The Everlands Chronicles: The Truth

by A. J. Bell

“Then yes, I’m marrying her.”

  “And I’ll stand by your side when you do.” I stood up on my tip toes and kissed him softly on the cheek; we both knew it was the last kiss we would ever share.

  Chapter 24

  Victor and the Princess became very well-acquainted within hours of meeting each other, and on more than one occasion, I found them enjoying more than just each other’s company as we traveled to the Royal City. Victor would have been embarrassed to know that, but the Princess wouldn’t. They were very passionate together.

  I was frustrated being in the same place with them. I felt like he should have a little more respect for the so called “love” he professed for me; at least, while I was still around.

  “What were you expecting?” asked Dash. “You’re very lucky the Princess doesn’t know about your special friendship with the Prince or you would be in trouble.”

  “Do you have a maiden waiting for you in Surien? Is anybody waiting for you to return?”

  “You’re not the kind of woman that comes to my mind when I think of marriage,” he said jokingly.

  “I’m serious,” I warned.

  “If I had a lady friend, I wouldn’t have left. I would be by her side, caring for her and loving her,” he said, embarrassed. This had to be the first time I saw him blush.

  “If there was a chance that someone has been waiting for you, but you just found that out, even though you are so far apart from each other, what would you do?”

  “So that’s the reason you won’t marry the Prince. You’re in love with his cousin.” He really annoyed me sometimes. “I would look for him and tell him how you feel. If you don’t tell him, he isn’t going to know. What is the worst thing that could happen? Only that he doesn’t love you back–” He used the same words I had used with Jane. Perhaps it was time I should listen to my own counsel.

  I made up my mind. I’d be delivering the Royal Wedding invitation myself. I wanted to see Dorian again. It had been almost four months since I last saw him.

  Victor tried to argue that he had enough Royal Messengers to do his bidding and didn’t need me to help them, but he gave up after much insistence on my part. “You owe me, Victor. You promised me.”

  By the time he agreed, I had already made a plan. The Haunted Forest stretched as far as the Gardenhills mountains. Riding alone, I would feel much safer in the forest than on the roads. I would be taking Heaven and Stardust with me just in case, plus I would carry The Secret too. With the winter taking down anything that fall had left behind, the Gypsies would make their way towards the Gardenhills mountains, where the caves provided a safe haven for them. I wouldn’t have to worry about Gypsies on the road through the forest. As soon as I left, I would go into the forest and work my way through Stoneburg until I reached my destination. It would be a five-day journey from the Royal City, but only three and a half days back to Andora.

  Victor, Daniel, and some of Daniel’s men would accompany me into the forest for a day or so, and then they’d return to the Everlands. According to Victor, letting them accompany me as far as they could would, at least, give him some peace of mind so that I could start my journey without complications.

  We were about half a day into the forest when we met the first pack of Gypsies. I had been wrong! There was a least fifteen of them gathered around a turf fire. Right away, I took the double ring that Kaneethee gave me the day she died and put it on my fingers. Then I dismounted Stardust and took a couple of steps closer to them so that their torches could light up the double ring I wore. Meanwhile, Victor and the others had their swords ready, waiting for things to get bloody.

  The Gypsies looked at the ring and began murmuring amongst themselves. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it didn’t look good for us.

  “I wish to speak to Valdo – your ruler.” I had to repeat myself three times, increasing the volume of my voice each time. One man stepped forward finally and said that Valdo was no longer their ruler.

  The words fell on me like a bucket of cold water. “Protect His Majesty,” I whispered, only loud enough for our men to hear. I unsheathed my sword. “If Valdo isn’t your leader any longer, who is?” I demanded.

  “I am!” The Gypsies parted to the side, and Vince walked into the moonlight. He had grown a full beard and his voice was hoarse, unlike his normal soprano voice, but his eyes weren’t fooling me. I lowered my sword.

  “What are you doing, Elle?” whispered Victor.

  “Hello, Elle. It’s been a while since we last saw each other.” Vince approached and gave me a big hug, swinging me around. “I didn’t think I would be seeing you anytime soon, and who do we have here? His Royal Highness, the Prince of the Everlands. How dare he come uninvited into our territory after breaking our deal!” Vince said mockingly.

  “What deal?” I wondered. I lifted my sword out and put it on Vince’s neck to tone down his attitude. “Consider this blade our invitation.” He laughed, and then took another step forward towards Victor. “Don’t get too close.” I warned him and pushed him away with my blade still on his neck, unsure if he could be trusted. “Where is Valdo?” I asked dryly. “Where is your father?”

  “Can you remove that thing from my neck? I shaved well this morning,” Vince said.

  I pulled the blade down. “Where’s your father?” I repeated.

  “He’s taken the women and children to the Gardenhills mountains for the winter. Most of our men went with him. The rest of us stayed behind to keep watch on the roads. We’ll join them in a couple of weeks, so while my father’s gone, I’m in charge,” he said proudly.

  I relaxed a little and put my sword away. “Well, since you’re the one in charge. I’m here to request safe passage through the forest – as safe as you can offer.”

  “To your home?” Vince asked, curious.

  “No. To the border with the Gardenhills,” I said.

  His curiosity increased. “Gardenhills? Why is that?”

  “His Majesty’s official business,” said Sir Daniel.

  “I am delivering a message,” I explained.

  “Doesn’t His Majesty have enough heralds to do his bidding?” Vince asked, looking straight at Victor. The look on Victor’s eyes said, I told you so, but he didn’t answer Vince’s comments.

  “Is that a denial to my request? You won’t let me pass because I’m not a male messenger? I can defeat you in a fight just as good as any man can.”

  Vince laughed in exasperation. “Is she this defiant with you, also?” Vince asked Victor. “Worse!” Victor replied.

  “I’ll personally escort you with some of my men to the Gardenhills border and ensure your safe return to–”

  “Andora,” I interrupted. The last time I saw him, I still lived in Stoneburg.

  “Andora? Very well, I’ll ensure your return to Andora after your delivery is done,” said Vince. I smiled, pleased.

  At first, Victor didn’t look happy, but what other choice did I leave him? “Be safe,” he said. “I’ll be seeing you at the wedding.”

  I bowed my head slightly and bid them farewell. Some of the Gypsies escorted the Prince and his men to the Road of Gether, and then came back to camp.

  We started our journey the following morning. Vince told me that there hadn’t been any more attacks since the one that had killed Kaneethee, probably because they had The Ethro and they didn’t think they needed to listen to Valdo anymore. The rumor was that they had chosen a King and followed his rulings, not Valdo’s.

  “I want to see Kaneethee’s grave,” I said. Vince nodded, and while the horses took a small break, we went to visit Kaneethee’s grave on our way. The seeds of wild flowers that had been spread over the tomb when she was laid to rest had fully blossomed against the coming cold, and right in the center of it was a bush of roses blooming – black roses.

  “We didn’t plant those,” Vince said of the roses.

  I sat by her grave for a moment, then we restarted our journey.

  “I can’
t believe you were knighted,” said Vince in amazement while laying down our mats around the fire. “And you’re the master of Andora. Who would’ve known?”

  “You doubt my capability to lead Andora?” I asked.

  “Not at all. I just never thought that you would swear service to the Everlands Crown.” He sounded disappointed.

  I turned my back away from him. “Goodnight, Vince. We’ll have plenty of time to talk tomorrow. All you need to know is that they have been good to me – the King and the Prince. I owe them so much, so serving them is just one way to show them my gratitude.”

  He kept quiet and within minutes fell asleep.

  We continued our route as soon as Vince woke up in the morning. Except for the few wild animals that showed up here and there, with most of them ending up as a meal or as apparel, our journey was peaceful.

  The weather became harsh as the days passed. We couldn’t deny that winter had arrived. We were wearing skins and cloaks with scarfs on our faces; yet, the winds were blistering cold. By the end of our trip, we got the first snow. We arrived at the Gardenhills border on the afternoon of the seventh day, two days later than I thought we would.

  “Are you sure there won’t be problems there for you?” asked Vince nervously when he saw all the soldiers in front of us through the foliage.

  “I’ll be fine. It’s your men you need to worry about. There’s no need for you to wait at the edge of the forest, so set up camp a few miles deep. I’ll come and find you,” I said as I mounted Stardust. Vince stayed behind reluctantly. Before I exited the forest, I changed into my cleavage-modified red velvet gown and put on the sash that had the Royal Seal on it, normally worn by the King’s Heralds.

  The first soldiers who saw me come into camp seemed confused and ordered me to halt. “Where did you come from?” one of them asked.

  I looked in the direction of the forest, then back at the soldier. I pulled out an envelope with the Royal Seal waxed on its opening and showed it to them. “I have a message for Sir Dorian LaFonte of Abilene, from His Majesty Victor of Lovan, Crowned Prince of the Everlands. Please, do show me the way to Sir Dorian’s tent so that I may deliver my message.”

  The soldier helped me dismount Stardust and walked me over to Sir Dorian’s tent. “My Lady, I shall inform Sir Dorian of your arrival. He’s at the front of the lines at this moment, supervising the campaign. Your horse will be fed and cared for at our stables until My Lady is ready to depart.” He then left the tent in search of Sir Dorian.

  The wait seemed too long. I wondered what his reaction would be when he saw me. I stood in front of the fire inside his tent and removed my gloves from my hands so I could rub them together, trying to get the circulation back into them. They were as frozen as two blocks of ice. My heart was beating so hard that I could feel it pounding against my chest. I kept playing with my fingers as I nervously paced the floor, trying to count the steps I took one way and then the other. I put my cloak back on and hooded my head as I stepped outside the tent, not able to stand one more second without knowing if he was coming or not. The sun was starting to set, and the yellows and the oranges of the rays made the sky look like it was on fire.

  I went back inside after I noticed half of the camp staring at me and after I felt the icy winds threaten to freeze my face as perfectly white snowflakes began to fall. I continued to count the seconds inside his tent, controlling my breath and staring at the fire.

  Although I had my back to the door, I knew when he arrived, because the sun projected his shadow on the tent canvas. I froze, uncertain of what to do next. He didn’t recognize me because of the cloak that covered me. I turned around to face him, a little disappointed at my welcome.

  “I was told you carry a message from the Prince,” he said, shaking off the snowflakes from his hair, looking down.

  “I do, My Lord,” I said. He lifted his gaze to meet mine. I barely saw his face before I lowered my eyesight again. He didn’t speak. The silence felt worse than waiting for him to arrive. I pulled out the envelope. “From His Majesty,” I said, offering it to him. I felt his gaze raking over me as he took my hand instead of the envelope, sending chills through my skin.

  “You’re freezing!” he said, concerned. “When did you get here? I didn’t see your escort–”

  “A few hours ago,” I answered shyly. The wall of ice between us was melting; the warmth he emanated started to bring life to my cold body, but my heart still couldn’t control its beating.

  “Why did you travel all this way to deliver this?” he asked, tossing the envelope to his desk. “Victor could’ve sent a messenger.” That was the third time I heard such a statement. Did everyone think I was incapable of delivering a simple letter without getting killed in the process?

  “I volunteered to do it, My Lord,” I said. He took a few more steps closer towards me. My heart went crazy! I closed my eyes while trying to control my emotions and my breathing, fearing I’d faint if he got any closer. The closer he got, the more difficulty I had breathing.

  “Why? Why did you come?” he sounded reproachful, concerned for my safety. Yet, he still reached out and, with his hand, lifted up my head until our eyes met again.

  “Because I wanted to see you.” I paused nervously. “I needed… to see you again,” I said, catching my breath. He said nothing. I lowered my gaze in disappointment, but breathed a little easier. I had traveled seven days to see him, and he said nothing. What was I expecting? That all of the sudden he would take me in his arms and confess eternal love?

  “You requested to come to see me?” Dorian said, surprised and somewhat baffled.

  Was it all in my mind? Did I make it all up? Did I come all the way to his camp for nothing? No! It was real; at least, what I felt was real – real enough for me. I was suddenly caught in a silence spell, but I took courage. I met his gaze again, took a deep breath, balanced myself on the tip of my toes, and kissed him.

  Shamefully, there was no response from his part. I was shocked, disappointed, and above everything else, ashamed of what I had done. I took a couple of steps back, so I could hide my gaze from him and hide my embarrassment. I stumbled over his cot and sat backwards on it, apologizing again and again. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me, Sir Dorian.”

  He then sat next to me. I meant to stand up but he grabbed my head with one hand and wrapped his other arm around me to prevent me from escaping his grasp, and then locked his lips on mine, soft but passionately. Desperate yet patient, he would stop every few seconds to breathe and stare at me with his deep blue eyes and then continue to kiss me. Never did I taste anything sweeter than his lips. I caressed his hair with one hand while the other one traveled down his back, pushing his chest closer to mine. It was so peaceful to my troubled heart to know that it wasn’t in my head. He felt it too – the completeness, the need to be in each other’s arms, the sense of belonging. The passion that emerged from our lips, the love that blossomed between us out of nowhere, was real, as real as him being in my arms. I started to play with his hair and ran the tips of my fingers through it while I playfully continued to kiss him again and again.

  The same feeling arouse every time I tasted his soft lips. I was his! I knew that with no doubts. Slowly, in the heat of the moment, we leaned back together until my back was flat against his bed and his body lay halfway on top of mine. We were caught up in the embrace. I didn’t want such a moment to end.

  His lips tasted the skin of my neck and then moved to my shoulders. His hands wandered down my body. He pulled my skirt up, caressing my leg gently as he did. I wanted him to continue on, but he stopped himself against my unspoken wishes. He had found the dagger that I carried under my dress fastened to my trousers – the one I wore always beneath my skirt. He pulled it out and smiled, as if he had been expecting as much.

  His lips came back to mine in a kiss that seemed endless. I wrapped my arms around him once more and gave myself to him again in one more kiss. He touched my nose with the tip of hi
s and kissed my lips once more. The magic of the moment ended, but he remained close to me in silence – his chest against mine.

  My embarrassment suddenly came back, not because of my actions, but because my stomach growled loudly.

  “Sounds like you’re hungry,” he said, smiling.

  “Maybe you could offer me a hot meal and a place to stay for the night,” I suggested hopefully. His smile faded and I knew something was wrong.

  He sat up and helped me up to his side. He kissed my forehead, hugged me tightly for a few seconds, and then let go of me. To my dismay, he began to pour out never-ending apologies. My heart sank with the regret he showed about the moment we had just shared – he regretted the sweetest moments of my life. My breathing was coming back to normal, but my heart ached. He stood up and turned his back to me, apologizing for what had just happened.

  “I don’t understand, My Lord. I mean no offense, but you didn’t seem too eager to push me away–” I said.

  “When I returned to Abilene, after I heard that Victor was planning to marry you… I gave up any opportunity of ever being with you,” he said regretfully.

  “I won’t marry him, I promise you,” I interrupted.

  He shook his head. “I serve the Crown and I love my cousin dearly. I won’t betray either of them to follow the feelings that you’ve awakened in my heart – feelings that have, for years, been dormant,” he said, frustrated.

  He sounded angry at my presence. He was having a fight with himself. Part of him wanted me, but the other part seemed to be sending me away. I myself didn’t agree fighting for a woman was a just cause, so I understood his thinking, but since I was no longer engaged to Victor, it wasn’t a problem. I tried to explain it to him, but Dorian had gone away. His guilt took him away from me, even though his body was still present.

  He sat down on his bed, sank his head between his hands, and said, “I won’t do it. I can’t… do it!”

  I knelt in front of him, took his hands, and looked at him pleadingly. There were tears in his blue eyes. Ironically, the Ambassador of Peace was at war in his heart. He kissed my hands and continued to hold them. “My Lord… we’ll be fine,” I said, giving him a reassuring smile. “As long as we are together–”