Eternal Embrace

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"The Florians are coming. They will attack at dawn. Prepare your men, general." The king, my father, informs the man standing a few steps beneath his throne. The pain in my fingers from gripping the armrest of my chair is nothing compared to the fear gripping my heart. My breath hitches in my throat at the news.

"You're dismissed." The king's words ring with authority and finality.

The general bows, his eyes reaching mine before looking to my father's feet. He turns and leaves the room. Once my father stands, I move as quickly as I can without drawing any attention to myself. I need to speak with the general.

My general.

I sneak down a forgotten hall to a stairwell up to an abandoned tower. The anticipation of being in his arms drives me faster, my skirts making far too much noise as they brush against the stone floor.

Vander's already waiting for me.

"You can't go," I plead as I throw myself into his embrace.

"You know I have to." Vander pulls away, and it's as if a knife has wedged itself into my heart.

"We can run away, build a cabin in the forest, and live a quiet life together with children like we've always talked about." I grip his shirt, begging him to reconsider. Vander looks away from me, but I cup his cheek, guiding his gaze back to mine, only to find his eyes are glassy.

"I want to. You know I want to, but my duty is to the king." He swallows hard and stiffens his chin, and I know his mind is made up. There is nothing I can say to stop him from fulfilling his duty.

I sigh in resignation. "I've always admired your loyalty." The nagging in my stomach makes it hard for me to leave it at that. "I don't want you to get hurt."

"I've seen worse things than the Florians." That smirk that pulls on my heart tugs at his lips, and the urge to kiss him is unbearable.

"I didn't love you then, but I do now. How could I not worry?"

"When the battle is over, and we have won, we'll run away. I'm old enough to walk away, and the King would allow it after 17 years of service. I've seen him release soldiers with less time and far fewer accolades to their names." He brushes a stray hair from my face, tucking it gently behind my ear before cupping my cheek.

"You promise?" I lean into his touch, and my eyes find his, seeing only the truth behind his words.

"I promise." It tugs on my heart like a floating paper lantern, but I can't allow myself to get my hopes up as this nagging feeling drags me back down.

"I still don't want you to go. I have a bad feeling about this battle." I place my head against his chest, clutching onto him as if I can't get close enough.

"Everyone has a bad feeling before a battle. It's what keeps us alive."

"I've never been this scared before. With other battles, I was confident we would win, but there is a feeling in the wind. It's a warning." He leans forward, placing a kiss on the top of my head.

I pull away to look up at him with genuine concern. His face falls, and I know he's going, anyway. With one last-ditch effort, "Please don't leave me?" I beg again.

"I'm sorry. I'll be back. I promise." Tears slip past my lashes, and my heart constricts in my chest, knowing this could be the last time I see him.

He lifts my chin and kisses me. My tears of sadness and despair leave a tainted taste on my lips as he pulls away. He turns away from me, his footfalls fading in the distance as he heads toward the armory. My knees are no longer strong enough to hold the weight of my heavy heart, and I collapse on the stairs. My head falls into my hands as the sinking feeling in my stomach tells me to chase him, but I know it's no use. He is a loyal man to his men and my father. He is fighting to keep us from being overrun by a cruel king who will stop at nothing to destroy everything my father has built.

I drag myself up on shaky legs and run to my room, hoping no one sees me. I don't care to explain myself and why I'm distraught. I don't have the will to lie or to put on a fake smile. I just need to be alone.

***

I pace the floor as the battle rages on. Smoke fills the air, its acrid scent irritating my nose. The battle takes place just past the not-so-distant hills, and the sounds of battle ring in the late afternoon. The sun will set soon, and the chances of survival with it.

Fear has gripped me deeply, and the sinking in my stomach can be felt all the way to my toes now.

A knock sounds on my door, and it opens for a soldier, who's covered in dirt and blood. He walks into my bed chamber uninvited.

"What is the meaning of this?" I ask, but my heart pounds against my chest, and breathing is difficult.

"Order from the General. I wasn't to stop until I delivered this message."

"What message?" I asked, frantic at the thought of why he would send a messenger in the middle of a battle. The soldier hands me a piece of soiled parchment, and I unroll it quickly.

My Darling Genevieve

The battle is turning, and it's unfavorable. This may be my last day on this earth. If it is, I couldn't bear the thought of not telling you that you are the star that guides me. The warm blanket on a cold winter's night. The breath of fresh air after being dragged beneath the surface and fearing I may drown.

You gave me purpose to keep going. To keep fighting for a safer world for you and the children we will never have. You are the only love I've ever known and will never fully get to experience. Saying I love you doesn't feel like the right words, but I love you, Genevieve.

Do not mourn my loss, but live the life you wanted to have with me. Leave and live in a cabin in the woods away from the castle. Find another man to make you happy, and who can give you what I never could.

With deepest love,

Vander

"You aren't to speak to anyone of this. You may have made it off that battlefield, but your life still dangles in the balance." The command came out as a harsh whisper that shocked the soldier.

"Of course, your highness." He bows as I tuck the parchment into my pocket, before I pick up my skirts and run from the room toward the stables.

He can't do this to me. He can't die. We're supposed to run away together. And he thinks he can write me a proclamation of love, and that would be the end of it.

I have to see him.

I may not be able to save him, but I refuse that this parchment will be his last goodbye.

I push the large wooden door open, my feet nearly tripping over the uneven ground. I race through the stable, not worrying about the saddle, and hop onto my grey mare's back. I grip Moonstone's black mane as I kick her sides, sending her off into a canter. A stable hand jumps out of the way as we race out the doors. Once I was off the castle grounds, I kicked again, and she was in a gallop.

I have to make it to the other side of the hill. I ride through an unfamiliar spot in the forest, the most direct path. Leaves and branches swipe and pull at my dress and hair, but I bear it if it means I can get to Vander.

When I make it to the top of the hill, I can see the fighting below. I give Moonstone a break while I search for Vander among the battling armies. I spot him almost instantly; more of his men lie around him than standing and fighting. My stomach lurches, and my throat is tight with fear.

I need to see him—just one last time.

I push Moonstone into another gallop, and I near the bottom of the hill when a short ravine opens up, but with the slipperiness of my dress and riding bareback, I have nothing to brace myself. When I sharply turn Moonstone, I fly off and tumble down the ravine into the shallow creek below.

Icy water rushes over me, and I gasp for air. Thankfully, I'm not injured, minus a few scrapes and bruises. I stand and gather my skirts that have grown twice as heavy from being soaked through. I look up to find Moonstone, but it's clear she has run off, spooked by my fall.

I don't have time to waste looking for her. I pull myself out of the creek and run. The weight of my dress makes it hard to move as fast as I need. I wish I could rip my skirts off, but the fabric is too thick, and I'm not nearly strong enough to do it without shears to get it started.

The smell of blood thickens the air as I near the edge of the forest that opens to the battlefield of the dead. Screams of pain, pleading for mercy, and the sound of metal hitting metal assault my ears. It's all so overwhelming, but my focus is on Vander. I spot him again, and I push my legs harder than I ever have before.

He's right there.

I run through the carnage, not caring if I get hit, not wanting to leave that damn parchment as our last goodbye.

Vander turns, his eyes meeting mine.

A sword flashes.

His eyes go wide with fear.

A Florian pulls the sword from his back, and Vander holds his stomach as blood blooms on his uniform.

I freeze.

"No... no, no no." A moment of true terror sweeps over me, and I sprint to him as fast as I can, and I curse my dress the whole time.

When I reach him, he's on his knees and the blood...

There is so much blood.

I fall to my knees in front of him, pressing my hand to his wound.

"Leave me," he mutters hoarsely.

"No!" I shout in anger and fear. "You promised! You can't say goodbye. Say you'll be okay!" I grip his collar and hold him close, and he wraps his arms around me.

"I'll be okay," Vander says as his mouth turns bloody.

"You're lying," I weep against his chest. His arm around my waist tightens as he buries his face in my wet hair.

"You can't leave me," I sob, looking up at him. His chocolate eyes find mine, and I want to drown in them. They soften before he speaks again.

"I love you, Genevieve." He runs a bloodied hand along my jaw, and his lips brush mine. My body wracks with each breath as tears fall between us.

A snap and a sharp pain bloom in my back and chest. My grip on Vander tightens. I want to fall, but I feel pinned in place.

"No!" Vander looks down to see that the arrow has pierced us both. "You were supposed to have children and grow old."

"I don't want those things if I can't have them with you." Vander's eyes are full of sadness, then love, as we clutch onto one another as we slowly bleed together.

Vander's lips find mine. His kiss is soft and growing with intensity. His tongue sweeps against my lips, and I welcome him in. Our grip on each other is desperate. I'm realizing this is the last kiss we will ever share, and we will die on this battlefield.

My heart is slowing, and my body is growing weak. Vander's body feels heavy against mine, and I can't bear his weight any longer. We collapse to the side.

"I love you," I whisper before darkness takes me, and I'm locked in an eternal embrace with the only man who has ever held my heart.