Soundlessly they floated to the ground through the cold still air, each one incredibly unique; different than the millions of others that accompanied them. Only the sound of the waterfall and low crackle of the fire Eric had built disturbed the silence. The forest was cloaked in the white layer of its first snowfall. Trees had traded their leaves for branches covered with thicker leaves of white. She watched and listened to her world in wonder. The hush of the woodland was the same somehow as that in her temples when she was alone. If she filtered out the sound of the water and the fire.....and their breathing.....she would be able to appreciate just how still it was......
Bursting into her mind, shattering the white scene and her peace, came red visions of blood, screams, sounds and horrific scenes of death. She saw swords covered with black slime and gore .......apparitions of men and women butchering each other. The searing, shocking loss of friends, too young to die, lives that had so much promise......lost now forever. Keika's face contorted and she placed her hand over her temple and pressed. She must control this. A box opened and closed and the pain went away. Redness receded and the world slowly returned to pure white. Snow began to fall again, as before, continuing to coat their sleeping bag. She relaxed and snuggled closer to her sleeping bear. Eric, his warmth like a heater, lay against her bare back, an arm and leg draped over her, his heavy breathing in her ear. Hugging and kissing the hairy arm, once again emerald Asian eyes returned to watching the wonder of nature and life about her... and giving thanks. Thanks for what they had.
She was a story book princess with the forever after type of love. She had her Prince Charming. As a pair, they were in such harmony. It felt as if their very life-force vibrated at exactly the same frequency. Their love was the kind between like bodies, planets circling each other in the same orbit. They had become extensions of each other. Sheltering, supporting, loving each other absolutely.....without reservation, without lies or secrets. His life was her life. How dark the world could have been, almost was.....but she tried not to think of that now. She closed her eyes and listened to the waterfall as it met the chill blueness of the pool at their backs.
He had promised her an escape from the insane pressures of burying a King and thousands of dead, crowing a new King, comforting two mourning nations, rebuilding the damage wrought by war upon a fragile economic and support system, feverishly rebuilding their borders defenses and strengthening an alliance. Their work seemed to be never ending. As King, Eric had been thrust immediately into the lead for all of it and it had begun to consume his time. Already she did not see enough of him...and she was just as busy as he. At least he was in command of her now. Keika had always championed for women in leadership positions, but, in their relationship, she preferred for Eric to take the lead. She welcomed the lifting of the weight of total command from her shoulders. An eighteen year old girl had had quite enough of being in charge for a while.
Her eyes opened again and followed the flakes downward, big fat flakes, perfect for snowball fights. Keika smiled. She loved snow, even though it made the winters hard. The winters, like the summers, tended to be extreme now. Hot, hot summers, violent storms and bitter cold winters with mountains of snow. It was so bad some winters that it essentially paralyzed both small countries for weeks at a time. There were no snowplows to clear the roads. The army was able to handle some emergencies, but whole communities were often on their own for long periods of time. This might well be the only time they could have safely traveled so far from home until the spring thaw.
It was Eric's idea.....and she had been thrilled by it. Leaving Jack in charge of everything, they stole away in the middle of the snowy night, with only the guards to witness their departure. He may be the King, but he was escorted by the best bodyguard any King ever had. Riding south, they returned to their favorite place on the face of the earth to camp for a few days. Arriving early in the day, they had spent it making love, eating and dozing in the capacious, downy, sleeping bag that Eric had brought. He had included a tent with the supplies, but they hadn't taken the time to put it up yet and this was nicer.
YOU ARE READING
Golden Sword
Ciencia FicciónIn book 2 of the Firefly Light series Keika travels to a new land to start her life as the wife of a man she has never met. Her marriage is political, one meant to seal an alliance between nations, but she discovers possible happiness from an unexpe...
