"I want to take you somewhere. It's what you can expect from me when you win that Tournament and we can finally be together. That is, if you'll have me," Tiarnan proposed, staring deeply into her eyes with a shy smile.

Doubt infiltrated her mind and her shoulders sag. "What if I don't win?"

He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him and brought his hand up to stroke her jaw. "I don't care. I've waited too long for you and even if I have to move the earth off its axis, I will have you. Besides, I have no doubt that you won't win."

Delyth, too tongue-tied by his words, averted her eyes from him while she bit her lower lip to restrain the big smile that will spread across her face. Because Tiarnan's eyes almost never leave her face, he caught it and his lip turned up in a smirk.

"I like seeing you blush. Your cheeks go up and your breathing becomes uneven like you can't fathom the words that I profess to you." Her eyes were still looking at everything but him, so he took this as an opportunity to lean forward and whisper in her ear. "I mean every word I say to you and I plan to prove it, one day, my golden dream."

Finally, she was looking at him except this time, her eyes are as wide as when you see a ghost. He winks at her and pecks her nose softly before taking her hand and pulling her behind him while she was struggling to wrap her mind around the moment they had.

"Let's go, Delyth. You're already late for training."

That was the conversation they had two days ago. Now, they walk hand in hand across the long stretch rock-patterned path and the moss covered ground on each side of them. All around them is green. No blotch of pink, yellow or white from any flower is spotted. The walk is peaceful and dream-like. It is the fairytale that every girl in Naelund dreamt of living. It's weird to see this side of Swuybia. She was getting used to the dry land that it is but according to Tiarnan...

"Swuybia was once the most beautiful nation in the Udriles Kingdom. When the magic died, the life in Swuybia died as well. No one comes around this side because the pain of remembering what once was too great."

In Delyth's eyes, it seems like even though there are no fairies or warlocks, there was still enough magic to keep it flourishing the way it is. She assumes the reason Swuybia looks so dry is because their hope was gone. Here is still the way it was, possibly because they left their hope here and never looked back. Their abandoned hope is lingering and keeping this place alive. The mystical creatures weren't the great magic. Their hope was.

Or so she thinks, even though it makes some sense.

Tiarnan squeezes her hand lightly and looks back at her with a soft smile on his face. Delyth notices how relaxed he appears. No lines on his forehead. The permanent smile on his face and the spring in every step he takes.

He deserves to be sculpted and admired like a god, she thinks to herself.

"Have you had your fill?" His silky voice startles her from the depths of her thoughts. She blinks rapidly to see him glancing down at her with a perfectly arched eyebrow. She shies away and tries to remove her hand from his grasp but he holds onto her tighter. "Don't worry, beautiful. I like your eyes on me."

This is a new side of Tiarnan that surprises her every time. She likes it. There was never a man who has made her feel like nothing is worth unless he is by her side. On the nights when she thinks of him—which is almost every night—she thinks about the option of forgetting about her revenge on Silas and living her life happily and carefree with Tiarnan, like her parents would've wanted. But then she remembers that not avenging her parents and protecting anyone who might suffer at his hands in the future will haunt her forever.

She looks around at the awe-inspiring greenery and closes her eyes as she takes a deep breath of the clean, wistful air. When she reopens them, she can see herself and her parents running and laughing merrily. Out of nowhere, she hears a meow in the distance. She looks in the direction she hears the sound and smiles when she sees Ravi running towards them at full speed. Upon hearing him, they turn around and look at him, interlock their arms to create a chain and as soon as he approaches closer, they hug him and tumble on the ground in a pile laughing until their stomachs and cheeks hurt.

I wish you were here to see this.

Suddenly, a finger brushes under her eye. She looks into Tiarnan's eyes and notices his eyebrows furrowed in concern. She was crying and didn't realize it. This was supposed to be a calming adventure. Maybe it was a little too calming and allowed her whisk away in her head.

"We're almost there," he says in a tender voice, squeezing her hand once more.

Approximately thirty feet further and they are staring at something like a shed, that has vines crawling all around it and a circular door made of wood. Delyth gapes at it, oblivious to Tiarnan staring down at her. His heart leaps to know she is fascinated by it.

"Roi and I built it ourselves when we were kids. It was mostly me though but I renovated over the years." She looks at him, her eyes gleaming in disbelief and complete admiration. She brings her eyes back to the shed with new appreciation. A sense of pride waves over him when he notices the look on her face.

"Tiarnan, it's- Can we go inside?" She bounces on her toes, her inner child releasing. He couldn't stop the smile that overcame her. He couldn't tear his eyes off who he sees as the most beautiful girl in the world. The girl who rips his heart open every time she looks at him. Whose very own presence made him feel like everything is right in the world.

He holds the door open for Delyth as she walks in and for a second he allows his eyes to drift to her round buttocks that sways with each step she takes. She will be his one day. He presses a hand to the small of her back, guiding her carefully around the shed so she doesn't trip over something.

It isn't the cleanest. Actually that is an understatement of the century. It is an utter mess. He doesn't have time to feel shame while his neck begins to redden because when he looks over at Delyth, whose eyes are like the brightest star, not seeming to mind the mess.

There were cobwebs everywhere, a few mice scurrying in the corners and two dusty chairs for a young Roisin and Tiarnan. However, vines crawling on the walls to almost give it an aesthetic kind of look makes it seem less messy.

"It is beautiful, Tiarnan. Truly." She turns her head to him and smiles before continuing to examine the place.

"Roi and I used it as a safe place to practise magic with Yela. Roi told me she told you about her. I remember watching her teach Roi how to heal flowers and got so excited when she brought even the smallest sign of life into a petal or a leaf. I wanted to do it as well but I was "too young". I remember crying because I was jealous until Yela gave in and tried to teach me at the same time she taught Roi. I would get so frustrated, stomping around and pouting whenever I didn't get it right.

One day, they found Yela. All I could hear was Roi's scream for them to let her go. They didn't. They just hauled her back to Varusa. Weeks went by and Roi would lock herself in here, practicing and practicing. It wasn't until one day, I came home from playing with Cillian all day that I saw her pair of wings on the dinner table. I told Roi and that was when all her light and hope disappeared. She stopped practicing magic and studied to be a nurse instead. It took time. Years until she finally moved on. Except, she never visited the shed again."

Delyth can only stare. She realizes that Roisin and Tiarnan are stronger than she could ever be. They moved on from the tragic death of someone important to them. While, revenge was brewing in her veins. She wishes she can say that it inspires her to give up on her revenge plan but she is not them. She knows in her heart, she can't do what they did.

She encloses the space between them and wraps her arms around his waist. He returns the hug and rests his head on top of hers, taking in a whiff of her naturally earthy scent. She pulls back a little, her arms still around him and looks up into the eyes she loves more and more every passing day.

"I'm sorry to both of you. If there is a Heaven, I'm sure she is looking down, proud of what you both have grown to be." His eyes soften at her comforting words. She has no idea how much it means for him to hear her say that to him.

His eyes drop to her lips then back up at her eyes. It isn't the best moment to kiss her but at this moment he couldn't care less. All he wants, all he's ever wanted was just a taste of her. He dips his head low then pauses to ask permission.

"Delyth-" Unexpectedly, the door to the shed burst off its rotten and screechy hinges and falls to the floor, only to reveal Haangi, the dirty-bearded guard who would spend a lot of his time taunting and bad mouthing Delyth.

Not surprising, he isn't alone. He is accompanied by five other guards. Tiarnan makes a move to stand in front of Delyth. Three of the guards march towards him and pull him aside, away from Delyth. They take turns to punch him in the stomach and face to immobilize him.

"You're forgetting who I am, Haangi." Tiarnan sneers through gritted teeth, earning him another punch in the face.

Haangi raises his eyebrows and takes two steps toward him. "Oh, I haven't forgotten, Captain. But your title means nothing when Ruadhan is this close to demoting you." He pinches his index and thumb finger closely together, leaving a centimeter of space between them.

Delyth brings her hand to her hip, feeling for her sword that she usually carries. It isn't there. The one time she feels safe enough to leave it behind, is the day she needs it the most. She can imagine what would've happened if she did have. The shed would be painted red in their blood, giving it the color it needs.

The other two guards see her movement and move quickly, holding her arms behind her back. They've all heard about Delyth's agility and cleverness; they were not going to risk anything. Tiarnan shakes his body vigorously, trying to break free from them and to get to Delyth to protect her.

"If you hurt her, I'll feed you your tongues," Tiarnan threatens, his voice an unnatural deeper tone than usual. From the look in his eyes, they could see that he is serious and wouldn't hesitate to do well on his threat and this brought fear into their eyes for longer than a second.

Not backing down, Haangi slowly approaches Delyth while she glares into his eyes. "Don't worry, Captain. I will treat her just right." The sound resonates through the shed and Delyth's head wipes to the side. She looks back at him, glaring harder, not caring for the sick smile he has on his face.

Tiarnan becomes feral and tries again to fight off the guards but they continue to punch him. Delyth wants to tell him that she's okay but refrains from saying or doing anything. She's fought off more and bigger guys than this before; two men are nothing. She wants to see why they followed them here and strike if need be.

"Women should know their place. You crossed a line and we're here to remind you of it. Now, you're going to forfeit from the Tournament or it will not go well for you and everyone who stands behind you."

A smirk slowly makes its way on Delyth's mouth. "Don't tell me Ruadhan sent you lot to scare me into forfeiting? Is he scared that a woman is going to beat him?" She looks behind him at Tiarnan. "Captain, I think Ruadhan is scared of little ol' me."

The two laugh aloud humorlessly. "I would be scared too. Clearly, he's seen your progress over the months. It would be embarrassing to see the Ruler of Swuybia beaten by a woman. Imagine the ideas other women will get when that happens. Oh dear."

They are right. Ruadhan fears that if Delyth wins against him then other Swuybian women will be brave enough to do whatever they want. Ruadhan Dinan can't allow the women free will because he demands control at all times. Even Silas Casteron isn't that immoral in that department.

Haangi slaps her hard across the face and closes his hand around her neck and squeezes tightly enough to close off enough airway. Tiarnan growls at the sight of his woman—or future woman—in harm. He hates himself for not being strong enough to break free and reach her.

"You are going to forfeit the Tournament," he breathes his bad breath and dirty teeth in her face.

"No. And tell Ruadhan that the time he spent sleeping and doing God knows what, he should've been brushing up on his rusty skill because I am going to win that Tournament for the whole of Swuybia to see." She grins and winks at him.

This angers Haangi and it shows when he presses his lips firmly together in a thin line. He narrows his eyes at her, waiting for her to retract her statement but she doesn't and he signals for them to let them go.

As soon as Tiarnan is free, he gets a punch in at the closest guard and he doesn't stop until Delyth places her hand on his forearm. "Tiarnan, it's fine. Let it go."

He stands straight, fury burning in his eyes and pushes them out of the shed. "You dare come near us again and I hope to God, you told your family you loved them." Delyth couldn't stop the smile that forms on her lips. She didn't think she could find him any more attractive.

Haangi and the rest stand outside retreating but Haangi stops and looks back at them. "Good luck, Aiken." They both know that he is not wishing her well. There is an obvious underlying threat under it.

Tiarnan makes his way towards Delyth and cups her face in his hands and caresses her cheek with his thumb. He grimaces when he feels the heat radiating off her cheek where Haangi backhanded her. He tilts it upwards to examine her neck. Haangi didn't hold her long enough to leave a bruise and her skin is too dark to show it anyway. His thumb caresses the length of her neck to soothe it in case she is feeling any pain.

"Are you okay? I am sorry I couldn't protect you." He apologizes, bringing his forehead to hers and peering down into her eyes.

Delyth encloses her hand around both his wrists and smiles. "It's okay. I'm fine. What I do know for sure though, is that I have to win that Tournament."

26/06/22

Au revoir...

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