What You Wanted

"Hector? Hector!" She ran around the entrance and stepped in, not minding how big her dress was. It enveloped her as she pulled his face above the water.

"Hector. Answer me, please."

He was unresponsive and she forced him out, cradling him in her arms. He was too heavy for her combined with the weight of her dress.

Seeing no other way, she propped him up on the bath wall, then opened up the zips holding her cloth together. The lighter material of the inner dress was easier to work with, and she managed to pull him over the wall.

She stepped out and pulled him, then managed to stand him up. Putting his hand over her shoulder and leaning his weight against her, she helped him walk towards the chamber.

She laid him on the bed, then tried to resuscitate him.

"Hector. Hector, please answer me." She tried the chest compressions once, then twice, then thrice, but still no response.

She then leaned forward and closed his nose. Taking in a deep breath, she leaned forward and blew air into his mouth.

She then leaned back, trying hard to keep her own heart under control.

Her eyes feasted on his face. Pale, and long dark brown hair, his eyes closed. She took in another deep breath and leaned forward, attaching her lips to his, then blew again.

This time he coughed violently and opened his eyes and she immediately leaned away from him.

"Hector. How do you feel?" She asked.

He blinked and took in deep breaths, his body feeling tired. "I...I..." He stopped talking and let his eyes roam around, his eyes falling on the Queen.

He immediately felt his throat gondry, and he turned away. She noticed it and drew back.

"I will get ready for the banquet." She said, her voice low from the embarrassment, then turned away towards the dressing room.

Hector closed his eyes, his face livening up with the red that rose up to his cheeks.

Queen Elvira watched the mirror, still in her plain dress. She fet the emnarrassment peeking at her even more, het face reddening. With one last brrath she turned away from it.

"Hector."

He opened his eyes and turned to her. She was now the Queen he knew. She was just as elegant in her dark pink gown but there was something a little different.

Rather than the confident look she always had on, especially how she looked at him, this time she could not bring her eyes to look at him.

"I am going to attend the banquet."

"Are you going alone?" He asked, watching her.

"You are not in the condition to be there."

"What will they think? Will they not think I am...running away? You are going to take it all on your own?"

Queen Elvira nodded without hesitation. "Why not? We were both there. I can be just as responsible. And no one will dare to question me but you...they will crucify you. They would want to pick on you and try to...bring you down. I will not let that happen."

He bit down on his lip as she walked closer towards him, then placed a hand on his chest. He looked up to her, for the first time meeting her eyes.

"Why are you so kind to me? Even earlier...when I saw Lana..." He took in a deep breath. "I apologize."

"That is why I am kind to you. The first time, Hector..when I asked you how I looked, you said Lana. You were so unapologetically in love with her. Now you are apologizing. I do hope I have answered you." She smiled, then looked at her fingers on his chest.

He went silent, and looked down at his own fingers.

"That is alright." He muttered, feeling the room suddenly become a little too small.

"I will be leaving now. Take care. I will send a servant after me."

He nodded, still avoiding her eyes. She stood there, watching him, as if she was thinking of something. Silence settled, and Queen Elvira's mind darted between doing what she wanted and keeping it calm, simple. It was hard giving up, especially when it was everything she wanted.

"Hector?"

He turned to her. He looked like he could almost feel the tension she felt, like he could share in her emotions except just not as strong.

"Yes, your highness?"

She swallowed. "I am leaving now." She told him, knowing very well that she had already said it before.

"Yes." He said, then let out a breath.

She blinked rapidly then walked closer. "I..uhmm..." She clenched her fists. "Actually..."

She looked up to him again, then let out a sigh. "It is nothing. Rest well."

She turned and took a step away before Hector held her hand gently back, then pulled her backwards. She turned to face him, her eyes wide and he leaned forward, then let her lips come just slightly in contact with his forehead.

She watched him, then slowly let her hand hold his face gently, and she kissed his forehead. She then let him go, ever so reluctantly, not wanting to overstep the boundaries he'd given her.

"That is...what you wanted, right?" He asked, leaning away from her.

She smiled. 'Not quite, but it is enough.' "Yes. Thank you."

She turned and left, her veil a little transparent to cover her smile.

"Congratulations, your highness."

"Thank you, Lord Simon." She said, then watched as he kept his parcel close to her.

He walked away slowly, and lord Lucas came up. Their eyes met as he walked, and he had a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Congratulations, your highness." His voice was unnecessarily loud, as if he was trying to make a point to all the members of the cabinet sitting in the large squared table.

"Thank you, Lord Lucas. The problems of the country may be a lot to handle, but I assure you, it has nothing to do with my ears."

He smiled. "I also brought a parcel for your husband. Where is he?"

Lord Simon saw his cue and immediately jumped in. "Yes, your highness. I was going to ask. Where is your husband? I heard he was also not present at the gifting ceremony yesterday."

"My husband is indisposed and I have asked him to rest. Is that so much of a problem?"

Lord Lucas smiled widely. "Of course not, your highness. If...in fact, that is why he is absent."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I mean no harm, but...is he absent because he is indiposed or...because his robes...the robes meant for the ceremony...has been stained with blood?"

"How dare you, lord Lucas? Have you lost respect for me?"

"I apologize your highness. But I just can not ignore the rumors. Everyone is saying that your husband had his robes stained with blood earlier. And they say the blood belonged to an innocent woman who was, in fact, with a child."

"That is not true!" She said, hitting the table with her palm. She stood, so she was exactly the same height as Lord Lucas. "Say one more thing against my husband and I swear, I will feed your tongue to the lions."

Lord Lucas slowly drew away from her. "I am sorry for agitating you. But, we would really like to congratulate him. Since he will be king soon."

"Yes, your highness." The rest echoed and she clenched her fists painfully.

"My husband..." She swallowed. "My husband is..."

"Here."

She turned, just as Hector slowly made his way to the seat next to her.

"I am sorry for bring late."