Iviyana

"Hey get up."

I burrowed and nudged my head deeper in to the layer of clothes that were currently covering my head.It was so warm.And so soft.

Oh how nice this is.I could sleep like this forever.With the winds singing those lullabies and the constant swaying motion atop this snug bed I was on.I didn't want to leave this.

No.I shook my head sleepily,I will not .I was about to go back to my deep slumber when...

"Get the fuck up or I'll throw you down." ...the irritating voice of the jerk filtered in my head.My eyes snapped open.I am sure he'll do it.Throw me that is.He is such a bastard.I blinked.There was some dark cloth over me.I struggled to get it away from me.We were still riding.I stretched as best as I could in the limited space available to me.

The sun was just rising in the horizon.I breathed in the fresh air.The blue sky was clear.A smile bloomed on my face as I gazed at  my surroundings.There was greenery all around.There were so many trees with all kinds of leaves and colors.I could hear the sound of water flowing.A river perhaps.It must be flowing nearby.The birds had started waking up as well since I could hear their faint chirping.I could see the shadows of mountains in the far distance.Oh how majestic.

"Its so beautiful.I never thought a place like this could ever exist." I grinned big.It wasn't like I hadn't ever seen such abundance of nature before.The rivers,the trees,the mountains, my village was surrounded by them but seeing them here was somehow different.This seemed like a magical kingdom."Oh how I wish..."

"Yeah,keep it to yourself." The bastard grunted from back and just as soon my happiness dampened when the realization that I was sharing this wonderful experience with the king of bastards struck me.

I shook my head in disappointment.I joined my hands in prayer and muttered."Oh Lord, please take it.His life. I am offering  it to you in return for the beautiful scenery you just showed me.Amen." 

The horse jerked right then.Scared I fell back into him and grabbed  his arm . I heard the evil chuckle and felt the vibrations on my back.Oh drop dead, you beast.I let go of his arm.

Maintaining my position again of being as far away from him,I looked out for Papa.He was riding ahead of us,near yet too far.I wanted to call out and ask his well being but I doubted he would be able to hear me.We had not stopped ,not once.I didn't want to think about the condition of the horses we were travelling on.They must be feeling awful.

"Just when will we reach.?" I asked irritated that I'll have to be at his mercy for who knows  how much longer.

"When you shut up." He said very calmly.

"Okay shutting up,anything else you would like,my highness." I replied back sarcastically.

"There's nothing worthy in you that I could ever want."

Hah! I rolled my eyes at the arrogant words .Nothing new there.Take it,Lord.Just take it.I will somehow manage alone.

I saw Papa stopping and looking back.I smiled wide to let him know I was fine.He smiled back at me.

"Master,we have at last reached." Papa said to the crazy silver jerk.Papa gave way and finally I saw our destination.The huge castle was  clearly visible from the edge of the hill we were standing on.It was surreal.I took in the view of my new home.Papa worked here.

One moment I was admiring the magnificence of the kingdom and the next moment I was flying down.The bastard was racing the horse down the hill  much to my horror.I screamed in shock."What are you doing?You'll kill us ,you jerk.Slow down." We were going to fall.Oh Lord.Oh Lord.He didn't pay heed and prompted his horse to run much faster, laughing maniacally.He has gone mad.He'll kill me today.He'll take his bloody revenge.Oh Lord.!!save me and take him.

I shut my eyes tightly and  burrowed myself back into him,clutching onto his hands like my life depended on it.It literally did.If I am going down,you will too,you bastard.

I was ready to give up on life when the bastard slowed down his horse and finally stopped.His hold on the reins slackened.I opened my eyes,we were standing in front of a large door .Not wasting another moment,I pushed away from him and jumped down the horse not caring if I got hurt in the process.

My feet touched the ground for an instant and then crumpled.I fell to my knees since my legs failed to support me.The ground below was so soft.I cried in relief."Thank you Lord for saving me from this crazy beast." I took the mud in my hands and laughed.Touching it and holding it in my fist.Finally.

I remained in my euphoric state of being alive when I heard some noise.My eyes jerked up to see the crowd of people surrounding me.They looked at me as if I had lost it completely.Some were snickering,some were shocked,some were saying some kind of prayers much to my embarrassment.I was covered with mud.My clothes soiled with dirt.My face must be grimy and filthy too,no doubt about it.

This humiliation,how will I ever live it down.Calming myself as best as I could and taking hold of the situation,I dusted my hands on my skirt,cleaned my face and gingerly got up,trying to maintain some  dignity.I smiled their way but maybe that was not the right thing to do at the time  because they gasped and started whispering furiously among-st themselves.

Something nudged my shoulder and I looked back at it.The big face of the horse loomed so close to my face that I screamed and fell again.It was then I heard his chuckling.

I looked up and up at the crazy bastard sitting atop the stupid horse laughing his head off at my expense.Angry tears burned in my eyes.I'll kill you today,you bastard.I grabbed some mud in my fists and hurled at him.The viper's laugh stopped.Several gasped as I watched in satisfaction.I had missed his face but his clothes carried my mark.I smirked at his indignant form.

"Oh my,please excuse my hands ,they have a mind of their own sometimes." I said innocently battling my lashes for effect.

He glowered at me with murderous intent and climbed down his horse with ease.Authority dripped from his form.You could hear a pin drop,that was how silent it had gotten.The horde of people around us fell to their knees.None of their eyes left the ground.They stayed in their position.What is this?This hint of fear in the air?

I got up from the ground ,maintaining a respectable distance form the beast.It wasn't because I got scared of his large form.Of course not.

His eyes swooped over all the people around and then came back to me.

It was blank.His face.A seriousness in his eyes.I gulped.Did I provoke him too much?Is he going to hurt me..?I looked around for Papa but he was yet to come.He took a step towards me.I stepped back.The look on his face brutal.Oh Lord why did I have to go and  insult him?Just why can I never control my impulsiveness?

He won't do anything in front of all these people right?!Yes,he cannot.Papa will also arrive any moment now.I cannot let him see that he scared me.I cannot lose this battle.With that thought in mind.I held my position and faced him  head on.For once my courage backing me up.

He advanced until he stood a foot in front of me.Our eyes still connected.His lethal.Mine hesitant.Suddenly he came too near .I flinched.My eyes closed automatically.So much for courage.A gust of hot air hit my cheek.Huh.? I peeked my eyes open.

"There was dirt on your face."He stood at his earlier position and said smugly.A self satisfied grin on his face.Taunting me and my "so-called bravery."

My blood roared at the dig on my personality.Please take him away and drown him in his own arrogance ,Lord.

Before I could avenge myself,a young man came forward.The snake trotted back to his horse and patted it ,saying something close to his ears.The horse gave out a happy neigh.Turning to the young man the snake commanded. "Black has been very good.See to it that he gets rewarded for it." The young man bowed his head again and went taking the horse along with him.

"Master,you are earlier than I expected you to be." My eyes averted from the young man to the new person who came from behind the flurry of warriors standing guard.I gasped as I saw him.

A man with the most beautiful features stood before us.My mouth fell open at the perfectness.Just how can there be someone so handsome.He was tall and wide with muscular frame.He didn't come close to the viper but still he had looks to kill for and I was infatuated.His long hair held with a ribbon.He bowed his head to the viper.His questioning eyes then fell to me.And he smiled.And everything sparkled.Glowed.The slight of a few moments ago vanished.I forgot everything and basked in the glory.

"May I ask who this beautiful lady is?" He asked with that same smile on his face.I blushed at his direct scrutiny.He called me a "beautiful lady".Oh how wonderful, a gentleman.No one has ever called me that.A God among mere humans and a viper.

"That's Leena." The said viper spewed as I opened my mouth to answer .My head jerked to him.What?The viper smirked at me maliciously.I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Oh lady Leena,It's a pleasure to meet you." The handsome man said the next moment.

"It's Iviyana."I shouted  at the viper,devising plans to scrub off that high handedness off his  demeanor.The sound of the hooves alerted me to Papa's presence.I looked back to see him disembarking the horse.The viper moved over to pat Leena.

"What?She is the only lady I can see standing here." The bastard commented.The same young man came to take Leena away."See to it that she gets the same treatment as Black." The young man nodded his head and scurried away.

 "The horse is Leena .I am Iviyana."I said in monotone.The bastard had done it on purpose.I just know it.My eyes turned from the viper to the God. The handsome man frowned and looked at me  apologetically.

"Rivean,This is my daughter Iviyana. She'll be staying with us from now on." Papa announced to the anxious handsome man. "Iviyana,This is Rivean." 

I smiled big for good measure.I won't let the viper ruin my first meeting.

"Let's go Iviyana,master is waiting." Papa said and pulled me along with him. Rivean too followed.

Master can rot in hell for all I care.

We entered the huge castle and I was flabbergasted at the beauty of it.The ceiling was so high.A chandelier hung in the center of the hall.A spiral staircase wound its way up to the first floor.The walls were free from any dust and the floor shined.I gazed at everything from the tapestries covering the walls to the beautiful clean rugs under my feet.My eager eyes took in all the decoration carried out in the hall to welcome the master of the castle.An army of servants stopped their work and bowed their heads as we entered.Many were standing by, ready for any orders.But the same thing happened inside as well.None lifted their eyes to the master of the castle.

"Master welcome back.The bath is ready." An elderly  man came forward and took the black  cape the viper threw at him.

"Nastur let's meet in the evening.Have rest.It was a long journey." The snake said to Papa.

"Thank you for your kindness master."Nodding his head to Papa he went away not sparing me a glance.

 Turning to the handsome man ,"Rivean we'll discuss the matters after I have freshened up.Meet me in the hall."The handsome man too went his way after smiling my way once again.I melted."Let me show you your room as well."

"Yes Papa."

With viper gone from the picture I happily followed Papa inside taking in my new home.