Lotus Blossoms - Part Five

       Adrian kept to his word and tried to keep his distance from Pryene throughout the cold winter. It had been the first time that she had seen snow. Her suitors, brother, Kyre, and Charday spent the day out in the frozen meadow. They were told that it would probably be the last time that they could enjoy the snow, as Spring was coming soon.
      Edric and his entourage had been away for nearly a month as he went to visit one of Goutine’s allies to convince them that they were not losing the war. Charday had been disappointed as she hadn’t given up Edric for the kingdom throughout the fall. Her belly was just beginning to swell from her pregnancy. The news had been exciting and the entire castle had come to life with that enthusiasm.
      Jalena had been assigned as Charday’s nursemaid. The short, dark haired woman would constantly fuss over how much Charday ate or how hard she pushed herself during the day. She would gasp and cry out whenever a snowball hit the pregnant princess. When Charday fell down upon her bottom, Jalena announced that their games were over. However, Charday shooed the woman away and continued with her snowball fight against Cian, whom she enjoyed flirting with while Edric was away.
      It had become clear to Cian that Pryene was not the woman for him and he had announced he would be returning home in the Spring. Pryene had been disappointed in his decision as she had found that Thane was far too forceful for her liking. However, she had seen him calm down since Cian had stepped down as her suitor. They spent a majority of their time together and Thane had even begun sleeping in the hallway outside Charday’s door. At times, he would send Pryene to sleep in a bed while he stood guard. She was appreciative that he gladly took some of her heavy tasks from time to time.
      Charday did not approve of Thane guarding her door at first, but she had grown accepting of it. She had even begun to understand that Pryene and Adrian would not be together. Though she would still mention the sadness she saw in Adrian’s eyes whenever Pryene and he would have an accidental encounter.
      Pryene gave a rare giggle when Thane threw a snowball at her. The smile faded when she noticed two men walking towards the meadow.
      “Edric!” Charday squealed and ran towards the men. She tossed her arms around her husband and began to giggle with joy.
      Coming to stand behind her ward, Pryene tried to ignore the man standing beside the prince. The closer he came to his wedding day with Karessa, the more cheerless he became. His future wife would soon be giving birth which was another day that brought depression into his soul. All this Pryene could see in his eyes, and she couldn’t understand why he would allow himself this misery.
      “Did you convince him?” Charday asked.
      Edric shrugged briefly and looked over to Adrian, “I would hope that we raised his spirits some. Whether we convinced him or not has yet to be seen.” His eyes turned to Pryene, “Greetings, Pryene.”
      She bowed her head to the prince and continued to ignore Adrian, who had mumbled a greeting to her as well.
      “We are going inside.” Thane placed his hand on Pryene’s shoulder and pointed to the other three Zsusanu in the meadow.
      “I will join you soon.” She looked into his eyes before returning her attention to Charday. She did not notice the heat stare that Thane gave to Adrian as he past him.
      Jalena approached them as the Zsusanu left the meadow, “Milady Charday does not understand that she can not treat herself so roughly. She has a babe to worry about now.”
      Edric grinned before playfully frowning at Charday. “Treating herself roughly? How unladylike.”
      Charday chuckled, “It’s only snowballs… and I fell on my bottom once. Jalena is just over protective.”
      “I am over protective, because you are not protective enough. You may be carrying the future king of Goutine within your womb!” Jalena’s head dropped, “Forgive my outburst, it was inappropriate.”
      Edric seemed to ignore the nursemaid, “Let’s go inside. I brought treats from Entura.” He placed his arm around Charday’s shoulder and began to walk towards the castle. Jalena wasn’t far behind them as she held the princess’ other arm.
      As Pryene began to walk beside them, she felt Adrian’s warm hand grab her gloved hand. With her back still too him, she watched the others disappear into the castle.
      “The king wishes to see you in his study this evening. Edric forgot to mention it to you in his excitement.” Adrian squeezed her hand as he spoke.
      “Thank you for telling me.”
      There was a silence between them, but neither tried to release the other’s hand. “I hear that you have chosen Thane as your suitor.”
      “He won by default.” Her eyes dropped to the snow at her feet, she could barely see it over the thick clothing and cloak that she wore.
      Adrian nodded, his eyes were ahead of him so he was not looking at Pryene. “I have been studying Zsusanu ways with Cian. I do not know if he told you about that or not.”
      “No, he has not. I am glad that you are learning from someone.” With that Pryene tried to pull her hand from his.
      Instead of letting her go, Adrian twisted around and grabbed her wrist with his other hand. “Are you happy with the way things are turning out?”
      Pryene pulled at her arm before turning around to look at him. “We’ve made our decision, Adrian. Don’t keep bringing this issue up. What we have cannot be. It’s been months since we have last spoken, just allow this subject to die.”
      “It’s the only thing that has kept my morale within livable standards. Telling myself that perhaps there is a way that I can find myself in your arms. I have been looking into the ways of the Zsusanu and searching for something, anything that can convince you…”
      “You can’t convince me to betray my people, Adrian. Let this topic die!” She jerked her hand away.
      “No! Not until you tell me that you are happy with the way things stand now. Tell me in all honesty that you look forward to the day you bond with Thane. I certainly can not say the same about Karessa.”
      “I will not answer your questions, Adrian. Leave me be!”
      “Say that you do not love me.”
      “I… I don’t love you.” She began to yank at her captured arm, as if she were actually fighting him for her freedom.
      “Liar.” Adrian growled and tightened his hold on her.
      Pryene stopped fighting him and looked into his multicolored eyes that stared down at her. In his eyes were the sadness that had built up over the past few months, and there was no doubt in her mind that the same sadness was present in her eyes. “Yes, I am, but I will continue to tell myself that until my heart believes it.”
      As she spoke it was as if her body was purposely acting against her words. Her fingers made their way into his hair and Adrian released her wrist. The insecurity in her eyes beckoned him to meet her half way. Adrian examined her eyes before he placed his hands on her thickly clothed hips. As his lips came down to meet her own, Pryene turned her head to the side and laid her cheek on his shoulder. Her arms wrapped around his neck and hugged him tightly.
      He held her with as much force as she held him. A brief kiss to her temple and Adrian realized that his hopes had been for naught. Pryene was not only bound now by her oath, but by her promise to Thane. When their embrace ended they said nothing to each other, instead he walked towards the castle and left Pryene to her thoughts in the meadow.

      King Ilgar sat behind his desk as Pryene entered into the room. She gave a bow before he told her to have a seat in the large chair. Doing as he had asked of her, Pryene folded her hands into her lap to wait for the king to inform her, as to why he had asked for her audience. The old king said nothing as he seemed to be waiting for someone else to join them.
      “I have tea, would you care for a cup?”
      Pryene shook her head, “No, thank you.”
      “Are you certain?” He asked as his finger pointed towards a silver cart with a small tea pot upon it.
      “After my evening meal, I do not put anything else into my body.” She gave a nervous cough before folding her hands back up.
      The sound of the study door opening again was a relief to her ears. It didn’t bother her that the people that appeared were Adrian, Edric, and a man she knew as the king’s advisor, Renor. He was an elder gentleman that always wore a dark red robe with the hood up even in the heat of summer.
      The three men took a seat and the king cleared his throat, his eyes turned to Pryene. “I hear that you are going to Zsusa this Spring to be wed to one of the Zsusanu males. Is this correct?”
      “Yes, milord.”
      Ilgar looked over to his son as he was unsure how he should address the subject to Pryene. His eyes returned to her after a moment, “I am certain that you know of the war with the Eastern Empires. It seems that they have been inviting Zsusanu warriors to travel to their kingdoms and have asked that the land of Zsusa to become their allies.”
      Pryene swallowed, “What of the Zsusanu that are already living in the Western Kingdoms? Would they fight against us or ask us to join their cause?”
      Her questions stunned those in the room. It sounded as if she wanted to know if her people called for her betrayal, and worst yet it seemed that she would willingly give it. “I have not heard of what they plan to do with the Zsusanu living among us. My reasons for bringing you here was to discuss using you and your soon to be husband as diplomats. When you return to Zsusa in the spring. Adrian and Edric would, of course, join you.”
      Pryene looked over at the three men who had been strangely silent in all this. “I do not know what I could do for Goutine, milord. It might be consider rude for me to do this when it is my first visit to my homeland.”
      Ilgar nodded.
      “You could point out that many Zsusanu already live in the Western Kingdoms.” Adrian said in a manner that seemed more like he was begging. “By fighting against our kingdoms here they could very well start a civil war. What Zsusanu that lives among us wants to give up everything and move to the Eastern Empires?”
      She looked towards Ilgar, “I do not know what help I could be, but if you ask me to do this, I will perform.”
      “You may not have to say anything at all.” The advisor told her. “Just having you with us may prove the point.”
      “Yes, your brother and his future bride as going as well, correct?” Edric didn’t wait for her to respond. “That’s four Zsusanu with us on a single journey.”
      Pryene nodded, “Very well, I shall go.”
      “Wonderful.” Ilgar sat back in his chair and folded his hands on his desk, “Then we shall talk more in the Spring. You are excused, Pryene.”
      She bowed her head and stood from her chair. His eyes ran past Adrian briefly before she exited the room.
      “That leaves us with the matter of Karessa.” Ilgar looked over at Adrian, “She is due to give birth soon, perhaps it would be best to wed her before you leave for Zsusa.”
      Adrian knew that Karessa’s father had put the king up to this. “I said that I would wed her in the summer and if the child is a girl. That was the deal that I made and that is the deal that I will stick too.”
      “Adrian, you will know what the babe will be before the summer. After all, the trip to Zsusa will last four months there and back.” Edric looked between him and his father, “The child could be anywhere from five to six months old by then.”
      “It is not my child, we all know this.” He growled and stood from his chair, “I gave my word to wed Karessa if she births a daughter. Do not try to change the agreement on me now or I may change my mind completely.” He began to walk towards the door.
      “She is wedding another, Adrian. Abandon all hope that she will ever be yours!” Ilgar snapped referring to Pryene.
      Placing his hand on the door, Adrian turned to look at the king, “She isn’t bonded to him yet. There is still time.”

      Adrian looked out the window in the hallway at the newly budding trees. There was a deep sigh of relief in his heart when he heard that Karessa had given birth to a son. He held back the urge to both laugh and cry in joy when the news was delivered to him. He had told himself that if it was a son that fate was telling him to continue his pursuit of Pryene. There was not much time left as they would be leaving for Zsusa in a couple of weeks, and he would only have two months to convince her.
      There was regret that he had given up so easily before and it seemed that Pryene had started to forget her feelings towards him. She was no longer bothered by him joining her and the other Zsusanu in the meadow for meditation. Faraji freely taught him in front of her and she would occasionally correct her brother or take part in the teaches. The look of longing was absent in her eyes when he caught her stare.
      “What would have to be done to convince you to continue on with this wedding?” Feron, Karessa’s father, said as he approached him.
      Adrian looked from the multicolored sky to the elder knight beside him, “I can not answer that now.”
      “And why is that?”
      “There is another question that I must answer first, and I will not know until after I have returned from Zsusa.” He looked back out the window.
      “Ah, yes, King Ilgar told me of your infatuation with the Zsusanu female. I hear that she has taken a suitor of her own. Do you mean to stand in her way of happiness?”
      Adrian bit his lower lip, “As conceited as it may sound, I think that I am her happiness.”
      Feron chuckled, “Oh and does she know this?”
      “She use to.” With that Adrian dropped his hands from the windowsill and turned to face him, “I will have your answer when I return.”
      “I shall ensure that the temple is prepared for the wedding then.”
      Adrian nodded before turning to walk down the hallway. Before he had even taken three steps, his name was screamed out. Turning around he watched Karessa running down the hall in a white night gown.
      “Karessa! You have just given birth, you shouldn’t be up!” Feron grabbed his daughter’s upper arm.
      “Don’t do this to me, Adrian!” She cried out, “No one else will wed me!” Tears began to stream down her face as her father and a nursemaid tried to pull her away from him. Karessa seemed to have super human strength as she latched onto Adrian’s shirt, pulling her father and the nursemaid with her. “I swear to be loyal and faithful. I will do whatever you please. I have suffered enough! Everyone already believes me to be a harlot! Don’t do this to me!”
      “Karessa, let him go! This is enough!” Feron growled and tried to peel her hands away from Adrian’s shirt.
      Adrian grabbed her wrists to stop her from digging her nails into his chest, “Karessa, you need to rest. Please, don’t do this to yourself.”
      Her hands released and she slowly slipped to the ground. Tears poured from her eyes as she looked up at him, “I beg of you. Don’t do this to me.”
      “I am sorry. You should of thought of this before you took a man that was not your husband into your bed.”
      “Don’t upset her anymore then she already is!” Feron barked.
      “Please, Adrian, please!” She slammed her fists against the ground. “We can send him away when he’s older. He won’t take over your estate, I swear!”
      “Tell me who the real father is.” He demanded.
      Karessa’s tears stopped and she looked up to him, “Another time in private.”
      “You know who the father is?” Feron growled.
      Her eyes turned towards her father as if she was realizing that he was there for the first time. “Father, he is a nobody. You wouldn’t want me wed to him.”
      “He should not be released from his fatherly duty simply for your benefit. Who is this man?” He grasped her arm.
      “He’s already married, father. It’s of no importance!”
      “Please, milord. Let us discuss this another time.” The nursemaid begged, “She needs to be in her bed.” She helped Karessa to her feet.
      Feron released his daughter’s arm and looked towards Adrian, “Look how upset she is. Tell me that you do not feel for the girl.”
      “I do, but that child is not my responsibility.”