Bond
1638 Words
Jade’s POV:
Henry had laid down next to me, his face buried in my hair as he stroked my face gently.
“I won’t let him take you back, you belong here with me.” He said hoarsely.
I didn’t know how to respond to Henry, he was so different in every way, I didn’t know just what to say to not break his spirit, but I never knew if Edward would return. I never knew what our fate would be, it was so uncertain, and we had no way of knowing anything at this point. I had turned to faith to answer my questions, yet they remained unanswered.
“Henry,”
“Yes darlin’?”
“What are you going to do if Edward comes back and finds me?” I asked, looking into his eyes.
“I don’t know,”
“Would you let me go?”
“No willingly...we...found each other. Ain’t that what you call fate?”
“Yes...I believe it was fate that I had found you again, however, I am a princess. And Henry is a prince. We are public figures in our kingdom. It cannot be so easy.” I turned and faced away from him.
“Do you want to go back?”
“I don’t know,”
“Were you happy...?”
“I was...for a time. I just can’t...escape my guilt.”
“What are you feelin’ guilty for?”
“You are not my husband, yet you have seen me without clothes, you helped to deliver my son, and have treated him as your own so far. Yet I am still married, married to Edward, married to our nation.” His hand snaked around me as he pressed his body closer to mine.
“Stay here with me,” he whispered gently as his fingers brushed through my hair. I had closed my eyes, trying to fight this confusion in my heart. That’s when I had heard Christopher cry, I got out of the bed, walking over and picking him up.
His face reminded me of Edward’s, and that night was the first of many dreams where I had dreamt that Edward had returned. That he would find his way back to me.
“I’ll take him, you can lay back down.”
“He’s hungry,”
“How do you know that?”
“I just do,” I said as I let him latch onto me.
“Mother’s instinct?”
“You never lose them even if you lose the child.”
“What happened wasn’t your fault. You can only put up with so much evil before you’re forced to find the good in the bad.” He bent down and kissed the boys head as he walked back out of the door, I assumed to gather more fire wood.
Three Years Later:
Jade’s POV:
“Chris, go over there and help your mother,” the laughing little boy ran over to me as I picked the wild flowers that grew. Spring was in full swing, and Henry took on the role as a father to him. Of course he called him uncle, I had told him that his father was involved in war, and that we wouldn’t know when he would return.
“Hello mama,”
“Hello, my sweet boy.”
“Uncle Henry showed me the frogs in the creek today,”
“Did he? Did you hold them carefully?”
“Yes, mama.”
“How about you help mama out and go inside and get the vase under the cupboard for me. I trust you.” I said with a smile as I caressed his face.
He took off running towards the house when I saw Henry’s shadow following him down to where I was.
“Darlin’”
“Yes Henry?”
“When you gonna let me marry you?” He sat down next to me, taking my hand carefully.
“You are married to me enough, I am still bound by his father.”
“It’s been three years, darlin’, just let me make you mine.” Henry leaned in, his soft lips touched mine as I pulled away. “I’ve kissed you before, but you always shy away.
“It’s unfaithful. Henry, I have told you I will go if I am a burden on you, but I cannot return your feeling and you know these things.” I sighed as tears crept out of my eyes. They fell into my lap as I heard a child’s giggle fill the air.
“Mama look! I got it!”
“Oh perfect, thank you Christopher.”
“Chrissy why don’t you tell her about our trip to town.”
“Uncle Henry took me to the stalls and let me see all the men riding into town.”
“What men?” I smiled down at him.
“Soldiers mama, Uncle Henry said they were prisoners of war.” I frowned at his words and I had realized why he had been pushing me to marry him. His gaze met mine as I avoided his gaze out of disappointment.
“You want me to marry you, yet you cannot be truthful to me.” I said in a very stern tone, warning him the look of defeat. “You, are not a man I should marry if you cannot tell me these kinds of things.”
“Jade you don’t belong there anyways!” He exploded back at me.
“And you know where I belong?”
“You are a savage now compared to the princess you used to be, you speak the native language, you have blisters all over your goddamn hands, you’re a hardworking honest woman, yet you want to go back to a life of being pampered? To a life where you are just a face with no soul? Seen but not heard?”
“That isn’t for you to decide!” I looked down at him. “I have a sworn duty to the nation that isn’t taken lightly! If you see me as savage, I shall prepare myself to truly act like one!” My eyes bulged out of my head as I heard Christopher’s small sigh from beside me.
“Mama, he shouldn’t be callin’ you words.”
“No he should not, that is no way to treat a lady.” I said bending down and picking him up.
“He talks like me, you can’t deny that. He won’t fit into that society.”
“He will be loved,”
“He’ll be pushed and shoved around for talkin’ funny!”
“Henry, you have no idea how important my son is. He is the first born heir to the kingdom. If Edward’s father dies, the line of succession is threatened. Edward is gone, they have been looking Christopher since I disappeared.”
“And why didn’t you return with them?”
“Because I would have been killed, and he would have been taken from me.”
“Why would you be killed?” His eyes showed concern.
“They would have accused me of marrying Edward for the title, and framing myself for his disappearance. They don’t listen to women.”
“No one ain’t listenin’ to no woman, but I’d listen to you.” He reached out for my hand as my mind flashed back to the day Edward had left and I begged him to stay. He said he listened, but did he really heed my warning?
“Henry…do you know why I have stayed?”
“…no,”
“It’s for a very selfish reason.”
“I believe you, you are guilt ridden over living with a man who isn’t your husband every day, I see it in your eyes.”
“I’ve had many dreams, that tie me to your land. That this is where I am meant to find him. Where he will find me. That our lives converge back onto a continuous path once again.” I couldn’t dare to meet his gaze, but I was left again with uncertainty.
“Mama?”
“Yes my sweet boy?”
“Who is that?” He pointed towards the hill as my eyes spotted dozens of horses, all lined up behind a man. His hair dropped down to his shoulders, his beard bushy. But the face looked so familiar.
He stood there staring at me before I pushed myself off the ground and ran towards him as fast as I could. My feet carried me as I ran up the hill charging his horse as he stepped down.
I flung myself into his arms, sobbing loudly as I laid on his chest, holding him.
His arms wrapped around me as he pushed the hair out of my face. “A bond that cannot be broken, bound for life.” I whispered to him. His lips crashed onto mine. I pulled away from him looking at him sadly.
“Christopher,” I called weakly.
My little boy ran up the hill, and settled right next to me, looking up quite frightened at the different man in front of me.
“Christopher…this is your father.” I said hugging him from the side.
- Writer
