Anything For You
Chapter 83

and asked,

After talking with Egon and Akhim to take Valor along with them on their way to seek that Witch, Estella made her way towards Valor's room, who was doing some packing. Witnessing him packing his stuff, she wondered if he had known about his departure earlier, "I was here to inform you that you are also leaving with us. I didn't know that you were already ready."

She approached the nearby cot and sat down calmly, observing him as he continued arranging the things in his small bundle of a cotton cloth neatly. He had sensed that Estella had been wearing a skeptical look, and was waiting to ask him something. When she just sat there calmly and quietly, his words came out swiftly, while his hands stopped moving,

"What is it that you want to ask me?"

"So you know that there is something I want to ask you!?" She said with a smug look plastered all over her face.

Valor was aware with that look. He didn't want to irritate her, for she was the only one who could help him. He had already persuaded the elder lady to ask Estella to carry him along with her and Egon. Now he had to be good with Estella, because of she went mad, he would be left with nothing. He couldn't afford that.

"Actually, I knew that you are leaving with Egon and Akhim. So, I requested the Elder to permit me to go with you guys. I ... I won't create any problems. I also need that witch's help. Please, Estella. I have helped you today."

"Hmm... so, you helped me today because you wanted something in return. Fine, what is it?"

She asked him hauling up from the sit she was behaving way too calmly knowing perfectly well that they still had some time before they would leave. And before leaving, she only wanted to confirm the reason Valor had been trying to tag along with them. Getting no response from him, she observed keenly that he had been quiet and in dilemma. He was standing glued to his spot, as if his mind was somewhere else. She sighed knowing that it was the time for him to talk making her point clear, “Come on, Valor. Tell me, what is it? If you won't tell me the truth, I won't be able to convince Egon."

Valor narrowed his gaze, and his expressions turned somewhat gloomy and softened. Noticing the change in his swift expressions, Estella was sure that he was now ready to narrate his side of the story, and she so happened to have spare time for that. Keeping the bundle of his belongings aside, he sat down with his hands clasped together, and started narrating his set of emotions,

"I belong to a far away kingdom. I am not a king, a mere citizen. I loved it there, my home, my people. Everything was perfect..."

A soft smile appearing on his thin lips while talking about his home, which made Estella develop tender feeling of belonging with him, for she also suffered because of her lost father, and dead mother.

"...I had a friend in there. She was the most prettiest girl I have ever seen. Her beauty was so mesmerizing that she could take away the breaths of people. We used to hang out since kids. I started developing feelings for her. She was my peace. She was so kind and naughty."

He smiled while narrating all his past, may be remembering old days. Estella had never seen him smile in that way earlier. It was a new expression. She didn't disturb him asking anything, and so he continued with his eyes glistening with tear drops which he was trying hard to hold back, but they were threatening to fall any time,

"We were good friends. She was the princess, and sometimes I used to visit the castle to play with her, as my father worked in the castle as a minister. When we were in youth, she was the most beautiful girl in the kingdom, whom everybody wanted for himself. (Engulfing a huge lump in his throat).

But she wasn't interested in anyone. All she ever wanted was to be with her family. One day, I gathered up courage to ask her for being with me, but then suddenly the enemy attacked our kingdom. A bloody war broke out between the two kingdoms. Everybody fought. My father also joined the battle, and I... I lost him. But that was the loss, I could bear. My father... he... he sacrificed his life for his kingdom. He died a death of glory. But, in that war, I lost her too. She led the troops too being a royal member, but she never made it back to life.

I... I couldn't tell her, how much I loved her. I could tell her, who she was to me, other than being a great friend. I... I wanted to join in the war, but father didn't allow me, as my mother was not doing well. When I learnt about this, I hurried to the castle to see her, but I was late. I wasn't even able to see her, bid her goodbyes in her last times."

By this time, he was whimpering and was hardly speaking any words. The tears which had been threatening to fall were now cascading down his eyes like a waterfall, drenching his white clothes. He was a mess. Estella was not aware of her state. She felt his pain and was crying too.

"I just wanted to be with her, at least in her last minutes. But I was not able to see her. I ... I miss her. It's been so many years since passed away. I still can't sleep soundly. Whenever I close my eyes, all I can see is her eyes, which haunts me, shaming me that I wasn't able to protect her. I just want to see her once."

Estella patted his shoulder. She thought only her life was a misery, but here this noble looking man was hiding so much of a pain inside his heart. He lost his father, and his best friend who was also his love. Composing herself, she wiped away her unruly tears asking,

"What about your mother? Or any siblings?"

He lifted up his hooded eyes, as if she had out salt on his years old wounds. But he knew she wasn't at fault, for she was just trying to understand his situation. For a change, he was feeling light-hearted after talking to her. Hence, he managed to form other words, "I had an elder sister. But she passed away due to a mishappening in our childhood. After father, mother never got well and she too left me some years later. All I have now is this pathetic body with a dead soul and an ocean of burdened emotions, that becomes even more vast with each passing day."

Hauling up from his sit, he cleaned his clothes, and face for any left over tears, somehow scolding himself for being vulnerable in front of a woman and offered her his last set of words,

"This is the reason I want to accompany you. May be that witch could help me talk to my love, or any of my family member. May be she could revive any one of them from the dead. Anything... just anything would be preferable. Now it's up to you to decide, whether to take me with you, or not."

Estella was fully convinced with his set of story. She had lost her mother too. Her father was still nowhere to be found. Her only goal of accompanying Egon from forbidden land to here was to find out her father, or anything related to her mother. She knew that witch would never seek audience with her, hence, she needed Egon's help. But now, Valor was her friend too. Putting away all the doubts and assumptions, she agreed,

"I am sorry for your loss, Valor. I will try my best to help you. Pack your stuff. We will be leaving within moments. I will let Egon and Akhim know."

She had made up her mind to help this noble man. It wasn't her intentions to revive the dead family members, but if Valor wanted to do so, and if that witch could help him, she would go to any lengths to help him. Before leaving the room, she whispered by his side,

"You are not alone. I am also your friend, and I will do my best to help you."

Although, her intentions were utterly pure, but she wasn't aware of the grave dangers that had been waiting for her in this voyage.