“You wouldn’t by chance have a sister you could lend me in your place,” he added as she punched him again and they both laughed. “My mother is going to be so disappointed.”
“So how many crew members do you have with you this trip?” she asked.
“I have all of dad’s regular crew. He arranged everything before I left. Roger told him you would have some valuable fragile items you were transporting north to Cath. Trust me, as soon as the men heard it was you that we needed to pick up, we had more men sign-up for this trip than needed. If you want you can drop the large items off tonight,” he added.
“I shouldn’t do that,” she replied knowing that her items would be Nalick and the kids. Transporting human cargo was always done in secret for both the protection of the people being transported and the shipmen doing the transporting.
“I’ll bring everything tomorrow morning. What time would you want me here by?” she asked.
“If we leave around sunrise, we can make Dria by midafternoon and Cath around dinner time,” he explained.
“Sounds good. We will be on time.” Leila gave Fred on last hug before jumping down to the docks and catching back up to Anatolio.
“Is everything in order for tomorrow?” she asked Anatolio not noticing his hesitation to be near her.
“Yes,” Anatolio replied. “The cart is packed and waiting in the stables. Roger left two barrels and two boxes as he figured Tim and Ruth could be in the barrels with either Phillip or Elena.” Leila nodded finally noticing the distance he was keeping from her. Leila gave him a questioning look, and he just faded back into the shadows. Leila wanted to talk to him more.
Anatolio walked her back in silence. Leila joined Nalick who was sitting outside without a word from Anatolio.
“All done packing?” Nalick asked as she joined him sitting on the balcony overlooking the city.
“Yes, hopefully,” she said sitting beside him and trying to remember if she had forgotten anything.
“You promise this time it won’t be so cold there?” Nalick asked, remembering his first visit in the snow. Leila was not packing any warm clothing for anyone.
“No, it is spring now, so, the trees should be starting to get leaves and the early flowers blooming,” she explained. Leila paused while mentally checking her list for the tenth time. “The snow should be all gone, except for on top of the mountains, but I didn’t think you wanted to do any mountain climbing on this trip,” she teased.
“Do people really intentionally climb the mountains?” Nalick asked in amazement at her suggestion. Leila nodded while laughing at the question. Nalick moved his arm around her pulling her tight to himself.
“Let’s go to bed,” Leila suggested, standing and pulling at his arm. “It will be a very long day tomorrow getting to my parents.” Nalick stood at her prompting and quickly scooped her into his arms. Leila giggled throwing her arms around his neck. “To bed, husband of mine,” she directed nuzzling into his chest. Nalick kissed the top of her head and took her to their bedroom.
Leila rose early the next morning and got everyone moving on time. With all her planning, everything happened in order. She easily transported her family hidden away from the palace to the ship that took them north. With the help of Roger and his sons, her family made it off the ship and out of Cath without a single tracker following them. Leila was a professional and her three months in the palace did not dull her skills at all. After a full days’ worth of traveling from before dawn until after dark, they finally arrived at her parents place.
Leila was relieved to make it to her parent’s house without a single issue and all of her family safe. Leila opened the door to her parent’s house and led the way into their home with her guests. Selma and Dirk were waiting for them with supper for the ones still awake. Leila smiled but could not hug them without waking Ruth.
“We really should put them to bed,” Leila said to Nalick who was caring the sleeping Tim. Selma quickly stopped them from walking to the stairs.
“Theo and Macarius can have the same rooms they used the last time,” Selma said and they both nodded, “But for you,” Selma stopped talking. “I wish it were still light out so you could see it better, but we have a surprise for you."
“Can we put them to bed first?” Leila asked her mother. Nalick pushed Leila to follow her mother. She followed her mother through the living room out a side hallway that had never been there before. The hallway led to a new building behind her parent’s home that she could not see in the dark as they approached.
“It’s not completely done yet,” Dirk explained, walking beside Leila. “But it is livable. The bedrooms and living room are done, but the kitchen is not. We figure if there was one room that couldn’t be finished, the kitchen would be the best bet." He was hinting at her lack of cooking skills.
Leila stepped into the living room. Several couches faced the west wall that was lined with windows and a glass door that oversaw the lake. The large stone fireplace along the same wall was burning keeping the large room warm as she noticed the ceiling was higher than normal. Leila could see the staircase in the back of the living room led to a second floor and at the base of the stairs was an archway that led to what she could see was the start of a kitchen.
“There are six small bedrooms upstairs for the kids, Elena, and Anatolio,” Selma explained.
“There is a larger bedroom downstairs off of the kitchen for you and Nalick.” Leila nodded, following her mother up the stairs. Selma opened the door to the farthest room, and it was decorated with all her old furniture from her bedroom growing up. “I figured Ruth could have this room.” Selma pulled the covers down from the bed and Leila laid Ruth inside it.
“Through the kitchen is a room for you two,” Selma explained leading them back downstairs and through the closest door to the living room. Leila walked into the room and smiled. Selma had spent much time decorating the room.
“It’s beautiful,” Leila said while hugging her mom.
“Thank you mom and dad,” she said quickly hugging her dad also. Leila looked around the room again. She could see the quilt was hand made by her mother. Gently she touched it knowing how much time her mother must have put into finishing it before they arrived.
“I know it is not as fancy as you are accustomed to now,” Selma added, “But we all tried out best. Your brothers even helped out as much as dad.”
“Mom, it’s wonderful,” Leila tried to reassure her mother. Selma stared at her only daughter and hugged her again. It was good to have her back home even if it were only for a week. There was no greater treasure in the world than finally seeing Leila happy after so many years of sadness.
Chapter 35
Leila lay ever so still as she woke the next morning before anyone else. She could hear the bird chirping outside and found that it was one sound she had not missed in the palace until now. The fresh spring scent of flowers, the bird chirping in the trees, and the cool mountain air all told her she was home. The excitement of being home woke her early. Silently, she walked around the house her family had built for her. She looked at the detail of the trim on the railing of the staircase and the stones evenly placed to make the fireplace. Her dad must have spent every waking moment since she left working on her new home.
Leila and the children passed the next three days being lazy and lounging around the house. Elena on the other hand was lost with what to do since she was not needed to clean and cook. Elena slowly was adjusting and found Phillip to be quite entertaining as she often joined him on his many walks to the lake. Each time they would leave, Leila caught Nalick smiling.
“Why do you smile like that each time?” Leila asked Nalick.
“It just makes me happy to see they are forming a friendship,” Nalick replied, picking up Tim and swinging him around causing him to giggle louder and louder.
“What do you know?” Leila interrogated him. Nalick had told her that he had many talks with Gabor over how, not only his life, but that of
everyone he cared for, especially his children, would turn out.
“I can’t tell you,” Nalick teased. “You don’t believe in fate.”
Leila pouted and Tim stopped giggling to run to her.
“Daddy, make mommy smile,” Tim told Nalick.
Nalick walked over to Leila and nicely sat down next to her, he began to pretend he was going to tell her as he quickly picked her up and began to tickle her. Leila could not help but laugh and Tim joined in trying to tickle her also. When they finally stopped, Leila stared at Nalick; behind the sparkle, he did know something more about Elena and Phillip.
“What would you say to someday having Elena as a daughter-in-law?” Nalick hinted.
“Really? You know that? And what about the children we will have some day?” she asked.
“There’s so much I am going to miss, but at least I know what will happen,” Nalick explained as Tim began his run of the house.
“It is at least some consolation for the fate I have been dealt.” Leila rested her head on his chest. It was hard to be so convinced of fate as Nalick had been to believe that everything would be okay.
“What if Anatolio decides that he doesn’t want to wait ten years and finds someone else?” Leila asked without looking up at him as he stared at the top of her head.
“He won’t,” Nalick replied looking into the woods.
“But how can you be so sure?” Leila asked. Nalick was still staring ahead as she tried to catch his attention. “He has been avoiding me now for days. He didn’t even want to come to our wedding. In fact I can’t remember the last time he even came within two feet of me.”
“He loves you as much as I do. He’s not going anywhere. He will wait. He promised me that he would wait for you and when the day comes, he will step up and take care of everybody,” Nalick explained finally looking down at her. “It was the deal we made years ago and every day I see in his face that there is no way he would ever break that deal.”
I hope so, she thought dreading that Nalick’s fate would someday be reality quicker than either of them wanted it to be. Nalick gently stroked her head taking in the complete serenity around them. This was the life he had always wished for. No nobles or lawmen asking for decisions or neighboring kings and armies to deal with, just his wife and their children enjoying the spring in the mountains. Even though Nalick only had ten years with the beautiful woman in his arms, he was content and always would be.
“Two more days until the wedding,” Leila said, changing the subject. “I have been half tempted to have you cleaned until you sparkle as revenge, but around here it doesn’t matter as much. Besides, I don’t think you could keep spotless on the walk to the church.”
“That wasn’t my policy,” Nalick said, defending himself. “I have always liked you just the way you are. That was all Mauves doing.” Leila pulled her head up from his chest and nodded sarcastically.
That night after the children were tucked in bed and fast asleep, Leila returned downstairs to find Nalick sitting on the hill outside their back door. Leila walked over and sat down beside him. It was chilly outside as it was every spring. The days were warm and the flowers in bloom but after the sun set, there was the nice cool reminder that it was not yet summer. Nalick wrapped his arms around her as he looked into the sky.
“You once told me these are the same stars we see in Lexia. Are you sure? They seem so much brighter here and there are so many more,” Nalick said, breaking the silence.
“You see right over there?” Leila pointed to the left. “Those three stars. If you sit on the balcony at home and look straight up into the sky, you see them.” Leila rested against him. Her heart began to race feeling him so close, but then thoughts of their short future began to muddle her happy feelings.
“Tell me what our life together will be like,” she said with a childlike innocence. The sadness was building within her again. Leila needed Nalick to rescue her from the part of her new life she now dreaded.
“We will be happier than any person in the whole world,” Nalick began.
“In a year, we will have out first son. He will luckily have your brains and beauty along with my strength. He will have your kindness and your eyes so that everyone in Lior will not fear him as they do me. He will learn the most from you and everyone will again praise my choice in asking you to marry me. But don’t worry. After him we will have a daughter who unfortunately will have many of my characteristics.” Leila smiled and patted his hand in sympathy.
“We will come here to the mountains at least twice a year so that our children will grow up knowing what it is like to be free from the palace. Through our lives we will continue to travel and yet still find time to be home doing everything we love. You will even help Roger from time to time as his couriers just cannot match up to your skill. The only courier that will ever come close will be Tim. Years from now, he will gladly watch over the safety of our family.” Leila again nodded and rested against Nalick as he talked. His picture of the future easily calmed her sadness. “We will be happy every single moment. Our life together was always meant to be. I promise you will never regret the decision you made to stay in Lexia.” Nalick wanted to hold her against him like that forever.
Leila huddled close to him in the cold as the breeze blew up from the lake. Leila closed her eyes. It felt like the first time she brought him home when he sat with her looking at the stars near Roger’s base. He was so cautious and timid around her, afraid she would disappear. Leila could still sense a part of him feared losing her, but now it was for a completely different reason.
“I don’t want this moment to end,” Leila complained. Nalick pulled her closer and rested his head on hers. Gently he stroked her hair as he too remembered their first trip. Leila held back tears.
“You don’t need to worry,” he said quietly. “I promise at least a hundred more of these moments to you.”
Leila reached up and gently touched his cheek. There would be many more moments together, but they were limited. As they sat there longer, both knew that they needed to go to bed. Slowly, Leila stood, and Nalick followed her to bed.
It felt like she had just fallen asleep when Leila noticed a small hand tapping hers. Leila cautiously opened her eyes to find she was face to face with Ruth. Leila could only slightly make out from the curtains that the sun had just begun to rise, and it was indeed morning.
“How about you rest a little longer?” Leila whispered lifting the covers.
“No, play,” Ruth demanded loudly. Leila felt Nalick sit up.
“I’ll take her,” he said quietly. “You get more rest.”
After sleeping less than an hour, she was not comfortable in Nalick’s absence. Quietly, she walked into the living room and found Nalick in a chair with Ruth in his right arm fast asleep. Nalick was sitting and watching the sun as it hit the water on the lake below and did not notice Leila approaching.
“How long has she been asleep?” Leila whispered.
“Almost as soon as we got out here,” he replied pulling her onto the left side of his lap. Leila curled up in his open arm and rested her head on his shoulder closing her eyes. Nalick smiled and kissed her forehead. Within moments Nalick had a sleeping girl on each side of his lap. For once in his life, he realized how lucky he was to have found such complete happiness.
Down below their home on one of the older trails, Roger and Anatolio approached Leila’s family home. Roger stopped within viewing distance of the home, yet still hidden by the trees. Anatolio pulled his horse next to Roger and looked through the picture windows into the home.
“Someday, they will be yours,” Roger commented.
Anatolio nodded as he watched Leila sleep. She seemed like an angel as her eyes lightly fluttered. She felt safe and protected in Nalick’s arms. Roger and Anatolio sat for some time just watching. Nalick was a great man in Anatolio’s eyes, and a great husband and father as well. Anatolio inadvertently smiled as he looked again at Leila. He had spent the past days with
Roger being taught more tricks and how to better care for Leila as she was bound to get into more trouble over the years. But they also spent a large amount of time talking. The only person who he really trusted for advice was Nikias, but on the subject of Leila, he could not talk about. Roger had listened and advised him as best he could.
“Will she ever trust me like that?” Anatolio asked quietly.
“She already does,” Roger replied. “I can see it in her eyes when she looks at you. Somewhere inside of her, she loves you. She might not understand those feelings, yet, but give her time.”
“What about Nalick?” Anatolio asked. “Won’t he be hurt once she figures this out?”
“Not in the least. We already talked about this,” Roger explained.
“You asked Nalick about Leila falling in love with me?” Anatolio asked in shock. He would never be so brash with his king or the topic of another man's wife.
“Yes and why not? I wanted to know where he stood on it. And actually, he hopes that one day he can see you both fall in love. Then at least he can be reassured that when he dies, things will be all right,” Roger added. Anatolio stared now at Nalick and not Leila. Again, Anatolio was impressed and wondered if he would ever be good enough to replace Nalick.
“He’s leaving you not only Leila, but also his family. I hope you are up for the task.”
Chapter 36
The next day, Leila was left alone as she got ready for her second wedding. Elena had dressed the children, who were busy helping their grandparents with the decorations. A large tent had been set up near the lake by her brothers and chairs for all the guests were set. All the women were busy helping Kay prepare food for everyone. Leila’s mother and father watched all their grandchildren as they each tried to help as much as possible. Before Leila got dressed, she quietly slipped through all the chaos to see the wedding tent before the guests arrived. Leila silently walked down the middle aisle and stopped every now and then to touch a ribbon or smell a flower. She had gone through with one wedding already, but she remembered very little as she was exhausted from the week leading up to it. Leila seriously tried to take in every little piece she saw and commit it to memory. She turned quickly as someone coughed in the back of the tent.
To Stand Beside Her Page 30
