Back to the start...
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| Ten'oio Alye' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| That night Alexander wanted to visit Chilandrea, but was afraid that he might be seen on his way, and there was no way to contact her to make him invisible again. So, he sat. He sat in the chair by his window staring out, wondering how far off his brother was. He waited. How soon would Merrick be arriving? Would he know that he, Alexander, was already there? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alexander heard a small whoosh behind him and turned with a jerk to stare at it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Chilandrea! How...? Oh, I don't care." He took her in his arms and kissed her as if he hadn't seen her for years. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Once the kiss ended, she held up a small kit wrapped in a bundle. "The ingredients we needed. All is ready for our own ceremony." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Could I just make love to your Ladyship before we begin?" he asked in a seductive tone, his lips creeping closer to hers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| She dodged him, saying, "My dear and most noble knight. We must be pure for this ritual. Would you taint me in this life and the next?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Oh, I would taint you for the rest of my life." He hungrily lurched at her neck, but she pulled away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You may taint me when we are through," she laughed. "Now come here." She walked over to the small hearth and conjured a roaring fire. She opened the bundle on the floor, kneeling beside the fire, and removed a tiny silver needle, a bottle of thick black liquid that must be the ink made of gnome bones, and the small book with the incantations inside. "Remove your shirt." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Of course, my lady," he said, obeying at once. He sat in front of her, his back facing her, and waited. He could feel her hand resting on his left shoulder while she heated the needle in the fire. She dipped the needle into the inkbottle and sat close to him. Her thighs brushed against him as she neared him, her body pressed provocatively against his back. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We must put the symbols close to our hearts, but I fear that our chests might be too conspicuous. So, the left shoulder blade is where the tattoo will go." He could feel her breath on the back of his neck, exciting him. The first pierce of the needle caused his back to arch in pain, even though it was only a pinch. As she let the needle draw out the shapes, she said, "Maranwe alye'." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It didn't take nearly as long as he thought it would, and soon, she had set the needle down and was blowing on the tattoo to dry it. Alexander waited for her to stop when he quickly turned around, grabbed her around the waist and lay her across his lap. "It's becoming difficult to stay away from you, my forbidden fruit." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| She giggled at his remark. "You may take me, Sir Knight, but only after you've completed your duties," she said sitting up. "Follow the instructions in the book." She pulled the shoulder of her gown down to her elbow to expose the area for the tattoo. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He stared at her shoulder. It was so tantalizing. The gentle slope of her shoulder, the small curve of her neck tempted him to run his lips over her entire body. He glanced at the book and dipped the needle into the ink to rid the vision from his mind. The first symbol was an ornate C that connected to the second symbol that looked much like a W from the bottom right to the top right. Taking a deep breath, he gently poked the point into her skin. He grabbed her hand to comfort her, yet it seemed as though her pain was not as great as his had been. Following each step, he said, "Maranwe alye'." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As the needle made its last stroke, he kissed the crook of her neck and held her body as close as he could. "Now we cannot turn back. Our bond is eternal," she whispered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Ten'oio alye'." His fingertips ran gently over her jaw, down her neck, pulling her face to his. His lips barely touched hers, gracefully brushing across her skin. She sighed as she relaxed into his arms, letting him proceed to please her. He kissed her neck so passionately she felt as if her head was spinning. He whispered in her ear, "Stay with me, Chilandrea. Make this moment last forever." His soft touch guided her sleeve off her arm and his lips traced the edge of her collarbone, the center of her breastbone, her body arching to meet him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All thoughts of the future disappeared. Merrick was nonexistent. There was no one but them, nothing but this. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Night after night the two met in secret, laying together in each other's arms until dawn. Each night was more passionate and more magical than the last. Alexander had never known a need so strong before and he felt as though he could defy the laws of nature when he was with her. He wanted to fly, to disappear into her. He wanted everything and nothing. He wanted her. She was his only fate, his only dream, desire, possession. And the most wonderful part of it all -- she felt the same way. He'd started to watch her sleep, seeing how at rest she was, so peaceful, like there was nothing that could ever harm her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| One night, Chilandrea dreamt... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| She had awoken in her bed alone and Alexander was nowhere to be seen. She sat up and called out to him. She stood and entered her main room to find him donning his clothes to leave. "Where are you going? It's not nearly morning yet." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I've had enough," he scoffed. "I've had my fill of you, woman, and now I've done. Leave me be." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "W-what? What are you saying?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I said, woman, that I'm done using you for my whore. I'm leaving so that no one can find me, and I'll break your little heart. Aw, did you truly think that a man who knew the Divine Law would try to touch you without getting into your good graces first?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You knew? But... you said..." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I lied. You are so na�ve." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Suddenly, she stood in her chambers with Merrick and Molandra to one side of her and Alexander and Horace to the other. She was in front of her bed wrapped only in a sheet, trying desperately to keep covered. Molandra was looking evil and Merrick looked as though he was her puppet. Alexander was fully dressed as he'd left her, staring in triumph at his surroundings. Alexander was claiming that he had done what he'd dreamed of doing all his life: seducing a priestess. And now that they had caught him trying to leave the castle, he'd confessed with pride. Horace looked vindictively at both of them. She tried to cry out that she'd had no knowledge of this, but no sound came. Molandra turned to her and said, "I tried to warn you, my child. He was only sent here to test your strength, and you have failed. And he was only to make you touch him, but he has failed. I'm so disappointed in you. You had such potential." She raised her hands up, pointing them at Chilandrea and Alexander. "But now I have to kill you both." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No!" she cried, sitting up. She blinked. She was back in her bed, and yet Alexander was not with her. "Alexander?" she whimpered, to stunned to shout. Could her dream be true? Was that truly to happen or was it just a dream? She started to tremble. Donning her robe, she rushed into the main room to find it empty. How could this be? "Alexander?" she whispered again. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes?" She turned back to the room she'd just left, glancing at the balcony to see him there in the window in only his breeches. "Chilandrea, are you alright?" he asked concerned, stepping forward. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| She rushed forward into his arms and burst into tears of relief. "Oh, Alexander. I had a dream that frightened me so. You had used me and did not love me at all and Molandra was to kill us both for betraying her. Please, please tell me you truly love me." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I do, Chilandrea. I love you. Never doubt that." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You... you had called me a whore... I couldn't... I was..." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Shhh, it's fine now. We're together." He squeezed her close, kissing her head. "I would never hurt you." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm sorry. I just can't tell the difference between the visions and ordinary dreams." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I understand. Come, just go back to bed." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No, let's just stay here at the window, please. Let us watch the sun rise together." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Fine." He leaned up against the window frame staring out over the horizon, holding her close. She was shaking terribly in his arms and he became very concerned. Maybe their falling in love was not the best thing to happen if she went through something like this. The fear would drive her mad worse than losing him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Just as she began to calm down, there was a light knock on the door followed by it abruptly swinging open. Horace stepped in, calling out to Chilandrea, but when he peered into the bedchamber, his jaw dropped. Chilandrea took a sharp gasp and Alexander whipped his head back to the door. "Your Majesty... I..." she stuttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He simply held up his hand. "Alexander," he said slowly. "You lied to me." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No. I never lied to you." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You told me that this obsession was over." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nay, I said that I was no longer in pursuit of her." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It is the same thing!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nay! I was no longer in pursuit for I had already won her affection! Please, do not be angry." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Horace glared at him. "You deceived me. She is to be married to your brother in a week's time! How could you risk your life and hers for this?! Your lust will get you both killed!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nay!" said Chilandrea, suddenly piping in. "I love him and I trust his love to me. It was my choice to betray the law, not his." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He's still dead if you're caught. It doesn't make any difference! And since you let this happen, you will suffer for it!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I won't let that happen," said Alexander stepping in front of her in protection. "If we're discovered, I will tell them that I forced myself on her, that she had no choice." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No!" she cried. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He turned and pleaded to her. "Listen to me. You wanted to sacrifice yourself for our happiness, and I won't let you sacrifice yourself only to live in oblivion. I'll be killed either way. Don't throw your life away just to be faithful to my heart. It's not worth it." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nay, I cannot do it. If they ask me, I cannot lie about it. I don't want to lie about loving you if you're to die anyway." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You have to." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Listen, I know this is a big discussion that you two must have, but could you please pay attention to the fact that I still disapprove?!" They stared at him. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do now. I've just found my best friend in the arms of my untouchable priestess. How does a prince react to this?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Please, do not tell Molandra," said Chilandrea. "Just let us have our week and I will marry Lord Merrick without a word. It does no harm to leave us to each other." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Horace looked very reluctant to agree, but eventually he did. Alexander and Chilandrea thanked him so many times that he didn't know what to do but leave and go back to his own room. And as soon as he'd gone, Alexander turned to her in desperation. "Chilandrea, there is no need to tell anyone of your love. You love me. I love you. That is all we need to know and if anyone else knows, you will never be respected anywhere in this world again." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why should I care about respect when you're gone? I don't want to live in riches if you're not there with me." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Because I do not want you to suffer for me. Please... when we are discovered..." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If we are discovered," she corrected. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "When we are discovered and they ask you if I forced myself on you or if you let it happen, promise me that you will lie. Promise me." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Chilandrea, promise me! Don't do this to yourself! Promise me that you will say that I forced you." She hesitated. "Please, promise." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Alright. I will lie for you." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Not for me, for your own good." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then I will live on with your brother because you told me to. I will never be happy because you told me to lie." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You make it sound like it's the end of the world." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "To me it will be." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| On to the next chapter! Back to the start... |
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