As they returned to the village, all seemed at peace. Most people were sleeping, but a few still milled around, bowing as she passed them by. She felt that she would never get used to that.
He escorted her to her new home, and said his goodbyes at the door.
“Niyol,” she whispered his name, “where are you going?”
“My role is to guide you and offer you protection whilst you need it. I will stay by your side until you dismiss me, Princess, or I die in your service.”
She didn't mind him calling her “Princess,” now, it seemed he said it with reverence, whereas before she felt he was mocking her. She was growing ever fond of this man.
“Please, Niyol, stay with me tonight. I fear I cannot do this without your help,” she pleaded with him.
He was glad that she had invited him and entered her home, willingly.
“Here’s my sleeping quarters,” she said, starting to get undressed and giggling at the thought of making love to him again.
“I will sleep in the other room. I am a light sleeper, if you want or need me, just shout out my name, I will be here in an instant.” He kissed her briefly on the lips before bowing and backing out of the room.
“Why, Niyol, why can’t we be together?”
“All would know of this. You do not want them to see your weaknesses. Show the people your strengths. When this is over, there will be plenty of time for us to be together,” he said, and left.
She lay in the darkness, seemingly, for an eternity, trying to sleep. Her mind active with thoughts of how to approach the next few days. How would she defeat her brother? Will it involve huge battles with much bloodshed? She was so engrossed in her worries that she almost missed the noise from the corner of the room, and even then she wasn't sure if she had imagined it.
Glancing over in the direction of the noise, she could see a figure sat in a chair. It was too dark to make out who it was, and she assumed that Niyol must have changed his mind.
“Niyol, so you can’t resist my charms then?” she asked, lightly.
The figure said nothing just sat there, stock still.
“Niyol, come on then, the bed is cold without you?” she pulled back her covers and stepped from the bed, slowly approaching the seated figure. The coldness caused her to shiver. A deep chill ran through her, freezing her blood.
“Niyol?” she whispered, as she cautiously approached the shadow.
“No, dear sister, I am not your lover, but your brother.”
She stared on in horror as she looked at her brother Vaclav, seated in the chair, his face twisted with hatred.
“Welcome home, dear sister,” he said as he stood and thrust a dagger deep into her heart.
***
The screams from the Princess’s room awoke Niyol from his light sleep. He jumped out of his makeshift bed and quickly ran to her bed chamber, pausing only to pick up his sword on the way. He burst through her door, expecting the worse. A relief washed over him as he saw that no one was in the room and the Princess lay safely in her bed, though mumbling words incoherently.
“Princess, wake up, wake up, are you well?” He shook her gently, trying to awaken her.
Tammy sat up quickly and shook her head to clear away the dregs of sleep. Her heart beat so fast that she felt it would burst out of her chest.
“Oh god, Niyol, I had a terrible dream, my brother, he was here, and he... and he...”
“All is well, Tamara, you are safe now, I am here.”
He pulled her close to his own body, wrapping his strong arms around her and holding her tightly. Her slender frame was shaking with fear.
“It felt so real, I thought he had killed me, but it was just a dream,” she cried.
“Not just a dream, Tamara, he knows you are here, and has sent you a warning.”
He still held her close until her shivering settled. Gently he stroked at her golden hair. She had experienced a fright this night, but there was much worse to come.
“How could he do that, Niyol?” she asked, “get into my head like that?”
“He is very powerful, but we will prevail, Princess, I have faith.”
She never thought she’d hear him say those words, and now he had, she felt she could take on her brother and anyone else who messed with her people. She looked up at him, his handsome features were furrowed in concern. She knew, then, that she was falling in love with this man. Lifting her head slightly, she pressed her lips to his and he responded in kind. Just for a few moments, the kiss took away the horror of the night’s warning. Her mind was clear as she was lost in the embrace of her protector.
She fell asleep, safe and secure in his arms, as the both lay on the bed together, as one.