"We need to turn them back before they cross the river. My son, we need every man, or the kingdom will fall."

I owed the man so much. My life. Had he not taken me in, accepted me as his son, I would never have found my wonderful bride. I could not refuse him. And I knew what he did not - that I was his most powerful warrior. Turning, I stared down at Elisabeta.

She gazed up at me, love and fear in her eyes. "I don't want you to go," she whispered.

"I wish I didn't have to. Come." I took her with me, leaving my father to put an end to the revelry as he must. We climbed the curving stone staircase to my bedchamber - our bedchamber.

Its window hole was covered by thick layers of black cloth, for my protection when I slept there by day.

The bed was huge and comfortable, and it, too, was surrounded in dark curtains as an added defense against the sun. The door could be barred from within. I didn't bar it, only closed it behind us, and moving to the window, I tore the cloth away.

"My bride will see the sun for as long as she can," I told her.

"Put it back!" She flung herself into my arms. "I've made my decision," she told me. "I'll be as you are, I will. I wish to be with you always. Just please, don't go. Don't go to war, my love."

I held her, rocked her gently in my arms, kissed her hair, her face. "Don't fear for me, my precious 'Beta.

I'm immortal."

"But you can die. You told me so! The sun, the bleeding...suppose you are pierced with a sword or an arrow?"

"I promise you, I will not die. I will return to you. And when I do, if you still wish it, I'll instill in you the spirit that lives in me. That of eternal life."

"Do it now."

I pushed her hair from her tear damp face, and shook my head. "I need to be with you afterward. I need to help you understand what you'll be experiencing, to explain to you, to hold you through it all. It's like a death, Elisabeta. A death and a rebirthing. You cannot go through such a change alone. I won't have it."

"Then stay. Stay and do all those things. Stay with me for always as you promised to do before the priest!"

I lowered my head as grief made my voice catch in my throat. "I cannot. I simply cannot."

She trembled and wept, and I tipped her face to mine and kissed her, tasting her tears. "I love you, 'Beta.

Who knew a man could fall so deeply in love so suddenly? You...you've stricken my heart like a bolt of lightning. Nothing could keep me from you. Not ever."

"Let me come with you," she whispered against my neck.

I closed my eyes in sweet agony. Gods, it was tempting. To have her by my side...but I knew better.

"You're not strong enough. You must conserve your energy, rest, and be well until I return. The battle will be fierce and I expect, over within a day or two at most."

"What if it's more?" she asked me. "What if you stay away too long and I die in your absence?"