Twenty-first of Harvest

Belkai opened her eyes to find herself lying on a silken sheet in strange room. The walls were wooden, as if the inside of a tree, and the floor was a crimson leathery substance. She was stripped almost bare, with a silk blanket drawn over her. As her vision returned, she saw Davos seated on a chair beside her, fast asleep. She watched him for a moment, a smile playing on her face. She threw the blanket back, and reached out to squeeze his knee.

"Hey."

His head jerked up and he looked over to her, quickly taking in all of her before focusing on her eyes. He gave the biggest smile that she'd ever seen on his face. "Belkai! You're awake."

"How long was I asleep?"

"About a day," he told her. She waved him over, and he laid beside her. She wrapped herself around him and put her head on his shoulder. "I thought that we'd lose you."

"What happened?"

He stroked her shoulder as he told her about the fight from his perspective. "It was a horrifying sight, Belkai. But once you killed him, he seemed to be set on fire and turned to ash. Then you collapsed. Nothing we did could wake you. I thought that you were dead."

"Magic takes a lot out of you," Belkai told him. "That's why I hired Loranna back in King's Crossing. I needed someone to watch out for me."

"So you're not invincible," Davos chuckled, earning himself a playful slap.

"Not quite," she admitted. "But close enough for your purposes."

She turned her head and gave him a lingering kiss. "I meant what I said, Davos. I do love you."

He ran his hand across her cheek and smiled. "And I love you, Belkai, Lord of Narandir."

He felt her body stiffen at the words, then slowly relax. "So what happens now?"

She stood, stretching and releasing muscles that had been at rest for too long. Davos had found a green robe and white sandals, and she slipped them on, smiling at the feel of new clothes.

"We had a lot of luxury in the Order," she said. "I wasn't ready for the hardships of the road."

Davos stayed silent, and she sighed. "I didn't just take the Recluse's power, Davos. I took his domain. I have a kingdom to lead, and I don't know how."

"Surely you had a plan when you set out," Davos said, coming to his feet.

Belkai laughed. "When I set out, my aim was to obey Ashelath. You're the one who changed that, Davos. You need to know that."

He smiled. "The note that the Prophetess sent...she said that my heart would decide our fate."

"And it did." Belkai stepped over and gave him a kiss. "But for now...Mishtar had children, and most of his subjects will still be loyal to him."

"Will you kill them?" It was a reasonable question. Most usurpers would, if only to secure their own right to the throne. But Belkai shook her head.

"I have shed enough blood, Davos. The Order taught me to kill, and Ashelath gave me the desire, but I'm tired of it. No, any who won't resist will be given free passage out of Narandir. Consider it an exile."

"And what about you?"

"I have a city to rebuild, it seems," she told him, and couldn't help but laugh at the thought. "That sounds strange. After that? Mishtar was a fool, he made no effort to prepare defences beyond hiding the Forest from the Arcane. He spent his life hiding, not building. Now that his protection is gone, we're vulnerable. I need to fix that. And then I need to learn what Narandir's purpose is. Mishtar tapped into the power, but he never searched for its reason."

"Was he really a thousand years old?"

"Yes." Belkai shrugged. "Somehow this power gives everlasting life. He never shared it, though. That's a choice that I have to make."

Stolen story; please report.

Davos nodded, and Belkai watched him for a few moments. "You want to know about us."

"I do."

"What do you want me to say?" Uncertainty came to Davos' face, and Belkai's eyes widened. "I didn't mean it like that. Davos, I would have you stay by my side. But you have a life outside of Narandir. You have a purpose."

Davos shook his head. "I am Lowborn, Belkai. Do you understand what that truly means? We are despised, looked down on. All my life I haven't had a home."

She nodded. "And you think that you have found it."

"I know it." He stepped forward and took her hands. "Belkai, I have only known you for a week, but I feel my heart is bound to yours."

She squeezed his hands. "It is, Davos. We are bound."

He kissed her lightly on the lips. "Then I will stay."

* * *

Belkai needed to find some fresh air, and Davos followed as she made her way down the twisting halls. She ran her hand along the wood and frowned.

"It shouldn't have been like this," she said sadly. "When Mishtar fled to Narandir, he was at war. He carved out a place to hide, and he never lost that fortress mentality. That needs to change. We should live with the Forest, not apart from it."

"Become one with nature?"

Belkai scoffed. "Hardly. But the Svaletans live off the land – rather, by the land. They sow, they harvest, they live according to what the land requires. Mishtar was different, he wanted to control. So he cleared a space and made a city." She sighed. "I'm going to change that, Davos. We will live in Narandir – all of Narandir. It should not be the 'Dark Forest'. It should be beautiful."

There was a new spirit in her voice, Davos thought. A joy, a youth that she had never had before. He started to understand just how strong a grip Ashelath had held on her. As she walked, there was almost a bounce to her step. She was finally free.

They rounded a corner and Davos put his hand on her shoulder. He stepped in front of her, unable to hide the grin from his face, and pushed the door open. She took two steps outside and froze. The surviving Svaletan soldiers were lined up in front of her, and behind them were the citizens of Narandir. Loranna and Ukari stood to the side of the doorway, and Davos took his place next to Belkai. He laughed when he saw the look on her face.

"Milady," he said, "Your people stand before you. And, I suppose, a delegation from Svaleta."

Belkai took a deep breath and tried to slow her heart. It was real. It hadn't been a dream. She looked around and spotted the darkened grass where Ashelath had died. It would never grow again, she knew. It would forever be a testimony to her accomplishment. She walked over to where Ertas and Rangir stood, along with half a dozen surviving soldiers.

"You paid a heavy price to be here," she said quietly, and noted the anger and sadness in their eyes. "I am sorry for what you have lost. We will bury your dead with honour. Should you choose to take them with you, we will lend you whatever aid you need."

"There isn't much left of some of them," Ertas growled. Belkai looked at his shattered arm and sighed.

"No words will make amends," she confessed. "But I will remember the price you paid. I have only one request."

"And what would that be?" Rangir asked, his voice somewhat more respectful. They didn't understand what had happened, Belkai understood. They thought that all of this was a powerplay to seize control from Mishtar.

"Tell your king everything that you saw here," Belkai said. "That is all."

"I will lead them home," Ukari said, stepping forward. "We have your word for safe passage?"

"You do." Belkai nodded and watched as they conferred. They would not leave until the next day, she assumed, but such was their prerogative. She turned to Mishtar's former servants.

"People of Narandir, hear me. My name is Belkai. By the ancient laws, I have taken lordship of these lands."

She looked to two elves whom she recognised as among those who had taken her hostage. They took a step back, fearing the worst. "I seek no vengeance for your loyalty to your former master. I say the same to Mishtar's own children. For two days, anyone who wishes to leave shall have safe passage. Anyone who remains, we will be entering a new era for Narandir. This will be a new land, no longer separate from the Forest. A new day has dawned."

When she had finished speaking, she turned to Loranna. "What will you do?"

"I figure you could use a friendly face," Loranna replied, giving a humoured look. "Besides, I'm tired of King's Crossing. I could use a change of scenery. Will the Lord of Narandir allow hunting in her woods?"

"Some," Belkai smiled. "In time."

A sadness passed over her eyes, and she turned to Davos. "Where did you bury Mishtar?"

"We found a flowerbed on the western side," Davos told her. "He had a great-grandchild who conducted the ceremony. I dug the grave myself."

"Show me."

Belkai ignored the crowd that followed her. She saw the freshly turned earth, with Mishtar's sword embedded at the head. She stood before the grave and felt a tear trickle down her face.

"I do not know what led him to strike at Svaleta," she said to no one in particular. "Even if he had been threatened by Ashelath, he should never have struck north. They were never the threat."

She shook her head sadly. "It should never have come to this. But we both swore oaths to the same vile master. That curse has ended. I hope he finds peace."

"Belkai." She turned as a man in his early thirties stepped towards her. His looked weary, his face blank as he struggled with a mess of emotions. "My name is Harlock. I buried Mishtar last night. I cannot forgive you for killing my great-grandfather. But I thank you for ending his curse. I will be leading a group out of Narandir tonight. I don't know if you mean us harm, but I cannot stay here under his usurper."

"You have my word that you will be kept safe in your travels," Belkai told him, and he glanced at the grave. She smiled grimly. "You may return at your pleasure to visit him. For good or ill, you will always have a place here."

As he walked away, Belkai called Loranna over. "He's not the only one who will fear what's happened here. Can you do me a favour?"

"I am at your service," Loranna replied. Belkai shook her head.

"I could use a guard, but for now I have a far more important task. You'll need a horse."