Chapter 29: Chapter 29
Keres stared up at her Father with a heart raging with uncertainty and her eyes that failed so hard to speak the grief in her soul. She still couldn’t believe what was about to happen or what had already happened because from the way he said everything, it was as if they had already spoken to King Bhaltair about this. “Father,” she began and she realized she didn’t even know what to say. “You can’t do this to me, right? How can I get married to King Bhaltair of all people? Can we please find a way to make peace with him but not this?” Her voice shook as she spoke because a part of her told her that her plea would go unheard to her Father, they had already finalized everything and King Bhaltair wasn’t someone to joke with and change words for.
He shook his head and stood up to meet her eyes, “I know, Keres. I know what you must be feeling now, there would be pain, fear and the feeling of being lost. I’m here for you whenever you need help about something, Keres. But we have to do this to save our clan, you have to know that he’s not the type that takes things easy. Clearing the entire Kestramore is nothing but a mere joke to him.” He said sadly and Keres realized she had never seen her Father as worried as he looked today. She had to do something about it, she had to get married to King Bhaltair to save her clan.
And now that she thought about it, no one was as powerful as him, and having him as a husband would give her the ability to avenge on Aranya without any difficulties. That calmed her down even though she could feel the raging waves of pain trying to overcome her entire being. She sighed and took a hold of her Father’s outstretched hands, “I will, Father. I will get married to King Bhaltair to save our clan from his wrath.”
Her Father tightened his hold on her hand and smiled, “Thank you for being a brave princess, my darling.” She nodded her head and after he had told her that it will only take a few days for her to get married to King Bhaltair, she walked to her Mother’s chamber. And when she entered, she saw her slowly sipping tea as she was obviously deep in her thoughts. She managed to paint a smile on her lips as she moved further into the room.
“Mother,” she said silently and sat down beside her with a faint smile. “How are you feeling?” She knew what she was ruminative about, it was the marriage she heard about and everyone would be afraid on her behalf. But she believe she would be fine, nothing would go wrong so long as she was being careful. And after all, this marriage would be useful to her as well, she would get to avenge on Jaromir’s death without any difficulty.
•
Lorcán slowly found his way back to the room he had kept her in, it was late at night that he wondered if she had woken up or not. It was high time she woke up at least. He had roamed through the city of Elfnour, and even though everything felt the same as it used to be, nothing felt the same at the same time. It was cold and he felt the emptiness of the whole city trying to weigh him down. He realized that he was hungry and Aranya too would be when she woke up but the only thing he could find were fruits. He ate some and brought back some for her.
He entered the room and found her seated on the middle of the bed with her hands wrapped around her whole body as she shivered in cold. He rushed inside and wrapped his hands around her, “How are you feeling, Aranya?” She looked up at him and then back at the room that looked alien to her. She knew they were no more in Zinambra because if they were, she wouldn’t have seen Lorcán here with her. And the ambience felt light and lively unlike that of Zinambra.
“Where are we?” She asked with so much aplomb because even breathing felt so hard for her and talking was the hardest. But she wanted to know if they were safe. Whether Betla could track them down here or not.
Instead of him to answer her, he stood up and walked to the closet before he got a bigger blanket. He draped it over her body and made sure she was feeling less cold then now. He stared into her eyes with a soft smile on his lips, he was glad that she had finally woken up but he couldn’t help being afraid that Betla would harm her again, because they both knew that she wouldn’t let it go easily. “We’re in Elfnour, Aranya. My hometown, we’re safe, for now at least.”
She turned around again, even though it was dark outside, the lights in the room were comforting. She nodded her head and closed her eyes, resting her head on her brought up knees. Lorcán fixed his eyes on her before he spoke further, “I could only find fruits for us, Aranya.” He came back bearing the basket he had put in the fresh fruits and she managed to open her eyes.
“How long have I been sleeping?” She asked, because the way she felt in her body, she knew this certainly wasn’t good. Betla was doing something back in Zinambra, she could feel everything within her body.
“Five days, you’ve been asleep for five days. But I fed you with my blood throughout, did that help?” He asked, staring into her eyes looking so clueless and helpless that Aranya felt as her heart filled with his love. How did she get so lucky to have someone like him in her life? After all she had done for him, the brother she had killed for him, he still loved her this much. Was this the person Betla wanted her to lose? If she lost Lorcán she was certain she can never find someone like him, ever again.
She flashed him a dry smile while nodding her head at him, “It did, a lot. I’m certain it’s what keeps my life hanging on the air.” He smiled at her and she could see the worry lines on his forehead vanishing. “Give me a hug.” She opened her arms widely with tears pooling the brink of her eyes while Lorcán pulled her to him and she rested her head on his chest. “I’m glad you’re fine, Lorcán.”
“Shh…” he said lovingly and kept on fondling her head while she lain on his chest silently.
Aranya had never imagined she would feel this way if she ran away from home, was it because she had never run away? She wondered. Now that she had thought about it, she had never even thought of running away from home. But she had missed Betla, she wanted to see her and to know if she was fine. How had she taken what she had done to her? Did it hurt her so much that she couldn’t even bare it? Is she still in so much pain now?
“I miss her, Lorcán. I hope she’s fine.” She whispered and Lorcán tightened his hold on her as he rested his head on top of hers.
“I understand how you’re feeling, Aranya. She’s fine, I’m sure. You should visit her someday, maybe when she’s not angry with you anymore. Let’s first hunt for a powerful man for her, will that do?” She looked up at him with a bewildered expression as if she couldn’t believe he had thought about this. He chuckled and cleared the tears on her lips, “I know that she badly needs a blood of power to avenge on whatever it is she wants to, Aranya. Let’s give her that power to.”
“She deserves that from me. I promised to her that I will, after all.”
“Let’s lure an evil yet powerful man, we can do this.” She nodded her head and rested her head back on his chest and they stood like that for a few more minutes. They were all engulfed in there thoughts while all Aranya could think of was her mother. She wondered if she was fine, if she was doing well or if she had gone out of her way searching for her.
Her stomach made a groaning sound and Lorcán pulled her away from his body, “Let’s feed your stomach with these fruits, okay? You ought to be hungry.” She nodded her head and he handed her one of the fruits, “I’ll go somewhere nearby by tomorrow and get us some food items.” She nodded her head again and began to take the fruit.
She smiled, “Thank you for being here for me, Lorcán. I don’t know what I would’ve become without you in my life.” She really didn’t. Because he might not know or realized yet, but she would have been lost without Lorcán in her life.
•
Keres stood in the ceremony as she fixed her eyes on the ground, she didn’t have to look up to see him while he walked inside. She had never seen King Bhaltair but she had known his name since she was a little girl and hated that name for as long as she could remember being able to differentiate between her feelings. And getting married to him today was something she hadn’t even imagine in her life, but this was reality and she had to act accordingly.
She heard the way the hall was engulfed with silence and she didn’t have to be told that he had walked in, there were breaths that were surged and through the net that had covered her face, if she wanted, she can easily stare up at his face but she wouldn’t do that. She didn’t want to see his face. She felt his presence slowly coming closer until he stood in front of her and no matter how Keres had gotten herself prepared for this situation, she couldn’t help the sweaty palms and how she was feeling the erratic beating of her heart.
She was doing this for her clan, she reminded herself.
She heard as the marriage rituals went on, how her shaky voice said ‘I do.’ As though she was somehow forced or if she didn’t say that, this hall would be turned into a pool of blood in the blink of an eye. She heard as they were pronounced as husband and wife and somehow if she wasn’t mistaken, King Bhaltair was asked to kiss his bride. If not for self control, she would’ve taken a step back when he took a step toward her, but she stood firm and waited until he lifted her net and when she lifted her eyes up, their eyes met and he smirked at her.
She watched the way he moved toward her face until he merged their lips together. He kissed her lightly before he pulled away but she was still dumbstruck. She had never imagined this was the way he looked. He was so handsome and somehow, he didn’t look as old as his name sounded. He smirked at her again, “Looks like getting married to you wasn’t a bad idea after all.” He was talking in puzzles, the mischievous smirk on his face was making everything so hard to understand and the looks on his face, she wasn’t sure about anything anymore.
She stood there as he was escorted out of the hall by her Father and other royal elites and it was said, she would be escorted to Belrynna in a few days when she’s done getting all her things ready. She couldn’t believe everything that was happening right now and one thing was certain, she had to go and ask Desdemona, she knew everything after all. After she was escorted back to her chamber, she told Katharina not to look for her and got on the back of her bird and flew to Elara directly. She was panting for her breath when she stood in front of the cave and knocked.
Desdemona opened the door with a lazy smile, she stared at her for a few minutes before she grinned. “Woah! Looks like I should start calling you Your Highness. The first woman King Bhaltair has ever agreed to marry in his life. Congratulations on your wedding, Keres.” Why did she have to know everything?!