Moonflower

Chapter 18: Come Again?

Just a few miles down the road, they stopped. Neither of them could see where they were. Suddenly, rough hands grabbed them. Moonflower had reached for Yoongi's hand as they rode along in silence nearly an hour before. He clung to that hand now. But the jostling of those stronger hands tore her from his grasp.

"Moonflower!" he gasped. He couldn't even reach for her; he was still bound.

"I'm here. I'm fine." Then she grunted as her captor dragged her along. "Please. Please let me stay with him," she begged the cruel man.

His harsh laughter bit into her a moment later. "Don't worry, we won't separate you from him. In fact, we've come here for a ceremony of sorts."

Ceremony? What was the man talking about? Was he drunk?

The other man shoved Yoongi forward. "Some king," he sneered. "It was so easy to overpower you. To kidnap you. Your guard must be as weak as a kitten."

Yoongi had done this. He had weakened his kingdom by falling in love with a woman and trying to hide her. He had dismissed all his guards but Taehyung. What a fool he had been! Of course, they could easily overpower one guard!

A moment later, his feet hit a step. The man grabbed ahold of his arm and hauled him upwards. He climbed up several steps, then the man shoved him from behind, sending him flying to his knees. His elbows hit the floor, and he winced.

"Must you shove me about while I'm tied up? I'm hardly any threat to you. I can't exactly run you through with a sword when I'm blindfolded and bound."

"You should be gagged too," muttered the cretin.

"No. He needs to be able to speak his vows," came a third voice.

Yoongi glanced up towards the sound of that voice. "Vows? What are you talking about?"

Just then, Moonflower was led over to him.

"Kneel, girl," her handler spoke roughly as he encouraged her to fall to her knees before Yoongi.

She gave in gracefully. "Yoongi?"

She reached out and touched his chest. She sighed with relief when she heard his voice.

"I'm here. Are you all right?"

"Yes."

Her fingers crept up his chest to his neck before finally stopping on his face. She could feel the blindfold tied around his head. Her fingers messed with the knot.

"Don't," came a rough voice behind her. "We don't want to hurt you, but if either of you sees us, we'll have to."

Her fingers stilled. She pulled them away from the back of his head and rested them lightly on his chest.

"You love him, don't you, girl?" came the third man's voice. He sneered as he read her expression.

"Please. Do whatever you want with me. Just don't hurt him," she bravely begged the man.

She knew her face must reflect her adoration of Yoongi. There was no use in hiding her feelings.

The man's eyes raked her. "Tempting as that offer is, we are here for a different purpose today. My employer would be quite displeased if I didn't carry out his instructions faithfully." He cleared his throat. "Welcome, dear king and his beloved, to your wedding."

She gasped. Yoongi's head snapped up.

"What?" he demanded.

"Oh? They didn't tell you? You, King Yoongi, are marrying Moonflower tonight. We know it's your deepest desire, so we are helping you to make it happen."