Chapter 4 The stable

I watch as Ola gulps down the wine and refills his cup in a hurry. He seems tense. I trace the veins on his arm gently and look down at him. "Did something happen today?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because I can feel it" He blurts out a laugh, "I don't think you have the power to feel my love"

"That's not what I mean, I know when you're upset and that is clearly the situation tonight."

"And what if I'm not?"

"Then you're lying"

"But what if I don't feel like telling you about my problems tonight?" he says with such surety I feel a part of me wither, I gather myself and stand straight walking back to my horse when an arm pulls me towards a soft warm body.

"I was joking"

"Didn't seem like it" he turns me around to face him,

"I swear it." "

Then tell me what wrong.... Please?" I beg

"My mother thinks it is best I return to the north shore to be with my father."

"His health isn't getting any better, is it?" "No, it is not" I pull away from his grasp and step back,

"Why don't you bring him back here? You know we have the best treatment to offer, north shore doesn't have the right..."

"It's not my choice Ofure, he was born there, served in their army, fought for them, fought for Kabi's cause, he would rather die there than live here." He steps closer to me placing his hands on mine,

"Is there really nothing you can do anymore" "I think I should just go be with him for now" "So you're going to leave?" I feel him tense up, he's still hiding something from me, I won't push it anymore however, right now I just want to spend time with him, it's been an awfully long week, and he's the only thing that makes me happy, and right now, that is all I want to be.

"I don't know...." I brush it off,

"It's fine. We don't have to talk about this now. You don't have to talk about it with me. Whenever you are better, we will talk, Okay?" "Okay" his hair seems thicker today, as I run my hands through it. I have no idea if it is the fact that I haven't seen him in a full week, but it feels like a month, or the fact that I missed him so much. I reach my hand forward and grab the back of his neck leaning in for a kiss. He hesitates, but when my lips touch his,I feel his composure breaking. He grabs unto my waist holding me tightly. He tastes like wine, and fresh fruit, grapes to be exact, I deepen the kiss and just as I'm reaching for his shirt he stops.

"Don't do that again"

"Do what?" I ask breathing heavily, our foreheads together

"Kiss me. Don't" he immediately lets go walking back to his desk, I follow behind completely dumbfounded

"What do you mean? You wanted it too. It was obvious"

"I never said I didn't"

"Then what is the matter?"

"You know the problem Ofure! We talked about this the last time it happened, I told you not to tempt me, you are the daughter of the chief and we both know what your father would do to me if he finds me with you. Especially in this way. We have to stop."

"I don't care what my father thinks." "Because you wouldn't have to face the consequences Ofu. You wouldn't. Look around. This is my business, my life, if we are caught, all this will be taken away from me, my life, my reputation, my parents? Who would take care of them? I don't have servants or maids, and my life isn't prepared for me. I have to work to survive. I don't expect you to understand."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked stunned, he looks away without responding "I thought we understood each other Ola. I told you that I loved you, and I don't care what my father thinks, I have said this repeatedly, I know you think everything has always been handed to me, but it hasn't. I've had to face my challenges too Ola. And I've faced a lot of them. Not that I expect you to understand, but there is a lot of pressure on me now, and I hoped you of all people would understand and be willing to offer me just a touch of what being happy could look like, I guess I was wrong"

I immediately begin grabbing my things, I start to hurry to my horse, I can already feel the tears threatening to fall out of my eyes, but I will not cry in front of him.

"Ofure! Ofure stop!" he yells, I want to tell him to leave me alone but I can't, so I stop. Not that I want to, but he makes me weak, and all I can think about is spending the night with him, my entire life with him, and I would never run from him, I don't even have the strength to.

"I'm sorry. I hate what I said to you, please forgive me."

"It's fine Ola, just let me pass through and I will be on my way"

"No. It's not. I do love you Ofure. I love you so much that sometimes it's hard to be sane when I'm with you. You make me feel things, and act out of turn..." I sigh, "And you make my brain scramble and I think I'm going Mad. All I want for you is to be safe and happy, and sometimes I say things that come out wrongly, and I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I said those things"

"Okay"

"Do you forgive me?"

"I do. But don't ever say that to me again"

"I wouldn't" he nods

"My issues are not less important than yours"

"No they are not"

"And you will never hide anything from me" "I wouldn't dare it."

I take a step forward and cup his face in my palms, "I think I should get going."

"Wait... did I say something wrong?"he asked agitated

"No, no, you said nothing wrong. My mother arrives tomorrow and the preparations for her arrival are going to need me..." He lets go of my arm and hands me my scarf and coat, "Then I guess you should go"

"I'll see you soon okay?" I say

"Okay"