A Lifetime Ago

Chapter 12

Ragnar couldn’t resist the sight of the grandeur and glory with which he was welcomed into the kingdom. His father had done too much, he thought. It wasn’t even a battle that he won. He just had to ward off his evil uncle and his good for nothing offspring, Aldeb from the jungles.

He rode Nuri, his horse straight into the palace’s stable and patted his horse as he got down. He was a black beauty gifted to him by his father. He didn’t have to say out any instruction loud to Nuri since he understood all his thought as though they were a single soul.

Ragnar gestured to the stable boy to take care of him and walked into the palace to his father’s chambers.

“Ahh… There you are..” The king beamed at Ragnar way too happily. He hugged him and tapped his shoulder way too pleased. “I’m very proud of you son.”

“I’m honoured father...” He replied with a warm smile. “But you didn’t have to prepare so much.”

“Why wouldn’t I? The whole Kingdome is proud about your victory. You have done a great job by saving the tribes.” The old man’s eyes shone with immense joy and satisfaction.

“It was an easy victory against my own uncle, father.” Ragnar professed sadly. The smile on the king’s face immediately faded with the mention of his brother.

“That Rascal..” He gritted. “He hasn’t learnt his lessons yet, has he?” He asked sadly. He loved all his brothers equally but it pained him to know that the only feeling Rocco had towards him was vengeance.

“I’m sorry father..” Ragnar said helplessly.

“Come on son.. It’s a happy occasion and we shouldn’t be seen with a long face.” He pulled his son to the massive feast arranged in the ceremony hall of the palace. The space would undoubtedly fit around five thousand people at once. On their way to the hall they were greeted by Avira.

“Your highness” She bowed in curtsy.

“My precious daughter..” He hugged her close to his heart. “How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that..”

She laughed out loudly.. “Yes your majesty.” She teased him and heard him groan.

“Ragnar..” She pounced at her cousin and hugged him tightly.. “I missed you so much..”

“I missed you too.” He replied to her with the same kind of smile that she held.

The chatter and laughter inside the hall died down as the double doors were pushed open and in walked the king and his family members.

“I do not want to keep my beloved guests waiting. Enjoy the feast.” He announced raising a chalice to the crowd, who bowed at him and took their seats quietly.

“Avira..” Ragnar leaned back on his chair and kept his voice as low as possible. The king was lost in a conversation with his minister when Ragnar took the chance to speak to his cousin, who was seated on the other end.

She pulled back to look at him, “What is it?” She asked knowing exactly what he was going to ask about.

“Is Timandra safe?” He asked her.

“Timandra? Who Timandra?” Avira decided to poke fun at him for a while.

“Avira..” He growled in frustration. “How is she?”

“I don’t know, what you are talking about.” She faked innocence.

“Avira.. This isn’t the time to play.. answer me..” He stopped as the King leaned back on his chair.

“What are you two doing instead of eating?” The emperor interrupted their secret conversation.

“Nothing, father..” Ragnar murmured before throwing a murderous glare at Avira which made her giggle. She knew he couldn’t do anything when she was next to the king and smirked at him snobbishly.

Ragnar lost his appetite all of a sudden. He paid no attention to the dancer who were entertaining the guests. He wanted this feast to get over as soon as possible so that he could go and see for himself if Timandra was still safe and sound in the palace.

“Ragnar..” The King called him.

“Yes Father..”

“Now that your work is done on the East, I want you to go to Triyad..” He told him which caused the colour on Ragnar’s face drain out quickly. “Elkan had sent me several letters during your absence, asking me about your answer to his offer. You shouldn’t delay marrying the girl any further.” His voice held sternness.

Avira stared at Ragnar with worried eyes as she heard what the King said. She was aware that he had some kind of feeling for Timandra but if the king was asking him to marry another woman, then it was only fair to obey his commands. He wouldn’t probably go against his father’s wish.

“Yes father..” He said in a gruff tone.

“You will have to leave after you are well rested and ready.” He ordered his son. The king was done waiting for his answers.

“As you wish, father.” He answered soullessly.

As the crowd started dispersing, Ragnar excused himself saying that he was exhausted and wanted to rest. The king dismissed him with a pat on his shoulder. He impatiently made his way to his chambers when Avira stopped him from behind. “She isn’t in your chamber, remember?” She said c*****g her perfectly shaped brows.

That’s when he remembered that Timandra was staying in Avira’s apartments. He nodded and she led him to her chambers.

Ragnar hurriedly pushed the door open and saw Timandra sitting in the far corner of the room, painting on a canvas. It seemed like she was playing with different colours of paint, smearing them at all over the canvas.

Timandra was slightly startled at their sudden entry but composed herself as she saw Ragnar and Avira.

“My prince..” She got up on her feet and bowed to him respectfully. Avira had managed to teach her the etiquettes to be followed in the palace and she was sharp enough to grab them easily.

He kept his eyes fixed on her face. Her bruises were almost gone and her cheeks had gained a tinge of pink on it. Her previously pale looking skin was glowing healthily and beautifully than before.

Her long hair was half pulled up while the remaining half was cascading down, swaying against her waist.

The prince’s stare was so intense on her that she felt like a double sided candle on fire, melting rapidly. She looked at her toes shyly as she experienced a weird fluttery feeling at her stomach. She couldn’t understand how a simple look from the prince could do so many weird things to her.  

Avira noticed their stares and decided to give them some lone space. She walked out quietly closing the door behind her.

The prince went closer to her and took her hands in his, “Your wounds are healed now..” He said gently touching her cheek with his right hand. She melted into his touch and unknowingly leaned her head against his palms. He smirked with fulfilment. He noticed that the gown she was wearing had revealed a small portion of her velvet like belly and waist. His hands itched to touch them. He wanted to test the waters and he slowly snaked his hands over them which earned a surprised yelp from Timandra. He closed the small gap between their face by rubbing her nose with his.

Timandra could feel his minty and fresh breath on her lips. She would have slapped the hands away from her waist if it was for anyone else but strangely she craved his touches.

He leaned further in and brushed his lips over hers. She parted them in response as if inviting him for that long awaited kiss. Impatient from the slow-going pace, his hands on her hips tightened and he pulled her roughly against his rock like chest. His lips came crashing against hers hungrily. She felt just right in his arms, like she was the only one that he had been craving for all these years.

She felt as soft as silk under his rough hands and her reactions were driving him crazy. He had never felt like this with any other woman. Was she an enchantress to make him feel things like this for her? He kept thinking while he devoured her juicy lips that he had been thinking about from the moment he laid eyes on her.

She grew a little bold and raised her hands to place them on his chest which felt like iron. He could feel a bolt of electricity as she placed her soft palms on his chest. He pulled away from the kiss only to connect his lips to the beating pulse on her neck which felt like sweet nectar. He kissed and tugged at her hot skin causing her to moan loudly. Her soft moans were driving him to the edge of his sanity that he thought he was going to explode soon if he didn’t do what needed to be done.

Her hands were now crawling into his thick hair at the back of his head pushing him more into her lips as if she hadn’t had enough of his lips so far. To her own shock she wasn’t resisting his touch but enjoying and encouraging them.

“You need to marry Elkan’s daughter to strengthen our bonds, my son.” Ragnar stopped dead when he remembered his father’s words ringing at his ears.

He was a prince and he could haul any woman to his bed if he wanted to and no one could dare to stop him. He was allowed to have as many concubines as he wished apart from his queens but this woman in his arms wasn’t meant to be kept as a concubine. She wasn’t any woman he would want to take to his bed just for his manly pleasures. He wanted to worship her body and make her his forever.

‘Forever?’ He pulled away from her and observed she had almost melted into his touch that he thought she would pool around on the floor if he doesn’t hold her still. He felt proud for doing that to her, at least now he knew that she felt the same way like he felt for her. He steadied her on her feet, causing her to open her eyes and come back to reality.

“Timandra, you should get back to my chambers.” He ordered and left her behind.