Darque Wants (50 page)

              Kirrowind often found excuses to go north and visit Katrina after she left that day. He tried to avoid her father and Captain Erik as best as he could. There may have been peace in the Valley, but there were still strong feelings of anger from the King and Captain Erik was just very rude. Kirrowind felt that it was best to just stay away from both of them. He often thought of what he said about marrying Katrina that day of the treaty, but he never spoke about it.

              Soon, the first snows began to fall. Kirrowind hiked up north to visit Katrina once again and he found her sitting next to the fire in her new house. She barely looked up when Kirrowind opened the door and walked in. Kirrowind could see by her red and puffy eyes that she had been crying. Concerned, he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her to comfort her.

              “What's wrong?” he asked her.

              “Oh, Kirrowind, you shouldn't be here. My father is very angry with you right now. In his fury he may violate the peace and kill you on the spot if he sees you,” Katrina said through a fresh batch of tears.

              “I'm allowed to come visit you. There are no laws against that with either of our people,” Kirrowind said.

              “It's not the visiting. My father found out about the night that you and I had sex,” Katrina cried.

              “I can explain that to him. He may be angry, but it's not worth killing over.”

              “You don't understand. He's forcing me to marry Captain Erik to protect my dignity,” Katrina said.

              “That seems a bit silly. He could just keep it a secret. Forcing marriage over this seems like an overreaction,” Kirrowind said with a giggle.

              “It's not just that easy,” Katrina sobbed. “Everyone is going to find out. Kirrowind, I have to tell you this because it concerns you too. I'm just not sure how to put it gently. I just need to tell you.”

              “You can tell me anything, Katrina, you know that by now,” Kirrowind said with trying to help her gather her nerve.

              “Kirrowind, I'm pregnant.”

             
A Survival of Ancient Atlantis Romantic Fantasy

Part 2

Aikaterine Seas

Copyright © 2016

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This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

DISCLAIMER

Please don’t be stupid and kill yourself. This book is a work of FICTION. Do not try any new sexual practice that you find in this book. It is fiction and not to be confused with reality. Neither the author nor the publisher or its associates assume any responsibility for any loss, injury, death or legal consequences resulting from acting on the contents in this book. Every character in this book is over 18 years of age. The author’s opinions are not to be construed as the opinions of the publisher. The material in this book is for entertainment purposes ONLY.  Enjoy.

*****

Kirrowind felt like all the air had been sucked out of his chest.  Those two words. “I’m pregnant” hit him harder than anything he had experienced in his life before.  He grasped his chest just to feel if his heart was still beating. 

              “Are you okay?” Katrina asked noticing Kirrowind's reaction and how all the blood rushed out of his face.

              “I'm alright.  I just need to step outside for a moment,” Kirrowind said stumbling towards the door.  The cold winter air smacked him in the face when he threw the door open and he took several, deep, burning lungfuls of air to slow down his racing heart.  He found a tree a few steps away and leaned against it for stability.  Still trying to calm down, Kirrowind felt a hand on his shoulder.  He looked and saw the sorrowful face of Katrina.

              “I'm sorry,” he said, “This is just a shock for me.”

              “I know, but it's hard for me as well, Kirrowind,” Katrina said trying to choke back a fresh wave of tears.  “You should come back inside.  If my father catches you out here, he's going to be furious.”

              Kirrowind nodded silently, took a few more deep breaths to gather himself, and walked back inside Katrina's house.  Once back inside, Kirrowind took a seat next to Katrina by the fire and collected his thoughts.  For a moment, the only sound in the house was the crackling of wood in the fire place.  Eventually, Kirrowind recovered from the initial shock and began to speak.

              “How long have you known?” he asked Katrina as calmly as he could.

              “Only a few days now.  The Royal Physician confirmed it.  I was hoping that he would keep it a secret, but he told my father.  Not even my mother has been able to calm him down,” Katrina answered.

              “And now your father wants you to marry Captain Erik,” Kirrowind said.  It was more of a statement than a question as Kirrowind worked out his next steps inside his own mind.

              “Yes.  The wedding is going to happen in a few days so that everyone can claim the child belongs to Erik and my dignity will be kept intact,” Katrina continued despite knowing that Kirrowind was only half listening to her.

              “That is not going to work for us,” Kirrowind said, still deep in thought.  “That is not right.  I cannot live a life knowing that my child is being raised by another man, especially that man.”

              “What are we going to do then?” Katrina asked.

              “Move with me to Oldwoods,” Kirrowind said coming back to reality.  “The treaty will prevent your father from forcing you to marry Erik if you live in Tribal territory.  You can live with me and we can raise our child together.  It is the right thing to do.”

              Katrina paused for a moment.  Kirrowind watched her eyes dance back and forth as she considered his proposal.  He waited with anticipation for her answer. Finally, Katrina opened her mouth to answer.

              “It's a good idea.  Like I said at the treaty signing, I will get married when I want to, not because I have to.  However, I do not think it is very wise for me to simply leave.  We will have to inform my father.”

              “I think you are right.  Your father should know of our plans.  I would not want him to think that I've kidnapped you again,” Kirrowind said with a smirk.  “I will go and speak with him.  You stay here and get your things packed.”

              “Thank you for doing the right thing,” Katrina said, giving Kirrowind a quick kiss.

              “For you, Princess, anything,” Kirrowind said with a wink and he walked out of the warm house and back into the icy outdoors of New Atlantis.

              It was a short walk to the palace from where Katrina lived.  Kirrowind knew the area quite well from his many visits with Katrina, but he had never dared to actually enter the palace itself.  Kirrowind's veneer of confidence that he had worn in front of Katrina began to fade with each step towards the palace doors. 

              Kirrowind thought that perhaps the best place to find King Pieter would be in the throne room.  He walked down the hallways of the palace, nodding politely to the guards who had gotten used to his presence as well as the workers who were constantly busy building new additions to the palace.  Soon enough, Kirrowind stood in front of the large wooden doors that lead to the throne room.  He took a deep breath and waited for one of the guards to open the door for him.  As the heavy wooden door swung open, Kirrowind stepped in and saw King Pieter sitting in his massive seat of gold and jewels.

              “What are you doing here?” King Pieter roared seeing Kirrowind enter.

              “I have come to speak to you, sir,” Kirrowind said, bowing respectfully.

              “You certainly have a lot of nerve to speak to me after what you did to my daughter,” King Pieter said as he stood from his throne and crossed the room. 

              Standing nose to nose with the burly King Pieter, Kirrowind felt very nervous.  He thought about his next words very carefully knowing that one wrong word could send the King into a frenzy.  He gulped as he felt the King's thick fingers begin to wrap around his neck, not tightly but with just enough force to be frightening.

              “Your Highness, I apologize.  I understand that you are angry at me.  Katrina is pregnant and I'm sorry,” Kirrowind said hoping to calm the infuriated King.

              “So, you have already spoken to my daughter,” King Pieter said tightening his grip a bit more around Kirrowind's throat.

              “Yes.  That is why I want to speak to you,” Kirrowind managed to spit out.

              “There is nothing left for you to say.  I should have killed you when I had the chance.”

              Kirrowind felt the King's hands tighten even further around his neck and he struggled to pull air into his lungs.  He tried and failed to pull the King's hand off of his throat, but to no avail.  He began to fear that he was going to be strangled there on the spot when he saw the Queen enter the throne room from the door in the rear of the room.

              “Release him, Pieter.  Let's not start another war,” the Queen said walking over and putting a gentle hand on the King's shoulder.

              Kirrowind dropped to his knees and enjoyed the sensation of air filling his lungs again. He stood up and massaged his sore neck.  “Thank you, Your Majesty,” he said to the Queen bowing again.  “I am glad you are here.  This is something that perhaps both of you should hear.”  Kirrowind paused for a moment as he tried to think of the best way to phrase his next sentence.  He looked at the faces of the King and Queen.  King Pieter was still boiling with barely contained rage.  Queen Anna had a kind smile on her face and waiting patiently for Kirrowind to speak. 

              “I have spoken to Katrina and learned of her pregnancy,” Kirrowind began tentatively, “and I have come to the King to inform him that I am taking her back to Oldwoods with me so that we may raise our child together.”

              “No, I won't allow it,” King Pieter shouted immediately.  “Katrina will marry Erik and they will raise the child here in New Atlantis.  My family name will not be tarnished by my daughter moving off to live with some wild native.”

              “King Pieter, I understand that you want what is best for your child, but I beg of you to allow me the same opportunity.  I want to be there to raise my child and do what I see best for it,” Kirrowind replied.

              “He is right, Pieter,” Queen Anna chimed in.  “I love Katrina as well and want her to be here with us, but she is now tied to Kirrowind for eternity whether we like it or not.  And you may see him as 'some wild native', but do not forget that Kirrowind is a prince among his people.  The child and our daughter will be well cared for.”

              “You may take Katrina to your land and raise your child how you see fit,” King Pieter said to Kirrowind after a moment of thought, “but you must know that I will not allow a bastard child to ascend to rule my kingdom.”

              “Thank you, Your Highness,” Kirrowind said happily.  “Katrina and I will be leaving as soon as possible.  I would like for us both to be settled into our new home before the snows begin to fall heavily.”

              “The King and I will be by shortly to say good-bye to Katrina,” Queen Anna said. 

              “I will go tell Katrina the news,” Kirrowind replied.  He bowed to the King and Queen and quickly retreated from the throne room.  Once he was past the large doors, he walked out of the palace to inform Katrina that her father had given permission for him to bring her back to his home.

              Katrina sat in her favorite chair by the fire with her packed bags sitting around her feet.  She stared into the fire and thought deeply about where life had been taking her in recent months.  Just last winter she was sitting in her room in a beautiful and ancient palace in Atlantis without a care in the world.  Now, she was in a small, humble house just outside her parents' palace that still needed a lot of work.  She was pregnant with the child of a native man that she barely knew and was now leaving her family to live with him.

              She was shaken out of her trance by her door being slammed open.  She jumped up and turned to face the door.  She was relieved to see Kirrowind standing in the doorway. 

              “What did my father say?” Katrina asked anxiously.

              “After some discussion, your father gave his permission for me to take you back to Oldwoods.  Your parents will be by soon to say their farewells,” Kirrowind told her as he walked across the room to join her by the fire.

              “How did you manage to convince my father to let me leave?”

              “Well, your mother helped a lot.  She is very understanding,” Kirrowind said.

              “She has always been very kind.  We both owe her a debt of gratitude for her help,” Katrina thought out loud.

              Katrina and Kirrowind spoke about nothing for a few minutes until they heard a knock at the door.  Katrina rushed to the door and saw her parents standing outside.  Her mother had tears running down her face, but still held a smile on her face.  Her father had a stoic expression on his face.  Katrina knew that he was sad to see her leaving, but he was putting on a strong front as his form of protest.

              “I hope that you and your child find happiness with Kirrowind and his people,” Queen Anna said giving her daughter a strong hug.

              “Thank you, Mother,” said Katrina beginning to cry again.  Breaking away from the hug, Katrina turned to her father.  “I will miss you very much, Father,” she said wrapping her arms around the King.

              “I wish you would stay here where you belong,” King Pieter said embracing his daughter.

              “You know I can't do that, Father.”

              Katrina's father released her from his thick, strong arms and stood up straight.  “I love you, Katrina,” he said fighting back his own tears.

              “I love you too, Father,” she replied. 

              King Pieter turned his back and walked away.  Katrina knew that he struggled not to show his emotions in public.  Perhaps if Kirrowind had not been around, King Pieter would have broken down in tears and begged Katrina to stay.  However, Katrina knew her father well and knew that just saying “I love you” in front of others was a big step for him. 

              “Take care of my daughter,” Queen Anna said to Kirrowind.

              “I most certainly will, Your Highness,” Kirrowind said with a bow of his head.  Katrina had noticed during Kirrowind's visits that he always treated Queen Anna with a high degree of respect and kindness.  Perhaps, she thought, it was because Kirrowind knew how much she had done to save the Valley from total destruction.

              Katrina shared one last hug with her mother, they said “good-bye” once again, and Queen Anna walked away.  Katrina was overwhelmed with emotions.  She closed the door and turned to Kirrowind who had stood quietly by the fire while Katrina bid her parents farewell.  “I'm ready to leave,” Katrina said with a tear rolling down her cheeks.

              Kirrowind stepped forward and wiped the tear off of Katrina's face.  He placed a soft kiss on her forehead and wrapped his arms around her.  Katrina felt the warmth of his body radiating into her and felt comfort in her heart.  Kirrowind had that effect on her.

              “I'll carry your bags,” Kirrowind said letting go of Katrina.  “I can come and get the rest of your things later.”

              “Leave it here.  I'm starting a new life with you.  I don't need so many things except what I already have packed,” Katrina said as she looked around her house.  She remembered a time not so long ago when her room was filled with fine dresses and shoes as well as ornate furniture and various toys and decorations she had acquired throughout her life.  When she had to flee Atlantis, she only brought a small portion of her possessions.  Now she was leaving yet again with nothing but her clothing and shoes. 

              Katrina walked behind Kirrowind through the bare trees back to Oldwoods.  Her thick furs were just warm enough to keep the cold wind off of her skin.  She couldn't understand how Kirrowind survived such cold weather with nothing but a thin leather cloak to keep him dry.  As the sun began to set in the west, the village of Oldwoods opened up in front of them.