Chapter 9

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I awaken to soft light coming through the window, illuminating her hair that’s fanned out across my chest, and making it look almost gold. Lines crease her face from the frown that’s formed there and she’s breathing erratically, lost in the land of dreams.

I stroke her cheek with the back of my fingers, rousing her as gently as possible, but I fail. Her eyes fly open and she sits up, glancing around the room with wide, scared eyes. Perspiration clings to her forehead in small beads and she clutches at her chest with one hand as she gasps for air.

“Hey, it was just a dream,” I mutter, snaking an arm around her waist and pulling her closer. I watch her face react as she drifts through the emotions; fear, realization, and finally relief as she sees me by her side.

“Robert, I think I just had a dream about Juliette. She’s in an awful place; a dark place that no woman should be.”

She reaches up to grip my face, staring deep into my eyes, traces of fear still in them.

“Well, thankfully it was just a dream,” I whisper, pulling her hands from my face and kissing each of them in turn. She yanks them from my grasp, jumping up from the bed and pulling a sheet around her. I catch a glimpse of her long, lean legs as she strides across the room frantically, still breathing loudly.

“No, you don’t understand. This was a dream, yes, but what I saw was the truth! Juliette is in danger and we must leave at once,” she shouts, pulling a beautiful red dress out of her closet and slipping it on. I stay frozen in place watching her trying to tighten the laces in the back. She is successful, which is no small feat for a woman I’ve heard, and comes up to me again, her eyes now blazing with anger. “Why are you still sitting? Did you not just hear what I said?”

I can’t even seem to find the words right away to respond. Instead, I open and close my mouth silently like a fish out of water. Then my mind wonders to Jules and I imagine what she looks like, alone and scared. It causes me to spring into action, jumping from the bed.

I grab my clothes and pull them on, not caring that they smell and how they have days’ worth of dirt on them. As I reach down to put my boots on, I realize with surprise that I feel a lot steadier on my feet, practically back to normal. All for the better I suppose since I now have to go find Jules.

“Where is she?”

I turn to look at Shae and see her pulling a cloak on over her shoulders. It’s a deep red with white Ermine fur around the hood; fit for a queen.

“She’s in a castle, about five hour’s ride from here. What possessed her to go that way I don’t know. Either way, it’s a place that’s so full of evil that it has spawned its own stories; none of which are as bad as reality….”

I swallow loudly, trying to rid the large lump from my throat, but it stays ever present. I can’t believe that I have wasted so much time here. Whilst I was here dipping my wick, Jules has been in danger. How will she ever forgive me?

“Robert, did you hear me?”

I jump to my senses again, realizing that I stopped listening.

“Sorry,” I mutter, pulling on my jacket and securing my Baldric tight so my sword sits snug at my waist. “Look, Shae, I should probably go alone. I would hate for you to get hurt.”

“That’s not going to happen,” she answers almost immediately, dismissing my words with a wave of her slender hand.

“But-“

“No buts about it! I don’t think you comprehend just how dangerous this place we’re going is. If I allow you to go alone…”

I bristle a little at that, taken aback by her words.

“It’s nice to see that you have such faith in me,” I respond, sarcasm dripping off every word like foul water. I see her face pale slightly and then her eyes widen a fraction in understanding.

“No, I didn’t mean-“

“I’m not as useless as you think, Shae. Plus, you wouldn’t be ‘allowing me’ to do anything. I am making the decision because I am a man and as a woman you are supposed to respect that, or have you forgotten your place?” I curl my hands into fists, feeling the anger rising in me by the second.

“Robert…” Her voice is barely a whisper and her whole stance changes, her head dropping down and her shoulders slouching at my harsh words. “Of course I think you are a capable man. The place we are going is full of magic; dark magic. If I didn’t go with you, you would be killed before you’re even able to draw your sword. It’s a miracle that Juliette wasn’t killed on sight. It was probably the mere fact that she’s a princess that she wasn’t.”

She lifts her face to peer at me, her eyes wide and innocent looking. As she creeps closer to me, she lifts a hand, running it down my arm to clutch at my fist. Her soft touch disarms me in an instant and I feel a warmth spread through me, replacing my anger and replacing it with a calmness. With a sigh, I feel my body relax, releasing all the tension built up inside of me.

“God, what are you doing to me?”

I open my hand and grip hers in my palm. Her lower lip trembles with emotion as she regards me from under her lashes.

“I’m sorry, Robert. I didn’t mean to anger you. Of course I know my place as a woman, but when one has been living alone for so long, cut off from society…”

Of course. She isn’t used to being around people and I’m sure me being a total jerk isn’t helping. I need to teach her how to behave again and show her what is respectful, especially if we’re to have any kind of life together.

I let go of her hand at that, and stride over to the door, swinging it open and revealing the snowy landscape. As I trudge out into the snow, I reflect back on one of our previous conversations. She made it very clear that a life for us in Avonzia is out of the question. If Juliette doesn’t return to take the throne, it leaves no heir to take my father’s place. It would mean me abandoning the only blood family I have for a woman. Would I be able to do that?

She follows me carrying a satchel of what I presume is provisions and supplies. She cuts across to the right, heading straight towards a wooden structure that looks as if it’s in dire disrepair. I wouldn’t be surprised if one big gust of wind turned it to a pile of dust.

As she yanks open the door, I hear a whinny of a horse inside. Oh, horses! She disappears inside for a moment and returns with a beautiful, pure white horse at her side, followed by none other than Taric. He looks almost grey next to Shae’s and his eyes shine with excitement. His ears prick up and he emits a low rumble from his chest, coming willingly toward me with her.

“How did you…”

“Whilst you were sleeping I was out collecting wood and found him standing not fifty yards away in the tree line. I think he knew you were here,” she murmurs, patting the side of his neck and whispering something in his ear. He responds immediately, resting his neck against her shoulder, making her smile.

Something jolts inside me and I know instantly that I would give up my life for this woman, as crazy as it sounds even for me. Is this what love is? I can’t be sure as I’ve never experienced it in my life. All I know is meaningless relationships, driven by a motive of personal gain. Even my mother and father never shared intimate moments of passion that I saw. Valancia…well she was chosen because of her connections. She helped form an alliance with a neighboring city of Draconia, which was made extremely clear from all the contracts that were drafted. Father has never looked at her as anything more than a partner.

All I know is that if this is love, then I’ve been missing out. Even though she drives me insane and is probably the worst choice I can ever make, I can’t help but feel my heart swell at the sight of her stroking Taric’s mane and watching me curiously.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes,” I respond, shaking myself and returning to the here and now. “Let’s go!”

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