By the time we arrived in Kalison’s inner-city, it was rather late. The city lights had gone out and the streets seemed rather barren, except for the soldiers on patrol. You could hear whispers and there was a soft glow from the candles in the tavern which kept the place lit. I saw by the way he was gazing, it took everything in Eák not to run inside. The man certainly did have a deficit when it came to women and alcohol, didn’t he?
“Can I help you?” I heard the voice and turned to see a rather gruff looking soldier. He wore a city guard uniform, though it looked as if he had not washed it in easily a week. His breath smelled of alcohol and the tone in his voice was anything but pleasant. Essentially, if it had been any other day I would have been scolding this man.
“I believe you may be able too,” I said in the most non-threatening voice I could muster.
His eyes shifted between me and the two men behind me, seeming quite unsure of what to do.
Eák stepped forward before anyone could continue. “This is Lady Alaya Nol. We are here as guests of the court. We have just arrived though I am afraid the caravan will not be here until later. If you would be so kind as to lead us to the main gate so that we can find our accommodations for the night?”
With Eák's statement, the soldier's back shot straight and he quickly led us about the empty city streets. It did not take long for us to reach the gates, and once we did we were passed off to a member of the Royal Guard for entrance. As we entered I heard the soldier say to Eák. “Please don't tell the Commander. I swear it was only one drink.” I could not make out Eák's response but soon he had joined back up with us.
The Royal Guard asked both Liam and Eák some questions before leading us into a well-lit corridor. They seemed satisfied with the answers as we were led to a couple of rooms.
“The room to the right is for the Lady.” The guard began. “The room to the Left can be shared among the gentlemen.” With that, the guard left to return to his station.
I entered the room. The candles were all lit, as if someone had long since been expecting our arrival. The room was far more extravagant than anything I had ever stayed in. The bed was as large as the Commander’s tent, the cloth that was draped around was covered in delicately eccentric designs, which matched the flowing drapes covering the windows and cascaded to the floor. Candlelight danced over the intricately carved wood of the desk by the window and the dresser beside the door. Beautifully colored stone, lined the walls. It all seemed to be so extravagant.
I threw off the bag I had been carrying and draped myself across the bed. It had been a very long few days. Thoughts raced through my mind, and one blaring question: “Am I going to be able to do this??”
I laid awake for quite some time agonizing over the expectations set on me for tomorrow. I was to present myself to the Royal Court and be ready to answer the hardest questions. Why are you here? Where have you been? What are your intentions? Why are you not married yet?
I heard the door creak and a low voice whisper from the outside. “Alaya, you up?” It was Liam.
“Yes, do you want to come in?” I asked.
“Uhh... Well, I shouldn't. This is not the camp, I don't believe that would be appropriate.” Liam responded cautiously.
I thought for a moment, he was right, however... “Liam, no one knows of our arrival yet. Please come in. It’ll harm nothing.”
“...Okay...” He said hesitantly.
Liam carefully slid through the doorway and closed it behind him. He stood in the archway for a moment before walking over to the bench I had sat down on. I was still wearing the dress he purchased me earlier that day. I’d not yet had the energy to change into anything else.
As he sat down his eyes seemed to draw lines on the floor at our feet.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yes, I'm okay. It is just... a lot.” His eyes began to draw up from the floor and meet mine. “Do you ever feel like maybe we could have made different choices?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don't know. It is just. You and I, we have been through so much together. All these years we’ve always had each other’s back. I wonder if maybe we could have made different choices, we may have come to a different situation right now.” His eyes seemed almost pained as he spoke. There was a smile on his lips, but it seemed tenser, the free and honest one he always wore wasn't there.
“Liam. I'm not sure what you are getting at.” I was perplexed, but the light shining on his face... Those eyes... The look he was giving me... It all seemed so bare.
“What are we doing here... You are here to find a suitor Alaya.” He strained.
“What? Liam. It's okay. It’s all just for show. That is to appease the court while I do my job, remember?”
Even as the words left my lips it felt dishonest. I did not intend to seek out a husband anytime soon. But I knew I would have to be attending to suitors while I was here. I never thought... I knew it would be complicated.
“Liam, we have always been there for each other. This is nothing to worry about. No matter what happens here that will never change. You have always been by my side. When we joined up together you were the only part that got me through so much of that time.”
I couldn't help but recall a time long ago. Liam and I met when I was a young woman. My father had brought my sister and me to court, but I was not the least bit into the dances or politics that circulated the place, seemingly permeating every crack and crevice. While my father was speaking with one of the other Lords, I decided to take a walk. I left out into the gardens and hid behind trees. I did not want to return. I was not interested in participating in any of their games and with my father focused on more important matters, such as that of the marriage of my older sister, I was free to explore. That was until I caught his attention again.
As I was hiding behind a rather small pine, I noticed a shimmer reflecting the sunlight. When I went to see what it was I found a young man, about my age, digging through a bush. He was searching for something. I got on my hands and knees and began to wage into the bushes beside him.
“Are you looking for something?” I asked blatantly.
“OH! Ouch!” Jumping as his head connected with a branch. “... Eh... Who are you?” He squeezed out as he rubbed the now tender bump.
“I'm Alaya,” I said doing my best to hold my hand in front of me in greeting. “Did you lose something?”
He looked extremely nervous and I was having way too much fun not to laugh at him.
“I lost my locket. It is important to me and I dropped it.” He exclaimed.
“Oh. You mean this one?” I reached down to where I had seen the sun reflecting back at me, grasping the locket and jumping out of the bushes. He stood abruptly and I glanced back at him giving him the best devilish grin I could muster. I turned on my heels and began to race ahead.
“Hey! That's mine!” He yelled as we ran around the garden, the young man hot on my heels.
I laughed and giggled as I curved his attempts to catch me. I raced past the trees, around the bushes, jumped the fountain, and planted my feet just in time to turn and stick out my tongue at the young man, who had most definitely lost. That was, except for the fact that the fountain had not slowed him down at all. In fact, by the time I had turned around, he was already mid-air and hurdling right at me. We crashed to the ground together, we rolled across the grass of the garden. When we came to a stop, my dress was covered in stains and he had landed, dizzily, right on top of me. He looked down... grinned... and snatched back the locket. Needless to say, I had always had a competitive spirit.
After that day we never parted. Turned out his dad was one of the soldiers assigned to my father's estate. Every day we would sneak into the fields to race, or challenge each other to the next adventure, I never doubted I had found a loyal friend in him. When the day came that I had decided to join the Royal Army, Liam stood by me, joined along with me, and had been my support every day since.
Captain ensured we were assigned to the same platoon. We marched into battle together countless times, and he had saved my hide more times then you could imagine. Neither of us sought out any kind of romantic relationships, there was never time, or reason. Instead, we grew close and always were attached to one another. He became the one person for me. The one I confided in, and the one I trusted above all else.
“... Alaya... What am I to you?” The question left Liam's lips and I was jolted back to the moment. As I heard his words, I was in such a shock, I didn't know how to interpret them.
“Liam... What do you mean?”
Liam's eyes traced the flow of the dress I was wearing. I saw a fire start in his eyes as he moved his hand up my arm. He placed it softly against my cheek, and as if on instinct I leaned into the warmth. He had always been a place of comfort for me. I closed my eyes and gently pressed my hand to the back of his. For a moment I just wanted to enjoy the warmth of having him there with me. I opened my eyes... He was looking carefully at my face, my eyes, and slowly down to my lips...
I felt my face getting warm and I saw his smile spread as he watched me. He dipped his head and placed a kiss on my cheek. “I'm sorry. Am I making you nervous Alaya?” I heard something in his voice that I did not recognize. I had known Liam forever. I had heard him speak a thousand times. But the way his voice caressed my mind. What is wrong with me...?
“Well. This doesn't seem very proper now Lieutenant.” Eák's voice shot me back from my daze. Back to the real world. My heart tinged as Liam abruptly stood up and yanked his hands away. “I'll be honest. I didn't know you had it in you.”
I shook the daze from my eyes and stared at Eák. “It was nothing inappropriate… uh… we were just talking.”
“With all due respect My Lady, you are not at fault here. Liam, let’s discuss this outside.” Eák's voice was not the usual smooth. He did not have the humor in it that seemed to drip from every comment he usually made.
Liam turned back as he followed Eák out of the room. The fire in his eyes still burning before he closed the door and I was left on my own.
Comments (0)
See all