The Last Warrior Queen

Chapter 34

I wasn’t sure if Halvor had seen me or not. I quickly rushed into the bed chamber and tore off my gown, tossing it on a chair. Thank goodness I had unpinned my hair already. I quickly jumped into bed and blew out the candle at my bedside. I did my best to slow my breathing so that Halvor would think I was asleep. I positioned myself on the furthest edge of the bed so that I was practically falling off of it, and was turned so that I would be facing away from Halvor.

I heard Halvor enter the rooms and soon he opened the door to the bed chamber. He paused and then set his candle by the beside. I could hear him undressing, although he was being very quiet, which meant he probably thought I was asleep. I felt him pull back the covers and get into bed, blowing out his candle and settling in. Soon his breathing fell into a rhythm and I could hear light snoring. I waited for a few minutes and then very carefully made my way out of bed, taking my time so that he wouldn’t feel me leave the bed.

I grabbed a blanket that was at the foot of the bed and made my way to a large chair by the fireplace in the sitting room. I curled up with the blanket and soon fell asleep to the crackling embers of the dying fire. I woke to the sound of Halvor in the other room rustling around.

I jolted up and threw the blanked off of me. I ran into the washroom, hoping that Halvor hadn’t come out in to the sitting room yet to see me. With any luck he would think that I rose before him and had been in the washroom since early this morning. I heard Halvor open the door to the bedroom and I quickly poured some water in to a small basin.

Just as Halvor opened the door to the washroom I splashed water onto my face.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize you were in here” Halvor said as he ran his hand over his braid. I gave him a tight smile and said “I’ll be out in a minute.”

“No it’s alright. You can take your time, I’ll wait.” I nodded and Halvor stepped out. I quickly finished washing and stepped out of the washroom. Halvor was sitting at the table in the sitting room with his elbows on the table and his hands clasped in front of his face. He seemed deep in thought until he noticed me walk out. He quickly stood and I nodded at him as I walked by.

“Where did you go last night after you left the bed chamber?” Halvor asked abruptly.

“I just took a walk. Where did you go? When I returned you were gone.”

Halvor nodded and said “I also took a walk.” I pursed my lips, realizing that he wouldn’t be telling me that he went and slept with Gala. I turned and walked into the bed chamber to finish getting ready.

I did my hair and used a my mother’s hair comb to pin it up. I chose my wedding dress to wear today. I thought the gold and silver embroidery would go well with the tiara from my coronation that I would be wearing. Halvor still hadn’t come out of the washroom by the time I had changed. I opened the door from the bedroom just as Halvor opened the door from the washroom. He stared at me with his jaw dropped.

I nodded to him and said “I’m going to go get the tiara from the throne room.” And I left him standing in the doorway.

As I made my way down the hall everyone bowed or curtsied and greeted me. I heard some murmur about my beauty. I’m sure it was just the dress. It was quite stunning. I entered the throne room and told the guard that I needed the tiara. He nodded and I waited while a safe was unlocked and the tiara was removed. “Do you also want the King’s crown my Queen.”

“Oh. Yes, thank you.” I took the tiara and placed it on my head as the guard took the crown out. I walked quickly back to the bed chambers with it. I opened the door and gasped when I saw Gala sitting by the fireplace. She quickly stood and greeted me with “My Queen.”

I just stared at her, not sure what she was doing in the room so early in the morning. Suddenly the door to the bedroom opened and Halvor came out murmuring something about “maybe I should let her have her own room.” He stopped abruptly when he realized I was in the room. I handed the crown to him awkwardly and said “I got this out of the safe for you. I’ll see you in the throne room later.” I immediately turned and rushed out of the room. So much for only bringing your wife to your marriage bed. I was right to not trust him.