|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Shards of a Broken Heart | |||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Chapter Thirteen: endings | |||||||||||||||||||||
| It had been two weeks since the epic fight ended between Nathaniel and his brother. From the repaired docks - Bethany watched - as more ships sailed their way. They like the ships currently occupying the harbor - were from afar - much like the ones that had invaded. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "There is so many of them," she muttered. One of the soldiers present nodded. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "It will take a lot of work - to undo what my brother did," a voice stated. She turned around and saw Nathan. His ribs were tightly bandaged - where Damien's sword had cut. She and many others were amazed that he lived - let alone was able to walk. "But we will make it right," he stated calmly. Bethany looked over at the soldier that was near. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Could you?" she began. He looked over at Nathaniel - he nodded. She then looked over at Nathan. She sighed and lowered her eyes. "I'm glad you're well," she remarked hesitantly. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm just too stubborn to die. I - sent word to your family. I told them everything that happened. They should be here by sunset," he stated calmly as he walked out onto the pier. Her hand reached out to him - but something held her back. "I never wanted to hurt you. I just wanted you to be happy," he added seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know," she replied timidly. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Once - the damage here has been dealt with - we'll be on our way," he stated seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Just like that?" she blurted out. He looked over his shoulder at her. He could see the hurt that was in her watering eyes. He closed his eyes and turned away. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "What more were you expecting? This isn't my home - it never was. I spent so many years running - I almost forgot who I was. My place - is with my people - they need me," he stated - his voice distant. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "But - I - I need you too," she whimpered. He groaned and shook his head. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "That - changes nothing," he muttered under his breath. She stormed over grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then look me in they eyes and say it! Tell me that you don't love me!" she emotionally sobbed. He looked at her shivering face - her watering eyes and looked away. She grabbed his chin and turned his head back so that he was looking at her. "Tell me," she repeated timidly. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "I can't do that," he admitted - stepping away from her. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm stupid okay? I made a mistake - a really stupid one that I will regret and hate myself for - for the rest of my life," she sobbed. Nathaniel sighed - he could feel his hands starting to shake. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "One word - from a total stranger was enough to get you to doubt me," he stated. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm - insecure! I hadn't been with anyone before. I'm sorry. I know I messed things up. I - I'll go - wait for my parents to take me home. I won't bother you anymore," she began as she started to walk away. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Bethany! Wait!" he called out - she stopped. Her hands fidgeted - the rest of her stood - afraid to move or even breathe. "Please - don't - go," he strained to say. She listened as he hesitantly walked towards her. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| His hands - gently held her shoulders. Slowly he hugged her - holding her close. She broke down. She spun around and hugged him tightly. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Ah - easy girl - ribs still hurt a bit," he quietly mused. She loosed her grip as she cried on him. He ran his fingers through her hair as he looked over and saw the envoy that her parents were in. "Your - parents are here," he whispered. She let go and looked over. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Bethany?" her mother called out. Nathaniel watched as Bethany ran over to her mother and hugged her. The look on her father's face was one more untrusting. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Did they hurt you daughter?" the duke asked lowly. Nathaniel sighed and shook his head and carefully made his way onto one of his ships. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Lose the tone duke. Until such time as I leave - these lands are mine," Nathaniel warned. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "If you hurt her," the duke began - drawing his sword - as soon as it was out - over a dozen soldiers had crossbows aimed at him. Nathaniel scowled at the duke. He knew where he was coming from - but he was not in the mood for such attitude. "One wolf - is no better than another," he added - sheathing his weapon. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Think what you will of me. I did not bring this to your lands - I am taking it away. Believe me - I have as little desire to be here - than you," he added seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nathan! Daddy! Stop this!" Bethany interrupted. The two looked at the emotional woman that was trying to keep things civil. "This man that you are attacking - he saved my life," she stated seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "He kidnapped you," the duke corrected. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "He did no such thing. I would have died on that lake when I fell in had he not fished me out. From that moment - I was with him," she defended. The duke looked over at Nathaniel who was still glaring at him. "Even when I - mistrusted him - he still went out of his way to try to save me," she added timidly. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "That true wolf?" the duke almost barked. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "One more time old man - and you will find out how many fangs this injured wolf has!" Nathaniel retorted - drawing his weapon. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Stop it!" Bethany shouted. The two looked over at her. "He said he was going - and - and I'm - going with him - if - he'll have me," she added expectantly. The statement deeply surprised all of them. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Daughter?" the duke muttered. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Beth," Nathaniel almost whispered. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "What will it be? It's up to you," Bethany nervously asked. Nathaniel got off the ship and walked over to where she was. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Where I come from - there are no second chances," he began. She felt as though a hand of ice gripped her heart. "Luckily for you - we aren't there - yet," he added. The grip on her heart instantly melted as she tightly hugged him again. "Easy," he whispered. She relaxed a bit. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Sorry," she mumbled. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Are - you sure this is what you want?" her mother asked. Bethany looked up at Nathaniel and felt herself blushing. She closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest. The duke sighed and shook his head. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "I want only the best for her - if I find out she is getting less - wherever you are - I will find you," the duke stated seriously - extending his hand to Nathaniel. He looked at it for a few seconds then gripped her father's hand. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "I would expect otherwise?" he rebutted. A soldier hurried over and bowed to Nathaniel. "Report," he stated. The soldier got up. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Repairs are done. As soon as the supplies from the transports are unloaded - they should be set to be as they were before we came here," the soldier remarked. It was then that the general and a few men stepped forward. They looked over at the angry looking duke - then made their way towards Nathaniel. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "I put word out about Damien's demise and your return to power sire. All attacks on these lands have stopped - all troops are on route as we speak," the general remarked. Nathaniel nodded. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "I want the soldiers on the ships as soon as they arrive - no contact or trade with any of the locals," Nathaniel stated seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "I shall pass the news along," the general stated as he bowed and walked away. The duke almost growled when the general walked by. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "He severed the one that laid siege to the northern province?" the duke asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "He is the one that helped me take Damien down," Nathaniel replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "One does not erase the other. Do not trust him," the duke warned as he and his family walked away. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "You sure this is what you want? The road ahead will be - troublesome to say the least," he warned. She gently hugged him and sighed. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "So long as I am with you - I don't care. I won't care," she whispered. Nathaniel smiled as the two made their way onto one of his ships. Hours later - that ship and all of the others in the fleet pressed on and sailed outward - slowly fading from sight into the setting sun. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| The end | |||||||||||||||||||||