Free

Rubbing the back of his head, Athan closed his eyes, letting out a heavy sigh.

" I have been bound to this cave for thousands of years and I want to be free, my Queen!" he began his story with a pained voice, his eyes finally opening, filled with pain and anguish from all the time he had spent in that damned cave waiting, far too long.

Iris's heart squeezed hearing Athan's story, she could feel the pain that he carried within from the look on his face.

Her eyebrows knitted together, her lips trembling " I don't know how to free you Athan!" she spoke in a shaky voice feeling her heart break at the fact that she didn't know how to help him even though she wanted to give him back his freedom.

Ian looked at Athan and couldn't help but wonder how did he managed to survive with no food for that long, he wasn't in a bad shape, he looked very much alive.

"How did you managed to survive for that long?" Ian blurted out not being able to contain his curiosity any longer.

Athan looked at Iris, his eyebrows raised " I.....I.....we....are not, I'm not exactly human, nor is my Queen!" he stuttered while his eyes remained on Iris, stressing out the words at the end, wondering if she could remember what and who she was.

Ian gritted his teeth, his hands clenching in tight fists, glaring at Athan, he took a step forward towards Athan " My Queen....not yours!" Ian thundered, his anger bubbling to the point of exploding, slowly simmered down when he felt Iris grabbing his wrist.

Iris gently grabbed Ians wrist and squeezed it to gain his attention, snapping out of her daze, hearing the anger in Ian's voice she thought that there are, too many things are happening at once and they should take things slower.

" Maybe we should drop the formalities for the time being and just call us by our names!" she suggested in soft voice, cutting through the thick tension that settled in the cave.

Ian relaxed a bit and sighed heavily, relieved that he won't have to listen to Athan calling Iris his Queen. Even though himself was a bit taken aback at his sudden possessive behaviour, he really never felt so riled up before about anything.

" As you wish, my...I....Iris!" Athan mumbled a little bit taken aback by Ian's outburst and possessiveness, thinking that he would be in deep trouble if he doesn't watch his mouth around this man, he would definitely meet his maker soon and he had no intention of doing so.

Iris relaxed, finally feeling the air around breathable again, she thought that it would best to start with the beginning, this way they would slowly piece things together, unless the two men in the room decide to but heads again.

Ian slowly calmed his jittering nerves, looking at Athan " Can we at least sit down while we talk?" his voice calm, a stark opposite to how it was a while ago.

Smiling at the couple, he gestured to the empty thrones " You can sit on your thrones, my...." he stopped speaking when he almost blurted out the words that would definitely cost him his head " My apologies, it will take a while to get used to it!" he mumured in a small voice with weary smile, at the mistake he almost made.

" We will sit on the floor for the time being!" Iris suggested and Ian nodded in agreement.

The three plopped themselves on the floor looking a bit uncomfortable around each other due to their current situation.

Clearing his throat, Athan decided to break the silence and speak first, seeing that the couple just stared at him as if waiting for him to speak.

" We live much longer than humans, although we look like them, we can survive for a long time without sustenance if we slow down our bodies." he decided to answer Ian question before the man snapps again.

" That's how I managed to survive for such a long time, we call it divining" he finished his explanation looking at the confused look on Iris and Ians face.

" Hmm.....alright, let's say we believe you, for the time being! What makes you think that my future wife is your Queen?" Ian choked up at the last words that he had uttered feeling his blood starting to boil again.

Iris looked at Ian, her eyebrows furrowed, grabbing his hand intertwining her fingers with his, she pulled his hand into her lap, rubbing circles with her thumb on the back of his hand to soothe his tense nerves.

Feeling the air in the cave getting heavier and thicker and Ian's temper was on the brink of exploding again, Athan thought that it would be best to put the man out of his misery and tell him the good news.

" According to our customs you are already husband and wife!" Athan declared with a small smile, thinking that this should ease his worries.

Ian looked at Iris smiling ear to ear at Athan's declaration, who in turn had a surprised look on her face, who opened her mouth to speak but words failed her.

Athan sighed, seeing that the couple relaxed, which meant that he could also take a breather.

"How?" her voice broke the silence a little baffled at what she just heard.

Rubbing the back of his neck, taking a deep breath in " Well.....when you and...." he stopped speaking clearing his throat, struggling to find the right words "...the mark that you have, it's the same and it wasn't until you....did....the deed! he finished explaining trying his best not brush Ian the wrong way again.