First Meaningful Conversation

Cassadrei's POV

Sofosys glares at me as I procrastinate about my daily activities. 

"The dishes are not going to wash themselves, dear." He says tenderly. 

Reluctantly, I get up and start washing the dishes, when all I want to do is think about mine and Linda's conversation a few days back. Also, the fact that Cookie is missing since the day I went in search of Linda, did nothing to ameliorate my disquiet. 

Sofosys might have miraculously sensed what I am thinking, and he approaches me, gently laying a hand over my shoulders and looking at me significantly. I know what he means to say. Let the dead past bury it's dead. It doesn't do any good to dwell on the events of your past in the face of an uncertain future. How can I take his advice to heart, when I am plagued by my past every day, every moment, every breathing hour? My disquiet grows and it creates a gaping hole in the place where my heart used to reside, replacing it with something stony that beats with a steady rhythm…. pumping my life away. 

I look back to the day when it had actually started.

The carnival was a huge success that year, partly because of the all engulfing rumours of an apparent reconciliation between Mafhaelore and Arphoelus. A reconciliation would mean less war, less war implied less bloodshed which in turn promised a life filled with mirth and intact families, where soldiers returned home to the joyous rancour of their children, where every living moment isn't afflicted by the perennial fear of another attack from the enemy kingdom. 

Magnus' word uplifted the general demeanor of the court that day, his presence amongst the people of Mafhaelore consodilated his role as a magnificent charmer, a hit among the common ladies and Soldiers alike. I, like many others, was drawn to his charm….his slick ponytail that never fell apart, his ocean blue eyes created a pit in my stomach and I lurched into it every time I caught sight of him. Mother wasn't very happy with the developments though. 

"It doesn't feel right, Rathaerys" I heard her say, one night, to my semi-conscious father who had just woken up from his slumber.

"What is it darling? Are you having terrible dreams again?" My father's voice sounded full of concern. 

I felt ashamed for eavesdropping on my own parents, but little choice I had of knowing about their motives, other than listening to their nocturnal rants. 

"This treaty, this peace…. I don't know but there's something inherently wrong about all this. I don't feel good about this guy, this Magnus." My mother said tartly. 

I could feel a lump rising in my throat as my heart gave a tiny leap. Why would mother not like Magnus? How could she evade his disarming charm?

Father's voice sounded tired as he replied, "Dear, you worry way too much. It's a golden opportunity for us, see. We have been at a constant war with Arphoelus for centuries now. Do you want this same fate to be passed on to your successors? Don't you want them to lead a life free from the constant tangle of warfare and carnage? Look at me dear, and tell me honestly, don't you want an escape from these? Don't you crave peace?"

"Yes, perhaps... perhaps it's all in my head. I'm sorry for waking you up dear, let's go back to bed." My mother sounded not entirely reassured. 

Long after they had gone to bed, I lay wide awake, contemplating their conversation that I had just overheard. Mother isn't wrong, Mafhaelore and Arphoelus coming into an alliance with each other is not a matter to be considered lightly. However, I felt that my mother's inhibitions about Magnus were misplaced. Why, he seemed absolutely wonderful to me? Then, perhaps it's just me who's biased. 

From afar, I heard a clashing sound and I immediately got up, as if a current ran down my veins. I recognised this sound very clearly, Swordfight. Who, in the middle of the night, is fighting? Is there an attack? 

I craned my neck to look clearly in the dark, through my diamond chiselled windows. My room overlooked the Practicing gardens directly, and there, amidst the thickets was a lone figure, practicing in dark with his sword against an opponent I knew only too well. I could recognise his slick ponytail from anywhere. Magnus. 

I couldn't figure out who the other one was though, moving through the shadows and combating furiously with the Arphoelian General. Curiousity got the better of me as I climbed down the windows(a feat I had performed several times), and landed on the cool dewy grass into the mist filled windy night. 

I treaded gently onto the figures who were deep engrossed in their combat, trying to make out the mystery one. Suddenly, my feet fell on a dry leaf and it made a crackling sound, one that reverberated in the noiseless dark. I cursed inwardly, as I caught a flicker of movement in the direction of Magnus, and he was alone again….his mystery companion lost among the shadows.

My skin burned and my nerves crawled with a sensation very unknown to me as Magnus looked at my direction, a sheepish grin on his face and he came near me. 

"Out in the dark for some fresh air, Princess?" He said softly, his deep blue eyes boring into my very soul. 

"We-ell you are out too" I stammered hopelessly. 

Magnus' laugh was a crackle of thunder in a rain-deprived desert, he tilted his head back and flashed his gloriously white teeth and the night seemed to be lit up.

"Who was the other person?" I replied, trying to hold a grip over my slippery emotions. 

"Just a friend. No one you should worry about." Magnus waved his hands casually, "you are quite observant, Princess Cassadrei." He remarked after a while, partly to the night air. 

Then, turning to me, he suddenly offered,"Take a walk with me, will you?"

I was taken aback, and before I could mumble any reply, he held my hands as if they belonged to him, and we started strolling down under the inky sky. 

As we were walking, I could feel my body tremble against a force unbeknownst to me and I did all I could, to control my tremor. I thanked the darkness, for he couldn't see the heat rising up my cheek. 

"You must be wondering what I am doing at these late hours." Magnus reflected, it was exactly what I was wondering about. 

"I have preferences, I prefer the quiet of night to the hustle bustle of the day. And, I feel one can nuance one's skills, if they practice in the dark" he stopped and turned to me, with a twinkle in his eyes. 

I gulped, suddenly unable to summon my voice. 

"Ah! A shy Goblin." His magnificent lips curled up and for a fraction of a second, I wondered how it would feel to kiss them. Then, the moment was gone and I forced myself to look away. 

"Why are you doing all these?" I manage to reply in a small voice. 

"Doing what?"

"This. This treaty, you...you are the only Arphoelian whom I have seen behaving decently to us. You...you are different."

"From? We are all essentially the same dear." Magnus said enigmatically, as I flinched at the affectionate tone of his voice. My throat felt perched and my heart felt like a burden in my chest. 

Coughing a little, Magnus replied, "Riddles apart, I am only doing this for the greater good." His eyes reached out to seek the stars amidst the unfathomable darkness, "I am tired of this constant struggle. Me and my countrymen have faced hell throughout the centuries and so have yours. For what? For satisfying the ego of our ancestors that was hurt almost a million years ago. We have glorified our struggles, wrote sonnets about them, sang about our soldiers' bravery but no one could write a word about their misery. No one dared to mention the futility of a lifelong of enemity and how many innocent soldiers have sacrificed their lives and good health to uphold the illusion of glory that binds us, nobles?"

His passionate voice rang in my ear and it echoed my father's, heard through the thin walls. Magnus was right, I thought, it's high time we moved on. And even though mother was suspicious, we had to find a way to reconcile for the welfare of the humanity. 

That was the first meaningful conversation I had with Magnus and there were many more to come, many such inky nights filled with our laughter and philosophy. There was also the inky night, filled with my betrayal. 

I was brought back to the realm of man by the sudden and frantic chirp that I knew only too well. The Petrywinkler had returned. 

"Thank God! I am so sorry for abandoning you Cookie, but where were you for so many days? I was starting to get worried, thinking that I had lost you."

I stopped in my track as I saw the other figure, looming behind the tiny Petrywinkler, covered in blood and bruises, breathing with a rasp and I realised that something had gone horribly wrong.