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| The Dream and the Broken Vow | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea lie in her bed, tossing and turning, not being able to get to sleep at all. Her heart pounded for Alexander's safety. If he did survive -- only if her spell had worked -- what would happen afterwards? Would he keep his vow and stay away or would he return to her one last time? Her hopes had become what she'd dreaded they would: she wanted him there with her. She wanted him more than ever now that he was gone. She'd even begun feeling his presence around her when she knew that he couldn't have been. She shrugged it off, but she kept feeling it throughout the day. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| She would have violent mood swings where she would feel him: she would feel like swooning; feel so ecstatic like she was when he was near and she could smell his musky scent; feel so angry that she couldn't be with him; and finally feel an emotion she'd never felt before, but she quite liked it. It was like a fire inside her, her pulse would quicken, and she felt a need for him stronger than ever. And this night -- the night of the same day that she'd performed that spell to save a man she could never possess -- was the worst ever. Her need was so strong that she craved touching a person -- any person! -- and felt like she was losing her mind. Oh, Alexander, she would think. I want you to love me more than you know, and I want to love you, but how can it be? I would gladly live by your side forever! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Often, Molandra would come to comfort her about the stress of the wedding preparations. How was that to comfort her at all? How could Molandra have any idea why she was so distressed? She could only play along for a matter of time. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Her mind raced with the visions of Alexander. How much longer can I take this? She closed her eyes to try to overcome the imaginings. Eventually subsiding, she realized she still couldn't sleep. She stood up, walked over to her bureau and put her dress on and a cloak to keep her warm. She stepped up to her balcony window and saw the rain pouring down in sheets. She grasped her cloak tighter around her shoulders feeling a slight chill come over her. Staring out over the countryside calmed her. She suddenly saw a tiny figure out of the corner of her eye rise over the hill. She stepped out onto the balcony to get a better look and felt drawn to it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Out of pure curiosity, she ran down to the great door of the castle and opened it, dashing out into the storm. The wind whipped at her and the rain was cold against her skin. Looking out across the hills, she could see him riding towards her. The rain lessened somewhat, only pitter-pattering on her face as she watched. She ran out to greet him, running to his horse before he'd even come within any significant distance of the castle. Once she got there, however, she wasn't sure what to do. He dismounted quickly seeing her by his side, swept her up in his arms and kissed her so passionately that she got lost inside it. She'd never felt anything so comforting as his arms around her and his lips on hers. It was as if the world would disappear. "I've dreamt of this since we met," he whispered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. "So have I, Alexander. I love you. I love you so dearly, it seems to hurt. I've been fighting so hard to keep myself from loving you, but it's impossible. And now I don't want anything but to be with you." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hush, Chilandrea. I shall be with you soon." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Soon? But you are here now. And I won't let you leave. Not now that you've come back." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My love. You need not worry at all. Once I'm here, I will not leave your side." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea clutched at his cloak pulling him closer. "You speak as if you're not really here holding me, yet I can feel you and smell you. Why do you speak so?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He touched her chin and gently lifted her head to look at him. "I will not leave your side, even if you ask me to." He smiled sweetly making his eyes glint as he bent to kiss her once more. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I want to be with you no matter what happens. I don't want to hide our love." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Neither do I, but how would they understand?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We'll make them understand. They'll have to believe us." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Listen to me, love," he said looking into her eyes. "This is the only way we can ever meet and you know that. Any other contact and we'd be killed." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But I don't know what you're talking about. We'll be killed meeting like this unless we make them understand!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No one will ever know that we met here. No one can possibly know. It will always be our secret." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea stared at him in confusion. "But... what do you mean? Why won't you tell me?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Just keep this memory close to your heart and that way we'll never be apart." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| She closed her eyes and lowered her head to his chest, his hand holding the back of her head. She pulled her body in close and it felt like his body had become soft as a pillow. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| When she opened her eyes, that was what she was holding -- a pillow. "It was a dream," she whispered. But I could feel him, he was there. How could it have been just a dream? She rolled over and tried to sleep again. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The next morning, Chilandrea stood with Horace in the great hall discussing the upcoming wedding. Horace had been talking with Molandra again and she'd requested that Chilandrea wear white for the wedding. Chilandrea was furious. "She told you to tell me to wear white? Why didn't she just ask me?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I think she believed you would hate the idea and yell about it. She came to me to see if I could perhaps persuade you." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I do not wear white. That must be obvious by now for all I've worn is black. I do not care if it is my wedding day, I will not wear white." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well, I cannot tell you what to do, I am simply the messenger -- which is all I seem to be around here." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chilandrea began to fume. "Dammit, Molandra!" she cried out, trying to summon her. "Molandra! Appear! I must speak with you!" Her voice echoed off the walls through the castle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Molandra suddenly appeared next to Horace, practically knocking him back with surprise. "Yes, Chilandrea?" she asked calmly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Molandra, do you wish me to wear white on my wedding day?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well, yes I do." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then why did you not ask me instead of telling the prince to? Would I not tell you my honest answer in either case?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I thought you would become irritable when I asked you to wear white. It's obvious that you've become even more angry, so I know for the future." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "All High Priestess, you welcomed me to be independent and unique when I came to you for advice. When I told you of my detest for white robes, you told me that it was just what the people were used to and that it was alright for me to wear black. Now that my wedding is approaching, you want me to wear white just like everyone else? How dare you ask that of me!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Chilandrea, the people of this kingdom are expecting a beautiful wedding," she said, placing her arm over Chilandrea's shoulder for comfort. "They expect to see a handsome young man being married to a beautiful young woman -- the most powerful and beautiful woman in this kingdom -- and they expect to see her wearing the most beautiful white gown. You know that this kingdom follows tradition and their tradition when it comes to marriage is that the lady wears a lovely white dress." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Molandra, I do not wear white. I will not wear white. You know that!" She wormed out from under Molandra's arm and glared at her. "I only follow the rules of the order. I do not intend to bend myself to the tradition of this country. Do not expect that of me!" And with that, she stormed off into the hallways leading to her chamber. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Molandra turned to Horace. "I do apologize, Your Majesty. She's very fickle when it comes to her clothing. I do not understand why she gets so emotional over such trivial things. I hope that her husband straightens her out a bit, but not too much. We need that mind of hers if our country wants to come out on top." She smiled at Horace, making him very uneasy. He thought that smiling back would be the best idea, so he did so. "I'm glad we agree. If you need anything before the wedding, Your Majesty, just give a shout and I'll be there to help." She winked and vanished. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My God," he said to himself. The pair of them were enough to create a war before your eyes. He knew that when both were in the same room, he would make sure never to cross them. That included the marriage as well. He decided to get to his chambers to relax a bit and shake off the odd feeling he got from the All High Priestess. Before he could take a step, he heard a loud shout from the street outside the castle doors. Turning with curiosity, he thought, Who would be outside in this weather? It's storming out! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All at once, the doors flew open and Alexander leapt off his horse, sopping wet yet looking happier than ever. "Horace!" he cried. "The battle is over, the war is won! We have nothing to worry about!" He patted Horace on the shoulders, splattering him with droplets that flew from his hands and clothing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Alexander... what... what are you doing here? You said you were never coming back." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I've returned because of my fate. I've been saved from certain death and am off to welcome my newly restored life with open arms. It's been a long ride here considering I've ridden all night and as you can see, it hasn't been very pleasant weather, so I'd like to go and rest before I enjoy my life." He turned away and ran quickly down the East wing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But Alexander, your room is... that way," Horace called, his voice dying off as he realized exactly what and who he was going to welcome with open arms. He was off to Chilandrea. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| On to the next chapter! Back to the start... |
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