I Have Never Seen You Cry

Queen Elvira's eyes came to a close, her mind going blank. He might be drunk, she might be tipsy, but none of that mattered now.

He lost his footing a little, and she held him, wrapping her hands around him to stable him. She tilted her head slightly to the right, and slowly let Hector rest on the pillar of the bed's canopy. He had no objections, and she slowly leaned forward again, taking his lips in hers, exploring everything she had been dying to. It felt like she was getting to know him more, even if in the next couple of hours it would be nothing but a drunk kiss.

His hand instinctively cupped the side of her neck, his heart beat flaring. He felt warm to his feet, his toes curling upwards.

Her skin felt soft under his wandering palm, his thumb moving to lightly caress the nape of her neck. He was not sure of anything else, just this moment.

Queen Elvira slowly broke the kiss to breathe, but stayed close enough to rest her forehead on him. His eyes were closed, his hand trembling a little as he let go of her, and returned them to his side.

"I am sorry," she said to him, then placed a small kiss on his right cheek.

"I am sorry, Hector." She said again, and this time, she kissed his left cheek.

He just stayed there, his eyes closed, as if he was scared of what he would see when he opened them. As if he was scared of what he would see. But a part of him knew, and maybe that was all the more reason why.

"I understand if you do not want to see me again." She said, then slowly raised his hand to her lips. She placed a little kiss on it, then slowly lifted the other.

He closed his eyes tighter as the feel of her lips sent tingles running from his other hand, and she slowly let his hands go.

He opened his eyes, their eyes meeting for the first time since she kissed him.

She watched him, patient with the turbulent emotions she could see running through his eyes.

"Why...why me?"

"Because I love you. That is why it has to be you." Her answer was sure, unpracticed. Like it came from the very depths of her beart.

He said nothing more, just stood there, watching her for a long time.

"I will help you so you can rest now." She held on to his arm, and slowly, they made it to the side of the bed. He sat there, and she sat beside him. She removed his shoes, then the heavy jewelry and set them on the table.

She then guided him to lay down, and then put the large quilt over him.

His eyes were half closed by the time she was done, and as a goodnight, she leaned forward, kissed his forehead, and turned away.

Streaks of sunlight flooded the room through the large windows, and Hector fluttered his lashes open. His head seemed to be splitting open, and he felt a little dizzy.

He finally opened his eyes, but stayed laying down. For some reason, he could not muster the energy to sit up.

"Her highness, Queen Elvira is here."

He immediately sat up, ignoring the headache he felt. But it did not quite want to be ignored, and it pierced through his skull like an arrow.

He let out a grunt and held his head, just as Queen Elvira walked in. She calmly walked to his side, then helped him lay down again.

"Good morning, your highness." He said and swallowed.

She did not answer it, just brought a bowl of soup to him. "You should have this."

"Did her highness cook again?" He asked. He felt like he was missing something, but he was not sure what.

"Yes. I knew you would wake with a headache." She momentarily kept it, propped a pillow behind him, then made him sit up on it.

"I would really like it if you do not tire yourself with me. I have been frailing around instead of helping you with the matters of the palace, and right after getting married, I caused trouble again. I do not think..."

"I find it strange that you are chattering so much today." She pushed a spoon of the broth to his lips and he slowly opened up.

"I apologize."

She said nothing and continued to feed him.

"Your highness, can I ask you something?"

She met his eyes, her breath hitching in her throat. Was he going to ask about the previous night? What would he say?

"Go on."

He bit down on his lip. "Did I...do something bad to you yesterday?"

She raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

He closed his eyes. 'Because it is you...' He opened then and shook his head. "I had too much to drink, and I worry that I may have been out of line with you. Please forgive me if I was."

She watched him, then sighed. "You can eat it yourself, can you not?"

His eyes widened at her change of countenance, but it did not stop her. She kept the bowl close to him, and turned on her heel.

"Your highness." He said, then held on to her arm. "Did I...was I out of line? I apologize if..."

She suddenly turned and yanked her hand away from him. The reaction surprised him, she never behaved that way.

"Your highness..."

"You are out of line right now. You are out of line for calling your wife your highness. You are out of line for not remembering last night."

She sighed and bit down on her lips, the back of her eyes stinging with the tears she had held. She had come to check on him early, but he had still been asleep. Just when she was about to leave, like some stupid force, he had sad Lana's name. Just when she thought he was slowly drifting to her.

"Your highness..."

"Have the broth or leave it. Get ready for the court in an hour." She started to walk away, her head high.

"Your highness," Hector said, then ran over through the other side of the bed, his expression worried. "I apologize, I do not know."

She looked up at him, finally letting the angry tears flow. "You do not have to apologize."

He felt guilty, and he gasped, his eyes wide. "I have...never seen you cry..."

"Never?" She asked, her fists clenching. "I did say anything for you."

He gasped, vague memories starting to fit together, up until her tears, just like the previous night.

"Your highness..." He started to say again.

"Get ready." She said simply, and walked away.