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It has almost been a year since they are together. After a long journey, far away from the fire of war and dragon, they finally settled down in a small distant village. This village doesn’t have much. Only around 15 households in total. But everyone here is friendly. Seeing a pair of haggard couple with their eyes full of grief, they welcomed them warmly without utter a single question. There are not many young people in the village. Most of them are elderly and children. Since this village is so far from civilization and there are few ways to earn money here, younger ones prefer to travel and find their job elsewhere. That is also a good thing since the couple can help villagers out and be accepted as one of them in no time.
Seasons passed and they spend their time together not as the lord and the knight but just two people trying to heal wounds in their hearts. When it rained, they snuggled together in one blanket sharing each of their warm to other. Every time nightmares haunted one of them, other would hold and whispered words of comfort and reassurance until sleep came to them again. On sunny days, they would take a walk while secretly holding hands. The villagers tried their best to look away and pretend to not smile to avoid they being embarrassed. Even now she still cherishingly keeps the bouquet of flowers that he picked up and gave her with redden face.
One night in Autumn he went on his knee for her, not as a knight but as a man proposing to his beloved. And she accepted with tears of joy. There was no extravagant ceremony. Just the two of them whispered their oaths of love under the vast starry sky. “For better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.” Then they shared the kiss, the sweetest kiss in their life to merge their souls together as one. That night they slept together with their bodies closed enough to share their warm and their hands intertwined, never to let go.
Their lives together went on harmoniously. Even though they never had their ‘first night’ because of what happened in the past. They were lovey-dopey enough to become prized lovers. The former knight decided to become caravan escort to earn money so he had to leave for long period each time. But their love never wore out. If anything, the distant made hearts grew fonder and their time together became more precious. She had to admit that sometime she felt lonely but she knew that job, which he could use his swordsmanship to help people, was important to him. It gave him new purpose of life, helped with his self-esteem and made he felt less guilty.
It’s not that they forget all the deaths and sacrifices. But time has passed, new reign began. And citizens finally recovered from war. They cannot disturb the long-await peaceful time of all people for their personal grievance. Despite how heavy the guilt and the weight they carry, they decide to live on for atonement and on behalf on the lost lives.
The previous lord decided to use her knowledge to become a teacher and teach all children in the village without charge. She only hopes for their future to become brighter and for them to help improve this dear village. Even if there are only five children of different ages that interest in learning, she still gives her all to teach them earnestly and dedicatedly.
Today is the day he will return after a long month apart. She can’t help but smile when thinking of him. The students tease her and she scold them lightly, unable to hide how happy she is. Then suddenly a group of boorish men come out of nowhere.
“Well, well. After traveling with stinky men the whole time, who will guest that we will find a gem in such a shabby village?”
“Who are you and what do you want?” Her voice grows cold as she protecting the children behind.
“What would we want for such a beauty like you other than for you to become our wif- Ouch this Bitch!”
“Don’t you dare lay your filthy hand on me” She pull out the sword her love gave her for keepsake and wield it warningly.
“We have four people here while you only get yourself and five children to protect. You look smart so you know better than fight us, don’t you? Now put the sword down –slowly- Don’t you dare try anything or the children will only be four left.”
She pressed her lips tightly and slowly lower the sword.
“Now kick the sword over here. There, good girl. You are really cute when obedient.” One of them come closer and grab her face.
“No-Not in front of the children” She begs. Her body quiver pitifully.
“Oh? Shy, aren’t you? Fine. I don’t enjoy being watch while do it anyway. I saw an alley not far from here on the way. Let’s go there and have our fun, alright?” He said as his hand snakes around her body.
“No! Teacher! Don’t go! Just run away! Don’t worry about us!” Shouted Elle with tears. She might be the youngest here but she knows that these scary people want to do something bad to her teacher. Her dear teacher looks so uncomfortable and scared that she can’t stay quiet anymore.
“This spoiled brat!” One of the men nearest to Elle grabs her small wrist and raise his hand in the air
“Please!” She humbly kneels down and begs “I will do anything you say. Just please don’t hurt the children. Please sirs!” Her voice fills with desperation. “Let the child goes” Said the one who seem to be the leader “Tch! Stupid brad.” The man says while throws Elle to the ground. All the children are crying but they are too scared and don’t know what to do.
“Kind sir, please let me calm the children down and I am willingly going with you and give you everything you want.” The tears on her long eyelashes look as precious as gems under sunlight. “Since you beg so nicely, I will grant it for once and give you a minute. But remember, their safety depends on you and you promise us you would do eeeeeverything. I’m looking forward to it” He chuckle vulgarly
She comes to the children “Shhhhh Don’t cry. Teacher will be alright. So be good and stay here quietly, okay?”
“But..but…”
“It’s okay. Don’t try to fight and get hurt or Teacher will have a heartbreak.” She hugs them tightly and whispers “Soon the help will come. So stay safe until then, alright?”
Then she left with the three of men with her eye downcast, her mood unreadable.
This is the day he will finally meet her again. There are so many things to say. So many stories to told. But the most important thing, he wants to say how much he missed her. How he counts days and nights to finally be able to hold her in his arm again. He walks quickly, wanting to see her earlier even for a minute. Then his face turns grim.
Strange. It’s eerily quiet. He’s almost already at the entrance of the garden, he should be able to hear her students’ laughter by now. Something…is wrong. He quietens his footsteps and cautiously proceeds…
“Damn it! Why I have to be the one who look after these shitty children while they have their good time with that slut!” The man waves the sword intentionally scare the children who try their best to hold their cries
“She will do everything, huh? I bet she just can’t wait to has all of us become her husbands. A bitch in a barren village is truly desperate, hu-?” A fist with the force of iron hit his face. The momentum makes his body fly away and hit the ground harshly. Before he even sees what hit him, punches and kicks land all over his body. He doesn’t even have time to curl down to protect himself. In his blur mind after the hits end he hear the voice, that will become the scariest nightmare in his life, speaks through gritted teeth “WHERE IS SHE?”
He runs. The quickest ever in his life. Without stop to gasp for breath. His mind turmoil with anxiety and fear that grip his heart. He knocks that guy out and tells the children to call other villagers to bind that bastard and come running to find her as soon as possible. But he wastes so much time. He should have control his anger and know that son of a bitch out to find her sooner. He’s slow. Too slow. The alley that should be near looks so far away. Why can’t I be faster? FASTER! Please god, I never pray for anything but just this once, please makes her safe. I’m willing to give anything even my life, my soul, just for her to be safe. Please. PLEASE!
As he arrives at the alley and finds such a shocking sight. His lord, his love is in dishevel state sweating all over… standing with three pathetic unconscious men at her feet. She smiles at him brightly “My knight, I know you will come for me”
After tying up the black-and-blue remaining men and sent all of them to police. The knight never lets his love out of his embrace. “Why are you like this again?” She asks while touching his face, looking into his eyes. “Don’t ever do that again. That time I was really scared, you know? I thought…I thought…”
“Fool!” She flickers his head gently. “Even if I live peacefully for now but I was once a lord, wasn’t I? I know how to fight. Just protect myself from few unskillful scoundrels is nothing to me.” She giggles when she suddenly feels his head on her shoulder
“I know that but still… If something ever happens to you again then I...I…” His voice quiet down then her feel the dampness on her shoulder. His back looks small as it trembles helplessly. She sighs and put her hand on his soft hair “Didn’t I say before that I will protect you? I mean it. I am strong enough to protect you and protect myself. I won’t let anything bad happen to us again. We will be fine. We will be happy. This. Just trust me like you always trust, okay?”
“Okay.”He mumbles softly with his head still on her shoulder enjoy the head pats she gives.
That night they lay on bed entangle their limbs together unwilling to allow even a gap between them. Their lips and tongues intertwine, licking, nibbling and tasting each other. He slowly lower himself, placing butterfly kisses on her chin, neck and collar bone. He stops and sucks gently over and over again on her sensitive spots to leave faint pink marks and enjoy her sweet moans. His hand slowly moves up her back underneath the cloth.
She abruptly froze and he stop immediately. “Do you want to stop, my love?” Obvious concern displays in his eyes.
“No! No, please don’t stop. I want it”
“You’ve waited for me for a long time. Even if I am ready now, it doesn’t mean that you are obligate to be ready this time. You know that I am willing to wait for you however long it takes, right?” He softly caresses her cheek.
“But I do want it…It’s just… I have an idea”
“Wha-?” He stares dumbfoundedly as his back hit the bed.
Her face burning but her eyes determined as she straddles on his hard “We might not be able to go all the way today and I am still uncomfortable being touch naked. But I want us to feel good together so…” She presses her hips down grindingly then sensual moans resound in that room all night.
He feels gentle sunlight warm on skin. The beautiful golden eyes fill with love and gentleness as he looks at his love’s delicate face. She is still so pretty even when sleeping. She looks so happy and peaceful that he has no heart to wake her up. He carefully tucks stray hairs behind her ears. Last night it’s more than bodily pleasure, it was as if their souls fulfil each other’s emptiness. they become closer than ever. It’s a bliss. He feels like happiness is overflowing from his heart. His ears tint with shyness when he sneakily steals an innocent kiss on her soft lips. Her lips are so sweet. He feels a sense of satisfaction even with a soft brief kiss. But before he has time to back away, a pair of jade-like arms wrap around his neck preventing him from retreating. Her thick eyelashes flutter, slowly reveals mesmerizing eyes with no hint of sleepiness.
“M..My lor- Sorry my love, when did you wake up?” He stutters and abruptly changes his words one he sees her frowns.
“A while before” Her flawless eyebrows still knit together
“Then why did you…”
“I just want to spend more time in your embrace and today is a weekend so I think it will be fine to sleep in a bit. But before that what do you think you are doing?”
“I’m sorry” He sincerely admit his mistake.
“Why are you sorry?”
“It’s because I kiss you without your consent.” He eyes downward unable to look at her due to the sense of shame.
“Wrong answer.”
“What?” He stares at her in disbelief, unable to decipher the meaning.
“I have said before that I enjoy your intimacy at any time. But then you go ahead and try to kiss me when you thought I was asleep. You almost made me miss the kiss I enjoy so much. Hmp!”
He can’t help but think that his lover is so adorable when she pouts.
“I’m truly sorry. How can I repent for my mistake, your highness?” He said jokingly
She raises her chin pompously “Then kiss me ten more and I will reconsider it again.” She smiles as brightly as the sun
Once upon a time, there are a loving couple living together is a small village. And they live happily ever after
-The End-