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Chapter 20

       My star.

       Those two words plagued my mind for the rest of the day, and even the day after. What did they mean? Was it a term of endearment for one of his past affairs? Had he been calling out for her in his time of need? The thought made pain shoot through my heart- but even then, I wasn't sure. It just didn't feel right.

       No, I didn't think the name belonged to a past lover. Then why would he say it was his star? It wasn't until I sat on my now sheet-less bed with his letter clutched in my hands as I watched a few servants gather my meager amount of belongings- that Aeyron put my heart at ease.

       "Why do you look so sad, my lady?" He asked casually from the entrance of the room, his brown eyes curious as his thick arms crossed over his chest. The King was still sleeping, even though it was mid-day, but it's not like I had expected to see him much anyways.

       "Who is Emerense?"

       Unease filled my stomach as I watched the General stiffen, his whole body turning tense as his dark eyes flashed. "It is best that you forget that name." That wasn't much of an answer, and it only made me frown.

       "Why? What's so wrong with it?" His hesitancy towards the subject only made my curiosity grow. He glanced away briefly and licked his lips before letting those brown eyes flicker back to mine.

       "Names have power, some more than others."

       My frown only grew. That still didn't answer my question, but he cut me off before I could open my mouth to ask again. "It is an ancient name that belongs to one of immense strength. The King calls on it when he needs his power- but it should only be spoken from his lips. Try not to say it anymore."

       His answer only made a thousand more questions swim into my head, but I knew by the look on his face that he wasn't going to answer anymore. Who needed a name to summon power?

       "Come, my lady. This room will be vacant soon and I'm sure you're hungry."

       I wasn't, not really- but that easygoing, happy smile was pulling at Aeyron's lips once again and I didn't want to tell him no. "Alright." I said on a quiet sigh and let him grab my hand to help me off the edge of the bed.

       "You will like your new room." He chirped happily as his strong arm wrapped around mine and escorted me down the hall- a hall I probably wasn't going to see again anytime soon. "It's in the King's private wing, and has a beautiful view of the grounds-"

       "I can take over from here, Aeyron."

       I jumped in surprise as the King's voice suddenly sounded in the hall around us. The servants that had been scurrying by instantly stopped and bowed to their King, before a single nod from him let them be on their way. I blinked widened eyes up at him.

       Much like the very first time I ever saw him, he was dressed in complete black. All that was missing was the thick black cloak. My heart fluttered nervously inside my chest. His lightning blue gaze was locked on my, his jaw hard as he came to a stop in front of us.

       Aeyron let go of my arm and bowed. "Of course. I will see you in the dining hall." And then he left, just like that- left me alone with the very male who had made my last three moons an emotional nightmare.

       I watched the large General walk away until I couldn't anymore- and forced my gaze up to the brilliant blue staring down at me. There was a small smile on his lips, one that surprised even the hope in my heart. "Let's go eat, yes?" He asked softly, his tone almost gentle as his large body loomed my smaller one. I could only nod.

       I half expected him to take my arm like Aeyron had, and half expected him not to touch me at all. What I one-hundred percent did not expect was for him to reach down and entwine his long, strong fingers with mine. I gaped down at them. His palm alone was as large a bears- and made mine feel smaller than an elf.

       "W-What if someone sees?" I was finally able to gasp as he gently tugged on my hand and led me down the hall.

       "Let them. I told you already, most of the castle knows who you are now- and I care little if the rest sees."

       I didn't know how to feel at that, but my heart thumped louder in my chest anyways. I could only walk quickly beside him dumbfounded as he led me down the large set of marble stairs and into the room where I ate with all his Generals the day before.

       "You will always eat in here now, unless you want a private dinner." He announced just outside of the door, his warm hand like iron as it gripped gently onto mine. I was starting to feel lightheaded.

       "Oh, o-okay." I stammered before he opened the door and pulled me through.

       All six of his Generals where there, even Terif and Aeyron. But unlike before- they didn't bother to stop talking and laughing, and they didn't stand until Eirik had pulled me around the front of the table. They paused in their conversations- all six eyes staring over at us before they eased to their feet.

       I blushed as they did that right-arm over the chest bow thing like the day before. "Lady Emrie." They all greeted before sitting back down and talking once again.

       Whew, well that wasn't as bad as last time.

       Eirik's voice was a dark chuckle in my ear. "They know that makes you uncomfortable, but they will bow in respect every time they see you. So be prepared."

       I could only nod as he gestured to the small cushioned chair behind me. "That is yours now. You sit up here. With me."

       I couldn't stop the heat from rising to my cheeks as I sat in the comfortable chair and let him push me into the table. Aeyron shot me a wink, which didn't help the blush at all. Eirik sat down heavily in the throne-like chair beside me, his bright eyes tired as he gazed over at the food. He frowned.

       "You are not hungry." I stated softly as the loud voices from the end of the table filled the room. His bright gaze glanced over, his hand gently reaching up to brush against the back of mine.

       "No, I still don't feel so well."

       "Me either."

       For a while after that we were silent, just silently eating- while I pretended not to notice how his strong fingers would occasionally brush against the back of my hand. I wasn't sure what was happening anymore- what I was supposed to think. My mind was going a million miles an hour, and my poor heart couldn't keep up.

       "The heavy snow is finally starting to fall, and the market has this amazing bakery I want to take you to, my lady." Aeyron chattered happily from beside me, his mouth already filled with a fluffy pastry. The sight made me let out a little laugh.

       I've never been down to the castle's village before- well when I was actually invited to. It sounded like an excellent way to spend the day, especially since the King said I didn't have to really hide anymore-

       "You can do that tomorrow. There's a place I want to take her to today."

       North's statement threw me off guard and I dropped my fork to my plate in surprise. He finished off his toast like he hadn't notice me staring over at him like a wide-eyed gaping fish. Aeyron shifted beside me.

       "Sure, we can wait until tomorrow."

       The King wanted to take me somewhere? We were actually going to spend time together? I probably did die and this was the Heavens. The gold-power succeeded in its task to kill me and now I was surrounded by a King who suddenly seemed to care.

       Whoa.

       "Are you done?" Eirik asked softly a few moments later, his blue eyes bright as they gazed down at me. I glanced back at my half-eaten plate and nodded. I had too many nerves raging through me to stomach anything else. He gave me a warm smile before easing the chair back and standing.

       "I will be gone for most of the day. Find Terif or Aeyron if you need me." He didn't wait for their response, and instead reached down for my hand to help ease me to my feet. They all grunted in approval. A servant appeared from the back wall with two cloaks in hand, one much larger than the other.

       Once the thick, warm fabric was wrapped securely around us- his hand was once again wrapping around mine, his large body leading us away from the table and the door to the room.

       I frowned at the blank, stone wall we were walking towards but didn't bother saying anything as he reached up and pulled the canister of one of the torches down. I watched, amazed, as a panel in the wall slid to the side. This castle and its secret tunnels, I swear.

       North didn't say anything as he pulled me into the dark passage, the torch gripped tightly in his hand. The tunnel was cold, damp, and narrow- the King had to practically walk sideways just to fit. I wanted to laugh at the sight, but even hunched over awkwardly he still looked unearthly beautiful. His blue eyes glowed in the darkness.

       "Where exactly are we going?" I asked after a few minutes of walking in complete and total silence.

       "A sacred place."

       "Sacred?" The words sounded foreign as they passed my lips, but that was only because the shifters I grew up with had very few 'sacred' places. I didn't think I had ever been to one.

       "Yes, it is where the Great God Adranus would enter the mortal realm whenever he traveled down from the Heavens." He said that so matter-of-factly that even a nonbeliever would think it were the truth. I gazed curiously up at the large wolf

       Aeyron had spoken of the wolf-bornes legends as just that- legends, myths. He gave no inclination about whether or not he thought them to be true. But the King made his beliefs quite obvious. There was no wonderment in his tone. He fully believed in Adranus and the Heavens. I didn't know why I found that so admirable.

       It wasn't long after that when we entered the outside world- a world covered in a crystal white snow. I breathed in the fresh, cold air. I had missed this. Missed the feeling of the mountain wind and the chill of the cold. Eirik paused beside me.

       "It's beautiful." I spoke on a sigh, my voice turning to fog in the freezing air. Snow and ice clung to the bare branches of the forest trees, as light flakes fell from the sky.

       "Yes, it is."

       We stayed standing there a minute more, both of our gazes locked on the white-encrusted top of the mountain before the King decided it was time to keep moving. "Come, we have a walk ahead of us."

       I followed after him obediently, my hand clutched tightly in his as he led me into the trees of the Mountain. Like the first time he had dragged me deep into some part of the woods, I was having trouble keeping up- even with my hand clutched tightly in his. His legs were just so much taller than my own!

       We couldn't have been walking for more than five minutes when he let out a sigh after helping me, once again, gain my footing when I stumbled. "Do you always walk so clumsily?" He grumbled as I brushed the snow from my dress and cloak.

       I shot him a scowl and ignored the heat rising to my cheeks in embarrassment. "No! It's just hard keeping up with you! My legs aren't that long."

       His hole demeanor changed and he gave me an apologetic smile before stepping closer. "I am sorry. I'm not used to accommodating someone so small."

       "Small! I am not small! You're just freakishly large-" My verbal rampage was cut short when his dark chuckle simmered around us and his blue eyes flashed.

       "You are cute when you're flustered."

       I could only gape up at him like a blubbering fool as he suddenly bent down and picked me straight off the floor. He started carrying me, just like that time all those moons ago when we first talked.

       My heart seemed to burn in my chest at the memory- at the way his strong arms held me securely to his chest. It wasn't long before my blush was back in full force.

       "How- How were the Islands?" I asked softly as he began walking again, his blue eyes trained ahead to avoid the rough terrain. His gaze slanted over to me.

       "Messy."

       "Oh."

       He chuckled, and the deep, dark sound did nothing to ease the nervous fluttering in my stomach. "I will tell you if you truly want to know, but I don't think you want to hear about war matters."

       Not really.

       I shrugged and let my arm hang loosely around his neck as he stepped over a large fallen log. "Can I ask you something?" I was surprised at the question in his tone, but immediately nodded as he carried me further along the snowy mountain.

       "You used to live with those two friends of yours, yes?" He asked softly, his voice gruff as his eyes flickered over to mine. I tilted my head curiously in his direction and nodded.

       "Do you not have a family?"

       "They are my family." I answered without hesitation. They were the only people I truly ever knew. I wasn't sure what happened to my parents- or anyone else I was ever related to, I've never known my blood family.

       My earliest memories were of playing with Mae in the snow and avoiding the snowballs Leikos would throw at us. I never really wondered about my lack of parents before, never honestly cared. I had Mae and her family. That was all I had ever needed.

       "I see." He murmured thoughtfully, his blue eyes dark for once as they stayed trained ahead of us.

       We remained silent after that, but it wasn't an awkward tense quiet. For the first time since I arrived in his kingdom, I felt strangely calm- at peace. I was simply enjoying his company- enjoying being around him for the first time in a long time.

       It took all my willpower not to lay my head on his shoulder and close my eyes. Oh, how easy that would be-

       "Emrie."

       His voice was like a sweet song in my deaf ear as I groaned and blinked open heavy eyes. He was gently shaking me in his strong arms. "Where are we?" I mumbled as one of his large hands rubbed along my back. He chuckled.

       "We are at the place. You fell asleep, I didn't want to wake you."

       My head felt heavy as I lifted it off his strong shoulder and stifled a yawn. I gave his amused, blue eyes a tired smile. "Sorry, you are just very comfortable." I'm sure if my mind wasn't so groggy from the little nap I would have watched what I said- but he didn't seem to mind.

       "Don't be."

       I wanted to pout when he suddenly lowered me to the ground and pulled away, but I didn't feel like that would have been very appropriate. But he was so comfy...

       I gazed out at the scenery around us- at the large, almost silver in color, boulders I was sitting on- at the tall evergreen trees lining a solid river- and then finally at the large, completely frozen waterfall looming way above our heads. I could practically feel the power of the place thrumming beneath me.

       "Wow..."

       "Yes, I can feel it too." Eirik murmured above me, his eyes distant as he gazed out at the white landscape.

       "This place is beautiful... But most of the Mountain is anyways." I shot a smile up to him as his eyes glanced down to mine.

       "Indeed." He agreed before lowering himself to the ground across from me, the large boulders at our back acting as perfect chairs.

       "I used to come here quite often when I was younger. It made me feel closer to the Heavens." His tone was suddenly so sad, so sorrowful that it pulled at my heart. He sounded as if he were remembering a time far better than now, but then again- he probably was.

       For a moment, my conversation with Terif all those moons ago flashed through my mind- the one where he alluded to the fact that the King was beyond the age of modern men. But I did not feel like now was the appropriate time to ask about it.

       "Why did you stop?" I asked softly as his bright gaze lingered on the frozen river- his thick arms crossed over his hard chest.

       "I grew older, took on more responsibilities. I have little time to sit idly by some waterfall for hours on end." I didn't miss the hidden venom behind his words, or the hard bite in his tone. It made me squirm uneasily.

       "Why did you bring me here?" This place seemed special to him, despite his previous statements- and I was surprised he would want to share a place so precious with me. His blue eyes flashed as they flickered over to mine.

       "I often forget who I was- who I am. But every time I come to this place- every time I'm with you, I remember." His voice was deep- low, as it washed over me and wrapped around my chest in an iron grip. I glanced over at the frozen waterfall, the ice just looked so still- so perfect.

        "Is that a bad thing?" I asked softly as I reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear nervously. We haven't held random conversations like this before, and I wasn't sure how long it would last.

       His lightening eyes snapped to mine, and the smile that pulled on his full lips was dazzling. He gave me a soft chuckle. "No, quite the opposite."

       I honestly had no idea what he meant. It couldn't have been hard to forget that he was a king, people either worshiped him or cowered whenever he walked by. But I just nodded my head in agreement with whatever he said, as long as that voice of his kept talking.

       "Tell me something." I murmured softly a few silent moments later as I cradled my knees to my chest and rested my cheek against them. His lips curled up at the corner and those blue eyes locked on mine as he leaned casually against the boulder behind him.

       "What do you want to know?"

       "Anything. Tell me a story."

       Anything to keep you talking. I wanted to say, but knew better than to sound like too much of a crazy person. His smile only widened and he crossed his feet at his ankles as that bright gaze flickered in front of him.

       "Hm..." He rolled his tongue slowly, like he was deep in thought over what to say- before glancing up to the white-clouded sky. "There is a story, a myth really, my mother used to tell me when I was little." He started low, his voice warm and deep as I gazed over at him.

       It shouldn't be possible for someone to hold that much beauty in their face alone.

       "About Adranus and his fall from the Heavens."

-&-

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