The Oath (Kingdom)

XVII. Help

Time flies...

They lived happily in their little house. Yeong shin prove himself as a handy man. With just little help he built small bathroom attached to house even with fireplace that can heat water. Nilah almost cry of pleasure when she took first warm bath.

She was sitting in water cleaning dirt from her palms. Little sprouts of vegetables starts growing in their garden and soon will be ready to move them into field.

Water calms her sore muscles but it was beautiful pain. It hurts because she did something good. Creating something she never did before. Making new life.

"How's your bath my lady?" Yeong shin was standing in the door with pleased smile on his face scratching his short beard. It was few weeks since tension leaves his muscles. His shoulders weren't cramped anymore and he was smiling more often. Now he was leaning over door frame with arms crossed on his chest watching her enjoying her bath.

"So...if I'm you lady... You must be my servant." She smiled with sparks in her eyes.

"I'm. If it's not too daring... I'm the most loyal one." He laughed and made two steps towards the bathtub.

"Stay where you are!" she stopped him with serious voice. "You were not allowed to come any closer."

He raised his eyebrow but remains in his place, one corner of his lips raised in smile.

"What you want me to do, my lady?"

Nilah sits in her bath comfortably and enjoy her view. "I want you, to take of your dirty clothes."

"Who I am to disobey such an order." He took of his black vest and simple canvas shirt.

Nilah felt her heart starts to beat faster, her mouth getting dry. Yeong shins body was still her miracle. He was perfect with his beautiful long muscles suiting to his strong shoulders. His abdomen flat and firm, from hard work. In the light of fire his skin looks golden with pattern of silver scars.

"Did I tell you to stop?" She raised her eyebrow with rigorous look.

He took a deep breath and with silent laughter he took of his pants.

"Can I join you in the bath...? My lady?" he adds when he saw her hard look.

Nilah took her time, admiring the view and then lightly nod.

Yeongshin slowly walked in the bath and made pleasurable sound when warm water embraces his body.

"This is much better than cold river."

Nilah felt his legs under water stretched next to hers. Biting her lip, she move closer to him and touch his chest. Yeong shin closed his eyes, and had pleased smile on his lips.

"What is on your mind?" She asked gently caressing damp hair from his temple.

"Nothing. Just how happy I'm."

He really was happy. Just from Nilah's look. Her eyes were sparking with happy flames, her skin have beautiful healthy colour and when he touch her, he didn't feel her ribs or sharp bones of spine. He made sure she eats properly. She finally looked like healthy woman, not skin and bones, with pale face and dead eyes.

She still had nightmares and sometimes, she was scared when she heard someone coming. Mostly it was kids from village; they were coming near the house to play in water. When they took courage for the first time and came, Nilah was shaking till the evening. Sitting by the fire he made, smiling and talking with kids, but still shaking.

He can't blame her. He sometimes woke up in the middle of the night, with fast heartbeat and cold sweat. When night was colder, he cannot sleep at all. He then sat on the porch with rifle in his lap, watching horizon.