Arranged

by Spears, Jessica

  "They are gentle…they never bite," Adalia offered lamely.

  Qwinn was beside Alison in a heartbeat. "They bite if they feel threatened," he said gruffly. "Bo'gress' don't like to be touched."

  Alison held her arm limply against her as she fought back tears.

  QWINN GRABBED HER ARM GENTLY AND studied the bite for himself. As soon as her eyes met his, they brimmed with tears. He quickly went to work. It was important that he get the Bo'gress' poison out of her arm before it damaged any more. He sucked in a deep breath to relax himself and closed his eyes. Immediately, a vision of Alison's torn skin came into his mind's eye. He concentrated on clotting the blood, then repairing the broken veins and damaged nerves, then repairing the skin until every fiber lay as it should.

  He heard her soft gasp and allowed himself to open his eyes. The soft blue glow from his magic touch faded to reveal healed skin. Alison stared at her hand in astonishment. "How…how did you do that?" she breathed.

  "I told you I had a few powers," he said with a smile.

  She turned her hand over and held it up, as if she'd never seen it before. "Amazing."

  Qwinn couldn't help but feel proud of himself as he began to row the boat again. Adalia remained quiet; however, watched Qwinn thoughtfully. He ignored her gaze as he moved their boat away from all the fish and to less dense waters.

  Alison finally placed her hands in her lap, subconsciously rubbing her fingers over the place where the bite had once been as she looked out over the water. He had noticed she didn't bother to hide herself as much as she had when she first tried on the dress he had chosen. He was glad, because she truly was beautiful. He didn't want her to hide from him.

  "What is that?" she asked suddenly, pointing toward the ceiling of the cavern.

  "Lake Alimbra as you call it on the surface," Adalia offered.

  "That's the lake?" Alison asked; staring wide eyed at the bubble on the ceiling. It was dark, but she could almost see the movement of water.

  "That is only a section of it. When we were expanding the cavern, we drew too close to the lakebed. One day, the water broke through the thin layer of crust and threatened to drown us all," she said, her eyes alight with storytelling.

  "What did you do?" Alison asked.

  Qwinn cut in. "The elders gathered their magic and created that shield. It is impossible to break through. Now we have light during the day, but not enough to harm us."

  "Sunlight hurts you?" she gasped, not able to imagine what it would be like to have to avoid all light.

  "Only direct sunlight," Adalia said, winning her place back in the storyteller's seat. "Our eyes are made for the night. The light will make us blind."

  Alison's brows rose. "No wonder I only see you at night."

  Adalia smiled. "On the surface, we had to wear special eye coverings when we were out during the day."

  "So living down here is sort of perfect for you…"

  They were both quiet for a moment.

  "Sometimes, when the night on the surface is clear, you can see the stars," Qwinn said, pointing up. Alison lifted her eyes once more to the strange opening, but he knew her human eyes couldn't see as far as theirs.

  "Do you ever travel to the surface?" she asked, clasping her hands nervously.

  He didn't like her question. "Rarely," Qwinn said with a tone that ended all conversation on that matter. He didn't want to discuss the surface because he needed her to accept living down here with him.

  Alison tucked her hands in her lap and sighed. Qwinn stared out over the water angrily.

  "Perhaps we should travel to the gardens," Adalia offered, again trying to fight the awkward silence.

  Qwinn agreed, thankful for his sister. He rowed the women back to shore and held the boat steady while Adalia stepped out. Then he picked up Alison, carrying her to the Ou'tani, hoisting her up and climbing on afterwards, all without saying a word.

  Thankfully, the ride to the gardens was short. Qwinn couldn't think of anything to say to Alison. He beat himself up for showing her his angry side, again. Most of the time he used his anger to his advantage; however, with Alison, he wanted to be better.

  They arrived at the gardens and Qwinn slowed. He had not been to visit the gardens for years. His sister always invited him to join her when she went, but he declined. The gardens brought back memories he would rather not have to deal with.

  He guided his Ou'tani onto the path and entered the gates. The gardens reminded him of a graveyard, in the sense that it held the memory of things that once were.

  Over the centuries, sculptors from the best Vidarian trades had carved the history of his people and placed them in the gardens for all to see and remember.

  Flowers of all colors bloomed from bushes and hung from vines. Ivory climbed its way up the side of one of the many statues in the garden. The first one they approached depicted a Vidarian soldier, dressed for battle. He was holding the Vidarian flag high and proud.

  Memories of war on the surface came to mind and he forcefully pushed them away. He urged the Ou'tani onward. He should have never agreed to come to this place. They passed statues of Vidarian children playing, weavers working and two lovers, kissing.

  Qwinn tried to distract himself from the surroundings by watching Alison as she took in her surroundings. She asked no questions, she merely studied the statues. They passed a small carving of a Torin warrior being slaughtered by a Vidarian and she shrunk back slightly.

  "This is the history of my people," he explained gently.

  "What is that?" she asked, pointing to the Torin beast.

  "When we were banished here, there were already creatures inhabiting these caves. We do not know how they came to be here."

  She took in a soft breath and craned her neck back to look at him over her shoulder. "That was living down here?"

  "Yes. We overpowered them enough to drive them into the forest, and eventually clearing enough space for us to live."

  "Sounds frightening. Do…these creatures still live in the forest?" she asked.

  "They live…deep into the forest. Do not fear; my soldiers are patrolling the forest at all times. We are safe."

  Her brows furrowed. "Your soldiers?"

  He mentally kicked himself. "I meant the King's soldiers."

  Alison turned her face from him, so he couldn't see her reaction. He didn't know if she believe him or not.

  They arrived to the most beautiful part of the garden, but at the same time, it was the most painful for Qwinn. They halted their Ou'tani's and dismounted. Qwinn helped Alison down, but her eyes were captivated on the statue in the center. Disbelief and amazement warred on her face. "Is that…?" she trailed off, her green eyes wide in surprise.

  "That is my mother," he said softly.

  "But she's…'

  "Human," Adalia finished

  ALISON STARED UP AT THE WOMAN etched into marble. She was beautiful and had a haunted look about her. "How…"

  "She was in a similar situation to you…she found us by accident and ended up falling in love with our father," Adalia answered, looking up at the statue lovingly. "She was a wonderful woman."

  "What happened to her?"

  Qwinn's jaw tightened, obviously he didn't was to talk about this. So, just before his sister could answer, he interrupted. "She died to sickness," he grit out.

  Adalia narrowed her eyes at him and spoke quickly in their language. Immediately, Alison knew they were hiding the truth. But why?

  Qwinn growled a few words back to her, ending their conversation.

  "Why is there a statue of her?" Alison pressed for some sort of answer to the statue that made her feel, for once, as if she wasn't alone. The woman was dressed richly with jewels and a head wrap that looked almost like a crown.

  Adalia flung her hand toward Alison and picked up the arguing again. Alison hated being in this awkward position. Finally, she had had enough. She pulled her arm away from Qwinn, who was helping balance her. He turned to her in surprise,
his argument with Adalia forgotten.

  "What aren't you telling me?" she asked angrily. He wasn't the only one who could have a temper.

  He frowned angrily, but she wasn't scared. Instead, it heated her blood more. "You ask me to trust you, but you won't tell me the truth! Who are you, really? Why is your mother dedicated with a statue? I don't want to hear any more lies! You can hardly keep your stories straight," she ground out.

  Qwinn studied her for a moment before turning to his sister. Alison growled slightly in frustration. Then he nodded to Adalia, who took her Ou'tani, leading it away and giving them privacy. When she was well enough away, he swung his endless black eyes to Alison again, a sudden sadness in them. "I am Qwinn Vidar…King of the Vidarian people."

  Alison's jaw dropped and she was certain she stopped breathing. "You're…King?!"

  He nodded, never pulling his eyes from her.

  "Why didn't you tell me from the beginning? All this time I thought you were−"

  "I did not want to tell you because I did not want to scare you…"

  "Scare me? So you lied?" She frowned. "Why would it matter what I think?"

  He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "When people meet a King, they bow, they give him praise…I didn't want that…not this time. I wanted you to trust me."

  Things were happening too fast, she knew he had been keeping secrets, but he was royalty? She'd spoken back to the King! Why had he gone through all the trouble to hide if from her? Why was it so important that she trust him? Was he lonely? Was the only reason he put up with all of this was that he wanted a friend?

  So many questions raced through her mind, but mostly she didn't know what to think of the situation. She knew she had no place to question him. She shouldn't even care. He had kidnapped her! But somehow that didn't matter as much anymore.

  Qwinn stepped forward awkwardly then stopped. It was almost as if he could sense her mood. "I am so sorry that I lied to you. I went about this all wrong," he said softly.

  "I just don't understand why…"

  He remained quiet and her shoulders slumped. She hated when he wouldn't answer her. "Why did you have me taken? Why didn't you have me killed? I don't know what to believe anymore."

  He ran a hand through his dreads, looking off over her shoulder, as if trying to gather his thoughts. "You seemed…different. You deserved a second chance," he finally answered.

  "So why have me living with you in the palace? Why not have a servant care for me?"

  "When you came here, I knew the most English, so naturally I would help you."

  He heart sunk slightly. She wasn't sure what kind of answer she had been hoping for, but this was not it.

  "Then you broke your leg," he continued, "I felt responsible."

  "I don't need your sympathy. I don't even know who you are. Has anything you said been true?" she demanded, her heart hammering from the amount of emotion racing through her. She was confused, angry, scared and hurt. Though she wasn't supposed to let these creatures affect her, she realized at that moment that they had been making their way through her shields. Qwinn had grown to be her friend, without her permission.

  "Yes," he said quickly, gripping her shoulders. "It is true, all of it. I am King of Vidar. I did live on the surface. Adalia is princess and my twin sister. I saved you because I saw something in you that I saw in myself," his black eyes pleaded with her. "I thought that if you knew I was a king, you wouldn't open up and trust me. You would treat me just like everyone else…"

  She looked away, fighting with herself. Part of her wanted to forgive him, but the other part wanted to use what he did as fuel to push him farther away. He stepped closer and her heart picked up.

  "You are unlike anyone I have ever met. I am asking you, not as a King, but as…a friend, to give me another chance."

  She dared meet his eyes again and her breath froze in her chest. She couldn't identify the emotion she read in them, but it was intense and it consumed her. Her skin was on fire where he touched her. He was close. For a moment, her eyes drifted to his mouth and wondered what it would feel like to kiss him. She had never been kissed before.

  Immediately she shook her head, shaking the traitorous thoughts from her mind. He was watching her expectantly and she realized he was still waiting for an answer. What should she do? All of her suspicions had been true. He was someone much too important to spend his days teaching her how to walk. He had more to worry about than her and her stupid confusing feelings. True, he wanted to be her friend…but could she let him? Should she?

  She cleared her throat. "Under two circumstances−" Before she knew what was happening, he pulled her into a hug. She stiffened as her skin went on full alert. She didn't understand how a creature such as Qwinn could calm her and now make her so aware at the same time.

  When he let her go, she was shaky. It was as though she couldn't control her own body anymore. "What are your demands?" he asked calmly, as if he hadn't just almost crushed the air out of her lungs.

  "One, no more lies. Two, I want Naliya to wait on me…instead of you."

  The happiness that had been on his face, disappeared as quickly as snow.

  She rushed to explain. "You have too much work to do."

  "If it is alright with you, I would like to continue to help you. I will still perform my kingly duties and care for you."

  Care for you. The words sent a shiver down her spine, unbidden. She couldn't explain why, but even after everything, she was still drawn to him. "You will be busy. It would be easier to have Naliya with me when I need something."

  He was silent for a moment as he thought about what she said. "Very well; however, I would still like to see you."

  She couldn't have stopped the blush if she wanted to. She pulled her eyes away from him and placed them anywhere else. Eventually they landed on the statue of his mother. "Tell me about your mother."

  The half smile that had been playing on his face disappeared. "That is for another time. We have much more to see before the morning."

  She wondered why he wouldn't talk about his mother. It was obviously a sore subject, but she couldn't help but be curious as to the only other sign to human life she found down here. It was too much of a mystery to let pass by. She would wait for the right time.

  Qwinn helped her onto the Ou'tani then climbed on behind her. "Where are we going now?" she asked instead.

  "I have to check on a few things first, and then we will see the town."

  They rode through the gardens for a while and found Adalia lying under a statue of a deer from the surface, in a patch of flowers, threading them into a crown. She smiled when she saw them, and then looked at Qwinn in question. He spoke to her a moment in Vidarian. For once, Alison didn't mind. She was sure that he was telling her about their argument and was saving her embarrassment from replaying it in English.

  Adalia simply nodded. "I told you she was smart." She turned her eyes to Alison. "He never listens."

  Alison blushed slightly and noticed, out of the corner of her eye, that Qwinn was gripping the reins a little tighter.

  Adalia didn't seem to notice her brothers discomfort, instead, she stood and held the flower crown out to Alison. "I made this for you."

  Alison's eyes widened in surprise as she accepted the flowers and carefully placed them on her head. The crown fit comfortably. Alison wished she had a mirror.

  "Where are we going next?" Adalia asked.

  "I have to check the wall then we will pass through town," Qwinn answered, no feeling in his voice. Alison couldn't help but turn slightly, trying to see his face. She wondered what was wrong with him; however, his face was giving away no hints. It was as if he were etched in marble, just like his mother.

  They rode for a while in silence. Alison's eyes took in the surroundings, trying to memorize the landscape. The caverns were surprisingly large. She was sure that if she were on the wall of the cavern, she could hardly see to the other side, even if the cave was well lit. She suspect
ed it was almost a day's walk from one side to the other. In her case, where she couldn't see very well in the dark, maybe a three day walk.

  It was an impressive work any way she looked at it. The thought of his people digging and using their magic to expand was too much for her mind to wrap around. It must have taken them years and years to dig.

  After a while, she realized it was impossible to memorize every tree, so she began to make a mental map according to where the lake bubble was. That was much simpler.

  Soon she noticed that they were heading back to civilization and she grew nervous. Suddenly Qwinn's hand was covering hers. "Do not worry so much."

  She didn't know how he did it, but a wave of warming calm washed through her. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. His hand lingered and she couldn't help but notice. When he finally pulled away, her arms had already grown goose bumps.

  She cleared her throat, shoving the thoughts away simultaneously. "If you are King, why aren't we surrounded by soldiers?" she asked.

  Qwinn chuckled slightly and immediately Alison felt stupid for asking the question. "Being royalty, Adalia and I have access to… a lot of magic. If anything were to try to attack us, that would be the last thing it ever did. The council insists that I still ride with soldiers, but I do not like to be followed. You are perfectly safe."

  "That's nice," Alison lied, her eyes scanning the dark forest that they were approaching.

  Again, Qwinn chuckled. "Alison, you are probably the safer with me than 10 soldiers."

  At that moment they arrived at what Alison could only guess was a fort. Soldiers roamed around. As soon as they saw Qwinn, they straightened and bowed their heads. Qwinn spoke to them in Vidarian and they relaxed their stance. Alison shifted nervously as eyes fell on her.

  QWINN NOTICED HER STIFFEN AND paid more attention to what was going on around him, not just hearing report of the forest. A few of his men were glaring at her. Some looked at her in wonder and others seemed to be appreciating her too much for his liking. Anger began to heat him. He needed to get his business here over with and get her away from the men.