Dorian was right about how long it would take to arrive in the mountains. Thankfully we made it through without any issues. The training at night was coming along good, Makenna seemed to be impressed with how quickly I learned. Sirona estimates that I am about six or seven weeks along in my pregnancy, a small bump already visible, though my dresses or fighting leathers still hide it. I smiled and remembered the look on Dorian's face when we were sitting in the carriage and I let him place his hand there to feel it. His eyes grew wide and his face brightened as he leaned down and kissed me passionately, a giggle leaving my lips. Kissing was a new normal for us in privacy, though when things got to be too heated Dorian would usually leave the carriage to ride his horse. I felt guilty that I couldn't bring myself to go further, even when he told me it was fine that he understood I still felt bad for causing him discomfort.
As we approached the Mountains I adjusted the nice warm dress that the ladies had helped me dress in before we started moving again. It was a light blue simple dress, with long sleeves, the cleavage of the dress was a little revealing though I had a feeling that my bump was not the only thing that had grown since becoming pregnant. The front of the dress was laced up with a silk ribbon the same color as the dress. Dorian placed a White fur cloak over my shoulders, he wore what he had on at our wedding, with a fur cloak instead of the cape he had before. When I asked he said the armor was how he showed his rank outside of the castle. Soon the carriage was overcast with a shadow, Dorian pulled the curtains on the windows open showing the rock of the mountains we were now passing through. The sun behind them, there was snow flurrying to the ground which was already covered in crisp white snow that crunched as the wheels of the carriage rolled over it.
"It's almost always cold." Dorian sighed "The mountains are high as well as them blocking the sun on most days there isn't much chance for it to warm up, though I am hoping you will be able to walk around freely here without the sun making it too difficult"
. The carriages soon halted to a stop, Dorian helped me out of the carriage as we walked closer to the gate that was between two tall rocks.
"Halt!" A voice yelled echoing off the surrounding rocks causing the guard in front of us to stop in their movement getting into a defensive stance, I stepped closer to Dorian who stood tall towering over every guard around us. I took a breath and stood tall as well barely reaching his shoulder even at my tallest height. As I searched around with my eyes for where the voice could have come from.
"Announce yourself!" The voice yelled again as a figure stepped through the now opening gates.
"It is your Prince and Princess." Dorian's voice rang out. I was almost afraid the snow on the mountains around us would come down with how booming his voice seemed at that moment. With a gesture of his hand the guards in front of us stepped aside letting Dorian and I walk through the ladies and Captain following behind us closely. As we got closer to the figure another shorter one stepped from behind them, getting closer I was blown away by the tall blonde warrior their hair cut like dorians, they were dressed in leathers, with a fur cloak on, next to them a petite female, their wavy white hair falling to their shoulders. She wore a teal dress though also had weapons strapped to her hip peeking out from under her dark cloak. As they looked over Dorian they didn't seem to be phased by his presence. Though when their eyes caught mine they widened and they immediately bowed.
I frowned and looked over at Dorian who looked just as puzzled as I did.
"Looks like our Queen has finally come back home." Another voice sounded as a woman in a dark maroon dress and matching cloak walked out from between the open gates. Her skin was a golden tan color, her hair as black as Dorians as she almost glided across the snow.
"Queen? I think you are mistaken." I mumbled looking over at the two others still bowing. "Please stand, you have the wrong person." I stepped closer to Dorian as the newcomer's eyes, which were a dark red, stared at me.
"I see." The dark haired woman stepped closer causing Dorian to step between the two of us, his hand on his sword, in turn causing the warrior to grab their sword as well. "No worries, Killer Prince, I do not intend to hurt you Beloved. Or the child in her womb."
"How did you know I am with child?" I frowned, griping Dorian's cloak.
"Much like your friend behind you I am psychic though my ability may be a little more skilled. Ladies this is now our Queen, though she does carry her."
Looking back behind her it was then I noticed that the tall warrior I assumed was male was female. Her features were less angled than males though her hair was cropped short. The girl with the white wavy hair looped her arms through the taller womens a smile on her face.
"Please, you have traveled a long way, come." The three of them turned and walked into the gates as we followed them.
Behind the gates there were many people walking around, they all seemed to stop and whisper as we walked through the pass. The more I looked around I realized I only saw what looked to be stores and barns, no homes you would normally see in a normal village.
"Where are the homes?" I asked as we walked closer to the tallest mountain face that the pass was surrounded by.
"We have learned the safest way to be in these mountains is to be one with the mountain. My name is Anya by the way, these are my partners, Lani and Sesha." she motioned her hand to the short haired blonde then to the red eyed woman.
"My father still has a palace here does he not?" Dorian said as we walked into a tunnel on the side of the mountain
Lani glanced back at us, her dark blue eyes cold. "The one he stole and claimed is his yes. We are entering it now."
As she said this, torches on the walls lit leading us through the tunnel until we walked into a room resembling a royal ballroom or throne room. Two throne chairs sat ahead of us far away, the room was lit with torches and mirrors were hung to reflect the torch light making the room brighter and warm. As we approached the Throne chairs Lani turned to us stepping closer to me bowing and holding out her hand, I looked at Dorian unsure and he nodded indicating that it should be okay, I placed my hand in hers and felt my face flush when she kissed the back of it in the same manner a gentlemen would.
"Welcome Home." She said as she motioned to the thrones
"I am sorry but I really think you have the wrong woman, I have never been here."
At this there was a swooshing sound and a drape fell from behind the thrones showing a portrait of a woman who could be my twin, though older and her eyes were wiser. My mind flashed back to the conversation with the Witch I held in me and I immediately recognized the portrait as her.
"Her story is very mysterious, though this portrait has hung her for many years. The people raised her in this castle, and the village knows that she is no Witch as your people think Killer prince." Lani basically spat out Dorian's war name causing him to tense beside me.
"Now Lani. The prince brought her here and that says something about his character I believe." Anya smiled as she motioned her hands and suddenly there were other people walking towards us taking our cloaks and bowing saying they will prepare our rooms, a table was set quickly as we all walked over and sat not really having much of a choice in the matter when Anya, Lani and Sesha sat down motioning us to join them.
Makenna didn't hesitate to ask Lani about who made her leathers and weapons. Lani seemed pleasantly surprised at Makennas enthusiasm and told her she would show her.
"You said Partners earlier." Cara said looking at Anya "Does that mean you three are." her voice trailed off not knowing how to finish the sentence.
Anya laughed, her laughter seemed to float through the room "Yes we are Lovers. We do not believe in a relationship with only two people, we as a community believe you can have as many lovers as you wish as long as you are not stepping on anyone's toes so to speak."
I blushed when my eyes met Lanis' dark blue ones as she drank out of her goblet of wine. I knew the look she was giving me was not just a friendly one. Looking away quickly I met Dorian's gaze who had a deep frown on his face as he squeezed my hand as if asking if I was okay. I nodded while taking a drink of my water.
"We are here to try and find a way to get the other woman out of Aylin." Dorian was careful not to use the word witch after Lani's remark earlier.
"You have come to find her name then." Sesha said as she looked dorian up and down.
He cleared his throat shifting in his seat under her gaze "Yes. And find out whatever else we need to know about her."
"She kept a library below here, no one but someone with her blood can open the door, that is where you should be able to find an answer." Sesha replied back with a nod as Dorian nodded back.
The ladies seemed to fit right in with the three women, easily starting conversations, Nina talking to Sesha about training her abilities, Anya and Sirona were both healers, and Cara had no problem talking more about the multiple partners which I noticed caused her captain who was eating alongside us for once to turn a shade of pink at the details Lani had no problem talking about.
"The people all live in the mountain as well, the stores being the only thing besides the barn outdoors. There are many entrances, rooms as big enough to be considered a home, we all hello one another in more ways than one." Anya said as we walked through the halls of the mountain. Besides the lack of windows I would never guess we were in a mountain, The walls were somehow smoothed portraits on the walls just like in the other palaces.
"Your room, your highness." Lani bowed, opening the door to where Dorian and I would be staying. The room was clean, though you could tell that it had not been used in years. A fire had been lit, when asked where the smoke went they explained there were shoots letting the smoke out somewhere outside the mountain. There were also multiple hot springs in the mountain as well. The royal suite has one of the only private springs.
"Get settled tomorrow, someone will escort you to the library." Lani winked at me as she turned and left the room.
"She likes you." Dorian chuckled as I shut the door, a blush on my face as I swatted his chest.
Looking around the room I could not fight the feeling of how familiar it was. A desk on the far wall above it is a portrait of the woman who looked like me holding a little girl. I assumed her daughter was who she sacrificed herself for. Running my fingers over the bed I felt as though I could remember the feeling of the blankets on my skin as if I had just been on the bed the night before.
"Aylin? Are you okay?" Dorian whispered his face concerned as I blinked my eyes open.
"Yes, just this feels like I am finally home."