Daughter of Death -Chapter 12 (Patreon)

CHAPTER TWELVE

Thunder clapped. Reina awoke with a start, breathing heavily.

Blood. So much blood.

Certainly a dream.

“Reina, love.”

Ferdinand had moved a little beside her in the bed, turning onto his back looking up at his love now sitting up awake. He was still fully clothed as he had been the past few nights whenever he`d lain beside her. Practically he did not have night clothes but he insisted no provisions to be made for him.

“A dream,” she murmured.

With soft eyes he sat up and gently moved her thick, dark hair over her left shoulder. Her shoulder and neck now exposed he pressed his lips against the bare skin in two gentle, chaste kisses and hummed soothingly. “You’re alright now love.”

She felt a stirring inside her and all she wanted in that moment was to turn around and kiss him and send him lying down across her bed again as she devoured him with kisses. All she wanted was Ferdinand to pull her nightgown off her shoulders possessively as he pressed her down again instead.

But he’d only promised her this kind of passion after she’d become Queen and they were joined in marriage officially. She would just have to wait until after she was restored to her place at the castle after her next birthday. That was months away and she felt frustrating impatience at the thought of it.

Instead her pale hand rose to find his cheek and with a turn of her head she found his dark eyes in the dimness around them. She leaned forward and kissed Ferdinand but before she could pull in more deeply he disconnected it. “Tell me of your dream.”

“It was...more of a memory; of the blood.”

“Ah.” His tone was of understanding. “And it bothered you?”

“The sight of it? No.”

“Are you sorry for it?”

She moved on the bed to face him better. “No; not entirely.”

“Explain.”

“I wish it hadn’t happened for I miss the taste.”

“Ah.” Again that empathy. “The loss will pass. Others will satisfy.” His hand moved hair behind her back and he examined her expression. “Sleep again.”

“Why should I?” Her tone was amused.

“It would do you no good to sleep during the daylight hours. I will leave you as I can tell I am a distraction.”

“Please don’t go, Ferdinand.”

“Very well but my love must rest.”

“Will you be here come morning?”

“You ask me every night and every night I will reassure you that I shall.”

“And yet this morning come will be the last time –at least for awhile.”

He smiled a little as he gazed downwards. “Yes. But as you know I will return again.”

“Every day will be a thousand years until you return to me,” she spoke poetically.

“One day those words will not be so farfetched,” he chuckled.

“I would not allow you to leave me for so long,” she purred as she leaned in closer to him.

“I would never wish to, Your Highness.”

“Good, milord.” Her lips were practically touching his once more. Reina heard him breathe her in before he gently kissed her again and her hand reached up to frame his neck and pull him in closer. Something stirred between her legs again as it often did when she kissed him deeply but he always put a stop to her pleasure as he did yet again now.

“Patience, Reina,” he exhaled as he practiced restraint and put distance between them.

“I am to be your queen. Would you deny me?”

“I cannot betray Bayern’s Crown and yet I must in the interest of maintaining the honour of our future arrangement. Patience, Your Highness.”

“Reina. I like it when you call me Reina,” she informed him. “Ferdinand I ardently love you.”

“And I, you. And in time we shall be joined by your kingdom, its rites and by blood for all eternity. Just a little patience my dearest. You have been more than I could ever ask for already and I too cannot await our union as husband and wife; as King and Queen; and as the same flesh and blood but we must give a little patience for reward of a kingdom and most especially an eternity together for all of time. We must wait.”

“And so I will but I will not be pleased about it.”

He chuckled as she finally submissively lay down once more in bed upon speaking those words.

In the morning she awoke and got changed and found breakfast already prepared for her and her guest. Ferdinand could eat prepared food if he wished but it did not sustain him.

“Anything else Your Majesty and Your Grace?” Wendall asked with his head bowed humbly.

“You are dismissed,” Ferdinand declared without looking at the dwarf. He kept his eyes on Reina. She smiled at him as she put a morsel of sweet bread into her mouth.

“Don’t you think Wilhelm did a wonderful job upon my hair this morning?” she questioned.

“You look divine my darling.”

“It is shameful that Jakob keeps complaining of ill health. Why he had to redo this plait three times before I dismissed him,” she declared stiffly.

“Do not let it vex you my love. You will soon have servants who will never disobey you or disappoint you.”

“Ah but the wait shall vex me,” she complained.

“It shall be worth it,” he assured in a whisper as he leaned forward, grasping her chin between his fingers, and kissed her parted lips. She smiled, appeased for now.

“I hope that Oskar sees to finish your new gown before I go as I would much like to see you in it.”

“As would I,” she agreed warmly. Ferdinand had given coins for the dwarves to fetch more fabric and supplies that Reina may have more luxuries to her wardrobe. Oskar had been working tirelessly on creating a gown for Princess Reina to wear before her lover ahead of his departure from Brickwall Cottage again. Of course, Oskar had a little persuasion to do so.

“Errol. Come here,” Ferdinand commanded.

“Yes milord?” he spoke meekly, eyes downcast.

“Sing for us.”

The dwarf took a deep breath and began his song.

Ferdinand looked at his betrothed with a gentle expression of fondness as his fingertips brushed over her hand on the table. She smiled back for her part, pleased that he was here and that he had been so attentive and affectionate towards her in the past several days.

“That’s enough,” Ferdinand commanded suddenly, barely moving his head to look over his shoulder as he spoke to the small vocalist.

“What is wrong my love?”

“I am not satisfied. I desire some other form of entertainment.” Ferdinand sounded bored, pompous even.

Reina hummed as she considered, another morsel of food just consumed as she leaned in towards her love.

"Let's go for a walk," she suggested cheerfully. He considered it not looking terribly keen. "Why not a hunt then?" she pressed further. This made his facial expression change slightly and he nodded. 

Ferdinand took her hand and led her outside without a word.Not a word at least until they came to a quiet part of the forest far enough away from the cottage that the smells of the hearth could not be detected, "A deer full grown- No does."The challenge had been set.Reina liked these challenges as it was a chance to prove herself in Ferdinand's way of life -one which would soon be hers and she couldn't wait.This particular challenge kept them occupied for the entire couple of hours left in the morning before dinner at the cottage.But at last, the buck was found. Reina felt pleased that it was her but the challenge was not yet over for she had to subdue the creature and drink from it to be successful.It was difficult to make eye contact with it but she used all of the training her darling Ferdinand had bestowed upon her and came close. Close.Instead of being subdued the buck felt threatened -and charged.Reina cried out and fell to the side just in time to save herself but unfortunately for Ferdinand the deer's antlers caught him and threw him bloodied to the side. It went to trample him again but Ferdinand managed to scare it off even injured as he was.Reina watched the animal run off before she shakily got to her feet and rushed to Ferdinand's side. He was choking up scarlet as he clutched his neck which gushed deep crimson.Blood. So much blood.Certainly not a dream.