Seducing my King Master

FOUR

The sounds of wheels and horses could be heard from the distant as the hunting spree went on; it was a bright day and everywhere seemed alive with activities. The Phae, a small creature with golden fur and entrancing black eyes, hopped around freely; an air of nonchalance attached to it. And while the other animals scrambled away, it continued to tend to its business knowing it was safe….knowing it wouldn’t be shot.

The sound of wheels got closer and just as the creature decided to return to its burrow an arrow flew rapidly and embedded itself in the depths of its side and it let out a pained cry just as the sound of wheels came to a halt.

Aria’s eyes sprang open and a gasp left her as she jolted up to a sitting position. A pained whimper left her as she felt a searing pain in her wrist; she realized it was the little white scar which made her feel insecure from time to time. Her bosom rose and fell heavily and her heart pounded erratically in its place in her chest.

She pushed the covers off her and cradled her hand against her chest, wanting the pain to go away. She shut her eyes tightly while whimpering quietly, all the while wishing the pain would cease and it would be like it never happened.

"Stop". She breathed raggedly. "Please".

And just like that, it all ceased; it was as though everything had come to a halt, it was as though it hadn't happened at all.

She pried her eyes open and her gaze darted around, it took a moment for her disorientated mind to realize that she was in her room; she recalled that she had returned after breakfast and had changed her clothes and gone straight to bed. What she didn't understand was what had happened just now; had it been a dream?

She glanced at the scar on her wrist to see if it had changed, but it remained the same. Her heart pounded heavily as fear slowly crept into her. Was she losing her mind?

“Nerissa!”. She called out, her voice sounding a little more alarmed than she had intended it to be.

She rubbed her eyes wearily as the sound of hurried footsteps approached.

“My Lady? Is everything alright?”. Nerissa asked as she hurried to her. Her gaze darted around quickly as she tried to find out what the problem was.

“I…I had a nightmare”. She replied, her voice calmer now. She didn't want Nerissa panicking anymore than she already was.

A nightmare, that was all it had been.

It was a nightmare, yes, but what she didn’t understand was why it affected her so much, it was almost as though she had been the little creature that had been shot. And the pain she had felt. How was she to explain that?

“It’s alright, My Lady”. Nerissa said to her as she leaned in and draped her arms around her for a hug. “It’s just that, a nightmare”.

Indeed, it was indeed just a nightmare, but the fact that she hadn’t had such a bothersome nightmare in a very long time bothered her deeply. One would normally be bothered by nightmares in which they were being chased or murdered or something, not of little golden creatures being hunted. She suddenly felt silly.

“Do you want to talk about it?”. Nerissa asked her and she shook her head.

It was too silly to talk about, she was sure that she would only think her childish….and if Alder was to hear of this he’d be even more convinced that she wasn’t grown up at all.

“Alright then. Do you want to go back to sleep?”. She asked her as she released her and backed away slightly.

She shook her head. She wasn’t quite sure she could fall asleep again. She had planned on going to the garden later in the day, but since she was awake now and she had nothing to do, it would have to do.

“I’ll just go to the garden”. She told her.

“Alright, I’ll prepare your cloak”. She said at once. “Would you like me to go with you?”.

She thought it through for a moment; did she want company? Perhaps she did.

She nodded. Maybe she could somehow find a way of getting her thoughts straight. Nerissa was, after all, older than her, she might be able to understand what bothered her deeply if she could just explain well enough.

“Shall I call for Octavia and Lorelei?”. Nerissa asked her.

Octavia and Lorelei were part of her attendants who took care of running her baths and tidying her room and all that. She liked their company but she’d rather be alone with Nerissa at the moment so she shook her head.

“Alright then, it’s just you and I going for the walk then”. Nerissa said, smiling. “Shall I bring a basket along so we can pluck berries?”.

Aria nodded once more. Plucking berries was something she couldn’t turn down.