They came out of the bathroom feeling refreshed.
They dried each other off in a comfortable silence with Danika smiling up at him occasionally. He'd return the smile with a twitch of his lips, his face an embodiment of contentment.
Afterwards, he walked to the door, opened it and took the folded clothes he knew would be there on the door.
“Baski said she'd bring me clothes,” he answered at her curious glance. “Did the bath help? Do you still feel hot?”
She flushed, a smile touched her lips. “I feel just great, thank you.”
He nodded once. “Get on the bed. I have something brought in for your legs and your hurting back.”
“Oh.” It was his words that reminded her of the forgotten pain in her back. Her eyes found the bedside table, and she saw some things she didn't keep there before, like balm and an herb cream.
Her heart filled with gratitude and love for this man. In her flimsy nightie, she walked to the bed, which dipped slightly under her weight as she climbed up and sat on it.
He followed after her, climbing in behind her. They sat side by side; he took some pillows and placed them behind her back to support her. “Better?”
“Yes.” She sighed in sheer relaxation, adjusting her back better into the soft fluffs behind her.
Then he took her foot into his hand. In the silence that followed, he examined the swell with a frown kneading his brows before he picked up the herb cream and began massaging her leg with it.
The swell had gone down noticeably when he was done with both legs. “By morning, you’ll have your legs back without the extras.”
She’d closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his hands as they massaged her feet, but her eyes opened at the sound of his voice. She examined his handwork, her heart lightening with gratitude at sight.
“Thank you so much. I feel better,” Danika whispered.
His eyes caressed her face greedily. Now that he thinks of it, it was a wonder that he was able to stay away from her for eight weeks. How would he stay away after tonight?
“Your back?” he asked, curbing those thoughts as best as he could.
She pulled away and presented him with her back. In the silence that followed, he undid the ropes holding her nightie together until the gown parted to reveal a creamy white back.
He climbed to his knees, removed the balm from the table, and mixed it with the herb cream. With the focus and concentration he used to perform all his duties, he began massaging her back.
It felt so good. Queen Danika couldn’t help moaning her contentment. His strong hands worked like magic, and he knew the exact place to apply pressure.
He didn’t stop at her back. He extended his healing hands down to her waists, her hips, and then, her belly.
“It feels so wonderful,” she admitted with a moan.
“It will relieve the pain. I will give Baski instructions on how to apply this on you every night. Our baby growing inside you is enough heaviness without the extra pains.”
It reminded her all over again that he would leave her in the morning. Tears burned the back of her eyes. She blinked hard to make sure they didn’t make it to her eyes.
This night was enough for her. It had to be.
She wanted to do more with him.—to make all moments of this night count.
He re-tied her ropes when he finished. She turned towards him. “It’s a beautiful night. Let’s go for a walk. Get some fresh air.”
He hesitated.
This is Mombana’s palace. Every part of this palace holds a terrible memory for him. Even when he took over this kingdom, he never came back to it after he stepped past its borders. Walking this land meant raw pain for him. The memories would be unbearable.
He didn’t want to stroll the palace. His reason was there in his eyes. Danika’s heart squeezed in her chest. She’d almost forgotten...
“It’s okay. We can stay here,” she rushed out, feeling his pain. “I’m so sorry for even suggesting—”
He took her hand into his. “It is okay. Fresh air seems nice, Dani.”
“Y-you will walk?” Her eyes searched his pained blue eyes.
“I do not want to,” he admitted. “But if you desire it, then I will walk with you.”
The tears she’s been battling filled her eyes then. Danika took a vow then. Before this night is over, she will do her best to replace the bad memories of his palace with new ones she will make with him.
Her new memories might not be enough to battle nightmares created for ten years, but she will give it her best shot.
“Alright, let’s go,” she whispered, squeezing her hand in his.
.
.
The pale crescent moon shone like a silvery claw in the night sky, the blanket of stars stretched to infinity.
Danika kept true to her vow. As she led him around the palace of Mombana, she tried to hold a conversation with him. They talked about little things while the night air caressed their bodies, stars moving with them in the sky.
Her eyes were tuned to him. Anywhere that held a bad remembrance for him would show in the way his jaw clenched and his eyes went darker. So she told him stories of her younger days to distract him, of her adventures in the palace with Sally.
With time, he became very interested in her exciting, adventurous stories, his mind less attuned to his environment. Even as they passed the cellar where her father likes making slaves work until their backs begin to peel off, he didn't pay much attention to it because he was engrossed in her stories.
It was beautiful. The walk was going great. The tightness in Danika's chest disappeared, replaced with a radiant smile as she went deeper into her tales, telling him how she used to sneak away from her room the first day her father grounded her.
They walked away from the palace grounds through the woods. The guards on night duty patrolling bowed their heads as they saw their pregnant queen and the strong king of Salem out for a walk at midnight. Their eyes held a glimpse of curiosity because both did not seem to have much hatred between them as they all believed. But it was not of their concern, so they bowed and went about their ways.
The couple was so carried away they walked along the long route through the woods and arrived at the small River Sole. That was when he came to a stop all of a sudden for the first time.
"What is the matter?" But she already knew the matter, even before the words left her mouth completely. The complete change in his composure said it all.