Dark One Rising(157)
His mind wandered further than he wanted as he pictured her naked curvy form, warm in the bed beside him, her face flush with the passion they had just shared. He shook the thought away. “Keep your mind on the present” he silently said, reprimanding himself for veering off track. He had apparently been deeper in thought than he realized because he suddenly heard his name from across the desk.
“Sire, did you hear me?”
“I’m sorry, what?”
The pleasant thoughts that had been occupying his thoughts a moment before were gone, and he reluctantly pulled himself back to the room of men sitting across from him. He frowned, not realizing that he was doing so, and Emerick caught it. Emerick thought he’d better give his king a break before he was so entrenched in battle that he would not have any time to rest at all.
“Gentlemen, could you give His Majesty and I a few minutes in private?”
They all nodded and stood to leave one by one, filing out of the room, the last man shutting the door behind him. Emerick looked at Dain and frowned now. “You were awfully far away a moment ago. What were you thinking?”
Once again his mind wandered to her soft skin, responding sensually to his every touch. Her full red lips pouting at him when trying to get him to do what she wanted him to do. Her golden red curls wrapped around his fingers as he gently kissed her neck. Her laugh, her passion for the mundane of life. He missed her more than he ever thought he could miss any woman, and he hoped she was alright.
He looked back at his Prime Minister and friend and smiled awkwardly. “I don’t think you want to know, Emerick. I’d hate to see you blush.”
Emerick sighed. “We’re in the process of trying to stave off an onslaught by the enemy, and you’re thinking about sex?”
He had known Emerick a long time, and there had been many times in his life that he had confided in his father’s oldest friend, sometimes even about women, but hearing him say that out loud made him slightly uncomfortable.
He laughed awkwardly. “I see Alek has rubbed off on you, my old friend. That’s exactly what he would have thought too. I miss her, and I was just thinking about her in general. Not just that.”
“I know you’re tired, Your Majesty. Perhaps you should retire for a couple of hours. We can reconvene once you’ve rested.”
“Thoughts of her will only keep me awake.”
“Alek is not here to admonish you, so I suppose I have that task now. You need to get a grip. You’ve never been like this with any other woman.”
“You’re right, I haven’t. She’s not just another woman though, Emerick. She’s special.”
“Indeed she is, and the Keep is much too dark without her vibrancy, but you must find a way to concentrate. She’s under the protection of the elves. She’s doing what she must. You must do the same. Her training will do us no good if we let Drydon fall. For her, you have to keep your mind on task.”
Dain was annoyed at Emerick’s logic but knew he was correct all the same. He must stay focused and not let himself be distracted with anything, including her. As much as he hated to fight off the images of her, he had to try. He missed her, but she would be back when her training was complete. He would just have to hold things together until then.
“I’m sorry, Emerick. You’re right. Just give me an hour to get something to eat and to get my thoughts in order, and then we can go back to affairs of state. With some nourishment and some fresh air and quiet time, I’ll be better.”
Emerick stood and placed a supportive hand on his friends shoulder. “I’m glad you miss her. That means you’re serious about her, and I don’t have to worry about your reckless endeavors anymore. If you weren’t missing her or thinking about her in some capacity, I would doubt your intentions.”
Dain smiled now. “My intentions are only honorable.”
“I can only hope that when all this is done, this dark castle might just have a permanent light in it. It’s been a long time since this castle has been honored with the presence of a queen.”
Dain laughed now. “You really know how to get to the point, don’t you?”
“Why mince words, Your Majesty. You love her.”
“Yes, Emerick, I do. When all this is done, and she’ll still have me, I just may yet make you and Alek happy and make her my queen.”
“Of course you will. You must concentrate on the now first, if there is to be a later. If you fail, so will she.”
Dain nodded and stood, leaving the room to take a small break. He would eat, think of her some more, and take a few minutes to close his tired eyes and rest. And maybe he would take a few minutes outdoors in the fresh air. It was getting colder now, but the crisp air would do him some good. He’d been locked away too long. He would then put her to the back of his mind so that he had space to deal with the problems at hand. She would be back in his arms soon enough, and he hoped that together they could be strong for each other. Together they would win this war, and when it was all over, he would have her in his arms forever. Never again would they be parted. He used that for a closing thought and proceeded to lock her in his heart to keep his mind free. It was not what he wanted, but it was necessary. He knew that she probably had to do the same thing, and that brought him some comfort, if only a little.