BLAND TILL HER

I am not a queen because I rule, I rule because I am THE QUEEN.

Birthed in my heart. Alive in my veins…

*************************

Bland – without taste!

Everything seemed the same. Nothing was intriguing; people were changing, and not for the better.

Most persons thought him to be soaring and he was, but only in ranks. In actuality, he was fading slowly.

He was still the valiant commander and never settling rake but he was also the troubled soul with a haunted existence.

The evil in the air was becoming tangible and there was hardly any good to be seen. He wondered what the need to celebrate was.

More than half a thousand children went missing in the south this year and that was the least calamity that was expeditiously eating the land.

But he couldn’t be everywhere because regardless of the power he possessed, there was a limit to the things and decisions he could make.

‘Everything is all for naught brother. I still haven’t brought you peace. Forgive me!’

This was the last trail of his thoughts before a certain raven-haired lady staggered into the hall.

He smiled, remembering how she had lashed at him a while ago. No one else would easily speak to him like that. But she had.

Grey judgemental eyes, cool olive skin, snarling round lips, and a reputation for being adamant. The first time he saw her, she was being flogged by her governess as an order from the King of Isoloth because she was found climbing one of the walls of the Palace.

He watched her stagger to the elevated platform and climb onto one of the tables. From her movements, actions, and heavy-lidded eyes, he knew she was drunk.

‘Oh foolish one’

But then…

All it took was that one sentence. Just that line of words.

‘I’m Nadezhda and I loathe most of you staring at me’

While others gaped at her and gasped at her words, mirth gleamed in Zorgan’s eyes. Nothing had stirred him in such a way for a long time.

The last time he had felt such a stir was when his late commander led them into battle for the first time.

It was clear that she was being reckless and would not come out from this unscathed, but hearing her spew words that no one else cared to think of or act on was bizarrely pacifying.

‘She’s different and different is good. Different and outlandish is right for me, and allowing her to get hurt because of people who are all alike seems like a waste.’

‘‘That woman…is my wife!’’ Zorgan piqued, and the quick, sharp inhale of most persons was remarkable.

‘‘Your- your wife?

Are you certain of this Commander Zorgan?’ One of Nadezhda’s half-brothers asked after the first shockwave had passed through everyone.

Zorgan sighed.

‘‘Look at me Prince of Isoloth! Then look at yourself.

The only uncertain-looking one is you.

I want to be her husband and I want preparations concluded a day from now. I believe you can arrange that?’’ Zorgan asked.

The Prince was not able to acknowledge his sister when she was about to be dragged away. But now that there was a profitable interest her way, his voice could be heard, and Zorgan loathed such persons.

Focusing on the only unaware human in the room, Zorgan walked up to Nadezhda. The eyes of everyone followed after him.

Her glossy eyes trained on him. ‘‘You! Why are you here? This is my dream-”

Before she could utter more words that might complicate their situation, he secured her legs and lifted her from the table.

He placed her on his shoulders before scanning the room for an opposition. When his eyes met with the King of Isoloth, he sent a curt nod his way and strolled out of the hall like this was something he was used to doing.

******************

As Nadezhda opened her eyes the next morning, a figure filled her vision. It took a few moments but her eyes gradually adjusted to the sight.

It was like her senses were trying to put him together and fix a reason as to why he was before her.

The blur had cleared to reveal the back of a well-built colossus figure, then his top-knotted hair.

He turned around like he noticed she was awake. A gruff facial appearance, deep-set black eyes that constantly remind one of darkness, and a gloating smirk.

Zorgan of Valcresh!

‘Why in the heavens is he smiling?

No! Why in all creation am I seeing him smile?’

Without hesitation, Nadezhda sprang to a sitting posture. A violent ache assaulted her temples and forced her to squint her eyes but Zorgan’s presence was far more perturbing than the throbbing in her head. Her eyes fully opened at once.

‘‘What are you doing here and why are you standing so close to me?’ She asked with eyes like a tempest as she pulled the quilt she was covered in above her shoulders.

Zorgan folded his arms, causing the sinews of his torso to tauten at the seams of his sleeves. He didn’t want to believe that she was so drunk that she couldn’t remember a thing and he desired to tease her a bit.

‘‘I needed to prove to you that I do not need to be a saint for the rest of my life before I can be considered to touch you.

I touched you, Rebel. Now what are you going to do?’’

Nadezhda went still. So still that she was almost not breathing.

She remembered her words when she had met him in that room.

‘You will have to be a saint for the rest of your life before you can be considered to touch me in your next life!’

A part of her didn’t want to believe what he just said. ‘He can’t be that inhumane!’ But a greater part of her did. She had been drunk and defenseless.

He had found her in the seventh room and that was his chance to pay her back.

There was a knock at the door before Zorgan could revisit the impression he was making to Nadezhda at the moment.

‘‘Speak!’’ He called in a loud voice to the herald, his eyes not leaving her.

He wouldn’t be shocked if he turned around and a knife was hurled at him. Her eyes and the wild look from how much she had tossed on the bed were reminding him of foxes and their temperament and although he could easily elude the knife, he felt it would kill the climax of the moment.

The herald spoke from behind the door. ‘‘Preparations for your wedding are ongoing, My Lord, but the bride is yet to be received. Time is of the essence as”

“She would join the chambermaids in a short while. Now go away!’’

Nadezhda couldn’t believe her ears, and she was so angry her body shook lightly. She threw the quilt off her body and stood up to face Zorgan defiantly.

‘‘You bloody dragon.

You are the worst man my eyes have laid on and trust me, my eyes have seen many, you just manage to surpass the lot of them.

I can’t believe there’s a woman out there betrothed to you, and yet you forcefully laid with another woman,” She said, referring to herself.

‘‘I greatly detest you Zorgan of Valcresh!’ Nadezhda spat.

Zorgan chuckled.

Leaning close to her, he said softly, ‘‘While I have no plan to change that, you should know that the proper way to address me is Prince Commander Zorgan of Valcresh.

And you my enchanting Rebel, are my bride that is yet to be received”.