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| Shards of a Broken Heart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chapter Eight: reunited | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| After what seemed to be days of rest - Bethany slowly awoke to find herself in an elegant looking bedroom. She looked down at herself and saw that she was still fully dressed. It was then that memories flashed through her mind. Images of Nathan with Gwen all over him. she wanted to cry - but she felt far too angry for that. She grabbed a pillow and threw it across the room. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The doors opened as a man caught the pillow with his face. The two guards with him snickered but bowed politely and quickly exited the room. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Lady Bethany - I hope the accommodations are to your liking," he began politely. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Very much so - where are we? I thought you were taking me home," she asked hesitantly. The man raised his hands and stepped back. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "There has been a slight change of plans. You - have heard the rumors of the attacks?" he asked. She nodded. "They were not rumors. This place and everything in the northern province fell as invaders washed over the place. Some of us were able to escape - but - many were not as fortunate," the man began as he looked over at the window. Bethany looked over and made her way over to the frost-covered window. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This is - the capital - the northern province? But that would mean," she began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No - my lady - quite the opposite. You see - a prince from afar - he was on a mission of peace from his land - when he saw the outer walls in flames - he rallied all those that were with him - and they drove - the invaders from the province. Ever since - we have been in the process of rebuilding what those savages have taken," he replied. She looked through the window and could see the people of the northern province toiling away to rebuild their fallen city. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then - if all goes as you say - why can I not go home?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Alas - although we forced them from the province - our spies have reported that they are entrenched in the forests. To travel abroad - is to invite an ambush. I apologize for the inconvenience - the blame is wholly mine," he said politely bowing to her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't see how it could be - you didn't attack this place. You didn't trap me here," she replied quietly. She looked over at him. "How did you know who I was at the inn?" she asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I was the head of security for the duke of the northern province. It made me privy to information and people who knew things. That was how I knew about - Nathan. Again - I am so sorry that you had to find out the way you did," he began. She lowered her eyes and looked back down at the tiny people working down below. "Rest assured - he will be made to pay for - treating you like some commoner," he added. She placed her hand against the window and sighed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't care if anything or nothing happens to him. I just want to forget that he ever existed," she replied tiredly. The man sighed and made his way over to where Bethany was. He placed his hands on her shoulders. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are a very forgiving soul," he whispered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How long am I to be here? I would very much like to go home," she asked quietly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Rest assured - the prince has his best men on the job. When he learned of your plight - he diverted men and women from their normal chores - just to ensure that your stay here - would be no longer than necessary," he reassured. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He does all this for me? A woman he has never met?" she asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well - truth be told - he does know you," he began. She turned around and looked at him. "He and some of his family - they traveled here in the past. Although the stay was brief - he did on one occasion meet you," he stated seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He knows me? Could I meet him?" she asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I think that can be arranged. Would you like to make yourself ready - or shall we head there from here?" he asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Just take me to him please," she replied. He bowed and then motioned for her to follow. As they walked - she noticed how the walls were badly damaged. The fight for the province must have reached everywhere if the damage was so noticeable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The prince - is in the next room - he is with his generals," he stated as he opened the door. Damien slammed his fist on the table and pointed at the calm looking soldiers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't care how long it takes! You cleanse this tide of vermin from these forests! If they have a chance to regroup," Damien began as he looked over and saw Bethany. He sighed and shook his head. "Just make it safe - go," he concluded. The soldiers nodded and then left the room. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Lady Bethany wished to speak with you sire," the spy stated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Under the circumstances I can't say as I blame her. This situation is reprehensible. I just wish there was more I could do," he stated calmly as he sat down. He looked over at her and saw her studying him. He quietly laughed. "You don't remember me do you?" he asked humorously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm sorry," she began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Don't be - it had to be at least five years ago if that. And our meeting wasn't - overly long. Look around this room - I believe a contingent of local nobles were hosting a party of sorts. I was with my father at the time - surly looking fellow with a tattooed face," he began she covered her mouth. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I remember him - he was kind of scary. He was your father?" she asked in modest disbelief. He quietly chuckled and nodded. "Wow - I mean - you look so different from him," she added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Remember me now?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Uhm - no," she replied hesitantly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If memory serves me - and often it doesn't - I believe your mother - was trying to hook you up with a suitor. The son of a plump looking duke I believe," he remarked the statement hit home. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Oh - I remember that - person - he was pig that thought more of food than of me," she began as she looked over at her host. He smiled when he saw the spark of recognition in her eyes. "That was when you started talking to me," she added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Indeed I did," he admitted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Oh that was so long ago - but I remember the name - it began with a D," she began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You remember that much?" he asked coyly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You asked me to run away with you - no one else ever did," she replied. The two laughed. "Damien?" she asked curiously | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That - would be me," he said elegantly - bowing to her. She walked over and gave him a hug. Damien closed his eyes for a brief second - her touch was just as he remembered and it sent a shiver down his spine. "Pardon me for not coming this way sooner - but maters of state kept me rather busy," he added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Don't be sorry. If it wasn't for you - this place would probably be in ruins," she pointed out. He smirked as he walked over to the balcony. She followed. From there they could see the people far below restoring much of the damage that had been done. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That will be all - and thank you for all your help," Damien said to his spy. The man bowed politely and turned and left the room. "My man - he - told me - what that cad put you through," he said with a sigh. She lowered her eyes. She wanted to hate Nathan for what he did - but a part of her still loved him. she shook her head. "I - can't begin to tell you how sorry I am. I have had my heart broken on more than one occasion - but that first time - it hurt the worst," he added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How do you make the pain go away?" she asked with a sarcastic smirk. He sighed and put his hands on the railing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You don't. It stays with you always. It will make you weak or strong if you let it. Had I succumbed - I would have probably died in the mountainous terrain of my homeland. But something - deep inside - it whispered - that there was a reason - a higher purpose for all of the pain and hurt," he said as he looked off into the distance. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "And what was that?" she asked curiously. He quietly shook his head and laughed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No - you will think me foolish," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No I won't," she reassured. He looked over at her and sighed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It said - she - isn't the one - your destiny - your true love - is still out there - waiting. Then I - remembered - that time we danced under the stars. The way you spoke - moved - everything. That memory - and all the others - they gave me strength. Like I said - foolish huh?" he asked shaking his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That - that's so sweet," she said quietly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Every person - I met - every one that my parents tried to have me wed - in everyone of them - all I could see was your beautiful eyes - the way the wind - gently kissed your hair - and the way your smile - all but made your face glow in the night," he added. Bethany could feel her cheeks redden as he smiled at her. "I - do hope and pray that I am not being too forward by saying such things to you," he added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Uhm - no," she replied modestly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I - know that you have suffered greatly. It makes me wish I got her earlier so that I could have stopped such a thing from happening to you. But I know - that no amount of wishing - will make that so," he said as he gently held her hands in his. "All I can do - is be there for you - and try my best - to make sure that nothing - ever hurts you again," he whispered to her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - want me to stay here with you?" she asked quietly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No - this place is not my home. My place - my destiny - is out there - over the seas - exotic lands and peoples - and to experience - all of that - with you by my side," he said with a sigh. He quietly laughed as he shook his head. "I am sounding like a child again - wanting to run away," he mused. "But - even if - that dream never comes to me. At least - I will have this moment. This one moment - carved in time. The moment that that I was given that second chance - that rarity that few ever get. To stand before you - and tell you - how I feel about you - and how I have always felt about you," he added as he lightly kissed her hands. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "And - how - do you - feel?" she asked - almost hypnotized. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How could I put it to words? How does the water feel - to one that has walked through the hottest desert? How does one put to words - the intoxicating scent - of the rarest flower? How does one describe - the sweetest taste - he has ever savored - save that - of love?" he whispered poetically. He leaned forward and lightly kissed her on the lips. He then pulled away and sighed. "And that - alone - would have made all this worth while," he added with a wink. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't know what to say," she began - a little flustered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then - say nothing. Our time here is not rushed. If you wish to stay with me - my dear you know nothing would make me happier - and as soon as everything is under control here - we would experience things - that would make your soul sing songs - you never imagined it could know. And if you choose to return to your home - your people - well - as I said. At least - I had this chance - this one chance - to tell you all the things - that - that young foolish boy you met so long ago could not," he added with a smile. He held her hand as they walked back into the castle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "After what happened to me - I never thought," she began but stopped. He looked over at her and gently brushed the back of his hand across her cheek. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hush," he whispered soothingly. "I don't want to see any sadness on that beautiful face - not now - not ever," he began. In one quick motion he lifted her up - cradling her in his arms. "All I want to see - is that smile that could move the very heavens," he began as he slowly danced around. She put her arms around his neck and sighed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm trying," she sighed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I think - I know what the problem is my dear," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You do?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I can see that you are trying. Trying to wrestle the pain - the hurt all by yourself," he replied quietly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Isn't that what you did?" she mused. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "On the contrary - you - were there with me. Helping me every step of the way. And if you like Bethany - I would be honored and blessed - if you would let me help you through this dark time for you," he offered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bethany could feel her heart racing in her chest. It was beating so fast that she couldn?t even speak. Her mind raced back for an instant to Nathan - how it felt with him although special was nothing like this. She found herself passively nodding. He leaned forward - she did the same. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The two kissed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It was not like before - this one sent shivers down her spine and almost felt - magical. She was a little short of breath and entranced as he slowly backed away. She felt him hold her close - once again - she felt safe. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Lady Bethany - you have made me the happiest man on this world," he whispered - carrying her out of that room and down the hall. She rested her head against his chest as they entered the room she awoke in. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be continued... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||