CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

** (A/N)A bit of mature theme at the end**
A smile graced his lips. He had woken before the sun did.
Edgar discarded the full bottle of wine away. He couldn't even drink. He did not want to sleep. He'd have nightmares.
The slow tap came to the door and he groaned.
The tap came for the seventh time before he managed
"Enter"
His hand boy came in with a tray of food.
He could smell flour and his stomach churned
"My lord" he bowed
"Draw my bath" he said and he boy laid the tray on the table by the window, walking into his wash room
He could hear him filling the large pot with barrels of water.
He went to inspect the tray and could only agree with an unripe cucumber. Drinking his water, Edgar walked in to meet the servant leaving the washroom.
"Dismissed" Edgar said as he disrobed and went into the pot which was sprinkled with lillac and scented oil.
Washing down to his long hair, Edgar dried himself thoroughly and picked out a cotton shirt and breeches which he wore under his sapphire overcoat.
He drew out his sword by his bed and fastened it to his belt.
A good king was a good warrior. A good warrior was never unready
Edgar took one final look at his chamber and then departed
Seeing as a maid went in as he left to clean the room
He walked the short distance to the princess's chamber and knocked.
The door was answered by a maid. She bowed at him and made to leave
" As she eaten?" He asked
She refuses to my Lord. The broth the healer gave the past night is the only thing in her stomach" the maid said with a sympathetic frown
"As she asked for water?" Edgar asked
"No...no more Lord" the maid said, understanding written on her face.
Edgar nodded and she curtsied again and walked out quietly .
Edgar closed the door with a click and locked it
The sound woke Selene. Her eyes searching till it landed on the Lord.
"You have woken" he said softly
Selene just but stared
But he could see, she was alive. Her eyes looked at him. Did not stare at nothing. He felt hope swell in his chest. He would die with her after all.
Selene looked at the Sol emperor.
He stood with his coat and crown.
Hands leaving her door as he locked it. Why?
"Wh..." She could feel her throat burning as she coughed
The Lord rushed to her and held her back. Reaching for a cup of water and giving it to her.
Selene took three greedy gulps and handed the cup to him.
"Wh...why...why are you here?" She rasped out
"How are you feeling?" The Lord questioned her.
She flinched. How did she feel? Dead? Unhappy?small?
She could still remember the blood on the floor. So much. A small stream of bed.
The body as it was left in the grave. Alone. No one to talk to her again. Oh...she wished she could go to the grave and sleep there and never wake again
It would be pleasant.
Then she would not be haunted by the little eyes or that smile on the dead body.
She could only wait for death to take her too...but it refused.
Yesterday she had been so happy. The clammy hands of death had almost taken her, if not for that damned salt that burnt her lungs.
What would she live for? How would she tell the world. Her sister was gone. Her only blood. Her father was gone too. Her mother. She was alone. Lonely. Lone.
"Speak to me child, how do you feel?" The Lord asked again
She could only nod. Afraid her voice would expose her pain and the Lord would mock at her. Telling her to go to men and fins comfort under the quilt.
"I feared for your life. Do not very do that child" he said. Eyes pleading and sincere.
Selene could feel her eyes water. Why was he mocking her, making her feel comfort when he knew he'd tease and insult her the next moment.
"Please leave" she begged hopelessly
"What do you mean? I have tarried for you to wake! I have barely had food or water. Even the wine hates me. Do you know for how long you've been gone?" He asked
Selene then really looked at his face. His black eyes with a fleck of gold. Tired circles went around the. His face was longer than she remembered.
What had he mean gone? Did the faint?
"Did I take ill?" She asked curiously
"You're fine now child" he said
"Did you come to see me?" She asked
Hoping he would say no. That he had only come when she was well, oh...she couldn't remember all that had happened.
Only that the maid had told her it was six and twenty days after Mia had been laid to rest
"Every night. You wouldn't speak with me. Or anyone" he replied with a broken look. Subconsciously reaching for her hands but pulling back as she flinched
"What do you want with me. Why do you play with my heart. Why? Am I an object to you. Am I a thing fo..." Her cries were silenced as the Lord turned her about at once and claimed her lips in a slow kiss. One so deep she lost her breathe and senses.
His hands went to her back and held her neck. His lips strong and gentle as he felt all over her teeth and tongue. Cleaning everywhere.
She hadn't washed her mouth.
Selene struggled with humiliated anger to leave his grip as senses returned
Edgar slowly let go and stared at her.
She hid her face with dirty hair and held both her hands in a fist
Selene barely had time to voice her disapproval before the same lips claimed her's again. This time hard and demanding
His hands reached for her back and felt around. Searching.
A groan erupted from the man's throat and in a short second, her sheer black dress was torn unceremoniously and tossed to the floor.
Selene gasped and stilled
He had stopped kissing her. She was naked.
He held her still. Hands still running over her back. Not straying further. He slowly backed and with this covered her with the blankets.
"I do not like you in that" he stated hoarsely
Selene could only stare at the man. His lips swollen. Eyes darkened with desire
Long strong fingers lifted to her face and she closed her eyes. Basking in the warmth that she knew would scald her later.
She opened her eyes as his lips moved to her forehead, placing a cold kiss there.
"I want you child. I may not be fine in your eyes but I desire you. Like a man desires a woman and so much more. No man will have you" Edgar said
"How!" Selene barked
Eyes angry
"As your mistress?! No man will want me! I should be waste to be discarded! Used and thrown out?!" Selene asked
"I would never throw you out!" Edgar snapped
"Then your wife would. You will not end your lineage. You will marry and I will be away. A spinster. Ho...I should leave now. I could be a Governess for someone. My father would know what to do with me. I must seek him out. What more should I fear?no man will hurt her now!I can marry whoever comes. I will endure. I..."
Edgar hit her.
A soft slap to the cheek.
Not hard but is stung
Sad, fearful eyes lifted to him as she tried to move away from him.
"Do not be foolish child. A man will reduce you to nothing! Do you want to be married to a...a loveless marriage?!" He asked
"And can you give me that love instead" Selene cried out, hands cradling her cheek
"I'll give you me. My heart. What's left of it. That is the only thing I have. Is it no enough child?! Must I serve you my head you siren?!" He roared
Selene shook her head, tears streaming down her face
"I'll leave. You can't keep me. I'll run. I promise you I'll run ...I'll flee by night. I'll take my chances with the demons. I can't stay here no more. Enough has happened" she cried
Edgar frowned
He drew his blade and Selene could feel her heart leap with fear.
Would he kill her if she refused to bed him? She watched with pleading eyes as he unsheathed it.
She closed her eyes. Saying a silent prayer to her mother and sister. Oh if at all they'd forgive her carelessness and accept her soul. What was left of it.
She wanted to die. She had only prayed u.it would be painless. She disliked pain
She could hear the force of a stab.
Her eyes squeezed shut. Lips wobbling
She wasn't in pain
Her eyes opened and the gasped.
His sword was in his arms. Blood flowed out freely
His face held no emotions as he shoved in the sword and Selene could hear skin break and the hilt hit his forearm
She shrieked
The half of his sword stood out red behind him
He swiftly drove it out and brought the blade down his other arm...
Stabbing
"No... no... don't!" She yelled.
With a slight grimace he began to slowly let the blade in his right hand. The left wounded hand trembling and unable to work
"Please!! Edgar no!! I beg you!!" Selene yelled as he drew out the blade and raised it to give the same ministrations to his thigh
She leapt out fiercely and knocked the sword away from his now feeble hands.
His face only held a slight frown
"Why?! Please do not hurt yourself. Please" Selene plead and with an overwhelming sadness reached for his face. Staring at his black eyes
"Will you leave?" He asked
"I can not stay my lord. I'm sorry" she wept
He was quick.
The fork that laid on her tray quickly went into the wound.
A cry escaped him involuntarily as he turned the stubby utensil. He bled
Selene too took the bloodied fork out and threw her untouched food off
"Why? You do not want me? I am your prisoner? Please do not torture me further. Let me go I beg thee with the sun. Please"
"Will you leave?" He asked lowly
"I....Edgar please do not hurt yourself...I must go...I...must go" she cried
Her body was shoved away and the emperor held her wrist. Dragging her hands and bringing her fingers to the fresh wound. Blood oozed. Warm blood. His blood
Selene cried helplessly and held him close. Pleading that he leave her hands
Her hands were released with a trembling of his own
She cried and searched for anything to stop the bleeding.
The Lord held her back
"You'll die...please let me help you" Selene begged
"Will you leave?" He asked
"No...I won't.leave... I'm here...I'll stay...please stop it...I'll stay" she cried and left as he released her. Rushing to her closet and bringing her blue cotton blanket. Ripping it valuelessly and tying it around both his arms. Blood quickly soaked through.
Selene cried out desperately and ripped out more. Wrapping his arms in the fabric and clipping it with her hair pins from the cabinets.
She held him as she spoke
"Do you want me?" She asked, eyes uncertain
"More than anything" he responded weakly
"Please don't hurt yourself. I've killed too many already. Let no more blood be shed" she begged wiping her tears
" Believe me or not. I can not see a day without you in it" Edgar said. Eyes on her
She nodded. Turning to watch him. His eyes went over her naked frame.
Naked.
She realized she had been undressed
"You are beautiful" the Lord said as she tried to hide her body with the now bloodied blanket.
She looked into his eyes
Honestly. Sincerity and desire swam in them
With shaky hands, he reached for her face and softly kissed her cheek.
Then her neck and placed a kiss on each bud of her tiny breasts
She shivered. Pulling back and lifting the blanket over her
"Stay child. Please stay" he said and drew her to him.
"Does it hurt? Maybe you too should see the healer" she stated panicked as he laid down in his own blood and clutched her to him
"Not as much as it should. I've had worst" he said
Selene still looked concerned until he smiled.
A rare genuine smile
"Rest child" he said and kissed her hair.
She held his head too...feeling his lengthening hair. Feeling the planes of his face. Then she too kissed him. Shyly. Uncertain. Questioning
She could feel the bulge she did not have press to her thigh.
Hands trembling, she went to feel him
"No" he croaked, holding her wrist
"Do not torture me" he said
Selene hid her shy smile and buried her face in his chest
He began to hum.
A song she couldn't remember where but was sure she'd heard before.
Sleep came, soft and slow. And she succumbed to it