For the first time in a long while, we finally got the chance to rest, but that was not for long.
Lord Baeron of House Faerelion had gathered the other lords of the west. House Leros, led by Lord Geoff, had began to muster their men of ax-wielding warriors by the thousands from the Stallie; House Blackstone, which was led by Lord Coren, had begun to gather their own troops of barbarian-like knights and trebuchets in the thousands in time for the march on the South Cradle.
Even House Faerelion had begun to gather its knights of flame, famous for their courage that was like fire in the eyes of foes. What had occurred these past few days was only the start of the long rebellion; many knew that very well.
Perhaps that was why Lord Orevian had not slept for the entire night.
I passed my time at the castle garden, surrounded by roses and violets. Ser Caeris the rabbit nestled on my shoulders, cuddling against my neck, as I picked the flowers that surrounded me.
"You're not allowed to pick plants, boy."
I turned to my right to see Ser Merill, who wore a simple tunic with green hose pants. As for him, it was his first time having true peace since his defeat at the siege. "Lots of flowers here," I began jokingly, "but picking just one isn't allowed?"
"It's a custom not to pick flowers in a garden," he explained, making his way closer.
"Aye, for nobles, yes," I told him. "For us common folk? Flowers are a beauty. We pick every flower we see and bring them to our homes to plant them there."
"No wonder the fields were just grass and wheat," he remarked. "You people have taken all the beauty for yourselves," he said with a laugh.
"You can't blame us, Ser," I replied. "It's one of the only things we can do to pass our time when we're not out in the farms picking grain. Flowers are quite the delicacy, Ser. Surely, you must know-"
"Oh, trust me," he began. "I know flowers are beautiful enough."
We paused for a moment, simply caught up in the peace and quiet the garden had provided. In my mind, it was ridiculous that we chattered here instead of fighting in the battle field. My mind hated that and for good reason. "We march to the south... when?"
"Soon enough; I hope," he replied. "We meet at Alley Pass in two days at most."
Battle... what would that be like? my mind wondered. I have never fought in a battle before. Then again, I was a stable boy, and not a very fit one at that. It was likely I wouldn't survive the endeavor if I took part.
"You're breastplate doing you well?" he asked.
"Aye, Ser," I replied. "In good shape and good quality, too. I would not be surprised if even that was stolen by those thieves as well."
He laughed at the thought. "You going to fight, boy?"
"F-fight? I-I don't think of myself fit to fight, Ser-"
"Nonsense," he interrupted, moving closer with proud strides. "You've got a breastplate already. The treasury of the the lords here can supply you a full set, even a sword and a shield for that matter-"
"Equipment is nothing compared to skill, Ser," I objected. "Look at me! I am but a thin stable boy!" I replied with a laugh, my hand patting my chest.
Ser Merill paused briefly, scanning me. "You would rather be doing... what exactly?"
"You know, Ser, deep in your heart, that I cannot do anything to benefit Lord Orevian-"
"You can, boy," he insisted. "It's already astonishing how you escaped that siege. If you hadn't... I wonder what could have been the outcome-"
"I never could've escaped if it weren't for Lord Forien, Ser," I interrupted. "If anything, he should have all the credit-"
"Hold your tongue," he snapped, processing what I had just said. "What did you say? The green prince helping our king? Why would the son of our enemy be a part in our king's escape?" he asked. He does not know, my mind realized.
"D-do you not know, Ser?"
"I don't; that is why I am asking you. Tell me why the son of a traitor would aid our king?" he asked again, impatience lingering in his tone.
"I did not know his intentions, Ser-"
"What did he do? Tell me what did he do-"
"He told me their plans, Ser!" I replied urgently. Am I being interrogated? Why is he so... stern? "H-he warned me about the ambush and that I should relay the message to Lord Orevian and escape using the carriage at the stables-"
"Are you sure it was him who told you this?" he asked, his brows knit as he tried to put it all together.
"I am sure of it, Ser!" I answered. "It is just that I do not know why he would do such a thing. I am blind to his intentions."
The veteran knight took a second to process everything. By that point, Ser Caeris the rabbit had gotten quite tense and began to scratch my neck in discomfort. "That is ironic," he began. "It's a mystery, yes, but the deed in itself is... ironic."
"I-I suppose so, Ser," I stuttered. "He only seemed troubled at the time... that is all I had observed-"
"Ser Merill!" called a voice in the distance.
"We continue our discussion later, boy," Ser Merill remarked, patting me on the shoulder.
Both of us turned our backs to see Lord Baeron, accompanied by his guards, each holding spears and adorned with their armor. "Do know that we leave today at sunset. Don't you think it be best to prepare?" he asked. For a small minute, he analyzed us both carefully. "What are you two doing in the garden?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Flowers, my lord," Ser Merill replied. "It is... peaceful here."
"That peace ain't lasting for long," Lord Baeron began. "I advise you to stop picking flowers and begin putting on your armor again. We need every able-bodied man to march against these cunts, eh?" he asked with a tinge of restlessness in his voice.
"As you say, my lord," Ser Merill replied with a subtle smile.
After that, Lord Baeron gave us a nod and left.
Ser Merill looked at me closely. "Every able-bodied man, boy," he repeated. "You're going to fight there either way-"
"And hopefully return alive," I added with a slight laugh. You can't fight, my mind objected. You will die out there, you know?
"You will," Ser Merill reassured, tapping my back. "After all, what better a motivation to live for than the beauty of life?" he asked, slowly making his way back to the keep's entrance.
"Nothing seems beautiful about life anymore, it seems," I told him, trailing behind-. "War and bloodshed, blades and blood... what a horrible story to behold," I remarked.
Briefly, the knight stopped and stared deep into my soul. "What about the roses and violets? Are they not pretty anymore?"
Inside one of the quarters of the keep...
"I'm scared, Orevian," she said, sitting at the edge of the bed. "What if something is to happen to you out there?" she asked, nervous out of her mind, her anxiety taking hold.
"I have to, my lady," I told her. "What kind of a king would I be if I hid behind these walls? Would the people believe I am alive if they do not see me?"
"I just... don't want to be without you," she replied, standing up and moving closer as I put on my armor. "I can't imagine a world like that."
"You shouldn't," I told her, "And you won't live in one like it either. I will return, my lady... I swear it," I reassured her, my hand resting on her shoulder. "Do not be frightened by what I am to going to do. It is my duty."
She knew that well enough, but she had not accepted the fact so well as I did. "When you are there marching with your armies, write me letters from everywhere! Swear it!" she exclaimed, her eyes tearing up but her voice childish in tone.
"I swear by the gods I will," I answered, her finger digging into my chest.
For only a split second, her tears began to fall like waterfalls as she dove in for an embrace, tightly gripping me and nestling her face into my shoulders as I almost tumble and fall. "Why has fate chosen to keep us both apart?" she asked. "I cannot stand a single day nor sleep a single night without you."
I did not realize I had began to become emotional as well. "When you are missing me, remember me by this..." I began as I kissed her on her lips, tasting its flavor of honey, so sweet and tender. I could feel in my soul that I seemed to float into the air as we shared our last moment together before our march at sunset.
I love you, I wanted to say. I love you with all my mind and heart.
The euphoria had finally ended when we finally separated ourselves. "That kiss shall live on forever in my lips," she remarked, tears running down her face.
"Until the end of time," I added. "Now, take care of yourself while I am away. When I am at war, that is all I wish; for you to have the best," I told her with a smile, my hand caressing her smooth face.
Finally, her tears had began to go away as her smile had finally surfaced.
"You've become bolder," she noted. "You're not the same as when we danced that night," she said, a mix of disappointment and pride filling her tone as she looked deep into my eyes.
"And you are not as fearless, my lady."
"You calling me soft?" she asked jokingly, her hands on her hips, her expression pouting yet so... what was the word? Cute?
"Perhaps more gentle is the word you're looking for... just as gentle as you were at the inn," I replied, laughing at her demeanor.
"Don't perish, my dearest," she said sternly. "I'll be waiting for you."
"And I shall return," I replied.
It would only be for a short moment that we just stood there, staring into one another's souls, gripping a good look before we parted.
Slowly, we began to move closer to dive into another embrace, perhaps another kiss, but the door had swung open, revealing an exhausted, almost strained Loran to the point where he almost fell to the ground, grasping for the door's frame as he entered.
"My lord," he greeted, his breaths long and dragged out. "My lady," he added, bowing slightly to Norien, who was as shocked as me nonetheless.
"What is it?" I asked.
"My lord, the armies near departure. I was sent here to fetch you, my lord-"
"So soon?" Norien asked. "It is only noon. Surely, you must be mistaken," she insisted. "How could have been mistaken?"
When we stared into one another, squeezing the last bit of pleasure we could get, I had not realized it had been for an hour that we did. While it was indeed noon at the time, the sun had finally began to set indeed as the curtain leaked orange light into the room, signaling the end of day, and the end for us being together for a long time.
"My dear," I began, filled with regret. "It is sunset indeed."
For a quick second, she did not believe it. That was, until she had rushed to the window and opened the curtains, looking into the sun that bled its light as the moon had began to rise. One word came from her mouth and one word alone. "Sunset."
During our farewells, we said little. I feared I might have cried if I did. Even though I was bolder than before, I still had a heart, and that heart yearned for my beloved.
The lady insisted on following me just until the gates before I left, but we both knew it was best for her to stay in the chamber than to expose herself outside. I hated that. I hated the fact that I was leaving her alone... all on her own...
It was only when we had reached the gates that the idea came to mind.
"Loran," I called.
He stopped in his tracks. "What? What is it?"
"You will stay here under my orders," I explained. "Someone has to take care of my beloved. Who better than you?"
From his expression alone, I could sense both relief and confusion as he tried to hide the feeling of not risking his life in battle. "W-why would you have me do such a thing?" he asked, moving closer. "Why not leave it to the maids to take care of her-"
"I trust nobody more than you, my friend," I explained. "You will stay here and watch over her as her protector while I am gone. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my lord," he answered.
As quick as I gave the order, he had began to make his way into the keep's entrance once more. It was at that moment that I had one last deed to do, a final idea that came to mind.
"Loran!" I yelled, calling his name.
He turned around, his confusion palpable, anticipating what might come next. "Yes?"
Slowly, I bent down, kneeling, and plucked two flowers from the mud, those who seldom grew as they would have been stomped by the feet of our men. In one swift motion, I held it out to him, a smile plastered on my face.
"To my lady," I told him. "Tell her that it is one final token to remember me by!"
"Flowers?" he asked, dumbfounded, making his way back to fetch them.
"Why? Roses and violets are great to admire!"