Unknown You

  Olgarias was awkwardly sitting on the back of a beautiful white horse, the reason of his uneasiness was he had always been bad at riding, the horses didn't seem to like him. Beside him, his private servant Ran was riding at another black, dangerous looking horse, he was grasping the belt skillfully with one hand, another one was holding up a lamp.

"Do we have to look around this place? What is the point of coming here in this dark, eh?" Olgarias said with slight annoyance, many things were going on his mind. His father had just died, it had been only three hours, already his brothers' armies were preparing for a battle to sit or seize the throne. Ravens just brought messages to every castle that tomorrow there would be a battle between his twin eldest brothers, Nrikawn and Moriah. 

"I can see in the dark, Prince Olgarias. Allow me to bind this lamp with the belt of your horse, so you can see clearly," Ran politely spoke, extending the large lamp, which was bigger than a normal hurricane.

"Do it," he replied. 

   Although he was a prince, the youngest child of Greatest King Ramos and grew up in the Royal Palace surrounded by people, he hated how the servants behaved with him. Well, he didn't want to be friends with them, but he didn't want them to be fearful of him, either. At that moment, Ran climbed down from his horse and slowly tied up the lamp around the neck of the horse with a piece of rope. It whined a little with uncomfort, so he gently patted his head and the lamp was hanging with his neck funnily.

"Has the Runner reached to Sandhill yet, Ran? What do you think?" Olgarias asked him at a sudden moment, looking thoughtful. Sandhill was the city where his sister Judith was living with her husband, they were newlyweds. She was his only sibling, just two years older than him, so after watching his father die, he had quickly wrote her a letter personally. 

"I think so, Prince," replied Ran, calculating the time by the moon. "If there is not any danger in the way, erm, the Runner should have reached there already."

Olgarias responded by a nod.

  He got back on his ride and glanced at his master from his side. Every time he saw him, he always wondered why he was so much handsome. Olgarias had two deep blue eyes like ocean, under them a straight, sharp nose like a flute. His skin was white like lac-dye in milk, since he usually didn't go out often from his castle and above his strong chin, two perfect full pink lips were pressed tight, he used to nip them when he was thinking extremely. The wind of the night was moving his curly long hair down his neck, bringing them on his furrowed forehead.

"Let's go, Prince Olgarias."

  Ran started to run his horse to the vast ground like a born rider, Olgarias followed him behind. It was Ran who had insisted him to come here, said he should have seen the battle where his brothers were going to fight.

   Though he didn't understand what's the point of coming here, but it was a precious chance for him to sneak out from his castle in the night. The Lords of The Royal Committee were so strict, they had forbidden him to go out, because the next morning, both of his brothers would slaughter this city. Since Olgarias wasn't seventeen years old yet, he would have to listen to them, his commands didn't mean as orders until he was mature, which he would a month later, anywhere but his castle.

   Ran suddenly grabbed his master's robe, forcing their horses to stop. He pulled out his sword from the case in a swift motion, blocking the way ahead of him. He turned his head to him and whispered, "Someone is in front of the forest, Prince. Pardon me and stay behind me. I can handle this person."

Olgarias had pretty bad at his swordsmanship and again the place was jet black except the light from the lamp. So he stayed behind his servant and placed his hand on his sword, a hint of ego were poking his confidence.

"Who is there?" Ran yelled, extending his sword in the air. "By the name of Prince Olgarias Callan, the third son of Greatest King Ramos, show yourself before I kill you! Get up from the ground!"

Olgarias hissed behind him, "Don't swear by my name. I hate it, Ran."

 The lying body on the ground didn't even flinch at his roar and just stayed motionless. Ran moved a little closer and discovered that it was a girl, lying on the small stones and dirt, wearing shredded clothes.

"Little girl, are you okay? What are you doing out here?" Ran called out in a worried tone, then got down from his horse. Olgarias climbed down from his horse too, wondering what would a girl do there in that night.

"Careful," he said. "She can be enemy."

"I do not think that," Ran placed his sword back in its holster and bent down to the girl. He quickly pressed two fingers at her neck, her skin was cold as ice and her lips had turned light blue because of that, also her eyes were tightly shut.

"She is freezing, I can not find any pulse," Ran sadly exhaled, staring at her. "She is_ dead."

Olgarias sat beside her, watching her closely. He had some knowledge about atypical medical science from books, he commanded his servant to put off his robe and wrapped it around her.

"She isn't dead," he quietly spoke.

Celandine gasped and at the next moment, she opened her eyes.

• • • • •

Narina passed the stairs and walked nimbly to the large door, her expression was vexed.

"M'lady," the guard bowed his head, didn't dare to look at her piercing eyes.

"Move aside," she spoke to him, knitting her eyebrows together.

"His Highness forbade me to let someone come in his chamber. F-forgive me, M'lady. I do not mean to disgrace you," the guard inclined again.

" 'His Highness', huh?" she laughed hastily. "Is your Lord certain sure that he will win against his brother? If he is His Highness, should you not be calling me Her Highness, ah? Listen you guard," she pulled out a long awl from the back of her hat. "Move aside before I kill you with this! I don't care about what Nrikawn ordered you or not."

The guard flinched at her harsh words, then quickly stepped aside from the door.

Narina pushed the door and burst into the room. Nrikawn was sitting in front of a pile of old parchments, staring at them with rapt attention. Hearing the sound of opening the door, he tilted his head to her.

"Narina. What are you doing here?" he asked simply, waiting for her answer.

"Greetings, My Lord. You have not come to our room for a week," she clenched her teeth. "Can I know the reason, My Lord?"

Nrikawn sighed, sensing her anger. Then he moved his hands from the papers and said, "Come to me, Narina."

"Why?"

"Come here, dear," he extended his hands.

    Narina took a step closer, every time she looked at his eyes, it was getting hard for her to hold her anger. Their marriage had been like trade deal, it was decided from the year they had been born, neither of them could have avoided that. Two years ago in their wedding night, she had thought she would hate him for forever, but watching him staying by his side everyday, her mind becoming quivering, unable to decide her feelings. But she was so stubborn, there was no way in hell she would admit her feelings for him.

   She stepped front to his table and slowly stood beside him. "You have been avoiding me for a week. What do you want to tell me now?" she couldn't help but pout.

Nrikawn chuckled and pulled her in his lap by a whirl, closing his arms around her body. He gently brushed his thumb at her cheek and spoke, "I have not been avoiding you, Narina. You are my wife, why would I avoid you? See," he pointed his finger at the ink and papers. "I have been very occupied with all of this. That's why I couldn't go to see you."

Narina looked away from him.

Nrikawn tucked a lock of her blond hair behind her ear, caressing her earlobe. "The sun is going to rise soon, dear. Why don't you get some sleep, eh?"

"You are going to a war against your brother. How can I fall asleep when you're going to be in danger?"

"Who do you think will win?"

"Don't ask me that question. That's cruel."

"Then, get some sleep."

"No."

"Then what?"

"You don't know?"

"No. What?"

"Make love to me," she demanded.

    Nrikawn inhaled deeply hearing her husky voice, his gaze fell on her sexy red lips, they were calling out to taste them. He placed his hand on the back of her neck and crashed her mouth with his.

Narina breathed out with need, one of her hand gripped his shoulder, another one going down near of his groin. She started to rub against his virile member which caused him to groan inside of her mouth, they kissed until they were breathless. He pulled her robe from her shoulder and cupped her breast, staring at her intensely. Placing a open mouthed kiss on her bare neck, his hot wet lips found their way to her shoulder, his tongue tasting her skin. Narina tore of the cloak he was wearing, her eyes were hooded with acute desire. Her hand went back to his member, sensations coming from their hormones were making them wild.

"D-do you love me, Nrikawn?" she kissed her hard chest, then looked up at him with her darkened eyes. He stopped at her sudden question and moved his fingers from her smooth stomach. Her eyes were scared, scared for the answer he might give her, scared that she could be wrong.

"Narina," he sighed, frowning a bit. "Do you know that you're destroying this moment?"

She cupped his face and desperately said, "I just want an answer." She brought her body closer to him, but there wasn't any inch left, she brushed his jawline. "Please, give me an answer. I'm pleading you, Nrikawn."

He closed his eyes hearing her craving tone, fighting with his conscience.

"You know I can't lie, Narina."