Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 228: Happiness

Helia woke up from her sleep and look at Arial. She smiles a bit

Last night was their first night together and Arial handle her smoothly and graciously. They kiss and hug, and make love until morning like most lovers in love do.

Both of them used to make love even before marriage but it felt different now that they are now joined in holy matrimony

Arial is still sleeping soundly; his bare chest invites her to stroke it and touched it. She traces her hand around his chest, stroking it slowly and lean her head and place her head on his chest.

She could hear his heart beating and she is calmed by the sound. She also notices sometimes else.

Scars. There are the scars that he received when he was speared by Lord Alderam.

Area around the scars seems to be blackish and she have remarked upon this last night but Arial said to her that it is just some rash because of the poison that once affects him.

She knows the story. Or at least the stories that the troops know.

At that time, Arial was poisoned by the spear but the poison was healed completely after the healer came and cures his ailments.

The story is always talked about in the military barracks; talk about by those who present during the final battle.

Though their stories mostly are about how her husband survives such a close call with Death. And thankfully he does.

She lectured him heavily when he returns back both him and Kyle, him for not telling, Kyle for hiding it.

She sighed.

Then she moved her fingers to his chin and slowly lean her face forward and kiss him on his cheek.

It was not enough for her as her fingers moves again as her finger traces along Arial face, feeling it, like she didn't want to forget this moment and this face and all this feeling that is evident in her heart

And she giggled at herself

She must have looked stupid and silly doing all this but she couldn't help it. People might smile and make fun of her silliness but lovers in love are always silly.

'Who would have thought I would be married to him?' she thought and there is a happy smile on her face.

She always thought that her father would find her a match from Vangua or betrothed her to the House of Palais

She remembers how she objected the match in the past and an issue that have become a point for contention between her father and her.

Then she met him, first in the form of a friend and then lover and now husband.

They were friends for a long time, braving dangers, solving quest, sharing laughter and tears, and naturally bonds are formed, at first attachment for each other and then pride for knowing them, all honorable and kind, friends and then lovers.

Her friendship with Lisa and Kyle is one that she cherishes and appreciate, and with Arial it goes beyond that.

Even now, as she lies her head on his chest, she couldn't believe it.

Now she is his wife, duchess of his region, and as such comes the responsibilities for such titles.

She did not say it but she too knows the burden of responsibilities and she hope with her around Arial, she could lighten the burden a bit.

Now they are together. They promise that they will love each other and build this life together.

She smiles a bit

'Everything might be hard, but as long as you are on my side, Arial, nothing would be impossible' she whispered these words of love.

Now that she is the duchess, she is well aware of the duties expected of Arial wife, what is expected out of a Duke wife

She had time to familiarize herself with the court of her husband. She knows the anxiousness of Arial vassal

They are a straightforward bunch and one that cares deeply about the region and their loyalty to his husband is unquestionable.

They never hide their concerns and his council who have been talking about his marriage match since he was appointed Duke.

Not all were happy that he married her. And there is reason for that. She traces again her finger his time, tracing her finger on his lips. That sultry sweet lips. And she giggles a bit.

Each time they kiss, she would be breathlessbecause she felt like she has all her dreams come true.

She did not know when but at certain point of time she began dreaming of him, wishing for him to be hers.

And now that dream came true and everyday since the wedding has been happy. Newlyweds people would say.

But for some reason, she could not think of a day in which she would stop loving him. She sighs and then think about the other matters in the court

'I'm doing this for you' she once again whispered.

Principal among her duty is need for diplomacy.

In a society dominated by violence and warfare, women as her nurse has taught her during her childhood, are looked to as peacemakers and mediators.

Many books, a collection of many scholar's literature, praise the grace and good manners of aristocratic wives as an antidote to their brutish lord husbands.

Though she could see no brutishness from her lovely husband. Or maybe that is just her bias talking.

But she must admit something, Arial is not entirely a gentleman. A gentleman would not be called a Dragon and a gentleman would not be so feared like his husband do.

Arial has an indomitable will and his calculating strategies might make people view him as a brute.

But his family reputation as patron of the kindly arts covered the brutishness of him, if it exists.

One of the passages in one of these books comes to her mind.

"The woman must excel as one cherished among her people and be buoyant of mood, keep confidences, be open-heartedly generous with horses and with treasures, in deliberation over the mead, in the presence of the troop of companions, she must always and everywhere greet first the chief of those princes and instantly offer the chalice to her lord's hand, and she must know what is prudent for them both as rulers of the hall."

She read this book when she was little. It is amazing that she still remembers it till today.

Another task for a wife of a lord is bearing him children as heirs to his duchy.

To be honest, this could even be put as the highest priority, a son to succeed the father, daughters to cool off his tempered heart.

She knows that this is what is expected of her from Arrandy court. Arial himself might not care but she cares.

She cares that her husband might suffer more if she is barren or incapable of doing these duties that is obligatory of most of the lord's wife.

Arial was never a man that was so pedantic that he cares about all those things. He had always been unconventional both in thoughts and behavior.

And while that may serve him well in the battlefield, that will not help him much in courtly politics where certain manners, etiquette and social rules are still strictly observed.

Diplomacy, he is adept enough. Sons he wanted, but is not his primary concern for he is young.

But his council does not think so and Helia knows this.

Owing to her husband vigorous activity on the battlefield many of his vassal fear him to fall in battle

If such a scenario come to pass, then with Lord Aries who is now growing old, there will come enemies from all over claiming such prosperous region, whether by the wits of their tongue or the might of their swords.

Arial loved her and that is the reason why he married her but his council still watch her carefully like a hawk.

Arial moved and Helia stop tracing her fingers on his body. She put her hand on his chest and said.

'Dear'

'Ah, Helia.' He said, with a half-smile on his face as he rubs his eyes.

'You awoke already?' she said.

'Yes" he said squinting his eyes as the sunlight shone into the room.

He then looks at her, lean in closer, smile as his eyes stared at hers and she too smiles like happiness could infect the heart

Then he slowly kisses her and they both kiss each other, slowly, gently like they never want the moment to end

They broke the kiss as Arial is slowly getting up from the bed. She then asked

'Will you go to the council today?' He shakes his head.

'Yesterday was my wedding. If I am not present they will understand' and he laughed. And Helia hearing the implication in her husband words, blushed red.

'What will they say, then about me?' She asks, her cheek red with embarrassment. Arial then say

'What will they dare say? You are my wife, duchess of Arrandy, wife of the Dragon. You will fear no one, and bow to no one. This is what I promised your father and I intend to make good of my promise.'

She quickly tried to change the subject of their conversation because it seems the conversation is veering toward another embarrassing conversation.

'I heard the Dark Prince will come here.' She asks and Arial face slowly turning into the face of that lord.

The lord that is high above all others, the Lord Arial Vermont, the Duke of Arrandy.

'Yes.'

He answers it while getting up and washing his face in the basin. He gargles a bit with salt and continued.

'Their expected arrivals are a few days from now. Silas will also return home, which will take a load of my burdens. All the Kings are staying here not only to celebrate our union but to see the treaty being signed while the Dark Prince brought all the Eight Kings of the Dark Lands to also watch us sign the treaty. Tension on both sides, I tell you. Such is the matter of Kings and nobles.'

'Eight kings?' she asked puzzled. Arial then wipe his face with a face towel as he answers her question

'Yes. Eight Kings representing the Eight races of the dark Lands. All of them are all King of their race and they all swear fealty to the throne of Arakath who have always been a Mournstar.'

She nodded and then added

'This will surely be happy news for Arianna. She has told me her stories of her fianc and by my estimation the Dark Prince seems to be a nice person.'

'Hopefully so' Arial noncommittally said. Then he hurled himself into the bed back again.

'Today I will spend time with my dear Helia' he said smiling a naughty smile.

Her spirits soon rising to playfulness seeing that Arial will no sooner leave this bed then at night. She smiled and then he began tickling her.

She laughed and took the pillow and try to hit him. He dodged playfully and hugs her tightly.

She struggles coyly to escape and let him plant a kiss on her lips as she blushed profusely. She took to hide her happy heart and distance herself.

She began asking question, to hold him in his spot.

'My love, do you love me?' hearing this question, Arial stop for a second and nodded

'I do' he said. Then she asks again

'Then my love, please account for however you have fallen in love with me? How could you begin?'

He stopped and looked at her with a grin forming around his mouth

'Hmm'he contemplated and then he nodded to himself.

'I still remembered it.' He then smiles and then he continues

'At that lake. I don't know what it is called, but we were resting at this lake, a beautiful lake, with tall trees and clear waters, while Kyle and Lisa were playing around the water, after a quest and exhausted. That day, you look so beautiful. I approached at you who were looking blankly at the clouds and I rest my head at your lap. You then kiss me so suddenly and I felt amazement and surprise and felt something in my heart. Something wonderful and something happy. In that moment, I could almost picture all of it. Our future and our lives. It was like it flashed by in front of me. It might have been that moment when I first fell for you' he said earnestly.

She heard all of this and she smiles, a smile full of happiness.

She approached him and with a blushing face, she gives him a kiss in the cheek, fully knowing what she is implying.

'What is that for?' he said surprised. There is a tears in her eyes. If she blinks it would fall. She didn't know that she could feel like this. Tearing up because she feels so happy.

She then said to Arial

'That is for always saying the right things at always the right time.' He smiles and then pointed to his lips with his finger and said

'Well, I prefer show your gratitude on the lips' he said teasing her. She chuckles and then she answer

'Then you have to answer more questions'

'So be it!' He said and they both laughed as Arial grabs her and hug her tightly, kissing her neck as she laughs and giggles.

That day, her husband did not leave her side.

It was probably the happiest day in her life. She felt loved in a way that she never felt loved before

They spend the day asking about each other, confirming feelings, resolving misunderstandings and at night they make love like they never did before.

She tasted love and she could not help to smile. She prays that this day would never end.

Newlyweds, they would say.

That night as she was about to fall asleep, she wishes to the Light Above, that if this happiness is just a dream, then don't let her wake up from it.

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