Bitterblue couldn't sleep. Surrounded by the night, her mind was as active as her city. Full of ideas coming together to form beautiful possibilities, and shattered patches that were being healed. The days of painting over broken parts, pretending all was well and pretty, were over.
Change was in the air, and Bitterblue couldn't sleep. Her bedsheets clung to her skin, and she found herself overwhelmed by a need to move. She fought her way out of her covers, and wound up face down on her bedroom floor. Bitterblue held still, biting her lip and listening to the silence. She hoped that the sound of her falling and the yelp that had accompanied it didn't draw the attention of her Lienid door guard. The graceful queen of Monsea had no desire to worry her guard, only to have them find her lying in a heap on her floor.
Bitterblue pushed herself to her feet, cursing her insomnia and thanking her bedsheets for muffling the sound of her fall. She pushed the covers back onto her bed, mentally apologizing to Helda for the mess. As she turned to look on the rest of her room, Bitterblue was filled with the feeling that it was too empty, too alone, and she needed to move.
It wasn't long before she was walking her castle's halls, bare feet padding softly on the carpet. She didn't know where she was going, and even though it was the dead of night, she found herself following the less travelled halls. If someone did happen to be awake, it would concern them to see the queen pacing around like a confused animal.
Bitterblue hated making others worry. Wether they were close friends or servants she didn't know, she couldn't stand burdening their thoughts. As Bitterblue saw it, everybody had enough worries of their own to deal with. If she could spare them of any, she would.
Her insomnia would make people worry. If her friends found out she wasn't sleeping, they would fuss. Word would spread throughout the castle that the queen was unwell, and people would worry for her. Helda would be more than worried. She would make Bitterblue lay in bed and insist on staying by her side while she sent someone to bring Madlen.
Madlen, Bitterblue thought, surely Madlen would be able to help someone sleep. Her feet found a path, and her pacing found a purpose. Madlen would worry for Bitterblue, but she would be able to help ands end the need for worry altogether.
Bitterblue had nearly reached Madlen's rooms when she stopped, remembering. Madlen had been stressed the past few days, swamped with papers and letters from the Dells. Odds are the healer wasn't sleeping well herself. Bitterblue bit her lip and sighed, knowing how selfish it would be to wake Madlen for her company and perhaps some herbs to sleep. Everything in the world already seemed so full of change, and Bitterblue hadn't even heard the news Katsa brought from the council.
Bitterblue's mind stopped spinning. Her feet found their way and began to run, not caring if they woke someone. She was filled with a word, a solution to her loneliness and lack of sleep. Katsa.
Katsa wouldn't mind being woken late. She might worry, but that worry would be melted away by sleep. Bitterblue didn't curse the shortness of her legs, she was only grateful that they were brining her closer. Closer to the comfort that came from Katsa's arms.
Her feet only stopped when they brought her body to Katsa's room. Bitterblue's fist was small against the door but strong and steady when it knocked. Her knuckles struck wood three times before Bitterblue lowered her arm. She looked at her bare feet and wrung her hands. If the door didn't open by a count of ten, she would go back to her room.
One. Bitterblue tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Two. She wiggled her toes.
Three. She breathed deeply.
Four. She bit her lip.
Five. The door swung open.
A bleary eyed Katsa stood before Bitterblue. Her short hair was sticking out at odd angles and she was wearing nothing more than a shirt Bitterblue was certain belonged to Po. A calm settled over her at the sight of the other woman.
"Bitterblue?" Katsa asked, her voice breaking through the silence of the hall.
All at once Bitterblue realized how strange she must have looked. She squirmed under Katsa's intense gaze as she tried to think of an explanation that wouldn't sound like a child's complaint.
Finding none, Bitterblue sighed. "I- I couldn't sleep." She had to force herself to look Katsa in the eye, but when she did, she was relieved. Katsa's face was filled with understanding as she wordlessly invited Bitterblue into her room.
The candle at Katsa's bedside was burning low, and the room was filled with a pleasant warmth. It was smaller than Katsa's usual room, for Po was not with her. The door shut behind Katsa and she walked past Bitterblue, lifting the bedsheets and crawling beneath them.
"Come on then, lady queen" she said, drawing back the covers on the other side of her bed. Bitterblue smiled and walked over. The bed shifted beneath her, adjusting to the small addition of weight.
The bed was warm, but not as warm as the arms that wrapped around Bitterblue after the candle- light was blown out. Surrounded by warmth, comfort, and Katsa Bitterblue fell asleep. And for the first time in days, she slept through the night.
