Heart of Darkness

When my world was dark

When my soul was lost

You became my shining light

You became my angel in sight

The love you poured onto me

To see that there's more to life

The happiest person that I can be 

With you as my loving wife

Your wise words and the brightest smile

Have kept me alive longer for a while

As you helped me fall in love with myself

When I have forever been this hostile

I don't know how you healed me back

To a better self that I can be

Maybe I'm inspired by your lively soul

Or maybe it's just your love I see.

Angelica closed the book, her eyes tearing up. His poems always made her emotional but she was sad also sad because he had found her book and seen the previous poems that she wrote when she was in pain. Beside each one of them, he wrote a short poem. How long did he sit and write them? She read on after the other and now she couldn't hold her tears. 

Putting the book away, she wiped her tears and went downstairs to the kitchen. Before the men could leave she wanted to serve them breakfast. Sarah was in the backyard, collecting eggs and Simu was cleaning the chicken house. Angelica watched how Sarah took the eggs and then ignoring Simu who tried to say something, she came back inside. 

"Is everything alright?" Angelica asked. 

"Yes, my Lady." 

Angelica looked at her skeptically. "Sarah? What is it? You can tell me."

"My Lady," She looked flustered while she tried to contain her anger. "I know he is the one who… the mark." 

"Oh," it seemed like he told her at last. 

"How could be so…" she was too angry and hurt to find the right words. "despicable. I just hate him. How can you keep him here and see him every day after what he did?" 

"Oh Sarah," Angelica grabbed her arms and looked at her with a smile. "Do you really hate him?" 

"I do!" 

"What does your heart say?" 

She shook her head. "I don't like him." She insisted. 

Angelica nodded. "I understand that you are angry. Confused. Your mind and heart are in conflict. The struggle between what you know and learned is not easy. Just take your time, and listen to your instinct. I won't judge you so don't judge yourself for whatever you feel." 

Sarah held back her tears and nodded. 

"Thank you, My Lady." 

"Tomorrow, I have planned for us to go out shopping for the winter. We need good warm clothes." 

Sarah smiled. "Alright." 

They made breakfast together, and Angelica couldn't help but smile at how Simu would glance toward the kitchen now and then looking tormented. Angelica decided to go out and see him for a while. 

"Good morning, My Lady," He bowed. 

"Good morning. How are the chickens doing?" 

"They are healthy, My Lady. You missed the fight between the roosters yesterday. I had to put them away separately before they killed each other." 

Angelica smiled. "Well, males and dominance." 

He smiled as well. 

"I'll go see Love," She said. 

He gave her a nod and then she went ahead to the stall. Angelica was absolutely in love with Love. She was stunning, standing there with such elegance. 

"Good morning." Angelica greeted stroking her hair gently. 

Love made a sound as if replying. "I know. You have been locked in here since you came. But soon, I'll take you out on a ride."

"How about today?" 

Angelica turned around with a smile. "Oh, we would love that." She told her husband. "But where is Skender?" 

Rayven shrugged. "He is distancing himself again. He left." He looked worried as he reached for Love and stroked her hair as well. 

Angelica reached her hand across to his. She took it in her own and then brought it to her face. He cupped her cheek and she leaned into his hand. "Your touch is soothing," she said closing her eyes with a smile for a while before looking at him again. 

He watched her intently. "I missed you already." He stroked her cheek with his thumb. 

"Me too. It was a cold night without you." 

"I thought you would be alright with your brother." 

She chuckled. "He is all grown now. He wants to sleep alone." 

Rayven smiled. "Well, I don't mind. I am not good at sharing." 

Angelica shook her head at him with a smile. He took her hand and led her away. "Let's have breakfast so we can go out." 

At the breakfast table Rayven turned to William. "I was thinking of taking your sister out…"

"That's good. I can have the castle to myself then." He cut off. 

Rayven and Angelica looked at each other and then Angelica burst into laughter. 

"Well… um, thank you." Rayven chuckled with raised brows. 

Days would be very interesting while her brother stayed with them. His interactions with Rayven always made her smile or laugh. 

At the gate, Simu prepared for them their horses and they went outside to leave. Rayven helped her up and Angelica felt but unsteady. It had been a while since she rode. 

"Do you feel alright?" He asked. 

"Yes. Just a bit strange." 

"We will start slowly," he told her. 

He went up on his horse and then Simu opened the gate. Angelica guided Love outside, only walking at first. 

"How does it feel?" Rayven asked. 

"It is going well." 

They walked their horse's side by side, on the mountain where they lived. Angelica looked down at Village. Down where she used to live and up the hill, where she ran from the monsters to end up in the wolf's den. Where she met the Dark Lord. The one people called a monster. A beast. He became her husband. A monster he was not, nor a beast but he was no ordinary man either. 

"What are you thinking about?" Rayven asked. 

"My journey. To finding you." She smiled at him. 

"I was lost. I am glad you found me."

"Me too." 

"Are you ready to go on another journey?" He raised a brow. 

"With you as my companion, I am always ready." 

"Alright then." 

He began galloping with his horse and Angelica tried to catch up, getting more and more comfortable. And then she was the one to run ahead of him, letting Love ride through the wind and under the bright morning sun. 

Rayven caught up to her quickly and they rode through the woods, down the hills, and then up again, beside the river, through the fields of grass and then she stopped in a field of flowers. She was surrounded by bright colors as she breathed in the air of freedom. 

Rayven jumped down from his horse and began to pluck some flowers. She thought he would give them to her but instead, he began to tangle them together in a strange way. She was confused at first but then she realized he was making a crown of the yellow flowers. 

Angelica jumped down from the horse. 

"Come," he said and she went to him. He placed the crown on her head and then took a step back to look at her. 

"Beautiful," he said, his eyes looking at her with intense admiration. 

Oh, this man could make her heart expand further as if the poems he wrote her weren't enough. 

She looked into his eyes. Eyes not dark anymore, only black in a face to be admired. 

"Oh, sweet wife. Oh, lovely beauty. To honor and cherish you is my duty. Your smile is an arrow, and my heart is the aim. But even if I die, my love, I would not blame. My breath would only utter your name. For my love for you, would always remain the same."

Angelica felt tears burn her eyes again. This time she closed the distance between them and kissed him. He took her in his arms, as the wind blew their hair, they kissed as if the other was the air they breathed. And when their lips parted their breathed in each other. 

"Angelica," Rayven still held her in his arms. "I have wanted to say this for long while. I…" 

She put her fingers on his lips to stop him. He had already told her. The day he said his heart began to bleed because of her, she knew. She just didn't understand what this kind of love would feel like or if she would ever feel the same. 

"I love you."

He sucked in a deep breath. "Say it again." 

"I love you." 

"Again." 

"I love you. I love you. I love .." his lips cut her off in a kiss. 

"Angelica. My heart just moved in my chest. It went from left to right." 

Angelica chuckled. "Then it is in the right place?"

"It has never been in a better place." 

They kissed one last time before they continued to discover new places and then, at last, went back home. 

"We are home." 

"Yes, we are." She said looking ahead. 

Getting down from the horses, they went inside hand in hand. In the distance, they heard laughter and went to see around the corner. Simu was teaching Sarah how to chop wood and she was failing miserably. Angelica watched them with a smile as they laughed together at her attempts. 

"What is happening?" Rayven asked. 

Angelica looked back at him, "love." She whispered."Can't you tell?" 

"He is luring the innocent girl."

"Is that what he is thinking?" She asked becoming worried. 

He paused as if trying to hear his thoughts and then looked annoyed. "No." 

Angelica breathed out in relief. She knew Rayven didn't like Simu. "Love changes the man." 

Rayven grabbed her arms, "let them continue their love then, and let us continue ours."

He took her hand and led her inside.. Into their home, into their room, and to their bed, where they shared their love in many other ways.