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So it happened that his army pressed on the borders of the coastal provinces, these lords scrambled for any token gift that would stay his wrath. They wished to keep war away at least until harvest was through. One lord found just the gift. . . .
The road was dusty in the dry afternoon. The girl began to wish she had brought a wide hat, but she hadn't had much time to pack. One of the guardsman glanced at her through the slitted visor of his blank helm. He must be hotter than I am was her only thought as she took in the stark black tunic that lay unevenly over a mail coat. She coughed lightly and shifted in her saddle.
The great manor house, Ni'etrust, came into view. Lord Rinarr had adopted it last season after he had defeated and vanquished Lord Himstaa, who had been the last of his line. It was low and sprawled over the top of a squat hill. Himstaa's illustrious father had constructed it of onyx marble in reflection of the family's crest, the nightingale. Now it was inhabited by darkness incarnate.
She shivered involuntarily as the small party stopped at the gate. A guard called down in the thick Northland tongue and her guardsman called back. The portcullis clicked, jerked, and labored slowly upward while the girl was led across the bridge and through the archway.
The central courtyard spread two hundred or three hundred cubits wide and equal length deep. Guards and soldiers in Rinarr's mighty army were everywhere. There simple presence made the yard seem smaller for all its great size. The guardsman led the girl across to the grand stair which led to the Main Hall. Three men stood conversing and looked up in surprise at the girl's approach.
"Drok stroi kra grel?" The center man asked, whose simple presence seemed to call attention to him. His height was the first thing she notices. He wore a cuirass of deep red leather which made his muscles all the more noticeable, and a cape as crimson as blood which cascaded from his shoulders.
"Chee stroi peesk!" Hissed the man to the right of the first. He was very like a spider, except he was hairless and wore the robes of a dark priest.
The third man was small and silver haired. He wore the vestments of a tax collector, and simply chewed his lip upon seeing the girl.
"Orchid cheb Nak'kell. Chee stroi per Rinarr." Her guardsman addressed the center man with a salute, and then backed his horse away.
This brought a laugh from him, and he descended the grand stair, red cape swaying with each step. "Ja, ja. Praikell -You're lovely." He finished in heavily accented SouthRen. He grabbed her chin and turned her head from side to sideas if inspecting a fine horse. "Chee gretas Feilkal Rinarr?"
"Ja!" Laughed the priest. "Pretty thing she is, General Domoss." The priest's SouthRen sounded very natural and unfaltering.
"I'm not sure." The small tax collector said, his SouthRen similarly natural. "A weak thing like her as our lady?"
"That, my friend Phorn, is for Rinarr's deciding." The man called Domoss smiled and let go of her. "Heer Feilkal stroi gree-Our lord is come." He cast another look at the girl who was called Orchid of Nak'kell, and strode back up the grand stair.
The courtyard seemed to hush; all eyes turned to the doors to the great hall. "Feilkal Rinarr." A herald announced, and trumpets were flourished.
There stood her destiny. There stood Bel'kar's own bedfellow, Death's own lord. Tall and broad shouldered. Dark garb from head to toe, flowing ebony cape. None seemed able to speak as he began to descend the stair. Orchid's eyes looked on his face, covered with a pure black half mask, but the side that was visible was young and breathtakingly handsome -- and expressionless. His hair was neigh as long as hers and as black as the darkest black hole, just as hers was a blonde that was near white.
He looked at her, but stopped next to general Domoss. "Chee yekgra NuthRend?"
"Ne." Domoss answered quietly.
Rinarr nodded and continued his slow walk to stand next to Orchid's pale white palfrey. "You speak SouthRen?"
"Yes." She choked before she could utter "my lord."
"What is your name, child?" He could be barely ten years her senior, yet he called her child.
"Orchid of Nak'kell." She whispered, shifting her gaze to her hands, away from his unnerving stare.
"The orchid is my favorite flower, my dear." His voice too was barely a whisper. It was a soft pleasing voice, like a lover's caress. "I prefer the black, but I am sure that you are fond of the white."
"Aye, my lord."
"I thought so much." He laid a long fingered hand on hers. "Welcome to my manor, Orchid cheb Nak'kell fa stror Bel'kar."
"Please, say that in SouthRen." She entreated him in an even lower voice.
"Orchid of Nak'kell soon to be Bel'kar."
She looked back at him warily. The name of that goddess made her hair stand on end. How could she give herself to a man who had given himself to Bel'Kar?
"Please, come and let me show you my home." She melted to his voice, so soft, so gentle. This was not the man who had slain thousands. She set her hand in his and allowed him to help her to dismount. "Markar kra beyest." He whispered to her guide.
"Please, ne." She breathed the negative in the northland speech. Although she did not speak NorthRen, she understood the word 'kill' simply by the connotation of Rinarr's voice.
"Ne? Why?"
"That horse was specially chosen as part of my dower. My father did not wish to make you worry about finding me a horse immediately. He was trying to be considerate, and I begged for him to send me on my own." She did not meet Rinarr's eyes.
"This is your own animal? Why then, it shall not be killed." He smiled. "But, my dear, who said you would be leaving Ni'etrust?"
Her glance shot to his face. She did not answer, and the lord simply chuckled. "Come, my child. I will show you my home. . . you will love it."
His dark tide swept across the continent. No province went untouched, except for Nak'kell. The sea province's lord drew up a treaty with Lord Death, and swore fealty to Rinarr. For this, he was allowed to keep his lands.
The other lords began to wish they had been as wise as Nak'kell's lord and offered a marriage alliance. Now it was too late, a ray of light had started a small fire in the Dark Lord's heart. He was content. . .
"Where has he gone now?" Orchid didn't weep, nor had she in her year here at Ni'etrust. Lethara, her personal maid, stood not far away, hands folded.
"I know not, lady. They never tell us womenfolk anything."
She stared out the window, thinking what to do. Rinarr and the women had been the only ones in the dark manor who had accepted her. The men, they seemed to think their lord above love and wondered why he had taken her. They probably thought her just another play thing to satisfy a male's sexual hunger. "I'm going to see General Domoss."
"Lady Orchid, you are not allowed in that wing of the manor. It is for men only."
"I don't care," she brushed past her servant and was out her chamber door before she could be stopped.
"Please, lady, don't evoke his anger."
Orchid had never been to the west wing of Ni'etrust. It was called the War Wing. At one time it had held the Great Hall, where Lord Himstaa's family had held many celebrations. Now the Great Hall held the War Council.
At first the guard's stationed along the hallways paid their lady no heed. She was Rinarr's wife and had right to walk about the castle as she pleased, but as she approached a section labeled strictly for men, they began to stir as if they would stop her, then she got the door of the Great Hall. The guards crossed their halberd's before the door. "I'm sorry, Lady Orchid." Breathed the lieutenant.
"Please, lieutenant, let me through. I need to speak with the General."
"Council is in session."
"I am aware of that." She reached past the halberd's and opened the door. They wouldn't dare strike her. If they did, it would call Rinarr's wrath upon them. "Domoss!" She didn't bother with his title.
"Lady, no," the sentry grabbed at her hopelessly.
The tall man dressed in General�s scarlets turned to look at her. "Lady Orchid, you are not allowed in here." He growled.
"I want to know where my husband is."
Domoss snarled, "Out woman. If your lord does not wish you to know where he is, then it is not my place to tell you."
She stood and stared at him. "I have vital and important news for him, and need to know whether I can wait or I need to send a messenger."
"Grarph tal, grel!" He cursed and came over to her. "There is nothing you have to tell him that can be important enough to interrupt the War Council or that can't wait until he returns from battle."
"How would you know?" She asked. "What I have to tell him is more important than any silly battle plan."
Domoss let out a powerful growl and gave her a sharp backhand slap. "That is something Rinarr should have given you long ago, woman."
Orchid lay on the floor where the slap had lain her, and she squeezed her eyes to stop the tears. She was a powerful lord's wife; tears were inappropriate.
"Domoss!" His voice was filled with anger, and the room seemed to hold its breath as he strode through the door. Rinarr's eyes glared at the general for a moment. After that breathless moment the Lord backhanded the general, sprawling him onto the floor. Then the lord bent and gently took his wife into his arms.
Domoss spat blood, and began to mumble an explanation. "My lord, your wife-"
"Shut your mouth." His command was whispered, but nonetheless powerful. Orchid pressed her face to his shoulder and smelled his horse and smoke and other scents that told her he had been away, but also told her that he was here now.
"Commander," He looked to the man that ranked underneath Domoss, "detain my former general."
"Yes, my lord."
Rinarr turned his back on them and continued out of the Great Hall carrying his wife. She didn't look up or open her eyes. She kept them shut tightly for fear she would begin sobbing. Happiness and pain overwhelmed her at the same moment.
Her lord was silent as he climbed the Great Stair to her chambers and laid her on her bed. She kept her head down. Would he be upset with her for intruding on his War Council?
"Orchid?"
"Aye, milord?"
"Why were you in the Great Hall?"
She breathed in, and she closed her eyes. "I. . . " What could she tell him? "My lord, I needed to know where you were. I had. . ." she trailed off.
"Ja, mie flurk?" He whispered, moving his masked face close to hers. "Gree, look at me." He titled her chin up and ran the back of his hand gently down the right side of her face. "Our lovely lady will be somewhat bruised for a while."
She simply cast her eyes down, and the tears came slowly one by one. "Rinarr. . ."
"My love," he breathed, "I will never let anyone do that to you again. Flowers are delicate and to be handled so. Domoss should have know that. Especially if the flower belongs to me. Now, gree, flurk, dry those tears. What was so important that Ni'etrust's mighty lady dared set foot in War Council?"
Orchid smiled slowly. "Ni'etrust's mighty lord disappeared when his wife had exciting news."
"Please, keep us in suspense no longer." He moved closer to her setting his arms on either side of her like a protective fort.
"I am with child."
Rinarr's face went blank. "With child?" He sat up straight. "A child? An heir? I'm going to have a son." Orchid could only nod, as she watched his smile. This was the happiest he had ever been. "I'm going to be a father." He grabbed her about the waist and swung her before bringing her against his body.
"Gentle, my lord." She laughed.
"Oh, of course, of course love." He kissed the top of her head softly with cold lips. "Thank you, Orchid, my dear flower." He breath moved softly through her hair, and she felt at home in his arms, safe and protected.
"Omnigrek fel" as they said in the NorthRen countries or "All things end." Bel'Kar surely tired of her Bedfellow especially after he gave his heart to a frail flower. Her ill favor turned on him. It was within the nine months that Orchid was bed ridden with their child in her womb, all the while fighting for her life. Naturally, a Goddess who had won back her love would not take the thief as well. She is not so merciful. So Orchid gave a painful birth on the same day that Lady Death stole Rinarr's soul. . .
"It's a boy!" Shouted Lethara, holding up a naked pink creature with squinty eyes.
"He's beautiful." Orchid whispered as they moved her to the straw pallet and laid her son in her arms. "I wish Rinarr weren't away at battle."
"He'll be home soon, my lady." Her servant smiled. "What will his name be?"
"Rinarr and I decided when I first knew that his name would be Rinarr, after his father. He'll make a fine heir, to stop his father's silly blood reign." Orchid cradled the child gently in her arms. She was so filled with love and happiness; she wished that Rinarr was there with her. Moments like these were when the man was apparent in the blood thirsty demon-lord that was her husband. When he held his son in his arms, she would see the man, the man that had somehow stolen her heart.
She and little Rinarr found there way back to her chambers, where they both fell into peaceful dreams. The lady awoke often, and each time looked expectantly for her lord and love. He was never at her side. She never heard the scrape of his boots on her stone floor or his voice speaking with guardsmen in the hallway. And still she waited.
Finally, the sun was going down on her perfect day. Finding its own way to dreamland, and still Rinarr had not returned to Ni�etrust to hold his new born son in his arms. Orchid was filled with dread.
There was a knock at her chamber door, and a the weak voice of a young boy spoke, "My lady?"
"Yes," She said, sitting up in her bed.
The page opened the wooden doors and crossed the room to her bed. He bowed and held out his charge to her. Two flowers, a white orchid and a black orchid, tied by a red ribbon. A rolled scroll was offered with them, and Orchid took it tenderly to read the message of love she had so wanted to hear all day:
My dearest love. My page is bringing you this note in my inability. I need to tell you before we part that you are the only woman that has been able to steal away what I have of a heart. To many, that is nothing, but you hopefully saw more to me. I have loved you with all my life, powers, and soul. I can do no more for you now. Bel�kar has called me. I owe her a great debt, and I can fight her no longer. Do not mourn my love, for my kingdom is now yours. You may start your long desired reign of peace, and our child will be there with you. Don�t be afraid, my love, I�ll be watching you from wherever I am, and my spirit cannot be long separated from yours. Farewell, sweetest of flowers.
And that was it. He was gone. He had pulled her into his own personal Hell on Earth, and now he was just going to abandoned her. Tears welled in her eyes and poured down her cheeks. The page stood silent waiting for instructions. "How?" she breathed. "How?"
"My lady," it was Commander Gretkell, Domoss�s replacement. He had come in while she read the farwell note. "I�m afraid Feilkal Rinarr insisted on participating in battle. We couldn�t keep him safe forever. But you were the last one he thought of and spoke of."
"What did he say?" She had crushed the parchment against her breast, as if by holding it there, she held him.
"He said �Don�t not let Orchid fret over me. I was never worthy of so fair a flower�" Gretkell stood still and quick.
Orchid choked on a sob. "I loved you." She whispered, aiming her voice at the spirits and ghosts that floated around the room. This room held the most, memories that flitted by and teased her. Memories that would fade like flower petals and have to replace them because the key memory maker was gone. "Damn you, Rinarr, I need you!!!" She screamed, "I need you!! You can�t leave me now. Oh, Bel�kar, be merciful, and return my love. . ." She rambled in misery for a long time. Gretkell stood silent, but he sent the page away. There was no need for a servant staring at Ni�etrust�s hysterically Lady.
Ni�etrust became the pivot point for one of the greatest empire�s ever to exist. It�s founding ruler, Rinarr, historians attempted to bury in the shuffle. But Lady Orchid did things to assure her lord and husband�s place in her empire�s history. She would let no books be destroyed, and she made sure her son knew his father�s whole past. The servants� and later history books� affectionate name for her assured Rinarr memory would live as well. She was called "Lady Death", because many had attested that Rinarr would fall in love with none but the diabolical and sly Bel�kar. Orchid was obviously the great goddess come to have her live a mortal life with their lord. Especially after his death, they saw resemblances. She paid little attention to the other, mortal residents of the castle, and her flesh was always pale and faint as if she were Death incarnate. And few could explain her resemblance to Bel�kar without bringing in Rinarr, but all admitted that Lady Death was a kind and just ruler.
�Amanda C. Barton 1997
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