Cat reached for Botan and her eyes widened as she felt his warmth, but not his body. She shot up and looked around then noticed a glow coming from the hearth. She rubbed her eyes and yawned. "What are you doing, my love?"
"I didn't mean to wake you, Cata," he replied.
She shook her head. "What does it matter that you woke me. What are you doing?" She asked again with a sleepy smile.
"Thinking," he replied in a gruff voice.
Cat lowered her hand and looked at him with her head tilted.
"You were very...what is word...? Kōgō?"
"Ko..." she shook her head. He looked over and a woman in fine silks, face paint and some fancy crown on her head filled her mind. "Oh. Banríon, Queen."
"Queen." Botan tried with a nod as he looked away. "You were very like a queen today."
"Shin needed help," she said as she stretched then stood to go sit next to him.
Botan nodded and Cat frowned as she looked down. The stone she had tripped over was open. A small candle flickered inside, casting light into the opening. She could see various pieces of armor wrapped in cloth to be protected. She could see the top of helmet ornament that she had laid her hand on. But she could see nothing else. She blinked and her eyebrows drew together in confusion. "I don't understand." She looked up at him.
"You were my queen today. And I failed you as-" he stopped and looked at her with just his eyes.
"Rí, king."
"King." He repeated with a nod.
"How do you think you failed me?" She asked laying her hand on his cheek.
"You asked something of me, and I let you down." He said taking her hand into his and looking at it. "You asked something of me and I told you no."
"I'm not angry at you," she whispered, but Botan shook his head and she fell silent again.
"You asked me to go ask your father for your hand. Would we come back?"
"Of course we would. You belong here."
"And you belong where you can be a queen." He said looking into her eyes. "It was who you were born to be, Cata."
"What are you saying?" She asked, pulling her hand back and tears filling her eyes. "I belong with you."
"Hai," he replied closing his eyes and nodding, not letting her hand go. He smiled as he opened his eyes and looked back into hers. "And I belong with you. But you do not belong here. So. We will go where you belong. I will go with you to Ireland. And we will make a home there. And you will become the queen you were suppose to be. You will be my queen."
Cat's eyes widened. "Botan. Are you sure?" The tears began falling.
He pulled the stone back over the hole. "My queen needs me more than my father's people do."
Before he could finish the words, Cat jumped into his arms and kissed him deeply.
YOU ARE READING
One in the Same
RomanceA new world. Somewhere she doesn't belong, and she knows it. But all it took was a pair of golden eyes to tell her that she was more at home here than she would be anywhere else. And all it took was a strong wind to blow her off course. Japan had...
