We're on approach to the Palace on Majah Prime and we're both quiet, since the mood is somber. I never thought that coming back would feel this difficult to accept, but we have to return to reality and our life of separation. The blissful month we enjoyed was like a dream that has come to an end. "Jahní, you alright up there?"
"Yes." She stays silent for a couple of minute maybe thinking of a way to extend the time we had. "No, I'm not alright." I hear the sadness in her voice and it's heart breaking. "I want to live that way always with you, but here... here is like a prison for me, to be separated from you."
"I know I feel the same." I wish that it didn't have to be this way, we have to be strong and show them that we can handle the strain. I close my eyes and bow my head just resting my mind, because I'm thinking to much again. I see the lights of the palace in the distance and that sinking feeling comes in. "I love you Jahní."
I feel her emotions rise and she seems to calm down, as we reach the palace pad. "I love you Ant." We touch down and she winds down the engines popping the canopy we unstrap climbing out of the fighter, and the King is there with Lahí.
We approach the King and I notice that Lahí has her eyes cast down. Ok, something went down while we were away. "Welcome back Captain, Jahlahín. Unfortunately we must have a conversation before you retire." He glances at Lahí, and that sinking feeling I had before just turned into the Titanic.
We step into the palace, were we are escorted to a room so we my change out from the flight armor, to some cloths that have been provided for us. The only difference now is that there is no curtain separating us. I smile at her, as we put on the clothing and she playfully turns around pretending shyness, so I playfully slap her butt.
She turns around seeing the big smile on my face and she realizes that it was playful, so she returns the favor while I was putting on my shirt. "Hey you know there's always payback later." She smiles deviously. We only have a few moments, so we hurry up to get out to meet with the King.
Heading across the palace we reach the Kings office, and I knock on the door. "Enter." We walk in and Hal is there with Lahí sitting opposite of him. He doesn't look very happy, so I think I know what is going on here. "Captain, It seems that somethings have been happening that I was not expecting." He stands up and by the stiff manner of his body I know that he is angry. "How is it that both my daughters have given themselves to off worlders?"
Jahní and I both look at each other, since we are guilty as charged. Hal sits there with his arms crossed and not seeming concerned at all, he's seen to much crap in his life to be upset easily. "Well, I'm sure they can provide the answers you require because I can't give you one." The King shoots me a murderous look, but remains silent.
"Lahí, did you really pledge with the Gunny?" She doesn't know, oh boy. This might become a bad scene.
Lanhí looks at the Gunny with pleading eyes and he smiles at her and just that small gesture seems to give her courage, as she returns the smile. "Yes, I did pledge myself to him! I love him and I will not be bullied or forced into anything!" She says that more to the King than to Jahní.
The Kings anger rises and he lashes out by slapping Lahí. Hal gets up right in the Kings face; the King reaches for his sword, but Lahí grabs his hand crying out! Jahní intercedes between the King and Hal, and I grab him pulling Hal away from the King!
"Your Majesty, perhaps we can come to some agreement that does not have to lead to violence!" It takes everything I have to hold Hal back.
The King calms down looking at me. "What do you propose Captain?" His voice is harsh and cold. "This is intolerable for me that both my daughters have chosen those who are not of there own people!"
Hal is still itching for a fight. "Gunny! You will stand down Damn it!" He looks at me and I can see the fury in his eyes, but he stops trying to attack the King, for the moment. I release him an stays where he is.
"Well Your Majesty, perhaps it is intolerable for you to know that your daughters have chosen off worlders. But, we are at this point now and we need to be calm." I look right at Hal and he gets the message that I'm throwing out. The King though is still fuming.
He turns to Lahí looking at her with a certain amount of distaste. "Now what will be done? Another public shaming?" What is it with this guy and public punishment?
"I really don't think that will be necessary." He turns and looks at me with an incredulous expression and he crosses his arms across his chest; now the King is not exactly a small guy. He is tall and built like body builder, I mean he's big and not someone you would normally mess with.
He looks at Jahní and he reflexively tightens his jaw. "I did what had to be done; your pledging became public knowledge. Also the night of consummating... or rather the four nights became publicly know in the court." He turns away unable to look at Jahní. "Many in the court call you a Mahton tehsol man!" Jahní closes her eyes and she turns around not looking at any one, but I touch her arm to swage her feelings. She smiles knowing I have her back.
The King frowns and I ball my fists, however I restrain myself because it's her Father. Jahní feels bad enough as it is, so there's no need to make things worse. "It became public. How, I don't even want to know, but it became known." The King frowns trying to follow my logic of this. "We felt the result of that discovery." Jahní is now paying attention to me as well, and Lahí is also quietly listening.
"If that was your reason that many in court knew and still know, then you deal with it as best you can." I see the light in Lahí's eyes brighten and I nod.
"Besides you, who else is aware of this situation?" The King looks at me now getting my point of all I was saying.
He glances at Lahí and I can see his eyes soften, as the realization becomes evident. "I understand, but if it it is discovered I will do what must be done."
I smile nodding. Lahí jumps up and hugs her Father and he hugs her in return. Jahní stands there watching smiling, that at least her little sister will not go through that terrible shaming. The King does something that's surprising to me, as he extends a hand to Jahní. She hesitates for a moment. Then she walks up to him and he holds both his daughters tightly, causing tears to come down Jahní's face.
My own heart strings are being pulled at right now watching a family start to heal, from years of estrangement. The King straightens himself quickly drying his eyes. The girls look at their Father and I think they both feel love for him, perhaps it's been quite some time since he's hugged his girls.
I look at Hal and tears well up in his eyes. "Damn allergies are bugging me." I look down and smile at his remark, while he rubs his eyes. The walks up to the Gunny and the tension in the room goes up as the both men eye each other; the King extends his hand to him. Hal accepts his hand and they shake, but these men will never be friends.
Jahní has a happy expression on her face. I haven't seen her this happy since our pledging, with all the challenges we've been through it's hard to feel happiness. The King comes up to me he's a half a head taller than me and bigger, as well. I won't back down though, because I'm also a soldier. "Captain, I must thank you for helping me to find an option that will not shame Lahí and for keeping Jahní protected I will lift the sanction that I put on you and Jahní."
What? "You mean I can see her when I wish, or we can live together?" I want some clarification here.
He studies my with those silver eyes of his that would probably put most in a panic, but I will fight back. He smiles and looks at Jahní taking her ring hand and mine putting them together; "Captain, there is a nice villa that belongs to me that is empty except for a few trusted servants." I look to Jahní and she smiles at her Father. "You may live there with my daughter, since I have no doubt that it will be better for the health of the two of you to be close."
"As for Lahí and the Gunny, you will have to keep it a secret and continue as you are." Hal looks at Lahí and she has the cutest 'is that ok', look on her face that I almost snicker, but I control myself.
Hal nods "That will work for me, as long as can come when she wishes."
The King pulls on his lower lip debating this request that Hal has made. "If I leave it to Lahí she'll be there every night, but I will leave it to your discretion Gunny." Hal agrees. The King takes his youngest daughters ring hand and puts it in Hals. "Well I must be on my way; please be cautious especially you." he looks right at Lahí. he turns and leaves to carry the weight of the Kingdom.
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Within a weeks time Jahní and I have moved into the villa that is in the mountains. We can see the capital from up here, but it's far enough that we are secluded from prying eyes. It's actually a very impressive structure. It's entrance is regal with pillars that denote great wealth. it has three stories and as soon as you enter there's a grand stair case, to the second level. I've only seen buildings like this one in Europe, in France to be sure.
I stand by the window of the master bed room, looking out at the front of the property. I turn around and look at the decoration. The colors of the room are warm and inviting, but the bed is enormous... did I say the bed was big. The room is bigger than some apartments I've lived in. There's not a lot of furniture in the house just enough to make it livable, but that is their way.
The wall in front of the bed has a fire place that is lit, since it's kind of cold up here in the mountains. The master bath is huge as well, with gold trim every where. Just then the bathroom door opens and Jahní walks out, with only a towel wrapped around her. I follow her with my eyes as she struts right past me and she glances over her shoulder at me, which is in itself very suggestive.
"You know this is not fair right?" She lets her towel fall and I'm no longer in my normal mind set. By the time we leave the room it's dinner time. The servants don't ask or comment, but I'm sure it's on their minds. The Meal is very good, but the servants are not very talkative, so it's basically just Jahní and I having the conversation by ourselves.
"How are you feeling lately with the pregnancy? Is everything feeling good?" I want to know everything that she's feeling from her own mouth.
She looks up to me and smiles. "I'm feeling fine, at least I can hold things down when I eat. I've heard some can't."
"It's the same for women on Earth that they can't eat anything, but it's good that you can eat anything without problems." The conversation goes from one point to another and we laugh, at the things that weren't funny at the time, though looking back now we can see the humor of it.
"Ant?"
"Yeah baby?"
"Tell me a story of your youth." Well, that something that I don't like to do to much, but I know. We've been separated by light years, and she never knew me until five months ago.
"Well, let me think of something that is interesting."
Oh yeah, I remember that day.