Chapter Fourteen
Anrielle laid in bed watching the King sleep. After their kiss, they talked. And talked. And talked. They had lost track of all time. It was past the height of the moon in the sky when his majesty fell asleep listening to the sound of her voice.
She wasn’t sure what was happening to her. Micheal had told her to listen to her heart. Right now her heart ached with the thought that she’d one day have to leave the king and his kingdom. Her heart was telling her to stay. She wondered what this feeling really was.
His majesty shifted and then his eyes opened. He smiled staring at Anrielle. But her eyes went down. He reached a hand out and graced her cheek. “Why do you look sad?” His voice was still husky with sleep.
“I don’t understand.”
“Understand?” He asked delicately moving her hair away from her face.
“I have this feeling and don’t know what it is.” She placed her hand over her heart. “Micheal told me to follow my heart.”
He tilted her to look at him as he moved a little closer to her and placed his hand over hers. “Tell me how your feeling. Maybe I can help you.” He smiled slightly. “I know a little about feelings.”
She blushed a little as she shifted and laid her head on his shoulder. His hand curled around hers. “I’m scared to complete my purpose here.”
“Scared?” He whispered to her as his thumb started to make gentle circles on the back of her hand.
She lightly nodded. “That would mean I have to leave.”
He smiled as he kissed her hair and smelled how wonderful she smelled. “And you don’t want to leave.” He tilted her chin up. “Does your heart feel better when I’m around?” She blushed and nodded. “Does it ache with thoughts of me when we are apart?” Again she nodded. He sighed deeply as he held her tight. “I feel the same way.”
“But I still don’t understand.”
He smiled. “What happens when I say that I’ve fallen in love with you?”
Her breathe caught as she looked up at him. Her heart raced as she searched his eyes. His hand went to lay over her heart. He felt the quickened pace and knew now what her heart was saying.
He slid his hand up and behind her head as he gently pulled her to him. He kissed her lovingly before he pulled back and rested his forehead on hers. “You really want to know that feeling?” She nodded in a daze. “You’ve fallen in love too. Your heart is telling you that there is someone you can’t live with out as mine is telling me the same.”
She relaxed against him as a few tears slid down her cheek. “Love.” She whispered and he sucked in a breathe at the sound of her voice. The way that one word washed over him and made him feel like he had wings.
He held her and stroked her hair as he felt the warm drops of her tears. He could feel that she wasn’t sad. Just overwhelmed by having been helped to name the feeling she was and is feeling. He was happy that she was feeling the same way he was.
As he felt her drifting to sleep, his mind started thinking. He would have no other by his side. He would ask her to be his wife. But he will let her adjust before he asked. He also had to figure out how to help his people. As well as deal with the people who wished him dead. There was still danger around them and he didn’t want more of a target on her that she already had.
He fell back to sleep and dreamt of what he’d do to win his lady to say yes. He dreamt of a beautiful blue sky above. Her sitting on the terrence looking as gorgeous as always. Her hair with a few braids and the rest waving delicately in a light breeze. The sheer of her gown gently lifting behind her reminding him of the time she stopped the horse.
He walked over to her and she turned to smile at him. He knelt to one knee as she sat on the stone bench. He took her hand with one of his and he spoke from the heart. Then he presented the ring of his mother. The one his own father had given her when he proposed.
She gasped lightly as she looked between the ring and him. Tears welling in her eyes and spilled over when she nodded. He smiled more than happy as he slipped the ring onto her finger and kissed her. Kissed her as if the world shone and sparkled because of their love.
Unfortunately when he woke, his bed was colder. He reached out and found himself alone. Anrielle was no where in his room. He found that the door of his bedroom that lead to his adjacent waiting room was closed.
He slid out of bed and got his robe on as he walked over to the door. He opened them and frowned. No Anrielle. His heart was dropping a bit till a sound caught his ear.
“Oops.” He heard her voice coming from his bathing room.
He walked over to the door and flung them opened only for his eyes to go wide and him spin around. “Forgive me my love. I did not realize you were bathing.”
Anrielle was blushing scarlet as she huddled against the side of the stone tub. One of her hands trying to reach the soap stone that fell to the floor. She slowly slid a little lower in the tub.
His majesty touched the door. “Please wait.” He heard her said shyly. “I accidentally drop the stone. Could you maybe...” His breathe was ragged as he heard her swallow hard. “Retrieve it for me before you leave?”
His head was down as he turned to at least see where he was going as he slowly made his way over to her. She dunked more into the milky white water that had a few rose petals floating on top of the water.
He bent down not looking at her as he picked up the stone. He started to hand it to her, but luck and how slippery the stone was would have it, the stone slid out of his hand and plunked into the water. He bit his lip from chuckling. She on the other hand giggled.
He closed his eyes as he leaned over and kissed her cheek. “If you need anything else of me, I’ll be in the other room.” He rose and quickly made his way out of the bathing room.
Anrielle shifted and placed her back on the stone of the tub. Her hands covered her face as she blushed from head to toe. She was embarrassed at being seen like this even to him. She was happy now that the maids had added some milk to the water. It covered her nudity from his majesty.
She quickly finished with her bath before she wrapped herself in a thick gown. She opened the doors to the bed chambers and his majesty stood from the edge of the bed. He swallowed as she walked into the room and over to him. She stopped a few breathes away from him blushing with her head slightly down.
He couldn’t take that lack of eye contact. He lifted her chin and graced her jawline when she looked up at him. “Forgive me for barging in on your bath. I was worried about where you had gone.” His eyes softened. “I felt a little lonely waking to you gone.” He said as he cupped her face.
She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. “I didn’t wish to wake you.” She looked up at him. “I had woke you once last night.”
He smiled as his free hand slid around her waist. “I did not mind.” He gently pulled her closer to his body. He tilted his head and leaned down to her. He hovered his lips over hers. “You could wake me as many times as you please. I love hearing your glorious voice and looking into your eyes.” He kissed her just for a moment.
He smiled as he pulled away. “Is the water still warm?”
She giggled. “Yes my lord.” She looked into his eyes. “But would you not wish for a fresh bath for yourself?”
He shook his head. “Not at all. I’d be delighted to bath the same waters that got the pleasure of gracing you.” He kissed her again.
She was in a daze as he pulled away and entered the bathing room. She was only vaguely aware she was smiling at him as he closed the doors. The moment she heard the click of the doors when they closed fully, she fell back on the bed.
It took a little to compose herself. She wondered if this was what Micheal was trying to tell her. That her purpose was the king. But what was the rest of her task? Was she here to love him and aid him, or was there more?
She sighed as she rose and dressed. She will just have to see what happens. She had faith that the answer would come to her in time. She just hoped she wouldn’t have to leave. She wished that she could stay with his majesty and know how deep this love could go. Time was all she needs, yet she didn’t know how much she had.