"Even on a horse ride you still seem to have some styles" Valdemar said as Lea walked upto him. He has not made her his wife yet so, complements should follow a bit, he thought.
"Should I go change?" Lea asked, a little disturbed by his comment.
"You look okay. At least for a ride" he said.
Just okay? Lea was a bit disappointed but said nothing. A black horse emerged from the corner of the Castle, running towards them and Lea couldn't stop her thoughts from drifting back to Lorn.
The horse she grew up with. Hope he's okay, she thought.
Valdemar climbed on it first and then stretched his arm out for Lea to get hold of.
"We will be back before you know it" he said a little loudly because of the air that swept across them.
Lea nodded and accepted his arm. He assured her to climb upon the horse.
"Make yourself comfortable. The journey is going to be a long one" He said and Lea hummed her answer. She wrapped her arms around Valdemar's waist in fear of dropping from the horse.
Valdemar felt his heart skip a bit. The only person that has done what she just did was his mother whenever he rode her to somewhere safe when his Dad when to war.
And now this strange girl did only what his mother had done to him several times in the past. And that was why his father never had time to even see how he rode a horse. It pained him to think of his father not seeing or witnessing what he used to do with his mother.
But those years, the pain, faded away when this girl... Lea, wrapped her arms around him. He felt something rise in his waist region, he didn't want to look down.
But couldn't help it...
He looked down and saw Lea's thumbs fastly holding tightly and locking his waist up like she embraced him from behind.
This is torture, he thought.
She knew what she was doing and he hoped that she will never stop it.
Meanwhile, when Lea noticed that he looked down, she also followed his gaze and looked down. It was then she realized that she has been playing with her thumbs again, and this time, by his waist region.
She quickly stopped it and wanted to withdraw her arms. What has she done? She asked herself.
"Continue... " Valdemar said when he saw her wanting to withdraw her arms.
She said nothing but obeyed, but not after hesitating for some seconds. Her thumbs twisted up after some split seconds and he raised his head up, slowly from looking down at her playing thumbs and then ahead of him.
"You okay?" he asked with concern in his voice.
"Yes" Lea replied and he swung the ropes and the horse started running.
Lea felt the cold breeze blew across her speedily and his hair blew into her face but she didn't complain because she loved the touch of his hair.
As they rode out of Banneui, Lea's heart started beating. What will her father think of her not going to see him after the last few weeks being absent?
He must be cursing her in his heart right now. And if he does physically, she won't move but blame herself also, because she has already started feeling the guilt in her guts rise in full growth.
And full growth this time.
"Tell me what it's like to have a Dad beside you" Valdemar said.
"Love. That's all you'll feel when you are with disciplined fathers. But other fathers can be wicked sometimes, you know, do what I say and there will be no punishment"
Valdemar felt anger rise in him hearing the last part about of fathers. He wondered if that is how he will raise his children.
"What type of father do you think I will be?" he asked loudly, so that Lea from behind will hear him.
Lea smiled. She felt flattered that he would be so thoughtful to consider her words as "Important".
"I see a great Dad in you. But it all starts from inside of you. Are you willing to raise your children in the way of Love and discipline? Or in the way of hard labour and justice, every single time?"
Valdemar felt a pang of a certain type of feeling hit him hard.
"I don't want that. I want a happy family" he whispered.
They rode out of Banneui to the far town of Maneth. His blue eyes meeting with the sun and reflecting on every thing he sets his eyes on.
The both of them entered Maneth and went straight to Lea's old house.
The house is all dirty and messed up. Nothing and no one is in it. Only dirt and dried food.
Lea climbed down the horse immediately they came to a pause and Valdemar followed in a rush.
"Papa!" To Valdemar, the way Lea called her father was so funny. He wanted to laugh but, Papa signifies Father, he reasoned. He should be more careful with how he laughs and talk.
Lea ran into the house and searched it and within seconds, she came out of it.
"Have you seen him?" Valdemar asked and she shook her head.
"No. He is probably in the stable. Do you have water?" she asked and Valdemar brought out a bottle of water from his inner pocket and gave it to her.
"Thank you"
The both of them ran to the horses stable and there he was. Laying there on top of the hay and talking to himself.
Lea's hand flew to her mouth, unconsciously releasing a gasp. "Papa?"
Landi looked up at his daughter with wide eyes and his wounded lips moulded into an "O" shape.
The shock was too much to bear and so he just remained at his position.
Lea and Valdemar ran to him, but Lorn, being protective of his master, neighed aggressively.
"Lorn? You... You don't remember me?" Lea's voice cracked.
A strand of her brown hair fell and covered her right eye.
"Papa?" her gaze shifted to Landi who stared at her with sores all over his face. It is obvious he hadn't taken a bath for days.
"Let me bath you and... "
"Lea?... Is that you?"
Lea nodded and Valdemar stared, pity written all over his face.
"I thought you forgot about me" his shaky voice was heard. Tears filled both daughter and father eyes as they both stared at each other.
Lea fell on her knees. "I am sorry Papa, I never stayed back to protect you and feed you and... "
"Shish, now my dear. That is all responsibilities of a father. I am the one to apologize for not keeping you safe" he said.
Lea's tears started trickling down her face as she stared down at her father. She didn't care whether he stinked or not, she fell into his embrace and embraced him with all her heart wide open to receive any curse and to receive it gladly.
But Landi had no thoughts of doing that.
Valdemar stared at the scene. He was touched. So moved.
Landi smiled at his daughter. He then stared up at Valdemar and nodded.
"Stay together with my daughter, will you?" Landi asked. Even if he didn't know this gentleman, he brought his daughter to see him. Valdemar is the only safe arms Lea can enter now.
Valdemar quickly went on his knees and nodded. "I... I will, Sir" Fear gripping him slowly.
Landi nodded and stared down at his daughter and smiled.
"Goodbye, Lea"
Lea eyes widened. What.... Goodbye for what?
But Landi's chest slowed down and finally stopped heaving. That was it.
He died.
Valdemar walked upto the crying Lea and knelt down beside her.
She raised her head and looked up at him with tears and a running nose.
"He... He is gone, Valdemar" was all she could utter.