To Stand Beside Her by B. Kristin McMichael
“I asked Mauve to wait until after lunch,” Nalick said. “Since you now have to do this four days in a row, she promised to not take as long each time.” Leila was relieved and smiled gratefully at Nalick.
“What were you three talking about?” she asked, picking up Ruth. Nalick was not going to answer honestly. “Is it what you need to talk to me about?” she asked while sitting down on the balcony with Ruth on her lap. Nalick nodded. Leila wondered what Anatolio and Roger could know that Nalick was afraid to tell her.
“Dad, I.....,” Phillip said running onto the balcony and noticing Leila. He stopped suddenly and got flustered. Phillip didn’t know what to say as he noticed Leila on the balcony also.
Leila was beginning to feel like everything was being kept from her, and she was a bit upset. Ruth slid off Leila’s lap to join her brother playing with his toys. Leila quietly stood and walked to the bathroom to find her make-up to cover her arm. Silently, she dipped her arm into the light colored make-up and covered the lines on her arm. If Mauve was not going to be looking for her until after lunch, Leila was going to use the opportunity to sneak into the city. Leila quickly changed into street clothes. While walking back into the main room, she saw Elena was sitting watching the children.
“I’ll be back for lunch,” Leila told her. Leila hurried out of the room and down the hall before Anatolio noticed. Leila quickly peeked her head into the guest quarters and found Kay. “Want to go for a walk?” Kay quickly stood to join her.
Kay followed behind her friend who weaved between corridors before exiting the palace through the servant’s quarters. Kay had trouble keeping up with Leila who continued to dodge people, weaving between streets. She had tried to see who was following them, but to keep up with Leila she needed to concentrate. Once Kay finally caught a glance of who was following them, she stopped Leila.
“There’s only one person following us,” Kay said to her friend.
“I know,” Leila replied without looking back.
“And isn’t it his job to follow you?” Kay asked about Anatolio.
“Well I never asked him to,” Leila replied quickly catching her friends arm and ducking between two buildings.
Leila stepped into a vacant room, and Kay followed her upstairs. Leila went to a door and opened it into a fully furnished apartment. Leila quickly opened a secret door and pushed Kay ahead before following her. As the exited the building, Leila slowed down to a walk and finally Kay was able to walk beside her.
“Are you sure he won’t get in trouble for losing track of you?” Kay asked.
Leila stared at her friend, “I think I can take care of myself. Besides, he’ll find us again eventually. He seems to be good at that.” Leila thought of the various times she had seen him following her in the city before she even knew his name. He was getting better at keeping up with her, but she could still lose him if she wanted.
Leila made her way to the town square and was surprised to find men setting up tables to fill the square. Around the outside the normal vendor tents were gone, and inside tables also lined the outside of the square.
“To the left,” a man called from behind, and Leila grabbed Kay and moved her to her right.
“What’s going on?” Kay asked.
“I don’t know,” Leila replied. She searched the faces of the men and quickly approached the youngest one. “What’s going on here?” she asked the young man who blushed to be addressed so causally.
“The king is finally getting married,” the boy said. “So to celebrate, we are having a large feast here the night before the wedding. We have a couple days to get set-up, so I am helping while they are short men. Today, everyone that is older is busy at the town meeting. There is some guy from the North Country here talking about how to make the city safer. We want to protect our queen.”
“Where would the meeting be at?” Leila asked.
“Gothreith Hall,” the boy replied as Leila quickly hurried away.
Leila quickly navigated to Gothreith Hall. Kay followed, also wondering who the person was as both women had a good guess. People milled outside the building when Leila arrived, and she easily pushed her way into the back of the room. From the back, she could remain hidden while she viewed the stage. The man sitting in front was who she expected: Roger. Roger had already given the audience a lecture and was now answering questions. Kay was as surprised as Leila was and did not notice that her friend had already left the room. Once Kay finally noticed, she quickly made her way back outside. Leila was waiting on the steps across from the hall. Kay approached and could see the sadness in her eyes. Leila was always the sort of person who would talk only when she wanted to. Kay sat down next to her best friend and patted her knee.
“Nalick’s keeping a secret from me,” Leila said to her best friend. “He won’t tell me even when I ask, but he has told Roger and Anatolio.” Leila was the most honest and open person Kay had ever met. Leila rarely lied to people, even when on assignment, and never lied to her friends. Leila expected the same and was hurt by Nalick.
“Why do men tell each other secrets they can’t even tell their soon to be wife?” Leila asked Kay.
“Maybe he doesn’t know how to tell you,” Kay suggested, trying not to sound like she agreed with Nalick.
“But he can tell me anything,” Leila replied, trying to hold back tears.
“Sometimes it is easier to talk to the same gender,” Kay suggested, reaching over and motherly adjusting Leila's wig.
“Even so, what could be so hard to say?” Leila asked.
“Why don’t you ask Anatolio?” Kay suggested, looking in the shadows for the young man.
“I tried, and he won’t tell me,” Leila said, not looking up.
“But could he tell you who would tell you beside Nalick?” Kay asked. Leila smiled at her friend’s ingenuity of getting around Nalick’s inability to tell her.
“It’s worth a try.” Leila waved to Anatolio who approached cautiously. “Since you won’t tell me what Nalick is hiding, would you be able to tell me the name of someone who would?” Leila asked, and he stood and thought for a moment. “I’m not going back to the palace until I find something out.”
“I don’t think anyone that knows will tell you. It is Nalick’s secret to tell,” Anatolio replied. Leila was not satisfied with his answer. “If you really want to know what your life holds, just talk to Gabor.” Leila had not considered the seer.
“Good idea,” she said while standing. Anatolio was not sure if it was a good idea or not, but he needed to get her back to the palace by lunch to keep Nalick happy.
Kay and Anatolio followed Leila back to the palace. As Leila reached the gate, the guard stopped her. Leila forgot the make-up was covering her arm. She was going to comment, but Anatolio stepped forward and the guard let them pass without knowing who they were. Leila stopped in front of the door to the priest chambers. She was not sure she really wanted to know what life had in store for her. She had not had the best of luck in the first eighteen years; she didn’t know if the next eighteen would improve.
Anatolio escorted Leila to Gabor. Anatolio tapped on Gabor’s door and there was a soft reply from inside the room. Anatolio opened the door and stood in the doorway waiting for Leila. Hesitantly, she walked by Anatolio into the sparsely decorated room. Gabor was sitting across the room next to the one window, reading. Gabor smiled as she entered. His smile widened as he realized the man behind her was not Nalick, but Anatolio. Gabor had seen the future of both of them and was happy to see them together.
“What a surprise,” Gabor said to Leila. “Come take a seat.” He moved to clean the seat next to him. Leila helped sitting down next to him. Anatolio quickly bowed and left the room to wait alongside Kay. Anatolio did not want to be around for her initial reaction.
“So what brings you here?” Gabor asked, “And in disguise.”
Leila quickly removed her wig and untied her hair. “I was in the city,” she explained of her disguise. “Nal
“But you are not going to tell me,” Leila added disappointedly.
“It is not my place to tell you what he knows or why he does what he does. That is for him to tell you when he finds the courage to do so,” Gabor explained as he removed his glasses. Leila stood to leave the room.
“You are quick to leave. Perhaps if you ask the right question, you might find the answers you seek.” Leila sat back down beside him and stared at his questioning eyes.
“So you won’t tell me what he is hiding, but you will answer other questions?” Leila asked, and Gabor nodded.
“I don’t make it a habit of telling people the fate of others, but if you want to know about your own future, then that is an entirely different case. Ask anything about yourself, and I will answer the best I can,” Gabor explained.
“What do you see for my life with Nalick, or rather my marriage to Nalick?” Leila held out her hand and the old man took it. He closed his eyes and smiled as if he were watching an entertaining show.
He let go and smiled at her more. “You will have ten very happy years together with five more children beyond the three you have now. I am not saying you will not have your ups and downs, like any marriage, but you will always be happy. Together your union will produce the best king our country will ever have.”
“Ten years?” Leila asked. “Will something happen to me in ten years?”
“No. In ten years’ time you will be pregnant with your sixth biological child,” Gabor explained, smiling as he closed his eyes and could see the bright future waiting for his country because this one girl chose to stay.
“Does something happen to Nalick?” she asked, but Gabor shook his head. Leila wanted to jump up and shake the man to get her answer.
“That I cannot say for that is his future,” he replied.
“What about after ten years?” she asked not truly wanting to know in full detail.
“You will be happy. After fifteen years in Lior, you will head home to the North Country. You will grow old and see your grandchildren grow into adults. But there is no need to worry as you will not be alone,” Gabor said to the shocked woman sitting next to him.
“Phillip will take to heart the idea of being a prince and learn as much as he can from Nalick. He will never be king, but it will not bother him. Instead, Phillip will find that he can serve his country and his family by teaching your first-born son how to do both.
“Tim will grow into your right hand man and learn your trade as well as if he were your own biological child. He will never leave your side and do everything he can to make sure you are happy. That child will know as much about being a courier as you do and will be just as good at it.
“Ruth will teach everyone how to love and compromise. While you are doing your best to make their lives better, they will actually make your lives better than they were ever meant to be.” She was still confused by the first statement he had made.
“Will I be happy?” Leila whispered, standing to try to avoid her fate.
“Yes, Nalick has made sure of it,” Gabor replied.
Leila walked to the door quietly. All she could understand was that her marriage to Nalick would only last ten years, yet she was not going to move back to the North Country for fifteen years. Together all she could assume was something was going to happen to Nalick. What is your fate Nalick? she thought. Leila met outside the room with Kay and Anatolio.
“Did you get your answer?” Kay asked.
“Kind of,” Leila replied. “I guess I just need to wait to hear Nalick explain it to me as I am a bit confused.” How could I be happy if he is dead? she wondered.
“If you don’t understand what it is, do you at least know why he isn’t telling you?” Kay asked.
“I think, but I am just not sure,” Leila replied, leading the way back to the royal quarters. Anatolio studied her to see what Gabor might have told her. It did not include him, and he was relieved. He did not want the relationship between them to change and was actually happy Nalick had not told her yet.
They made it back in time for lunch, and she did not say anything to Nalick. Before the lunch was even done, Mauve took Leila away to get her ready. Leila complied without a fuss. After she was dressed, Leila sat down on the couch and watched as Mauve fussed over Nalick. Leila barely noticed as Tim climbed up next to her and wiggled until he was almost sitting on her lap.
“Mommy, you look pretty,” Tim said as he cautiously touched the jewelry around her neck. Leila smiled at her middle child. He was trying to cheer her up. Leila picked him up and placed him on her lap.
“Thanks, Timmy,” Leila said, snuggling him.
Nalick watched from across the room as Mauve was still fussing over him. Anatolio approached Nalick quietly.
“She would not come back until I or someone told her what you are not,” Anatolio explained, and Nalick nodded his head slightly. “So I sent her to Gabor.” Anatolio waited for him to get angry.
“Thanks,” Nalick said. “She had to find out sooner than later. Do you know what he told her?”
“No, I left her alone with him,” Anatolio reported watching Leila also.
“She deserves the truth. The poor girl has been through enough in her life. The sooner she knows and accepts your fate, the better it will be for all three of you,” Mauve said, butting into the conversation.
After taking Timmy and Ruth to visit their cousins for the night, Leila silently followed Nalick through the corridors to the main hall where it was lavishly decorated. There was not enough time to explain everything to her on their walk to the hall, so Nalick did not interrupt her silence. Leila happily greeted their guests as Nalick introduced her to everyone. She was upset with him but nothing showed to the people who were visiting.
After dinner, Leila and Nalick again walked silently to their room. Once they arrive back, Leila checked on each of the children who were tucked into their beds asleep. She was trying her best to avoid Nalick, as he would tell her what she didn’t want to hear.
Assured everyone was asleep, Leila walked out into her garden and lit a torch near one of the benches. She thought briefly when she first fell in love with Nalick that everything was going to be perfect. Leila had finally found a man that did not just love her for her appearance but for the person she was. She was surprised as more and more they got along great and were similar in so many ways. Leila had thought that since Nalick was a king, he would be just like every other king she had met. He was not. Theo and Macarius liked her because they thought Nalick had finally met his match, but what they didn’t know was that Leila had also met her match in a man that could stand beside her in every way possible in love, in life, and in happiness. And now that would be limited to ten years.
Chapter 31
Leila sat and watched the shadows cast by the torch light flickering over the plants around her. It was dark outside as the moon and stars were covered by clouds. As the clouds moved she could tell where the moon was, but they never completely moved so that she could view it. Leila felt utterly alone as she sat gazing into the sky and the absent moon was no comfort. Is this what my life will be like? she asked herself. Leila had not felt this feeling of loneliness since she had decided to stay with Nalick. She shivered even though the breeze that blew by was warm.
Nalick checked on the children also but took his time. He was not sure yet how to tell Leila the truth. Nalick watched her walk to the balcony and knew she was waiting for him. Quietly he walked out and approached her. She did not turn to face him as he neared but kept looking for the moon in the sky. Nalick sat down beside her and from the faint light of the torch he could see the dried tear streaks that lined her face. Nalick gently picked up her hand, and Leila turned to face him. He could see the change in her eyes as loneliness stared back at him.
“Do you know why Anatolio is your personal guard?” Nalick asked, opening the subject he feared to discuss.
“Because of his talent,” Leila replied, not understanding why Nalick was not talking about what would happen in ten years.
“That was just a good side benefit. Actually I brought over seventy men before Gabor before he told me that he already knew who you were meant to be with. Anatolio’s soul is as pure as yours. He is the man who you are meant to spend your life with,” Nalick explained.
“I love you, not him,” Leila said, not understanding. “Besides, he’s just a kid.”
“And I love you, but sometimes life does not last as long as love.” Nalick looked into the grey sky and could not see the moon either. Leila searched his face for clues.
“Before I was even a teenager, Gabor warned me that I would only live ten years after I got married. It did not matter who I married or how old I was when I did, I would only have ten more years of life. At the same time he told me of this beautiful, smart girl who was years younger than me that would make those ten years the happiest of my life if I was able to convince her to marry me. By the time I would meet her, her heart would be scarred, and she would not be willing to accept love. But if I tried my best, I might find the happiness that very few people actually find in life. That girl was you.” Nalick cupped her chin in his hands. Tears slowly fell down her cheeks upon hearing the words she did not wish to hear.
“I made my choice the day I first saw you. I would rather choose ten years of complete happiness than a lifetime without you.” Nalick brushed the tears away with his thumbs.
“Are you sure he can’t be wrong?” Leila asked. Nalick wiped more tears away as they continued to fall. Nalick wanted to run away from everything with her and protect her from the future.
“Gabor is never wrong. It would be so much easier if he was, but he isn’t. He has told me how I die, and I know that no matter what, it will not change,” Nalick said pulling her close to his chest.