Love & War
Chapter 7

Elliot

Zander is sitting there like a damn idiot. I raise an eyebrow and look down at my wife. She doesn’t move an inch. She is looking down at her hands. Again.

What is she doing? And why do I care? I don’t. This arrangement is strictly political.

I look over at Zander and smile.

“What about Engelina?” He finally says. I groan. That insufferable woman.

“What about her?” I ask.

“Are you two not engaged to be wed?” Zander raises an eyebrow.

“I never once agreed to marry her. She decided that on her own. She can look like a fool on her own.” I frown at him. I feel Illiana lean away from me a little.

“I see. And does she know about your wife?”

“Frankly I don’t care if she does or not. I have nothing to say to her and it is none of her fucking business.”

“Prince Elliot, may I remind you that you are in the presence of a lady?” Zander looks at Illiana and then back to me. I sigh.

“Excuse my language, Kona.” Illiana doesn’t move.

“It’s fine.” Her voice barely above a whisper. I look back up at Zander and then motion for the group and guard to continue.

“So do you want to tell me how you got married at a political meeting over unicorns?” Zander laughs. I smirk.

“Illiana approached me with an offer I could not refuse. She asked for my hand and I accepted her request. Syrafin bound us under the sycamore. Then I think you can guess what happened from there.” Zander rolls his eyes and chuckles.

“It looks like I owe Jess twenty tral. She didn’t give up on you getting married you know. She’s going to be upset she didn’t get to be there though.”

I roll my eyes. “Jess is tough. She’ll get over it. And I think she will get on well with Illiana.”

Illiana is silent and still. She is gripping the saddle so tightly her knuckles are white. I raise an eyebrow and lean to her right ear.

“What’s wrong?”

She tenses up when I speak. “My legs are just a little sore. I am fine. Do not worry about me.” I frown.

“So El. How did the meeting with the fairy brigade go otherwise?” Zander muses from beside us. I sit up and look over at him.

“Milksops. All of them and their kind. I swear how ignorant and bold can a group of people be? The whole thing was a pathetic show of power.” I laugh.

Zander laughs as well. I feel Illiana tense up and her breaths get shallow. I place my right hand on the outside of her right thigh. She jerks her leg away from my touch and is damn near choking out Lucinda. I move my hand and she relaxes a little. What is wrong with this woman now?

Zander clears his throat. “Well, Your Majesties, we are approaching the village gates.”

I look up and smile. The top of the huge wooden gates is lined with the best archers in the kingdom. My sister is one of them.

“Open the gates! The king has returned!” One of the women yells from the patrol bridge.

The gates creak open causing the dirt to swirl around it. From what I can see, the whole village is lining the road. I can already hear the cheering. The sun is starting to set behind them. Oh, Theos. Illiana. She’s not going to be ready for this kind of attention first thing. I wrap my left arm around her and pull the hood of the cloak over her head. It engulfs her tiny frame.

“Keep your head covered and lean against me. I will get you home and away from the public eye as quickly as I can. ”

Illiana doesn’t respond again. I don’t know which is more annoying, a woman who is entirely too obsessed or a woman who is emotionally distant when she shouldn’t be.

Theos help me. I’ve been married less than a day and I am already failing.

Illiana leans back into my chest and keeps the cloak wrapped tightly around her as we enter the gates. There is cheering and whooping all around us. I grin and look straight ahead. Some of the bolder women still throw their ribbons and handkerchiefs at us. I ignore them all and kiss the top of Illiana’s head.

I don’t stop Lucinda until we are in front of my house, which is adjacent to the palace. I help Illiana off of Lucinda and scoop her off of her feet, carrying her bridal style. She looks up at me with a bewildered look on her face.

“What are you doing?” She squeaks out. I watch the blush creep up on her face. She’s cute when she blushes.

“I am carrying my wife into our home.” I open the door and push it open with my foot before walking in with her.

I sit Illiana down just inside the front door. She stands there in my kitchen and leans slightly against the kitchen table. She is so small compared to everything. This could be a problem in the future.

Can she even reach the shelves? The kitchen table is twice her size!

“This is the kitchen. To the left is the living room and to the right is where I keep the piano. It used to be a greenhouse but has been repurposed. There are two bedrooms through the living room. The one to the left is ours. The other is the guest room.” I point everything out. She looks down then back up to me.

“We are sharing a bedroom?” She’s fidgeting with her thumbs.

“And a bed. Yes. As all married couples do.”

“Oh.” She pauses. “May I take your cloak off now?” I frown.

“You do not have to ask my permission to make yourself comfortable here. This is your home now too.” She bites her lip.

If she keeps doing that, her lips will get chapped. Is it a nervous habit like her fidgeting?

I watch as she slowly takes off my cloak and folds it carefully. She looks like she is uncomfortable. I frown.

“I- uh- I have to go to a patrol meeting in a little while. Will you be ok here by yourself?” She doesn’t say a word. I raise an eyebrow.

“Y-yes. I will be fine here alone.” She stares down at the cloak in her arms.

“Please do not leave this house unless you’re with me, ok? I can’t ensure your safety just yet.”

“I understand.” She still refuses to look at me.

What the fuck did I do now?

“I’m going to get changed then. Do you want me to show you to our bedroom?”

“Okay,” she looks in the direction of the living room. I walk just ahead of her and pause.

“I know it’s not much but it’s home to me. I hope you’ll accept it.” I begin to walk to the bedroom.

I hear her following behind me.

“I like your home,” she says quietly.

“It’s your home too, my Queen,” I say holding the bedroom door open for her.

She steps in and walks to the foot of the bed. I look to the right at the dresser and closet.

“The left side of this dresser is yours. As well as the left side of the closet. Tomorrow we will go to the Port and buy you some clothes that you feel more comfortable in.”

Again she is silent. She places the cloak on the bed and walks over to the window.

“I will give you your privacy to change,” she says quietly then leaves the room, closing the door behind her.

I pinch the bridge of my nose and groan. Women are difficult. I thought Zander was just whiney. As it turns out, he’s not wrong. Theos help me, this little fae will be the death of me.

I quickly change into a different shirt and open the bedroom door. Illiana is standing by the living room window. It only points to a dirt road and a small field of dead grass. She is almost completely still. I clear my throat.

“Oh. Are you going now?” She doesn’t even look at me. She has a sad tone in her voice.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

“I can stay if you would prefer.” I need to go to this meeting but I think this feeling in my chest will only get worse.

“No. Go to your thing. I am fine.” She looks down at the floor.

I frown and walk over to her. She looks out of the window and at the field again.

“Ok. I’m going to go then. Please, Illiana, stay inside.” She looks up at me finally and frowns.

“Okay. Good luck with your meeting then. I’ll see you when you return.”

Her tone is almost lethargic? No that’s not the right word to describe it. Distant?

I turn on my heel and walk to the kitchen. I take one last look at her before shaking my head and walking out of the front door. I make sure to shut the door behind me and whistle for Lucinda. I hear the clopping of her hooves and turn to the direction the sound is coming from. Illiana is still standing at the window, just staring out at the field. Part of me stupidly wants to stay here, but why?

I quickly get on Lucinda and start to make my way toward the twisted arrow bar. It was the only place in town large enough to fit the full patrol unit. I frown and stare straight ahead. I can’t get Illiana’s sad expression out of my mind.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Gods damnit!

Lucinda stops in front of the bar and I jump off and pat her neck. “Go on girl. I will be done shortly so don’t go too far.”

I can already hear my men in there drinking and laughing. The smell of liquor is thick in the air. I take a breath and push the double doors open causing the hinges to squeak. Everyone gets silent.

“Alright soldiers. Who is ready for a patrol meeting? I need to make this quick as I have things to attend to at home.”

Everyone in the back freezes and turns to look at me. Everyone has a stupid grin on their face. I raise an eyebrow and look over to Zander.

Zander shrugs,” They heard you finally committed to someone other than Lucinda.”

I roll my eyes and Zander lets out a laugh. Everyone starts gathering around me. Like moths to a flame.

“Alright men. Take a seat. I will listen to what everyone has to say one at a time.”

I laugh as I walk over to a worn barstool. Everyone replaces a seat and Joben raises his hand. He raises his fucking hand. It takes all of my willpower not to mock him.

“Yes, Joben?”

“Since you’re married now, you’re the new King aren’t you? When will you introduce your wife to society? Was this a planned marriage? How did you two meet?”

Theos man. Take a breath.

Zander clears his throat. Joben finally shuts up and I sigh.

“Listen up. I will only say this one time. Yes, I am now the King. I will introduce my Queen, Illiana, to everyone when she is ready to. This was not a planned marriage. It was all very spur of the moment. We met at a meeting.”

Everyone is listening to me so intently. I raise an eyebrow and slouch on the barstool.

“Now- I will not answer any more questions concerning my wife. Let’s get down to business, shall we?”

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

I stare at my men for a moment, but my mind wanders back to Illiana. Standing at the window. Staring out at that dead field.

Is she still standing there? Is she still upset? She wanted this, didn’t she? She proposed to me. Am I overthinking this? Theos. Why is she affecting me so much?

“Ell? Did you hear me?” Zander’s voice tears me out of my thoughts.

“Sorry, no. I didn’t. What was that?” I turn to face him.

“I asked which patrol unit goes next since the last one was unsuccessful because of the den incident,” he purses his lips and looks over at Joben.

“Unit four will go. Unit one will go after. That will give unit one enough time to recuperate after that stupid mistake.”

The mistake that caused me to have a vision of my wife. Giggling in the forest.