Dark Ages 1461-2 - I love you, Vlad.

Lord, she was beautiful! I loved those lavenders, and by God’s justice to those eyes she smelled floral like them, but as soon as she opened her eyes something had changed. They were dead, and that made me fall on my knees right there in the middle of the room. I killed her soul together with mine, and for that I’d never forgive myself. She observed me without saying a word, a terrorizing silence.  

“What can I do to bring back the light in your eyes?” there was nothing else I could do to remedy the situation, but beg for her absolution.

“Absolutely nothing,” her blunt retort was like a spear piercing my heart. “You’ve made your choice, and I hope it served you well,” there was no more passion in her voice, only disgust. 

“Sometimes I ask God why would he give me this burden? He knows who I am, he knows how bloody my life has been, so why did he give you to me? You don’t deserve any of this,” she sighed and considered my words for some time.

“It saddens me that you didn’t consider your way of life a burden, but me.” she said with contempt.

“That wasn’t what I meant, Liz,” and I crawled to her, but once I touched her, she shied away, and recoiled herself close to the bedpost.

“Don’t touch me!” tears glinted on her eyes, the only thing able to make them shine again. “Just. Don’t!” her tone was so deadly, it was enough for me. I didn’t think twice and marched out of the room. 

I had been aware my life took a route I didn’t count on, and now one more threat on my head. My problems surrounded me, and I had to find a way to survive them. First and foremost, I had to get Alizandra’s forgiveness, she was the air I breathe and my actions caused her pain, but now the new sultan Mehmed decided he wanted to conquer not only my land, but the whole Europe. I’d grown up with him and I knew how big of a menace he was, except the Europeans. If people thought of me as a devil, probably he would be the commander of hell. Having a two-front war was out of question, I had to find a way to make peace with the Germans from Transylvania, and take down the sultan which army outnumbered mine three to one. Yes, matters were getting out of hand.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Alizandra became like a ghost haunting Poenari and life became dull. I’ve tried everything possible to bring her back, to see those lavenders shine and smile at me the way they used to, with passion and love, but it had been in vain. So, I decided to get on with business and let her be, maybe, she would be better far away from my presence. I managed to sign a treaty with the Germans and I also renewed my allegiance to the Hungarian crown, and they backed me up against the Turks, since the sultan was already securing the Danube. After months of horrendous massacre from both sides, and the failed attempt of invading Târgovişte by the sultan, things seemed to cool down a bit, and I came back home, I missed my Alizandra desperately, and I needed her to give me peace, to rescue me from my bad deeds, even though she had rebuffed me every time. I had broken her trust, but when she looked at me with those far away eyes I still saw love in them, but the hurt surpassed it. Yet, I didn’t care, I just needed her by my side at that moment.

On my way home I learned that my traitor brother, whom I loved so much in our youth, and then sold his soul to the Turks, not to mention other parts of himself, had been talking to my people and put them against me with promises of better days, no more wars and blah blah blah. And he gained their trust. I had already crushed the sultan's army, we would have a semblance of peace for a while, why this now?? What caught me by surprise was the fact that my infidel brother sent his men following me till I got to Poenari. Radu and his small contingent of Turkish allies brought over cannons and artillery bombards and began his assault to my castle and village. My men and I didn’t even have the time to go up the castle. The night was falling upon us, and I had to get to Liz, we could escape together through the pathway. 

Hell broke loose that night, bombs and cannons were fired at a deafening sound, dust and debris flew all over the place, people ran and screamed for their lives. My men and I drew our swords and engaged in battle with Radu’s men. I needed to concentrate not to get killed, but my mind didn’t obey me, and would turn to Liz and the dangers to her. For certain, she had heard the commotion and knew what was going on. I just hoped if I couldn't reach her in time, she would do what I told her before and leave through the secret passage. I could just hope. Suddenly, my heart stopped in my chest and for the first time in my whole bloody life I was frightened beyond death. In the middle of that mayhem, was Alizandra. What in hell was she doing down here? My fear escalated so much, giving me an extra jolt of strength that coursed through my veins making me more aggressive with my sword to free myself and go to her. When the last men fell through my blade… Lots of arrows were shot...

“Alizandra!!!” I shouted and ran, ran like I’ve never run before. She turned her face to the sound of my voice and smiled in relief, then the whole scene played out in an excruciating slowness. The smile froze on her lips, while her eyes dilated and paled, and she lost her breath falling against my hard body staring at my eyes. Once I held her I touched two arrows transfixed in her back, and blood began to sag her dress. 

“No, no, no!! Alizandra! What have I done?” I held her to me crying and begging, my face buried in the softness of her neck and her hair floating around us. “Why did you come down here, draga mea? Why?”

“I heard the explosions…” her voice was barely audible. “I knew you’d be here. I’m sorry I caused you this trouble.” and she coughed up blood all over me, and I realized it was more serious than I thought, bad, bad serious. Anton came to my encounter and took me out of my nightmare paralysis.

“Sire, get her and let’s go, we can’t stay here, there’s more coming!” I got her in my arms and Anton led the way up to the castle. If we went to the woods they would follow us. Better was to divert them. Go to the castle and leave through the pathway. Alizandra became limp in my arms.

“Liz, stay with me.” I mumble to her. “You shouldn’t have come to meet me, dragă.”

“I didn’t think. I just acted on instinct. I’m sorry.” she was struggling for breath, if I could I'd breathe for her.

“Stop talking, save your energy, please. You have nothing to be sorry for. ”

“You know, and I know I won’t make it up there. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you… I'm sorry I said those harsh words to you...”

“Dragă, please! Hold on a bit more… Don't close your eyes.” yes, I knew what was happening, but I refused to believe or accept it!

‘Lord, if you can hear me, I plead with you, don’t take her away from me!’

“Promise, you won’t forget me? We’ll find each other again one day." the light in her eyes faded and I knew what was about to come.

"Please!" I held her to me with everything I had. “Nothing will happen to you. Just hold on. Please! Liz, don’t you dare leave me alone in this world!” I cried in her hair. How many times I traveled up and down this path and never noticed to be this far!

"Don’t worry. You'll never be alone, I'll be with you, always...” her voice was so frail, barely there. She was peaceful staring at me, and her fingers made their way to my face one last time, wiping the tears streaming down non-stop.

"No! You don't!" I yelled at her, anger filling my soul, she was giving up on me, on life. She wasn't allowed to quit this game. No! She was my light in this dark world.

“I love you, Vlad. Don't be mad at me, our souls are destined to be together for all eternity.” and she kissed me, her lips were so cold and bluish against her ashen skin, I was losing her!

Finally, we got inside the courtyard, Liana and other servants came desperately running toward us, but she had already gone, right there snuggled in my embrace. She was gone! Suddenly in the midst of all the noise around us everything fell silent, and I collapsed on the ground taking her listless body with me, and I screamed all the agonizing ache ravaging my heart, holding her tight to my chest, and for the first time I cried so hard, that I was sure the whole village heard my hails of pain.

“Don’t leave me alone! Dragă, don’t!!!”