Arakim's Legacy(#Wattys2015)

Chapter 29

When Mena opened her eyes, she found herself sitting on the ground surrounded by green grasses that were taller than her and probably be up to her neck if she was standing. And instead of the heat of the Deserts, the weather was mild and cool even as the sun was overhead and the sky was clear.

She cautiously got to her feet and saw Arakim walking towards her and couldn't stop the smile that blossomed on her face. Mena still couldn't get over how ridiculously beautiful and masculine he looked without distracting one from the power surrounding him. And even if you saw the shadows clouding those lovely and piercing black globes on his face from the worries afflicting him added to the mystery.

Arakim smiled in relief when he saw that Mena was unaffected by their mode of travel, stepping close to take her in his arms and kissed her with hunger and passion, wishing they had enough privacy to indulge in what had become his favourite pastime, touching her luscious body. He found the crave he had for her bordering on obsession and vowed to do everything in his power to keep her safe and preferably in his arms, away from monsters and magic.

Arakim reluctantly pulled away from her, but couldn't stop himself from embracing her tightly in his arms, a sudden foreboding suffusing his mind and body.

"Ouch,' protested Mena, 'I can't breathe.'' Pulling away from him and laughing, which she found herself doing more and more every day. The laughter dissolving when she looked into a pair of sad black onyx eyes. "Hey,' Mena said, grabbing his face, 'what happened? Are we lost?'' she asked, looking around her.

"No,' said Arakim, shaking his head and laughing softly, 'we aren't lost. It's me.'' He said, releasing her, 'I can't shake the feeling that something bad will happen to you.'' He told her and ran his hand through his hair, dislodging it from the leather thong holding it, letting the thick mass fall just beyond his shoulders.

"Me?' asked Mena, trying to follow the conversation and not get distracted with the way his black thick hair fell silkily behind him and the tendrils that fell on his face obscuring his left eye. "Why would anything happen to me?'' she asked.

"I have no idea.'' Arakim shrugged. "It's just a feeling,'' he told her, already regretting bringing it up but having being saved numerous times by his instincts was not about to discount this one especially when it involved the most important person in his life.

"I know you're strong but please promise me you'll be careful,'' he urged, taking hold of her shoulders. "If anything happens to you, what Tyr,'' spitting out his name like it was something dirty, 'and his brothers did to this world will be nothing compared to what I will do.'' He said, practically screaming at her. "Promise me, Mena.'' Shaking her when she didn't answer fast enough.

"Aye. Aye, I promise. Stop shaking me,'' said Mena, in exasperation, refusing to be thrilled at being needed by such a powerful being that was willing to destroy the world for her. "I am going to be careful but you need to promise me that you too will be careful because it won't matter if you're not here.'' She said, glaring at him.

"Of course,'' said Arakim dismissing it, 'what could happen to me? After all I'm the son of a god.'' He added, self-derisively. "And don't start. I. Am. Not. Speaking to him!' he bellowed when he saw her opening her mouth to speak.

"No need to shout,' snickered Mena. "I heard you the first hundred times and so did the whole kingdom.'' Looking around but surprised when no one came running after that bellow, and turned to see Arakim laughing at her.

"What did you do, wizard?' she asked suspiciously.

"Nothing.'' He shrugged and raised his hands to squeeze them together. Mena suddenly saw everybody striding towards them, still about twenty yards away from them, as if something was hindering their movements.