Return of a Queen

My name is Lorelei- Ben’s POV

“Ouch!” My head is screaming! Everything hurts. I force my eyes open. Where am I? What happened? I reach up and feel some kind of cloth above my left eye and a large, swollen knot. I look down. Wait! Where are my clothes?? I’m lying here shirtless, in my long underwear with the one leg pulled up to reveal some kind of splint. I turn to quickly survey the room and instantly regret it. A wave of dizziness and nausea hits me immensely. I put my head down and close my eyes. I need to take things slowly. Just breathe. Think. I need to get up. I need to find my clothes. Someone must have brought me here and wrapped my head, chest, and leg; they’ll be coming back. I need to be ready. I swing my legs out of the bed and take a deep breath. I stand and then yell out in pain before falling back to the bed. My leg is in so much pain, it hurts to stand. I take a moment to survey my surroundings. I’m in some kind of cabin or shack. It’s small and has an earthy scent, like fresh dirt and herbs. There’s minimal furniture, 2 small beds, a table and chairs, and a rocking chair. There’s also a small loft on the left hand side but it appears empty other than some books. Upon closer inspection there is a knife on the table. Perfect. If I can just get my body up and over there, I can get it and be prepared for whatever or whoever comes through that door. As I’m about to attempt to get up I hear footprints crunching in the snow outside, getting closer to the door. I force myself to get up and jump on my good leg to grab the knife. I bite my lip as pain Sears through my ribs from the jarring. I snatch the knife and duck behind the door. I hear someone knocking snow off their boots.

I wait until whoever it is is through the door and I pounce. Wood goes tumbling to the ground and knock the man to the ground, landing atop him. I drop the knife as i we topple to the ground and I yelp from the pain in my leg and ribs. We both reach for the knife and he reaches it first but he’s so small it’s easy to wrestle away. I flip him over, holding the knife to his throat, and pull the scarf down to see his face.

I instantly froze. Under the scarf and hat was not a man, but the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on. I rolled off her and dropped the knife, still in shock of the beautiful woman in front of me. Her hair was a beautiful raven black, her eyes were pretty crystal blue with gray flecks, her skin was a flawless, creamy porcelain, and her lips a rosy pink. She frame was small and her features perfect. And thanks to my crazy actions she was clearly terrified.

“I’m so very sorry” I said to her laying the knife down. “I acted foolishly, I didn’t mean to scare you. My name is Lieutenant Benjamin Adley. What is your name? What happened and how did I get here?”

Her face softened. “My name is Lorelei, daughter of Soleil. I heard you fall down Old Man’s Knee while I was hunting and saved you from the wolves. I brought you back here as you were wounded and needed help” she replied softly.

I went to reach my hand out to her but winced at the pain when doing so and brought my hands back to my ribs. “So you brought me here by yourself?” I said in amazement. “How?”

A smile momentarily flickered across her lips. “I put you on my horse and she carried you back, however, getting you on her was not an easy feat.” She stated.

“I am indebted to you Miss Lorelei, daughter of Soleil. Please, how can I repay you for your kindness and generosity?” I questioned.

“Please, just call me Lorelei” she blushed. “There is no need to repay me. Let me help you back to the bed. You’re clearly in pain. I also need to change your bandages and now that you’re awake you should eat.”

She took off her oversized black coat and walked over to me. I slipped my arm around her and allowed her to help me up, putting all my weight on my good leg. Once I was standing beside her I realized how small she was. At 6’2” I towered over. She was maybe 5’ 0” and thin, but strong. With her so close to me I could breathe in her scent, a sweet mixture of some herbs, judging by the herbs laid out on the table. We took the few short steps to the bed and she helped me lower myself down. Funny, I didn’t quite want to let her go even though I’d just met her. She seemed so familiar for some reason, and I felt comfortable around her.

“Did you by chance see a horse when you found me” I inquired of her.

“Yes, a pretty bay mare? She got her reins tangled in some low-lying branches. I freed her and brought her back with us. She’s a little banged up from the slide down the hill at Old Man’s Knee but she’ll be back to her normal self soon”, she replied.

“Thanks, I was hoping she was ok. I need to find my clothes and get her and get on my way as soon as possible”

She eyed me with wide eyes. “You do know that you’ll be riding nowhere soon with that leg in that condition right?” She asked me. “And your mare is in no shape to ride right now either. You both need to mend for a few weeks.”

A few weeks?? That wouldn’t do at all. However spending a couple weeks with this woman would delightful m