N. Walters - Embroidered Fantasies

His heart was breaking.

He felt Sednar’s arms come around him and grabbed his brother, holding him tight.

They would get through this like they had every other tragedy and hardship in their life—together.

They clung to one another as they had when they were children. But they were men now. They would survive, but they would never be the same again. How was it possible to function without a heart, Radnor wondered?

The door to his room pushed open. Anger flared like a wildfire out of control. It was bad enough to lose Roxanne. Who would dare to intrude during a time of such grief?

He opened his mouth to roar at whoever had defiled the sanctity of his chamber and almost swallowed his tongue when a flash of pink slipped into the room. He blinked, certain he was hallucinating. Roxanne stood there, her hands clasped at her waist, looking uncertain. She was wearing that unusual dress she had arrived in. It hit her mid-thigh, leaving the rest of her legs bare.

He scowled when he saw she wasn’t wearing any boots. Her feet were probably cold and the rest of her chilled. He wanted to speak but was afraid to. Was she leaving now? Was that why she was here?

Sednar shoved away from him and staggered to his feet. “Roxanne?” He held out his hand. She closed the door behind her but made no motion to come any closer.

Radnor pushed off the floor and rose to stand next to his brother. He tried not to notice the soft curve of her cheek, or the way her hair framed her beautiful face. He desperately tried to ignore the way her breasts pushed against the fabric of her ridiculously short dress, outlining her nipples. She wasn’t wearing a bra. Did that mean she wasn’t wearing any underwear?

Where he’d felt dead only moments before, he now felt totally alive. His body sprang to life, reminding him he was a man and she was a delectable woman.

He held out his hand to her. “Come here.”

Roxanne shivered with more than just cold as she stared at Radnor’s outstretched hand. Both he and Sednar were pale, as though they’d seen a ghost. They’d awakened to find her gone. They’d thought she’d left.

She hadn’t. She’d stayed and now there was no going back. She was suddenly very nervous. Sednar took a step closer to her. The look of hope crossing his face was almost too painful to watch.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “The tapestry came.” Both men stilled. She could feel it. The tension in the room grew as she opened her eyes. Radnor slowly lowered his hand back to his side.

“Then why are you here?” She almost smiled at Radnor’s clipped words. She was starting to know him much better. The more worried he was about something, the shorter his temper got. She no longer feared his anger. It would never be directed at her, not in a physical manner. They might disagree about things, but she would never have to worry about him hitting her.

“Because I couldn’t leave.”

Sednar frowned and his expression grew bleak. “That’s not the way it works. The tapestry is supposed to take you if you want to go home.” Radnor swore and raked his fingers through his hair. “I don’t understand.” She realized they’d totally misunderstood what she meant. She took a deep breath and plunged onward. There was no turning back now. She’d sent her only ride home on its way. “It didn’t take me home because I am home.” Both men stared at her as if they couldn’t believe what she was telling them. She licked her dry lips as nerves made her stomach flutter. “It was my choice to stay.” Instead of coming to her and taking her into their arms, they both turned from her and strode to either side of the bed and picked up their swords. She took a step back, her spine hitting the wooden door behind her. They both wore identical expressions of determination as they paused in front of her.

They both went down on one knee before her. Hefting their swords in their hands, they laid them across their palms, bowed their heads and offered them to her. It was a ritual of sorts. Intrigued now, she waited.

Sednar raised his eyes to her. “You are the heart that beats in this chest and in this home and if you would take me for husband I will give you my love, loyalty and devotion for as long as I live. With me, you gain the love, loyalty and devotion of my brother as well, who will be lover to you, and would also be your husband should I die before you. In return, I ask for your love, loyalty and devotion and any children that the gods see fit to gift us with.”

Before she could answer, Radnor laid his sword on the floor at her feet and placed his palm against his heart. “You are the heart that beats in this chest and in this home and if you would take me for husband I will give you my love, loyalty and devotion for as long as I live. With me, you gain the love, loyalty and devotion of my brother as well, who will be lover to you, and would also be your husband should I die before you. In return, I ask for your love, loyalty and devotion and any children that the gods see fit to gift us with.”

Roxanne was overwhelmed by the solemnity of the moment. Her eyes filled with tears and she desperately tried to blink them back. One escaped and rolled down her cheek.

Radnor reached out his hand and caught her tear on his thumb. He brought it to his mouth and licked it off. “Don’t cry, Roxanne.”

She was torn. “How can I choose between the two of you? I don’t want either of you to feel left out or unwanted.”

Sednar rose and cupped her chin in his free hand. “There will be no change with us.

We will all share one bed if that is your wish.” He glanced at his brother.

Radnor rose and nodded. “Whatever makes you happy, Roxanne.”

“But,” Sednar continued, “you must pick one of us. That is the law. The children must be formally recognized by a father and you must have the protection of a husband. It is a legal arrangement but it means nothing behind closed doors.” Her love for both men grew. She had enough love to share. It was strange that she loved both of them, yet her feelings for each of them were slightly different. One of them needed her more than the other. Needed that binding, that joining together in a formal ceremony, to feel complete. And so, she realized, did she.

She smiled at Sednar and turned her face into his palm, kissing it. Radnor started to back away but she reached out and caught his hand in hers, tugging him closer. When he was standing in front of her, she smiled up at him. “Yes.”

“Yes.” His expression was dazed.

Sednar slapped his brother on the back and began to laugh. He grabbed Roxanne into his arms and kissed her. She barely had time to acknowledge the kiss when she was torn from Sednar’s arms.

Radnor pulled her into his embrace and held her so tight she could barely breathe.

She hugged him back just as tight. He raised his head and studied her face. “Yes.” She nodded. “Yes.”

A slow smile crossed his face as he swept her into his arms and over to the bed.

“Now we celebrate.

Radnor held tight to the treasure in his arms, savoring the feel of her weight against his body, her hand pressed against his chest. He didn’t want to release Roxanne. It wasn’t easy, but he forced himself to set her gently on the bed. She hadn’t left. Hadn’t returned to her world. She’d chosen to stay here, with them. With him.

He was to be her husband. He glanced at Sednar to see how he was taking the news. His brother smiled at him, looking pleased and happy. That would never change.

Radnor pledged then and there. He would make certain his brother never felt left out of their union. Roxanne had more than enough love to give them both.

Sednar’s love was real, but his needs were simpler than Radnor’s were. His brother would be happy to have Roxanne with them, in their bed. Radnor knew he needed her bound to him by law in order to subdue the demons that sometimes swirled deep within him. Roxanne quieted them, soothed them in a way he couldn’t truly explain.