Reverie

Daughter of the Dark King V

“The view has changed so little,” the Dark King thought as he stood now on his parapet of old. He had seen many things from this place. He had watched his early kingdom grow, his middle kingdom flourish before the siege. He had made his plans and cast his spells from here during the final days of the siege and escaped with the heart of his realm intact, his court and men at arms.
His return had caused barely a ripple with the current inhabitants, not many thought to question the conviction in their minds that all was as it should be. The spell lay heavy on them and few would remember what went before. They would live out their lives happy that they had a king to rule them and keep them safe.
His gaze swept now to the gate and his finest work, the key that had turned the tide for his return and set all obstacles from his path. He looked now upon his daughter of days and wondered if the innocence he had put there was lacking amongst the rest of his realm, he wondered at her distraction on the field, he wondered at the riders lack and his bedazzlement at present. Had he done his work too well, given life instead of just artifice with his daughters light. Could it be that he could not retrieve his gold misdirection!

…

They had passed the time with light conversation, it didn’t seem important to know anything more than the curves of her face and the sidelong glance of her eyes when she was unsure of the acceptance of her ploys.
It seemed like time stood still for them while they talked, talked of nothing in particular, and drank of each other all.
Then suddenly she stopped. Her color still glowed but she stood transfixed, he had watched her eyes widen, still clear, but empty as her smile faded and her brightness was replaced by confusion.
The rider followed her gaze to what he knew he would see, the Dark King standing where he once had, and the rider felt it in his heart that he alone knew the King had stood such now for only a matter of hours.