by T. R. Reilly
"That is why you have advisor's my princess. Right now the focus will be to teach you how to protect yourself and how to use you natural abilities." Ash turned to the other knights and instructed several of them to stand guard outside, and watch the house. Telling the rest to return to their posts in the palace. Each one nodded and left as quietly as they came in, leaving Ash and Leanna alone again. Leanna looked down at her hands, folded in her lap, then cast her gaze up at her protector.
"Ash?"
"Yes Leanna?" he said gently, his eyes softening, when he saw her worried face.
"I'm worried about something happening to you or Freya. I don't want to be the reason anyone gets hurt. Maybe I should just go to Girvyn and try to reason with him." She said sadly. Ash bent down in front of her, placing a large hand onto hers and squeezed. "Please don't worry, I have been training for many years for this, so have the other knights. As I said, we've come up with a plan." His eyes met Leanna's with so much compassion and strength that she welled up with tears. Ash went to his knees and leaned in to wipe a tear off of her cheek. "Please don't doubt your own strength. I can see it in you. You will make a great queen, I know it."
Leanna couldn't decided whether to release all her pent up fears in that moment, or bury them like she always did when feelings got to be too much. Settling on the latter, she sniffed back her tears and then spoke "So why don't you tell me more about this plan and the training you will be giving me?" she attempted a half smile as Ash moved to sit in the sofa across from her. Ash's tone was serious, but friendly, "Girvyn was only able to gain power in the first place, because there was no one to succeed him, once your mother died. He told everyone that you had died as well. So, to keep you safe, those of us who hid you went along with that, until now. There are not a lot of people that follow him, compared to those of the kingdom that feel a woman should be our queen. We need to see what Girvyn is planning and my mother is working on that as we speak, as you know she works at the palace in the kitchen. What I want to do, is teach you how to access your magic abilities, now that you have a good handle on your psychic abilities."
Leanna's eyes widened as did her smile, "I have magical abilities as well?"
Ash's lips turned up slightly, "Yes and we have only a short period of time to get them brushed up. Once you are on the throne we can work on expanding them."
"Well, let's get started then. So what is it you think I can do?"
The next month was busy for Ash and Leanna, as he and some of the other knights trained her, not only in self defense, but also flexing her psychic and magical self defense abilities. Ash and his small group of knights protected Leanna around the clock, making it again possible for her to go outside of the cottage, daily. Each day she practiced, she found herself able to do more to defend herself, building her confidence, with each success. Today was no different. Leanna stood about ten feet from her wooden target and stretched her left arm out in front of her, palm up,facing the target. She closed her eyes and visualized the energy coming from her hands and hitting the target. "Princess, don't close your eyes" she heard Ash's deep voice coming from behind her, "you have to watch where you're directing the energy, don't look away."
As Leanna opened her eyes to look at the target, they watched as it shattered into pieces, from the beam of energy she shot out of her palm.
"Well done!" Ash said, putting a hand to her back briefly and rubbing it, then pulling it away when he noticed people looking at them both. Leanna felt the change in his energy and turned to look at him. 'Whats wrong' she asked him telepathically.
'Nothing' he replied. Then aloud, "Okay I think that's enough practice for today. Let's return inside and go over your studies." He turned and walked in the direction of the cottage, Tarrin and two of the other knights, stayed still until Leanna started to follow Ash. Walking close behind Leanna until she was at the cottage, the knights then returned to their post around the cottage, as Leanna closed the door behind her. "Ash, what's wrong? Have I done something wrong?" she asked when she saw Ash's face. He looked flustered and ran his hand through his hair, before looking toward her. His face looked pained and she could see he wanted to say something, but was holding back. Just then, Freya entered the hallway from her bedroom. She saw Ash and Leanna and shook her head. Approaching them she spoke to Ash, "you haven't told her have you?" He shook his head and looked at his mother sadly. Leanna was starting to get very worried, she couldn't hear Ash's thoughts, he was clearly blocking her, but she could feel his feelings. She sensed a sadness in him and something else, something she couldn't quite put her finger on, but it unsettled her. "Haven't told me what? Ash? What are you keeping from me?" Leanna asked, as she hesitantly walked toward him, trying to get him to make eye contact. He seemed to be intentionally refusing to look directly at her. Freya stepped forward then and touched Leanna's arm, guiding her to a kitchen chair. Leanna tried to hear Freya's thoughts, but was blocked again. She waited as Freya pulled out a chair and sat across from her.
"My dear Princess, it seems my son has neglected to mention something crucial to your role of queen."
They both glanced over briefly at Ash and watched as he looked toward the ground, still refusing to make eye contact.
"What do you mean something crucial?" Leanna asked as she kept her hands in her lap, wringing them out frantically.
"My son seems to have fallen in love with you princess and I fear you have with him?"
Leanna looked down and nodded, afraid of what could possibly be wrong with loving him. Freya continued, "Ash has been charged with protecting you, this much is true. But that is all. Your knights are forbidden to have a physical relationship with you. You have been promised to another, it is our custom to have the queen of our realm marry a royal male from another kingdom. The queens of our world have always done this, as it ensures there is peace between the kingdoms."
Leanna thought about this for a moment, letting it sink in. A marriage for political reasons rather than love, Leanna thought, as she began to realize the repercussions of what this meant. She would have to live out her long years, with someone else that she didn't love. She looked over at Ash and tears filled her eyes, "Thats why you always pull away every time we get close?" she asked, quietly sobbing. Ash looked at her with pain in his eyes and nodded.
"I finally found someone who cares about me, who I love...and I can't even be with them?!"
Freya watched helplessly, as Leanna put her hands to her face and cried. Ash stepped closer to Leanna and put a hand on her shoulder, looking at his mother, his voice now laced with anger, "This is what I was trying to avoid mother. I wanted to tell her when the time was right. Up till now I hadn't told her how I felt about her." Freya's face turned up toward Ash, "People are starting to notice your affection for her. There are rumors around the palace about you both. It had to be said Ash. She needs to know what is in store for her."
Leanna looked up from her hands, "Please don't speak about me like I'm not even here. You had no right to interfere Freya.
If I am meant to be the queen here, I will change the laws, I will make it so that I can be with Ash...and forget this...stupid political garbage. Marriages of convenience don't work well in the human world, I can't see them working out any better here!" She raised her voice in frustration at the whole situation."
"My dear child, you know nothing of our ways, you will grow to see that it is the correct thing. It keeps our realm from warring!" Freya said with a little condescension in her voice.
"Girvyn isn't meant to be king either, but he is! I can change this!" Leanna cried. Ash stood up tall, his voice slightly raised, "Mother, she has a valid point. Girvyn hasn't married anyone PLUS he's a male ruling from what is traditionally a female run throne. I don't see the kingdoms fighting over that!" Leanna looked up at Ash, pleased that he was defending their love.
"Girvyn has not been kind these past twenty years, Ash, you know that. His rule is barely tolerated by the other kingdoms. We may not have an all ou
t war yet, but it will come."
"And how would you know this mother? Do you have contact with the other Fae kingdoms? Because last time I checked, you worked as a cook in the palace, not as diplomatic adviser to the queen." Ash's tone had taken on a venomous sound as he lashed out at his mother. Freya stood and pointed at the two of them. "Fine, insult me...tell me I don't know what I'm talking about. You will see, if you don't heed my words" she moved her gaze to Leanna, her eyes narrowing into small slits, "My son is not meant to be your king, you will see what happens if you go against this, I know this." She pushed past Ash and stormed out of the cottage, leaving Ash and Leanna suddenly feeling very awkward that their feelings for one another had been spilled out into the open, like they were some horrible thing. Leanna got up from her chair, as Ash took a step back while she did so. "Leanna?" his voice soft and gentle again. "Yes?" she looked up at him as he stepped close enough for her to feel his body heat. "I'm sorry about everything. I should have told you from the beginning, it's just that-" Leanna shook her head and cut him off before he could finish,"It wouldn't have mattered Ash, I fell for you the moment I laid eyes on you."She felt her face flush. "Really? Because you seemed pretty angry when I stopped you from falling back in your forest," he said playfully. Leanna laughed lightly, as she remembered their first encounter, more than two months earlier, "Hm, yeah I guess I did." She blushed, "but seriously, you are the only man to ever show me so much kindness, compassion and care Ash. I don't care what your mother says, my heart belongs to you"
Ash put his hands on Leanna's arms and rubbed them gently. "I wanted to tell you how I felt for weeks now, but I couldn't bring myself to tell you that OR the fact that we couldn't be together" he grimaced slightly.
"Oh, we'll be together...that is if you want that?" Leanna announced, surprising herself with her confidence.
Ash pulled her close into a warm embrace, holding her head in his hands and her body next to his. "Of course I want that. I want to be with you Leanna, if I can find a way to help make it happen, I will"
Leanna hugged Ash tightly, "we'll do it together" she said with her face nuzzled into his muscle bound chest.
Leanna and Ash spent the next twelve hours pouring over historical texts to find some loophole that would allow them to be together as a couple while she still ruled Burana. "Here's something," Leanna said aloud to Ash, handing him an open book and pointing to a section. "It says that a suitable mating between kingdoms is decided when the queen is four years old. I was only a few weeks old when I left here, I can't possibly have been promised to someone in that time, right?"
"Maybe so. Girvyn would not have followed through on a promise of marriage for you, since he had no desire to see you take the throne. Your mother left no such instructions except for my mother to take you to the human realm."
"So I can't be forced to marry a male royal since no one knows I am alive" Leanna smiled.
Ash nodded, "In fact any male royal born around the time of your birth could already be promised to someone else by now" Ash closed the book and laid it on the table. "So that means...?" Leanna looked hopeful for a moment, "we can still be together...? Leanna's eyes sparkled with joy, as she put her arms out to hug Ash. He held her, then leaned out so he could look down at her. "Let's just get you on the throne and then see about us being together, okay? I don't think it's as big a deal as my mother seems to think." He leaned down to kiss the top of her head and squeezed her tight.
"Ash, you do feel the same way I do don't you? I mean, you love me too, right?" Leanna asked hesitantly as she stepped out of their embrace.
"Of course I do, how can you doubt my love for you...Leanna, you mean so much to me. I thought you realized that."
"I do, it's just...I want everything to turn out okay. I am a little scared of what is to come, with all of this...I know I sound like a big baby right?"
"No, you sound like a young woman who has lost everyone she's ever cared about and is expected to change her entire life in a matter of a a few months. Relax, I love you...I am here to see you through everything." He stepped in close enough to touch the amulet on her neck with his index finger. "I think you will make a great queen. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for." He brought his hand up to her chin, holding it delicately as he leaned in and kissed Leanna softly on the lips. She closed her eyes and felt the warmth of his full mouth on hers. She had no idea if she was kissing correctly or not, but she loved the feeling of his tongue inside her slightly open mouth, as she allowed herself to be pulled into the kiss more deeply. She let out a small sigh as Ash slowly pulled away, looking into her eyes as he did. She instinctively put her fingers to her lips, to hold the memory of the kiss from the most beautiful man she'd ever known. Her thoughts going to the fact that she'd never kissed anyone before. "Really?" Ash raised his eyebrows and smiled.
"What? Really what?" she asked.
"You've never kissed before?"
She looked down at her feet, realizing he'd just read her thoughts, she shook her head. "Never really had the opportunity to kiss anyone" she shrugged.
"You wouldn't know it!" he smiled and eased her face up to meet his again and leaned in for another kiss.
CHAPTER SIX
Though the evening had drawn in, the gentle cool breeze felt refreshing on Leanna's skin, as she sat on a bench outside the cottage. Her guards not far away, hanging back to give her the illusion of privacy. With her eyes closed, she practiced focusing on the energy around her, just like Ash had taught her to. Moments later, she felt the presence of a dark energy. She turned her head in the direction of the quiet intruder and gasped, as she gazed upon the dark haired fairy that moved in front of her. His green eyes betraying his lineage, the moment he got close enough for her to get a good look at him.
"Good evening" he said with a smile that was more like a sneer, as he stood hovering close to Leanna. She began to squirm slightly as she reached her thoughts out to Ash, hoping he was still close by. Trying to hide any fear that her voice might betray, she cleared her throat and tilted her head slightly,"Good evening." She was surprised how much alike they looked, his jawline was stronger, more masculine and his hair was tied back off of his face, falling down his back. He was dressed in very fine dark colored clothing, fit for a king, she thought. His hands were at his sides, as he stood tall and gazed into his niece's face. "Right under my nose" he mumbled to himself, "I'm impressed. How long have you been back...niece" he said between clenched teeth. "Long enough to know that you don't wish me well," she responded and stood up to face him. She stood at five foot seven inches tall and he was nearly half a foot taller than her. She wasn't going to allow her fear of this stranger to take over. "So have you come to kill me? Like you did my parents?" she asked with bitterness in her voice.
"He won't be killing anyone," she heard the silky smooth voice of Ash as he came up behind her, quickly moving to stand in front her. Girvyn laughed and took a step toward Ash, trying to intimidate him, "Ha! Who are you suppose to be then, the queens knight?" He sneered. "Yes! And you will die before I let you touch her," Ash stood an inch or two above Girvyn with his sword drawn, ready to cut him down if he made so much as a move toward his queen.
"You are not the rightful heir and when our people know we have our queen back, your time on the throne will be over Girvyn." Ash spat his name at him as if it were poison. "You have no proof that she is queen and I will not walk away easily." Girvyn's lips were a thin line, his eyes narrowing. Ash turned quickly to Leanna, "Get in the house Princess, now!" Leanna backed away slowly and then ran for the door of the cottage. As Ash stood his ground, Girvyn moved toward him a little more, his hands up in front of him, his lips moving as if he were speaking to himself. Ash realized suddenly that Girvyn was attempting to use magic, he slashed his sword quickly at Girvyns arms, reciting his own incantation of protection. Girvyn disappeared, leaving Ash to breath in the cool evening air and the slight smell of Fae blood.
"Next time I will do more than giv
e you a warning!" Ash yelled at the empty space that had just been filled with Girvyn.
Leanna watched through the window, as Ash walked back to the house, sword still at the ready. She ran and opened the door as Ash approached. Standing in the doorway she cried, "Ash, I'm so glad you're okay." She threw her arms around his muscular abdomen, squeezing him tight. Then leaned back to look up at him, "Where did Girvyn go?" she asked as Ash stroked her back with one hand and sheathed his sword with the other. "Gone for now. I am sure he'll return though. I'm not sure why he didn't just take you, but glad he didn't. We should make the announcement of your return tomorrow, before he has time to do anything else.You will remain with me every moment,until then, princess." He said firmly and leaned down to plant a kiss on top of Leanna's head. Closing the door behind him, he pulled away for a moment, then took her hand, leading her into the study. She smiled at the thought of Ash having to spend every moment with her. Her heart leapt in her chest and her pulse quickened. "How will you protect me in here, if he can just disappear like that,can't he appear in here too?" she asked, a little afraid of being killed in her sleep or something.
"The house is enchanted. He can't come in here unless he is invited. I will protect you, don't worry."
"Ash?" Leanna moved closer him.
"Yes?"
"Does that mean you will have to sleep in my room tonight?" she smirked, one corner of her mouth slightly higher than the other. She felt butterflies in her stomach every time he looked at her the way he did, with so much love.
Ash looked down at Leanna, as a smile washed over his face. Reaching out to touch her cheek he responded playfully, "If it comes to that..I suppose I will have to"
"Of course, you will have to," she smiled and took his hand and placed it on her heart,"I feel safe with you Ash."
"That pleases me, because it's my heart's desire to protect you, my princess.
