It's A Slaves' World - Chapter 16

Aidens POV

A month after Kiara had told me her memories in the garden she still didn’t answer when you called her by name. I knew she wasn’t ignoring me as she wouldn’t even bat an eyelash. I knew I should be happy that she at least accepted the idea that she was Kiara and would let me call her by the name now, even if she had yet to respond to the name unless you already had her attention. Not feeling up to the heart wrenching feeling I get when she didn’t answer, I instead walked towards her where she sat under a big oak, twirling flowers through the air. As I approached, I could hear the whisper of something familiar carried on the wind. She was singing our song. As I got close enough to make out the words, I could see that her eyes were closed against the sun and a smile lit her face. She was finally feeling at home. Without saying anything I sat down beside her and leaned back against the trees huge trunk. Her voice was better than I remembered it despite being out of practice, the words were sung with care and the tune was crisp and tranquil in her unhurried manner. I closed my eyes and just listened to her, surprised when her hand took mine without the slightest pause or slip in the lilt of her voice, but I kept my eyes shut, unwilling to ruin the magic. Her fingers traced circles around my knuckle as our song continued to fill my senses with memories and hopes. I listened, intent on the words and impressed that there was not one wrong word or lapse in memory.

After what felt like an eternity of bliss, I noticed that the song had stopped. I fluttered my eyes open against the brilliant daylight and found Kiara leaning lightly my thigh, my hand still in hers. "Kiara." The name came out as a breath, but she heard me. Turning her head she smiled at me with a tender look. I could almost forget that she answered the sound not the name itself.

"Good morning sunshine." Her greeting was sincere and her voice was light with laughter. Watching her hair blow lightly across her face as she looked at me was enough to make my heart race.

"Your voice is beautiful." In all honesty, beautiful did not do anything about her justice. Perfect. Wonderful. A gift from God. My heart. Everything about her seemed like she had been made for me. She fit in my arms so right. Her touch made me feel alive again. How can I live without her if she decides not be stay with me? She still has Aunts, Uncles and other family that would be thrilled to have her back, she could easily leave me behind and still have a very comfortable life.

"I have been thinking." Something of which I’m certain she never stops. Her serious face was still light with happiness. "I will never love you the way that Kiara once did." Her gentle squeeze on my hand was the only reason I managed to stay seated to listen to the rest of what was to come. "That may as well have been a different life to me." She fidgeted with my hand and I did my best not to cringe as the words she said were daggers in my heart. "But since the day I arrived here as a slave, you have been nothing but kind. You put yourself between Valencia and myself several times and ignoring the time in the kitchen where you had a lapse in judgment and decided to scare me witless, you have done nothing but earn my respect as a master." Let me finish this thought for you. You just want to be friends. BAH! "And when you came for me at Treyton’s you were nothing short of my knight in shinning armour. Every girls dream! Usually with a more romantic ending than you being half strangled in the attempt but still you tried." The smile in her eyes made me uncertain where this might actually be going. She wasn’t sad, or looking anxious. Just an oblivious happiness flooded from her smile. "Despite the rescue taking a second attempt, it was still more than I could have dreamed for. I had resigned myself that eventually someone would take me against my will, in some dirty closet or dark hall. You saved me, save my spirit. I may never love you the way Kiara used to, but I do love and you so much more than a childish love."

Her words slowly settled over me and I couldn’t help but feel my heart swell. Wait Double check, "You love me?" My words were quiet and uncertain.

"I can understand if you can’t love me back. I am not your Kiara but you did say that you hoped I could be me and get to know me. Well I am still not sure entirely who I am but I would love for you to help me find out." Her words gushed out like she was terrified that I would interrupt her before she finished. Watching her take a deep breath, I waited another second to make sure she was done.

"Are you alright?" I watched her face slowly fade from the burning crimson that it had become during her little rant back to a more health shade of pink. With a tiny nod, I could see that she was forcing herself to breath. "I have loved you since before I knew who you were. Since that first day when I caught you half dressed. From the time I held you so close to me in the alcove. Something about you has drawn me in. Irrevocably. Realizing who you are just made what I wanted to do all the more necessary rather than strictly what I wanted." I watched the tension drain slowly away from her as she relaxed again with her heart-warming smile. "I was ready to tell you that I could contact your Aunt or someone if you felt you couldn’t stay here with me. I love you so much that I was considering letting you go." I pulled her into my chest. I pulled her into my heart. I reached into my breast pocket, "Will you marry me?" pulling out my mothers engagement ring. Slipping the ring over her finger, she didn’t even wait for it to be in place before she pulled herself tight against me with a kiss that promised more than I could have hoped for.
…
Standing in the shade of the same oak tree where I had asked her to marry me, I fidgeted with the sleeves of my jacket. The hundred or so people that were all staring at me weren’t helping my nerves. The rose covered trellis behind me filled the air with their sweet fragrance but their beauty would not cut it today. I stood staring down the path where I knew Kiara would be coming from and I couldn’t seem to make time go any faster despite my prayers. Finally music started to play and I knew she was coming.

Kiaras POV

When the music finally started I could have died from relief. Standing hidden down the path with Myrick on my arm to give me away, I had thought the wedding would never come. Forget that I had already waited nearly a month for the arrangements to be made, the day finally arrives and I spend nearly half an hour hiding behind a bush where Aiden can’t see me.

With a nod from Myrick we rounded the bend to come into view of all the family and friends that had managed to get here on the short notice. Fidgeting with the flowing white strapless gown and drawing the bouquet of irises up hide behind a little bit, I could tell by the look in Aidens eyes that he had no doubts about marrying me. Shaking my head a little to make sure it was still attached and not floating away, I felt my hair tickle my back a little as the curls shifted under the thick white veil. I used a hand to make sure the little tiara I was wearing was still in place and then at a small nod from Myrick again we started to move forward. Slowly we walked down the path towards Aiden and the priest. After a few more minutes of staring at Aiden I finally was handed from Myricks arm to Aidens with the utmost care and affection. Both men have been nothing but saints in my life.

Holding Aidens arm we both turned to the priest, egger to finally be married. The monotone droning of the priest wasn’t enough to ruin my mood. His arm was firm under my hand and steadied my racing heart. I couldn’t seem to tear my eyes away from his for even a moment. Breathing in deliberate, slow breaths I forced myself to be patient. One more surprise for Aiden today. As the priest finally reached the vows Aiden took his turn first. "Today I become your husband and you become my wife." I couldn’t help feeling butterflies in my stomach when I noticed him avoid using the name Kiara. "I will strive to give you the best of myself, while accepting you the way you are. I promise to respect you as a whole person with your own interests, desires, and needs, and to realize that those are sometimes different, but no less important than my own." His gentle hand took mine as he continued to try and reassure me. "I promise to keep myself open to you, to let you in to my innermost fears and feelings, secrets and dreams. I promise to grow along with you, to be willing to face change as we both change, keeping our relationship alive. And finally, I promise to love you in good times and in bad, with all I have to give and all that I am, in the only way I know how -- completely and forever."

I felt a tear prick at the corner of my eye, he made such a deliberate attempt to show that he loved me for who I am and not who I was that I couldn’t help but feel anxious over my own impending vows. Taking a deep breath to steady myself against what I was about to do. "I Kiara, affirm my love for you, Aiden." The deliberate use of the name I knew he treasured was heart stopping. I could offer nothing but my love and hopefully a measure of closure that he had been lacking up until now. "Together we will create a home and a life that we can cherish, realizing that sometimes dreams can start separate but find a common path together. I promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of distress, encourage you in times of hardship, laugh with you and cry with you, and always be open and honest with you." I felt a tear slip down my cheek but forged ahead in my mission, "Above all I promise always to be here with you, in mind, heart and spirit." With the entire assembly silent in their seats I could hardly breath waiting to see if he would accept my name.

"I love you Kiara." His whispered words were just for me. Without speaking, he slid his ring over my finger and forgetting himself, pulled me into him. Pushing the veil out of his way he firmly found my lips with his. Passion flooded my mind, as love flooded my heart. Hearing none of the priest remaining words, we stood together connected finally and for the rest of our lives.

*** Alright. I guess this is the end of their story. It seems so strange for there to be nothing left to tell about them but who knows maybe there will be and epilogue in a little bit so we can see how they turn out. COMMENT and thank you for reading! ***