⊰ chapter twenty four ⊱

Dara wrapped her right leg around Jungkook's torso and pulled the two of them to the ground as Jungkook was under strain. Jungkook had seized Dara's arms and had flipped her over. He conquered it, though, and grabbed hold of Dara's leg, yanking her backward and pulling her against the ground. Dara screamed as she felt herself being flung over the ground, just before Jungkook's leg was about to land on her protective arms on her chest.

"Break defense. Attack me," Jungkook dragged down all his pressure on her chest, his grip tight against the ground as Dara held back herself from screaming from the pain on her arms, "Quick!"

Dara grabbed his thigh with her bare arms, while forcing it up, her left leg came swinging up and kicking Jungkook's jaw with a thud. Back on their feet and Jungkook holding his jaws, they both swung out the pen knives as they centered the training arena of the forest. Dara held her pen knives up, and Jungkook held his low. And then she tricked her actions into attacking him on the upper body but instead, slipped against the ground with a thigh to find his left arm, pinning it against the tree behind him as she held the knife at his throat, a winning smirk on her lips, "Should be enough training, Your Majesty."

"Out of breath already?" Jungkook sweated. He did not leave her a chance to answer as he ran down a ticklish finger against Dara's waist, below her blouse. When Dara shivered, gasping as she looked down, Jungkook pushed the girl backwards before swinging his pen knife across her face which Dara struggled to defend at first as she kept inching backwards but easily grabbed out her pen knife as she attacked Jungkook himself until her arms were grabbed into a pause. When Dara felt herself locked in Jungkook's grip, her eyes circulated in gleaming gold. Jungkook grinned, "Using powers weren't allowed."

"Can't help it. I am made of it," Dara's eyes were gold as hot air flushed out of her nose, "Let's see what West taught you."

With that, Jungkook let go off her as she backed away, taking steps before positioning herself, her feet gripped against the wet ground that was scrapped off to remove the snow. Jungkook took several steps back, streaks of his hair turning ice blue and his skin pale, his eyes floating like a snowflake as his finger tips became snow-white. Like a fox, Dara launched at herself like a quick wit into him, Jungkook's ice shield appeared before him as fought Dara's strength. He did not practice Western magic the way Yoongi did, expertise were not an option when learning a foreign magic at secret. Neither could he practice at North where he trained the most since the magic was limited to borders of West.

Dara felt herself growing chilly as ice spikes started to emerge on Jungkook's ice defense and attempted to pierce her flesh. She swiftly let go of it. Jungkook swiftly withdrew the protection, but Dara was already preparing her next strike: two golden blades with gold points that she spun twice before tightly grasping. Ice blue blades emerged in Jungkook's hands as he turned the corner and entered the light.

And the cackling of swords filled the void of the snow forest. Dara almost broke her sword against one of the trees only to kick herself backwards to swap her swords into a big gold shield to defend herself from Jungkook's attack. Dara kicked her own shield, throwing Jungkook against the snow clot on the corner of a fallen tree bark. Jungkook jumped off it before he wounded himself, striking against Dara's gold blade, the two of them against each other's strengths.

"You are strong," Dara was out of breath as Jungkook forced his sword against hers, almost making Dara stumble back, "Agh."

Jungkook let go and stepped away. Dara stumbled forward as she tripped but Jungkook pulled her by her arm and into his chest. Dara's swords disappeared as she dragged herself in his chest, so did Jungkook's blades as he wrapped his arms around the red head, stroking her hair with his hands. Dara's body was hot, from wrath and hours of not resting, her body hasn't been stationary since five in the morning and Jungkook could tell how the pressure of training has been for the past five days.

Sam had to be out. Dara swore on saving Sam's child, and she was living upto it.

"We should take the horses for archery," Dara pulled away, restless.

"Dara," Jungkook looked at her green eyes, how faded they looked and how tired and sleepless she was, "I hope you know there are other ways to protect Sam. You don't have to do this—,"

"I have to," Dara stated bluntly, "I have to extract the Western spirit anyways. I need it for the Curve—,"

"Let's go get the horses," Jungkook interrupted Dara and left her without warning towards the end of the forest. Dara watched him go, he has been ignoring the topics of Curve for the past two days. Dara grabbed Jungkook by his arm, "Jungkook, hey—,"

"I can't talk about it, so let's go get the horses," Jungkook did not meet Dara's eyes as he sighed looking at the ground beneath him. Dara stood there beside him, holding his arm against her chest and the snow fell without notice. Dara smelled his shoulder, resting her chin over it, "Please."

"Do you trust me?" Dara whispered.

Jungkook looked over his shoulder, his lashes lowered as he met her eyes. Dara noticed the dullness, the assertive decisions behind his eyes. Jungkook swallowed, "Yes."

"Then I will come back," Dara smiled against his shoulder, "You look tired. Would you like me to prepare for a Coitus?" Dara grinned mischievously, cheeks red as she raised her brows, "You Majesty? My King? My Lord?"

"Come on, Dara," Jungkook shook her off, still in his void of dismay as he sighed heavily, "Let's go get the horses."

That didn't work, Dara was in distress as she watched Jungkook walk to the horses, maybe I shouldn't have told him that. Deep down, fear made it's throne in Dara's heart. More she felt her love for Jungkook, more closer death was knocking at her door. For an instance, she wished she did not know her future or how she would end, so she would be oblivious to her parting from Zisk.

Dara feared.

For the first time in her life, Dara feared dying, but she didn't know why. She had always been taught that death should be feared, so why was it so difficult for her to accept it when it was standing at her door?

A month passed by since her acknowledgement to her last fate as Deborah Koveski and everyday, it made her more cautious.

The red head swallowed as she shook the feelings off, walking towards the horses. Jungkook hopped onto his horse, brows frowning slightly before Dara got on hers. The horses ran through the snow meadows like a hurricane, the wind excellent against Dara's face. Jungkook glanced at Dara, slowly bringing out her compass and before they located the red targets ahead of them onto the large plates on the open field, Dara flicked the compass into the golden bow, a quiver appearing behind her with arrows in it.

"Posture!" Jungkook screamed into the breeze as Dara closed one of her eye, straightening her back as she pulled the arrow against the bow, a mile away from her first target. Jungkook screamed, "SHOOT!"

Dara let go off her arrow.

The strong arrow plunged through the wooden plate, the red target holed as they rode further off. One by one, Dara maintained her posture as she knocked off all the plates with her perfect archery, not a single arrow missing a ten points. Jungkook did not smile, but he nodded when Dara looked at him for confirmation.

The horses rounded around each other as the King stared at his red haired, like he couldn't have enough of it. Jungkook's jaws clenched as he blinked away before pulling Dara by her arm, the horse walking closer to one another so the King could kiss his woman better. By her chin, Jungkook held her lips against his before wrapping his arm around Dara's waist and pulling her into his horse. The quiver of arrows and the bow disappeared as Dara motioned her hand across it before grabbing onto Jungkook's collars as she kissed him back, putting her thighs over his as she sat backwards. The foreheads rested against each other, Jungkook swallowed hard, "We don't have to do any of this."

Dara smiled, eyes closed, "Then who will save the lands?"

She opened them and looked into his brown eyes, "Who will remember me? I was born for this, Jungkook. You have to let me do this—,"

"What about me?" Jungkook cut her, "Who do I keep losing love? Why do should I keep watching you die and not do anything about you—,"

"I wish we were ordinary too," Dara told him, rubbing his waist as she pecked his jaws, the breeze cold against her back, "But we are so gifted. When I leave, I hope they still chant my name, and not forget me like a mere slave. They will remember me, right?"

That was not addressed by Jungkook. He did nothing but sit in quiet and watched Dara bleed like a doll as she broke in his grasp. The household was lively enough to organize for Dara's battleday apparel as the letters of the conflict had only arrived in the morning as Jungkook rode themselves back home. Before dragging Adona inside to the pile of clothing and pants on the floor, Dara put on a grin as she entered the home to greet the enthusiasm that Adona's hug had given her. When Wineri saw Jungkook and Dara enter the room while she was taking notes with her reading glasses on, she put her palms together to hush everyone while grinning, "Very well! Let Dara choose her attire, kids, move! Go back to your rooms, give her some space to sit!"

"Attire for?" Dara raised her brows before being sat down before the pile of clothes. Jungkook sighed a the sight but before he could leave for upstairs, Wineri asked him to sit down as well. Dara frowned, "Ah, Wineri. For the battle, this is too much—,"

"You must look your best. Your weapons, they need to be carried into a skillful vest. City's best weapon maker has suggested you get a customized outfit for tomorrow. Besides, the whole city must be there. Jungkook has announced his previous Kingship to Curve at the realm, and since it has been passed down to you, you must make the best impression," Wineri hurried with the clothes.

"Miss Koveski loves playing dress up," Jungkook hummed from the corner of the living room, nodding to himself as Adona shared a knowing smile with him, he added more to the humor, "She had a different dress for each person she killed based on what their death was going to look like."

"Really," Wineri swallowed as she looked between Dara and Jungkook, Dara's death glares stilled towards Jungkook.

"Hmm," Jungkook nodded quickly, suddenly interested in the attire collections, "She killed Eastern Becker twice. Once, in a blood red dress while eating steak in a private balcony, the other time in blue silk."

"She killed Jewel a black dress," Adona grinned, rolling her eyes, "That traitor loved to assign Dara with black dress."

"Hmm," Jungkook hummed before frowning, the curiosity endured suddenly gasped out, "Jewel. Was an Eastern. But she has always been one of your maids, not since Meyrem though."

"No," Dara stared at Jungkook, "Jewel was assigned once inside the palace. She did not get along with Ann. I heard their arguments. The night Ann was killed, Jewel was not found. I think she had been linked with the Easterns ever since."

"Are you saying Jewel killed Ann?" Adona whispered and Dara shrugged, "My handmaid Rose. She was dead shortly too. After my fakery of death. Ayree...you executed her after Theon's penalty."

"All them—the majority of them are women who betrayed Dara and are Easterns," Jungkook pointed out, his brows arched, "We have seen shadows in the palace after your descent. Like ghosts. Hearing us, knowing our ploys. It first came for Dara, then Prince Theodore, then it came for me, then it has finally come for Dara again. It's like it knows what Dara wants, one by one."

"What do you mean?" Adona whispered, holding her heart.

"When Dara realized it was her compass that the Easterns wants, she ordered for level three protection around her. When she announced to us that Theodore will be the next King as she had seen her dream, they were seeking for Theodore so Dara faked Adona and Theodore's dismissal to the East, but we knew Theodore was alive. Then, the palace attacks, the attack at the pub, the dreams, it came for me once it had acknowledged Dara could be threatened if I was harmed. It always has been listening to Dara, all her thoughts, loudly." Jungkook looked straight into Dara's eyes.

You are saying I have a betrayer from the inside, Dara's eyes answered.

Jungkook nodded, "It has always been behind you. Maybe it was no shadow. We are missing out."

Wineri sighed, looking at the clothes on her feet before trying to pick them up. Dara panicked immediately, "Ah, the clothes. Let me try on them and see how it fits me. Which one do you reckon I should wear for the battle?"

"I wish you did not have to," Wineri sat down with her hand on her forehead, "What will happen to Jungkook if you don't come back?"

Dara smiled, wondering what Jungkook's face looked like right then, "I miss North. Wearing glittering dresses, tiaras, being dressed everyday for something surprising, something challenging at the Caucus, going to the markets, being loaded with gold and giving out gold. That was luxury. But, West, has been less lonely."

Wineri looked at Dara, her eyes watery. Dara continued, "Being a Queen is lonely."

The room silenced.

"It felt suffocating. And no matter how much I let my corset loose, it still felt suffocating to know that I have killed my own family—the only ones I had, to sit tidily on a throne that did not belong to me. All that reign, all my slogans, died with the inefficiency when I realized I did not have a family," Dara told Wineri, the older woman's nose red, "If Jungkook did not bring me to West, I would have never known what it felt like to fight for someone I loved."

Jungkook looked away.

"It was noisy at first," Dara nodded to herself, "But it wasn't heavy. And suddenly I wasn't fighting for myself. I was fighting for a lot of things. I am fighting for Sam, her child, for two lovers who shed their blood for the Curve, for the people at North," Dara smiled, "I never thought I would be making tea for a man, wear those dresses for him, make my hair for him, put extra rose tints on my cheeks, sit perfect for him and wait till midnight so we could go to bed together. I don't even remember how I was to him at North but I know I was horrible to everyone."

"Wineri, I am a witty woman," Dara confessed, "I did not recommend you as Queen Mother just because you are Jungkook's mother but because you change people. You make a household bearable, lively and that is all Jungkook needs when he ruling the country. I wish I had you around for longer if not for the Eastern possession."

"If I knew I would never expose your secrets at the Caucus," Wineri told, eyes widened as she wept and held Dara's hands into hers, "I did not even know what I was saying...they shunned you from the palace, i am sorry—,"

"If they didn't do that, I would never find my people at the Outerns and the spirits. Everything that has happened till now was a necessity. Everyday, I am closer to the Curve, I will do good," Dara smiled at Wineri before pulling the woman into her embrace. She smelt like home, a mother's whomb, Jungkook's childhood and a fallen King's memories.

Jungkook stared at them, his throat dry as he sensed the withdrawal of happiness from the wind cackling the windows.

The end was near.

He kissed her lower lip, his hands trailing down her thighs and underneath her gown, "So this is what love does to people."

"What does it do, My King?" Dara held his face above hers, her voice playful and her eyes joyous to see the person so close to her after a whole, long day.

Jungkook grinned back, kissing her eyes, "Makes you fearless. I feel like I could, do anything for you."

"You could do anything for me even when you were at my service," Dara said as Jungkook laid beside her, getting off her slowly but almost did not want to. He was sweating and hot, they both were. The dress never came off her, Jungkook seemed like he did not want to tire her before the battle, "I believed you when you said you could kill yourself for me."

"That was...," Jungkook sighed heavily, "That was devotion. I am in love now. It's different."

And it was silent for sometime.

Dara was smiling ear to ear. The same Jungkook who was not the talkative person, did not hesitate to say he was in love. Dara did not know how to deal with this emotions, but it did turn her stomach a lot. Dara looked at Jungkook, tossing to her left to face him.

Jungkook smiled before continuing, "I was aware that I was putting my name forward for someone I cannot have when I kissed you on the balcony. I firmly believed that by kissing the Queen I served, I was digging my own tomb. And I was losing my mind. by me. I required a reason to leave because I wanted to. I was aware of its curse. But suddenly your cape started to fly after you, forcing it to follow. I was unable to go. I kept returning. I lost sight of my purpose and kingdom."

"I crossed the line, wasted my time, and lost my mind. I have gone too far that time. I went mad," Jungkook stared at her, "Your love is venom, and I ingested the whole thing. I was ready to hang myself the day you departed for the borders. I was fixated. Just to touch your beauty, I was slipping from grace. And if you ever left, I would beg you to stay on my knees. I was sure I would."

"You made my life fall into pieces, steady and bearable," Jungkook looked up at the ceiling, tears falling sideways, "When I couldn't have that dance with you as soldier, I was envious. For the first time, I wanted to rip myself for failing to achieve your love. I prayed in secret for you, forgetting myself in the process, and I think I asked for too much. I remember all of it, Dara. My love for you, knows no bounds. Not a day I will live without thinking of you."

"You make me want to die," Dara smiled through her tears, "Where do I keep all of your love? I am becoming a night."

"Then I am daylight," Jungkook neared himself, facing her again, "And we can meet at twilight."

"Twilight is all I will ever approach for you," Dara's mouth parted, chest aching, "I'm a knight who'll give back twice her load but, Jeon Jungkook, I will never forget you."

"You are my open minar," Jungkook caressed Dara's cheek before leaning in to kiss her forehead, "This love, it's good."

"Hmm," Dara smiled, weeping, "It's so good."

"Dara," Jungkook sat up. Dara watched him sit up before she pulled her dress up her shoulders and sat down too, trying to look at what he was doing. Jungkook slid out a shinning object from his pocket. The wedding ring. Jungkook swallowed before looking at Dara, "I don't want to be anyone else's."