“Wait!” Beatrice hands reaches out to grab her arm, but hesitates halfway. Ava turns around, frowning, a flash of fear crossing her eyes before softening at the sight of Beatrice’s fidgeting.
“Yes?”
“I- I’m sorry.” Ava’s eyes widen in surprise, but Beatrice doesn’t catch it, eyes solely focused on her feet.
It was strange, but quite endearing, to see the most powerful queen of the continent fidgeting with the too long sleeve of her sleeping shirt. The candle light hits her features just right, looking younger than ever before in a room that feels to grand and too big for her.
Beatrice takes a deep breath, pushing down the fluttering in her chest and finally looking up to meet the woman’s eyes.
“I know you find the marriage oath to be quite loathsome.” She deadpans, and Ava feels her stomach sink.
She’s not sure how Beatrice got that information, but she’s shouldn’t be surprised. It’s her castle after all, and walls have ears. Ava’s head begins to spin with all the possible scenarios that could follow, but none of them have time to fully form before her wife moves.
Beatrice takes a small step forward, staring at her solemnly before sinking down to her knees, head lowered and hands clasped loosely at her front.
“Your Highness-“ Beatrice looks up, head slightly tilted forward, eyes soft and shining earnestly. It’s enough to make Ava freeze, words halfway out her mouth.
“I, Beatrice Xin, swear my loyalty and obedience to you, Ava Silva. I vow to always put your needs before my own, to remain faithful and honest; protect and care for you until death do us apart.” She recites, and Ava can just stare in awe.
Though the first part is, word for word, what Ava herself had been taught to recite, everything else wasn’t. Everything else was Beatrice, her promise, her vow.
Ava feels like crying, because she has the most powerful woman in the world on her knees, vowing to protect her, to obey her.
She can’t believe it, she doesn’t want to, for she’s been let down too often, hurt too hard and barely acknowledged for most of her life. Still, she can’t help the wave of relief that washes over her, because maybe, finally, she’s safe.
