FF: My General's Wife [Ch 6 Pg 17]

Burden of the Mighty Sword

What you are about to read is Donna Paulsen approved

Her eyes were swollen shut, taking refuge from the cold current outside. She was worried far beyond her years. Even if there were no wrinkles to show for it yet, she was ageing a decade a second, living in constant pain. The one thing, the only thing that kept her going through the raging winds were his smiling eyes stealing a glance every chance they got.

Her husband, the general of the King's army, was the reason she survived through this bone chilling storm. Though she hated what she did, no she was disgusted by it, she pulled through because he promised her that he would marry her.

"You call me sweetheart, and I am...I am your sweetheart but I will marry you for the world to see. Just..."
"Just?"

"Just promise me this, you'll stay by my side. Arm in arm, you'll fight with me when I go to war. I know you're what you're capable of. You were born to fight. You were born for this job and I can't let you waste your life living at home like a nobody woman. You deserve recognition. And the only way you'll get it is here, in the army".

They were born in times no different from most human history. A woman was only worth what her husband made her. And he was only trying to make some good out of her. He'd seen her in the ring. Her martial art skills could rival his own. When she swung her sword in the air, she made his heart waver in pride. Even if she hated her work now, she would see one day that he was helping her. Troubling her now for her own good. Plus, anything was better than leaving her at home. In turbulent times, savages came for the woman in town. What if they found her? What if her sword was overpowered by many men? What if she ended up like he'd seen countless strangers end up?

He'd make sure never to let her suffer this fate. He'd protect her till his last breath. And her? Caught between a well and a cliff, she was content tagging along wherever he went. With that thought in mind, she treaded steadily behind the King's troops. Even if blinded by the December snow, she would guard the queen's envoy with her life. Because that's what he wanted. And she was too in love to say no.

"Attention! Rest", her husband commanded and the envoy stopped to set up tent. She practically dropped everything and ran for him. Out of breath, vision still blurry, she all but knocked the king down in her path.

"Watch where you're going!" he barked.

She bowed her head slightly and resumed her run. Arms flinging around his neck, she let her weight drop on his shoulders gradually, then all at once. People watching be damned! She hadn't kissed him in a week. This was her turn to steal a long, hard, loving smooch off his lips. His fingers fumbled under her armor, satiating his longing just as much as she was hers.

"Ahem!" the king made his uncomfortable presence known and her husband pushed her aside. The couple quickly licked their lips trying to supplant their lost color.

"I am sorry sir. She just loves me too much", he took of his helmet swinging his golden threads of hair in the air.

The king let out a giggle and she turned red, not out of embarrassment but in awe of her man's beauty. Even after a lifetime together, her heart never fluttered any less when he fawned over her.

"Are you all married yet?"

"We were sir at age 14 but then your new law invalidated our union", she responded in the same haughty tone she used on everyone.

"Shush, you! Why are you getting mad at the king? He didn't exactly have us in mind when he made that law", he whispered under his breath, trying to save face in from of his employer.

"You wife is a funny one! I am sorry Miss for not taking your union into consideration. Just get married again, I'll pay for it". The king was strangely amused by his general's loudmouth woman.

"Yeah, right! Tonight would have been our 14th wedding anniversary, had you not rained on our parade. Now we can only have the phere next year".

"Why?" the general screamed out in surprise.

"Why? What do you mean why? I am not about to remember two anniversaries just because the king couldn't get a law right. Propose next year, I know you're fiddling with that ring underneath your gloves".

"Aish!" the general expressed his disappointment at both having been caught by the wife and that too in front of the king who held him in high respect. Now he was sure the king would call him a wife's slave. Not there was a cent of lies in it but it would have been better if their truth was under the rug.

"I am pleased with your choice Kabeer. Though I was disappointed the first time I heard my general married a Hindu, I can see what you saw in her. As for your wedding, just get married now. We've got a kaazi, if miyan biwi are raazi".

The king gave the happy couple perhaps the greatest gift of them all- a promise of a lifetime together.