Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 454: Do You Remember? ()

Kaideon’s announcement took the rider council by surprise.

"Lord Kaideon, this decision is a little..." A dragon lord began to say but seemed to decide against continuing.

"Veah’s place is here in Dragon Keep, forgive me, but I cannot let you take her away as you please, Kaideon." Menarx’s stance was firm.

He had respected Rodvan’s request and did not approach Neveah but his worried gaze was fixed on her and his heart ached terribly to find Neveah would not look at him.

"Kaideon, I understand your concerns, but I also believe Neveah should stay in Dragon Keep, only in this way can these affairs be resolved." Lord Decaron reasoned.

"Lest we forget, before Lord Kaideon’s unannounced arrival, the council was in agreement that my niece Adrienne was deserving of a chance at redemption... I believe Lady Neveah’s absence is not so bad of an idea, provided she returns Lord Menarx’s scale..." Lady Diandre interjected.

"Lady Diandre, stay out of this!" Menarx interrupted.

Kaideon snarled furiously but Neveah was quick to hold onto him before he could lunge.

"Father... don’t." Neveah requested in a low tone.

"Veah, I do not care for what the council discussed. My promise to you has not changed..." Menarx said to Neveah.

Neveah could hear the sincerity in his words, she knew without a doubt that Menarx would keep his promise to her, that was just the kind of man he was.

But it was no longer such an easy situation where one could just do as one wished, there was more at stake now...a promise was no longer good enough, not for either of them.

Neveah sucked in a deep breath, forcing the pain to the back of her mind, she stabilized her breathing before she continued.

"First of all, regarding the decision to stay in Dragon Keep or leave...it is not up to anyone to make for me. It is my own decision and I will not entertain any opinions on it." Neveah made clear to the council in a low but firm tone.

"It has already come to this, I would also like to hear what the council has to say... better said in my presence than otherwise." Neveah continued.

"Veah, you do not have to listen to this." Menarx reasoned.

"I want to hear it." Neveah replied, still not returning Menarx’s gaze or meeting his eyes.

Neveah waited in silence as the rider council debated on if they would speak or not, but ultimately this was a council of dragon lords, the last thing they could do was mince words.

"Lady Neveah, the council is charged with the wellbeing of not just dragon kind but the entire stronghold."

"Thus, it is of great importance to us that Lord Menarx of the King’s guard is not compromised as this is the only way he can execute his duties without concerns...or distractions." A dragon lord began.

"Indeed. All matters related to the King’s guard are affairs of state and cannot be handled by personal decision. Lord Menarx has made a choice on his bonded, we recognise and respect this."

"The situation is different now, the true bond is the most powerful bond known amongst our kind. If Lord Menarx loses this bond, he is bound to face a severing...it is beyond just Lady Adrienne’s life at stake here." Another dragon lord supported.

"Beyond that, Lord Menarx and Lady Adrienne also deserve a chance to honour their bond... only then can Lord Menarx’s choice be without doubts. We do not intend to force a bond between the two or deny the bond already formed."

"Lady Adrienne has committed grave crimes, this is undisputed. However, for the time being, it is within reason that her life is preserved... this allows for Lord Menarx to truly make a choice, we believe he deserves a chance at his true bond."

"If ultimately, Lord Menarx chooses to bond with Lady Neveah, then not even the Fae council can justify a protest. This is to ensure no loose ends are left as Lord Menarx is a leading figure of Dragon Kind." A third dragon lord spoke up.

Neveah smiled slightly, every word they said was within reason, it was hard to argue with the facts.

Looking at it from the point of view of the council, a true bond was sacred, it could not be thrown away so easily.

How could they be rest assured in Menarx’s choice when he was yet to even experience the depth of the true bond?

It was making a choice without knowing what he would be giving up, a choice that would lead to the most painful experience a dragon lord could endure...a severing.

"In essence, I am to allow them a time together so they may decide if they wish to be together or not... while I remain as an option?" Neveah summarised.

"Veah..." Menarx began to say but Neveah cut him off.

"No... I need to hear this." Neveah insisted.

"Lady Neveah, this is not meant as a disregard to you in anyway but to guard against future troubles... you are also suffering terribly from this and I fear it will not get any easier. No one can prevent the affliction of Menarx’s scale... and you also deserve the certainty. " Lord Decaron explained.

Neveah nodded slowly, it was true, she was sufferings just as much holding on, and who was to say Menarx would never regret his choice?

"Menarx deserves a chance at his true bond... this is a fact. He deserves a chance to be certain of his choice, this is right...but I will not be an option, to anyone..." Neveah clarified.

"Veah..." Menarx interrupted, shoving past Rodvan, he walked over to Neveah.

"Everyone can say what they wish to, but I know my own heart. And I know I have hurt you... I know I have failed to prove my determination, but my heart has never changed." Menarx said in a pained tone.

Neveah finally spared Menarx a look, her brows furrowed slightly.

"Narx...on the day I accepted our bond, do you remember what I asked of you?" Neveah asked.

Menarx gaze changed as his thoughts went back to that day...

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Neveah peered out of her quarters to find Menarx still stood right there even if she had asked him to leave, somehow she already knew she would find him there.

Neveah cleared her throat slightly as she stepped out, drawing Menarx’s attention.

Menarx spun around immediately, his eyes settling on Neveah. They trailed from her face down to her clothing, Neveah was clad in a night dress she had just changed into after washing up.

Menarx’s eyes reflected hurt, it was just for a moment before it flitted away and was replaced by understanding.

"I will escort you out of Dragon Keep... where would you want to go?" Menarx asked Neveah with a small smile on his lips.

Menarx’s understanding and acceptance was truly rare, Neveah could not help returning his smile.

"I... I cannot figure out that dress. It has strange clasps and zips in all the wrong places... I’m sure you know how a rider’s dress is worn better than I do..." Neveah stuttered out uncertainly.

Menarx did not react immediately, for a moment, it seemed he was frozen in shock at Neveah’s words but after that moment passed, his eyes lit up brighter than Neveah had ever seen them.

"You mean..." Menarx began, trailing off.

"Just come in and help me out with this... don’t stand out there and attract attention." Neveah grumbled beneath her breath as she retreated back into her room.

Menarx followed after Neveah, shutting the door behind him, he watched Neveah head over to stand before the mirror, staring at her reflection.

"You know...you would find your mate someday, don’t you?" Neveah asked in a low tone.

Menarx’s heart ached knowing Neveah had worried over what she believed to be the inevitable.

Moreso because Neveah did not fully understand the kind of man he was, since Menarx had made a choice, he would never be moved by anything else...not even fate.

He had waited four centuries and yet he had not found his fated, but Menarx believed the Creator had granted him Neveah instead and Menarx could not imagine or fathom a woman he could place above Neveah.

"You are my bonded, the one I chose. There will be no one else." Menarx vowed solemnly as he moved towards Neveah, stopping behind her.

"It is easy to say that now..." Neveah replied blankly.

Menarx watched Neveah’s expression from the reflection of the mirror, he could see the confusion and doubts in her eyes... her eyes were also red and slightly swollen which showed she had been crying.

An intense urge to protect and cherish this precious woman before him overwhelmed Menarx’s heart and his arms encircled around Neveah’s waist, hugging her close to his chest.

His heart fluttered when Neveah did not push him away or retreat away from him, instead she leaned back into his hold, accepting his support and comfort.

Menarx buried his face in Neveah’s neck, breathing in her scent... she scented of lavender, pinewood and fresh rain, a scent that was so heavenly,

Menarx had picked it out the very moment he stepped into the dining hall of the Eclipse Palace.

And that first moment he laid eyes on Neveah, Menarx recalled thinking that it was no wonder Xenon was so enthralled.

But it was not until the light hall that Menarx understood Neveah was more than just enthralling... she was everything that was good and honorable.

A woman to be desired not only for her beauty but for her heart. Menarx had never met a woman quite like Neveah and he would be damned if he let go of her.

" Fate does not always make the right choices...if it did, you would always have been meant to be mine." Menarx whispered in a low tone.

"Yet fate is fate... I would know enough about it, I have lived all my life trying to escape it...yet I have never won over it, not even once." Neveah replied to Menarx.

Menarx took note of Neveah’s words, she never did speak about her life before Dragon Keep and so Menarx did not know much about Neveah.

However, he had always believed she would let her secrets out at her own time and Menarx would not seek to know of them for even a moment before she was ready.

"The one who holds your hand is Menarx of ruby scales... I have never lost a battle before, not even once..."

"If fate is the enemy, let me fight beside you." Menarx asked hopefully.

"And if we fail?" Neveah asked.

"We fail together." Menarx replied without hesitation.

"You are a rare soul... Menarx. It would do my heart good if truly you earn my heart. So make sure to do it... make me love you, so I think of no one else but you." Neveah murmured as she sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

"Trust me." Menarx assured, a smile lighting up his face.

"I do...by the Creator, I do trust you... but what I do not trust is the Creator himself..." Neveah admitted, a quiet sigh escaping her lips.

"Promise me this one thing...if ever your heart wavers, if ever there is the slightest doubt in your heart...be sure to let me go." Neveah made a final request.

Somehow, Neveah could tell every path the Creator set before her would ultimately be another attempt at breaking her.

She knew that Menarx was too good to be true, yet for the time... Neveah had chosen to accept this one good thing even if it would end up being her undoing.

"Veah..." Menarx whispered in a pained tone, understanding Neveah’s meaning.

"Promise me, Menarx. I am one who has seen enough darkness... I know nothing else but protecting myself...so promise me."

"That if there come a time when it is inevitable, you will let me go... even if it breaks us both."

"I will have all of you Lord Menarx...or none at all." Neveah made clear.

"I assure you, such a day will never come...but you have my word." Menarx vowed.