She took her leave and left .She was more worried about protecting me than taking care of herself.
I stood there for a while trying to think who wanted to kill me .I knew I had many enemies within and outside the palace and I had to stay alert to stay alive.My warriors were my saviours.
I wondered how she became my warrior. All this while no one ever found about her identity!
I walked back to my room .There she stood beside the window.
" Did I not tell you to take rest? What are you doing there by the window?" I asked .
" Your Highness , I am keeping watch ." She tried to bend but grimaced with the pain .
I walked towards her and pulled her into my arms .Her face was within an inch of mine . I could see fear in her eyes .She was afraid of her secret being found out .
" Are you disobeying me?" I spoke ,my lips almost touching hers.
She trembled.
" No Your Highness .I have to do my duty .I am feeling….. fine…. now " she stammered .
I turned and lay her on the bed.
" you are going to stay there till you get fine " I stated .
Her cheeks were red .Her eyes were speaking to me of something .
I could see the universe in here eyes. I stood rooted to the spot .I could not move .It was as if something was calling out to me from beyond the boundaries of this world.I could see some unknown universe.
And then she closed her eyes. I heaved a sigh of relief .It was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a posture of indifference .
I turned away and walked to the adjoining partition where I had a bed ordered for myself. The innkeeper had provided some of the necessities and luxuries that I was used to in my life.
My heart was beating rapidly .When I held her arm I felt like I had made a connection with my soul mate . This was weird. This was the first time I had touched one of my warriors. They always maintained their distance and I had never helped anybody till now.
I lay down on the bed and rested for a while . As the sun set I walked out and in the garden I questioned one of the warrior Jian Jiang .
"what is his name?" I gestured inside .He understood.
" Your Highness he is Hui Huan ." he knelt and answered .
" Since how long has he been with us ?" I frowned a little .
" I don't know the exact time but I have fought alongside him since six years . He was badly wounded in the last fight .He was bleeding and we left him there .But the next day he walked and reached our camp .It was very strange .After that incident he had changed completely. He rarely talks and keeps to himself "
I knew that these warriors of mine were secretive and rarely spoke.They all were loyal to me .Their actions always proved it .They were ready to give up their lives for me .
But this Hui Huan made my heart beat faster .I felt like I had been waiting for him …no her …forever and now I had found my companion.But she still pretended to be a man .I did not know how to get her to admit that she was a woman .
She maintained the distance and never looked me in the eye .How could I get her attention without the other warriors discovering it ?!!
And then I had an idea....
I called the leader Jian Jiang to my chamber and said" I am going undercover .so I will be dressed in an ordinary businessman's dress and I will take Hui Huan with me dressed in ordinary clothes .I don't want anybody else .You have to dress up someone as the king and lead the enemy away from here and destroy them .Try to capture the leader of the revolt.I want to know who it is ."
" yes Your Highness " he knelt and obeyed me .
The next morning Jian Jiang led the men away and in the darkness of the night I slipped away from the inn with Hui Huan .
We rode gently and not fast since Hui Huan was wounded and not completely healed.I kept a steady pace and refused to go faster and I knew she had to obey me .I smiled secretly ,happy knowing that I was alone with the love of my heart .I started plotting ways to get her to admit her love for me .I did not even know if she loved me .I was dreaming about her and creating all these fantasies in my head and I still don't know if she loved me as a man or just respected me as her King .
I knew that I was handsome and drew the eyes of women everywhere that I went but I had never kept a woman so far . I had always stayed away from women and refused to allow them anywhere near me. My mother was always worried but then I am the king and no one dared to say anything in front of me .
When the Minister of welfare dared to parade his daughter in front of me ,saying that she was ready to be the queen I had the minister flogged and then everybody went about their business without any more beauty parades .
It had become annoying .These ladies were absolutely useless and they just giggled and made coy glances at me and said that I was the most handsome man on earth .Of course I knew that already .It was the way they behaved without any intelligence that made me bored everytime I saw these women.Mother always called me for tea and whenever I went- there would invariably be a friend's daughter who just happened to come that day .and then they would exclaim like it was a big surprise to see me and then the same irritating giggling and laughter and secret smiles .
I would glare at them and then they would run away .And then mother would make her angry face .But I refused to marry any of them and I refused to even take a mistress .I was waiting for someone ….in my heart I knew there was someone waiting for me but I did not know where and how I would meet her.
I remember meeting a monk one day as I was passing through a jungle and as I paid my respects to him he looked at me and said " Your Highness you are a kind soul and you rule with kindness.Your people are happy but there is danger around you .Your soul mate will appear suddenly and you have to be ready to recognise her. She will make you very happy . "
And at that time I had not known for whom I was waiting ...
There had been a restlessness that kept me awake at nights …..
For whom was I waiting for? I did not know ....But she often appeared in my dreams …..