Moonbloods Season 1
Return to Vendera

We left Summer Crest three day later, the ship having been ready weeks ago was cast headlong out to open sea. I didn't feel comfortable leaving Jon behind in the condition he was in. He still needed time to heal. I'm more ways then one. His life had barely begun and now he would never see battle. He would never gain the glory of a knight of Azga. It had been his dream. There was nothing I could do to restore full function to his leg. Jon would walk with a lip for the rest of his life, the muscles and nerves in his leg tight and damaged. There had been little to work with after the Healer from Star Hill had finished cutting away the necrotic flesh. I had no choice but to leave Jon to his own devices. He had to learn. Emris had a point. I could coddle him forever.

I found the salty sear air oddly comforting. For now I was able to roam the deck in a summer dress as we sailed through the carabiners, headed further and further north, into the icy waters of Northers Azga.

Seeing the dancing, bright pink and green lights was amazing and a once in a life time experience. The sun had vanished hours ago, lighting up the night sky with the same constellations Emris had shown me before.

I sighed as I leaned against the side of the ship, looking down into the dark, black water.

Emris.

He was clearly attracted to me. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't in the least bit attracted to him. In fact it was quite the opposite. Whenever he was close- close enough for me to feel the heat radiating off of him- but not close enough to touch me, my sling turned into an hyper sensitive blanket of awareness and wonder. I could only ever enjoy it for a few moments before Emris would stop himself. He hadn't really been in a talkative moon today. I looked over my shoulder to the upper, enclosed deck of the ship. Of course his eyes were on me. They always were. It didn't bother me much anymore. And that just added to the reasons why I had to figure myself out.

What was I feeling?

Why was I feeling this way?

Was I putting all of my hops on Emris to fix me? I was broken and damaged after all. Could I even be fixed? And why, by the Goddess, why did he care?

My heart throbbed in my chest as the winds suddenly turned cool, indicating that we were beginning to enter Venderaien sea boarders. A warm, soothing hand touched my chilled arm. "You should get your cloak if you intend to stay outside, Princess," Emris said as he joined me at the stern of the ship.

I offered him a small smile. "I enjoy the cool air," I told him.

Emris thunked his staff on the worne wooden floor as he circled around me, lifting the flap of is heavy, fur cloak and sealing it over my shoulder. "We have much to do when we return home," he told me. "I don't need you getting sick."

His hands pressed hotly against the thin material of my dress for the briefest of moments. We're his hands shaking? "I wanted to apologize," he said in a low voice, his warm breath brushing my ear. I shook my head, just a small fraction of an inch. Then I felt it.

This overwhelming sense of relief, relaxation and bliss. A relaxed sigh passed my lips and I leaned into him. My head rolled back onto his shoulders but Emris still didn't touch me. Instead, this hands gripped the railing in front of us, his knuckles white, his sharp nails digging into the polished wood.

"For what?" I asked him in a whisper. Emris sighed, his breath warming my already flared skin.

"I can't believe I am doing this..." he whispered. I tried to turn to face him but his hand gripped my shoulders for the briefest of moments before he forced his hands back onto the railing, his heavy cloak falling around me.

"I won't be touching you any more," he said in a tight voice and dropped his hands. My eyes opened and I turned to face him. The feeling of relaxation he had been inflicting on me washed away, followed by a wave of rejection. I shuddered.

"What are you talking about?" I asked him. Emris folded his arms almost forcefully behind his back.

"I understand that you can't let anyone in because of what Hiram did to you... And I'm sorry I am not enough to free you from that."

I shook my head. "I don't understand-"

Emris sighed. "The way you looked at me the other night... like I was some kind of monster. I didn't realize how in the wrong I was at the time- I don't want you ever to look like that at me again... I don't ever want to strike such fear in you... so, I simply won't touch you."

This was horrible!

Was this what I wanted?

Was this better then the the painful pleasure he offered me each time his warm hands touched mine? My heart throbbed in my chest. I didn't know. "Emris- ... I didn't-"

He smiled and stepped back, his hands still still at his side. "I am doing the best I know how here, Nalia," he told me in a low voice. "I told you I am doing my best to make this as easy for you as possible. And if you need time, that is what you are going to get. I just wanted to make sure you understood that I won't be a problem anymore."

I frowned. "You were never the problem, Emris!" I reminded him.

He smirked at me. "That's nice to hear," he admitted. "However, rough waters lie ahead, so our timing may be a little off."

I frowned. "I miss Moon," I said and sighed. Emris laughed. "We will go for a ride as soon as we get settled at home."

We didn't speak much for the rest of the night. I waited for Emris to touch me, to take my hand, to make my heart throb with the oddly and joyfully painful pleasure I so desperately longed for.

But his hands remained firmly folded behind his back, his mind remained distant. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps we both needed distance from each other. I didn't like that idea either.

I shuddered, goosebumps rippled over my skin. My heart was throbbing in my chest as I stepped away and cleared my throat. "I should get my cloak," I told him.

Emris nodded and waved for Hali to fetch it for me. I felt oddly off balance as Emris turned away from me and his hand still locked behind his back. "You said something about being busy when we get home?" I asked him.

I watched a small smile curve his lips, his flippant attitude changing again. "Yes," he mused. "The Ladies of the Court have arrived and eagerly await your arrival. The High Lady Drodic and Lady Davola are the only ones attending this season."

I shook my head. "Only so few?" I asked. "I thought there were at least a few dozen houses."

Emris nodded. "There are," he assured me. "However, since the war ended, many of the Ladies were just children when their parents passed, leaving them with no guidance or fortune."

I nodded. "They need to marry for money." Emris sighed and nodded. "It is unfortunate but yes. They understand this. It's always been this way. I have many Lords already invited to come to Vendera. They haven't been there in years and the place could use a sprucing. They are to begin arriving at the end of the month."

I sohook my head. "Have these men wed before?" I asked him confused.

Emris nodded. "Yes," he said. "Lord Valemanti just wed his third Mortal wife. She is about your age. She is due to have her second child any day now."

I raised an eyebrow. "Her second?" I demanded. "How?"

Emris shrugged. "Medical mystery."

"And his wife is number?"

What was this pricking feeling in my chest. I knew Emris was immortal. I knew that he must have been with other woman at some point in his life. This shouldn't bother me.

Emris narrowed his eyes at me. "Wife number seven," he told me. "If there is something you would like to ask me, just ask," he said.

I sighed and shook my head. I couldn't bring myself to speak the words. Emris sighed.

"Nalia."

His voice was hard, causing my eyes to snap up yo his. "Don't be jealous," he assured me. "I haven't been with anyone since I knew you were to be my wife."

I felt my eyes go wide. The day Emris was told we were to be married was the day I had been born. He had abstained this whole time? I was seventeen now. He had waited until I was his wife. I lowered my gaze, the uncomfortable silence between us drug out. How was I supposed to compete with that? The odd feeling of crippling anxiety swelled in my chest as I tried to calm myself. Emris sighed and glanced out over the sea.

"I didn't mean to upset you," he assured me. I shook my head.

"You didn't," I assured him.

Emris frowned, a wave of dizzying euphoria washing through me like a sudden high. "Tell me," he whispered. I frowned at him.

"No fair!" I complained. Emris smirked and the sudden intense emotion dulled to a bearable, dull pulse.

"Your anxiety is enough to put down a horse," he teased me.

I lowered my head. "I'm trying to overcome it!" I assured him.

Emris smiled a wide, shape tooth smile at me. "That's my girl," he praised, the light in his eye was hiding more then I would have ever guessed.

We seemed to sail right into ice infested waters overnight, indicating we were closer to Vendera then we had thought. The voyage overnight was a smooth one, letting me get some much needed rest. This morning Emris had woken me from his cabin to get dressed in a long sleeved cloak and winter riding set. My breath came out in a bright white puff and I shuddered. We were deep in the Vandarien Sea now. I dressed quickly, buttoning my coat up with numb fingers. The furs lined the inside and outside of the cloak, the heavy leathers and snug buckles laced across my neck and over my chest. The top was simple soft leather and a heavy wool poncho, some black leather riding pants and some sturdy riding boot. I was able to dress myself this time. I ordered Hali and Niko to dress for colder weather. The inside of my window was beginning to freeze. I had just finished weaving a striped brown feather into my hair when Emris slowly pushed the door open behind me and I turned to see him staring at me. He must have been there for some time because his eyes were glazed over, hungry.

"You may rest as long as you like when we get home," he promised me. I smiled, something about a hot bath in the dead of winter appealed to me. "You have until next full moon until our guests begin to arrive." Emris glanced over his shoulder at Hali and Niko.

"As honorable as they bother are, servants are not good companions," he reminded me. "You should mingle with the public too."

I sighed. He was right of course. I didn't like it. But it was part of my duty now. As was making sure our home- our suddenly seeming massiv, labrythinh like home- was ready at a moments notice to throw extravagant balls. "I will keep that in mind," I assured him.

I nodded to the sight of Vendera Hall as it came into view. "Perhaps we should talk about what happened yesterday," Emris told me in a low voice. I looked up at him. His hair whipped around his face, his tall massive frame towered beside me, the smell of his skin reaching my nose. His eyes were tight, focused. "What about yesterday?" I asked him.

He sighed, pursing his lips. "What other power do you possess?"

I shook my head. "I don't know," I admitted. "That was the first time I'd ever done that."

Emris turned to face me, leaning back against a crate behind him. The ship was bigger then I had first realized. The deck was stacked with crates and weapon racks for the Knights to train while we were in calmer waters. It was fairly crowded.

"Have you never exhibited any powers before?" he asked me.

I chewed my lips. "I can move things with my mind," I told him.

Emris nodded and pointed to a weapons rack. "See if you can move a dagger," he told as he walked over to the weapons rack. I watched him pick up a sharp blade and flip it around in his fingers a few times. With a smirk, Emris waved his fingers and I watched as a target burned itself slowly into the side of the ships cabin wall. Setting the dagger down on the crate beside me, Emris waved his hand.

"Strike the target with the dagger," he instructed me as he waved me along. I sighed, glancing from the dagger to the smoldering target on the wall. I shook my head.

"How?" I asked him.

Emris pursed his lips. "How did you do it before?" he asked me.

I felt my heart skink a little. "Anger," I admitted and I watched his face falter a little. "Fear."

Emris sighed, balling his fists at his sides. "I understand your anger," he told me. "But you need not fear anything. Hiram is dead-"

I nodded. "We both thought that once before!" I reminded him.

"I had his body taken to Star Hill. The Priests there are to bring me a full report by the end of the week. I want to know everything about that man."

I nodded. "Can I be there when you get this information?" I asked him curiously. I wasn't sure which political matters I was allowed to be privy to and which matters I wasn't. Emris smiled. "Of course," he assured me. His eyes tighten a little as his arms flexed in my direction. I was surprised to see annoyance and anger flash in his eyes and feathers for a brief moment be composed himself and forced a smile on his face.

All the while I was overcome by his overwhelming emotions. Feelings of impatience and resentment filled me, quickly followed by regret and loneliness and longing. It was very confusing. I rubbed my temple, trining to ease the tension in my head. "Now," Emris motioned for me toward the dagger.

"Hit the target," he instructed me.

I looked at the dagger stinging atop the box. "Think of where you want the dagger to go, how you want it yo move!" Emris told me.

I stared at the dagger, willing it to move. I watched the dagger vibrate and jerk around slightly but it never left the table. "Nalia- stop!"

I turned to face Emris only to see every other sharp ended object was pointed at every single person on the ship. My breath caught and I squeezed my eyes shut, the continued clattering of metal against the wooden deck echoed in my ears. Then I felt Emris beside me, an odd urge of caution washing through me. I looked up at Emris who was staring at me, his reflective eyes burning, his sharp teeth pressing into his full lips. My eyes locked on his lips for a long second and I felt my own part in surprise. When was the last time I tasted those lips? I tried to remeber when the last time I had felt his lips on mine. Had it been the day we married. My mouth went dry as I watched as dark, black shadows covered his eyes as he hissed a low, rumbling growl at me. "Come with me," he hissed.

Emris didn't reach to touch me in any way. He walked along the deck and into the cabin, waving a hand at the smoldering symbol on the side of the cabin wall. The symbol sizzled from existence, leaving no trace of a burn behind. I didn't miss that there was a sharp, silver hilted dagger sticking out the middle of the target Emris had conjured. Emris smirked at it as he passed it, holding the door open for me.

"Go inside," he instructed me in a low voice. I didn't hesitate. I walked into the cabin and Emris followed me, closing the heavy iron door behind him with a sharp snap.

"Are you alright?" he asked me in a low voice. I looked up at him. He stood there, leaning against the door, his hands folded behind his back. I nodded.

"I'm fine," I assured him.

Emris sighed. "Sure you are," he said and for some reason I could positive I could hear the double meaning in his voice. "Things will be different soon. My father is going die and I will become King."

I sighed as reluctance filled my chest. I still wasn't sure how I felt about that. "What if I don't want to be Queen?" I asked him.

I watched his face turn impassive as he unhitched himself from the wall. "I already promised I wouldn't touch you and to that I hold," he assured me and my heart throbbed unevenly. "If you wish to return to Summer Crest you may do so but I have one favor to ask."

My heart was pounding in my chest, painfully and constricting my airways. What was he talking about? Emris lowered his gaze to my hand, his gloved hand reaching for mine but he stopped himself before he could touch me.

"Emris, I don't-"

He smiled a soft smile at me. "All I am saying is that you are free to do as you please. You need not consider my thoughts or opinions-"

My heart throbbed painfully in my chest. "Emris, is this because of Hiram?" I asked him in a low, hurt whisper. Pain flared in my chest as he moved closer, his fists baller at his sides. Rejection washed through me. It had been at least two months now. Emris had all the time in the world to have arranged for me to honor be elsewhere if he didn't want to kill me. I watched his lower his glass and walk up to me slowly. His eyes were locked on my face, the look in his eyes almost desperate. Lost.

"No." His breath waned my neck as he breathed out a slow shuddering breath. I swallowed, the sudden, dry lump in my throat was making it hard hard to breath or speak.

"Nothing about your being is anything but perfect to me!" he whispered. Blood flushed my chest and face.

"Then it has to be because of-"

His hands slammed into the wall on either side of my head. My breath caught in my chest as my hands came up in reflex defense. Emris wigged, balking his fists against the wall. His breath brushed my face as he breathed out a rugged breath.

"I want to touch you because I want to feel you," he whispered.

I opened my mouth to speak but his eyes wandered to my lips and his silver eyes glazed over.

"I can't remember what your lips taste like." His voice was low, curious.

"I gave you my word I would not touch- not unless you ask me."

We stared at each other. "Unless I ask you?" I echoed.

His face remained impassive. "I meant what I said... it's torcher but I did give you my word. With that being said, if you wish to return to Summer Crest, I only ask you wait out the summer storms in Islands before I send you back on a ship."

He held my gaze as another silence dragged between us. "Do you regret giving me your word on that?" I asked him. Emris smirked at me as he walked toward a table with cups and wine.

"Not as much as I regret that you are taking me up on it," he mused.

Emris poured himself some wine and raised the cup to his lips. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to act. What if I did go back? What would happen to me then? Would I be permitted to stay in Summer Crest? Now that Jon hated me, it was less likely then ever before.

"What do you want?" I asked him in a low voice. Emris smirked.

"My thought should matter little in this-"

I shook my head. "You are my husband!" I reminded him. "How could it not matter?"

He smiled. "We hardly know each other," he pointed out. "You need to decide this for yourself. I have already declared my intentions with you. I won't kill you-"

I sighed and looked down at my feet. "It's not that simple!" I reminded him. Emris' eyes flashed at me. His low growl filling the cabin. Balling his fist at his side, Emris set his cup back down on the warped wooden table and filled it once more. Only this time, he filled the second one and handed it to me. "If you wish to return to Summer Crest, you may do so. It will take me a week to be able to ready a ship for you- maybe two-"

I sighed and turned to face the window. "If I wanted Summer Crest, I would have stayed with my brother," I assured him.

Emris didn't answer. I could feel the reluctance and frustration rolling off of him in waves. I though my saying that would have pleased him. But the hard look on his face seemed out of place. He seemed... conflicted. The sea outside was beginning to pick up, indicating the tide pulling the massive ship into port. We had arrived home.

"I'm right where I need to be."

I wasn't sure why I felt so positive about it. I didn't understand why the thought of parting ways caused me auch anxiety. Emris didn't answer. I felt a wave a longing wash through me, an emotion so strong that it caught me off guard. A small, surprised gasp left my lips at the feeling and Emris sighed.

Then, with a frustrated grunt, Emris hastily set his wine down and left the room without another word. I felt my heart sink.

I didn't understand.

Did he want me to leave?

My chest flared with pain as I stared at the door through which he had disappeared. Tears sprang to my eyes as pain and loneliness washed through me. It was then, that I finally realized what was wrong with me.

I had fallen in love with Prince Emris Halcro.