Return of Ikrah: Little Phoenix's Behest to His Wife
Little Phoenix came over and sat down on the other bedside, taking hold of her hand. "Ikrah, whatever you please, I won't stand in your way, but I only ask one thing of you." "My Lord...!" "Just be a mother to our son. He needs you." "Of course." She nodded, expression puzzled and askance. Even his own father questioned his use of those words. She drew the mask onto her face manipulating the air around her. Every detail of the cosmetically altered features had been committed to her memory for her to draw from. "Ik...." He frowned lowering his head in capitulation. "Harki, then." "My Lord-----" "It's Little Phoenix here, my love. I don't want you to treat me as that." "I will do my best. While there is peace, I will enjoy much of my time." "As will I, Harki." "Just think," she smiled, "in a month's time, we will announce Griffin's name to the world." "I'd rather wait." "Why?" she asked, losing the smile in puzzlement. "What's...the matter?" Legran peered at his son with an astute observation, then stood to leave the couple alone. They faced each other for a brief while as the door closed. "Little Phoenix, I will be here for Little Griffin." He shook his head with a stricken countenance. "I know you will...but if you engage in the world outside...I fear the risk...." "No more than what happened in here. All things come to an end eventually." He looked up realizing her thoughts about the matter was the same, only from the opposite point of view. She accepted her fate. He didn't. "How can you say that? You should live forever." "What is forever?" "Your children will be forever. I am marked with immotality, as are you." She gazed back at him a long moment. "All right," she said curving her lips up on the corners. "You know about those marks of fate on your lifespan, don't you?" "If I tell you they were the conditions in place in order for me to be incarnate, would you believe me?" "Then, what of my parents? Or your father and his wife?" "They are Celestials chosen by the natural Goddess. I have no power over that." "Why...why have you come to this realm?" She sighed, uplifting and lowering her shoulders. "I don't remember anymore. I might have thought this world was beautiful in all its intricacies. I rode off the Dragon's tail for a chance at life in corporeal form." "I wish I had known all these things before. I could've done more for you." "You are young, Little Phoenix. There is still time." "You really think so? Or are you just humoring me?" "I will stay here, then. See that Griffin grows up." He stared at her with tears filling his eyes. "Is that a promise?" he asked choking back his emotions. "I don't dare believe it." She tried to smile, but it came out weak and faded soon enough. "What would you have me do? Live out my days without sunlight. Drifting and sleeping in eternal darkness...." She left the rest unsaid, sitting there with him. He moved closer with renewed understanding now. A thousand-year-old star in the living flesh sat there within his grasp. She had confessed how lonely she was before being born into this world, before knowing the light of day, before touching the sun itself, before meeting him. He was the light and she was from the night. He was born during the day bathing in it. And she was born at the darkest hour with the moon eclipsed besides. "You are the light, Ikrah. You were never from a dark place. We belong to each other, dearest of my heart." Her face was immaculate, dispassionate even. That mask was much too cold to his liking when she didn't move her lips. Those false eyes veiled her true gaze. He couldn't smell her tears. Yet he didn't dare take it off now, because she made it. He held onto her hands, rubbing them between his thumbs and fingers warmly. "You had said you don't love me," he spoke quietly, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Please love me through our son. I want to keep you, but I will do what makes you happy. So, treat your health with care. Treat your life with me as simply...a trust and respect." "Yes," she replied. "I can do that. Only...I cannot say I am a good wife to you." He shook his head blinking with a softened expression. "That doesn't matter anymore. I need you in my life. Three meals a day, at least dinner every night. I just want to see you once a day. I...I can't lose you again." "All right," she nodded. Pause. "Won't you put the ring and bracelet back on me?" He brightened in expression getting up to go retrieve the jewelry box. The matrimonial Royal Ruby of Harki was now the official name to the bracelet-ring he placed on her hand. The ruby ring on him had never once left his finger. And in that moment, sadness was set aside. Nostalgia encompassed them both with that mutual understanding.