The Early Chronicles Book Five: By Desert Divided

Chapter 9

"Don't touch her!"  Goran roared from beside Swanwhite and drew his sword.  Vilan slowly turned his gaze towards Goran and lowered his hand. 

"Careful, wild man."  The Tisroc said in his same calm tone.  "I may lose my patience."

Swanwhite felt she'd been hit and run over by a cart.  "You mean to say..." She started, "that if I marry you, you will leave Archenland and Narnia alone?"

"That is precisely what I mean."  Vilan smiled cruelly.  

"Lies."  King Rynard hissed at him.  "You hardly seem the sort of man in want of a wife."

"Nevertheless," the Tisroc said slowly.  "I have been searching for one, and the queen giving up her freedom would satisfy my grievance against what Narnia did years ago."

"You don't have to do this."  Goran said quietly to Swanwhite.  She wanted to believe he was right.  She wanted to spit in Vilan's face and tell him she would rather die, but deep down she knew they couldn't afford to lose.  Swanwhite stuck her chin in the air and tried to steady her thoughts.  

"As you would expect, I cannot give you an immediate answer."  She said with a slight shake in her tone.  

"Nor would I expect you to, my dear."  Vilan's polite tone still carried a hint of venom.  "Think it over this evening, and tomorrow I shall wait for your answer."  He turned back to his waiting horse and made a gesture with his hand for his men to follow.  Soon they had mounted up and charged back towards Tashbaan in a cloud of dust in the moonlight.  All was silent around the camp and all eyes seemed to be on the queen.  She looked down at the ground and felt numb inside.  

"Everyone get some rest."  She ordered.  "We may have a difficult day tomorrow."  The men seemed to slowly obey, and soon Swanwhite and Goran were left standing silently together.  The numbness inside Swanwhite slowly began to give way, and dozens of thoughts rushed in.  They didn't have enough men to defeat Vilan, not now.  They would have little chance of getting more men in time, and if they failed, Vilan would kill them all and Narnia and Archenland would pay for it.  Could this really be a way to prevent more bloodshed?

"What will you answer?"  Goran's soft voice broke the silence.  Swanwhite turned towards him and saw his pained expression.  The sight of him was too much.  She collapsed onto the sand partly from the heat and exhaustion and partly from the choice she had to make. Goran sank down beside her and cradled her in his arms. She fought the sobs that threatened to escape and allowed only one tear. They sat in silence, Goran holding the queen in an understanding embrace and she clutching to him for dear life.  Swanwhite shut her eyes and wanted to wake up from this nightmare and never have to face these thoughts again.

"What will you do, if I accept his offer?" Swanwhite finally asked with a hoarse tone. Goran didn't answer at first, then he kissed her temple and pulled her tighter.

"I will remain fighting by your side and pledge my life to your service." His voice was slightly hoarse as well and carried a deep sadness in it.

"I don't know if I can bear it." Swanwhite's voice came in a whisper now, and she didn't try to raise it since her throat was dry from lack of water. "But is it something I must do?"

"I'm afraid that is something I cannot answer for you." He said. She thought she felt the splash of a hot tear land on her neck, but whether it was hers or Goran's she couldn't tell.

"Oh Goran." She turned her body and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder. He sighed in her grip and stroked her back tenderly. She gripped his tunic tightly and didn't want to ever let go.

Swanwhite slept very little, though it wasn't because she didn't know what to do.  She made the decision quite quickly that she would have to accept the Tisroc's offer.  They had little chance of beating him, and this was a way to save her people.  The part that robbed her of sleep was thinking of Goran.  Would the Tisroc allow her to keep him as her general?  She wouldn't place her trust in anyone except him.  What did he truly think about all this?  Doubtless he was as broken-hearted as she was... wasn't he?  He hadn't ever proposed to her or even breached the subject as of lately, but remembering his face and how broken he had looked, he was presumably feeling as miserable as she was.  She looked over and saw his bedroll positioned near hers and one of his hands stretched out on the sand within reach.  She laid down on her stomach and clasped her hand over his in the space between them.

The next morning was one of the hardest mornings Swanwhite could remember.  She awoke with the same feeling of dread she'd gone to sleep with the night before.  Hardly a sound was made as the men packed up the supplies and started out towards the city of Tashbaan just ahead of them.  Everything seemed to be moving slower than usual, but not slow enough.  The dark red stone buildings and the golden temple got closer, as did Swanwhite's fate.  Though no one had outright asked her what her decision was, it seemed as though the entire caravan knew it.  Swanwhite stole a gaze at Goran several times and saw it hard and cold, but very melancholic.  She had to avert her gaze quickly to avoid a tear escaping.  All too soon, their journey ended and they stood before the iron gates of the city.  Though it was still early morning, they could see the inside of the city was bustling with activity already.  The gates swung open just as they arrived, and Swanwhite, Goran, and King Rynard dismounted.

Swanwhite stood with a face of stone before the gates of Tashbaan feeling like she was going to her death instead of engagement. All the men stood behind her silently. She gripped her golden swan pendant given to her by her parents and wished that by rubbing it she could disappear to another time or another world where she could avoid this fate. Summoning her courage, she turned around and looked at her friends, allies, and supporters, looking as solemn and sorry as she felt.

"What you are doing is brave, my lady." King Rynard said. "It may also save hundreds of lives."

Swanwhite swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. That was what she had to focus on. With a heavy heart, she looked at Goran. His shoulders slumped and he looked grave and heartbroken. She wanted to turn and run, but she also wanted to run to him. Succumbing to the latter, she threw her arms around him and drank in his embrace one last time.

"I'm sorry." She said with a choked voice. He didn't answer but loosened his grip, then leaned down and kissed her passionately. She didn't try to stop him, she simply poured her goodbye into the kiss. After today they would be forced to remain separated and interact only as queen and general. When the kiss regrettably ended, she rested her chin on his shoulder one more time.

"Always remember that I love you dearly, Goran." She whispered in his ear and then kissed his neck. She saw a single tear run down his cheek when she stepped back, and it triggered one of her own. He gripped her hand until the last second when she stepped away and turned towards the impending gates. She swiped the tear from her cheek and dared not look back, but kept marching through the gates and to the palace.

"I have considered your offer, and if it means the safety of my people, I accept." Swanwhite's voice was cold as steel and she felt numb inside as she said it. Vilan clapped his hands together.

"Splendid. I am pleased to see you have made the right choice." He stepped towards her and reached his hand toward hers but she held her hand up.

"I only do this to protect my country from your evil." She said with narrowed eyes.

"Of course." Vilan bowed and smirked at her. "We shall be married in the morning. My servants will show you to your chambers for the night. Until tomorrow, my dear." He leaned towards her but she slapped his cheek.

"You touch me, you die." She hissed and strode away. As she walked through the dark stone palace that would now become her home, she felt as cold and hard as the walls.