SciFi and Fantasy Stories: The Garden Tryst

            Kaelimine and Ti’lan were both promoted on the same day; Captain and second-in-command, respectively.  The was set on a date in late spring, when the famed cherry trees that made Cairndale so renowned were still in bloom, their pink flowers dancing in the breeze that greeted the happy occasion. 

            The Royal Family, Analaeia included, attended the promotion ceremony.  The ceremony was performed at the compound, with attendance not only from the Royal Family but from other military leaders and ambassadors from neighboring cities in the region. 

            Rows of chairs had been arranged on the field that was normally used for training, for the visiting dignitaries and the Royal Family.  Analaeia sat beside her father and watched the ceremony, trying not to beam too proud of a smile.  All the Wingéd Riders were present, flanking the seated guests atop their horses, decorated in their dress uniforms and the ceremonial wings on the horses that gave the riding company their name. 

            The ceremony was brief, mostly for show, and after it was over, Analaeia hardly had a chance to see Kaelimine before her father whisked her away so that the visiting dignitaries could congratulate the two newly promoted Riders. 

As she walked back to the palace with her father and uncle, however, it was all she could do to keep walking in a straight line when King Taemar said, “I have invited the new Captain and second-in-command to dine with us this evening, Analaeia.” 

She looked back at her uncle, trying to appear pleasantly surprised when really she was ecstatic. 

The hours that lay before her until that evening seemed to stretch on forever.  She had already dressed well for the ceremony in a light and elegant gown, but decided to change again into a beautiful evening dress of flowing black material that had flowers and small jewels embroidered down the side.  The dress hung off her shoulders, showing an ample amount of skin, and was laced up the back.  At the shoulders, two sets of the flowing material fell down the back, looking almost like folded wings.

“You certainly are going through a lot of trouble to dress nicely this evening,” Laurelin murmured as she helped lace the back of the dress.  “What for?”

Analaeia smiled slightly.  “No reason,” she murmured. 

“Hoping to impress the Captain again?” Laurelin said with a smirk.  “It has been some time since you have seen him, do you suppose he will remember you?” 

It was all she could do to keep from smiling broadly.  “I am quite sure,” she said. 

Laurelin did not seem to register the offhand comment for some time.  She finished lacing the dress and started to move away.  As she made her way to the other side of the room, however, the words seemed to finally click, and she turned back.

“What does that mean?” she asked.

“What?” Analaeia said, turning to look at her handmaiden. 

“You said you were quite sure the Captain would remember you.”

Analaeia shrugged, hoping to look noncommittal.  “Why wouldn’t he?”

Laurelin crossed her arms.  “You met him once, and that was over a year ago.” 

There was a pause.  Analaeia couldn’t help it; she bit her lower lip as she tried not to smile.  She turned away quickly to hide her grin.  Laurelin swiftly crossed the room back to her, looking as though she were finally realizing something important. 

“You’ve been seeing him, haven’t you?” she whispered.  Her eyes lit up with the very prospect of it; she looked delighted. 

Trying to avoid the conversation, Analaeia moved away, twirling her fingers into the thick black hair that was hanging over one shoulder.  Laurelin went after her swiftly.

“’Nalia!” she said, touching her bare shoulder. 

“Don’t breathe a word of it,” Analaeia said finally as she turned back to her handmaiden.

Laurelin looked confused.  “Why not?  You’ve only just made friends with him, no harm in that.  I am sure your uncle would be thrilled to know what a connection you have made.  Linking the Royal Family and the Wingéd Riders would be of great benefit to both parties.” 

Analaeia gave a slight grin and brought her hands up to her mouth.  She had no doubt that the guilty look was boldly showing on her face. 

Her handmaiden thought about this for a moment, and then she gasped, the realization coming over her face.  “’Nalia!” she said in a scolding tone.  Then she dropped her voice dramatically.  “Are you lovers?” she whispered.

Unconsciously, Analaeia shook her head.  Laurelin was not fooled.

“You are!” she said.  A smile spread over her face.  “How long?” 

“Weeks,” Analaeia replied dismissively.  “Only since he told me he was to be promoted.  Though I am certain I have been in love with him since that day we both met him.”   

“I knew there was something changed in you,” Laurelin whispered happily.  Analaeia could not help but smile.  “And that’s where you’ve been sneaking off to lately.  Why have you not told me?” 

“We both swore to tell no one!” Analaeia whispered sharply.  “Ti’lan and now you are the only souls who know, and it must stay that way.  Can you just imagine the uproar that would happen?  My father would be breathing down my neck to marry him straight away.  He was just promoted; he does not need that attention.  Nor do I wish it upon him.”  She turned a stern gaze upon her handmaiden.  “Swear you won’t breathe a word to anyone,” Analaeia said seriously.

“Of course not,” Laurelin replied.  She could not help her own girlish grin.  She dropped her voice.  “Are you—really lovers?” she asked curiously.

Analaeia’s eyes went wide.  “That is hardly an appropriate question,” she whispered back.  But then her smile broke past her seriousness.  “But no.  As much as I regret it.”  She laughed at her own admission of desire, and was quickly joined by Laurelin. 

From outside the room, they heard a distant calling for Analaeia.  She realized that Kaelimine and Ti’lan must have arrived, and her heart jumped up into her throat.  She grabbed Laurelin’s hand and squeezed it, smiling at her, and then hurried from the room.

She looked down from the top of the stairs at the two Riders.  Both were still in uniform.

Ti’lan noticed her first.  He nudged Kaelimine with his elbow, and the new Captain glanced up the stairs.  He remained still, but Ti’lan heard him clear his throat quietly, which made his friend grin to himself.  He could not look too conspicuous upon noticing Analaeia: King Taemar was standing right beside them.

Analaeia started to descend the stairs, the flowing black material of her dress fanning out behind her on the steps like a feathery tail. 

“My congratulations to you both upon your promotions,” she said as she came down.  Ti’lan and Kaelimine were already looking up at her, but her uncle turned toward her finally, smiling as he saw her.

“How lovely you look,” he said.  Analaeia smiled graciously at him.  As she finally reached them, Taemar reached out his hand to her, dropping it lightly on her shoulder and turning to present her to the two Riders. 

“My niece, Lady Analaeia.  Heir apparent to the throne of Cairndale.” 

She turned her green-eyed gaze upon Kaelimine and the two shared a secretive glance.  He smiled and bowed to her, taking her hand to kiss it.  She let her gaze linger on him for a moment before turning to Ti’lan, who repeated Kaelimine’s action.  She gave him a friendly smile.

“No need for a formal introduction,” she murmured as she looked back at her uncle.  “We’ve met.”

“Indeed?” Taemar said, looking at the two Riders with a look of surprise.  “You neglected to tell me so.” 

“It was some time ago,” Kaelimine conceded with a glance at Taemar.  He had to force himself to look at the King so as to not look upon Analaeia any more than what would have been considered appropriate.  “Perhaps over a year ago, I believe.” 

“And such a pleasure to see you once more,” Analaeia said. 

“Well, I am pleased to see you have already met,” Taemar said cheerfully.  “Come then, let us join the others and congratulate two of Cairndale’s finest protectors.” 

Taemar took Analaeia’s hand and turned toward the great hall.  Kaelimine and Ti’lan followed close behind.  In the hall they met with Kiirar, Analaeia’s father, and a man named Tyaro, the King’s Aide. 

Kaelimine noted right away how Analaeia seemed to shy away from him, preferring to sit as far away from him as possible without being overtly rude.  It was a slight rebuff that he did not fail to catch, and it intrigued him.  And indeed, throughout the meal, he noticed Tyaro spending a good deal of his time with his eyes on Analaeia. 

It did not sit well with him.  It even stirred a slight feeling of jealousy in him, but he was contented to see that Analaeia clearly wanted nothing to do with him. 

As the evening drew to a close, Kaelimine found his gaze unconsciously drawn to Analaeia more often than it should have.  Perhaps Ti’lan noticed this, for he was the first to lean over to him and suggest they leave. 

“Going already?” Taemar said with a jovial smile as he noticed the two Riders conferring with each other. 

“There is much work to get through in the morning,” Ti’lan said as he rose to his feet.  Beside him, Kaelimine stood and straightened his coat, almost as though deliberately stalling for time.

Analaeia tried to not look up at Kaelimine, fearing the disappointment would show on her face.  The others rose to their feet to bid their farewells and final congratulations.  She stood from her chair, glancing over at Kaelimine briefly.  She did not miss the touch of discontent in his eyes. 

“Captain,” she said suddenly.  Everyone turned to her.  She tried to look as professional as possible.  “I wonder if I might request your presence for a short walk before you go.  I should like to congratulate you in person before you disappear for another year.”

Ti’lan looked at Kaelimine, visibly trying to hide his knowing grin.  King Taemar appeared surprised at his niece’s request, but a look of approval quickly spread over his face.  Kaelimine, however, smiled and nodded.  “Of course, my lady.” 

Analaeia looked back at her uncle and father—pointedly ignoring Tyaro even though he was staring at her—and then crossed the room toward Kaelimine.  He hastily gave a last bow to the King, who congratulated him once more. 

As the three of them—Analaeia, Kaelimine, and Ti’lan—made to leave the hall, Taemar called out, “Need I send Laurelin after you?”

Analaeia looked over her shoulder quickly.  “No,” she replied, and smiled.  “I trust the Captain will be well-behaved.”

Her remark was met by laughter from all, including Kaelimine.  The three of them left the hall, and parted ways once they reached the main doors and stepped outside.  Ti’lan bid them farewell and headed off in the direction of the compound, not without sending Kaelimine a knowing wink.  His friend did not respond, only grinned to himself as he slipped a hand around Analaeia’s waist.  The new Captain and Analaeia started a circuit around the outside of the palace. 

As soon as they had walked out of earshot of any nearby guards and had disappeared into the general darkness of the walkway leading up into the gardens, Kaelimine looked over at Analaeia and murmured, “You look stunning.” 

She glanced up at him, smiling.  “And you are quite handsome in that uniform,” she replied.

“Meaning I would not look quite as handsome out of it?” Kaelimine said.  He thought about the words for a moment, realizing they sounded much more suggestive than he had anticipated. 

Analaeia did not miss the remark.  She grinned slyly.  “I would not say no to that, either.” 

Kaelimine replied by pulling her into his arms and pressing his lips to hers eagerly.  She put both of her palms against the sides of his face and kissed him back.  It had been several weeks since they had last seen each other, let alone touched. 

“Who is Tyaro?” Kaelimine murmured after a moment, as his lips traveled down Analaeia’s jawbone and over her neck.

She groaned at the thought as she leaned her head back.  “A nuisance,” she said. 

Kaelimine had anticipated that sort of response, and he grinned.  “He was staring at you the entire night.” 

“So were you,” Analaeia whispered breathlessly.  She laced her fingers into Kaelimine’s hair at the back of his head and pulled him back up; his lips had been straying over her bare collarbone.

Not that she minded.

            Kaelimine grinned and pulled her tighter to him and spun, forcing Analaeia to clench her fingers tighter to his skin to keep from falling.  The sensation of her nails digging into his skin did nothing to deter his kisses, rather seemed to fuel him on. 

The garden was silent but from somewhere overhead, thunder rumbled over the palace.  Rain was quick to follow.  A single, cold raindrop landed directly between Analaeia’s bare shoulders, and she, surprised, shuddered and pressed her body closer to Kaelimine.  She did not mean to, but the sudden shock made her jump. 

She heard Kaelimine laugh deviously under his breath.  He pushed her back a few steps until her back was to the palace wall.  The stone was cold against her skin and she gasped, thrusting her body into Kaelimine’s again in an attempt to get away.  He snickered.

            “You are awful,” she murmured with a smile as she attempted to get away.  She slipped out from under his arm with a laugh, but he grasped her hand firmly and pulled her back to him.  She continued to struggle against him, but in jest alone.

            The rain had started to fall in earnest.  The appearance of the rain also brought with it the appearance of three guards, who decided to take shelter under the eaves—conveniently walking right upon Kaelimine and Analaeia. 

            It was dark, and the only thing the three guards saw was the Lady of the palace, who appeared to be struggling against a man who had his body extremely close to her body.  Without asking questions, they all three barreled into the situation.

            Analaeia sensed their approach a moment before the chaos began.  Within seconds she was ripped apart from Kaelimine’s grasp and pulled away by one of the guards.  The other two had set upon poor Kaelimine. 

            He had been caught completely unawares by the guards.  He did not fight as they pulled him away from Analaeia, too stunned, and the next thing he knew, he was on the wet ground, laid low by a vicious punch to the nose by one of the guards.  He crouched there in the rain, vision swimming with pain and confusion, as the other guard quickly bound his hands behind his back.  He did not even know how to protest. 

            Analaeia, though, did.  She immediately started to fight back against the guard who had grabbed her, shouting for them to let Kaelimine go.  All of them were quickly soaked to the skin from the persistent rain.  Before she could say anything in protest, the two guards who had set upon Kaelimine were hauling him to his feet and pulling him away, no doubt to the holding cells, housed in the guards’ compound, just off to the side of the palace. 

            The guard who had his arms around Analaeia was murmuring something about being safe.  Angry, shocked, and wet, Analaeia managed to push him away and run after them, her wet skirts dragging on the ground. 

            Within moments Kaelimine was thrust to the floor of the guards’ compound where it was brighter and—mercifully—dryer.  His hands had been bound behind his back and he lost his balance as the guard pushed him to the floor.  He nearly toppled over but managed to stay on his knees.  The only thing he could think about was what pain he was in—his nose was definitely broken, and blood was streaming all down his front. 

            Analaeia ran into the room moments after he had been pushed to the floor, and quickly put herself between the two guards.  The third had not reappeared, but had most likely gone to fetch someone of power.  Kaelimine could only pray it would not be the King who arrived to foresee his fate. 

            But if Kaelimine could have been grateful for anything in that moment, it was the fact that Analaeia was so angry that the guard holding him let go.  With a groan he slumped forward and tried to keep his balance, hanging his head so that the blood dripped onto the floor.  His ears were still ringing, but he could clearly hear Analaeia’s words.

            “What were you thinking?” she snapped at the nearest guard.  “If I had been in true danger do you not think I would have been fighting back a little harder?”

            The two guards glanced at each other.  “You were struggling,” one said. 

            “Use your eyes, perhaps, and you could have spared yourself the trouble and the Captain his nose!” Analaeia said sharply as she pushed her wet hair out of her face. 

            The door to the room opened.  Kaelimine looked up swiftly: he had felt Analaeia’s anger drop in intensity so quickly that he sensed something was wrong.  It sounded like she had been about to reprimand the two guards again, but whoever had just opened the door seemed to have stolen her breath right from her lips. 

            And it appeared that things were about to get very thick indeed. 

            Tyaro stepped into the room, pulling back the hood of his cloak.  He was followed by the third guard.  He took a moment to take in the situation, and looked pleasantly surprised as he glanced at the guards, then Analaeia, and finally Kaelimine. 

            “Captain, I thought you were to be on your best behavior.  What is this?” he said. 

            Analaeia felt all her anger had been ripped out from under her and had been replaced by a sudden intense fear.  If Tyaro found out that she had been with Kaelimine, her uncle would soon know and that would very quickly lead to her father getting word of it, and that was something she could not allow to happen. 

            Kaelimine leaned back on his knees, trying not to tilt his head back too far but still get a good view of Tyaro.  His hands were twisted very uncomfortably behind his back, and he was unable to push his hair away from his face to keep the water from dripping into his eyes.  He felt very vulnerable indeed. 

            “Nothing,” Analaeia said swiftly. 

            Tyaro glanced at her.  “I would prefer to hear this from the guards.” 

            “No!” she said sharply.  “What happened was a misunderstanding.”

The King’s Aide raised his eyebrows at her.  He flicked his gaze down at Kaelimine, then back at Analaeia.  “I am listening,” he said quietly.

Analaeia looked over at the guards.  “They simply saw the Captain and I together and misunderstood the situation.”

The two guards started to speak over each other in an attempt to explain the situation, and Analaeia suddenly sensed her tentative grasp on the situation, and their secret, slipping.  In a move that was very unlike her true nature, she stepped toward the guards and unleashed the easiest thing that came to mind.

“Do not speak over me,” she said sharply.  “Regardless of what has happened here, I am still the Lady of this palace and unless you wish to be dismissed of your positions, you will remember your place.”

There was silence.  Even Kaelimine looked up at his lover with a cocked eyebrow, simultaneously impressed and intimidated by the sudden power and authority in her voice. 

            Analaeia looked over at Tyaro.  The man was staring at her, though not with the sudden respect that had come over the faces of the three guards.  His expression was somehow more suspicious.  She tried to ignore the look of curiosity in his eyes.  “Tyaro, please send these men away.  They are no longer needed here; I can explain this situation for you.” 

            Tyaro hesitated, and then looked at the three guards.  He nodded his head toward the door and they filed out silently. 

            Analaeia glanced quickly over at Kaelimine, and then down at the floor.  “Now, Tyaro,” she said, her voice much quieter, “if you would be so kind as to release the Captain.” 

            “You have not yet explained the situation as you promised,” Tyaro replied. 

            “I have,” Analaeia retorted.  “A simple misunderstanding, as I said.  The guards thought I was in danger and performed their trained duties aptly but without realizing I was not in harm’s way.”

            Tyaro eyed her curiously, and glanced once more down at Kaelimine.  “Why would they have believed you in danger?  As I recall you requested the Captain’s presence to accompany you on a walk around the gardens, which seems without malicious intent and should have garnered no attention from the passing guards.”

            Kaelimine, a panic rising up in his chest, made an attempt to clear his throat but found he could not with his nose so blocked with blood; the action turned into a slight fit of choking as he tried to get his breath and not swallow blood at the same time.  Analaeia looked at him concernedly.  She was afraid the fit would be enough to give them away; it certainly seemed a conspicuous response to such a condemning question from Tyaro.  She was not the only one to notice.

            “Tell me something, Captain,” Tyaro said, crossing the room toward Kaelimine.  “As I recall it, you said earlier tonight you had only met Lady Analaeia but once, and yet you spoke to her tonight with amazingly comfortable ease.  Far too comfortable, almost, as though you had forgotten you were speaking to a member of the Royal Family.  This ease with which you were conversing with Lady Analaeia was not present in your voice when you spoke to King Taemar, or even his brother, which is a curious notion.  I noticed as well your eyes seemed to linger on the Lady a great deal than I would have deemed appropriate.”  He turned his head to look back at Analaeia. 

“I am sensing that there are puzzle pieces coming together here.  An evening filled with secretive glances, a strange sense of familiarity, a seemingly inconspicuous request for a nighttime walk, and now, here you are, after being found by the guards who thought you were endangering the Lady.  I wonder what could have sparked that idea?  A particular closeness between the two of you, perhaps?  Was it, Captain, that they saw you far too close to one another to be considered…proper?” 

            Analaeia’s heart dropped.  Tyaro knew.  The only thing she had left was to continue denying it, which would only arouse more suspicion from him.  Kaelimine had his face dipped forward to keep from choking on his own blood, but she could sense that he knew their impending peril was near.

            “What are you suggesting, Tyaro?” she asked quietly. 

            “I think you know very well what I am suggesting, Lady Analaeia,” Tyaro replied with a sneer.  Analaeia put on the affronted look she had worn while reprimanding the guards, and opened her mouth to speak, but Tyaro cut her off.  “You are the Lady of the palace, I know.  And you should be more aware of the fact yourself.  Do you think that all of your outings have gone unnoticed?  As the Lady of the palace and the heir apparent as well, you should know that you are watched very closely.” 

            Analaeia knew that was not true; the only person likely to be watching her was Tyaro.  She saw no way to avoid the question, though. 

            Kaelimine, however, was not daunted by Tyaro’s statement, and he seemed almost offended by the man’s insinuation.  “Perhaps if you were not so fond of looking after Analaeia at every turn, you would not be so aware of what she was doing with her own time.”  His words sounded almost slurred.

            Analaeia tried very hard to resist the shiver that was about to course up her spine.  She was pleased by Kaelimine’s words, but also terrified of the backlash that might ensue from Tyaro.  She dared a glance over at him.  The King’s Aide was staring at Kaelimine coolly, as if deciding what the appropriate response should be. 

            “If that is the case, Captain, then perhaps I should use my fondness of looking after Lady Analaeia for my own good, and report to the King that you were caught and seized by the guards in an attempt to seduce and violate Lady Analaeia.  I am sure that her father will see no harm in my knack for keeping an eye on her.” 

            The color drained from Analaeia’s face.  “No,” she whispered.  The desperation in her voice was very apparent.  Kaelimine glanced up at her and Tyaro turned his head, looking pleased with himself. 

            “Was that not the case then?” 

            Analaeia started to respond, but Tyaro put a hand up, silencing her.  “Captain?”

            Kaelimine shook his head.  “No,” he muttered thickly.  His voice did not even sound like his own. 

            “Then tell me what exactly happened in the gardens tonight.” 

            “Tyaro…” Analaeia said quietly, trying very hard to keep a tear from slipping down her face.  It would have been painfully obvious even with her hair still dripping down her cheeks.  Tyaro turned to her.  “You must not tell my father, please…” 

            “’Nalie,” Kaelimine said suddenly, his voice husky.  “Just tell him.” 

            Tyaro looked down at Kaelimine and then back at Analaeia, relishing the torture he was creating.  “Now you have given yourselves away.”

            “Then you know, and be pleased you know our secret,” Analaeia whispered, squaring her shoulders. 

            The man gave a smirk.  “A secret no longer, especially once your father finds you are carrying on an illicit relationship with the Captain of the Wingéd Riders.”

            The words seemed to spark one last bit of anger in Analaeia.  Kaelimine lifted his head and watched her take a step toward Tyaro.  “It is not illicit,” she hissed.  “I am still free to do what I like, and if that includes loving the Captain of the Wingéd Riders, then so it shall be, and it is neither yours nor anyone’s business.  You may know simply out of chance, Tyaro, but you will not utter a word of it to another soul.  You have no authority over me, and I will not let you hoard this secret over my head.” 

            Despite being in serious pain, Kaelimine could not help but grin slightly. 

            Analaeia could tell immediately she had won.  Tyaro raised an eyebrow, considering her words, and then took a step back, conceding her point. 

            “Very well,” he said quietly.  “I shall inform the King of the incident some other way.  Please see to it that the Captain is given appropriate accommodations for the night and that he receives the King’s most sincere apologies.” 

            And without another word, Tyaro gave a slight bow to them both and retreated from the room.  Analaeia watched him go and waited until she knew he was gone.  When she was sure they were alone once more, she seemed to lose all her composure.  Her posture slumped and she drew in a beleaguered sob as she seemed to lurch forward and grabbed a rag that was hanging over the edge of the guards’ washbasin.  Then she turned back and rushed over to Kaelimine, and dropped down in front of him.  Her hands immediately went to the knot at his wrists; her fingers began to tremble as she fumbled with the ties. 

            All the while she kept muttering, “I’m so sorry, Kael,” over and over. 

            Kaelimine rolled his head to the side and groaned aloud, almost as if he had been holding back the sigh of pain for as long as he could.  His whole face was throbbing from the pain of his obviously broken nose, and blood was spattered not only over his face but his uniform coat and the floor where he had been leaning. 

            When Analaeia finally released his hands he pulled his shoulders forward uncomfortably and, without even needing an invitation, slumped to the side into her waiting arms.  Her hands were shaking as she gingerly held up the rag she had garnered from the washbasin up to his nose. 

            Kaelimine flinched, not at her touch but just the pain.  He took the rag from her hand and held it up himself; it was easier that way.  He had to be careful which way he leaned his head; too far back and he could feel blood trickling uncomfortably down his throat.  The bleeding was subsiding; their meeting with Tyaro had evidently taken longer than he thought. 

            When he opened his eyes and looked up at Analaeia, though, her face was drawn and she looked upset.  “It’s all right,” he whispered. 

            “He knows,” she replied quietly. 

            Kaelimine shook his head.  “It could be worse,” he pointed out.  “He is not going to tell your father.” 

            Analaeia nodded after a moment.  She looked down at him compassionately, and frowned.  “My poor love,” she murmured after a moment.  “I am so sorry this happened…on your first night as Captain…” 

            Kaelimine smiled slightly.  “I will live,” he muttered.  Then, abruptly changing subject, he said, “You have the tongue of a diplomat.” 

            “I was raised as one,” Analaeia replied with a smirk. 

            “I do not think even Tyaro expected you to raise your voice so…” 

            Analaeia managed a smile.  “It worked,” she said.  “I don’t imagine you’ll want to go back to the compound tonight.”

            Kaelimine shook his head awkwardly.  “Ti’lan will be after my head in the morning, but no.” 

            “He will live,” Analaeia said with a bit of a smirk.  “And I am sure when he sees you he will understand.” 

            This garnered a near laugh from Kaelimine.  “He’ll see right through whatever story we concoct,” he murmured.  “But it is worth a try.” 

~*~

            Within an hour, Kaelimine was situated in a smaller guest chamber on the lower level of the palace.  Analaeia had helped him clean the blood from his throbbing face, found him a dry pair of trousers from the servants’ quarters, and had then disappeared to change out of her own wet clothes.  Kaelimine was sitting on the edge of the bed, leaning his elbows on his knees and looking vaguely down at the floor when the door opened some time later and Analaeia slipped in, trying her best to be quiet. 

            He looked up at her.  She had changed into a rather plain—and much less revealing—nightdress, and had wrapped her wet hair into a kind of messy bun, just to keep it out of her face.  He could not help but smile at her, as best he could anyway.

            “I told you I would not mind you out of your uniform,” Analaeia said quietly as she approached him.  She sat beside him and gently brushed some stray hair out of his face, taking care to stay clear of his nose.  She looked at it and frowned.  It appeared he would be spared any severe bruising, though one of his eyes was starting to look particularly dark.

            But as he lay down and pulled Analaeia into his arms for the night—the first night they would spend together—he began to think that the night could most assuredly have been worse.

~*~

            Kaelimine heard Ti’lan’s footsteps coming down the hallway before he heard his voice.  He did not raise his head. 

            “We were about to send out a search party, Captain, where in the hells have you—”

            Predictably, Ti’lan fell silent when Kaelimine raised his eyes to him.  He expected the reaction, and allowed himself a slight chuckle.

            “Holy gods, Kael, what happened?”  Ti’lan said, all the bluster lost from his voice as he walked into the office to get a closer look.

            “I had my nose broken,” Kaelimine replied.

            “I can see that,” Ti’lan replied curtly, his lip curling slightly as he imagined the obvious discomfort his friend must be in.  Over the night, a particularly offensive bruise had risen under one of Kaelimine’s eyes.  “Did this happen before or after you made an advance on the King’s niece?” 

            “Amusing.” 

            Ti’lan smiled, but it quickly fell.  “Seriously, Kael.” 

            Kaelimine stood up and turned away from his friend in the pretense of beginning to organize his new office.  “Apparently in all the excitement yesterday afternoon, a miscreant snuck onto the palace grounds and was hiding out for the first unwitting victim he came across, which happened to be Analaeia and I.” 

            Ti’lan furrowed his brow.  “That is unfortunate,” he murmured.

            The Captain nodded his head.  “He was right around a corner and had me on the ground before I even knew he was there.” 

            There was silence for a moment.  Kaelimine glanced over his shoulder, surprised at the lack of a response.  Ti’lan had his arms over his chest and was looking contemplative. 

            “I somehow find you are not being entirely truthful,” he said, narrowing his eyes.  Kaelimine turned back to him, trying his best to look as innocent as possible.

            “Why would I not be?” he said. 

            “Because, Kaelimine, that is indeed a curious story considering I know for certain that Lady Analaeia was not simply congratulating you when I left.  Aside from which, you are horrible at lying, and I have known you long enough to realize when you are.” 

            Kaelimine raised an eyebrow.  In response Ti’lan raised his, putting on an expectant face.  His bruised companion hesitated a few moments, and then sighed, realizing he would not win. 

            “Close the door,” he murmured.  “You are not to breathe a word of this to anyone.”

            Ti’lan returned quickly from closing the door, his interest peaked.  “You see, now I know something is amiss.” 

            Kaelimine rolled his eyes and leaned on the corner of his desk, looking down at it.  “The palace guards…dispatched me after discovering Analaeia and I together…apparently they thought I was…someone else.  A thief, perhaps.”

            Ti’lan brought a hand to his mouth to stifle a laugh.  Kaelimine did not miss the motion, and raised his eyes to his friend, not looking amused in the least.

            “I’m sorry, Kael,” Ti’lan said, suppressing a grin.  “Unfortunate for you, but it’s perfectly hilarious.” 

            Kaelimine stood up.  “It is not,” he said.  “My nose was broken.”

            “I know, and it’s very difficult to take you seriously sounding the way you do.  You ought to stick to the original story,” Ti’lan replied.  “The brave champion defending the helpless damsel is much more exciting than the brave champion being dispatched by the palace guard for putting his lips on the wrong place upon the helpless damsel.  And on your first night as Captain.  Impressive, my friend.”  Kaelimine groaned and turned away again.  But his second-in-command wasn’t finished.  “The palace guards were right, though, weren’t they?  I mean, you were stealing something.”

            Kaelimine nearly dropped the papers in his hand and spun on his friend, looking stunned.  Ti’lan, however, was quite amused. 

            “Her lips, Kaelimine!  That is what I meant.  You are quick to assume.”  He gave a little pause and smiled deviously.  “Unless of course you were—”

            “No,” Kaelimine cut him off.  He fell silent and found he could not suppress a smile at the thought Ti’lan had planted in his head, particularly after he had spent the night beside Analaeia.  His friend nodded knowingly. 

            “Who made up the story, then?” he asked. 

            Kaelimine rolled his eyes.  “Tyaro.”

            Ti’lan’s lip curled.  “I can imagine that went well,” he said dryly.  “What happened?”

            “The guards dragged me off to the holding cells and made me wait while they fetched someone, meanwhile Analaeia is begging with them to let me go, and I’m bleeding everywhere…not to mention both of us are soaking wet; they caught us right as it started to pour…and who arrives but Tyaro.”  Kaelimine paused a moment.  “All things considered, it was lucky he was the one to arrive.  It could have been worse; it could have been Analaeia’s father or, gods forbid, the King.”

            “Unfortunate, I could have been Captain today,” Ti’lan interjected with a smile. 

            “Poor thing,” Kaelimine returned playfully.  “Analaeia pleaded our case to him, which of course ended up with the admission that we’ve been together, and she had to beg him not to say a word to her father.  I did not think he would agree, but he did.”

            “I suppose he thinks if he does Analaeia a favor he might have a chance with her,” Ti’lan said.

            Kaelimine nodded.  It was a peculiar way to go about such a task, but it seemed oddly fitting for Tyaro.  “That is what I thought as well.”  He shrugged one shoulder.  “After he left Analaeia helped me back to the palace and found an empty room, because I certainly wasn’t about to ride back here in the dark, and the rain, and with my nose throbbing enough to fall off.” 

            Ti’lan sat on the edge of the desk.  “And fair Analaeia helped you to bed and bid you farewell for the night, then?” 

            The Captain nodded his head.  He had turned away from his friend again.

            “Your lies would be much more convincing if you looked me in the eye when you made them,” Ti’lan murmured with a grin. 

            Kaelimine responded by balling up the parchment in his hand and throwing it at Ti’lan, who caught the missile as it bounced off of his shoulder.  He burst into laughter.  Kaelimine smiled despite himself.

            “I take it that means she spent the evening with you then?”

            “Yes,” Kaelimine said.  Then he caught himself, and even though it was the truth, he did not want Ti’lan making any inferences.  “But it’s not what I’m sure you are thinking,” he added hastily. 

            His blonde-haired friend raised his eyebrows and nodded his head, giving that devious smile again.  “I’m sure.” 

            “Have you ever tried to kiss someone after having your nose broken?” Kaelimine shot back.  He grinned.  “Or have you ever kissed anyone at all, for that matter?” 

            Ti’lan threw the crumpled parchment back at the Captain.  “No to the first, yes to the latter,” he replied defensively.  “So you really did just…sleep with her.” 

            “Yes,” Kaelimine said.  Then, as he bent to pick up the balled paper Ti’lan had thrown at him, he added under his breath, “Regrettably.” 

            But Ti’lan heard the comment, and pointed a finger at his friend with an almost triumphant, “Ha!” 

            Kaelimine straightened again and did not even try to hide his smile.  He held his hands out as if in a mock surrender. 

            “The best part, though,” he said.  “The King came this morning and apologized.  Tyaro must have told him the story and there was nothing for me to do but nod and pretend I knew exactly what he was talking about.” 

            Ti’lan erupted in new laughter.  “I don’t know about you, Kael,” he said as he crossed the room toward the door.  “You’re either lucky or incredibly brilliant.”

            “Brilliant, of course,” Kaelimine said with a smile. 

            “Take care of that nose, it looks terrible,” his friend said as he made to leave.  “And tonight—get some actual sleep.” 

            The Captain’s only response was to throw the crumpled paper at Ti’lan again.