Chapter 39 (Tarak)

Roland found me in the same position I was in, when I had dismissed Tate. I could tell how nervous he was when he entered the tiny cell. He hated such places as much as I did. Hesitantly sitting in the chair across from me, I could see how rigid his body was.

“If you're going to ask me anything about what I discussed with Tate, why don’t we talk in my office.” I offered so he wouldn’t need to stay down here.

“While that is of the most importance. I actually came down here because your wife is probably waiting for you in your chambers as we speak. It is your official first night together.” he almost spat out the word wife. He hated deceit more than anything and knowing she was a fraud had put her at a disadvantage with him.

“Let us discuss things further, then I shall go attend to my wife.” I wanted him to understand I had no hard feelings for her.

“Of course, Your Highness.” He got up and we headed towards my office.

When we sat down to discuss everything Tate had told me, Roland sat silently intent on only listening to me.

“That bastard. How could he do that to a child?” He questioned, talking about my wife. “I wonder who he is holding for her to go so far for them.” his question was nagging me as well. I just hoped it wasn’t a lover, but from the way Tate had talked about it it didn’t seem likely.

“I don’t know, but I need to find out. When we send back the maids we need to be able to plant someone in with them somehow. I want to find out exactly who Emerson is holding, and who my wife is.” I directed him. “I will work on my wife as well. Hopefully she will open up to us. She just might be the key we need to officially declare war on him.” I contemplated out loud. Roland nodded in his agreement. I just wish I didn’t have to use her as Emerson was using her.

As Roland and I tried to hash out plans for what we needed to do, in the immediate future I didn’t realize how late it was until I looked outside to the moon high in the sky. Excusing myself from the discussion. I headed towards our shared chambers and my wife.

As I walked up to the double doors, my hands began to get clammy. For some reason I was nervous. I hesitated as I went to knock on the door. It was late, she might be sleeping by now. What if I woke her? I could sleep in the office and let her have some peace.

As I stood there I could hear her talking on the other side of the door, her muffled laugh caught my attention and I knocked before I knew what I was doing. Who was she laughing with, why were they with her so late. An image of Tate sitting next to her making her laugh like that popped in my head, as I waited for her to respond to my knock.

I could hear her calling for me to come in. I heard shuffling as someone made their way towards the door. A maid opened the door. She was a short thing that barely came up to my chest. Her red curly hair tried to escape the bun she had put into.

Entering the room, I scanned it to see if anyone else was there. Finding no one, I greeted Elanora, and dismissed her maid. With a bow, the young girl left us. I was finally alone with her and in a space we could talk with no prying ears.

Elanora had draped her robe over her shoulders leaving the front opened. She was dressed in a flimsy nightgown that left little to the imagination. Not that I hadn’t seen her naked already but I couldn't help it as I took my time to drink in her image. I couldn’t help but wonder what she would look like under me as I slid her gown up and wrapped her slender legs around me.

Shaking my head slightly to clear that image away, I needed to focus. I wanted to talk to her. Tates taunting voice from the cell was clouding my judgment. He had said she was innocent and I had chosen to believe that but the thing that still irritated me was the way he had talked about her as if she was his light and his world revolved around her.

“Ara?” she called to me, as I stood in the door still just looking at her, my mind still lingering on Tate and his words.

Entering the room fully, I walked over to the chair across from where she was seated, trying to give her some space. She had curled herself up on the edge of the chaise lounge leaning on the head rest. She must have sat like that while talking to her maid, she looked so relaxed and comfortable.

“How has your day been?” I asked, not knowing how to start a conversation with her.

“It’s been fine, Helana was very helpful while I settled in.” she responded with her soft voice, even softer by her nerves from my proximity. She adjusted herself so she sat up into a proper position.

“Elanora, I want you to know. My words still stand true, I will not do anything to you unless you want me too. I wish you to relax so we can talk and get to know one another first.” I told her. That name sounded heavy and odd on my tongue now that I knew she wasn’t Elanora.

“Thank you, Ara.” she spouted letting herself get comfortable on the chair again.

“I know, how about I come up with that nickname I promised you a couple of days ago?” I ventured. I no longer wanted to call her by a name that wasn’t hers.

She seemed to perk up at this, as if she was happy to shed that name. I hoped this small little action would bring us a step closer to her opening up to me.

“Now lets see, it needs to be a good one. I will only be calling you this from now on.” I exaggerated my motions as I put my hand on my chin to motion I was deep in thought.

I couldn’t help but look as the edges of her lips held on as they tried not to smile at the silly gesture. Making me exaggerate even further as I hummed out loud, trying to think.

“How about something like Dorothy or Edith?” I questioned thinking of the old maids that had helped raise me as a child.

She couldn’t help but burst out as she couldn't hold her laughter back scrunching her nose at those names not liking them. her laughter filled the space between us, and I reveled in it.

“Maybe not.” I continued to humm as I continued to think. “I am no good at this am I” I chuckled.

“I know! In my fathers native tongue Nareh means fire, it suits you.” my hand instinctually went to her cheek as I leaned forward into her from my chair.

“I can see the fire in you to live and thrive. I want you to let that fire blaze and engulf everything that stands in your path. My Nareh, my fire. I will be your kindling to feed that fire if you wish. ” I called her by her new name, loving how it sounded out loud.

The words Tate had said kept playing through my mind ‘if I had your power I would give her the world.’ He wouldn’t need to, I did have the power to give her the world and I would gladly lay it at her feet if she wished.

“Nareh, Nareh is a beautiful name. Thank you Ara.” she cupped my hand letting me continue to hold my hand against her.

Reluctantly I let my hand slip down and back to my side. I wanted her to trust me, like she did Tate. I wanted her to want me for me. I wanted her to understand she was no longer in a position bound by her own deceit.

I had decided in my meeting with Roland I didn’t care what status in society she had come from. I had been a slave and became a king; it would only be suiting that my queen also came from servitude as well. In a way Emerson had given me a gift, a partner who would understand me and the struggles I still faced.