“Me? How?” She explained her thoughts to him and he listened without interruption, still not sure that this was a good idea. But she’d not played him false in all this time so he must trust her.
Still, it bothered him to leave Mia behind to face her destiny alone. “It is the only way. I’ve been planning this ever since I heard that he left the palace. I knew he would pass by this way on his way back. It’s the only way.”
Narrator
In the morning Bryony was surprised to see the others packing up for a trip to the nearby town. Always before her godmother had made the trip for supplies on her own, leaving her and her brother behind.
She didn’t think much of it though and only asked that they hurry back since she did not like to be alone. Clouds were rolling in, which meant a storm was coming and she was deathly afraid of the clamoring winds and thunder.
“I saw a buck a few days ago Bryony, maybe you can pass the time hunting. We’re running low on venison and the winter is fast approaching.” The seer had her reasons for sending her out to hunt.
She knew that the girl would visit the stream in the forest to bathe afterward. And it was there that she planned for the two lovers to meet. If all goes well, this thing would soon be coming to an end and the kingdom would be set to rights.
She had no qualms about her part in it. Maybe the Emperor would decide to take her head, who knows? But she knew the danger from the beginning and was willing to face whatever fate had in store.
They set out just after first light, Des looking back until the cottage was no longer in view, his mind and heart restless. He wasn’t sure that Mia should return to the palace.
Those who meant her harm were still there after all. But the old woman’s words were not to be denied. He knew nothing of prophecies and all that other stuff that she’d been feeding him over the years.
But he knew from the moment his sister was born that she was destined for greatness. It was a fact that she would not achieve her potential hidden away in the dank forest.
With his mind somewhat at ease, he gave in to the old woman and put his worries behind him. He had no idea what came next, but he trusted that his sister would be safe from harm.
The old seer had seen the outcome and knew that though they still had a ways to go, at least this was a start in the right direction. The years had dragged on, but now in this last phase, things would transpire that would bring the old prophecy to past finally.
EMPEROR JAI
It had been a long day of riding and the afternoon sun had given way to rolling dark clouds as soon as we reached the outskirts of the forbidden forest.
My men, including eunuch Van who had never left my side, balked at entering the forest, so we pitched our tents just on the outskirts for the day.
It would be foolhardy to go on with the rains coming anyway. The next hour was spent setting up camp as I looked around at my surroundings.
In these few years that I’d been outside the palace walls I’d gained a new love for my kingdom. The beauty of the land as told by the scholars of old was magnificently breathtaking.
Not for the first time I wished she were here beside me to enjoy it as I was. I no longer shy away from thoughts of her, but accept them now as my constant companion. Here lately though, she seems to play heavy on my mind.
While my men were distracted I walked deeper into the forest. Not too far, I could still hear and see them. It was like stepping into a different world. The sounds and scents were different here than even a few steps away.
There was a legend about the place that kept wanderers from trespassing here, but I did not fear the myths of mystical beings and dark forces. I knew they were no more than oldwife’s tales, if most didn’t.
I was looking into the deepening darkness when I saw it. Right away my mind flashed back to the first day we met and it was as if the sun burst through the clouds.
The bluebird looked the same as it had that day beauty followed it into my path. Of course I knew it was not the same bird, how could it be? But that did not stop me from following as it seemed to invite me to.
Just as that day on the palace grounds when it seemed to be leading the young girl, it now stopped and waited until I caught up.
I did not realize that I had been led deeper into the forest, that I could no longer hear the voices of my men or see them through the leaves of the trees. Not until I heard the tinkling laughter.
The sound had a strange effect on my senses and even as the bird flitted around my head and darted away in the direction of the laughter, I moved forward as if in a trance.
For this reason I did not see the wild boar as it trampled through the underbrush in my direction. Did not feel its breath as it drew near. Two things happened at once.
I came upon the sight of a naked beauty frolicking gaily in the water with her back turned, and a searing pain shot through my thigh. I fell to the ground crying out in agony before the darkness fell. My last thought was of her.
BRONY
I’d lost my sense of ennui and sadness not long after my family left me alone in the little cottage. I spent the first hour or so tidying up as I thought of the day ahead.
My godmother was right, we were running low on meat and the winter season would soon be upon us. As I cleaned I picked up the little knickknacks that were strewn around the place, wishing I could remember something, anything about them.
For the past five years of my life I’ve fought hard to remember but still nothing comes. There are times I remember my brother, slight flashes of days gone by.
But when I strain to bring them into focus I suffer the most horrendous headaches and so I’ve learned over time to let them be.
I do not mind that I’ve been left here alone. The thought of venturing into town always leaves me feeling afraid and except for the threatening clouds above I wouldn’t worry.
Luckily the clouds passed after some time and I grabbed my bow and the knife my brother had given me to head out into the forest.
I saddled up my horse as I would need him to carry the carcass if I did indeed catch the deer today. I tied him off in my usual spot and crept deeper into the forest, my ears and eyes pricked for any sound or movement.
It seemed like I spent hours in the underbrush waiting, while ants and other little creepy crawlies made a feast of my skin. This is more fun when I have Des for company to break up the boredom of the wait while the animals play hide and seek.
Giving up all hope I decided that the day was not a complete loss as I was close to the stream where I like to go play sometimes on hot summer days. The sun had held up all this time and I was hot and sticky from laying in the brush.
I had no fear of anyone coming upon me, since no one had ventured this deep into the woods in all my time here, so I removed my clothing, folding them neatly on the bank before wading into the water.
It seems within minutes the clouds rolled in again and I felt a bit of panic before settling again. The water was cool against my skin and the tiny fish that swam there were always a source of enjoyment as they seemed to play around my legs.
I was laughing and splashing when I heard the cry. Turning around swiftly, I scanned the surroundings. It was then I saw the boar standing over something lying prone on the ground beneath it.
My heart knocked against my chest as I recognized legs. Human legs. Who could that be? It didn’t matter, whoever it was, was in danger.
I eased my way from the water so as not to attract the boar’s attention and grabbed my arrow from my saddle where I’d left it.
With one pull of the bow I sent an arrow into the hind leg of the boar who roared in anger before sauntering away back into the forest.
I should go after him, take him down. But the thing lying on the ground was not moving. I hurried into my clothes my wet skin soaking through the worn cloth in no time, but now was not the time for modesty.
The man, I could see now that it was a man, was lying very still, not moving, and the g
ash on his thigh was bleeding profusely.
I jumped into action, my skills as a healer overcoming my fear of the stranger. My eyes did not stay long on his face, though I found it strange that he was more beautiful than my brother who was the only male of my acquaintance.
It’s not that his features were soft, no, more that they were perfect. From his dark hair that fell around his ears with a lock laying on his forehead, his chiseled jaw and strong chin.
I pulled my mind away from studying him and tore the hem of my dress to make a tourniquet for his leg to control the bleeding. Now to get him on my horse. I cannot leave him here or he would surely die.
Just as I went to move him, his eyes flew open and I caught my breath. He had beautiful eyes, and with them open the true beauty of his appearance came into view.
“Mia.” His voice was a hoarse whisper. The name meant nothing to me, but something in his tone in the way he said it, had fingers of smoke unfurling at the edges of my mind. Almost as if a memory was struggling to form.
Just as quickly as he’d awakened he passed out again, which was a good thing I was thinking. His leg is going to hurt something fierce while I struggle to get him on my horse.
My horse, well accustomed to carrying heavy burdens, was cooperative for once when he was made to rest of his forelegs in order for me to get the unconscious man on his back.
After struggling for what seemed like hours but were only minutes, I finally got him on the horse’s back laying sideways. I collected my things and ever mindful of my surroundings, made my way slowly back to the cottage.
My mind was already moving ahead to what I would need to heal the stranger and I had no time to dwell on his strange reaction to me. Who is Mia? His love?
Maybe! From the tone in his voice when he said her name it was obvious that he bore her great love. My heart panged just a little that I would never know that.
Shut away as I am here in my little haven, I see no way of me ever finding a love like that. It was okay though, I had my fill of beauty and tranquility here hidden away in my private world away from everyone and everything.
Bryony
The rain had started by the time the cottage came into view in the clearing up ahead. Now I was faced with the task of getting him inside.
I struggled beneath his weight, stumbling and going almost to my knees by the time I got him down from the horse. I had no choice but to catch him under his arms and drag him the rest of the way into the cottage.
Once inside I looked around for a place to lay him, but there was no other choice but my bed which would barely hold him though it was the largest one in the cottage. There was no hope for it though, so that’s where I headed.
I left him there still dead to the world and went out into the kitchen to gather my supplies. He was still out cold when I returned, but his face bore a frown and his eyes moved beneath his lids as if he were bothered by dreams.
I touched his brow which was rapidly growing warm and again he whispered that name. “Mia!” I watched his face for a few minutes more before getting down to the task at hand. His blood had soaked through his braes and the material was now stuck to his skin.
I knew I had to cut it away and clean the wound less he get an infection, but the thought of removing his clothing had my face warming with color and my pulse racing.
I closed my eyes and repeated a mantra in my head. I was not doing this out of any lascivious pleasure, but to save a life. Though from the moment I came upon his beauty my mind not to mention my heart has been acting rather strange.
I held my breath and cut away the material from around the wound but when that wasn’t enough I threw a blanket over his thighs and used my hands beneath to remove his braes altogether.
My face went even hotter and my heart raced in my chest until I could barely draw breath into my lungs. What strange malady is this? No matter, I ignored the strange new feelings and went about cleaning the wound of all debris, taking my time as I went.
I ignored the strange warmth that infused my body from the inside out and focused on his strong firm thigh as I worked. I mixed an elixir and kept it to the side just in case he awakened while I was putting the needle to his flesh.
He didn’t awaken during the almost two hours it took to get it just right, but his fever had grown. My back ached as I stood to my feet and I rubbed the soreness away.
I was hungry as well, but there was no time to prepare a meal. Not until I had seen to him first. I sat behind him on the bed with his head in my hand and dripped the tonic I made past his lips.
It will help him sleep less restlessly and hopefully help to combat the rising fever. With that done I went about preparing a light meal for myself and a broth for him in case he awakened.
As the food simmered on the stove I found myself sitting beside him on the bed, looking my fill at his beauty. He was the first person I’d seen since awakening here those many years ago, except for my godmother and my brother. So it was no wonder I was fascinated by him.
His beauty though, seemed to draw my eyes. I reached out my fingers and touched the lock of hair that fell across his brow. The silky smoothness felt somehow familiar between my fingers and I found myself getting lost in the feel of it.
There was something tugging at the edges of my mind, a sense that I’d done this before, but how, when? I knew I’d never seen him I would’ve remembered. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was someone I should know.
I didn’t feel my usual dread of being among strangers, there was no fear in me at his presence which I found passing strange. Always before I’d refuse to step foot outside of the forest because of that fear.
I don’t know if it was a fear born of my godmother’s stories about life out there in the outside world, or something from before I lost my memory. I just knew that my fear of anything new, including humans, was real.
And yet here I am not the least bit alarmed about being this close to the much larger stranger. Maybe it was because he was incapacitated and I knew he could do me no harm.
Or maybe it was because in his presence I felt a kind of calming peace that even the dreaded thunderstorm could not penetrate. Whatever it was, I was glad of it since it kept me from giving into the fear of the storm…for now.
He slept away the rest of the afternoon as I checked on him throughout and as night fell and the rains came harder my fear began to grow. Now that I was no longer touching him all my old fears reared their ugly heads.
I’ve always been afraid of the thunder and lightning and now was no different. And as these things go, this storm seemed worst than most in the past as it beat against the cottage hard enough to rock it on its foundation.
I sat in the corner with knees drawn and my head buried beneath my hands to drown out the sound. Tears of frustration filled my eyes as the fear made my body shake uncontrollably.
I looked to the bed where he laid still and bit my lip against the thoughts in my head. Who would know if I laid beside him? Usually my godmother would sit with me on nights like this.
Or if it was the daytime when the rain started Des would hold me on his lap until the storm passed. But they were both gone and I had nothing for the fear but this stranger.
I got to my feet and crept towards his prone body on the bed. He was dead asleep and a hand passed across his face didn’t bring a reaction.
I lifted the blanket I’d thrown over him earlier and climbed in beside him, being careful not to jar him or touch his wound. The warmth of his body pressed next to mine offered comfort and it wasn’t long before I drifted off.
My dreams came easy as the rain beat against the roof. For the first time I didn’t remember my fear as I got lost in the dream. I saw his eyes the way they’d looked earlier that day when they first opened.
Deep pools of green with a light that shone from within. In the dream those eyes mesmerized me, smiled at me and it was my name he called out in need. He was saying something but I could not make it out no matter ho
w close I got.
And it seemed that the closer I got, the more he pulled away as if there was a deep void between us, widening each time we reached for each other.
I felt tears prick my eyes as the dream faded in and out and then he was gone and the pain seemed so real. My mouth opened in a scream and I called after him, running, searching, but he was not to be found.
I don’t know how long I’d been asleep when I felt his restless movements beside me. My eyes came open and I saw the darkness outside as the heavy rain beat down on the cottage.
His brow was even hotter and I jumped from the bed to go retrieve the prepared medicine. When I came back to the room and took his head in my hand as I had before, his eyes flew open right onto mine.
“Mia…have I died then? Have they finally figured out a way to kill me?” His fingers brushed my cheek softly as he looked deep into my eyes. “It doesn’t matter, you’re here.” He closed his eyes and heaved a deep breath. “Thank you for giving her back to me. Mia, my beautiful Princess…”
“I’m not…” Before I could finish the denial he pulled my head down towards his and covered my lips. The soft heat of his lips against mine sent shockwaves throughout my body.
Even with my lips closed the contact was explosive, sending sharp tingles throughout my virgin body. And wild visions in my head.
I knew nothing of the things that went on between a man and a woman, except for what I was taught or read, but I automatically knew that this is what desire must feel like.
I’d never felt anything like it before, this riot of feelings that rushed through my body making my skin feel hot as if a fire had been lit from inside.
His hand clasped my nape firmly as he moved his lips over mine and there was a strange new thing building inside of me. A want so strong I almost cried out.
Flower In The Palace Page 17
