Secret Rendezvous


It had been a little over a week that Emily had been working for Allabandar. She had loved every second of it, to the point that just approaching his door in the morning forced a rosy hue to infiltrate her cheeks. Allabandar was different from anyone in power she had ever met. She had always expected their heralded leader, Allabandar, to be above it all especially her.
Yet, after spending time with him, she realized something incredible. He was not a god nothing entirely so alien and intangible. He was as much an individual and a man as anyone she had ever met in her circles. He seemed to enjoy romantic tales just as much as Emily. Often times while she was cleaning he would come in and randomly start discussing the great romances of destitute princesses, brazen knights, and scoundrels turned sweetheart. How she loved their discussions.
He also had gleaned a strange amount of joy by sharing the novel he had been writing on his sleepless nights. It was about a servant boy and a princess, a tale that seemed oddly familiar to her situation. She would ask him again and again how he had time to create such a story and his non-response was as much of an answer as she needed.
Despite her protests to how it would interfere with her work, she felt her heart swell when she saw the joy he felt when she would talk to him about it each day after he left the new chapters in her room wrapped in a ribbon tied with a single rose. Each rose had a different color symbolizing the nature of the chapter.
As time passed she noticed something vexatious about the way he looked at her. The way his hazel eyes softened as she entered the room had a strange habit of making her heart race every time she saw them. She was more annoyed with herself than him. She could not let her emotions get the best of her; she knew it was forbidden.
She was losing her will to abide by the dictations of old. Her skin burned at the thought of their secret rendezvous later this evening.
Tonight they had made a positively scandalous arrangement. Allabandar was taking her back to the tavern on the hill. Its main floor looked like your standard bar, full of brazen drunks and busy waitressed, but under the floorboards was a secret room. One with treasures forbidden by law but coveted by the lonely and weary people of Tendaara.
It was a room of stories and songs. Of ballads and lost poetry. The prohibition on romance had become a for-profit business. This sort of contraband was forbidden within the fortress walls, but Allabandar was not the only member from the upper echelons of the leaders of the rebellion to sneak away into the night with their hearts filled with longing. Emily had seen it time, and again, she never spoke of it, but she saw them slip into disguises and secret their way into darkened hallways of the sleepy keep.
She asked Allabandar why he did not change the rule that he apparently did not follow and his answer always was a heavy sigh followed by "Politics". That was the end of it.
She was just reading the last paragraph of his latest chapter when a rhythmic knock sounded at the door. She giggled and answered with the same knock. The knock answered back creating a new rhythm, and she answered back with her own.
She heard a baritone chuckle on the other side of the door. "C'mon Emily! Open up!"
With a flourish, she opened her door wide and caught sight of her favorite leader in disguise. He had a heavy cloak on and was wearing a red wig with hair cropped short. It was a dazzling effect against his hazel eyes. She sniggered when she saw that his chin was cloaked in an equally bright beard.

Emily giggled at the site of his disguise." You look like a dwarf suffering from gigantism!"
Allabandar sighed as he dramatically drooped his shoulders. "I'll go change," as the words left his mouth his eyebrow lifted and Emily caught a jovial twinkle.
"No no no no!" Emily protested. "I like it you make a very handsome dwarf!" with that, she burst into a fit of laughter. "I am so sorry I cannot keep a straight face when I say that!"
Allabandar looked her up and down. He had provided her disguise earlier, and it was much more appealing than his. When she had admired her reflection prior to his arrival the effect of the outfit had startled even her. She had on a black wig dark as the night and a wine red cloak. The impact against her pale skin was stunning, well as stunning as it could be, given how plain you are. She normally hated reflection outfit would not change that.
"You look magnificent," he said with a warm smile. "I have excellent taste." His implication was not lost on her as she caught his eyes on her one last time before they left the room. She blushed, knowing exactly what he was referring to.
He had acquired rather revealing corset dress to match the cloak. Emily considered a bit too fetching for most occasions. However, she did not mind if Bandie was the company admiring it. He explained off the sultry garb when he handed it to her. He said it was the style all the farm girls we wearing in that quarter of the town, that it would help her blend in.
They secreted off through a hole in the wall from his quarters. It escaped out into the depths of the fortress and finally out the streets. There was a couple of times she would have to catch her breath on their journey feeling suddenly dizzy and nauseous. It had been happening a lot to her lately, and Allabandar was beginning to be concerned. She waved him off saying she had not eaten much that day in her excitement for the evening's festivities. He eyed her suspiciously then decided to take it upon himself to escort her by the elbow. It was quite old fashioned, and she loved it.
Two white white stallions waited for them as the emerged from the Keep's tunnel. Emily squeaked in excitement never having the station to own a horse especially nothing quite as magnificent as these two beasts. She could not wait to ride for her first time, with Allabandar at her side.
Allabandar knowing it was her first gave her the sweeter of the two. His name was marshmallow, and he earned that name forthright. He slowly walked next to the more eager stallion Jack Frost who had a nasty habit of throwing his head with impatience. Allabandar had a way with Jack who quickly quieted under Allabandar's gentle voice and a steady hand.
It did not take long for Emily to realize they were being followed. She beckoned at Allabandar showing the dark figure on the black horse behind them. The figure that followed them was only lit by moonlight and danced between the shadows left by the trees. He wore a heavy cloak and silver armor glinted underneath.
When Allabandar looked back, he chuckled. "Oh, that's just Jax. He's my bodyguard. I should have known I would not be able to slip out of the castle without his notice." He sighed then called out to their followers. "Jax! You sly bastard, if you are going to follow us, you might as well join us."
Emily felt a strange sensation inside of mind that felt like anger. Which confused her, the emotion did not belong. Jax had always been kind to her despite his stoic personality. She brushed it, as jealousy over having to share her evening, and smiled at Jax as he rode up next to her eyeing her with suspicion.
"My lord whatever are you doing out with the servant girl." He admonished Allabandar.
"Jax, you of all people should know I enjoy socializing with all of my people regardless of their station. Emily has been an incredible help to me over the past few weeks, and I wanted to thank her for her efforts, with an evening out." His charismatic baritone soothed Jax's expression.

Jax sighed. "To the tavern again I imagine. Sir, you really shouldn't be making a habit of this," His head swiveled in each direction, "people will notice, and Gaiia only knows what lurks out here in the dark."
Allabandar sighed. "Jax, who cares if they do? People need to lighten up. We cannot stop relationships its human nature. The very fact that we treat it like this will only serve to harm us down the road." He slid his enormous sword out of his cloak, as for the lurkers Swift Singer will take care of them.
"It is for your safety, sir. Anyone can be claimed," he cautioned his eyes again fell to Emily.
Emily should have been shocked that Allabandar's bodyguard could be so forward with him but after her short time with him, it almost seemed like he encouraged his staff to express their opinions. He had already forced her to open up on several occasions. He would say that his mind is not the only one with good ideas.
Her attention turned from her companions as she heard the breaking of dead branches and shuffling of fallen leaves. She strained her eyes against the darkness to see what was making the noise. Her heart pounded in alarm. The sounds were heavy and sluggish. Not like a wild animal rustling in the forest like something much more ominous.
"Bandie!" she said her voice soft but high-pitched. Allabandar was busy joking with his Jax. A figure emerged from the forest. With skin as pale as moonlight but hands dark as the soot from the fire. Cracks of embers burst through his hands. Wild white hair swept around his cloaked body.
"Shit!" Allabandar cursed as he spun his horse around and Jax mirrored his movement. This creepy figure shuffled towards them, head bowed and its arms were glowing with black and red demonic flames.
The creature threw his right arm forward unleashing a terrifying ball of fire. Then his left. Then a barrage of fireballs assaulted the three of them. Some of the fire missed and collided with the forest behind them. Trees cracked and strained under the pressure of the heat that came off of his attack. The fire began cascading up their wood corpses lighting the forest around them in a terrifying orange glow.
Their horses screamed in terror, and reared up they threw their riders to their ground and pounded away hard into the distance. Emily shrieked as she felt her arm break not from the fall but from the shattering blow of the horses' hoof as it landed on her elbow shattering the bones and tendons that barely held her arm it together.
Jax stood hoisting his enormous sword he deepened a stance and charged for the demon. The demon laughed at him and lazily threw his arm at Jax. A particularly large fireball barreled its way toward the warrior. The man screamed as the demonic fire consumed him. His body fell flat and shriveled still smoking on the forest floor.
Laughter came from their assailant as he spits on the blackened corpse. "My mistresssss will be pleasssed" he spoke as if he had a snakes tongue. The s' in his voice rolled and purred longer than they were needed. "Long hassss she sssstruggled to capture the dark-haired leader of the rebellion, and here he issss happy assss you please doting on a ssssssculery maid." The creature cackled and pulled on Emily's broken arm lifting her into the air. She screamed in agony as she felt her shattered bones cutting into her muscles and flesh at the change in direction.
"Pathetic." The demon said licking her with a snake-like tongue. "Hmm, tasssstey." The demon was distracted momentarily by the shrieking sound of a sword leaving its sheath.
Allabandar had drawn his own sword. Its blade covered in steaming ice. His hazel eyes flashed with anger. "Put her down," he commanded his voice steady and his eyes filled with ice.
"Please, no Bandie." She screamed as her arm shifted in the demon's grasp, "I am not worth it." Tears poured down her cheeks as she screamed, "run!"

"Please, run," was all she could wheeze out as wrenching pain shot through her body and her vision turned white. Emily vomited on the ground before her unable to withstand the white-hot agony. The demon laughed at her weakness and threw her to the ground. He kicked her hard in the stomach crushing two of her ribs.
The icy sword came crashing down on the demon's left arm, encasing his wrists and hands in glowing ice. The spell began to creep up the demon's arm encasing it in ice all the way up to the shoulder.
The demon snarled fire engulfing the free hand. Allabandar quickly spun and slammed his icy sword down on the demon's flaming fingers. The beast howled as both of its arms were encased in ice.
Emily's heartbeat hastened in the hope that the battle would soon end; but, just as quickly as her faith rose it then splintered into smoldering shards.
The demon howled and then the terrifying sound transformed into maniacal laughter. Emily's heart sank as she helplessly watched the ice melt away from his shoulders and then vanish from his hands. "Gotcha," he howled and threw Emily to the smoldering ground.
Allabandar swung again aiming for the neck of the demon. It dodged the blow with calculated ease. Its fiery hands reached out and grabbed for Allabandar's sword arm. He spun away but not before the demon grasped his left wrist. The demon lifted his wrist high in the air. The popping and sizzling of Allabandar's flesh assaulting Emily's nose. Allabandar's cried out and used his sword to stab the demon deep into his stomach the sword protruded through his spine.
Ice started formed around the demon's wound. Black blood poured out from the opening. The demon laughed again and tossed the badly burned Allabandar to the ground. He tore the blade from his chest and tasted his own ice blood dripping from the blade.
Within moments Emily watched in horror as the wound closed leaving only a hole in the demons clothing in its absence. He stalked Allabandar molten claws outstretched it's snake's tongue tasting the air. Emily was of no interest to the beast it had its prize. She scrambled to her feet and ran to Jax's blackened corpse. She wept with the struggle and loss of pulling his weapon from him. His body crumbled as she tore it from his back. In her hands was a massive crossbow.
Emily's eyes were wild as she turned toward the demon now cackling over Allabandar's prone body. He was desperately crawling across the ground in an attempt to reach his sword; but, the demon had kicked it away. Emily fired the first shot. The metal arrow whistled past the demon but caught his attention.
"Leave him alone!" Emily bellowed the command her voice piercing the crackling bonfires of the forest around them. Her red corset dress waved wildly in the wind. She had the attention of the demon now.
"Precioussss, little girl wantsss to sssave her man." He limped towards her tasting the air for her scent. His eyes were covered in strange wrappings. He's blind! To test her theory, she took off her cloak and shot an arrow through it fastening it to a nearby tree. She watched as the demon followed the scent.
The matter of moments it took for her to distract him was enough. Allabandar was up and had grabbed his sword. He too watched as the demon was misdirected, He eyed Emily and winked. He tore off his jacket and wig and dropped them. He then rolled all over the ground in an attempt to mask his scent. His next move was brilliant. He rolled the clothing and wig together with a rock and threw it as hard as he could away from them.
The Demon veered licking his lips with hunger, "you cannot esssscape that easssily."
Allabandar put a finger to his lips and slowly and silently approached the demon from behind. Emily slid a finger across her lips acknowledging his command.
"Come on pretty little thing beg for lover boysss mercy." He cackled still shambling towards the bundle of Allabandar's discarded belongings.
Allabandar held up a finger, then a second, then a third and nodded. Recognizing his cue, she fired at the demon. The silver arrow pierced straight through the demon's back and into his heart. At the same moment, Allabandar raised his sword and cut the creature straight down the center, cleaved him in twain.
He then chopped off the Demons head and said an incantation that froze the remains. One more time he raised his sword and shattered the demon. Pieces of frozen flesh spraying the forest and embedding themselves in the trees.
Allabandar grabbed Emily's good arm, and they ran together through the burning forest. They did not stop until all they could see was smoke and embers in the distance. Overhead Emily heard a dragon's cry. The water dragon of the lake flew over the smoldering forest and blanketed it in the rain. The smoke gently made way for steam.
Relieved the pair wearily trudged home silently vowing to never visit the tavern alone again.

Emily collapsed not far from the clearing. She cradled her broken arm against her chest and wept. As a dedicated servant; she accepted and enjoyed the steady pace of her day to day life. Emily did not dream of adventure as others do. She was content, with her lot as long as she served in the keep under his guidance.
She stared back down the path they had come. Smoke still hung in the air and clogged her lungs. A sensation she could have gone a lifetime without feeling again. Fire created an exceptional level of terror for her. A whole new kind of mental hell. She had watched her family consumed in flame, and she had watched Jax and almost Allabandar fall to the same fate.
"I am sorry," Allabandar whispered as he slid next to her, "can I see." He gestured toward her arm.
"Don't touch it," she whimpered.
"I have to you are bleeding," he pressed. "Emily I can help."
Tears stained her cheeks, and she forced herself to calm, he was alive that was what mattered. She had protected him; the rebellion would live on. She could not help but feel guilty though. It was his idea to leave the keep, but she had not stopped him. Swept up by her emotions she had forgotten the danger that lurked just outside of the walls.
"Please Emily," he begged. "I can at least numb it until we get back?"
Emily nodded and held out her arm, "will it hurt?"
"Some of it will yes," he soothed. "I have some very minor healing magic to go with the ice. It won't fix it entirely, but it will stop the pain and the bleeding."
She offered up her arm, and he winced catching sight of the white bits of bone that stuck out at several angles. Emily looked for the first time as well and passed out instantly.
When she awoke she found herself in a familiar room, but an unfamiliar bed. She was in the infirmary, and she looked down as her memory returned. Her arm had been wrapped with linen covered in healing runes, while she slept. She poked it and winced at the pain she expected, but felt nothing.
"You are awake," He whispered raising his head. Allabandar was sitting in a chair next to the bed and sun had started to make its way into the infirmary.
"How long was I out?" Emily asked with trepidation.
"Too long," he answered honestly. Allabandar was always honest, even to a fault.
Another question thundered in her chest, "how long have you been there?'
He smiled but did not answer, and as if to save him from betraying his role, Ruth appeared. The white dragon tilted her head and examined Emily. She grunted in approval and touched her nose to Emily's wound. The bandage began to glow and then released itself from Emily's arm. Emily moved her injured elbow with an anticipatory wince. It was not necessary. Her arm worked as if that night never happened.
Ruth winked and then found her way to the other side of the infirmary.
"How do you feel?" his worried expression crept into his voice.
"Good as new!" She answered with enthusiasm and continued to test her elbow, " it's like last night never happened.
"It was not last night, " he added the soft correction, and that statement told her enough about how long she had been out, "and it should not have happened."
She paled as the details flooded back to her, "Jax."
"We buried what was left of him, three days ago, "Allabandar lowered his head and sighed, "he was a good soldier."

Emily bowed her head, "he will be missed." She hesitated, "The demon?"
"Still dead," he seethed. His expression softened as she shrunk from his anger, "Without your quick thinking we would be too."
She sighed in relief with the knowledge the demon would not return. Though somehow she knew that the nightmares of what had happened would haunt her both day and night. Emily had long accepted that her goals in life were not the same as her parents. She had sworn away adventure ever since the day she lost her family. The day her village was consumed by fire. She knew it was because they were rebels, she knew it was because Scelestra had discovered her family's secret life. Her parents had fought for the last time that night, and she had lost everything.
"Emily," Allabandar breathed looking deep into her soul, "what you did back there was nothing short of amazing."
She felt her body quake under the power and emotion of his stare. Something had awakened within him that night. Something about fighting together, suffering together, and surviving together had forever changed, whatever this was. "We should stop," as the words left her mouth, she felt a massive headache erupted in her brain.
"Stop what?" Allabandar asked, the heartbreak already in his eyes.
"Whatever this is," She said wincing as another painful throb ripped through her mind.
"I can't Emily," Allabandar pushed. "I know it's not allowed, I know that this will backfire, but I have spent hundreds of years alone." He grasped her hands his eyes pleaded with her, " Please do not shut me out. I only have a short time with you, and I do not want to waste it wishing for what could have been."
It's too dangerous, she did everything in her power to speak the thought, but something would not let her. Something stopped the words from ever leaving her lips. Her heart swelled watching his heartbreak in his expression. Her silence was killing him, and she hated it. She hated hurting him he was so good to her, "you saved me too you know?"
He perked up at her words, "what do you mean?"
"That night my village burned you were there." Emily's memories came flooding back to her. She hated fire. It was why she hated how she looked. She revealed one of her legs. A long healed scar ran the course of her leg from the inside of her thigh down to her knees. Her skin shriveled in a way that no one could ever look at her without seeing her scars. A daily reminder of the flames that had consumed her home. "I remember you," she whispered covering her leg up once more, "you were the one who pulled me out."
He was silently staring, and finally, the words escaped his mouth, "your parents were good people, heroic people. Emily, I am so sorry I could not save them."
"You saved me," She whispered. The memory flooded her with warmth, "you brought me here. You took me in and gave me a home." She shook, and her migraine disappeared, "and I have nothing to give you to return the favor. I wish I had more" Her body filled with warmth. As if in her soul she knew he was right. She could not lose this chance. Whatever little voice in her head that had tried to stop it disappeared.
"You have more than you realize," he insisted as he brushed the hair from her face, "you are beautiful inside and out." He whispered, "I wish this were a different world."
"Wishing never works," She whispered as he rubbed his fingers against her hands. His hands slid up her shoulders leaving a trail of heat and longing in their wake.
"Then lets not," He whispered back and leaned in to kiss her. The kiss sent a new kind of inferno through her core it warmed every part of her. She was overwhelmed with the sensual power of his touch and her longing, and that was only a kiss. He pulled away, and her chest heaved with shock and excitement, "let's not waste the wish."

She could no longer hold back, no longer withstand the longing in her soul. He had saved her; she had saved him. They were tied together; it would be wrong to waste this gift of the fates. "I cannot believe I am saying this, but I want nothing more than to be yours."
"I was hoping you would say that." He leaned in again forgetting himself, but she placed a finger to his lips. "Not here," Her eyes scanned the very public room, "what we have is still forbidden." She smiled as he grabbed her hand and helped her from the bed.
She followed him down the hall, her heart raced. Her body filled with anticipation, he would be her first and hopefully her last.
He slid them into the room and closed the door, and his lips were on hers pressing her against the ornate oak surface. His hands gripped her waist and pulled her to him. Lost to the power of his lips the warmth of his touch. His tongue slipped into her mouth, and she tried to pull away. Tried to abide by the voice of reason that cautioned her, but another part of her mind silenced it. Do not be afraid, she told herself, he will never hurt you.
She arched her back unable to withstand the heat that rolled through her body. His lips began to explore. He bit down on her neck, and she gasped. He pulled away his eyes searching hers, "I am sorry I did not mean to hurt you." He pulled away suddenly aware of how much stronger he was than her. He hid his hands under his arms.
"Why are you sorry," Emily whined as he pulled away. The chill of the air between them was becoming painful. The voice of caution tried to come back again, and she shook under the war her emotions were holding inside her body. He won't hurt you; you want this, one voice whispered. The other more familiar part of her mind cautioned her; you do not know where this will lead. He is too powerful this could be dangerous,
The second voice again was silenced by the first much more potent one; you love him. It whispered. He knew in her heart that she did she knew to her very core. From the way her body cried for his touch, from the way her heart warmed when she read his stories, and from the way he made her feel like she was somebody. She loved every part of her relationship with him, and she could not let fear get in the way.
She grabbed his hands from under his arms and directed them under her skirts, "let us wish."
He smiled and followed her silent command. He lifted her up and pressed her against the door. His lips continued their treck down her spine. One set of his fingers played with her warmth hidden deep in between her legs. He found that apex between her thighs that made her tremble at his touch.
She gasped his name as his fingers became more insistent. She had never felt so alive, and he had not even touched her, his skin was not against her's, but she hungered for it. Needed it and so did he. She pulled his lips back to hers and kissed him with such intensity that his fingers hastened their work.
She wrapped her legs around him, and he lifted her across the room and pressed her against the bed. She felt him against her. Felt his excitement as they both lost control of reason. His warmth and need echoed her hunger. "You saved my life, Emily," he whispered in her ear.
She blushed at his words and gasped her answer, "it was something anyone would do for you."
He shook his head, "do you know how fierce and incredible you are?"
She did not want to think about herself. She was a nobody; it was only in his eyes that she felt like something more. "I did what I had to do." She insisted, wanting to move away from any conversation about her. She knew there was nothing about her that was extraordinary.
He smiled, "you are everything and more." He tore her undergarments from her and began to work on the laces of her dress, "tonight we will sing together and create the happy ending to my story."
She smiled and pressed her chest into his distracting him from his work. Her hands sought him out, "Is that a challenge."
He purred in her ear, "its a promise dearest Emily. I want to give you a reason to sing every moment you live. I want to be in your songs as you are in my stories."
With those words, he slipped inside her, and she did sing. With every smooth motion of his hips, she twisted hers. She sang as he moved deeper and deeper into her. Filling her with the joy she had been missing her whole life. He made her wish come true.
Emily awoke in his arms, she pressed her head to his chest and enjoyed the steady rhythm of his heart. She felt warmth throughout her body as if she was receiving a reward she did not deserve. She tucked a small piece of brown hair away from his eyes and smiled when his eyes opened at her touch. He smiled at her as if it was the first time he had ever seen her., "good morning gorgeous."
Words she knew to be a lie, anyone with scars such as hers of her station had no right to that word, but she loved that he saw her that way.
For this moment everything was perfect.

Madd!!!

But is Emily strong enough to fight scelestra's magic??

please update this story....it too interesting to stop here

please update this story � thanks man I appreciate your efforts

Oga OP don eff up big time Na was ooo....nice story though, was loving it before OP kill my joy

This book is going to be revamped. In that light I have taken it down. As I have written I have gotten better and the story is more developed. I believe I need to make sure my first story is as good as it's sequels and I would like to add More. More details, more scenes. Just more. So please know it will come back and it will be like a phoenix from the ashes.

Patiently waiting