The Serf and the Soldier

by Holly Law

Corden caught her arm immediately. “I did not take your son from you, Elara,” Corden said firmly. “He is our son and some things are expected of him. Nothing yesterday caused any distance between you.”

  “No distance? As soon as I am back in the Merchants' City where I belong I won't even be able to see him…”

  “You were planning on leaving the palace?” Corden cut her off sounding surprised.

  “It had been my intent earlier to leave the country actually.”

  “I don't think I'd like that. I don't think Lairk would like that,” Corden said sounding grim. “And I can't let you take him so far. He needs to learn how to be a king.”

  “Exactly. You took my son from me.”

  “If you leave you are doing that to yourself.”

  “If I leave? I'm not stupid, Corden. I know I’m not going to be welcome here any longer than it takes to heal…”

  “I am not going to ask you to leave,” Corden said firmly. “I don't want you to. I want you to stay. I want the palace to be your home. I want you to be here--to be a mother for our son, even if we are not married. I want him to have the full family he deserves.” Elara tried to pull away from him and Corden held onto her. “You're coming with me.”

  Elara found herself pulled forcefully through the hallways of the palace. Any servants who saw them leapt out of their way. Elara didn't know where he was taking her and didn't have any interest in cooperating. Corden stopped outside a door. “I think you had best spend time with our son,” Corden told her in a low but clear tone. “He has missed you since you were hurt.” Corden pushed open the door and pushed her through. Elara was a bit startled by the quickness of the action and half stumbled into the room.

  Inside she was a bit amazed by what she saw. It was most definitely a little boy's room. It had the standard furniture of a couch and a few chairs. There was a table as well near a fire place. But the feature that caught her eyes the quickest was a large building made of building blocks. It was the most impressive building of its type that Elara had ever seen. Turbek had made Lairk many blocks to play with, but the number involved in that building would have been in the thousands. Every block was painted a bright color. The creator of the building had been very imaginative and toy soldiers lined the walls as did other tiny figures. Elara could see mounted soldiers marching near the castle.

  So intricate was the castle that it took Elara a moment to even see her son crouched behind the building working on a wall to surround it. He was very intent on the building and his fine clothes looked a bit rumpled. The finery certainly hadn't changed his habits.

  “That's quite a castle, Lairk,” Elara said with a smile, completely forgetting about Corden who had entered the room behind her.

  “Mother!” Lairk exclaimed happily upon seeing her. He leaped across the room to her, knocking over half his castle as he did so. He caught her in a tight hug. Elara laughed and knelt down to receive the hug better. Lairk hugged her so tightly she wasn't certain he would let her go. He looked up at her and he looked truly happy. “Are you better?”

  “Mostly,” Elara told him. “Not fully yet, but much better.”

  “Can you play with me?”

  “I think I could do that. Your castle looks like it could use some repair,” Elara noted.

  Lairk looked at it and seemed a bit sad. “It took me all morning to build it.”

  “Then we had best get to work on repairing it,” Corden said in mock seriousness. Elara nearly jumped at the reminder he was there. He took Lairk's hand and led him over to the castle. Lairk almost instinctively grabbed her hand too. The three of them walked over together and started repairing the damaged castles.

  Both Elara and Corden quickly learned that every block had a place. They were told very seriously on several occasions that they had placed a block wrong. Elara tried to make some changes she thought would go nicely, but Lairk had other ideas. Corden laughed when Lairk corrected his placement of the soldiers around it. He messed up the boy's hair, “You'll be a soldier to be reckoned with some day. I've no doubt of that.”

  Lairk looked up at his father and he seemed truly happy with the compliment. “Mother always said you were a soldier, but I've never seen you in armor,” Lairk told him sounding a bit confused.

  “I was a soldier when we met,” Corden told him. “But I haven't worn armor for years now.”

  “Mother said you looked good in your armor,” Lairk informed him seriously.

  Elara was embarrassed almost immediately. Corden laughed. “I'm glad she thought so. Did you know your mother saved my life when we met?”

  “Nah-uh!”

  “She did. I was drowning because of the armor I wore and she pulled me free.”

  “I would imagine much of Corsca is thankful for that,” Elara said trying to straighten the edge of the castle.

  “I'm very thankful for that,” Corden told her. “I don't care what Corsca thinks. But I was very thankful to your mother, Lairk. She saved my life and she was so brave I could not help but fall in love with her in that instant.” Elara blushed in embarrassment and Corden grinned at her.

  The castle had been mostly repaired, with some additions to the general layout. It was an impressive structure and Elara was amazed that her son could construct such a building. But at the same time she was aware she had moved a great deal that day. She carefully made her way over to the couch and laid down. That drew Corden's eyes almost at once as their son continued to build. He walked over and sat beside her.

  “Are you alright?” he asked her softly.

  “Just tired and moving too much still hurts,” she told him simply.

  “Do you want me to take you back to your room?”

  “No, here is fine.”

  “If you need anything just ask.”

  “I'm fine.”

  Elara watched as Corden returned to Lairk. The two continued to work on the castle. Corden was almost like a giant child as he played with his son. They worked for nearly another hour before one of Corden's aides came in to tell him he was needed elsewhere in the palace. Corden looked a bit disappointed. He gave Lairk a quick hug and left the two of them. Lairk was equally as disappointed, but continued working on his castle. He would come over to Elara occasionally to ask if she thought the placement of a block looked alright.

  Elara went in search of Corden the following morning. The servants were capable of telling her where he was immediately. She hadn't realized so much of Corden's day was mapped out. When she asked after him she was informed he would be having breakfast in his apartments for the next half an hour. She asked to be shown where he was and was promptly shown down to his rooms.

  Corden's private apartments were very large and the first room she entered was very stiff and formal feeling. It was not until she went beyond that first room that she saw far more comfortable rooms that looked thoroughly lived in. The room she found Corden in was a small room with large glass windows that overlooked the gardens outside. He was eating his breakfast, but he was not alone. Lairk sat across from him making a mess of his food with his fork. Corden was staring out the window a bit distracted when she entered and missed Lairk scooping up a piece of bacon with his fingers.

  “Use your fork, Lairk, not your fingers,” Elara told him. Lairk looked guilty and dropped the bacon. As his father turned back looking surprised his face turned red.

  “I didn't expect to see you this morning,” Corden commented, but he didn't look unhappy. “Have you eaten?”

  “Yes, about an hour ago.”

  “Early riser,” Corden noted.

  “I always have been.”

  “I seem to remember waking before you most of the time.”

  “Yes, and at the time you were a soldier with things to do before the sun was up.”

  “Very true. Pull up a chair and join us. You can help me keep an eye on Lairk to make sure he remembers his table manners.”

  “Why can't I use my fingers?” Lairk moped.

  “Because th
ey'll get dirty and then you'll get food all over your fine clothes,” Elara told him at once.

  “But father said I shouldn't worry about my clothes. He said he'd get me more if they got dirty.”

  “Well he might, but I won't,” Elara said firmly.

  “The clothes aren't important, Elara,” Corden told her with a smile. “The cost of such things is unimportant.”

  “You're not turning my…our son into a spoiled little prince, Corden.”

  “Why not? He's entitled to it.”

  “I'd rather he remained a more normal little boy.”

  “I intend to spoil him a little, Elara. I refuse to do otherwise. Besides some of the things required of him when he comes of age should keep him from getting too out of line.”

  “You think so?”

  “I don't know, spending time as a serf tends to be humbling.”

  “Try spending your whole life as one.”

  “Two years was enough thank you,” Corden told he and took a glance at something on his wrist. “I'm running late. You two will have to excuse me. I'm supposed to be meeting with Lady Orelia shortly.”

  Corden stood and started to move towards one of the other rooms. “That was the girl you were going to marry, wasn't it?” Elara asked not feeling too happy at the mention of that name.

  “Yes, and that remains my intention,” Corden told her as he disappeared into a side room.

  Elara could not make herself remain another second. The thought of Corden marrying another still bothered her immensely. He had spoken only the day before of how he loved her and yet he was prepared to marry another. She gave Lairk a brief goodbye and left the room. She went straight back to her room and dismissed her servant. The servant looked confused but did leave her. Elara curled up on her bed and cried.

  Together

  Elara was still crying late that night. The servant had been back to check on her several times and Elara had sent her away again and again. When Elara heard the door to her room open again she assumed it was the servant and listened for her questioning voice to ask her if she required anything. Instead, she felt the bed sink under the weight of a person as someone sat beside her. A moment later, a strong arm wrapped around her stomach and she felt herself hugged in a reassuring way. It took her no wrong guesses to identify the person.

  “Was it something I did?” Corden whispered to her softly. “Did I make you cry?”

  “Yes,” Elara told him simply, not having it in her to lie. Corden hugged her all the tighter and she found herself enjoying the sensation.

  “What did I do to hurt you so?” Corden asked her just as softly. “Your maid told me you had been crying all day and hadn't even taken anything to eat. What did I do, Elara?” Elara didn't reply. She didn't know how to tell him that she cried because he was marrying another. She was still very angry with him and yet the thought of him marrying another hurt very deeply. It hurt more than her mostly healed wound. “Will you tell me?”

  “It doesn't matter,” she lied to him hoping her would go away and yet hoping he wouldn't.

  “If that was the case you wouldn't have cried all day. What did I do to hurt you? Tell me so I can fix it. Is this about what I said at that ball?”

  “No.”

  “Then what?” Elara did not reply. “I'm not leaving you until you let me fix this, Elara. Even if I have to hold onto you for weeks.”

  Elara did not respond and Corden continued to hold her.

  Elara woke feeling very tired because she had cried all day the previous day. She also woke very much aware of Corden's presence. True to his word he continued to hold her even though he had long since fallen asleep. She woke curled up against him just as she had done many times in the months they had been married. For the first time in years, she felt very comfortable and safe. That made her feel even worse about the previous day and she found herself regretting that she had ever said she would not marry him again.

  Corden woke soon after she did and looked at her sleepily. He smiled at first and then memory returned to his eyes and he held her tighter. “Do you feel any better this morning?” Corden asked her clearly noting her lack for tears.

  “Not really,” she told him honestly.

  “What bothers you, Elara? I will fix whatever I can. If I said something that hurt you, I will make it good. I promise you that.”

  Elara did not respond at first, but then decided it would be best if she did. She rested her head on his chest so she would not have to look at his face as she confessed the truth. “You're really marrying Lady Orelia?” Elara asked.

  “I discussed that with her yesterday, yes,” Corden told her with a hint of confusion in his voice “It's not official, but it seems to be very likely at this point. Have you heard something about her you don't like? Do you worry for Lairk?”

  “No and no.”

  “Then why does that bother you, Elara? I can't believe you are jealous. You refused to marry me again. Is there something about her you don't like?”

  “No, just…forget it.”

  “No,” Corden said firmly. “I'm not going to do that. My marrying her bothers you. I need to know why. You have always been honest with me, Elara. Don’t change that now. Why does it bother you?”

  “I…” Elara faltered and hugged her face against him all the tighter. He returned the embrace and Elara felt encouraged. “I am jealous.” Elara confessed.

  “You're…?” Corden began clearly startled. “But…” Corden stopped again and Elara half expected him to push her away. Instead, he held her all the tighter. “I would gladly marry you again, Elara. Of all the women I know in the world, you are the only one I love. That has not changed in five years. You refused me, Elara. I had no reason to hope you would change your mind. You were so angry with me.”

  “I still am,” she confessed. “I just don't like the idea of you marrying someone else.”

  “Do you love me, Elara?”

  “Yes.”

  “Despite your anger would you consent to marry me again?”

  Elara hesitated and answered, “Yes.”

  “Then you needn't worry about Orelia. I would have our engagement announced today if you will permit me.”

  “You'd really marry me even though you planned on marrying another?”

  “I never wanted to stop being married to you, Elara. I love you. I was only going to marry Orelia because I had to marry someone. I don't love her, not at all. I love you.”

  “And you don't prefer to marry a noblewoman?”

  “You are the best possible choice and if I was a soldier again I would take you prisoner in a heartbeat.”

  Elara laughed. “Provided I didn't knock you off a hill again.”

  “If you did, at least I know you would save my life. So it's agreed? You'll marry me?”

  “Yes,” Elara told him whole heartedly. “I will marry you. But I have a question, about the day you tried to take me that first time. Vasi told me a story you told Corilee and Marilee. Did you take me because of my name?”

  Corden laughedand looked embarrassed. “They remembered that story? I confess I did take you, at least partly because of your name. Someone shouted your name and it caught my attention. And there you were trying to help another despite the danger you were in. I was always inclined to appreciate the plot in a fairytale and always was fond of that particular story. Your name did intrigue me.”

  “Did you ever tell Lairk that?”

  “No, we never discussed it. Why would we?”

  “If you had, Corden, you would have known that was the story of my great grandparents. That was why my family became serfs. They had nothing after that.”

  “Really?” Corden asked sounding startled. “You're descended from that Elara?”

  “Yes, and named for her actually. It's a family name.”

  “Then if we have any daughters they will have to bear your name.”

  Elara laughed. “It normally skips a generation,” she told him.

  “It
doesn't have to. I've always like the name Elara.”

  “Then I should consider myself lucky I have the name or I would probably be dead.”

  “Perhaps, but considering what a brave woman you are that is far from guaranteed. You would have attracted someone and I probably would have been insanely jealous afterwards. But as luck would have it, you were named Elara and we don't have to worry about that.”

  “Very lucky,” Elara agreed.

  Corden stretched then and checked the odd device on his wrist. “I'm late. My schedule is going to be off all day,” Corden said making a face.

  “What is that?” Elara asked tapping the thing on his wrist.

  “It's a watch. It tells me the exact time. Some very smart man in the city figured out how to make it. It's very handy.”

  “Particularly for someone as busy as you.”

  “Most definitely. Would you be mad if I said I had to get to work?”

  “No,” Elara told him surprised he would ask that. “I was surprised you were here at all.”

  “I'm glad I was. Will you join me for dinner?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I'll see you later,” Corden told her after giving her a brief kiss.

  Elara was visited by a very happy Vasi and Turbek later that day. Elara opened her mouth to tell them the news, but Turbek beat her to it. “I hear congratulations are in order,” Turbek told her with a broad grin. “I hear you're to be a queen.”

  Vasi gave her a proud smile. “Corden announced it a couple of hours ago,” Vasi told her. “We wanted to come by to congratulate you sooner, but this was the soonest we could get away. You two must be so happy.”

  “Yes,” Elara told them smiling. “We still have some things to work out, but I am happy.”

  “At least we know someone with some measure of sense will keep that boy thinking,” Turbek told her. “It will be good to know someone who knows the meaning of work will be on both thrones. Most of the noblewomen tend to be a bit ignorant.”

  Elara laughed. “I don't claim to be overly intelligent, Turbek. I would imagine Corden will find a great deal I don't know. I seem to remember before I was captured by bandits he promised to get me a tutor so I could learn to read and write.”