29 - Love is madness

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Inside the case, on a bed of crushed maroon velvet, lied a stunning black bow. "Oh," Alicia whispered in admiration. She lifted it carefully into the air to admire the exquisite balance, the elegant design, the curve of the limbs that somehow suggests the wings of a bird extended in flight.

The bow was crafted of flexible, slender yew wood and wound around the grip was dyed red rawhide. On the quiver was carved the creatures who wore branches on their skulls, stampeding the horizon, pounding it into a grimace.

Atlas appeared into the room from the wall. Alicia gaped in surprise.

"Oh, you are showcasing magic," Alicia teased Atlas.

Atlas walked closer to Alicia. "It's my greatest power. Moving through objects."

Alicia placed the bow on the case and turned to face Atlas.

"Do you like the bow?" Atlas asked Alicia.

"Yes," she said.

Atlas wrapped his arms around Alicia in a moment and she let her head rest upon his chest. All her thoughts stopped as if her heart took over from her head when they were close. Next he would squeeze as if he needed to check she was really there with him, really there and really real... and she was, body and soul. She doubt anyone else ever felt the way she do about being in his arms, though she pity them if they did love this much and lost, because that's a pain that kills soft and slow.

"Why do you love me?" She asked, her head still placed on his warmth chest.

"I hear people," he said.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I can hear people's thoughts."

Alicia raised her chin and looked into Atlas's light blue eyes.

He continued. "Many don't speak what they think but it was different with you. You speak what you think and that attracted me towards you. I keep myself distant from others because I saw their real self. Everyone has two sides, even my mother. But you have only one side."

Alicia grinned. "Do you know why I love you?"

"No." Atlas said; keen to know why Alicia loves him.

"You're weird and I like weird people." She giggled, raising her toes to kiss his neck.

"You're lying." Atlas said and sealed Alicia's lips with a kiss.

* * *

The autumn was the time of hugs, of evenings with warm drinks and warmer smiles. But this autumn wasn't warm, it was cold. This autumn wasn't the time for hugs; it's time for war and destruction.

The green flags of the trees become sepia toned, waving in the southerly wind. Within the multitude of soft chocolaty browns there is gold shining through.

Alexander and Cedric were holding each other's hands and they were walking under the autumn of the Capital. The light hid the blood drinking monsters but as the night conquers the land the monsters will wash the God's land.

"What if we don't survive in tonight's battle?" Alexander asked.

Cedric smiled. "We are the children of God, monsters can't destroy us."

Alexander inhaled the autumn air.

"What will happen for us after the war?" Cedric asked, stopping by a huge oak tree.

"We will get married."

"But you're the king of the Earth land. You can't get married to a man."

Alexander released Cedric's hand and took a step toward Cedric. "I will give up the throne."

Cedric stared at Alexander in surprise. "Will you give up the throne for me?"

"I will do anything for you." Alexander said cupping Cedric's face. "Alicia will be great queen, she's so much better than in me in every aspect."

Cedric placed his hands on Alexander's shoulders and pulled Alexander closer to him. "What are we going to do after the marriage?"

"Let's adopt a lot of children."

Cedric smiled widely. "A lot?"

"Yes."

"I love you," Cedric whispered.

"You are the best thing that has ever happened to my life. No matter what, I will never lose you." Alexander said and kissed his lover.

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