The Arranged Marriage (32 page)

“So you are saying you believe in
war?” Ison asked.

“No I am not a believer in war, far
from it in fact. But I believe in battle, and I believe that we
need to join in battle if we are to rid Centurias of this new
poison that is feeding its way in. If we don’t, we may lose the
Isle forever.”

“What do you make of Rohesia’s
suspicions, and this letter?”

Fabian helped himself to the wine and
encouraged Ison to do the same.

“Rohesia is with child, still grieving
and she has just become queen into a territory that she has never
known, she could be hysterical,” He said as if not believing what
he was saying. “But on the other hand, she doesn’t just pick an
idea out of the sky and roll with it. She analyses it deep inside,
throwing it out if she thinks there is no justification for her
feelings, processing it for that little bit longer. When her
emotions are in check, she does all of that before ever telling you
anything so I would definitely say not to ignore on
this.”

“But I also shouldn’t take every word
she says to heart am I right?”

“She is still human and mistakes and
misjudgements are as easy to her as any other; especially when our
Rohesia feels too much. You also have to use your own instincts and
your own thoughts on this and work with her, not for her.
And,”

“And what?”

“You still have to take into
consideration that she could be hysterical.” He smiled and Ison
laughed, the comfort of their conversation sitting easy with
him.

“I think Rohesia was born hysterical,
the babe has nothing to do with it.”

“Let her hear you say that and run my
friend. A woman who lives for her passions is great for everything
else apart from chasing you with your own sword.”

“Sound advice.”

“That’s what I am here for, now eat
and drink before you start back on your journey.”

“Do you need help from our quarter
regarding your problem?” He asked carefully.

“My problem in effect is your problem
if I cannot get the Mookai on my side, but I shall be in touch
either way.”

Ison nodded and finished the chicken
on his platter.

“However,” Fabian
continued.

“Yes?”

“No matter what my people decide, I
will fight with you.”

It was at that moment that Ison truly
felt like a king, remembering something that his father had
mentioned upon on his return from the Foreign Lands. ‘A man cannot
be king alone Ison. He needs his friends, his allies, his people
and his queen. Without any of those he is just a man trying to be a
king.’

It was a while before Ison headed
home.

Chapter
Seventeen

Rohesia was becoming frustrated at the
stupid drapes that hung as if the castle had been attacked by
materials. She didn’t know whether to cry or throw something, but
she felt too ashamed to show her feelings to the servants who were
waiting for her opinion. However, when Ison decided to make an
appearance in the great hall she took the opportunity.

“It is fine, you may all leave,” She
nodded to the servants, waiting for them to exit before turning on
Ison.

“And where have you been my lord? I
have been looking for you all day.”

“I just had some business to tend to,
do not fret so.”

“Do not fret?” She shouted, the anger
flowing through her. “Here I am trying to be a queen, trying to
carry this,” She pointed to her swollen stomach. “And trying to get
this stupid hall to look half decent with the coronation only two
eves away. All whilst you go swanning off having some business to
tend to.” She mimicked his voice as he backed away from her, a
smile threatening to reach his lips at his hysterical wife before
him. His hysterical wife, he thought warmly as she stood there
trying to berate him.

“I didn’t know you needed me here my
love,” He smiled sweetly. “You know how I am always at your
disposal.”

Her strange fury continued to rage at
the hidden sarcasm in his words, even though her heart jumped a
little when he had addressed her as my love.

“Those stupid drapes look like one of
Yena’s creations when all I want is a little class, but do you
think those stupid servants will even let me climb one step to put
them the way I want them?” She poked him in the chest. “No, they
wouldn’t because they are terrified that if they did, you would
string them up alive. Now I am left with the drapes of the
different kingdoms looking like a bloody Yena fayre.”

He looked up at the drapes that were
hung perfectly. It didn’t pass his notice that she had arranged the
colours of each kingdom or party they had invited to be displayed,
including those of the Mookai. He looked back at her, her beauty
glowing, but maybe this was one of those times Nani had warned him
about when a woman was with child.

“Rohesia, they are a little off, why
don’t you leave them with me and I will sort it? You can go rest
and come back later to check I have done the job to your
satisfaction.”

She looked at him suspiciously and
could sense the smile behind his lips, even though she couldn’t see
it.

“You think I am a fool?” She
questioned him, the anger starting to subside.

“Of course not, I just want to help
that is all.”

A tear fell as the anger turned into
total frustration. He pulled her into his arms so fast that he
forgot about her stomach as it bashed into his own.

“Oh damnation Rohesia I’m sorry, did I
hurt you?” He said in panic. His face looked so worried that she
couldn’t help but laugh at how ridiculous she was being and how
good he was taking it. She started to laugh through her tears at
the concerned look on his face, holding on to her stomach as more
tears came with laughter mixed in. Ison didn’t know what to
do.

“Rohesia? Are you well?”

This only made her laugh all the more
as she doubled over, and suddenly felt the urgent call of her
bladder as everything inside her seemed to squash
together.

“Oh dear,” She said as her laughter
subsided. “How many children do you want Ison?” She questioned him
as she started to jig up and down. He suddenly guessed what she
needed.

“Shouldn’t you go?”

“No,” She interrupted, embarrassed
that he had acknowledged her sudden need. “Just answer the
question.”

He gently touched her
cheek.

“As many as you desire my lady.” He
whispered, secretly knowing in his heart he would only push her for
another couple.

“Good, because after this one, you
needn’t think that I am going through this damn state again for a
thousand ages, not even if you begged for the whole of
Centurias.”

He felt her quick kiss on his cheek as
she raced off to relieve her problem, and his heart filled with so
much love for her that he would never be able to thank Argarth
enough. However, contrary to wife’s belief, she would be having
more of his children, even if he did have to beg for a thousand
ages and the whole of Centurias.

* * *

“What are we to do Ison?” Rohesia’s
whisper came from behind him as he worked from the large desk in
her father’s study. He turned to her then, pulling her gently on to
his lap.

“What do you mean?” He whispered, as
he gently touched her cheek.

“About the letter.”

“
We don’t know yet if what
is stated in the letter is true, but I vow we will be prepared if
anything happens, you will be protected.”

“
Oh Ison it is not me that
I worry about, I am sufficient enough with a sword,” She hid a
smirk as he raised an eyebrow at her declaration. “It was one of my
favourite lessons.”

“As well as learning about marital
relations?” He added.

“Of course, only the subjects of
interest kept me from rebelling against my education all together,”
She smiled before her face suddenly turned serious. She lifted his
chin so she could see easily into his eyes. “But I am worried about
you, about you getting hurt. I do not want you in any
danger.”

Ison felt numb. He felt like he
couldn’t breathe as her actions surprised him yet again. This woman
before him was all he ever wanted and needed. She was worried about
him. Not herself, not her safety, but him.

“I will ensure I come to no harm my
lady. I am afraid you will have to wait for something else in the
future to happen if you intend to get rid of me.” He said with
humour, his hand tickling the skin of her bosom as he trailed his
finger to the place where her gown provided a nice view of her
cleavage. A very nice cleavage he thought, as he noticed how big
her bosom had blossomed recently.

“You are looking quite ample of late,”
He whispered, echoing his thoughts. “There is so much more for me
to touch that I feel we must go to bed immediately to get
started.”

She didn’t hesitate to provide him
with a gentle smack on the back of the head.

“Do you mind, they are rather painful
to lug around.”

“They are beautiful to me, and I am
hurting so much at watching you lug them around, that I feel you
ought to do something about it, for the sake of my
health.”

“You my lord are so insatiable at
times you worry me,” She said with a sly smile. “I hear a lot of
men become turned off from their women when they are with child,
you know they say it is unnatural.”

“Perfect,” He replied as he started to
kiss the side of the bosom nearest his mouth. “Seeing as I am
unnatural through and through.”

She moaned aloud at his touch. No
matter what happened with the kingdom she was determined not to
lose Ison, for if she did, she knew she would truly lose
herself.

* * *

“My lady you have excelled
yourself.”

Rohesia beamed at Ison’s praise as he
stood next to her in the grand ballroom. The eve of the coronation
ball had finally come to pass and Ison didn’t want to admit to
himself that he was actually nervous.

“Oh it will do I suppose.” She sighed,
her hand held tight in his. He looked down at her with
concern.

“Are you well Rohesia?”

She looked back at him with a gentle
smile.

“I will just be glad when this eve is
over. I have a very bad feeling about this Ison.” She suppressed a
shudder as she said it. He tightened his grip on her
hand.

“My lady,” He raised his finger to
softly caress her cheek. “You have nothing to fear when you believe
in your strength.”

She took in a large breath.

“I know, and I trust you, I really do,
but,” She hesitated before continuing, not wanting to voice the
words that were haunting her deeply. “Something feels off about
this eve. I don’t know what, but why let you become king so easily?
Why wait until you have the power when you would be at your
strongest?” She turned to him. “I don’t want to lose you. I don’t
want to have to risk you.”

He took a moment of silence before
facing her, both of her hands now entwined with his.

“Rohesia,” His voice was low. “I hate
the position we are in as much as you. I hate the fact that I
cannot ship you out of here to keep you and our babe safe until all
this trouble with the rebels blows over; but I would never even ask
you for I know the answer. I know we have to face this more as
people; we have to face it as King and Queen.”

A warmth flowed through her at his
words. She knew how to be strong for herself and her babe; that was
easy, but to be strong for a man who would sacrifice himself in a
heartbeat for this kingdom was worrying. Yet his strength, the
trust she had for him, was enough to set her mind straight to use
her fears to their advantage. If she was aware, she was
ready.

“
I understand. We will get
through this; and we will be stronger for it I vow.”

“For eternity.” He whispered before
kissing her hand and bowing, ready for his exit.

Rohesia waited for him to leave before
allowing the doubt to come whispering back.

“It’s almost time.”

“I know. May I go outside to watch for
danger instead?” Ison nervously retorted as he waited beside
Josa.

“I don’t think Rohesia would be too
happy with you if you did that, or me if I let you. And at the
moment Ison, your wife?” He shook his head. “Scares me.”

Ison laughed out loud, knowing that
Josa had seen more than one of Rohesia’s rages of late due to her
being with babe, and he couldn’t really berate his admission. He
had seen them himself.

“I’ll let you have that one Josa,” He
pulled at the neck of his tunic, one of Ecripian colours. “But only
that one. Let’s go.”

Ison walked out into the hall to see
the tables packed out with people he recognised from both Ecripian
and Dondayas. Only the Mookai and those Rohesia had invited from
the Quart had not attended. He hoped it would not overset her more
than she already was about this eve.