Sensing Maxen was about to reveal something that might change her, trembling, Audra sat down. He pulled out the chair next to her and pulled close.
“I’d been gone for five years. I lived in Sweden, working as a mercenary, as I often did, unless I found work in a blacksmith forge, but those jobs were difficult to find.
“One night, I had an awful nightmare that you’d been killed. It was so real, and in the dream, I touched your ice-cold body. Your body lay pale, broken, and bloody from battle. I woke in a panic, unable to breathe, and covered in sweat. That morning I made arrangements to sail home, because I had to see with my own eyes if you were all right.”
“Wait,” said Audra, drawing out the word. “You were here? Eleven years ago?”
Audra’s …show more content…
“But the dog…?”
“Ah, yes. When I boarded the ship for Prydain, Luna, I mean, Apple, ran up to me, underfed, but so affectionate and lovely. She wouldn’t leave my side, and when the sailors threatened to toss her into the sea, I paid them extra to allow her on board.
“She became my companion during the crossing, and stayed we me as I made my way across Prydain to Aber Hael. When I made it to the Hael and hid in the woods to spy on you, I tied her up while she ate and rested. Then I spotted Rory. I don’t think he noticed, but Apple whine and strained when he was near. She wanted to be with him, he looked like he needed a friend, and I wasn’t sure how I would care for her long-term. The moment I untied her she ran for him, and I saw they were meant to be together. It made me happy, knowing I had given your child a guardian of sorts when I could not be there myself.”
Audra bit her lower lip. “I want to be furious at you for not giving me a chance to see you when I was here, but after that selfless act you described, how can I?”
Sitting back, Maxen winced. “You may hate me when I tell you about the other times I was here.”
“Other times?” She had to consciously keep her jaw from dropping …show more content…
“I am so sorry. It was a compulsion I couldn’t resist. To see the two of you. When I saw you as a mother, so beautiful and caring, but forceful when you needed to be, it touched me. It helped me through the lonely years. Without it? I don’t know how I would have survived. Forgive me.”
That was all Audra needed to hear to dismiss any anger she clung to. She had sat there this whole time, concerned about her feelings and her needs while forgetting Maxen had roamed from one foreign kingdom to another, alone. He’d not enjoyed the benefits of friends and family at her side, as she had. She imagined most of his relationships remained casual and businesslike, and he had not spent a single night in a woman’s arms or bed for close to sixteen years. Her heart broke for him, and she promised herself right then she would do everything she could for the rest of her days to ease his pain and shower him with love. If he’d allow it.
Audra, tears filling her eyes, reached across the table and grabbed his hands. “Tell me everything. Everything you’ve been through. I want to hear it all.”
“There’s a lot to tell.”
“We have nothing but time. I have all day and all night set aside for you.” And forever, if you want
“I’d been gone for five years. I lived in Sweden, working as a mercenary, as I often did, unless I found work in a blacksmith forge, but those jobs were difficult to find.
“One night, I had an awful nightmare that you’d been killed. It was so real, and in the dream, I touched your ice-cold body. Your body lay pale, broken, and bloody from battle. I woke in a panic, unable to breathe, and covered in sweat. That morning I made arrangements to sail home, because I had to see with my own eyes if you were all right.”
“Wait,” said Audra, drawing out the word. “You were here? Eleven years ago?”
Audra’s …show more content…
“But the dog…?”
“Ah, yes. When I boarded the ship for Prydain, Luna, I mean, Apple, ran up to me, underfed, but so affectionate and lovely. She wouldn’t leave my side, and when the sailors threatened to toss her into the sea, I paid them extra to allow her on board.
“She became my companion during the crossing, and stayed we me as I made my way across Prydain to Aber Hael. When I made it to the Hael and hid in the woods to spy on you, I tied her up while she ate and rested. Then I spotted Rory. I don’t think he noticed, but Apple whine and strained when he was near. She wanted to be with him, he looked like he needed a friend, and I wasn’t sure how I would care for her long-term. The moment I untied her she ran for him, and I saw they were meant to be together. It made me happy, knowing I had given your child a guardian of sorts when I could not be there myself.”
Audra bit her lower lip. “I want to be furious at you for not giving me a chance to see you when I was here, but after that selfless act you described, how can I?”
Sitting back, Maxen winced. “You may hate me when I tell you about the other times I was here.”
“Other times?” She had to consciously keep her jaw from dropping …show more content…
“I am so sorry. It was a compulsion I couldn’t resist. To see the two of you. When I saw you as a mother, so beautiful and caring, but forceful when you needed to be, it touched me. It helped me through the lonely years. Without it? I don’t know how I would have survived. Forgive me.”
That was all Audra needed to hear to dismiss any anger she clung to. She had sat there this whole time, concerned about her feelings and her needs while forgetting Maxen had roamed from one foreign kingdom to another, alone. He’d not enjoyed the benefits of friends and family at her side, as she had. She imagined most of his relationships remained casual and businesslike, and he had not spent a single night in a woman’s arms or bed for close to sixteen years. Her heart broke for him, and she promised herself right then she would do everything she could for the rest of her days to ease his pain and shower him with love. If he’d allow it.
Audra, tears filling her eyes, reached across the table and grabbed his hands. “Tell me everything. Everything you’ve been through. I want to hear it all.”
“There’s a lot to tell.”
“We have nothing but time. I have all day and all night set aside for you.” And forever, if you want