Twenty six

Two weeks later and so much work that I could choke on it, no talking to Orel and training on my own, I broke down into tears again as I tried to understand what was in front of me, there was nobody to ask for help, normally I would ask my husband but I have barely seen him in two weeks which was mostly my fault since I avoided him like he had the plague. I normally ignored any thought that I have of him but I am weak.

“This has gone on for too long.” I said as I stood up, maybe he would be more amendable to treating me as an equal now. I stopped being angry about a week ago when my dreams showed me and Gwenn being close friends even though we didn’t see often, she was married, a queen to an empire and happy in her marriage too, I had a feeling that the marriage will soon occur which was strange since but relaxing, the dream showed me that Gwenn no longer had any designs for my husband. She was just being spiteful at first and she mellowed down during our practice although she was annoying but I have a feeling that is how she always is.

I went to look for Orel which was strange since, I didn’t see him in the training field and the stables and in the council tent too which was the last place I checked because the council no longer held meetings every day, what they wanted to mapped out has already be mapped. The camp was packing up and redistributing itself, some part of the army were going to leave within the week so that they can go to their new post while others were helping in the smith part to produce new weapons and if that was where Orel was then I would stay behind, the smith was far from our current part of the camp and I didn’t want to use Tyra, she was suffering from a round of cold which will soon clear up according to the stable master who was now a good friend of mine. I arrived at our tent because something told me that he would be there. I have been suspecting that Orel was returning to the tent when I was not around so he could change and maybe bathe but I ignored it after all it was his tent before it became ours.

I entered the tent only to find him sleeping with his grip tightly around cloth I used for covering. It has been a cold night the day before and I didn’t have anything other than that to use. I looked at Orel thoroughly for the first time in two weeks. There were some changes but it was kind of small and not noticeable. His eyes were deep and his cheeks were gaunt as if he hasn’t been eating for some days. There was sparse hair on his face like he also hasn’t been shaving. That told me all I needed to know. He hasn’t been taking care of himself.

I took off my boots as I entered the bed and sat comfortably as possible while passing my hand through his hair. I will be here when he wakes, then we will talk. He needed his sleep now. It wasn’t up to thirty minutes later when he stirred awake, when he noticed that I was in the room, his body went tight with tension that only left when I ran my hand through his hair again.

“I will leave soon.” Orel said as he rest his head on my laps, leaning more into my touch.

“You don’t need to leave. I am sorry.” I said softly as he turned to look at me in surprise.

“What for?”

“For allowing this to drag on for two weeks.” I replied as he shook his head.

“It wasn’t your fault, I knew that I offended you. I kept trying to apologize but you didn’t want to hear anything from me. I understand.”

“True, why were you sleeping here?” I deviated the topic

“I could not sleep well for some time now so I thought I could get some rest here.” Orel tells me truthfully.

“Me too” I informed him.

“I am sorry for not telling you, I didn’t see it as anything at first, and you know that right.”

“As much as I want blame you or say you are lying, I know it is the truth because you are dense when it comes to situations like this, but you have to promise me not to keep anything from me.” I said as Orel nodded.

“Done, I don’t want to past through the last weeks anymore, it has been torture and I just want to hold you close to me, I missed you a lot.” Orel said as I blushed.

“Enough with the romantic words.” I said trying to sound unaffected but I knew I failed woefully at that.

“I am sorry, what did I say wrong.” Orel asked worried that he put his foot in his mouth again. “I was just saying what I felt.”

With that I smiled at Orel, he was dense but we would work out.



“So let me guess, you two are now in speaking terms again.” Elison asked and when I nodded, he breaks into a grin.

“Thank the gods above, I could not take any more of this, I was planning on imprisoning you both just so you would air your grievances to each other and the entire camp will stop walking on eggshells around you two.”

“How will you do that?” Orel said with a derisive snort. “I am the warlord.”

“And all of the other commanders agreed with me.” Elison said as Orel body rocked back at that.

“What’s wrong?” I asked knowing that something was going on that I didn’t understand.

“All of them.” Orel asked.

“Yes, they were tried of you acting like a grouchy bear.” Elison said “Don’t worry, they are still at each other throats, besides me and Gwenn will never remove you from your power.”

“What is going on?” I asked again as Orel kissed my head then explains to me.

“If all the council members make a decision against mine in war, mine is void because that means that they see me as unfit to lead the army. A new warlord will emerged, chosen by the council among themselves, it must be a unified decision.”

“So” I questioned. “It isn’t like you are leaving the position of warlord until you are grey haired.”

“How did you know?” Orel asked.

“Because it was the dream I got my first night in your camp that was how I knew that you will always protect me.” I said with a shrugged.

“How.” Elison asked.

“Because I saw I right beside him in that dream.” I state as Orel eyes went bright and kissed my hair again.

“Did any other fact stood out in the dream.” Orel asked me.

“Nothing, expect we were waving at the new warlord fondly. Why?” I asked as Orel smiled again.

“Nothing you should worry yourself about, I will tell you when the time is right.” Orel said and although I wanted to be angry at his statement but I wasn’t angry, I believed that when it is the right time for me to know, he will tell me.

“Lady Themis, are you still angry at Gwenn.” Elison asked as my body went taunt.

“Why?”

“So that I will know who will follow Orel and you in soliciting for allies.” Elison voiced not meeting Orel eyes who I am sure was starring daggers at his friend for bringing up that issue.

“So two of the commanders must go.” I asked as Elison nodded.

“And the two must be who Orel trust to have his best interest at heart. That means only me and Gwenn fits that description.”

“I don’t think that Gwenn has his best interest at heart.” I mumbled not liking what Elison was saying and not liking the way my intuition is saying that Gwenn will be the one to follow us.

“She does, although she allows her childish nature to outshine her real self sometimes.” Orel said and when I raised an eyebrow at him, he corrected himself. “Most of the time.”

“Why cannot you go?” I asked Elison who refused to look at Orel.

“It is not a good idea to leave Gwenn in charge again, she is third in command and the rest commanders might gang up on her and she doesn’t know how to keep the camp on its toes as it get ready for departure.” Elison explained.

“I will inform her that she can come.” I mumbled not happy about the words regardless of vision or no vision. I haven’t had any conversation with her since our fight.

“Thank you.” Orel pressed his head to mine.

“What for.”

“For not ruling Gwenn out as an enemy forever. We may have made some terrible choices in the past but she has a good heart.” Orel said as I nodded.