Soft snores penetrated the crisp morning air, as Yfandena cracked her dark
eyes open. A pounding headache made it hard for her to think. Squeezing
her eyes shut again, Dena tried to sleep a little more, luxuriating under
the silky blue and white sheets. Suddenly, it dawned on her. Her sheets
were never blue and white. And someone was snoring, in bed...with her.
Like a great flood, memories rushed back into her mind.
Staring at the brightly colored ceiling, Yfandena barely recalled being led into the tent then gasping for air before darkness claimed her. Last night, she had been so scared. No, she had been terrified of what the Valdemaren Prince would do. Eyes wide open with remembered fear, Yfandena twisted her head around to stare at the source of the soft snores. Her gaze fell upon Estien's chest first-- his shirtless chest. A strange feeling rose as she realized he wasn't wearing a stitch of clothing. That feeling congealed into shock as she grasped that neither was she.
Yfandena clutched sheets and blanket to her in white knuckled fists. Surely, the Prince hadn't... *No, no, no. Only a monster would do that. Estien. No..* Her mind ran in circles, as she abruptly tried to get out of the hated bed. In her haste, Dena tripped over a stray tassle and fell onto the cold floor. Tears welled in her eyes.
On the bed, Estien woke with a start. A perplexed expression crossed his face as he saw Yfandena pale and bleary-eyed on the floor. Slowly, he rose from the bed, making soothing sounds. Gradually, he made his way to Yfandena's side, as if afraid to scare her away. Dena began to quiver like a wounded deer as he came near. Her thoughts however were focused on Estien in an ever-growing panic. He didn't seem like a bad person, and yet...
With surprising gentleness, Estien scooped Yfandena off the ground and carried her back into the bed. As he did so, Dena glimpsed a large stain on the covers that could only be blood. Her mind went blank at the implications. She began to whimper, feeling as if the room were dancing around her. She saw Estien looking down at her, a question in his eyes. All she could do was stare back, the pain naked on her face. Her headache grew worse, and the edges of her vision began to dim. As Dena fainted once again, she could only think of what a dishonorable fiend she had married.
Staring at the brightly colored ceiling, Yfandena barely recalled being led into the tent then gasping for air before darkness claimed her. Last night, she had been so scared. No, she had been terrified of what the Valdemaren Prince would do. Eyes wide open with remembered fear, Yfandena twisted her head around to stare at the source of the soft snores. Her gaze fell upon Estien's chest first-- his shirtless chest. A strange feeling rose as she realized he wasn't wearing a stitch of clothing. That feeling congealed into shock as she grasped that neither was she.
Yfandena clutched sheets and blanket to her in white knuckled fists. Surely, the Prince hadn't... *No, no, no. Only a monster would do that. Estien. No..* Her mind ran in circles, as she abruptly tried to get out of the hated bed. In her haste, Dena tripped over a stray tassle and fell onto the cold floor. Tears welled in her eyes.
On the bed, Estien woke with a start. A perplexed expression crossed his face as he saw Yfandena pale and bleary-eyed on the floor. Slowly, he rose from the bed, making soothing sounds. Gradually, he made his way to Yfandena's side, as if afraid to scare her away. Dena began to quiver like a wounded deer as he came near. Her thoughts however were focused on Estien in an ever-growing panic. He didn't seem like a bad person, and yet...
With surprising gentleness, Estien scooped Yfandena off the ground and carried her back into the bed. As he did so, Dena glimpsed a large stain on the covers that could only be blood. Her mind went blank at the implications. She began to whimper, feeling as if the room were dancing around her. She saw Estien looking down at her, a question in his eyes. All she could do was stare back, the pain naked on her face. Her headache grew worse, and the edges of her vision began to dim. As Dena fainted once again, she could only think of what a dishonorable fiend she had married.
