Page 11 of Her Ivory Flame

He had not crossed her mind in many years and didn’t anticipate him being one of the first she would see when they arrived. She had no idea how she would face him, her ex-fiancé who thought she died in a war a century ago.

“Breathe,” Silas’s voice cut through the anxiety in her mind, her chest rising with a deep breath. “No matter what happens, I will be here for you ok?” his thumb still rubbing her gently.

“I have no idea how he is going to react.” Her voice was low. “It's been a century and I have no idea if he has changed or if he would even care if I return.”

“He is not my favorite person in the court, that is a fact.” Silas picked his head up and rested it on his hand so he could look down at her. “He has talked about you often, but I can’t tell if it's out of respect or love.”

“He’s gonna be pissed you knew and didn’t tell him if it’s the latter.” She let a small laugh escape her chest before grinning and looking up at Silas’s golden eyes that were staring at her with a longing look.

“He can be mad all he wants. I would have gone to the grave with your secret.” He gave her a small grin, a confession she knew was true.

Lifting herself up slightly she gave him a soft kiss on the cheek, her eyes meeting his only inches away. “I owe you everything Silas.”

They both stared at each other in silence for a moment, tension building between them like so many times before.

She could see the sun starting to peak behind the buildings out the window behind him, pulling her out of their stare. “Ready to turn the world upside down with me?” A grin tugging at her lips.

He leaned forward and returned a tender kiss on her forehead. His eyes met hers again, his lips forming his own cocky grin. “Ready as ever, My Lady.”

She gave him a playful shove before getting out of bed and walking to her hanging clothes from the day before. She could see out of the corner of her eye him rise out of bed, his sculpted body once again making her heart skip a beat.

Maybe one day, in a world not threatened by war they could have something more than this dance they kept up between them. One day she might be able to prove herself worthy of him, but for now she would keep him close as long as he would let her.

- - - - - - - -

She stopped the grey mare on top of the final grassy hill before Elnora, the large stone castle in the distance. This was the last chance for her to change her mind and turn back, if she told herself the truth, there was still part of her that wanted to.

One look at Silas, and she knew she couldn’t bring herself to turn around.

“You ready?” he asked, stopping next to her.

“As ready as a dead person can be when resurrecting themselves. Time to put on a show.” She smiled, a nervous laugh sounding from her.

Silas smiled back, his eyes not hiding his concern.

She secured her hood up on her head, the sun shadowing her face as they rode down the hill and tried to keep herself focused on the castle in the distance.

They had made good time, leaving early enough so the sun was still lighting the sky as they got closer to their destination.

Once they got to the gate, she kept her head low while Silas talked to the guards standing close by. They had been stopped before entering the giant metal gate with a large blue raven molded into the doors. It was the insignia for Ambros, the same one Silas and other soldiers had on their patches.

“Let's go.” Silas smiled and nudged his horse forward.

She gave a small smile back and nodded to the guards who just stared as she rode by. Being with Silas made her no threat to them and let her pass without hesitation. If only they knew who she was, a fox in a rabbit's den, and she wondered if they would have let her pass at all.

They rode through the well-maintained streets, all the buildings spotless of any overgrowing plants or rotting woods. She had forgotten how magnificent the structures were here. Ketras was clean, but Elnora was immaculate in comparison. She noticed citizens waving at Silas as they rode by.

“You must be popular around here?” she questioned quietly while keeping pace next to him.

“I’m a general of the king’s army, they wave at us all the time.” He just shrugged his shoulders and waved at a few people as they passed by.

Some stared at her as they rode near, others just made it a point to look the other way quickly. With her hooded cloak and fighting leathers she knew she was sticking out compared to others in the city. If she wasn’t with Silas they might think she was some sort of thief or assassin.

“So, what is the plan once we get there?” she muttered.

“I didn’t really have much of a plan.” He gave her a hesitant smile.

“So basically walk in and say SURPRISE!?” she let out a small laugh. “I’m sure that will go over well.”