It had been raining really hard last night and they had to land somewhere in the mountains. It smelled of rain and rot. She hated it here.
Abaraxos had woken her up simply so they could go and eat some fresh lamb and Manon had been extremely furious about it.
She was so very impatient about reaching Adarlan so she could take a nice long soak after so long in the wild. To think of it, she hadn’t had a bath in the longest time.
—————
As I watched the dragon land from my window, I immediately recognized who it was. No one could mistake her really. With her moonlight coloured hair and deep red cloak, The Queen of the Crochans looked extremely stunning. He watched her threaten the guards down below and made sure they took extra care of Abaraxos. He loved that about her. That fire—no. It wasn’t the fire that was calling to him. Aelin had Fire but Manon, she was completely different. A polar opposite. She was Ice. The ice that sang to him. The ice that teased him and tortured him every second ever since that night on the boat. He had been so deep in thought that he had not realized that someone had entered the room.
“Making a wish upon the stars, princeling?”
——————
As Manon quietly entered the room, she couldn’t help but notice the prince staring out the window. Specifically where she had landed.
“It’s always a pleasure,” he drawled sarcastically.
Manon flipped him off.
“That, I believe isn’t very queenly at all now is it?”
It was a challenge so much as it was a question. She couldn’t help but notice Dorian inching closer towards her. She wanted to close off that distance—but, for some reason, Elide’s face kept coming up.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?”
He almost sounded bored. “I would very much like it if you could show me my sleeping quarters. It’s quite late and id like to relax after a long journey.”
“Don’t worry, Alser will be right here to assist you. We’ll talk tomorrow at breakfast. Don’t be afraid to ask if y need anything.”
“Goodnight, Majesty…” she murmured.
As she turned around, she heard a low chuckle coming from Dorian and a quiet Alser waiting for her outside.
————————-
Dorian awoke with sweat covering his face. It was well past midnight right now, the sky painted an inky blue with stars flecked all across. He felt, suffocated. He couldn’t breathe. It was the same nightmare day after day. Her face… he’ll never forget it. All because he couldn’t save her. It was all his fault. The guilt was sometimes so heavy, so heavy that he wouldn’t face anyone in the Castle. Somedays he would lock himself inside the room. He decided to go on a walk to clear his mind off of things. As he walked, he thought to check up on his new guest. Surely she wouldn’t be asleep right now. He he turned the door knob, a familiar voice came from the inside.
“I do not recall you asking permission to come in, princeling.” Manon lay propped against her elbow on her side with an ever so slight grin on her full lips. Dorian shut the door behind him as he walked in.
“I didn’t think I needed to. After all, you are living in my residence.”
He was teasing her, but he couldn’t help but notice her stare lingering on his chest. He realized he was shirtless. As he sat on the ledge of the bed,
he said “Like what you see?”
———————–
The prince then tormented her with a million questions when all she wanted to do was sleep. It took forever for him to shut up.
“You really do like to hear yourself talk now don’t you?”
Dorians answer was a wide grin.
“Oh well, I guess it is time to sleep…” Manon was quite shocked at what he did next. He reached over and grabbed a pillow and layed down beside her.
Manon just glared at him.
“You should return to you quarters now.”
“That I should do. But… I seem to have grown an affection for your bed. If you don’t mind, id like to sleep with you. Unless you want to do something more…” A wicked grin played on his lips.
“I do mind in all the world so if you don’t mind, you can go back to your quarters now and fantasize about me there.” Two could play at this game.
As she turned to face him, she saw that he had already dozed off and didn’t hear a thing she said. Sighing, she closed her eyes and let the darkness claim her.
——
Manon awoke to the sound of laboured breathing. She was gonna smack The Prince. It was bad enough that he was sleeping beside her. She didn’t need him ruining her sleep as well. As she turned to face him, she was quite shocked. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, his hands gripping the sides of the bed, his knuckles white. His head was bowed forward with his hair hanging in his face. He reminded her of a… boy. She hadn’t realized that he was here, alone in this kingdom with his Captain to keep him company. He had no family or lover. He only had the Captain. And the scars of his past.
————-
He could sense that Manon had awoken. He did not want this to happen. He just sleep. It kept coming back.
“I’m just gonna—” Before he could finish his sentence, Manon had already rushed to the front of the room and blocked the doorway.
“You’re not going anywhere. Not looking like this.”
Ouch. That must meant he looked pretty bad. It should bother him. It didn’t. His hair clung to his damp forehead as he raised his head to look at Manon. She started toward him and sat not an once away from him. Was that concern on her face? Whatever it was, it disappeared in a second.
“Why is that?” he asked.
“I think I should be asking you the question right now.” she said with an eyebrow raised.
Dorian cleared his throat.
“Uhh, so… I, uh have these, um—”
“Nightmares?”
Dorians cheeks flushed though he doubted Manon could see.
“Essentially.”
“And did they ever stop?”
“Well, I mean they stopped when I would, uh, when I slept with someone. Not any action though. Just someone in my bed.” Gosh that came out wrong.
He could see Manons mind ponder and without warning, she tackled him down onto the bed and curled up behind him,against him. Dorian was a little relived that she didn’t sleep in front of him. Who knows what she would feel against her?
~~~~~~~
Dorian awoke bleary eyed to a very, very angry Manon.
“Why were you smiling?”
Smiling? All he could recall— wait. He had slept through the night. Without a nightmare. Woah.
“Hello? I would like an answer? You looked absurd.”
“And since when did you care about how I looked?” he said, with that sleazy grin he had that made girls fall head over heels for.
Manon just rolled her eyes and simply said, “Seems like what you suggested worked. I guess I’ll have to extend my stay here. Now if you don’t mind, I’m terribly famished and I’m going to go get some breakfast.”
And with that, she left the room.
Dorian had given a one week holiday to all the servants that day. He didn’t want anyone else in the Castle besides her.