by Kealohilani
Lani sighed gently as she reached to cradle his cheek in her hand. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He brought her other hand up to his lips and gently kissed her palm and the inside of her wrist.
“As much as it pains me to say this, we must hurry now to join the others, my love.”
Jharate turned her hand over and kissed the top of it gently, and with one smooth motion guided her back to where they could hold hands again, side by side.
Lani could still feel his lips on her wrist and suddenly felt as if her knees were made of Jell-O. She pushed forward, forcing herself to walk normally until the feeling of solidness returned to her legs.
Her heart was flitting around inside her like a caged bird. She was deeply touched by Jharate’s candor and willingness to be so vulnerable. She knew that memory was a huge part of himself.
So much of what she had seen of his parents was reflected in his own actions. His father and mother had both been equally responsible for showing Jharate what a relationship should be like.
If that memory was any indication of what she and Jharate might have if they married— she was more than ready for it. She knew now that they were forging an indestructible bond. She couldn’t wait to share more with him. She wanted to know everything about him and for him to know everything about her.
They had fallen quite a ways behind the others and had to walk quickly to catch up. Even with their hastened speed, it took them a while to find the back of the line.
Once again, neither of the two of them felt the need to speak to each other for a long while. Lani felt that the ever-deepening feeling of love that they were sharing— and their sincere compassion for one another— had caused their connection to grow to the point where they could feel each other’s spirits.
Lani continued to ponder what he had shared with her. She knew that it was her turn to open up now and to allow herself to be as vulnerable for him as he had allowed himself to be for her.
Why was this such a hard thing to do? He had obviously been through more than she had— and yet she felt nervous. She took a deep breath and jumped straight into the heart of her biggest insecurity.
“I have never lost anyone to death, but I have lost people that I loved dearly in other ways. The men I have loved in the past either left me, mistreated me, or betrayed me.
“Because I know that the past does not equal the future— I tried to tell myself that it never affected me. But it did. For a while I became terrified of relationships, even though I desperately wanted one— and even though I never stopped letting my heart open up. But each time my heart broke, I let fear in a little bit more.”
“Many people allow fear to come into their lives.”
“Yes, but I wasn’t like that before. I now believe that the fear I allowed to creep in might be part of the reason history repeated itself with each man. I feel ashamed that I let that happen. Gave the strength of my optimism away for a time.”
“You need not be ashamed, Lani. You have been wise enough to recognize what fear was doing to you. That is admirable.”
“Thank you, Jharate. Yes, I have recognized it and I try not to let fear back in. I don’t always succeed— but I am aware now and I’m working on it. I usually don’t even like to talk about it— but making that mistake— and working to restore the brave core I relied on my whole life— is a part of what made me who I am. And I feel safe enough with you to feel like I can truly be myself around you.”
“And you always can be. I am pleased that you are conquering your fears. And you have nothing to fear from me. I will always be true to you, and I will never leave you.”
Lani beamed and her eyes filled with joy. She could feel that the love in her heart was healing her, inside and out. She was glad that she had decided to be brave with Jharate— in starting this relationship and in continuing this conversation. Lani watched Jharate as he kept looking at her— his eyes falling on her features, one by one as they walked. She blushed yet again and smiled.
“What?” Lani asked with a shy but happy tone.
“I am merely wondering how you are becoming more beautiful before my very eyes.”
Lani’s blush turned scarlet. She closed her lips but the inevitable smile parted them once more as she looked away from his gaze.
“I think what you are seeing is just the fact that you are making me so happy. I haven’t been this happy in a long time.”
“Lani, my love, this is only the beginning. If your beauty increases every time you become happier— it may become hard to behold you with mortal eyes in the future.”
“Oh no! That’s not exactly what I meant,” Lani giggled. “You sure know what to say though. Wow! My heart is racing!”
“I mean every word I utter.”
“I know… That is what is so amazing! Thank you for your compliments, Jharate. I appreciate them, even if I’m not sure I quite live up to them.
“You, on the other hand— there aren’t words enough to tell you how handsome I think you are. I had a list of things I’d been waiting to tell you. And now that you’re actually holding my hand and I’m free to say the things I’m feeling… the perfect words just ran away. But your brown skin is the most gorgeous color I have ever seen and I could stare into your eyes all day.”
“Thank you, Lani. You are very kind.”
“It’s true though.” She stopped and turned to look into his eyes. “You are the most handsome man I have ever laid eyes on.”
Jharate smiled and looked down shyly at his feet. Suddenly, he threw his arms around her and tickled her. Lani squealed and struggled to break free of his gentle hold, giggling the whole time.
He laughed freely as she tickled him in return, and finally swept her up into his arms and carried her— running to catch up with the rest, who had left them behind yet again. Lani laughed in surprise and delight.
Once they caught up, he gently placed her feet back on the ground and took her hand in his. He smiled sweetly at her and she smiled back at him— while they caught their breath from all of the laughter and play— as another comfortable silence overtook them.
Neither Lani nor Jharate noticed the glittering green eyes that were once again peering at them through the trees as they walked. The eyes narrowed, watched for a few more seconds, and— remaining under the cover of the thick trees— quickly but quietly ran ahead of the entire group of rebels without being seen.
Legacy
Chapter Twenty
The rebels reached a small clearing where they set up camp for the night. The air was filled with a sweet fragrance resembling night jasmine and the tranquil sound of crickets beginning their evening songs.
They had inexplicably made much better time than had been expected. Destavnia was a mere three or four days away at this rate— rather than the planned six or more. Everyone was so excited to be this near the final destination that no further thought was given to that minor mystery.
Instead, there was animated discussion— while they ate around a delightful fire— about how magnificent Destavnia was and how blissful it would be to arrive there soon. Hopeful talk of the future was followed by legends of the days of old— when all the lands were free and Alamea was a safe and relatively-untroubled world.
Lani was captivated by the change in the rebels. She was surprised by how much they could laugh in a time of war and uncertainty— and impressed by their faith that things would eventually get better again.
One fable in particular grabbed her attention— and she hung on every word as Jaresh spun the tale like the master storyteller he was.
“It is said that many hundreds of years ago a sickness plagued our fair kingdom. As it moved its black hand across the land, the people of Trisakne began to fall one by one. Wives. Husbands. Mothers. Fathers. Daughters. Sons.
“No house remained unaffected. Many family lines were lost altogether. It seemed that nothing could stop this contagion— and indeed, one day it reached the castle walls. First Princess Kirani fell.
Then Princess Lanea. Next, Queen Ami, The Brilliant. Then Prince Torehn, the Heir Apparent. And finally, King Kelamosakai, The Wise.
“Only one member of the royal Inihma line survived because he had traveled to the northern regions of Kresar to meet his betrothed. His name was Prince Jhoran.
“By the time word of the misfortune in his homeland reached him, it was too late for anything to be done. The King and Queen of Kresar called off Prince Jhoran’s betrothal to their beautiful daughter and commanded that Prince Jhoran leave their borders immediately— lest their kingdom be infected by his presence.
“Devastated by the news of his family, Prince Jhoran left that instant on his noble varsin, which had been his companion since childhood. Since he had not been the eldest son, his marriage had been intended as a political gesture and held no real importance. Therefore, he was more than happy to be excused from that burden— as he had always wanted to marry a woman from his own beloved land.
“But he had never imagined that his freedom would come at such a price. To add to his burden, his cherished varsin died suddenly within an hour of his setting off on his journey. In the lonely weeks that it took for him to wander back to Trisakne, his mind wandered as well. Heavy guilt weighed down upon his soul— threatening to crush him.
“He believed that it had been his desperate prayer to be saved from his arranged marriage that had led to the death of all those whom he held dear. By the time he reached the western corner of Trisakne, in the hills that divide us from Lanas, a fever had overcome him— as well as a madness.
“He stumbled through the hills until he could go no further and finally dragged himself into the shade of a small number of trees next to a clear trickling brook. He drank thirstily— for he had been without water for days.
“In his madness he saw each member of his family begging him to live. He told them that he wished to do as they asked— but that he could not save himself and that no one knew where he was.
“He told them how much he missed them and that he would gladly have given his life if only he could have saved them— but the images of his family never came to him again. His condition worsened and his hallucinations increased in frequency and intensity until he did not know what was reality and what was nightmare.
“The end had come for Prince Jhoran and he was preparing for death— when suddenly a tall thin man with dark hair appeared before him. He pled with the man to help him as the man passed by— but his voice was so weak by this time that he was not sure if the man could hear him.
“Twice he cried out as the man continued in his path and got further and further away. Prince Jhoran’s third cry was the last cry he could make and the weakest of the three.
“Nevertheless, miraculously, the man stopped and came back toward Prince Jhoran. When he saw the enfeebled man slumped at the base of a tree by the brook, he ran to his side to attend to him. The foreign man told him in a strangely cheerful voice that he was the son of a physician and that— although his skills paled in comparison to those of his father— he would do what he could to try to save him.
“Prince Jhoran thanked him repeatedly and told the young doctor that if he succeeded in saving his life, he could have any honor in the Kingdom of Trisakne that he desired. The man refused— insisting that there could be no greater honor than to save a life.
“That was the last thing Prince Jhoran remembered. When he awoke he found that his strength had returned. He did not know how much time he had passed in his delirium. Stranger still was that as he sought out the man who had saved his life, in order to thank him— Prince Jhoran found that the man had disappeared without a trace.
“To this day, no one knows if there truly was a man who saved Prince Jhoran. Or if it was a spirit sent by his ancestors to help him. Or if the doctor had merely been a figment of a troubled brain trying to save itself.
“However, the one lesson that Prince Jhoran certainly teaches us is that the line of the Inihma royal family is strong. It was diminished in the past until there was only one surviving member left— and it rose to become a powerful, valiant, and prosperous line for hundreds of years following that time of heartbreak and trial.
“Mark my words now— all within the sound of my voice. The Inihma royal family line will rise again one day as Prince Jharate returns to the Kingdom of Trisakne to reclaim it. Long live Trisakne!”
“Long live Trisakne!” the rebels answered proudly.
“And long live our Prince Jharate, to whom we will give our last breaths to protect.”
All of the rebels made their right hands into fists and placed them over their hearts, fervently repeating Jaresh’s words. Jharate lowered his head in acknowledgement. As he raised it, they relaxed and returned to their meals.
Lani watched Jharate carefully. The look on his face tugged at her heartstrings. He heaved a troubled sigh and— even though he kept his regal posture— his shoulders fell ever so slightly.
He had done so well at keeping his reaction to a minimum that she was sure that no one else had noticed. She placed her hand on his and gave it a tight squeeze. Jharate looked at her and smiled. The burden was still there in his eyes, but they twinkled for her.
As soon as both she and Jharate finished their meals, Jharate led her by the hand to the edge of the camp and the two of them sat side by side near one of the smaller campfires. A fallen tree served as their backrest.
“Are you okay, Jharate?”
“I am.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. How could anything be wrong when I have your love?”
Lani smiled, but she searched beyond Jharate’s smile and found stress still lingering in his eyes. And so she waited quietly. He sighed and looked down at the ground.
“Perhaps you are right, Lani. Perhaps I am not quite myself at present. I heard the tale of Jhoran many times as a boy.
“However, I never imagined I would become him. When I think of his story, my heart feels heavy— as does the burden on my shoulders. I only hope that one day when my story is told, it will not be said that ‘Prince Jharate was the Inihma who lost Trisakne forever.’ ”
“That will not happen, Jharate. I have every faith in you that you will get your homelands back.”
“With you at my side?”
“There is nowhere else I would rather be.”
“Lani, you are truly unique. I have never met another like you. I wonder if…”
“Yes?”
Jharate opened his mouth to answer her, but closed it. Lani watched him closely. She had a feeling he was trying to choose his words very carefully, but she couldn’t understand why. She waited patiently as a few more moments passed.
“I wonder if our love was meant to be.”
“It certainly seems so. I mean, I was pulled from another world and you just happened to be the first person I met when I could have landed anywhere. That feels like the Universe was trying to get us together somehow, doesn’t it?”
Lani smiled, but Jharate’s expression became even more serious. She heard him whisper something.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you. What did you say?”
“My apologies, Lani. I was saying—”
“Jharate! I would like a word with you, please,” Arante’s voice rang out.
Jharate sighed. He closed his eyes and did not move.
“It’s important!” Arante pressed.
Jharate opened his eyes and looked at Lani.
“Please excuse me for a moment, my love.”
“Of course.”
Lani sighed as Jharate left. She watched him as he stood up and crossed over to Arante— who was by her own fire— sharpening her weapons, with a stern look on her face.
Lani strained to hear what they were saying, but she couldn’t make it out. She guessed that it was about her. She was all but certain that she was correct in her guess when she saw Arante’s dagger pointed in her direction.
Arante was probably trying to talk him out of the relati
onship. Lani felt the tiniest twinge of panic— but then quickly reassured herself that Jharate was strong enough to make up his own mind about whom he wanted to be with. Still, she desperately wished she could hear what they were saying.
Lani’s mind raced over what Jharate had said just before he left. Why had his demeanor gotten so serious when he asked her if she thought their love was meant to be? What had he whispered after she had answered him?
She thought she had heard him say the words “other world.” She had just mentioned how she thought the Universe had brought them together… Had he been musing over that? She wished Arante had waited one more minute before calling Jharate so that she could have been sure. Then again there was the much larger issue of—
Lani was suddenly distracted from her thoughts by Arante’s voice, which had risen to the point that Lani could hear one sentence. Only one. It traveled on the wind to Lani’s ears with a ghostly echo.
“If you continue this way, you might mislead her into thinking something she shouldn’t!”
A chill ran down Lani’s spine. What did that mean? Lani looked up and saw Arante glaring at Jharate in disbelief. Lani’s brain tried to find an answer.
Was Jharate not as in love with her as he seemed? Was he leading her on? Was she a pity case? Her heart felt a sharp twang. No! She was doing it again.
This is how she had messed Josiah and her up— and she wasn’t going to make that same mistake twice. No, she would just believe in Jharate. She pushed her worries away where they would not bother her again.
“Lani?”
She jumped a bit. She had not noticed that Jharate had returned and was already sitting next to her. Arante had disappeared as well.
“Oh! I didn’t hear you come back. You scared me a little. You’re really quiet sometimes… Did you know that?”
“Yes. I apologize for startling you. And I apologize on Arante’s behalf for interrupting us.”
“That’s okay… Jharate?”
“Yes?”
“Your gift… Can you see my memories if I want to share them with you?”
