Love's Singe - Part IV

Love's singe - A warrior's story (Part IV)

Part IV:

IN SHINIGAMI:

Tony received the message that Andrew had won the war and that Cinda was on her way to Shinigami meanwhile the chariot reached Shinigami. 

Tony was dressed in a magnificent attire. He looked more than just a Prince, he looked happy. He walked up to the carriage and held his hand out for the Princess. She looked at him and pushed his hand away from hers and quietly walked in. She walked around the room and then looked into his eyes.

He kneeled in front of her and said, “I am Prince Tony Tendon.”

Without even glancing at him she asked, “Was this room designed for me?”

Tony's heart skipped a beat in her voice. He got up, looked at her and said, “Yes my dear! Everything in this castle is yours' including me! Everyone here is will be at your service including me.”

“You can call me Cinda…” replied Cinda in a stern tone.

“Princess Cinda…” hesitated Tony and then continued, “I love you!”

She looked at him and asked, “Am I to say, “I love you too” now?”

“No…Princess Cinda. I love you, and I could not imagine a life without you and that’s why I had to bring you here by force,” replied Tony meekly.

“Yes… bring me here after a massacre. A man is one who fights for the women he loves and not the one who sends his friend to fight for him,” said Cinda sarcastically.

Tony hung his head in shame.

“Ha ha and the man you sent seems to trust you a lot. Take my word a fool he is,” said Cinda on a lighter tone.

Tony was extremely unhappy to hear the ear piercing words from Cinda.

All this while Paul was standing outside the room, when Tony walked out of the room dejected, Paul called out, “Prince Tony…”

“Good Morning General Paul!!!” greeted Tony.

“Good Morning, Son! Time is the best healer, give the Princess sometime to learn who you are,” replied the wise old man.

“Hmmm… sure General I would wait for her, all my life,” replied Tony.

“It should not take that long Prince Tony…” smiled the old man.

Tony smiled.

IN TIDELAND:

Andrew was searching every street and every house for the girl he had seen the other night. But it seemed as if she was an illusion. He was very disappointed. How could he lose a girl he finally fell in love with?

It started raining and he stood there in the rain. Warm drops of rain fell and trickled down as tears and now he knew what he longed for… it was her, his unattainable and inconceivable.

He now had a doubt if he was imagining this girl or did he really see her. How could he search for her in this unknown land, who would guide him to her? Who would tell him where she was?

He sat on a rock and thought, "You broke me, you broke my heart, and you broke everything! You turned my world upside down and inside out, BUT I know it is worth it. You put me through all this torture and all this pain and all this misery. You know that I’m hurt inside. I am dying inside because of you. My knife gleams with my blood. Every time I remember you I lose control and I am broken. I am losing my mind, and I am at a loss of words. Will these words forever remain unsaid?”

Days turned into week’s… but Andrew could not find out where she was. 

Nobody knew what happened to him and he did not respond to any of the messages that were sent to him.

IN SHINIGAMI:

“Son… It has been weeks since Andrew left Shinigami, we haven’t heard anything from him. I want you to look for him Tony,” said the King in a concerned tone.

“Yes father! I was preparing to leave… I would come back with good news, father,” replied Tony.

He walked up to Cinda and said, “Princess Cinda, I owe my life to Andrew for had it not been him I would never have had the opportunity to meet you. Now Andrew needs me, I need to be by his side. I would be back as soon as I can.”

She looked at him and said, “I understand Tony!!! I would like to accompany you.”

Tony’s joy knew no bounds. He was happy that the Princess would be by his side and readily agreed.

Both of them left for Tideland.

IN TIDELAND:

When Tony saw Andrew he was shocked. He rushed to his side and asked him, “Andrew…Andrew… what happened? What happened to you man?”

“Women… Women! Tony, in revenge and in love, women are more barbarous than a man. I have realized that the heaviest object to carry is the love for a woman. I know I'm searching for her, something so undefined, that it can only be seen by the eyes of love in the middle of the night. Women are at their worst when a man loves them, they make us run after them and when we do, they run further down the lane.” said the thwarted Andrew.

“There is so much of sense in what he says…” thought Tony.

“Love and Andrew…” asked Tony, “Okay. Don worry we will find her out. Now come have something, you seem to be drained out of every drop of life.”

All the while Cinda was standing at the corner of the room looking at both the friends conversing. 

Tony turned and looked at her; she quietly gave a sly smile and walked away.

After a week’s bed rest Andrew was back on feet. He started his search all over again.

Andrew and Samuel used to go around the city hunting for the girl but it was of no use.

Tony rushed to Shinigami leaving Andrew and Cinda at Tideland when he received the message that his father was ill.

Andrew was gloomy all the time he would always take ample care of Cinda but never spoke a word with her.

Cinda admired Andrew and his way of life. One day Cinda was out for her evening walk when she saw Andrew drawing something sitting on the banks of river Wendy.

She went up to him and stood behind him silently.

“Yes Your Highness!!! Is there something you want me to do?” asked Andrew.

“No nothing…” said Cinda.

Andrew continued painting without a word after that. This hurt Cinda a lot. She looked at Andrew – 

A man he was!!!

Cinda was carried away in her thoughts as she saw Andrew, “Now I know why women throng him! Andrew is a bundle of contradictions and extremes. He is mystical and practical, a dreamer and a pragmatist and he is capable of planning grand strategies, yet pays attention to the minutest details. He paid careful attention to his image and it is very difficult for us to separate fact from propaganda. His soldiers adore him, as did most who would meet him. He is handsome, courageous, and intelligent. He is tireless in the field, able to out-work almost everyone around him. Yet, he is also a dreamer, given to fits and moods. He has visions. In short, he is everything a legend should be but still longs for a girl who cares a damn for him…”

There was something in this man that every girl longed to own. A man, who was loved by every girl, loved a girl who did not seem to exist. His love was too good to be true.

“GENERAL ANDREW A MESSAGE FROM KING TONY,” it was the sentinel. After the sudden demise of his father, Tony became the king.

Andrew quietly read the message.

“Andrew…” called out Cinda.

“Yes your Highness!!!” answered Andrew.

“I am Cinda and you can call me by my name.”

“No I cannot Madame; you are the wife of King Tony and I am his General. A General cannot call the queen by her name Madam.”

“Wife… You must be hallucinating! I think it’s high time you took some rest,” mocked Cinda.

“I am not Madame…” replied Andrew, and quietly handed the message to her.

It read: Marriage would happen on the next full-moon day.

There was only three days for the full-moon day.

“What…?” whispered Cinda trying to hide her shock.

“You must be really happy Madame as things are turning out the way you wanted,” replied Andrew in a forlorn tone.

“Yes I am…” replied Cinda thoughtfully.

Andrew continued painting leaving Cinda in a confused and depressed mood.

Andrew suddenly looked at Cinda and asked, “Are you happy with King Tony Madame Cinda?” asked Andrew in a serious tone.

Cinda was taken aback with the way Andrew shot the question. She looked straight in his eyes trying to find out what he hid behind it, but the moment they interchanged looks she melted like ice. She stood there looking at him quietly. He was something different from every other man.

“How is it that he shoots the right question at the apt time, he knows what he has to ask and when he has to ask,” thought Cinda.

“I asked you something Madame…” stressed Andrew.

She quietly looked at him and smiled.

“GOOD EVENING GENERAL ANDREW AND GOOD EVENING MADAME CINDA. DINNER IS READY,” it was the sentinel again interrupting their conversation.

“Take Madame for dinner I would be in late,” replied Andrew turning his attention back to the painting.

To be continued...