by Holly Law
“Home,” Elara said shortly.
“You're not going anywhere tonight,” Arik said trying to pull Lairk from her arms. “You're too upset.”
“I will go where I please,” Elara snapped kicking him in the shin. Arik was startled and let go of Lairk. Elara bolted down the stairs and out of the building that had been her home for over five years. Soon she was on the street outside and was rushing towards the main gate. She did not get even a block.
Strong hands reached out of the darkness and Elara found Lairk pulled from her arms by a soldier. Elara hadn't expected that and was not prepared for a blow that sent her to her knees. The hard fist in the stomach forced her to crumple. When she was on the ground her arms were twisted roughly behind her. Lairk was screaming.
“Let go of my son!” Elara shouted in anger as a soldier struggled with the kicking boy. She struggled against the soldier holding her.
“No, they won't be doing that,” came a cool familiar voice from a nearby alley. Koldre stepped out of the alley with a dark cloak covering his party garb.
“Why are you here, Koldre?” Elara snarled in anger. “We are no threat to you.”
“You think so?” Koldre said calmly. “After the commotion you caused at the ball? Hardly an innocent action.”
“Corden has no interest in me. We do not affect you.”
“No interest? Is that why he sent all of the palace guards after you?”
Elara saw Arik, Eren, and Turbek storm out of the house followed by Vasi. They had clearly heard her cry out. They were all moving towards Elara and Lairk at once. Arik and Eren had swords in hand and seemed very willing to use them.
“I wouldn't do that,” Koldre said in a smug tone. There was an unpleasant clicking sound as a pistol was readied to fire. It was only then that Elara noticed a pair of pistols in Koldre's hands. He was going to kill her. “Come any closer and I'll kill them both.”
“Like you're not going to anyway,” Elara said glaring at the traitorous lord.
“True,” Koldre said. “I think I'll deal with the boy first.” Koldre turned the gun on her son who had been forced to the ground nearby.
“No!” Elara cried and forced herself away from the soldiers who held her and between Koldre and her son. She heard and felt the shot at the same time. It was a deafening sound on the quiet street and she felt the searing, hot pain of the bullet tearing all the way through her chest. She screamed and she heard the same scream echoed by her son. She knew it had gone through her and hit him. Elara collapsed to the ground in pain and could not make herself rise. She felt blood pump through the wound and over her dress. She heard two more shots a moment later. She could only wonder who else Koldre had killed.
She was only vaguely aware of the sound of steel against steel followed by the thump of bodies hitting the ground. Then abruptly she felt herself flipped over and leaned against someone. “Elara!” came an urgent cry. “You! Get a surgeon! Now!” Elara had a difficult time focusing on the face over her. She had expected Turbek, Arik, or Eren, but it was none of them. Instead, it was Corden's pale face who leaned over her. She could feel him pressing something tightly against her wound. “Elara,” Corden said urgently. “Hold on. You'll have help soon.”
Elara looked away from him and struggled to see her son. She saw Lairk lying not too far away on the cobblestone street. Vasi held him in her arms and was trying to clench his bleeding. He wasn't moving. Elara tried to reach a weak hand for him. “Don't move,” Corden said pulling her arm back. “You'll need your strength.”
“My son…” Elara said feeling barely able to form the words.
Moving On
Elara was more aware of sensations at first than anything else. She was aware of a dry throat that felt as though it hadn't had enough water for days. She was aware of a horrible pain in her chest just shy of the vicinity of her heart. She was aware of the softness which surrounded her. She was aware of a hand holding hers and rubbing it encouragingly.
When she opened her eyes she didn't know where she was. She stared up at the ceiling for what felt like forever. An ornate canopy of richly colored green and gold fabric hung over her. In front of her, she could see painted walls that showed an elaborate forest scene.
It took her a moment to realize she lay in a bed. It was a very ornate bed that was covered in green satin comforter that was embroidered in gold thread with odd swirly designs. The sheets she laid in were a pristine white that were soft and comfortable. She had never lain in a more pleasant bed. Yet the pain detracted from the experience.
It was a few minutes after waking that she looked to see who held her hand. Sitting in a chair beside the bed was Corden. He looked very tired and older than he had at the ball. Concern and worry were etched deeply in that face. When she looked at him he smiled and some of the worry melted away. But Elara could feel no joy looking at him. His words had erased any pleasure she took at the sight of him.
“Where's my son?” Elara asked and found her voice was hoarser and weaker than she expected.
“Resting,” Corden told her gently. “He'll be fine there is no doubt of it. You are far worse off than him.”
“Where am I?”
“The palace. We've been waiting for you to wake up. The surgeon said he wouldn't be positive you would make it unless you woke up soon. Do you require anything?”
“I'm thirsty,” Elara said simply.
Corden left her side and emerged shortly later with a tall glass of water. He carefully put it to her lips. She drank it quickly and he got her more. When she could drink no more she drifted back to sleep.
Elara woke later to find that Corden was no longer by her side. Instead, Vasi was there. Vasi smiled to see her awake and instantly provided her with water and food. Elara was glad for both. “Lairk?” Elara asked hoping for news.
“He'll be fine,” Vasi assured her. “The surgeons said he should be up and back to normal in a week. Which is a far cry from what they say about you. They weren't even certain you would live until you woke up yesterday. Corden was very relieved.”
“Turbek, Arik, and Eren?”
“All fine,” Vasi said soothingly. “No one else was injured.”
“I heard other shots.”
“Those were Corden. They hit Koldre and one of the traitorous guards. Arik and Eren took care of the rest. You were very lucky Corden came. You wouldn't have lived if he hadn't.”
“When can I get out of bed?”
“Weeks. You're in rough shape. A little farther over and you would have been dead instantly. We thought you were dead until you started trying to reach for Lairk. No one had told Corden yet he had a son. I think you fell unconscious before the realization hit him that he might lose both wife and child that night.”
“I'm not his wife.”
“Perhaps not technically, but he still views you as such. He has even referred to you as such to his servants. Whatever anger came out the night you saw him is gone. I think he regrets what he said very much.”
“That does not change it.”
“It doesn't, but I think he would like to try to make amends. Did you tell Lairk that Corden did want him?”
“I told him his father didn't want either of us.”
“Lairk told Corden what you had said. I've never seen Corden look so wounded. He hasn't been in to see you since. All his time has been spent with Lairk. I think he's trying to prove to him that he does want him.”
“And what does Lairk think of him?” Elara asked not sure what response she hoped to get.
“I think Lairk likes having a father. I think he was always a bit jealous of Marilee and Corilee.”
Elara sighed and drifted off to sleep again.
Elara was in and out of consciousness for the next few days. At one point someone told her it was because of medicine she was on for the pain. Elara was a bit surprised she was on medicine for pain. She was still in a great deal of it. She found after she mentioned that she slept more. Time became a jumbled mess
and her wakings seemed to collide incoherently with her dreams. She never knew who would be beside her. Sometimes it was Vasi, others it was Turbek. At times it was Corden and once it was her brother. Very rarely, it was a servant whose name she did not know.
She fully regained consciousness when a servant was watching her. Things were no longer confused and events did not blur together. Instead, she could firmly grasp the situation. Elara hungrily ate everything put before her. Awkwardly and with a great deal of effort she sat up in bed. The servant didn't seem to have expected that effort and tried to discourage her at first. But Elara was stubborn and forced herself to sit up so she could eat easier. The servant put many pillows behind her and looked almost fearful.
“I don't know if you should be sitting up yet, your majesty,” the servant told her fretfully.
The form of address threw Elara off and she looked at the servant confused at first. “I'm not royalty,” she told the servant finally. “I'm a serf.”
“A serf?” the servant looked at her blankly.
“You are not a serf,” a voice said firmly from the door. Elara looked and saw Corden had entered. He looked very tired and worn. But he smiled at her. “I freed you from that some time ago, Elara. You know that.”
“If I'm not a serf what am I?”
“A free woman, just as Vasi is,” Corden told her. The servant rose to offer him the chair. Corden ignored the servant and sat beside Elara on the bed. “Leave us,” Corden ordered the servant. The servant curtsied and left. “How are you feeling?”
“Better, but still not fully comfortable.”
“Are you in pain?”
“A bit, but not as much as before,” Elara admitted.
“We could give you more medicine if you like,” Corden offered.
“I can tolerate the pain. I prefer to be awake. How's my son?”
“Our son is fine. He's been out of bed for several days. He's wandering the hallways of the palace at the moment.”
“You just let him wander?” Elara worried.
“He'll be fine. I spent many hours of my childhood doing the same thing.”
“He'll get in trouble.”
“I hope so. I could use a bit of innocent trouble to lighten the mood around here.”
“I'm sure he'll find some for you to laugh at then.”
“If he's anything like his mother I'm sure he will.”
“And what's that supposed to mean?”
“Elara, I have never known anyone as prone to trouble as you.”
“I don't go looking for it,” Elara said feeling offended.
“Yet you always seem to be in some form of trouble. Your current reason for recovery as an example.”
“That is your fault as is most of the trouble I've gotten into.”
“My fault?” Corden asked startled. “How am I responsible for Koldre's actions?”
“You were responsible for me leaving that ball in the way I did. You were responsible for making me angry enough that I went out on that street with my son without thinking.”
“I am not responsible for your actions,” Corden said firmly. “I regret what I said, but I did not cause what happened. That was entirely Koldre's doing and none of my own. You cannot blame me for what happened--no matter how angry you are with me.”
“I wouldn't have even been out there if you had acted like the man I thought you were.”
“I don't doubt that, but I did not cause what happened. You have every right to be angry with me because of what I said.”
“Angry with you? Do you have any idea how much time and effort it took to get anywhere near you? And you yelled at me for no reason! You treated all my effort as thought it were worthless and me like I was no better than Koldre.”
“I shouldn't have said what I did,” Corden agreed looking grim. “I regretted it almost instantly when I saw your face.”
“Why did you say that, Corden? Why did you treat me like that?”
“No reason that seems good now. Koldre suggested some years ago that you still might be alive somewhere, but unwilling to be found. He also suggested you might appear before me again someday at a time very much to your benefit and would take advantage of who I was and our prior connection. I told him you wouldn't do such a thing, but he planted the seed nonetheless. And then you appeared on a night I was thinking of you a great deal. On a night, I was supposed to become engaged to another woman. The last possible night you could have appeared and still been able to be my wife. All the circumstances Koldre described to me.”
“And you believed him?”
“I didn't like Koldre, but I never could find any evidence he would betray me, Elara.”
“I suppose I know where I stand with you now, Corden, and how much you trust me. I was never anything but honest with you. I guess Koldre was more worth your time to believe than me.”
“Elara!” Corden looked stung by her words. “It's not like that at all!”
“It isn't? And what would you say it's like? I tried to find you for five years and you might as well have slammed a door in my face.”
“I did not speak as I should, but I by no means intended to shut you out of my life. I intended to take you as my wife again--no matter what you answered. But you didn't even answer! You simply left. That was not the Elara I was accustomed to. I never saw you turn away from a confrontation.”
“I saw little use fighting for someone who didn't want me.”
“I wanted you very much,” Corden said fiercely. “I mourned you for five years. I still mourned you that night knowing I had to marry. I didn't want to remarry, Elara. I wanted you. I didn't want anyone else. I woke every morning wishing you were beside me. We were married only a few months, Elara, but I grew to depend on your presence a great deal. I wanted nothing more than you.”
“Perhaps if you had said that I wouldn't have left.”
“Perhaps if you had stayed when I had the guards try to stop you I would have told you.”
“Perhaps at that point it was too late.”
Understanding seemed to dawn on Corden's face at that moment. “You won't marry me again, will you?” Corden said looking very tired suddenly.
“No, I won't.”
Corden did not respond. He simply stood and left the room. Elara was treated only to the sight of a single tear sliding down his cheek before he was gone from view. Elara felt no regret for her decision.
Elara was not fully better and hadn't spent too much time out of bed when she found herself dressed in a fine dress. It was altered ever so slightly to hide what would show of her bandages. Elara didn't pretend to know what was going on and was not permitted to walk where they were taking her. Instead, a pair of servants carried her down several hallways.
She was eventually deposited in the throne room. That room was an amazing sight. It was as elaborately decorated as the ballroom. The walls were lined with marble statues of men she did not know. The floor was made of marble laid down in interesting patterns. She barely noticed any of that. Instead, she saw Corden sitting on his golden throne looking every inch a king. It was the first time she saw a formal crown on his head. Sitting in that throne, she wondered how she had ever thought he was just a simple soldier. Elara was carried to a chair that sat just off the dais his throne was on, but she faced the crowd as he did instead.
She could see many familiar faces in the first row. Turbek's family stood nearby in clothes that made them appear no different from the rest of the nobility. Arik and Eren stood with them in full, formal armor. Lady Elisa and Rushal stood not far from them. Her brother stood not too far from them. Elara could only wonder what was happening.
Her wonder was answered a few minutes later when her son was escorted in from the back of the room. The ceremony that followed was elaborate and Elara could not pretend to follow all of it. But the meaning became clear at the end. Elara was left feeling a bit startled when a crown was placed on her son's head. She realized numbly then that her son had just been offic
ially declared Corden's heir. The five year old looked uncertain, but Corden's reaction once the ceremony was finished brought a smile to Lairk's face. Corden stepped off his throne and hugged his son with a proud smile on his face. Lairk tentatively returned the smile.
Lairk and Corden left the room together a minute later and the crowd followed. Elara, who was unable to leave herself, was left there until last. Servants came forward then and lifted her. They carried her down several more hallways to the ballroom. The celebration of Lairk being crowned was already in full swing by the time she arrived. She was not placed in an open area. Instead, a small spot off to the side had been arranged for her. It was a place few wandered to and Elara felt very isolated as she watched everyone else enjoy themselves. Elara was miserable.
Elara rose early the following day and dressed herself. It took a great deal of effort and most of that was spent simply figuring out which door held clothes. The closet beyond had been full of an almost overwhelming number of dresses, all meant for her. It took her several minutes before she could locate one of her own simple dresses she had worn while she had stayed with Turbek's family. Getting it on had been a challenge, but she had managed it. She quickly braided her hair and started to making her way through the elaborate hallways of the palace.
It was with a great deal of surprise that she turned a corner and literally ran into Corden. Corden was equally as startled, but reached to steady her at once. “What are you doing so far from your apartments?” Corden asked her looking confused by her presence. “You should be resting.”
“I am tired of resting,” Elara told him shortly.
“I would have thought you would have slept longer after all the excitement yesterday. It was quite a celebration.”
“Forgive me as I found no reason to celebrate you stealing my son from me,” Elara said pulling herself out of his hands despite the pain it caused her. Elara continued on her way down the hallway.
