The Sovereign's Sacrifice ☆ EDITING ☆

Chapter Eleven: Ivan

I stood by the doors that opened up to the balcony overlooking the courtyard. I could hear the people of the town laughing and talking as a crowd. We would be three floors up from the ground at this level.

I adjusted my gloves. I was ecstatic that she had accepted my proposal, but I was worried. I still had much to do to earn her trust. I tensed as I thought about all she had been through.

A few years back, she had been wounded badly in battle. I remember hearing about it from my men. It was only a flesh wound, but it was enough to be problematic.

They were surrounded by the enemy, they mocked her, laughed at her. They claimed that they would be the end of the "great Eliana Fairbain". As they watched, waiting to make their move, she held her blade in the flame of her torch to cauterize it and pressed it to her wound.

She did not scream, she did not show fear. She removed the blade from her skin, brushing her hair away from her wound and smiled deviously.

"Now, which one of you thinks he's man enough to challenge me?" she taunted. "Anyone? Anyone at all?" She continued. "If I beat your chosen fighter, you'll let my men go," she called out.

"If I win, I'll slay your men in battle here, and take you to be my bride," one of the men stepped forward.

"Tsk tsk," she scolded. "I'm the greatest warrior on all the land, and yet still you see me as nothing but a woman to be conquered.  That is your mistake," she smiled at him. "Back away," she growled at my men.

"You don't have to do this m'am," the youngest if the three spoke. "I will fight beside you.

"Stand down," she growled at him and he backed away with the other two soldiers.

"And I have your assurances your word will be kept?" She growled at the enemy.

"Yes," he spoke.

The fight ended nearly as quickly as it began. He lunged at her, she dodged. She pushed herself up over his shoulders, flipping over him and landing just behind him as she drive her sword into his heart from behind.

The enemy stood in a mixture of fear and anger looking on at her. A few lunged forward looking for retribution and she made quick work of them as well before one stepped forward and agreed to honor their fallen leader's word.

She and our men left. She led them back to the palace, refusing medical attention for herself.

As I finished replaying the story my men had told me upon their safe return in my mind, I thought of that day. When they returned, they were covered in blood and minor wounds. She sent the men to the hospital wing. After ensuring their safe arrival, she fled despite the blood seeping from her reopened wound. She avoided the castle unless specifically summoned by me or a member of the council.

Whenever we met in person, she kept her expressions rigid and firm. I could see beyond her sense of duty though, I could see the darkness and hurt in her eyes, I could see the desire to keep others from feeling the way she had. I could see the hope for a stronger future.

That is one of the many reasons I loved her. It was also one of the many reasons my people needed her as their queen. I felt tense, as if I needed to spar.

I felt her hand on my shoulder, I leaned my cheek against it slightly, as I turned.

"I don't look totally rediculous, do I?" she asked as my eyes landed on her.

She wore a tight leather armored top with our family crests at her heart. The fabric cut low against her chest, showing a tasteful amount of cleavage. She wore black leather armored pants and high heeled boots. Atop it all, she wore a long cloak that mirrored a skirt with a train, falling around her legs. Her sword glistened at her side, her arms were covered in the lace sleeves of her cloak.

My eyes met with hers. The stylist had applied little makeup, allowing her beauty to shine through. Her hair, long and dark was half up and half down. It was braided to look like three intertwining roses, with the rest falling behind it.

"You look breathtaking," I spoke, kissing the back of her hand.

"I know this isn't the most traditional attire, but when Delilah showed me, I couldn't say no," she mumbled.

"It's perfect," I smiled. We held hands as we faced forward.