Intoxicating Desires | T. Al Ghul ✔

[21]

News of Talia Al Ghul returning to the base at Nanda Parbat at last spread rather quickly. Veruna heard of it too and she was also eager to meet her Lady.

The news of Talia's return was taken in a very different way as compared to the news of Dusan or Nyssa's arrival. The whole League went into preparations and everything was being arranged according to her liking.

Veruna got busy as well in all the preparations and finally it was the day Talia Al Ghul was going to come back to the base.

The gates parted to let in Talia's horse and she was welcomed by the League festively. Ra's Al Ghul wasn't at the base right then but he too had learned of Talia handling the matters in Gotham effectively. So it was expected that he would return soon and be pleased with his chosen heir.

Veruna stood among the other members, watching her Lady from afar. The travel had done good to her as her emerald eyes sparkled brightly and the smile in her face didn't seem forced.

Eventually as she descended from her horse and it was taken to the saddle, the League members began to disperse as well with Talia ordering them to look after her luggage as she regained hold of the authority she held at the base.

She didn't waste even a second as she assigned new tasks to the members and after she was done, she approached Veruna who was awaiting her orders.

"I require your assistance, follow me," the woman beckoned and Veruna nodded obediently, following her to her chamber.

Talia had returned after a very tiring journey so Veruna expected her to ask her to relieve that exhaustion. Either she would tell her to prepare a hit water bath for her or she would ask her to give her a massage.

Though as the woman closed the door behind her and turned to face Talia, the very warm and unfamiliar look in her eyes took her by surprise.

"Vera, I missed you so much," Talia remarked, stepping closer and engulfed her in a hug.

It took her by surprise but then Veruna had missed her too so hesitantly, she hugged her back. Talia held her even tighter at that gesture, closing her eyes briefly and the fact that she hadn't pushed her away made Veruna's hesitation fade too.

The embrace reminded both of the times when they were very young. Talia would be much more openly affectionate towards her then she was at the moment. And it wasn't until Ra's had constantly hammered into her head that Veruna was a servant and they must have a barrier between them that Talia had stopped.

"Did you miss me too?" She asked as she pulled apart, hands still lingering at her arms.

"I did. How was your travel?"

"Oh I have such a lot to tell you," she exclaimed and Veruna could sense the excitement coursing through her veins.

It had been a long time since she had seen Talia so excited and passionate about something. And it made a smile play upon Veruna's lips to see her as such.

"I guess you had a lovely time in Gotham," Veruna remarked, gently retrieving her arms from Talia's grip as she busied herself with helping Talia rest.

"Lovely? I don't know but interesting nevertheless," she replied, resting her head back as Veruna gently removed her boots and propped her feet up at the foot stool in front of her lounging chair.

Veruna carried out all her tasks diligently while listening to Talia tell her about Gotham and it's vigilantes. She also told her about the Wayne family and how she was so intrigued to find out more about the enigma that hid behind the billionaire Bruce Wayne.

She could also guess that Talia had grown fond of the boy Richard she had mentioned so often and seeing her talk about someone else in that way made Veruna realize exactly how Talia was able to guess earlier that she was fond of Amma's family.

Right then the situation wasn't much different for her as she could see Talia was quite interested in the Wayne family.

After Talia was done telling her all she wanted, she turned to look at her, "now you tell me what I missed in these few months."

Veruna recounted everything that had happened but also said that things back at the base weren't as eventful to grab her interest. But Talia was listening closely still, waiting to hear about a certain family that Veruna had intentionally left out.

"And what about the peasant family? Did you not go to visit them in my absence?" Talia asked, keeping her tone nonchalant but her eyes were focused on Veruna intently.

Veruna stiffened slightly, "not often, my Lady. I stayed at the base."

"Good... How are they faring?" She didn't seem eager to leave that topic, "and how's Assam? Last time I met the poor boy, he got hurt accidentally. He was prowling in the hunting grounds and my arrow scraped past him. Luckily, Dusan was able to treat the cut right there."

"Oh," Veruna hadn't known about that as Saahir hadn't mentioned it and it seemed that he told the children not to bring it up in front of her either, "he's alright."

Talia waited for her to add something so Veruna took in a deep breath, letting her know what she wanted.

"They are all well, my Lady. I'm obliged that you're concerned for their well-being."

Talia nodded with a smile, "good. I told you before and I'll say it again, I mean them no harm. I'm just curious about them because you seem fond of them."

"I... I promise not to put anyone in between my duty to you and the League. I give you my word, my Lady."

She took in a deep breath and it seemed as if all her good mood was replaced with a strange insecurity, a slight sadness creeping into her eyes.

"Not even him?" Talia asked, her hand reaching out to gently touch her cheek as if afraid that Veruna was just a hallucination who would vanish any minute.

Veruna shuddered at the question because even she did not know the answer.

"Tell me, Vera," she entreated, an unfathomable expression evident in her eyes.

"My Lady, no one can take your place," Veruna replied, taking her hands in her own, "you are most important to me."

And she was honest in saying that. She had become much closer to Saahir but he couldn't replace the importance Talia held in her heart. She loved Saahir but Talia had been the reason for her existence for more than fourteen years, she couldn't overlook that.

Talia took in a deep breath, her eyes falling shut in relief, "I'm glad to hear that. I wish this never changes."

"It won't," she assured her, "I've sworn my life to you the day you saved me from being executed. I have not forgotten where my loyalty lies, my Lady, and I will never forget."

She tilted her head towards her, emerald irises looking sideways into her hazel ones, "my lovely Veruna, you have no idea how precious you are to me. It scares me to think that you'll leave me and that's why I get too possessive over you."

"I'm honored that you value me so much," she replied in a soft tone, squeezing her hands gently, "and you don't have to worry about me leaving you. That will never happen. I promise."

***