“Would you like some of mine?” Jenla asked, holding out her mug. “I don’t mind and you know you like rosehips too.” She winked at Alanah. “They make for sweet dreams, so I’m told.”
Alanah blushed, recognizing her friend’s oblique reference to the dreams she’d shared with Bram.
“That’s all right. I’m warm enough—I’ll just get out and dry off now.” She yawned. “I have a big day ahead of me tomorrow.”
“So you’re really going with him? How long will you be gone?” Jenla asked.
“Only four days. The harvest is all in so at least I won’t be missing much work.” Alanah yawned again. “Goodness—suddenly I’m so tired.”
“Well, it’s been a long day,” her friend observed. “Maybe we’d both better get to bed.”
“Agreed.” Sighing, Alanah prepared to exit the warm water. “I’m going now. Good night, Jenla. I’ll see you at breakfast.”
“I don’t think you’ll notice me much if your giant is there.” Jenla’s brown eyes danced with mischief, though there was still worry far back in their depths. Suddenly she leaned forward. “Oh Alanah—are you sure you’re doing the right thing, marrying him?” she asked quietly.
“Look around, Jenla—who else would I marry?” Alanah asked reasonably. “But even if the plague hadn’t come, even if we still had all our men, I would still want to marry Bram. I care for him so deeply—and he cares for me too.”
“I pray to all the gods you’re right.” Jenla murmured. “Good night, my Princess,” she added as Alanah wrung out her bathing garment as well as she could and wrapped herself in a long towel.
“Good night,” Alanah said for the second time and yawned. “See you in the morning.”
She was beginning to feel so sleepy she could hardly keep her eyes open. It made her wonder if she would be too tired to dream-share with Bram tonight—she hoped not. She longed to see her giant again, even if it was only in her dreams.
But soon enough I’ll be in his arms and go with him, she told herself. Go with him to his ship and see all the things I’ve dreamed about for so long come true…
Chapter Eight
“Alanah? Alanah! Wake up, my Princess! Wake up!”
“Hmm?” Alanah rolled over, trying to get away from the hand that was shaking her shoulder so insistently. But whoever it was wouldn’t stop.
“My Princess, you must get up!” she insisted. “They’ve locked the portcullis against Bram and refuse to let him in. You must hurry or he will go without you!”
This finally got Alanah going.
“What?” She sat up, blinking the sleep out of her eyes. Gods, why did her head throb so and why did her limbs seem to be dipped in lead? It was as though sleep was refusing to release her. “What happened?” she asked Jenla. “What’s going on? I feel so strange.”
“You’re acting strangely too—I’ve never known you to be so hard to wake. I’ve been trying for the last twenty minutes to rouse you.” Her friend’s eyes were troubled.
“I feel like I did when Papa let me try his honey-mead,” Alanah groaned. “But I never drank any of that—all I had was tea last night and only a sip at that.” She frowned. “Do you think something was in it? Who made it?”
“I think that Thiera was on kitchen duty last night, but we’ve no time to worry about that,” Jenla said urgently. “Now that you’re up, you’ll have to hurry—if you truly do want to go away with your giant, that is.”
“With Bram? Of course I want to go with him!” Alanah jumped out of bed, shaking off the last of the strange torpor with some difficulty. “Where is he? Did I miss breakfast?”
“He never got to sit at breakfast,” Jenla said grimly. “When he came, Thiera had the guards put down the portcullis and refused him entry. She told him to go away—that you don’t want to see him anymore.”
“What?” Alanah was wide awake now. She’d been going to get dressed but at Jenla’s words she changed her mind and simply threw a long blue dressing gown over the thin white sleep-shift she’d worn to bed. “Where is he? Is he still here?”
“If he is he won’t be for long,” Jenla said. “Thiera is threatening to put a curse on him if he doesn’t go. I’m sorry I couldn’t rouse you sooner, Alanah—you’d better hurry.”
“Of course!” Belting her dressing gown and not even bothering with shoes, Alanah flew out the door of her bedchamber and down the steps to the lower floor of the castle as quickly as she could.
Outside in the courtyard she found a scene of chaos. Female guards in ill-fitting armor were standing before the rusty portcullis while the common folk and noblewomen alike gathered in a crowd and muttered and murmured amongst themselves. Standing in the center of the action and shouting dramatically was Thiera, the Elder Witch herself.
“He is a monster—a demon from the North!” she was crying, her long, feathered cloak and headdress whipping dramatically in the brisk mid-morning wind. “He must be sent back from where he came. Go, giant! You cannot have our Princess—she is not for you.”
Bram was standing quietly outside the castle gates but Alanah could see the tension in his broad shoulders.
“I’ll believe that when I hear it from Alanah’s own lips,” he growled softly, frowning. “What have you done with her?”
“I am her guardian,” Thiera proclaimed. “She has sent me to tell you to be gone—she wants nothing to do with you and your wicked sorcery, demon from the North!”
“Bram isn’t a sorcerer or a demon,” Alanah shouted to make her voice heard over the babbling of the crowd as she pushed her way forward to the gate. “And I never told you to tell him to go,” she added, as she finally reached Thiera.
“My Princess…” The Elder Witch looked up at her with wounded dignity. “I was only telling him what I knew you would want me to say. You cannot be associated with such evil!”
“Bram isn’t evil!” Alanah was beginning to lose her patience. “He cares for me and I care for him.”
“Alanah!” She saw the relief in her giant’s eyes as he took a step closer to the rusty portcullis, ignoring the spears the guards were pointing at him through the missing bars. “I’ve been waiting out here for ages—I was afraid you didn’t want to see me.”
“I do want to see you,” Alanah said firmly. “And…and I want to come with you—to marry you, just as you asked.”
An excited murmur rolled through the crowd.
The giant…the Princess is going to marry the giant!
Thiera turned black, shocked eyes on her.
“You cannot mean this, my Princess. Surely you will not give yourself over to a demon this way!”
“For the last time, Bram isn’t a demon or a sorcerer or evil,” Alanah exclaimed, losing her patience. “He is the man I’m going to marry and I’m going with him now.” She motioned at the guards. “Open the portcullis.”
“Do not!” Thiera thundered. “As the Elder Witch, I forbid you to allow this demon access to our stronghold.”
“You may be the Elder Witch but I am the ruler here,” Alanah said, striving to keep her voice level and even. “I am Alanah Kingsdaugter and my father, the king, left me in charge of our people.” She turned to the guard again. “I order you to open the portcullis now.”
“Theira’s eyes flashed. “And I forbid it! This evil demon of a giant called forth a gnasher from the forest and then used dark magic to burst it wide apart—just as he could burst us all if he so chose! I have laid spells of protection upon the gate but if it opens, all will be lost! We will all die!”
For a moment the issue was gravely in doubt. The two guards—girls about Alanah’s age—looked uncertainly between their young ruler in her dressing gown and bare feet and the older, imposing Elder Witch who was, of course, in full regalia with her cloak and headdress of blue-black feathers rustling around her.
Alanah had been appointed to rule by her father, it was true, but she was so young. And Thiera had been the spiritual leader of their people for years an
d years—plus she was promising dire consequences if her orders were not obeyed. It was a difficult decision to make.
Alanah saw what was happening and appealed to the guards.
“Hendah,” she said to the one closest to her. “You went with us on the applen picking party—you saw what happened. Bram was only defending me and Jenla. If he hadn’t acted, we would be dead—and probably many others who were with us too.”
“Well…” Hendah frowned and shifted her spear to her other hand. “That’s true, I guess…”
“And Gelly,” Alanah said, turning to the other guard. “You watched us come in from the party yesterday. You saw how gentle Bram is. He carried me all the way back to the castle when my ankle was twisted and never offered me or anyone else any harm. Nor does he offer harm now—he only wants me to go with him for a few days and then I’ll return.”
“Just a few days?” Gelly frowned. “So…you’re not leaving us forever, my Princess?”
“Absolutely not,” Alanah assured her firmly. “But I must go with him now so I need you and Hendah to open the portcullis. I give you my word as your Princess that no harm will come to you or anyone else if you do.”
“Do not do it!” Thiera warned again but Gelly and Hendah had exchanged a look and were already winching the chain mechanism which raised the heavy iron gate.
At last it was open enough for Alanah to duck under. With a feeling of inexpressible relief, she ran to Bram and threw her arms around him.
“Alanah!” he rumbled. “I was so worried! I was afraid that witch had locked you up.”
“She might as well have—I’m fairly certain she drugged my tea last night. But I’m here now,” she told him. Then her emotions overcame her. “Bram, I need you but I can’t reach you!”
Bram understood and lifted her easily, his strong arms locked under her bottom to bring her close enough to kiss. Alanah cupped his big face in her hands and slanted her lips over his, tasting him again and breathing in his warm, spicy scent as she had that very first night after he’d first appeared asking for an audience.
There were murmurs of shock and awe from the assembled crowd but since Bram did not immediately start blasting people as Thiera had warned he would, none of the women left. Indeed, more people came crowding up all the time, intent on watching the fascinating display.
At last Alanah broke the kiss—though she felt she could have happily embraced her giant forever—and looked out at her assembled subjects.
“Bram is mine and I am his,” she said loudly. “Today I am making a formal declaration of betrothal and announcing my intention of marriage. I will be going with him for four days to consummate our marriage and then I will return to you.”
Theira’s eyes flashed angrily.
“And how do you intend on consummating this blasphemy, Princess, I’d like to know?” she demanded. “Since I will be withholding my blessing?”
“What?” Alanah felt as though she’d been punched in the stomach. She’d expected trouble from the Elder Witch but she’d never thought Thiera would actually refuse to bless her marriage to Bram. “What did you say?” she demanded.
“You heard me.” Thiera smiled spitefully. “If you do this—if you go with this demon—you go without my consent. I will not give my blessing to such an unholy union, nor will I say a ritual for you, Princess.” She raised her voice, making certain everyone assembled could hear her. “I say to you now, Alanah Kingsdaughter, that your flower will remain unbloomed—your petals closed and furled. If you insist on this marriage it will be a barren union for you will never be able to consummate it.”
“You…you can’t do this,” Alanah gasped. “You’ve never withheld the ritual before, Thiera! It’s against the law. When an intention of marriage is announced, the Elder Witch must honor it!”
“Not if it is an intention of marriage to an unholy demon,” the older woman snapped back. “You must come away from him, my Princess—this giant has bewitched you! He has poisoned your mind against your own people.”
“He has not.” Trying to gather herself, Alanah spoke firmly, though inside she felt like she was dying. “I love my people as much as I ever have. I will be back in four days time after our unions is…is complete.”
She nearly stumbled over the last words, having to force them out. For how could she and Bram complete their union now? Without the fertility ritual of the Elder Witch, there was no possibility of her flower ever blooming, let alone of her petals spreading wide enough to admit her giant’s shaft.
The Elder Witch’s words tolled in her head. A barren union…a barren union… They would not be silenced.
“Go with the Gods, my Princess!” Jenla’s clear voice rang out above the clamor of the other women and the words in her head. “And may they bless your marriage.” She cast a sidelong glance at Thiera. “Even if others will not.”
Alanah drew strength from her friend’s words.
“Thank you, Jenla,” she said, trying to keep her voice even. “Please watch over things while I’m gone.”
“I’ll do my best.” Jenla gave her a worried look. “We will await your safe return.”
“I’ll be back,” Alanah promised.
“Of course you will,” Thiera snorted derisively. “You must come back for there is no point in staying in a barren union.”
Alanah refused to dignify her words with an answer.
“Bram,” she murmured. “Swing me up on your shoulder as you did yesterday.”
“Yes, my Princess,” he rumbled, giving her the respect she was due, just as Jenla had. Putting his big hands around her waist, he perched her carefully on one broad shoulder and turned her to face the crowd.
“My people, I am going,” Alanah said, raising her voice to carry above the murmuring and talk. “In my absence, I appoint my good and faithful servant Jenla to watch over your wellbeing. I will return in four days time. Farewell!”
There were murmurs of uncertainty at first and she caught a look of blackest rage from Thiera—clearly she was furious that she had not been formally left in charge in Alanah’s absence. But then Jenla began to chant.
“Long live the Princess! Health and happiness on her marriage. Long live the Princess! Health and happiness on her marriage!”
Soon the guards who had opened the portcullis took it up and then many of the rest of the crowd did too.
Alanah felt her heart swell as she watched from her perch on Bram’s broad shoulder. She waved regally, turning her head to continuing bidding farewell even as her giant moved off, loping easily over the brown Autumn grass, his long strides eating up the distance in no time flat.
But though she kept her face serene, inside Alanah’s heart was breaking. Her love was doomed from the start—for how could she ever consummate her marriage to the giant Kindred now?
Though she wanted him more than she’d ever wanted anything in her life, she could never have him and he could never have her.
Their love was doomed.
* * * * *
Alanah was silent and grim as Bram got her buckled into the passenger side seat of the shuttle. She expressed no interest in the blinking lights and flashing instruments of the control panel although he knew she’d never seen anything like them before. She didn’t even make a peep when they lifted off the ground and flew up into the blackness of space.
It was as though she was completely withdrawn into herself and it worried Bram—worried him a hell of a lot.
“Alanah…little one,” he said anxiously, when the shuttle finally broke free of her planet’s gravity and they were headed for the Mother Ship. “Please tell me what’s wrong. Why are you so quiet over there? Are you regretting your decision to come with me?”
“No, but…” Alanah’s throat worked and he had the feeling she was doing everything she could to hold back tears. “But you may be sorry I’ve come.”
“Why would I be sorry?” Bram demanded softly. “Little one, having you by my side is a dream come true. I’m so
glad you’ve decided to try the Claiming Period with me—so glad you’ve agreed to join with me!”
“You won’t be when you know.” She was looking away, one hand over her face.
“When I know what?” Bram asked. “Please, Alanah, just tell me.”
“I can’t…I won’t be able to…to bloom for you.” She looked at him briefly and Bram could see tears shining in her lovely gray eyes.
He shook his head. “I don’t understand. Are you worried about our size difference again? Because I promise you, we have a solution that will help. My friend and science officer, Ren, is working on it now.”
“It’s not that—or not just that.” She sniffed. “How can my petals spread for you if my flower hasn’t bloomed in the first place? And now it never will.” She buried her face in her hands. “It never will…”
Bram could get no more from her and they flew in silence as he landed in the docking bay of the Jor’gen Kindred’s Mother Ship. He didn’t know exactly what was wrong but he had a general idea of what she was talking about. When that evil witch, Thiera, had made such a big deal about refusing her blessing to their marriage, he’d seen Alanah’s face go cold and white.
It must be some kind of superstition, he thought, frowning. Something that damn Elder Witch has them all believing and now she’s made Alanah think she’ll never be able to bond with me!
Watching his bride-to-be cry her eyes out made him so angry he wished he could go back and kill the witch—even though as a Kindred he would never normally hurt a female. All he could do was watch helplessly as Alanah tore herself apart with misery and wish that he could do something—anything—to make her feel better.
She seems to think I won’t want her somehow—that I can’t love her if she can’t “bloom” for me, whatever the hell that is, he thought.
Then show her that you do. Show her you will love her no matter what, Warrior.
The powerful feminine voice seemed to be coming from inside his head and for a moment Bram was confused. Who was speaking to him? Whose voice was this?