Do You Trust Me

Queen Elvira swallowed as she faced her own troops, beads of perspiration starting to cover her forehead.

"Your highness?"

She pursed her lips, then clenched her fists.

"Wait here. I will go in alone."

"But your highness. What if it is dangerous?"

"My husband is in there to protect me." She said, then turned away and opened the door, just enough for her to slip in. Once she was in, she ran to Hector, holding her gown in her hands.

"What happened? Why is she dead?"

Hector looked up, his tear stricken face confused, his lips parted. He looked both desperate and confused, almost out of his mind with shock.

"I do not know...there was...I was..." His voice trailed off as he tried to catch his breath. "I swear, it was not me. I swear. I would never."

Queen Elvira watched him, her eyes darting across his face. Without hesitation, she knelt close to him and brought his head to rest on her shoulder. Her hands wrapped around the back of his head, and the other patted his back.

"You do not need to swear," She said, examining the body. "Do not cry. We will find a solution."

Hector held on to her, letting his scared tears fall freely. His lips parted as he tried to breathe with all the naked fear he felt.

"I did not do it."

She released him, and cupped his cheeks. "You did not. Right? There is no need to say it again and again. You did not do it. It was not you."

He found it hard to look up to her, and he lowered his eyes, his teeth clattering as his lips quivered.

"What do I do? What of her? She is dead now...what will everyone say?" He asked and lowered his head again.

"I will take care of it. I can take care of everything. What will truly hurt me is if you continue to cry. That will hurt. So let me take care of it for you."

He said nothing, and she put her hand under his chin, causing him to look up.

"Do you trust me? Trust me on this."

He nodded and she pulled him closer again, resting his head safely in the crook of her neck. She did not mind the tears, or that she could feel them on her skin, all she wanted was to comfort him.

"Wait here," she said to him when he was a little calmer, and she stood.

"Where are you going?" He asked, holding on to her hand. He looked scared to paleness, his eyes wide as he looked at her.

"We are both covered in blood. I will get my cloak and send the troops away. We can go have a change of clothes and attend the banquet."

His brows furrowed. "The banquet?"

She nodded. "No one will know."

He slowly let go of her hand, his body still trembling slightly and watched her as she ran to the door again.

"Are you still there?" She asked, and the head guard answered. "I stepped on dirt. I want a cloak."

"Yes, your highness." He said and left.

She turned to Hector who was completely still, his hand wrapped around him and his body covered all over with stains of blood. It did not help at all that he was wearing a white robe.

The head guard returned with a cloak and she collected it.

"You can all go."

"But your highness..."

"She is gone. I and my husband will attend the banquet from here. You do not need to come."

The head guard nodded and they turned away. She watched them till they were far away, and she closed the door again.

"Here." She said to Hector and wrapped him up in the cloak.

"What about you?"

"Who will dare question me?" She asked, then helped him to his feet. "I will have someone get rid of this place."

She helped him lean on her, and slowly led him out of the building. They walked slowly back to the palace, his head leaning on her shoulder.

A crew of servants working on preparing the banquet suddenly passed by them, and amongst them was Lana. She turned to greet both of them, and let her eyes stay fixed on Hector.

Their eyes met and he immediately straightened. "Lana."

She turned away without a word and left.

Queen Elvira stood there, waiting. She was still holding onto him, and her face was grim. She could feel her jealousy start to fill her up, and if anything, she wanted to remain calm.

"Shall we go?"

Hector immediately turned to her, a pang of guilt striking him in the chest. "I am sorry."

She said nothing and simply continued on her way towards her chambers. Donald opened the door without asking questions and closed it once they went in.

"Sit here. I will go to your chambers myself and bring you a fresh set of clothes, and...please stop crying."

He nodded as he sat on the edge of the bed, and she walked out of the chambers.

"So the Queen brought him back herself?"

Donsld nodded. "They are going to attend the banquet, and she is already getting rid of the entire place."

Adrian nodded. "Make sure by the time of the banquet, everyone knows that the Queen's husband..killed an innocent woman. Much better...let the rumors say...that she was his mistress. He killed her because she wanted to put asunder in the marriage. Am I right?"

"Yes, my lord."

"The bath is ready, your highness."

"You are excused."

The servant left, and she helped Hector to his feet. She walked him to the bath house, then let him go.

"This is as far as you will let me, am I right? I will wait for you outside."

"Thank you," he said to her.

She bit down on her lip. "It is what a wife does." She turned around and left.

He removed the stained robe and changed into a bathing robe, then stepped inside the bath. Gradually, the surface of the clear water turned red from all the blood stains on his body.

"Hector?" Queen Elvira called from outside. He was taking too long. And she wondered if something was wrong. "Are you in there?"

Still no answer.

She then slightly opened the door. "Hector."

No answer. She opened the door wide and walked in. There was no one in the bath from where she stood and she ran to it.

There, below the surface of the water was Hector. The material of the bathing robe was clinging to his skin. His hair floating along with the water, with his eyes closed.