Thirty six

OREL POV

“Have you sent a message to Elison?” Gwenn asked me as I continued to look at the documents before me, catching up on what I have missed in the capital so far.

“Yes, that was the first thing I did.” I answered her even though I was too distracted to continue working, I knew that I could not face her. I could not deal with the guilt that I caused her to be banished by my own hands, if I haven’t saved Themis, Gwenn would not be leaving very soon.

“Orel look at me.” Gwenn said softly but I shook my head. “Why?”

“You know why Gwenn, you know.” I rubbed my hands over my eyes tiredly, I missed Themis but I don’t think I can be around her now not after what she did to one of my closest friends because she was jealous, she clearly didn’t trust my words because if she did, she would not have felt the need to remove Gwenn from my side forever.

“You need to stop feeling guilty, it wasn’t your fault and you know. Just like it isn’t her fault too so you need to stop punishing you and her because that is what you are doing.”

“I think I will know if I was punishing myself.” I quipped as she smiled at me.

“You barely sleep, eat or function normally. You have to work twice as hard on something which came easily to you before.” Gwenn tells me as I bit my lips. Of course I should have known that she would noticed, after all her skills at observation are the best among the Dar Empire.


“I cannot forget what she did Gwenn.” I whispered tortured, normally, Elison was the one who gets to listen to me go on about the way I feel and all but he was not around and the next best option was Gwenn.

“She didn’t do anything Orel. She didn’t make a decision out of jealousy.” Gwenn said as I straightened my head to look at her.

“I don’t get it, since when did you start siding her.” I demanded in a harsh tone.

“Since I asked her for the truth this morning and she told me, you have punished her enough Orel, she suffers more than Thrice the amount you do. This afternoon, I overhead some of the servants back talking Her and she was there not doing anything and this evening Estrid came to inform her that she would soon take her place in your life, that Themis time has expired and she knows it. It is time you fix this rift that is between you two.”

“She made you marry someone you didn’t know.” I reminded her.

“She didn’t make me do anything, if she refused to say anything at all, you do know that what we got out of that deal would have been lesser. Ever thought about the fact that she doesn’t understand her gift most of the time or that not everybody will do what she does if they were given the same position or should I remind you that most times, she has to be careful not to change the future. Did it ever occur to you that this was one of those times?” Gwenn demanded as I shook my head. No. it didn’t occur to me.

“Was that what she told you?” I asked.

“It doesn’t matter what she tells me, what matters is what she tells you, ask her reasons and let her tell you. “ Gwenn sighed tiredly. “I have a busy day tomorrow, I have a lot to do before Elison comes.”

“Thank you.” I tell her.

“Tell that to your wife after she forgives you for acting like an ass for ignoring her.” Gwenn waved my words away as she stood up to leave.

“Did you ask for forgiveness?” I asked Gwenn already knowing the answer. “Because last time I checked, we both ignored her.”

“True, but I am not married to her, you are. And besides, I am already getting married to a stranger, everybody knows better than to push me.” She levelled a stern look on me as I nodded while putting my hands up.
“Message received.” I laughs.

“Good, my work here is done.” She said as she left. I closed all the documents as I stood up and walked to our room, when I got there, I saw Themis was still up although her eyes were red mostly from crying and not really from sleep.

“Good evening.” Themis called out tentatively as I removed my shoes and clothes.

“Good evening.” I replied her gruffly as she shrank back into herself that was when I realized that the tone I used for her was an annoyed tone. I cleared my throat and tried again. “Good evening Themis. How was your day?”

Her eyes brightened at my question, I had to stop myself from smiling, she helps me to forget the horrors I have seen, those that I cause and she made my heart to be burden free when I talked to her. “My day was amazing although something almost made me down this evening but I didn’t allow it.”

I froze as she continued to prattle on about how exciting her day was, I knew that she was just trying to keep me interested in talking to her. According to the reports I got today and what Gwenn told me, her day was everything on the opposite of amazing, Gwenn dealt with her when training her this morning, she was not given food to eat until it was way past noon so she was starving, she was insulted by her servants and Dyane was punished for not knowing her place as a slave… Gwenn thought that I was not aware of what was going on in my house but the truth was I was more aware than her. I was even aware of Estrid little visit and I am feeling more remorseful from not protecting her against that vile woman.

“Orel are you listening to me.” Themis softly asked as she reached out to hold me but held her hand midway before dropping it back to her laps with her eyes downcast.

“Themis…” I started to say but she rushed on.

“I didn’t try to remove Gwenn from your side, I know that it seems that way and maybe I might have been a little bit pleased when I got the vision but the truth is that I don’t control my visions Orel, I am so sorry I didn’t tell you but it is not all things that I can tell others, the future might change, I saw my father dying and them appointing me as the maiden for the hunt while my father was alive, I didn’t make my father put measures in place to protect myself because I could not interfere with fate. If I had told you, you would have tried to interfere with fate and that would have led to greater consequences, please believe me.”
I looked at my wife as the feeling of guilt I was feeling for Gwenn before transferred to Themis but this time it was worse because I made it that way, I didn’t cause Gwenn fate on purpose but I was the direct cause of Themis hurt feelings, first thing in the morning, I will make sure that those servants know their place and apologize to Dyane, she was a true friend of Themis. I made Themis someone to be feared and made her friends to be afraid of her only for me to abandon her alone, if Dyane was not there, I wonder How bitter Themis might have been now, Dyane got over her feelings of fear when she saw that her friend needed her.

I moved towards Themis who was focused on staring at her hands and not looking at me as if she was afraid of what she might see on my face which must have been disgust for the past few weeks, how much more of a bad husband have I been?

I tilted her chin up only for her eyes to remain close, was that how much I frightened her. I kissed her as her eyes snapped opened to look at me only for it to become hooded and all the tension left her body and she wrapped her arms around my shoulders.

I felt myself hardened in my trousers as I released a groan, the last time I was inside her was when we were in the army camp, I know that I should stop kissing her and tell her I was sorry for what I did to her but I could not bring myself to talk right now. I was burning to be inside her again.

I leaned downwards on her as she lied down welcoming my weight on her and when my hand went to her flimsy nightwear, hers went to my clothes to continue removing them from my body.

I ripped her nightwear as my mouth went to her breast to suckle on them when her hand wrapped around my cock, I lost all my control in that moment as I nudge aside her hand, and she can play with my cock as much as she wants later, not now while I am burning to be in her. I sank into her in one thrust as she screamed out loud, I should have prepared her better since it was a long time that I was in her.

“I am sorry.” I raised my head to tell her but she ignored my apology as she dragged my face down to her so that she can kiss me, when she became restless under me, I started thrusting into her and she responded with trying to match my thrusts.

We went for one more round before I finally allowed her to rest, maybe tomorrow might we might try more three rounds, I lightly ran my hand across her back as we lay in bed, her cuddled against me. She shivered at my touch and tried to become one with me. I chuckled at her movements before settling her on top of me. She sighed as she rested her head on my chest while her hand combed my chest hairs.

“I am sorry for ignoring you.” I whispered to her hair after laying a kiss there.

“It is okay. I understand.” She whispered back to me as we lay in silence. I wish we didn’t have a war looming over us. I wish I could spend the rest of my days in this moment.

****************************************
“Orel.” Cale boomed as I entered the meeting room.

“Welcome back.” Baxter added

Brogan just went down to business. “I heard that you got an alliance out of Northshore, you have to tell me the secret of how you did it without dying.”

I stared at Brogan and Cale until they looked away from me then me replied Baxter. “Thank you. How is Mary Ann doing?”

“Fine, she is pregnant.” Baxter grins at me.

“Ash, I guess congratulations are in order.” I nodded at him.

“What about your wife, is she pregnant yet.” Brogan asked as I frown at him.

“No, she isn’t. Not to my knowledge at least. And I certainly hope you handle your job with more tact that you show.” I said growing irritated by his lack of finesse in trying to get information from me.

“Of course I do.” Brogan looked insulted at my statement.

“What about lady Themis gift?” Admon asks cutting my reply to Brogan.

“She is a seer, she gets glimpse of the future in her dreams and she has very strong intuition.” I replied as Brogan snorted. “Have something to add.”

“Yes. We all have intuition.” Brogan answered.

“Has you intuition ever saved a life or would have saved the life of more than fifty men.” I asked with a raised eyebrow as Brogan remained silent. “I thought as much.

“Tell us everything.” Admon said as I nodded then proceeded to tell them everything.

“I cannot believe that you gave Gwenn out to marriage and none of us was invited, after this war, she will be given another ceremony.” Baxter said angrily and none of us said anything about that. Baxter loved Gwenn but nobody knew what went on between two of them. He got married to his wife instead of her and she never had a serious relationship after him.

“Of course.” I frowned, was he trying to insult me. I know what to do regarding Gwenn besides Elison will never allow for anything less, gods, dealing with Elison after he has discovered about her would draining.

“And you didn’t ask your wife what was the terms.” Cale asked.

A grimace came on my face. “I was upset with her.”

“And you didn’t ask her last night after the deed.” Brogan said as Admon cuts in before I could reply.

“If you don’t stop antagonizing Orel, I will let him knock you round a few times so that you will control your mouth when it comes to his wife.” Brogan lowered his eyes after that as I said.

“No, I didn’t think to question my wife like a criminal the way you are suggesting.”

“Well, don’t asked her, we will invite her for one of the council meets soon before you leave.” Admon said as I nodded. “She makes you happy?” Admon said in form of a question.

“Yes she does.” I replied with a smile.

“Good, that is all we ask for then.” Admon said. “Next Order of business, Cale asking forgiveness from Orel.”

I groaned at those words. It seems like I have a long day ahead of me.