Demon's Height

Chapter 5

Her grace had changed. She walked with her head high, with much pride over the course of minutes. Liorn had noticed it. A light lit up in her eyes, as if her thoughts became positive. He wondered if it was going to visit the town and marketplace and if that made her happy, he would take her day after day if he could.

He watched her stop at one of the fabric booths and take a fancy into a very bloody velvet chiton from one of the distant lands. Her fingers took the time to look into the fabric, as if she was caressing a lover. It made him wonder if it was reminding her of someone or perhaps a lover.

Liorn had never thought of that. Did Melinia have a lover before he had forced her into marrying him? Of course not, she would not or could not have...so why did the look in her eyes as she felt the fabric bother him so.

Her fingers couldn't stop itself from looking at the priceless fabric. It reminded Melinia of home. The market keeper brought one that was exactly the same as the one she held. Except the one in the lady's hands seemed to be more fit for royalty. Melinia watched as the lady packaged the item and hand it to her. She saw the lady bow on both knees and handed it to her. "I-I can't accept this...I" She tried to reason but the lady insisted with a very kind smile. "Please m' lady"

"It's best that you accept the gift, if not it'd be truly disrespectful of you." Liorn's voice boomed right next to ear. Melinia swallowed in some air and realized just how close he stood next to her, and so quietly he was. "M-my lord" The market lady called as if in prayer. He indicated the gift with a tilt of his head. Melinia didn't raise a muscle until she noticed that Liorn was also waiting for her to receive the gift. After she had taken the gift, Liorn gave the lady a gold coin.

That whole trip into town was a time for the townspeople to offer gifts, Melinia had come to the realization. Many children of course offered her picked flowers from the fields and she gladly accepted them and patted them on their shiny little heads before saying thanks and a wave goodbye.

They arrived back the castle as soon as the sun was setting. The same night they changed their attire for the dinner with important smaller town nobility including the neighboring Dukes and Duchesses.

After the feast with the lesser nobles, Melinia had undone her hair and brushed her mane with a newly purchased brush that had small floral embroidery at the girth of the brush. From the vanity she could see Liorn's shape on his side of the bed. Seeing him lying on his side made her feel guilt. To be honest with herself, she wasn't much for rumors and gossip but the ones about him she believed were true. He wasn't a saint but his reputation was one of a sinner. Many still respected him but most of all they were terrified of him. Of course they would be, he was ruthless, intimidating, heartless and he held this aura of authority over himself.

In battles he had shown no mercy for anyone even allies. It was odd for her to have to marry him. He didn't show any signs of a vulnerability, and no signs of needing a Queen so why her all of a sudden, was he in need of an heir? When he asked or threatened for her hand in marriage and unite his kingdom with her brother's Duchy and father's kingdom, her father jumped at the chance sacrificing his youngest daughter to prevent war with a war demon.

On another thought she was glad that they had yet to lay together. They may have slept in the same bed, but they didn't do anything as most wives and husbands do on their wedding night. It was said that it's very bad karma to not show the ritual of servitude to your husband after the bonds have been drawn. She knew it was bad luck to not have made love on the wedding night and the gods would condemn them for it and it was said that the couple would have bad fortune.

Melinia turned around to feel her recent neck wound. The wound was healing but it had been only a night, the wound was already closed. Earlier that morning the nurse applied herbs to prevent any infection and increase the process of healing.

With a small chill of bumps across her skin she pushed her hair into place over her shoulder and neck, then blew out the remaining candle and proceeded to the bed dreading if Liorn would use the chance to bed her. She was afraid that he might do so and she may have prepared herself for it mentally yet she was hoping that he would not touch her.

Her skin crawled at the idea and the unknown territory that was unbeknownst to her.

The bed moved with her weight and she tried oh so slowly not to make a sound afraid that he would somehow react or pounce on her just like the demon that he was, but he did not make a sound. His breathing was even and she felt relief to know that he was asleep beside her. The only light was from the fire that was crackling in the fireplace as she had closed her eyes and sworn that the demon beside her was watching her through his heavy-lidded eyes.