Crimson triquetra
Chapter 13

I wake up sweating. My dark haven threw me back into dread reality. Everything is still spinning and I feel weak. It takes me a minute to figure out where I am. I'm back in my room staring at the ceiling covered in my floral bedsheets. I try to sit up but a voice tells me to lay back down. A female voice. I hear a few voices but only recognize one of them.

Mrs. Marys's soft voice speaks comforting words to me before my vision goes dark once again.

Kings POV

I read through a petition from a city called Maris, living close to the borders of Serbia. They are making demands for more knights to shield them during times of war. My eyes wander away from the paper and around my office. It's on the east side of the castle and far away from my bedroom. Far away from her.

I stroke my hands through my hair. She's ill. Not only is she physically weak but dragging her to her mental limit probably only made it worse. Being the daughter of a noble, she probably never saw death or gore. It's something I've had to grow up with and showing her was partly to show her what I think of her and her people but also to show her I'm doing my best to treat her respectfully. In my way, it's as good as it's possible for me.

Father what should I do? I'm trying, I am. But I cannot simply forget that it was them who killed you. It was them who started this war. I lean on my table and get up. I walk towards the big window, looking over a part of the surrounding city. A few days pass and Dr. Daniel and his nurses have been at her side the entire time along with Mrs. Mary from time to time. She's getting better but her fever is extremely high, which is what has them worried. She keeps falling in and out of conciseness, at least that's what I'm told. I haven't been sleeping in the King's chambers. After carrying her out of the dungeons and calling for help I've left her in the hands of the medics. Every time I want to make my way to my chambers something stops me. After three days, no appetite, and very little sleep I've had enough. Guilt was eating me alive.

Aurora's POV

I don't know how long I've been lying in this bed. It could have been hours or months I couldn't tell. I don't even know what happened. I recall the King being in my chambers shortly and apologizing. Probably to the doctor for troubling him with me.

I open my eyes for what feels like the billionth time and take all my strength to sit up. Someone is sitting next to my bed. It takes a second for me to recognize her.

"Do you need help, dear?" Mrs. Mary smiles a weak smile.

She's not the person I should trust anymore but I'd rather have her here than that monster of a King.

"No thank you it's alright. How long have I been here?" I try my best to smile while my voice comes out hoarsely.

"About 5 days. You've caught some sort of illness and have had a burning fever until yesterday." I try to recall these last few days to no avail other than snippets of conciseness.

"You must be starved! I'll have you something made immediately, just you wait." Mrs. Mary gets up and heads towards the door.

"Mrs. Mary, could that wait? I don't know if I'm going to be able to eat right now. "I feel nauseous and eating anything now would probably cause me to vomit.

She stops in her tracks and turns back to me. "Oh, ok honey." I see a hint of guilt in her eyes. Maybe she knows about the breakdown I had because I trusted her. She hesitates but then asks if there's anything else's she could do for me. "There is. I could use a bath." I smile at her.

Her cheeks swell up into a smile while she agrees. After drinking a few glasses of water I lean on the tiny old lady while she helps me out of bed and across the room. I feel so weak. Even though Mrs. Mary is trying her best to keep me steady I continually need to rest against a wall.

I contemplate if this is a good idea when the door swings open. And King Alexander looks around the corner. Oh lord.

"What's going on?" He straightens himself.

I don't look him in the eyes, still trying to steady myself.

Mrs. Mary bows her head and says, "Nothing, your highness. Lady Aurora wishes to take a bath, but it proves harder than we thought to even get her to the bathing room."

"For Christ's sake. You've been out for days and you're already planning on wandering about again?" The King sounds annoyed.

I don't have the strength for this right now. I don't want to see him. Before I can finish that thought I'm lifted into the air, like Andre lifted his newly found wife at their wedding. The thought makes me blush but then I remember I'm in the arms of a monster.

I hit my fist against his chest with all my might, but being in a very weak state it did absolutely nothing for me. He shots me an annoyed look and told me to stop.

To surprise I wasn't being lifted back into bed, I was brought to t bathing chambers and carefully placed on a chair.

Mrs. Mary has wandered behind us with a smile on her face. The King instructs Mrs. Mary to call him once I'm done with bathing and left. Thank god.

I hated it. I hated being so close to him. I hate him.

Nevertheless, it took a while to get undressed and into the bath, but it was worth it. My limbs felt so light and weightless as Mrs. Mary help me bathe. I don't know if it's unusual to have someone help bath in this country, but I was enjoying this. And this time I did need help.

After 20 minutes Mrs. Mary helped me out of the bath and had sat me down on a chair while she got me something to wear.

She came back with a white floral nightgown. I hadn't paid attention to the time of day but I'm assuming it's getting dark.

After getting dressed Mrs. Mary went to go get the evil King. I used the chance, hoping he was busy. Steadied by the wall I slowly make my back to the King's chambers without anyone's help. I had only just made it past the entrance door of the bathing chamber when the scarlet king and Mrs. Mary came sprinting towards me.

"Stop, let me help you," the King says reaching to my back.

"Don't touch me!" I yell between pants.

Taken aback he pulls back his hand. "You're too weak to walk on your own, stop being so difficult."

"I can do this. Don't touch me. I don't need your help."

"This is ridiculous, I'm only going to carry you to your room. I'll leave right after." His eyebrows narrow.

Taking small steps I'm still trying to get back to the room on my own.

"Honey, let him help you." Mrs. Mary tries to convince me. Just then my legs give out and I'm about to fall face-first to the ground when a pair of strong hands catch me first.

I try to push him away while a bead of sweat runs down my face.

"That's enough." The King yells seemingly disgruntled.

"No! Let me go. If you want to help someone then go help those poor people down in the dungeons!"

His eyes widen. "What?" I've never seen him so shocked.

"They don't deserve this! No one does!"

I continue to yell at him while he picks me up forcefully and carries me towards "our" chambers.

"How can you be so cruel?" I no longer have the strength to physically fight him but that doesn't stop me from running my mouth.

He clenches his jaw but continues walking after nodding Mrs. Mary to leave us alone.

"Those are fathers and mothers and daughters and uncles! How can you just let them rot down there?" I realize I'm crying.

I don't want to be in the presence of this monster, and I don't want him touching me.

My cries turn into sobs and hiccups as we enter my room. He places me on the bed gently and lays a blanket over me while my crying seemingly can't stop. I feel so helpless. I wish I could run down there and give them all a bath and a warm meal, but I can't.

The King looks down at me briefly says nothing and leaves.