She pulled away, “What do you mean, but... you didn’t want to do it! You only went grudgingly! You said we had to find a different way, that you were doing it one last time.”
“I ken, I changed my mind, I learned something?—”
“You promised!” She pushed me on m’chest.
“Och nae.” I rubbed the spot.
“Oh my god, Torin, I’m so sorry, did I hurt your shoulder?”
I raised my shirt, givin’ her a glimpse of a spreadin’ purple bruise.
“I’m so sorry!” She burst into tears. “Oh God, I’m such an ass.”
I chuckled. “Ye arna an arse, ye are a bit of a screechin’ harpy though.”
“I am the worst, I’m so sorry, Torin.”
I said, “If ye kiss it, twill feel much better.”
She raised my shirt and kissed m’chest on the bruise. Then she raised up, with a pout on her lips. “You’re sweaty and there’s blood on you.”
“Aye, I smell like war and likely taste it as well, ye ought tae hae thought of it afore ye pushed me, Princess, and had tae kiss tae make it up tae me.”
“I am so sorry.”
“I ken. I actually dinna mind it much, yer push has all the strength of a frail bird.”
She sighed. “I deserved that.”
“Tis alright, Alexandria, daena worry about it.”
“I just hate it, I hate the whole thing. I know I’m supposed to be strong and wait like a good monarch, but I don’t like not knowing what’s going on. It’s really scary, you’re leaving me alone to go to battle and… you know, it’s my only issue.” She fussed with a tissue in her hands, while she teased, “I’m perfect in every other way but this, and you know it, I don’t like to be left, but here you are, leaving me to go fight and the only reason I got through it was because you promised me you would come home.”
“I did come home and am fairly well, considerin’. The physician said I winna die, ye will be glad tae hear.”
Her eyes went wide, “You almost died! Are you okay?”
“I am glad ye asked, Princess, aye, yer faithful servant, Torin, has survived the war.”
She sank into a chair. “I love you so much, I just don’t know how to tell you. You mean everything to me, please don’t leave me again, I can’t bear to be without you.”
“I winna, Alexandria, ye hae been verra dutiful, waitin’ patiently, and twill be the last time ye are expected tae do it.”
Her chin trembled. “I don’t get how you’re going to go to battle again and you aren’t going to leave me, but I’m taking you at your word. You promise?”
“Aye.”
“I don’t believe you, you say this all the time but you still go.”
“I hae tae, mo leannan, sometimes, ye hae tae trust me that I daena want tae, but I must.”
She sighed. “So what… ? What are we going to do?”
“I am goin’ tae take charge and plan the attack. I will go back in time and loop around tae just before the battle?—”
“To when? You were with me, you can’t be twice in the same place. We know that’s not how it works.” Her eyes expressed horror, “Would you go to a time before you and Max came to see me, before our night together? No! What if something changed? What if something happened and I wasn’t amenable to you? You can’t take that chance, we got married, it’s too big to mess around with!”
“I would still marry ye?—”
