Purpleland: Chapter 7

Plans were quickly made for my return. Marcus, showing surprisingly that he might in fact have a sense of humor however deeply buried, housed Britt in a room adjoining mine. It seemed that there was no hope of delaying the departure. That gave me only one day to speak to Alena.  I found her in the field behind the main house. There was a rock there that we had often sat on together and talked for hours. Now she sat there alone. When she saw me she smiled.

“Come here Kail and sit with me.”

I came but did not sit. “You know I have to go back.”

She nodded.

 “And I will have to stay there, perhaps for years.”

“Of course I know.” Her voice was very soft.

“I want you to come with me.”

She looked up sharply.

“As my wife.”

“Oh Kail.” There were tears in her eyes and she put her arms around me. “I should have to leave mother and father and the mountain. I should have to be queen. I should never again be free. Kail, I’m seventeen. I have so much more I want to do.”

“But Alena I love you. I would die for you. Does any of that matter if we are in love?”

“You are in love.” Her voice was not cold only sorrowful. “I do love you but I do not know yet whether I should not be just as happy loving you as a brother.”

Her words struck something in deep me and I felt as though I had been punched. I pulled away from her.

“I love you Alena. I will always love you. I will come back for you when I can.”

She just looked at me with her sorrowful grey eyes and it cut deeply that she said nothing about waiting for me.

Many men have said they would always love the woman who is at the time the object of their affection but few maintain their passion. I will swear to anyone that what I said to Alena on that day was true. I love her still and my love has never waned. Soon death will come to seal the promise as fulfilled.