Episode 19

Persephone

I'd woken a few hours ago in my chambers, in fresh clothes and had found Teris nodding off at the edge of my bed, head leaning on one of the poles made from the furniture of my bed. One movement from me and he jerked upwards. Murmured that my child was fine and a few other things I no longer remembered. When I asked what had happened, he murmured again about going to get me food from the kitchen. Before I could ask where my maids had gone, he was out the door.

The door swung open and Teris walked in, tray in his hands. He looked around the room as if to find a suitable table to place the food atop but he shrugged and placed it on the bed beside me. He stood there and peered down at me.

I frowned at him. He frowned back and inclined his head towards the plate of roast chicken and soup and fruits on another plate.

I rolled my eyes and sat up, folding my legs in front of me as i dug in. It tasted fabulous and it took me a few minutes of stuffing my face to notice he still stood there. Arms crossed and watching me with amusement he was trying so hard to hide with a frown.

"What? You're my personal maid now?"I said with a full mouth and I could have sworn his lips twitched.

He did not seem in his best moods today and looking at him now, I noticed he still wore his black tunic and his hair golden hair was scattered like he'd been running his hands through them continuously. He'd slept here, watching me. I swallowed.

"When last did you eat Teris? "I asked, staring into his ocean blue eyes that seemed to widen a bit from my question. I pointed on the space in front of me. "Sit. "I said.

"I-"

"Sit Teris. "I cut in and made it clear in my tone that I was not making a request. His eyes darted to the space I pointed at and back to my face before he sighed and walked over, taking a sit.

I grabbed a spoonful of soup and brought it to his lips. He stared at me warily.

"What? You can bath me, change my clothes without my consent, boss me around but you're scared of taking soup from my hands?"I arched a brow.

He regarded me once more before opening his mouth a bit and I put the spoon in before he could change his mind. I handed him a piece of chicken which he took from me and bit into, chewing it like it was bland. I frowned. "Did no one ever teach you to show appreciation for food? You don't have to pretend in front of me. "

He swallowed. "What do you mean? "He asked me, truly looking confused.

"You wouldn't understand since you've never known hunger. " I said sharply and he winced a bit. He didn't say anything else but he did stop chewing like it was bland.

I could see it in his eyes. Something was eating him up. He hadn't said more than a sentence or even taunted me or smirked even.

"You're awfully quiet. Someone punch your balls? "I asked putting a slice of apple in my mouth. He nearly choked on the soup. He narrowed his eyes at me and I smirked. "Who punched you? "I asked, unable to hide the laughter in my voice.

"No one. "He said and took another piece of chicken from the plate. I slapped his hand off it and he glared at me, question in his eyes.

"Since you won't talk to me, go get your own plate. "I said, knowing fully well that it would take another hour to prepare food to his preferences.

"Someone poisoned you. "He said and reached for the chicken again. I slapped his hand off again, though trying to process the information. I was not exactly stunned by it. In fact, it was about time that happened... but his face...

"What's eating you up? "I asked, now holding his stare.

"I just told you. "He said.

"No. What exactly is eating you up? ". He leaned backwards now and looked away from me.

"I'm sorry. "He said, pain in those eyes that looked everywhere but my face. I decided at that moment that I didn't like seeing him pained and would try from then on not to be a pain in the neck.

"Whatever for? "I asked then faked a gasp. "Did you poison me? I didn't know I finally got to you. "I chuckled.

He didn't laugh. "I should not have brought you here. I should not have... done what I did. I should not have gone to the tavern that day. I've put you through enough Persephone. I couldn't even look after you properly. I'm so sorry. "He said, eyes finally meeting mine.

I place a hand on his and found them warm. He looked down at it and looked at my face like he'd never seen me before.

"It wasn't your fault. If it makes you feel better... "I paused, rethinking what I was about to say. I shook my head at the disapproval forming.

"I forgive you Teris."

I had for a while now. He wasn't a bad person. I'd lived on the streets long enough to know that thousands of men would have denied being the father of an illegitimate child. He could very well have let me die at the hands of the keepers and cleared his name but he came for me. He found me and brought me here, looked after myself and Eos too. Not for selfish reasons. He did not look at me the way the other men did with lust and disdain at the same time. He looked at me... like an equal. His words say otherwise every time he yapped about treating him as a King but that was for keeping up appearances. Even I wasn't stupid enough not to notice the healthy distance he gave me. I hadn't wanted to accept it so I kept looking for reasons to fight with him. To hate him. I found none. Even now, looking in his eyes, being able to hold his hand without remembering a thing... Ironic as it sounded, I felt at ease.

I must have stared at him for a while for he withdrew his palm and looked away, cheeks flushed.

I threw another slice of apple in my mouth, ignoring what I'd just seen.

"I'm going out to the city today. "He said, chewing on the last piece of chicken.

I simply arched a brow, chewing.

"I figured you might need some air away from all these. Ride with me? "He asked and I swallowed.

"It's fine if you don't want to. "He said after noting the way I'd swallowed.

"No no. It's not that... I do... It's just... I don't know how to ride a horse. "I said the last four words quietly as I felt my face heat up.

There was relief and then a smirk came through.

"One would think that with your fearlessness, there would be nothing you couldn't do. You're scared of a horse." He chuckled.

I glared amidst heated cheeks. "It just doesn't stay when I sit on it. It always threw me off... and as a child, I had broken bones. Father kept changing the horses but it seemed they hated me too. Am I not allowed to be scared? Would you not be? "

"No. They were probably scared of you and your scary temper. "

I pinched his arm and he laughed.

"It won't throw you off this time. I'll ride with you on the horse... if it's fine by you."

"I'll break your legs if I fall off."I warned. He tipped his head backwards and laughed really hard. It was the first time I'd seen it and... it was a pretty sight.

★★★★★★★★

"I brought you these. You seemed to prefer my tunic and pants over those pretty gowns anyway so I got some made for you." He said handing me a deep blue piece of clothing, identical to the ones he now wore. He'd forgone the crown and had brushed his hair in a way that looked un-kingly. The color of the tunic brought out the blue of his eyes and they looked like a drop of the oceans.

"Why are we wearing matching clothes?"I snorted.

He smirked . "It's either that or you get into the scandalous gown my mother sent for you."

I took the clothes and walked to the bathroom, closing the door behind me. I dressed quickly in a few minutes and wore the golden belt I found in the middle of the clothes. The clothes fitted perfectly, hugging my frame yet, extremely free to walk in. I walked out of the bathroom and looked in the mirror. I gaped at myself. I'd never noticed how much weight I'd gained and for some reason, my breasts were fuller and my hips wider than I remembered them to be. Teris snickered behind me and I ignored him. Packed my hair into a loose pony tail,letting a few strands fall out. The tips of my ears were nearly visible and I looked for where I could've kept the jewelry he had given me to keep them hidden.

"Here."Teris said almost immediately and I grabbed the ornament from him and wore it on my ear.

I sighed. I looked slightly human. "If you keep admiring yourself, we won't make it back home before dark."

I scowled and put on the dark boots I now found beside the pairs of heels that were previously among my things. Comfortable.

"Shall we?"Teris said, holding out his arm for me to take. I left it hanging and walked out of the room. He laughed behind me. "Typical."

Walking beside him, the people who passed by me didn't scowl. They averted my gaze and bowed.

Luckily I didn't bump into anyone I didn't want to. In a few minutes, we were outside the stables. Orien was saddling a horse whose chest-nut color caught my eyes. Judging from its height, it was nothing less than sixty inches. I looked from its expressive head that went sideways every now and then to its broad forehead and prominent dark eyes to its upright well arched neck, its laid back shoulders, its not so long back, its well defined withers and its strong legs. Definitely a Morgan.

"He's coming with us? "I asked, referring to Orien. Teris nodded. I dreaded each step I took toward the beast and as if sensing me, it whined and began moving restlessly.

"Calm it girl. She's harmless." Teris said to the horse and patted its hairy back. It relaxed under Teris' touch.

"Are the men ready?" Teris asked Orien whose gaze would not meet mine.

"Men?"I asked, looking around and noting a few of his guards around us, already on their horses.

"Yes. As King, I can't go anywhere without them... For protection. It's not like I fancy them trailing my movements but it's a protocol. They'll be out of sight. Don't worry. They won't see you fall."He whispered the last sentence and winked. I stuck out my tongue and in answer, he walked away from his horse and past me. I turned to look at where he'd run off to but large hands grabbed my hips and his lavender scent filled my nostril.

"Let go, arsehole!" I shouted, slapping at his hands that only gripped tighter. "Keep still. She won't eat you."Teris said and I head chuckles behind me. My cheeks heated as I understood he was simply trying to lift me on the horse. My stomach got tied up in knots as my feet left the ground. He lifted me effortlessly and placed me on the horse's saddle. The beast moved under me and I yelped. I looked for anything to grab and I found its reins. I pulled on it as the beast kept moving. The world kept tilting around me.

"Get me off this thing this instant Teris or I really will break your legs! "I shouted as my heart thudded in my chest. I heard them laughing at me. Teris' laughter was the loudest of them all. My mouth went dry as the horse jumped like the other horses did when they'd decided to throw me off. I went up in the air but I didn't let go of the reins. I landed on the saddle again. Panting.

"Teris I will kill you! " I shouted as I looked around me. Everyone was watching. The horse tenders, the guards, everyone passing by. Teris only smiled and only then did I notice the beast was now still.

"She does that every time a new rider mounts her. It's a test of trust."he said.

"You didn't think to tell me that? What if I had fallen?!" I shouted. "Then I would have caught you." I blinked, anger melting to nothing. In a smooth maneuver, he was atop the horse, behind me. He slipped one arm around my waist and another took the reins from my hands. His breath on my neck was cool and soothing. His leg hit the side of the horse and we were moving, towards the gate and towards the people behind it.

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