Don't Forget to Dream (25 page)

“
I will be fine.
It
is you I will worry about,
”
he said settling her against him once again.

“
Me,
and what am I doing that
is
so dangerous?
”

“
Leaving the Palace,
”
he said simply.

“
I am very happy to be leaving the Palace for a while, if not happy for the reason,
”
Rhyla replied.

“
You
’
re
happy to be leaving? Aren
’
t you happy here?
”
Callum asked concerned.

Rhyla hesitated for so long that Callum
’
s frown deepened. She finally answered,
“
I am very happy with my position here
and I love Lady Emelia greatly.
I had never dreamt of obtaining such a place. To be surrounded by such beauty, to not worry over every meal or fear for my safety, you can
’
t imagine how that feels.
”

“
But,
”
Callum insisted.

Rhyl
a drew a breath before answering.
She
knew he deserved the truth,
“
It
is very difficult to spend my days working at tasks I
always thought of as additional
activities for those few hours of leisure you could scrape together in a week. Now I spend my time sewing and embroidering in the women
’
s hall and reading for hours at a time. A year ago I was working the fields with my father, tending the chickens, milking the cows, not to mention the work of preparing meals and managing the house. This idleness is not me, and the constant gossip, at times it is more than I can bare.
”

Callum was shocked and speechless for a minute,
“
I had no idea it was so difficult, but I can see your point. I hate it when father has me attending meetings and court sessions when I would rather be out training or riding.
”

Rhyla smiled at him.
“
You do understand,
”
she said softly.

“
Aye, I understand. But is it so dreadful to relax in the women
’
s hall enjoying the idle chatter?
”
he asked attempting to find the positives
in her description of her days. U
nfortunately he was significantly wide of the mark.

Rhyla laughed at him in a short sharp bark,
“
Relax in the women
’
s hall? To listen to them talk all day with you as the main topic?
”

“
Me? Why would they talk about me?
”
he asked seriously.

Rhyla muttered something about stupid men under her breath before answering,
“
The entire time I have been here the main topic of conversation has been you and whom you may marry. At first it was Lady Madeline and Lady Sarah but now it is Princess Annabelle. I have had to listen to everything anyone has ever heard about her and her family, where she is in the royal line, where you will marry and then live. They have even discussed what your children will look like.
”
As she finished
,
her cheeks were flushed and Callum stared at her slightly stunned before he broke out laughing.

“
I have never even met the girl and she is only fourteen,
”
he stated
as if that should put a stop to the gossiping.

“
I know,
”
she nearly screamed at him. He laughed again and drew her into him again.

“
I am sorry you have had to listen to all that,
”
he said
gently, his lips brushing her ear.

“
It
’
s not your fault and I know I have to learn to deal with it,
”
she paused for a moment, knowing she needed to push him away but failing to find the strength within her. All she wanted was to stay in his arms, to lean against him forever, to forget that she would never be his.
“
Perhaps these coming weeks will be a blessing. If I don
’
t see you or be constantly reminded of you I can start to get over you.
”

He pulled away to look at her with pain and controlled grief clear for her to see,
“
Is that what you want - t
o forget me?
”

“
No, I can never forget you. E
ven if I never saw you again I will always love you. But I can
’
t live with this pain.
I have to find a way to get over you,
”
she attempted to explain.

His features d
eepened into a frown of anguish.
Rhyla thought she could feel his fists clenching and releasing behind her back. She didn
’
t interrupt as the realisation of their situation and the stupidity of their actions pervaded his consciousness. Finally he smoothed his features and drew a deep breath.

“
I have been a fool. Please forgive me. I spoke of honouring and respecting you but in truth I have been selfish, thoughtless and cruel,
”
he slowly broke his hold on her and stepped back so they no longer touched.
“
I have been enjoying how you make me feel, without acknowledging the consequences, even though I have been reminded time and again. I have never felt this way, never thought I would find love. I only expected
companionship and fondness in a wife.
I guess that will still be the case.
”
He threw up his hands in exasperation at the frustration of the situation. He rushed on with a harsh bitterness in his voice,
“
Perhaps this pursuit of the
bandits is just what I need. Something to distract me, to make me so tired I won
’
t have time to think of you.
”

“
Oh Callum, please, please be careful,
”
she pleaded hearing the gravity of his tone. She involuntarily took a step towards him but stopped before they touched.

“
Don
’
t worry, I won
’
t do anything reckless,
”
he assured her.
“
I
t is you who needs to keep safe.
Even
the most peaceful areas can have outlaws seeking to prey on the unwary.
”

“
You needn
’
t worry about me, I can take care of myself,
”
she said confidently.
Her
conviction puzzled Callum. Seeing his expression Rhyla hastily added,
“
And we will have six guardsmen with us so you needn
’
t concern yourself.
”
She attempted to smile but failed
,
realising he didn
’
t fully accept
her explanation.

They stood awkwardly looking at each other until Callum looked away covering his face with his hands and exhaling harshly in frustration.
“
I expect the
y will be nearly ready to leave.
We
had better go,
”
he said jerking his head towards the door.

Rhyla felt tears forming but was not fast enough to prevent them spilling over to run down her cheeks. She hastily dashed them away but the damage was done. Callum pulled her to his chest once more and buried his face in her hair. Rhyla couldn
’
t control the sobbing as she held him as tightly as she could. They stayed that way for several minutes, waiting for Rhyla to calm her sobbing. Her breathing settled into a normal rhythm and gradually slowed. They clung to each other knowing these would be their final moments alone for a long time, possibly and most sensibly it would be forever. Finally they found the strength to separate. Rhyla retrieved a cloth from her belt pouch to dry her face. Callum waited patiently.

“
We really do have to leave Rhyla,
”
he said smoothing her hair and frowning softly as he looked into her eyes.
“
I don
’
t think either of us
wish
to explain the reason for us delaying the departure.
”

Rhyla turned to face him squarely with carefully controlled features.
“
I wouldn
’
t want to upset the plans,
”
she said simply.

Callum assisted her i
n gathering the papers that were
needed to take to Dratton and they placed them in a small satchel that already contained Rhyla
’
s writing implements. Their task was quickly completed and with no further excuse to delay
,
they exited the sunroom and steadily walked the Palace halls towards the Grand entrance and the courtyard. They walked beside each other but with a constant distance between them. The silence of their passage was soon broken by the organised chaos of the Palace courtyard. A brief glance with a tight smile was all they could manage before they separated. Rhyla made her way through the masses to join a weeping Elsie and Captain Martin, who waited by the carriage as it stood inside the gate.

“
Hello Captain,
”
she managed before having to control the tears threatening to build again. Elsie certainly didn
’
t help her attempted composure.

“
Hello Rhyla,
”
he replied,
“
it is a lovely day for a ride.
”

Rhyla attempted to smile at his distraction tactics,
“
Yes, it is. We should all be able to make good time.
”

“
Aye, it is certainly more pleasant than riding in the rain,
”
he laughed wryly.

Rhyla smiled for a moment before stepping closer to him and speaking so sof
tly that only he could hear her.
Elsie seemed oblivious to them.
“
Keep him safe for me Martin, please,
”
she pleaded.

Martin smiled more warmly at her.
“
I promise Rhyla, I will keep him from harm,
”
he reassured her.

“
Thank you. I expect to see you both back here unscathed,
”
she added.

“
Take care Rhyla. Don
’
t fall too mu
ch in love with the Black Swan Estate.
We
need you back here,
”
Martin said with only a touch of sarcasm in his tone.

“
I doubt much can keep me away for long,
”
she said truthfully, if also a little ruefully, before returning to Elsie
’
s side.

Callum went to his family at the bottom of the stairs, not far from where a stable lad held his and his brother's mounts. The Royal family spent several minutes saying their goodbyes before King Liam escorted Lady Emelia to her carriage and the Princes mounted, calling as they did for the guardsmen to do likewise. As the clamour of over a hundred mounting riders faded
,
Princes Edwin and Callum made their way to the gate.

Prince Edwin signalled for their departure and led the men forward with his brother and Captain Martin on either side. Lady Emelia
’
s carriage followed with the guardsmen formed up four abreast to walk through the city streets to Lestran
’
s northern gate. The progress was slow but steady as the populace along the city streets stepped out of the way and pulled their carts into side streets to allow the troops through. Many of the people
cheered as the Princes rode by.
Rhyla watched Callum wave to them from where she sat next to her mistress. Her pride swelled in her chest seeing him so at ease amongst the people, and at his bravery in leading the
se men into an unknown conflict
of skirmishes and ambushes, with no accurate estimation of the
numbers and skills of the forces they faced. Rhyla knew she could never love and respect another man as she did her Prince.

Outside the northern gate the road continued straight on with a fork to the right appearing after a few miles. The Princes left Captain Martin to continue walking north while they and the carriage pulled off to this east turning with its escort of Ryan and six of the Palace guardsmen. As they parted Rhyla watch
ed Martin turn and wave briefly.
She
did the same before he turned away.