The mountain air was cold, but Elira barely felt it.
The cloak around her smelled like him leather, cedar, and something warm she couldn’t name.
Tiny lights danced around her.
Fireflies.
They drifted through the dark like stars that had fallen to the earth, glowing gold against the black pines of Herbendnez.
The last time she saw a firefly was when she was eight.
Still living in Herbendnez.
The kingdom that made her feel safe.
She reached out a hand.
One landed on her finger.
She smiled.
For the first time in days, the weight in her chest lifted.
Ahead it swarmed in circles and Elira moved towards it.
“Enjoying the view, my lady?” Elira startled.
King Zareth stood a few feet away, arms crossed.
His dark tunic clung to him, and the firelight behind the soldiers made his eyes look sharper.
“I… I couldn’t sleep,” she said quickly, pulling the cloak tighter.
“I didn’t mean to leave the pavilion.” “It’s alright ,” Zareth said, stepping closer.
“The view out here is magnetic.
It can’t be resisted .” He said, his eyes resting on her.
A firefly floated between them.
Elira watched it instead of him.
“You were gone a long time.” “I had matters to handle.” His voice was even, but his eyes were on her mouth.
“And to make sure my bride didn’t starve.” Elira flushed.
She looked down at her bare feet in the grass and Zareth followed her gaze.
“Where are your shoes?” King Zareth frowned.
“My feet were hurting and I took them off” she replied, still not meeting his gaze.
Zareth didn’t utter a word, rather he nodded in understanding.
He had seen her shoes earlier.
And they looked totally worn out.
“The soldiers seem… happy,” Elira tried changing the subject.
“In Elarion , the soldiers move with strategy.
Nothing that would give away our position.” Zareth followed her gaze to the bonfire where men were wrestling and singing.
“My men fight better when they’re allowed to live,” he said simply.
“Fear makes weak soldiers.
Loyalty makes them lethal.” Silence stretched between them.
Comfortable, but heavy.
One firefly landed in Elira’s hair.
Zareth reached out before he could stop himself and plucked it free.
His fingers brushed her temple.
Elira froze.
His hand lingered there for half a second too long.
“You have one in your hair,” he murmured.
“Though it looked like it belonged there.” “Thank you, my king,” she whispered.
The words made his jaw tighten.
“Don’t call me that.” Elira blinked, confused.
“What?” “There’s no need to be formal when you’re with me .” He said and Elira looked at him, still confused.
“You can call me Zareth” Her breath caught.
“I dare not, my king!” “Why not?” Zareth asked.
“You are the king.
I’m only a peace bride, not your queen.
I don’t have the right to call your name” Zareth was stunned.
Peace bride?
“Although I married you through war, but I chose to decide which one you become.
You have no right to speak of being a peace bride” Zareth said.
His jaw tightened, eyes darkening as he spoke.
Elira was confused.
She is a peace bride, but why is he acting like it’s not.
“My king I….” She raised her gaze to speak, but her eyes fell on his lips once again seizing the words that where ready to spill.
Zareth watched her and a smile curved his lips.
He stepped closer and Elira stepped backward.
He stepped closer again trapping her between a fallen tree.
“If you are going to kiss me, then do it.” He murmured “Stop staring like you’re trying to memorize me.” Zareth smirk deepened and Elira’s eyes widened.
“Don’t worry…” he continued.
His voice rough “I won’t resist!” “My king, you’re being shameless!” Elira panicked.
She cursed herself for not keeping her thoughts in check.
“I’m I?” His hand came under her jaw, thumb brushing her skin.
Calloused and warm.
He lifted his face to his.
Her heart hammered.
Was he going to kiss her?
she subconsciously closed her eyes, and her reaction made Zareth’s gaze to darken with impatience.
And the urge to ruin her became intense.
He leaned closer.
Face so close that Elira could feel his breath on her.
But just as Zareth was about to kiss her, a rough cough interrupted them.
And Elira jumped back, shame engulfed her immediately.
“My king, I’m sorry to disturb this precious moment but we have a serious issue at hand.” Zareth cursed under his breath and dropped his hand as though it felt heavy.
He furiously turned and glared at General Alaric, whose head was bowed.
But Zareth knew he had that annoying smirk on his face.
“Return to the pavilion and don’t stay up.
I will be back late.
You need more rest.
The journey tomorrow will be long” he said to Elira and she nodded.
“My servants?” She asked before he could walk away.
“Nasha will take care of them.
But for now go inside, it’s too cold.” He replied.
Elira nodded, but didn’t move until he was gone.
She looked down at her hand.
His warmth was still there.
She could still feel his breath against her face as though he was still there.
Back in the pavilion, Elira sat on the bed, still wrapped in his cloak.
She pressed a hand to her stomach and inhaled deeply.
Outside, she could still hear the voice of the soldiers making the night feel lively.
But her thought were focused on Zareth.
She remembered the way he’d looked at her.
Just like the man she has always known him as.
Adrian!
Even though he was wrapped in a royal attire.
He still has that look which always makes her feel safe.
Elira closed her eyes.
She looked at her stomach and caressed it.
“How will he feel….
when he finds out about you?” She whispered before laying down.
She brought the cloak closer and inhaled it again.
Herbendnez has always given her nothing but lovely memories.
**** **** Elira didn’t know how long she had slept, but when she woke up, it was already dawn.
The morning sun was up casting its warmth against the mountains.
She sat up and looked around the pavilion.
There was no sign of Zareth, but the rumpled sheet beside her, a basket of cherry and a white rose which sat on the table, was a proof that he was there.
Elira’s cheeks turned red as she looked at the side he slept.
‘He had slept beside her’.
She thought and an unknowing smile crept into her face.
“My princess!” Rosa’s voice sounded outside the pavilion.
“Rosa!” The curtains were pushed aside and Rosa stepped in with Lillia beside her.
“Good morning my princess!
I believe you slept better!” Elira nodded.
“No wonder!
You look happy” Lillia teased and Elira blushed harder.
“Stop teasing her” Rosa scolded her.
“There’s a warm lake , not far from here my princess.
Would you like to go?” Rosa asked.
Elira was tempted but she shook her head.
“The king might not approve it!” “Who said I won’t approve it!” King Zareth said appearing inside the pavilion and they bowed.
“Can I go?” Elira asked, her eyes burning with anticipation.
“Of course!
I can still come with you if you want” he said and Elira immediately blushed.
“No my king, I can go by myself!” She replied almost immediately, making Zareth laugh inwardly.
“Ok!
Nasha will accompany you with your servants.
She’s a trained warrior” he said and almost immediately, Nasha appeared.
“My Princess!” She said.
That grin not leaving her face.
Soon they set towards the lake .
Elira kept pointing like a child at whatever that caught her eyes.
“I didn’t know the mountains has such beautiful flowers” Lillia and Rosa kept laughing, while Nasha kept plucking any flower that caught Elira’s eye.
She was a sweet soul.
“Look at that butterfly!
It’s really beautiful!” Elira exclaimed.
“Just like you, my princess!” Rosa said.
“Should I catch it for you?” Nasha asked ready to chase the butterfly.
Elira laughed!
“No!
I just admire it.
It looks like it just transformed from being a moth.” “It has my princess.
It just got a new phase of life called freedom.
And right now it’s her time to shine.” Nasha said.
And Elira smiled as the word made her pause.
“Freedom indeed!” She whispered.
There was silence, then Nasha immediately dragged her.
They got to the lake and Elira thought for a second about jumping inside it.
The lake was in a secluded and secured area.
“I really want to jump inside it” Elira said, frowning her face.
“What’s stopping you from doing so?” Nasha asked.
“I’m I free to?” Elira asked her eyes sparkled.
For a moment, Nasha’s heart ached.
Just how much has she suffered that she even needs a permission to jump in a lake.
“Of course you are free to!
That’s one of my favorite things.
Jumping in a lake.” Nasha squeaked.
“But It’s cold, and might be deep” Elira answered.
“You can feel it with your hands my princess.” Lillia said and Elira squatted down and dipped her hand inside it.
It was….warm.
Almost hot.
She liked the feeling of it on her hands and really want to feel it on her body.
“It’s warm right?” Lillia asked and Elira nodded.
“And as for deep…” Nasha placed the flowers down carefully and walked straight into the water.
She walked deeper till she got to the middle.
“It’s shallow!
It’s just the height of my waist and, hold on…..” she bent down.
The river covering her, then she got up.
“Just rocks and pebbles and tiny plants.” She said showing them to Elira who was laughing at her actions.
Then she walked back and stretched her hand towards Elira.
“Feel free..!” Elira smiled and without hesitation she placed her hand on hers and stepped into the water.
The feeling felt heavenly.
They watched her twirl and splash water on her body, while squirming like a baby.
She urged them to join her to which they took off their dresses and did.
After a while they came out and dressed up.
Elira sat down not wanting to leave soon but she had no choice.
“I used to come here alot when we were still in Herbendnez.” Lillia said and Elira smiled.
“I guess you’ve missed it?” “A lot!
Coming here brings a lot of excitement and peace.
It was a wonderful experience.” She said and Elira nodded.
Just a few moments here will live free in her memory for the rest of her life.
“I’m sorry about that” Rosa said.
Elira wanted to say something when Nasha dived her, dragging Elira and they tumbled on the ground.
Then a whoosh sound of an arrow bypassed them into the water.
Elira was stunned.
She barely had time to register what was going on when another arrow came with a heavy force but Nasha was fast enough to hit it down with her sword.
“Run!
To the trees.” Nasha shouted already drew her sword, ready for the attackers.
And they emerged.
They were six, dressed in red.
They drew their sword and rushed towards them.
Rosa grabbed Elira’s hand.
Lillia was pale, shaking.
The lake that felt like freedom moments ago was now a trap.
Nasha noticed immediately.
The men’s gaze were focused on a silhouette and she realized they were after Elira.
Nasha moved first, her blade met the attacker with a crack that echoed off the rocks.
She fought like water, fast, fluid and lethal.
She was about to face off the second one when an arrow whistled past Elira’s ear and struck one of the attackers in the heart.
She screamed.
The air changed to a familiar but dangerous presence.
“Get her to safety” king Zareth ordered without looking at Elira and Nasha rushed towards her.
King Zareth stepped into their midst.
His eyes darkened and he drew his sword.