I Need To Remember

Chapter Seven

Riftan stood facing his opponent, a thin sheen of sweat running down his back. He couldn't quite understand how he'd gotten into this predicament. With all of the squires, knights, and even some negligant servants watching him, he did not recall feeling more nerve-wracked before. But then there was Maxi with that worried look on her face; so he had made it a rule to keep his collected, unbothered expression, even as he felt like a total halfwit.

Staring into the overly excited face of Hebaron Nirta, he thought this aggravating man must be one of the things in his life which balanced out how wonderful it was to be with Maxi. Because even as he had no real clue how to wield this sword, Riftan desperately wanted to use it to wipe that obnoxious look away.

A few blissful days had passed since their passion in the library; they had spent most of the time together, resting or sneaking around like silly teenagers. With the ice cracked between them, it almost felt like a sweet honeymoon. Riftan found that he liked to watch Maxi eat- seeing her nibble on their meals was the epitome of cute, and feeding her was even better. She had taken to reading to him at night, that soft voice lulling him to sleep before he would pull her in for cuddles, forcing her to drop the book and join him in dreamland. For a while he could irresponsibly pretend there were no problems with his state of mind, but then he would catch her with a sad look she tried to hide, a furrowed brow, and feel like he was not doing enough. But bringing his memories back did not prove to be easy.

Today, they were arguing about who should bathe where.

He noticed that she would leave the room everytime, and thought it was unfair that Maxi should have to walk all the way to the separate bathroom while he lazily stayed put. So, trying to be courteous, he suggested they switch. She was more adamantly against it than he would have thought. But after a short quarrel he was easily able to convince her, reminding his wife that his pain had finally stopped. Besides, he could easily navigate the way there without help.

"I'm not a complete ignoramus, just let me go. I can easily ring if I need you, promise."

I always need you.

Dear God, he was becoming more corny by the minute. But she distracted him from his thoughts.

"I k-know...you want to help, but it's easier for me to go there, so just stay put." Maxi stubbornly met his gaze. A sudden question occurred to him.

"Is that what we did before? You had to go all the way over there while I stayed here?" He hated that idea. Subconsciously, his eyes began to trail up her body, all the way from her tiny feet to her now blushing face. One of his eyebrows raised.

"N-No, uh, um- we would do it together..!" She covered her face and backed up the tiniest bit from him, while Riftan digested that information with red creeping up his neck. Trying to cover up his own feelings, he took a step toward her and grasped one of her hands. Pulling it back with a wolfish grin, he almost sang:

"I think I'd prefer our old methods." Her jaw quivered like she was considering it, but then she maneuvered his large body towards the doors and promptly pushed him out with a firey expression- in more ways than one.

"Take the other room!" She slammed the door shut, and Riftan thought he heard a sigh from the other side.

Maybe that was too far.

Riftan rubbed his neck, thinking of how to apologize when he got back as he walked in the direction of the room. Maxi had told him of it days ago in case of emergency. He was happy his brain seemed to retain new information well, because knocking and asking for directions just then would have been severely awkward.

He strolled in the hall, trying to look confident, or lordly so no one would question him. But he might have just looked scary, as one of the maids cleaning immediately fled from the sight of him. Riftan inwardly cringed and dropped the act; he probably looked stupid. Suddenly he noticed someone rushing his way.