Virgin Queen

Chapter 18 - Babysitting the Queen

"Maybe we should head in, I shan't risk you being drenched in a cold shower, Roderick would have my head!" he said as a low thunder rumbled over them, Lisa turned and smiled mischievously,

"Are you afraid of my husband my lord?" she teased, he came up next to her,

"Incase you've forgotten my Queen your husband is the King" he said leaning forward a bit on his horse "It would do me well to take his interests to heart" he looked at her intently, she found it difficult to tear her eyes off his as he studied her, just then a cold drop of water fell on her cheek making her blink, he sighed softly, he reached out to touch her cheek, his finger gently feathered her skin to touch the drop,

"Now look what you've done" he said his eyes still locked on her own,

"I'm not afraid of a little water my lord" she said just as softly, the sky split open then with a bright flash slicing across the sky, the loud crack of thunder startled Lisa's horse and almost threw her off it Aiden hadn't been quick enough to steady it.

Lisa's eyes widened as she gripped the reins so tight that her knuckles were turning white, Aiden grimaced,

"Ready to head back now milady?" he asked she said nothing but nodded still gripping for dear life, there was now a misty drizzle that made it difficult to see in so she tried to stay close to Aiden's horse, she would surely be soaked by the time she reached the castle

Without warning he pulled Lisa from her horse sending both to the ground, he took the impact hard on the shoulder and instantly rolled over so that he was covering her with his body, he breathing was shallow as she was evidently scared,

"Stay down" he whispered fiercely, his breath coming out in smoke from the cold that was setting in from the rain, she nodded shakily, Aiden didn't move his body from on hers but merely looked up to confirm that the guards had everything under control, one of his men rode up to him,

"We've got him my lord, a lone archer, the men are scouring the area for any more, we have him in for questioning" he bowed and Aiden nodded and the man left in the direction of the other guards who could barely be made out in the rain which had picked up its vigor. Aiden realized that the body under him was shaking, he looked down at her with concern,

"Are you alright lass?" he asked concern, although he was ontop of her he held his weight off, he leaned off her and she immediately leaned up against him, she didn't know why she did it, but when he moved he took the warmth with him, he was so warm, she grasped onto his shirt, her fingers were like ice,

"What happened?" she stammered, looking up at him, water droplets clung to his eye lashes and his warm breath fanned her face, she leaned into him some more,

"So cold" she barely managed to whisper, it was freezing out but he wasn't sure if her small frame was shaking from the cold or the shock of what just happened,

"Let's get you inside" he whispered apologetically, she frowned, what did he have to be sorry for, didn't he jut save her life?

Aiden stood up and scooped Lisa into his arms, she clung to him for dear life, a fierce protectiveness wracked through him as she pressed her body as close to his as she could, he put her on his horse and got up behind her, holding her close to himself he sped off in the direction of the castle.

By the time they go to the castle Lisa was almost blue and her teeth were knocking together, Roderick and Orrick were waiting for them in the main hall,

"What happened?!" demanded Roderick, his voice dangerous,

"Quick call for a hot bath, she needs to get warm right now!" Aiden shouted to anyone and everyone in the hall, servants scattered to get everything ready, he rushed with the shaking body up the stairs and down the hall to her room, Roderick and Orrick on their heels.

As they burst into her chamber he placed her gingerly on the bed, her hand automatically reached out to grasp his shirt as he pulled away with a soft whimper, he stayed and brushed some of the wet hair off her forehead gently, Orrick noticed Roderick's hands balled into such tight fists that that leather complained,

"Lily! Get her out off these wet clothes quickly" he said urgently "we'll be right outside okay Lisa" he cooed as he pulled away from her and the two men followed him out into the hallway.

"What in God's name happened?" asked Orrick, Roderick made no move to speak but the energy he was throwing off was dangerous, Aiden briefly explained to them what had passed finishing the same time two servants were hurrying in with a steaming bath,

"They tried to attack my wife?" scowled the king, but the worry in his voice was difficult to mask, "what are we going to do?" he sighed, for a fleeting moment Aiden remembered his views on how a woman can become a man's greatest weakness.

"We have captured the man alive, we could get information from him" Aiden said in his business voice,

"He won't talk" Orrick said shaking his head,

"I'll make him" was all Aiden said as he stalked off with only a sidelong glance at Lisa's chamber door.

Roderick sat by his sleeping wife's bed, the lamp burned a low flame casting a soft light over her features, she was resting easy now, her fever broke an hour ago. He sat studying her watching her hand as it lay on her side, he longed to hold it, longed for her to grasp out and hold him like she did Aiden, longed to feel her soft skin as he gently brushed his own fingers over her forehead, his fingers, not some gloves, he wanted to be the one to hold her and comfort her, to protect her. He closed his eyes and sighed, he knew he could not he dared not even hold her hand for fear of holding her too harshly. He rested his masked head in his gloved hands and never hated his condition more.

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Thanks for reading everyone! Sorry I took so long to post, hopefully I'll be able to post sooner in the future. Please let me know what you all think, I'd love to hear it! Please vote if you like it and again..let me know what you think, should I even continue with it?