Sixteen
1160 Words
DENI’S POV
After they had finished eating and having their unending chatter about their wars and men at arms, it was finally time to retire to the bed.
Ever since the men had made their heavy laughter Deni had kept her mouth shut instantly. She had insisted on saying nothing.
Richard had tried to make her talk, but Deni had made up her mind.
She was not going to shame herself.
When she had even looked up at Alaric, he had ignored and Deni’s face fell.
Her new husband was definitely ashamed of her.
Deni had not waited for everyone to finish their meals, but instead she had gotten up to her feet.
“You will not stay longer my lady?” Richard asked her.
She shook her head. “No, I wish to retire to my tent.”
She wished she could say to her bed, she so badly wanted to be back home in England. In the comfort of her room and her bed and not be sleeping on a floor in a make shift bed.
Worse her back pained from the unending horse ride.
“The men are about to sing some Scottish songs” Richard further pursued her.
She shooI her head, her mind already made up.
“No thank you Richard. I appreciate your offer, but I very much now wish to retire.” She said.
She looked at Alaric, but he was not even looking at her.
She turned around and walked away from the campfire.
Then she headed down to her tent and squeezed herself in.
Richard had done a great job making her tent, but Deni did not want to take any chances, she lay down in a position she was sure that she would not move around and touch the tent so that it would fall.
She covered herself with her covers and tried to sleep.
She was so exhausted and filled with pain that she could hardly even move.
She complained as she tossed around and around and then finally, she fell asleep.
Her short pleasurable sleep did not last so long.
During the night, a heavy wind came in and her tent was blown into destruction, waking a very frustrated Deni up.
Deni furiously got up and tried to fix her tent, but it was impossible. Parts of her tent had already gone with the wind and she could not fix it herself.
She walked over to Richard’s tent, but when she saw him with the other men asleep, she decided to not disturb him.
She walked back to her tent and decided to just lie down on her tent.
But it was impossible, the wind kept on blowing and the cold was unbearable.
She turned around and looked at Alaric’s tent.
It was still lit up, with a lamp and she wondered if he was asleep or not.
She found herself gathering her things and going up to his room.
She walked in and saw that he was asleep. She breathed a sigh of relief.
She would sleep on the floor, while he slept on his elevated made bed.
In the Morning before anyone was up, she would get up and leave as quickly as she had come in.
She could not bear the shame of him seeing her in his room.
Especially after he had told her that she was going to eventually spend the night in his tent.
She put her bed spread in the floor and was about to lay down when she heard.
“What the devil do you think you are doing?”
She looked up and saw Alaric fully awake.
She just froze there, in absolute shock.
“I..... uhmmmm I..... I..... I....” she stammered.
Alaric looked at her with her roads brow. “You what?”
She tried to find her words and then she could not stand the humiliation.
She kept her mouth shut and she hurriedly bent down and picked up her bed spread.
“It was all a mistake.” Deni said quickly.
As she was about leaving the room, Alaric was already up on his feet and grabbing her arms.
“Where do you think you are going to?” Alaric asked her.
“To my tent.” She stated with a pout on her face.
“Your tent?” He said. “You mean your already destroyed tent. I told you that it was going to crash did I not?”
“What do with you?” Deni hissed at him. “We’re you not asleep?”
“I am a warrior.” He said. “Do you think you could sneak into my room and I would not be aware?”
She sighed.
“So what do you want to do now?” She asked. “Laugh at me?”
“I would have loved to, but then I am in no mood for that.” He said. “I am your husband and I did tell you already what was going to happen did I not?”
She rolled her eyes. Here they go again, he was going to go on and on about how he was her husband.
“Come in.” He said softly. “You can sleep in my tent. It is where you belong after all. By my side.”
She looked at him for a while and then she mumbled a hasty thank you and she started to put her bed spread on the floor.
“No you shall not do that.” He said stopping her. “Come and join me on the bed.”
She was surprised. “I have to decline. I appreciate your hospitality to me and I assure you that tomorrow I would have my te-
“Bloody hell Deni. Would you please be silent?” He asked her.
And she shut her mouth.
He put her bed spread down and then he picked her up and took her to the bed.
He gently lay her down and lay down on his side.
He looked at her.
“Do you lie in comfort?” He asked her.
“Aye, I do.” She nodded.
Then he turned and switched of the oil lamp and soon darkness engulfed the tent.
Deni lay by her side stiff, unable to move.
“Will you not move?” He asked her. “If you remain that way, you shall wake up frozen.”
“I am fine the way I am.” She countered.
“Like hell you are.”
He sighed and turned around to her and wrapped his arms around her.
Deni became stiff.
“You May relax.” He said. “Your Body is cold and you need warmth.”
Deni hated you admit, but her body was much warmer under his touch.
She relaxed for a bit and then she eased into his arms and soon she slept off.
Snoring ever so gently.
- Writer
