A Lifetime Ago

Chapter 10

Ragnar was all set to take his troop of soldiers to the eastern mountains. It was still too early in the morning and very dark outside. Sevin helped him with his long tunic which covered his chiselled torso. The piece of clothing was grit by a brazen belt which held his majestic sword at his side. Finally, Sevin handed him his helmet.  

"Sevin, you may leave now. " Ragnar spoke politely.  

"Yes, my lord. " He bowed and walked back to the door, leaving Ragnar and Timandra alone who was intently watching him get ready.  

She took in his handsome face and his iron like shoulders. His strong masculine scent was invading her senses.  

He observed her through the mirror and she was seated on the edge of the bed, staring at him.  

He turned around to face her and as she sensed that he was approach her, she stood up, fidgeting her hands nervously.  

He couldn't quite understand why he was so attracted to this woman. He had this strange feeling within his heart to always keep her safe and protected. He didn’t know if she would be still here when he returned. The palace was a dangerous place for a women, not to mention a foreign woman. The king might even go to the extent of executing her for intruding into Vonentis. 

“Timandra, I will be gone for the next two weeks or even more. In my absence, I want you to stay safe in Avira's chambers. Avira will give you company but do not make the mistake of going out of her chambers for any reason. Do you understand me?” He felt like he was talking to a puppy since she made no sound in response, except for a few head nods.  

He wanted to take her with him but that would only attract unwanted attention on her and also the eastern mountains were no place for a women. No matter what, he had to leave her behind at his chambers. The only one he trusted more than his own father was Avira. He was sure she would protect Timandra when he was gone.  

Ragnar brought his hands to her lips and traced it with the pad of his thumb. She closed her eyes tightly. His simple touch were sending tingles that spread like nerves in her body. Her heart started beating fast with anticipation.  

"It's still as fresh as before." When she opened her eyes, she realised he was talking about her bruised lips, only then did she wince slightly with pain.  

He walked away and came back with the tiny vial of opium in his hands. He stood in front of her and touched her lips with the tip of his finger which had the ointment on it. She winced again when the cold liquid came in contact with her chapped lips.  

They were standing so close to each other that Ragnar could feel the heat radiating from her body and hear her erratically beating heart. He wanted to trace the sweet outline of those pillowy lips, but not with his fingers. He pushed back a thick lock of hair which was brushing against her cheek and stood there for a whole minute just staring her pretty face until his guard's voice was heard. 

He announced the arrival of Avira and soon the heavy double doors were burst open by her.  

"Ragnar.. Why did you want me here so earl...?" She froze on her trails and stared at the sight her eyes were transfixed upon. Ragnar and Timandra. His one hand was comfortably resting on her hip and his thumb was fondling her lips while her neck was stretched up high and eyes tightly shut. He pulled away from her quickly while Timandra blushed heavily, feeling embarrassed by Avira's sudden entry into their room. They weren't kissing and all but they were positive that Avira thought so by seeing them so close to each other. Ragnar didn't want to clear the confusion because he knew it would happen in the near future and what if she thought that it was already happening.  

Avira's mouth was agape and she tried to say something, anything but she fell out of words. She knew Ragnar had slept with several concubines before but she had never seen him so intimately engaged with a woman before. She made a mental note to always wait before entering their room from this day on.  

"Avira.." Thankfully he pulled her out of her awkwardness. "I want a favour from you.. I will be leaving the palace for two weeks and I want you to keep her in your apartment  till my return. I know I promised to not drag you into this but.. I am wanted at the eastern borders... "  

"Ragnar, don't worry about her. I promise to keep her safe while you are gone." she interrupted him.   

Ragnar sighed a breath of relief and looked back at Timandra. His heart was tightening against his chest. He loathed the thought of leaving her behind in the palace but he was also confident that she would remain safe with Avira.  

"I will be back as soon as my work is done." He told Timandra in a soft tone. 

"Yes my lord." She bowed to him. He was to protest at her for calling him that but the loud blow of the Shofar stopped him. His army was waiting for his arrival and he couldn't keep them waiting anymore.  

"I need to leave now." He said without turning back at the girls, afraid that he wouldn’t be able to leave her behind.  

Timandra peered out of the window and watched him lead his soldiers on his stallion until the group disappeared into the early morning mist.  

"Come let me take you to my chambers before it dawns completely." She wanted to hide Timandra in her apartment before the palace became occupied with maids and servants.  

"Don't worry about them. Your handmaiden will fetch them for you. " Avira told when she saw Timandra going to grab her gowns from her wardrobe. 

"Okay.." She nodded before placing them back in place. 

Avira held her hand and peeped out into the corridors to check if it was safe for them to walk out and when she found it empty, she dragged Timandra out of his chambers. 

Her chambers were unguarded and they entered them easily without anyone noticing them. Her chamber was huge but not as big as Ragnar's. Portraits of the royal family members were hung on the walls and the room was brightly lit with candles.  

She had a garden just like Ragnar's and a tea parlour just adjacent to her bedroom. Her bed was not too big but looked cozy.  

"There is another room here which has a bed. You can take that." She said taking her to a small room attached to hers. The room was very small but she didn't care much. A roof over her head was all that she needed right now.  

"Thanks.." She muttered as she went inside the room. A single candle was placed on a table, beside the bed which illuminated the room dimly. She noticed that the room had a huge shelf with lots of books on it. She had the urge to pick one and read, as if she had always loved reading them.  

Avira trod behind Timandra as she was looking at the books eagerly. "You can have them during your stay in my chambers."  

She glanced back at Avira and nodded. Avira left Timandra to herself and walked back to her room. She continued to work on her painting. It was a painting of a night sky brightened with the northern lights. She was so deeply involved in it that she didn't realise Timandra standing behind her.  

"Wow.. That's really good." She complimented Avira's painting skills whole heartedly.  

"Thanks.." Avira loved receiving complements and it was clearly evident on her face.  

"So do you like to paint?" She asked Timandra, placing the brush aside.  

"Huh.. I don't know.." She replied looking down at the painting. It seemed like her heart was hollow. She didn't know what her own likes and dislikes were.  

'Did I like to paint, or read, or sing?' She kept asking herself. She wanted to remember something about herself. How can someone go so blank about their own identity?' She kept asking herself.  

Avira could read her thoughts like an open book and she felt pity for her. She wanted to help her but she didn't know how.  

May be all she needed was some time and patience. She hoped that with time, she would start remembering things.  

"Why don't you find it out yourself?" She handed over the brush to Timandra and gestured her to take the seat.  

"I don't think I can do it, Avira." She shook her head negatively.  

"There's no harm in trying. Come on.. Just give it a try." She said encouragingly.  

Timandra held the brush with shaky hands and brought it closer to a fresh canvas. She had no knowledge about what she was supposed to do.  

She started swirling the brush with blank paint on the canvas mindlessly. Avira was watching her keenly from behind. Her strokes weren't smooth, which she thought was due to her trembling hands but as she progressed, Avira observed that her strokes became much steadier than the previous ones. She had covered the canvas entirely with just black paint. It looked like the painting was depicting the state of her mind. Dark, empty and thoughtless. 

"Wow.. Now that's something. You should paint more, that way you can keep yourself occupied." Avira told her but truth was, she wanted Timandra to discover her own identity. This way she had a slim chance of remembering something about herself.  

Where as in Timandra's eyes, the painting looked unappealing.  

'Even a child could paint better than me' she thought.  

Timandra got up from the seat and nodded in reply, not interested in disappointing her friend.