED ASSAULT 18 PLUS ONLY-----------------------
“Dorban.” He glanced over his shoulder for a moment and went straight back to packing his things to leave. “What did the General have to say?” The Queen asked, Dorban ignored her, “you still have to answer me young man.”
“Did Mora send you in here to keep me from going?” He asked, never stopping in his task.
“No. She is far too upset to talk actually. She is truly frightened you will die.” She walked over and stopped him, making him turn to face her. “Go look into that girls eyes Dorban, you will find the same fear that was there just before you two found each other. If something happens to you, it will end her.”
“Mother, I have to go. This can not be ignored. It has to be handled now.” He demanded. His mother reached up with both hands and cupped his face, she tip toed up and kissed his cheek.
“I know you do. But you have to think this thing through before you fly out. You have to be prepared in case something should happen.”
“Where is she?” He asked with a sigh.
“Out on the veranda, staring up at the sky. Watching for an explosion.” He left her then, and rushed through the halls to the veranda facing the east. The two moons and all of the stars were shining brightly. The light framed her form sitting on the railing overlooking the gardens.
As he came closer to her he could see the scabbard and both swords laying on the railing near her. He picked up a blanket from a lounge chair as he passed it, and settled it over her bare shoulders.
“I thought this would be a perfect place to sit and watch for an explosion. The sky is perfectly clear.” She said as he wrapped his arms around her, holding the blanket down lest she decided to be obstenant.
“You will catch cold out here in the dark.” He murmured in her ear.
“I am just waiting to say good-bye.”
“I was hoping to say good-bye in the bedroom before I left.” He kissed her hair and snuggled closer to her.
“That is not what I meant Dorban.” She grumbled.
“I know it wasn’t.” He pulled her hair aside and kissed her cheek. “It was real. You really saw it explode didn’t you?”
“I don’t want to lose you now. I am not telling you that you can’t go, I just want you to be safe. I need you to come back.” She pleaded as she turned in his arms, he pulled her off of the railing to her feet in his arms.
“I will be careful, you have my word.” The terror he saw in her eyes was real, he motioned to the open doorway. “Lets go to bed. The morning comes early tomorrow.”
She gathered her swords and clung to his arm as they wandered back to their room. She dropped her things on the lounge chair and reached up to untie her halter dress. It pooled in the floor at her feet, she turned to stand before him completely n***d.
He took her hands in his and kissed each in turn, rubbing the back of her hands against his cheeks. “Not tonight little one.” He pulled her close and kissed her, then her forehead and then her hair. “I need to hold you so that you feel safe again. There is time for that once I come home.” They laid down and she curled into his shape, they hid under the covers.
“So what will you do?” Mora traced the muscles on his bare chest.
“I will be on the Variask with General Bana. The very best general we have and the fastest war ship in the fleet. We will make a round on the border patrol and see if we can find these bandits.” He said as his hand slowly stroked up and down her bare arm.
“You won’t be alone?” She begged softly.
“No my love, I won’t be alone.” He kissed her nose and smiled, trying to lift her spirits. “You need to start thinking about planning a wedding, not worrying about me.”
“Anything I want?”
“Yes love, anything at all.” She went silent, he craned his neck to look down where she was lying against his chest. “What is it love?”
“I won’t have anyone to give me away.”
"We still have a month or two, we will figure this out.”
She settled her head just over his heart, her ear almost bouncing with each beat of his heart. She fell asleep clutching him to her chest, watching the ship explode over and over in her mind. She woke the next morning all alone, when she sat up Dorban’s bag was gone from the chair.
Even though she didn’t want to she got up and got dressed, lying in bed would only make it worse. She put on her long sword, and took her knife, leaving the short sword on the chair. She stopped when she reached the door, something was telling her to go back and get it. That something said she may need it later. She slipped it into her waist band and went on.
She found the Queen in the dining hall and she sank down next to her in a chair. The servants brought her food but she could only pick at it. She sighed and propped her chin up on her elbow.
“You know, we could go for a walk today. Maybe getting outside the castle will keep our minds off of things.” The Queen wiped her mouth with her napkin and stood, pulling Mora up to her feet too.
“I can’t help it, I miss him already.” Mora sighed, fighting her tears.
“I know dear, so do I, but moping around doesn’t help anything.”
They wandered out of the palace into the nearby village and walked through the market. Mora stopped to pet a baby goat that was for sale, a smile finally creeping over her face. It blatted and pranced and rubbed its head against her leg.
The smile quickly faded however when she saw a soldier pawing at a defenseless young woman. The girl was crying and begging to be let go, the soldier had her pinned in a corner behind a cart. The Queen watched Mora march over and grab the soldier by the arm.
“Let her go!” Mora growled.
“Who do you think you are?” The soldier barked back at her, still with a fist full of the girls dress in his hand.
“I am the prince’s fiancée, and the Queen’s personal guard. I said let the girl go, now.”
“You insolent little thing,” he drew back to back hand her and she kicked his legs out from underneath him and the tip of the short sword was set at his precious parts. Her long sword’s curve lay just over the curve of his throat.
“Come here,” the Queen beckoned to the girl to come to her side from the corner she had been trapped in. The girl stepped over him laying motionless on the ground at Mora’s mercy. She clung to the Queen’s side.
“Do you really call yourself a soldier? You aren’t even acting like a civilized man let alone a soldier! If I ever hear of you doing such a thing your n**s will hang around my neck!”
She left him laying on the ground as she put her swords away. She took the girl’s hand as she and the Queen walked her back to the palace. They brought her to the kitchen and watched the girl eat like she had been starved. She was dirty and her dress was well past worn out.
- Writer
