Whispers and Promises (restarted)

[heartofcourage]

Kyra listened to all of the information that was presented with silence. Her brother was still alive, but in chains, beaten like a wild animal. The rest of her family was dead, much as she had suspected since she had been kidnapped from the palace in the dead of night during the massacre. She let out a long sigh and pulled away from Rath, walking a short distance in the garden to try and gather her thoughts.

"There are those out there that would kill me if any attempt on the throne was made." Kyra said softly, turning to look at the two men. "The men that took me, the ones that sold me into slavery, I believe they know very well where I ended up. Why they have not made a move yet, I don't know."

"I don't believe that Urides is the one that you need to worry yourself about. He and his children are simply vain, bowing to the will of another." She glanced at Darius and then at Rath. "The problems that Dath is experiencing started well before my father. Simply freeing my brother will not stop it."

 

[DrStein]

Darius's expression shifted only by a single lifted brow while Rath struggled and failed to keep his face from betraying any of the complex emotions running through him. "My lady," the spymaster said in that ever-present polite tone, "if you have information that I do not, I would very much like to hear it. It is Prince Rath's will that your family be restored to the throne, therefor it is my will as well."

Rath sighed and folded his arms over his chest. "This is one element of politics I have less of a gift for. My brother's killer slipped beneath my gaze until it was too late, after all..." The thought ate at Rath from the inside. He was a monarch and a warrior, not a spy. He had lost his brother already from failing to see an enemy within, and if he made the wrong choices he could lose Kyra as well.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra's head throbbed angrily with all of the information that she had been given. Now the spymaster was asking for what she knew. It was very little. Simply that there were others out there in more control than the family that had over thrown her own. Her father was a kind man, someone who valued knowledge over strength. He would never have shared his troubles with anyone but her eldest brother, and now he was the one paying for that knowledge.

She looked between the two men for a long moment, an unknown emotion crossing her features before she turned to walk away. She had had enough for right then. She couldn't speak. Her chest felt tight and achy as she fled the garden and found her way back to Rath's chamber. Her birds were chirping merrily in the sunlight that streamed through his windows. She put a stop to that as she hurried forward and drew the thick curtains, blocking out the sunny daylight. The birds instantly went silent and she was left alone with all of her pain and anguish.

She wanted to scream. She wanted to wail. She had never been given the chance to mourn her family and she knew if she did that now, it would bring unwanted attention. She tried to make it to the bed, but her knees gave away beneath her halfway across the room. She sank to the ground, silent sobs wracking her body. Her arms wrapped around her chest, struggling to find comfort in the horrible situation.

 

[DrStein]

Rath watched Kyra depart, his heart heavy. Darius was silent, knowing better than to intervene further. The young prince stood in thought for a moment before he resolved to follow his love. He had only taken a few steps when a familiar voice called to him. "Having a lovers' spat?"

Rath turned to look at his father. He said nothing.

"Or did you finally make it clear to her what her place is here?" The king strolled up and smelled the flowers without looking at his son or spymaster.

Still, Rath remained silent.

The king's brows furrowed. "I asked you a question, Rath."

This time when Rath did not respond, his father slapped him. Even Darius was visibly stunned however when the prince responded with a slap to the king's face in return. "I gave you an open palm that time. Next time it will be a closed fist. Father."

There was a palpable tension in the air as King Athmir and his son stared one another down. "If your brother were still alive-"

"But he's not," Rath interrupted. "I am not some pet to be groomed and paraded around. I am your son and the heir to the throne. I've made every effort to be a good son, but it's more out of respect for the memory of my mother than out of any love for you."

Rath knew his words stunned his father. For the first time in a long time he saw the mask crack and standing before him was a vulnerable, aging man. A man who was trying to control the people in his life to secure his legacy. "Samir is dead, father. I avenged him, but I cannot and will not be the same man he was. If you refuse to accept that, that is not my fault. Good day."

At that Rath strode off. Neither the king nor Darius made any move to stop him. He returned to the palace and his chambers where he found Kyra on her knees sobbing. Without a word, he wrapped the woman he loved in his arms. The doors were shut and they were alone. He just held her, letting her know that for all the pain in her life, he would always be there.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra wasn't sure when Rath found her. She was too lost in her grief to respond to him as his arms wrapped around her and comforted her through her grief. When it was just the two of them, Kyra let her sorrow her known. A long mournful sound issued from her throat, the sound of a scared and frightened animal. She sobbed against his shoulder until she was empty and limp against his chest.

She panted, her eyes gritty and tired. She was quiet as she slowly gathered her thoughts and let out a small sigh. Her eyes lifted up towards Rath and she cleared her throat, readying to speak after her enormous show of emotion.

"I didn't mean to storm away like that." She said softly, apologizing to him.

 

[DrStein]

Rath looked deep into her eyes. There was nothing to forgive. He doubted he would have handled such news any better. In fact, he was a little surprised at himself for lashing out at his father as he had when Kyra left. He would wait to tell her that though. She needed time to collect her thoughts before he told her of what he didn't know yet was a bold step forward or a serious mistake. "We know now that your brother lives. We can still free him. We can... we will save him."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra let out a long sigh as he swore that he would free her brother. She pressed her cheek against his chest, hiding her eyes from him as she thought about that for a long moment. It would start a war and she would be in danger, but Seth needed to be free from his torment.

"There is nothing left of my family." Kyra said softly. "They burned all the royal portraits. All of my mother's jewels...my jewels...went to that spoiled girl. They're all that I have left of her now. It gets harder each day to even remember what she looked like....what they all looked like."

Not to mention that Rath's father hated her with every fiber of his being. She had been nothing but nice to him, struggling to bridge the gap that was between them, but he only saw her as a whore and a temptress. It was the first time that she was seeing that perhaps their dream of marriage and a happy life might never happen.

"Rath...I think you need to let me go." She whispered, her heart aching so much with those words. "Find someone who makes your father happy as well as you. I can't stand to see you both so angry with one another. This life is too short for that and before you know it, he will be gone."

 

[DrStein]

"No," Rath responded without hesitation. "I've had to accept the fact that Samir was always the favorite son. It's time my father accepted the fact the Samir is gone and I am now the heir."

Rath tilted Kyra's head up to look him in the eyes. "My father is used to getting his way. I lost my mother when I was a boy. I lost my brother to a madman. And I will never be the son that my father wanted. All of this I've had to accept. My father never did, but it's time he started."

"And what makes you think I don't know what it feels like to accept loss?"

Rath looked up in shock. His father stood there in the doorway, the red mark on his face from earlier still livid. King Athmir closed the door behind him and folded his arms in front of his chest.

"You told me once that I cast aside tradition and took your mother as one of my wives. A musician married to a king. A scandal I provoked because I loved her. You were right. The day she died, a part of me did as well. You are all I have left of her. And you insisted on putting yourself in harm's way, time after time. And I never could figure out why. Pride? Foolishness?"

Rath was shocked at first, but soon stood up with Kyra and stared down his father. "I would think you of all people would understand wanting to be remembered for your deeds and not for who you were born to."

King Athmir pursed his lips at that and leaned back against the doors. None of them were leaving until this was resolved. "I won't deny that your deeds have made you popular among the people. I've heard what they say of you. I've also heard what they saw of your concubine." At that he looked at Kyra. "What of you? Rath would deny my wishes to be with you. Do you love him as he loves you?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra felt a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach as she heard the king's voice and suddenly they were forced to face this situation head on. She let Rath help her to her feet as she trembled at his side as the two men talked about what their lives were now. She said nothing until the king's eyes turned towards her. She didn't look away from him as he asked her a simple question.

"I love your son with all of my heart and soul. I want nothing more than for him to be happy." She said softly as she looked at Rath and then back at the king. "But, your highness, you matter as well. To lose your family is a horrible thing. I don't want you to lose your son too. If that means that...if that means that I have to leave my position for the two of you to find some common ground again...I will do that."

 

[DrStein]

The king stared at Kyra for a long moment before looking back to his son, who met his gaze defiantly. "You never met your grandfather, Rath, but I doubt you would have liked him. He was humorless and a slave to tradition. He never would have approved of your mother."

A moment of silence passed before Athmir spoke again. "You never did answer my question before. What prompted you two to leave Darius earlier? Or should I ask him myself?"

Rath knew at that moment that there could be no more secrets. They had crossed the point of no return. He looked down at Kyra, still wrapped protectively in his arms. He silently asked in his eyes if she wanted to be the one to tell his father the truth, or if the revelation should come from him.

 

[heartofcourage]

Krya clenched her eyes shut at the thought of telling the king who she was. She was frightened of the men that had taken her and sold her into slavery. She knew that Rath had promised to keep her safe, but once her secret was revealed, there was little anyone could do to protect her.

"You tell him." She said softly, burying her face against his chest as she waited for the worst to happen. "I don't have the courage."

 

[DrStein]

Rath took a deep breath and told his father everything he knew. Everything that had happened and that he had learned since Kyra was first brought to the palace and ending with the revelation that Darius had brought them that day. The king stood by and listened to the whole thing in silence until his son finished.

"Were anyone else to tell me this, I would regard it as madness." Athmir stepped forward. He turned Kyra's face to his own. "Yes... I see it now. Your mother had only just discovered she was pregnant with you when I met her and your father."

Rath couldn't hide his surprise. "When did you meet the Dathish court?"

"Around the same time you were born," the king answered. "King Rue invited me and other rulers to a feast. He hoped for a greater peace in the future. I saw the wisdom in his words, but decided to focus on building up Rhagal from within. He was a wise man, but I doubt he recognized the schemers that surrounded him."

 

[heartofcourage]

"My father was a good and trusting man who did not deserve what happened to him." Kyra said softly as the king spoke about how he had met her family. "But the fact still remains that I am not a princess any longer. If being with Rath upsets you, your highness, I understand."

 

[DrStein]

Rath and his father stared at one another for a time before the king sighed, his proud shoulders going slack. "This is more complicated than I had thought. I have one question, Rath. You told me in the gardens that you tried to be a good son for your mother, but not for me. Did you mean that?"

Rath wondered if perhaps this was another of his father's tricks, but some intuition told him that it wasn't. "I did."

Athmir closed his eyes, the corners glistening with unshed tears. "We will keep this between ourselves for now. We will discuss this again when..." The king didn't finish the sentence. Instead he simply turned and went for the door. He looked over his shoulder at Rath and Kyra. "I had nothing but respect for King Rue. I doubt I could have stopped the conspirators had I taken his offer for an alliance that night, but while you are in our lands you will be protected. It is the least I can do to honor his memory." With that the king departed and closed the door behind him.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra listened to what the king said and saw the sadness in his eyes as she turned to depart, closing the door behind him. She glanced up at Rath, her heart aching for both men as they tried to figure out how to move forward from this situation.

"Go talk to him, Rath. Apologize to him." She said softly, hating to see the growing chasm between father and son. "You're all that he has in the world and he is proud of you, even if he won't say it. Don't break his heart."

 

[DrStein]

Rath sat down in the pile of cushions and pillows in the corner. "Is he? For most of my life he ignored me. When Samir died, he barely let me grieve before he started trying to make me be more like Samir was... I don't know what to think anymore." He laid back and looked up at the ceiling. "What am I supposed to apologize for? My failure to be the son he wanted?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Rath, you can't let the past hurt you so much. He is your father, trying to raise you the best way that he knows how. Can't you see how much he hurts without your mother? How much he still grieves for your brother." Kyra said, trying to make him see just how much his father had turned into a tired old man.

"He loves you, Rath." Kyra said as she gently sat at his side, looking him in the eye. "He just chooses to show it in another way. He's not a cruel man. He's just set in his ways."

 

[DrStein]

Rath scowled as tears formed in his eyes. It was difficult to reconcile the vulnerability he'd seen in his father today with the stoic, unflappable monarch he had grown up with. The stern facade, the overbearing guidance of his sons' lives, the proud military record. It was all melting away before Rath's eyes to reveal a man who without the love of his life had no idea how to raise a son.

He angrily wiped away the tears and sniffed. The emotional dam was beginning to break and Rath shrank down from a regal prince to a frustrated young man with doubts, uncertainties and pain. "So much I thought I knew was wrong. What else have I been wrong about?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra wrapped her arms around her love and held him tightly as he deflated before her. She pressed a kiss to his cheek gently and tried to cheer him up. She hadn't meant to cause him sorrow. She only wanted him to see that he was in the wrong in this situation.

"Nothing, love. You're just a stubborn man sometimes." She said softly, resting her chin on his shoulder as she looked into his features.

 

[DrStein]

"At least my father and I have that much in common. It's so hard to let go, though. My whole life he never seemed satisfied with anything I ever did. How can it come as such a surprise to him that I was always closer to Mother?" Rath's head hurt. It was all too much. The revelation about Kyra's brother and now his own fight with his father now speeding toward a conclusion.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Raising a child isn't easy, Rath. You'll see that one day for yourself." Kyra said softly. "Your father was raised in a household where he was treated badly. He was hard on you because he knew that you could be so much more. It's not too late to change the way that things are though."

She hated seeing him to upset over this. She wished that she could take all of the pain away from him and take it upon herself. This was something that the two men needed to work out between themselves though.

"I love you, my sweet prince." She whispered softly after another long moment of silence.

 

[DrStein]

Rath held Kyra close to him as a tear rolled down his cheek. "I love you too. My songbird, the lady in my dreams. My princess." The meaning was clear. She was the one thing he would not compromise on.

Hours passed. The servants would come to bring them to dinner before much longer. But Rath had other plans. "Come with me. My father will be in his chambers right now and it's best we speak to him while I have the courage to do so."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra took Rath's hand, letting him pull her to her feet as she let him lead the way to the king's chambers. It was the one place that she was never allowed to go on her own and she knew that she didn't dare go without Rath this time. It would be good for the father and son to talk things out and she hoped that they would grow closer as a result.

 

[DrStein]

Rath knocked on the intricately carved double doors that led to the royal chambers. "Father? We need to talk."

There was a pause for King Athmir's voice drifted out from behind the doors. "Enter."

The room was even larger than Rath's. A private bookshelf and bureau sat near the canopied bed. Portraits of kings past hung on the walls, along with weapons and trophies from old military campaigns. The king himself was sitting at the bureau, but free of his usual trappings of office. His turban lay on his dresser and the great coat he usually wore before the coat was laying haphazardly on the bed. Notably, the king's eyes were bleary and his cheeks stained with tears. The sight was a little shocking as Rath had not seen his father shed tears since the day his mother died. Even at Samir's funeral, the king had kept himself composed and dignified.

"I..." Rath tried to begin but his surprise robbed him of the words he had been trying to get out. Instead he closed the door behind him and Kyra and looked to his father. "I still don't know how to say this... I could have been a better son to you. I could have told you more. I didn't. I convinced myself I'd just wait until I had the throne and prove that I could be a better king than you ever were... I was wrong. Forgive me."

The king looked upon his son in surprise before standing up, crossing the room and embracing him. "Rath... I have to be a king first, but I should have been better to you. I feared losing you to those adventures you went on after your mother died. When Issamu murdered your brother, I felt that fear again. I was afraid... and I forgot to be a father instead of just a king."

Rath returned his father's embrace, still surprised by the turn of events. Conflicting emotions still swirled within him, but it was a pain of overwhelming warmth rather than the bitterness of frustration, resentment and anger.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra stood silently by the doors as the two men embraced and got rid of years of hurt and resentment. She smiled softly to herself, knowing that it would do them a world of good to be on better terms with one another and it would benefit the kingdom in the long run. She felt as if she were intruding on the moment, however. Slowly, she turned to leave, her hand resting on the door knob.