How Torlinque Became My Lifemate
during my life as the 'Lesia anyway

Part I

It started very small. It was right around the time I officially accepted my appointment as 'Lesia. Kharie'l had assigned himself, his two sons and the 6 other Adrastai he considered the best of the best to "my" squad, the squad who had the honor of being my personal body guards. War was brewing in the distance. Kharie'l had loved my mother more deeply than he was willing to admit, and after she died, he wasn't about to take any chances where my safety was concerned. Most of my guards were new faces to me, including Kharie'l's sons, Torlinque and Nahrie'l.

One evening soon after my official appointment to my mother's former position of 'Lesia, Torlinque was guarding me, standing stock still in Guard position just inside the door of my room. The maids bustled about me getting me ready for some event. I was reading a book while they reapplied my make up and jewelry, and redid my hair. When one of them pulled my hair a little too hard, I accidentally dropped my book.

Immediately and unexpectedly, Torlinque was down on one knee at my feet, picking up my book and saying, "Allow me, my Lady." I'd never paid that much attention to him before. Sarna is crawling with Adrastai, and they all wear the same uniform, so seeing one on Guard duty in my room was a very common occurrence. That he had moved, and suddenly become anything but another piece of the furniture, was not. Adrastai on guard duty are not to interact with those they are guarding unless there is a threat to their safety. Seeing as I had the power to have him punished for it, and far outranked him, he was taking a mighty bold risk by doing what he did.

The maids gasped, and a couple of them giggled because they all knew he was the Captain's eldest son. Then they fell silent and became still, waiting to see what I'd do next. Torlinque remained where he was, smiling slightly and patiently waiting for me to take my book from his hand.

In that briefest of moments, I found myself staring into the most beautiful pair of green eyes I'd ever seen. I couldn't breathe, and my heart stopped. I could see all the way down into his heart, and what I saw there woke something in my own heart that had slept until that moment. Somehow I managed to say, "Thank you, Adrastai" and took my book from him. Then he stood up and resumed his post by the door again, as if nothing had happened, while I found it very hard not to faint.

In the next few days, I asked a good number of people a question here and there about him and the others on "my" squad so as to appear idly curious about my new guards rather than overtly in pursuit of one of them. I had to know who Torlinque was and where he'd come from, what his reputation was. By this method, I found out all I needed to know.

The 8 Adrastai on my squad rotated their shifts, and I let several of Torlinque's go by before I did anything to encourage him. Whenever he was near, I felt the unmistakable buzz of his energy signature in a much different way than those of the other people around me. Whatever it was that had awoken within me was calling to him in spite of my maybe not wanting it to. I didn't understand it, but I knew it was a Big Deal. I knew whatever it was, only he could answer it. I tried not to stare after him when he would leave, but I couldn't help it.

It wasn't long before other people noticed how he looked at me too, even though he had done absolutely nothing outside his role as Adrastai and neither of us had said a single word to each other since I dropped my book.

One evening a month or two later, he happened to be guarding me again. The maids were gone and we were alone. He was standing stock still in Guard position by the door, a part of the furniture as usual. I was brushing my hair.

From behind me I heard once more, "Allow me, my Lady." and he gently took the brush from my hand and brushed my hair for me. I don't think I could have stopped him if I'd wanted to, which I didn't. Neither of us said a word, even in the Send. For some reason, we didn't have to.

Part II