Picking Petals:

Chapter 40: The truest of Love

      Having to watch Rone burst into Ash's foyer was beyond nerve wrecking for me, I didn't know how he was going to react or feel, his arms were tense, his lips drawn into a perfect line. He didn't even look over to Ash who studied Rone intently. Rone wrapped me into his arms, his hands lost in my hair, breathing roughly as his face searched mine, "You are okay?" he asked as his hands invaded my body.

   "Perfectly in tack," i said prying out of Rones grasp as we glanced over at a gawking audience.

   "One minute I am asleep the next I am told my future Queen is parading around the woods without my knowledge," he wasn't yelling, or arguing, more like recovering.

   "How does that work?" Ash asked curiously, "You can't possibly fulfill your birthright let alone an entire kingdom and husband," he scuffed bitterly.

   "I was brought here to discuss Valkris future," Rone said straightening up, any sign of Rone gone. I hated to admit it, but I hated this part of him, being King. Maybe it isn't for everyone, especially an empath, Rone adapts to his surroundings, naturally influenced, both a gift and a curse. Rone reached out his hand to shake Ash's, "I am King Rone of Valkri, your Mountains are beautiful."

   "I am Lord Ash, and thank you I do try to keep everything in order," Ash smiled warmly, his eyes shifting back to Berella and I, they were so grey and stormy, almost horrifying.

   "I'm assuming you have some demands?" Rone asked as he studied the lord. "I dont take too kind to people who hold mine hostage," it was a warning.

   Ash only shrugged, "I needed your attention somehow, now lets get down to business."

   "Do you know of any surviving towns?" Rone asked, a question we were all wondering.

   "No, it's just us I believe, and the entire land of Valkri at our hands," Ash said as his gold cane helped him walk with his slight limp in his left leg. I hadn't talked to Ash at all as I waited. "I dont know what you have planned for your people, but I plan to rule as i always have. There is only three ways i see this going, the first we unite, share each others lands and culture we rule together, as equals.Two, we make borders, a treaty of peace until a line is crossed, or three, war."

  "I think I like the first option," Berella said as she continued to rabidly itch her arm. something she did often when she was nervous.

   "This isnt a decision we can make right now," Rone told Berella coldly, "I'm sure the Lord will understand, we need to test the waters, see if we are even compatible."

   "Till then?" Ash asked Cooley running a hand through his thick curly dark brown locks.

   "Till then we will make boundaries, No one in my town of Valkri will pass the meadows, and your people cant pass the meadows towards the palace, unless invited."

   "Sha'll we make this truce official?" Ash asked, "I'd like to come see the palace, haven't been in centuries," he said giving me a shadow like grin.

   "We shall," Rone took a dagger from his boot, slicing into his skin, Ash doing the same. They joined there hands, Rone speaking first. "No one in my town shall pass the meadows, as no one in Dragons mountain can pass east to the palace. There will be no threats made, only moves for peace and making our kingdoms one, I vow it by blood," Rone said.

   Ash reluctantly recited everything Rone said, his voice deep and prolonged. "There is one other thing, I dont see it fair that Valkri gets both Creators, now that we are in truce it's only kind your people share. After all your people arnt the only who need protection, we dont really know whats out there." we all seen how well of his people were, for crying out loud they were literal dragons.