Rainy Escape and Baby Sheep
1248 Words
Elson’s kiss had been cold and dead. Oberyn’s kiss both electrocuted me and set me on fire. It was like a thunderstorm and an open flame rolled into one, bringing my body to life in ways I’d never known possible. It felt like my eyes had opened, and I could see the world for the first time. Colors I had never seen exploded in my mind, and I whimpered against his lips.
He held my head, keeping my lips pressed to his as if I could ever break this spell he had over me. I felt content to lay here with him for the rest of my life. Damn the kingdom, damn my fathers, damn the world. If I could stay here, locked in his embrace forever, I’d give up everything else.
I moaned as Oberyn broke the kiss to look into my eyes. His expression was that of a wildfire that didn’t know if it should be doused or allowed to consume me. “You make it hard for me to behave myself.”
“Then don’t.” I moved up, to pull him into another kiss, but he stopped me.
“Aire... This can only end badly.” He said, casting his eyes down. “You can't marry your slave, and you have to be married to be queen.”
I sat up. “Then I’ll free you.”
“That's not what I meant. Your parents will not approve of us being together. Like Han said when you chose me, I’m of the underworld- I barely make a passable slave, let alone a king. And you have to marry a prince so you can become queen.” He said exasperatedly running his hands through his hair.
He looked so pained, so frustrated. I wondered for a moment if he really loved me, or if his feelings were a product of being forced by my side for over ten years. He didn’t choose me. I chose him.
Just like Elson had chosen me, I had no say in it. I was no better, forcing myself on Oberyn.
I stood up and went to my closet. I grabbed a small wooden box, one that I had prepared several years ago. It contained close to double the gold I promised Oberyn, along with a piece of rolled parchment.
I brought it to him, setting it on the bed. Opening it, I pulled out his contract. It was the original scroll, the only copy we had, binding Oberyn to our family. Focusing my energy, and taking a deep breath, it started to burn in my hands.
“Aire! What are you doing?” He asked.
“Freeing you.” I answered. “You’re no longer my slave.”
“You’re not queen yet! The deal was when you became queen-” He protested, but I shook my head and thrust the chest into his hands.
“You don’t have to leave now, but please take it. Before I lose the strength to do what I have to.”
Oberyn looked up at me sadly. He was so beautiful, long lashes over broody, glimmering eyes. His dark hair, smooth skin. All the beauty of an elf, with the exotic splendor of the archfiend. Some had seen him as a monster because of his genes. I had never seen a more perfect man.
He looked like he wanted to say something, but he just headed for the door. I grabbed his hand one last time.
“You will always have part of my heart. As my teacher, my friend, and my most trusted advisor. I cannot thank you enough for your service to me.” I stood on my toes to kiss his cheek.
His expression was so fallen, I found myself remiss of the first day I had seen him. How lost he looked upon the auction block. How alone. That’s how he looked now.
~~~
The next few days passed normally. Even though I had finally turned of age to wed, I still had a few more weeks of study until I was finished with my training and education. When I wasn’t reading, or spending time with my sisters, I was training with Oberyn. We discovered that, like Oberyn’s inability to manipulate fire, I couldn’t control nature or water. I could, however, converse with animals, which was tenfold more exciting.
Oberyn had spent a whole lesson showing me how to open my mind to the many voices of the universe. We sat down by a stream and he made me focus on the fish. Fish, he claimed, were the easiest to learn from. They didn’t move too much or run away or have very complicated minds.
It was as if everything was back to normal, to the old days of just me and Oberyn spending time together. I was enjoying myself immensely. It was days like this I would miss more than anything. I tried not to think about it, focusing on the moment instead.
It took some time, and I was close to giving up when I heard it. Quiet at first, like whispers, but it was coming from the water. Simple things, like thoughts. One fish found a rock they thought was a piece of food. One was darting away from a bird.
I jumped up excitedly and embraced Oberyn. We laughed and hugged, excited from my expanding abilities. As our laughter died down, our eyes locked, then Oberyn’s expression darted down, studying my lips. I leaned forward and closed my eyes.
Suddenly, we both jumped, as thunder crackled behind us, and the sky opened wide. As it began pouring, Oberyn ripped off his jacket and pulled me close, holding it over both of us. He was so warm, and the combination of fresh rain and his clean, spicy smell was intoxicating.
Oberyn held my hand as he pulled me away from the river. We had gone outside the castle walls to find a river full of fish, and wouldn’t make it back to the castle without getting drenched. My steward seemed to have a plan and dragged me to the stables to get out of the sudden storm.
We were laughing when we finally made it safely inside the barn. It smelled like fresh hay and crackled with the sounds of many lit lanterns.
Inside stood a blue-skinned teen who was bottle-feeding a baby sheep. Oberyn seemed to be expecting to find him here. “Aire, this is Dirgah. Dirgah, Princess Aire.”
“I know Dirgah.” I explained to Oberyn. “He’s friends with my sister.”
Dirgah smiled. He was an Orvik, a type of blue-skinned woodland troll. He had a long blue tail with a black tuft of hair on it and downturned ears sort of like a sheep. It was easy to see why Adie liked him. He was cute, with big brown eyes like a puppy with freckles spattered underneath. “What do I owe this pleasure? I’d bow, but my hands are a little full.”
“I’d rather you not.” I laughed, awkwardly. I’d never been a fan of formalities. “What a cute little one! She sure is hungry.”
Dirgah c****d his head. “How did you know this newborn was a girl? I only checked myself a few moments ago.”
I frowned, unsure how exactly I knew that. I just… did.
“Aire has the gift, like you.” Oberyn explained.
The Orvik smiled wide. “It’s legend that my people were the first to break the language barrier between man and beast. The ability came naturally to me, and I’ve been able to understand them since I was a child. Not everyone is so lucky.”
“Can we help you feed the babies?” I asked, sitting down on a bale of hay.
Dirgah beamed a bright smile, his tail flicking back and forth excitedly. “That would help me out a lot.”
- Writer
