for comfort? Pushing the jealously that was growing inside him to the back of his mind he rose and smiled softly.
“I just got back from Bantor.” He began, “I felt I should be the one to return William and Elsebeth to their home.” He moved slowly toward her not wanting to frighten her again. “I see you’re doing well?”
“I’m very tired; I’d like to get some sleep.” Lysette managed a reply and turned stiffly toward the bed walking past him.
“Lysette,” He called her name so softly she felt the old grip of fear return to her stomach; it had been so long, she’d nearly forgotten. She stood with her back to him, frozen, unable to move. Katar said, “I love you.”
“Then why did you marry someone else?” She asked softly as she turned to face him.
“I didn’t marry Enda, I put her in prison.” Katar said, softly confused.
“Prison? Why?” Lysette asked as hope flared within her.
“She betrayed Treborel. She betrayed me.”
“She only did what you asked of her.”
“I never asked her to betray you to Connor.” Katar stepped forward, thinking she had been blaming him for her captivity.
“No, she’s having your child.” Lysette stammered.
“My child?” Katar smiled, “Lysette there is no possible way that Enda is ever going to give birth to a child of mine.”
“You killed the baby!” Lysette gasped horrified.
“Of course not.” Katar shook his head in frustration, “Lysette, listen to me carefully. Enda has not been nor will she ever be pregnant with my child.”
“You didn’t marry her?”
“No,” He answered softly.
They stared at each other in complete confusion, Katar though he would lose his mind before she ever understood. Then suddenly she began to laugh, uncontrollably. Sweeping her off her feet he took her to the bed thinking she was having a nervous breakdown. He laid her on the bed and went to the decanter on the small dresser near the balcony. He poured her a glass of brandy and forced her to drink it. She sipped from the glass between giggles. Then taking a large swallow himself he sat on the bed beside her watching with deep concern.
As Lysette’s laughter subsided, he spoke softly to her, asking, “What has happened to you? Did Connor torture you?” He was afraid to ask the real question in his mind. Had he managed to find his way into her mind as he had William? Was this his final revenge against him?
“It’s not Connor,” Lysette smiled at him relaxing into the pillow, adding, “It’s you, no I take that back, it’s me. I’m such a complete and utter fool.”
“I don’t understand.” He wanted to smile at her but he was too worried.
“I have to stop believing what everyone tells me. I seem to recall you warned me about that, not so long ago.”
“Lysette,” Katar reached out for her slowly, hesitantly, “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, I was told that Enda was pregnant and that you married her while Andru and I were prisoners. I had no way to contact you, no way to find out the truth. I had no reason to doubt what I was told. As time went by it was just too difficult to fight it anymore, so I just gave in and believed what they all had said.”
“I have never betrayed you Lysette, not once since the day we met.” Katar pulled her into his arms. “I haven’t been able to think of anyone or anything but you. If I hadn’t found you when I did, I think I might have lost my mind.”
Kissing him deeply Lysette let herself feel the warmth of his love, the touch of his hands against her skin. When they finally parted Katar pulled a small box from his uniform pocket. The same box he had been carrying for months. Opening the box he removed the pear shaped gem and placed it on her finger saying, “If we leave now, we can be in Borel by dawn and marry in the Queens garden as the sun rises.”
The news of the wedding spread throughout the waking city. Nearly two thousand sleepy eyed Treborelans appeared before the palace as the sun rose brightly above the clouds. The gardens were full of sparkling evergreens as the brisk air turned the dew into sparkling ornaments. Local florists flooded the gardens with every “My Beloved’ in the city.
Lysette entered the gardens wearing a shimmering pale silver gown. Beside her walked Katar in the Royal Blue Uniform of Treborel’s Air Command. Standing before the Clergy they said their