Phantom of the Heart (5 page)

“After what you have said to my mother earlier, I find that there is no way I can fight against what you want from me. I promise you that I will try to be the best spouse to you and that I will belong to you and only you. But I promise to stand back if and when the time comes that your heart craves for another. I will treasure moments such as this one for as long as I still draw breath.”

Sterling lifted her head to look into Orla's eyes and smiled. “I want you to know that I will love you forever and that nothing will ever make me love you any less.” She reached into her pocket and took out a beautiful, golden ring. “It was a gift to me from my mothers when I left for the Wastelands. They thought I had found my true calling in life and the ring symbolized the completion of my journey.” She took the large hand in hers and kissed the long fingers. “They were wrong. It was only when I stumbled upon you in the stables four nights ago that I knew I had found my destiny. This ring is a symbol of my loyalty to you, Orla. I want you to keep it with you and look upon it every time you are in doubt of my love for you.” She pushed the ring over the small pinky of the blacksmith and smiled when it was a perfect fit. “Now, I want you to help me seal this promise with a kiss.”

A huge smile lit up Orla's face, making her extraordinary eyes shine bright and transforming her dark, swarthy features into an alluring mask of happiness. For Sterling, it was the most exquisite sight ever, and she stared long and hard as she tried to etch the picture in her mind.

“Kiss me, my heart. Kiss me as if your life depends on it.”

Orla leaned closer and took the soft lips in a powerful, heart-stopping kiss. Sterling moaned when a soft, timid tongue slipped into her mouth and slowly began to caress the interior of her mouth in small, erotic licks. She threw her hands over Orla's broad shoulders, holding on tightly, as she felt herself losing the ability to think and feel. She gave herself over to the magical possession of her lover. When they came up for air, Sterling was crying softly, held tightly against the blacksmith's thundering heart. They both knew, instinctively, that the tears were the only other way to express the bittersweet feeling of love which had taken them over.

“I only realize now that I have never really been kissed before either. You just stole my soul with that kiss, beloved.”

Orla was shivering slightly. “I do not know where that came from, Sterling. It…it just happened.”

Sterling lifted wet eyes to look into equally wet blue eyes. “I am not complaining.”

With a soft, intimate sigh, Orla touched her forehead to Sterling's. They sat like that until the door to the hut opened and the large frame of Cybralle was silhouetted against the yellow light coming from inside the hut.

“You may enter now.”

Sterling marveled at Orla's strength as she effortlessly rose and deposited her gently on her own feet. When Sterling looked up at her mother, it was to see a look of surprise on the dark face. But being a woman of few words, the royal turned away and re-entered the room.

Hand in hand, they followed behind Cybralle.

Chapter 5

Once the royals had left, Lima walked over to where her daughter stood before the fireplace. Her eyes were intense as they caressed her only child's face. The flickering flames threw soft shadows over her daughter's strong, handsome features. Just like her father’s. Gentro was the love of her life. He was tall and broad shouldered for his age with a head full of straight, raven hair and the most beautiful, ghostly blue eyes. They had been married for almost ten years before they were granted their daughter. But Gentro never held Orla in his arms. Lima was still pregnant when Gentro enlisted in the Royal Army, hoping to earn more money to take better care of his family. He never made it back from the Wastelands. Then came his daughter, a spitting image of her father, even larger than him and with the most gentle soul Lima had ever experienced in another being.

For nineteen summers, she had taken care of this extraordinary child she had borne and every day her heart swelled with love and pride as her daughter grew into a magnificent human being. Orla had never shown any interest in a mate and had always joked that they were destined to grow old together, but tonight had changed that. A very powerful woman had gone down on one knee before her and pledged her heart and soul to her daughter. It was not so much what Sterling had said, but the look in those intense, silver eyes when she had laid her heart bare. Lima had always known that her daughter was too special to get married to a poor pig farmer and die early in childbirth. Lucky for them both, the men folk in the city were very much intimidated by her daughter's size and tried to befriend her instead of seeking more.

“What is troubling you, Mother?”

Lima was brought back to the present and met Orla’s searching blue eyes.

“I believe I asked you the same question just yesterday morn,” Lima murmured with a small smile, slipping her arms around her daughter's waist. “It was princess Sterling who was the problem then, no?”

The blue eyes lit up at the mention of the princess's name and Lima was glad that she had trusted her instinct and the knowledge she had of her daughter when she had discussed the marriage pact with the Supreme Royal Couple. Earlier tonight, when her daughter had stormed into the house, her eyes wild and her whole body shaking, she had been scared to death that something terrible had befallen her daughter. It was only after she had calmed down a little that she got the story out of Orla. Stunned, she had fallen into a nearby chair.

“What kind of joke is this, Orla?”

“I am not joking, Mother. They will be here around dinner time. I think we have to prepare something for them to eat.”

She jumped out of the chair and grabbed her nervous daughter by the hand and sat her down.

“What are you not telling me?”

Those unsettling blue eyes looked deep into her own. “I am scared, Mother. She says she loves me, but I am so scared because she can have any woman in all the kingdoms.”

“Did you tell her that?”

“I have tried, but she begs me to give her…us a chance. She asked me if she could come and meet with you tonight to ask for my hand.”

“What do you want me to say to them, daughter?”

The blue eyes shot full of tears. “I do not know, Mother. You are a very good judge of character. You will know if she is genuine in her feelings for me. Answer them as if it is your hand that they seek.”

“Do you love her, daughter?”

“I do not know her, Mother, but…but…she is so nice to me and gentle. She smiles a lot when she looks into my eyes and then sometimes she has this really beautiful look in her eyes when she looks at me.”

She stared long at her daughter and watched as she fidgeted with the hands in her lap. It is a very difficult situation to be in, she thought. She could disregard her daughter's happiness and have her become the second most powerful woman in the realm once the princess becomes Queen. Or she could take her daughter's feelings and happiness in consideration and take a stand against the royals and refuse them.

As she stood here in front of her daughter, she was relieved and happy that she had followed her heart when she made the choice.

“Your face lights up at the sound of her name, Orla. What changed between the two of you while you were waiting outside?”

The blue eyes flashed, and a tender smile formed on Orla's lips. “I fell in love with her.”

Lima clasped her hands over her chest and closed her eyes. All her doubts were resolved. The match was one made in heaven.

“I am so happy to hear that, Orla, because I feared that the princess was the only one truly in love.”

Orla looked down into her mother's eyes and grinned. “For a while there she was.”

Lima playfully slapped her daughter's arm and chuckled.

“What did she do to make you fall in love with her? It must have been something very profound.”

Orla blushed lightly, but the smile stayed on her face. “I asked her to teach me how to kiss her and she did.” She held up her hand and the flames shot off the gold ring on her pinky. “Then she gave me this as a symbol that I am, and always will be, her one and only. That was when I kissed her and…” the blush returned. “…the stars fell from the sky and the earth gave this big heaving sigh.”

Lima dropped her face in her hands as tears leaked through her fingers. Orla was going to be fine. The union was one forged by the Great One. They would be so happy together.

“Mother… Are you…”

“Yes, I am crying.”

Orla gently pulled her mother's hands from her face. “But why?”

“I am crying because my daughter has found her soul mate. I am so happy for you, my child, so very happy.”

There was a soft knock on the door, and Lima quickly dried her tears as she went to greet their guest. Her eyes widened when she opened the door and found the princess standing on her doorstep. This was a sight she was going to have to get used to, she realized suddenly. She noticed that the princess was nervously fidgeting with a cloth sack she held in her hand. The longer she stared at the woman the more nervous she seemed to get and it was then that it finally sunk in who her guest was. She quickly dropped to her knee and gasped when the princess followed the movement until they were on eye level.

“Please, do not do that when we are alone, Lima.”

On shaky legs she came to her feet and stepped back so that the royal could enter. Watching over the princess's shoulder, she saw her daughter quickly coming to her feet, a sheepish look on her face. Not taking her eyes off the couple, she pushed the door shut, eager to see how they interacted.

For a long moment they just looked at each other, and then Orla opened her arms and the princess rushed into them. Their arms were wound tightly around each other as they stood there in a loving embrace, Orla's dark cheek resting on the auburn head of the princess.

“I could not sleep without seeing your face one last time, beloved. I wanted to make sure this night was not a dream,” the princess murmured softly, as she placed a soft kiss on Orla's lips.

“I am really glad to see you again. I was looking at the flames and all I could see was the way your hair shines under the sun when you are on the training ground with the warriors. It looks like burnished copper.” Orla said softly as she stared into the beautiful silver eyes. “You are so beautiful.”

Lima was surprised by her daughter’s unexpected eloquence. She was usually too shy to get a compliment past her lips. With a final look at the two of them, she quietly walked to her bedroom and closed the door behind her. Her part was done in this. Now it was up to the two of them to cement their fragile love.

***

Noticing Lima's departure, Orla placed her large hands on Sterling's hips and lifted her effortlessly from the ground so that they were eye to eye. Their lips met gently at first, but after a few seconds the kiss deepened until Orla was forced to lean against the table to prevent her legs from giving out.

“I love the way you kiss me, my precious,” Sterling whispered against Orla's lips. “I swear I will never tire of your kisses.”

Orla grinned and sucked Sterling's lower lip into her warm mouth, just as Sterling had shown her earlier. It was only when their lungs were protesting from the lack of air that they pulled apart. Orla gently lowered Sterling to her feet and pushed a trembling hand through her hair.

Heavy-lidded, silver eyes stared up at the agitated woman, and a sly smile formed. Orla's innocence was so refreshing to behold. She doubted the young woman knew what was happening to her body. Sterling reached out her hands and cradled Orla's face between them.

“You are experiencing desire, my love, so do not fret too much. It will be over again soon.”

With childlike innocence in her eyes, Orla nodded and closed her eyes.

“What will happen if it does not go away by itself?”

Sterling felt her stomach quiver at the soft question and she stood on tiptoe to place a kiss on the soft lips. “Believe me; I know of a number of ways to make it go away,” she murmured and looked pointedly at her lover. She knew exactly when Orla grasped the meaning of what she had just said. A blush came over the younger woman's face and she quickly averted her eyes. Sterling cocked her head. “It is fine, my love, we will not be doing any of that before we are wed. I want everyone to know that you mean more to me than just that.”

They embraced again, holding onto each other tightly.

“I have brought you something, dearling,” Sterling whispered as she looked up into the tender blue eyes of Orla. “But first, you will have to close your eyes and let go of me so that I can go get your gift.”

There was a sudden flash of panic in the blue eyes. “Are you leaving now?”

“No, love, I brought it with me when I came over here.” She pointed to the cloth sack lying on the floor. “There it is, you see.” She walked over, retrieved the bag and came back to the table. “Could you take a chair and push it closer to the fire? We can sit together and talk for a while.”

Orla quickly pulled a chair closer and once seated she held out her arms for Sterling. She guided her comfortably into the waiting lap. Orla pushed her nose into Sterling’s hair and inhaled deeply. She just loved the way the Princess smelled, like gently crushed rose pedals.

“What are you hoping to learn by sniffing me, dearling?” Sterling asked, amused.

“You smell wonderful. Like gently crushed rose petals.”

“Thank you, sweeting. I have just the perfect scent for you when we take our first bath together…” Sterling felt Orla stiffen and giggled. “…as a married couple. I will not dare take advantage of you before then.” Orla chuckled nervously and Sterling placed a soft reassuring kiss on her cheek. “Even after our vows are spoken and you are still not comfortable with having me take you to our marital bed, I promise you that I will wait until you tell me otherwise.”

Orla looked into the serious, silver eyes and sighed softly. “I am not sure what I want sometimes.”

Sterling sat up straighter, her eyes hooded as she cocked her head to look directly into Orla's stormy eyes.

“What about me? Are you sure that you want me at least?”

Orla's mouth fell open at the question, her eyes almost pale in shock.

“Why…why do you ask me that, Sterling? Why would I not want you? I fell in love with you tonight while we were sitting on the bench outside.” She smiled when she saw the relief on the Princess' face. “Even now…I am falling deeper and deeper in love.”

Sterling exhaled slowly and rubbed her wet eyes. She was not even aware that she had been crying.

“Good to know, beloved.” She rummaged in the bag. “It is the best of all the good news I have received today. I am very happy.”

Orla smiled. “Is it not my duty as your soon-to-be spouse to make and keep you happy, Your Highness?”

Sterling placed a lingering kiss on Orla's lips. “Yes, my love, I believe we both have a duty to keep each other happy. Now, close your eyes for it is my turn to make you happy.”

The blue eyes fluttered closed and, tempted, Sterling stole another kiss before reaching into the bag. She looked down at the item in her hand and placed a soft kiss on the top before she held it to her lover's lips.

“Open your mouth, my love. Yes…a little wider. Good. Here it comes. Bite down.”

She watched as Orla followed her instructions and then she sat back and waited patiently for the reaction. She did not have to wait long. The blue eyes snapped open and looked at her with childlike wonder.

“Cake!” A few crumbs escaped her lips and Sterling smiled tenderly when Orla began to hunt them down not wanting to waste any of the delicious treat.

“Leave them. I brought you more than enough and even some for your mother.” She saw a piece of raspberry stuck on Orla's upper lip and, using her tongue, wiped the piece from her lover's lips. She almost burst out in laughter at the confused and utterly indecisive look in the beautiful blue eyes. She caressed Orla's bulging cheeks with her hand and shook her head. “It is fine, my dear. For now I will let the cakes enjoy your complete attention, but only until you have eaten your last one. Then I would like you to thank me properly.”