Too shocked to say much more than a whimper of confusion, she looked at him like a gaping fish for air. A foolish thing to do, but she didn't know what else there was. She remembered in the back of her mind that it was a survival technique to share body heat in order to warm one's self… but that would mean…
At that very thought, she saw him moving a step back and taking off his headdress and undoing his armor. He wasn't going to take no for an answer, but then it was for her own safety. He already was the one to save her, what did she mean to him to go this far? Well, no doubt she needed all her limbs for a faster recovery, but as she stood there like a fool he was already topless and jaw-droppingly handsome. As she tried to gain some sense and take off her night shirt, her fingers wouldn't operate correctly. No doubt for more than just the reason of it being very cold.
He took off his boots and black pants to only have his under shorts on. Looking to her, he saw her struggle and reached forward. He needed to warm her in a hurry, she could be mad at him later. It was a quick, fluid motion despite not having much of any experience with women in this regard or a different one. He didn't gawk at her as he took her hands and noticed her subtle curves in her undergarments. Putting her hands on his chest, he brought her tight to him as he wrapped his arms around her back. Lifting her slightly, he felt her tense up.
"I need you to put your feet against my legs. I can hold you, but we need to warm you up more before we can go back," he said sounding a bit embarrassed himself. He couldn't see the blush on her cheeks, but he could feel it on his collarbone as she rested her head on his shoulder. Her frozen limbs were like daggers into his skin, but he would bear it. She was quite light, but much different than anyone else he ever knew. He could compare her to many, but none of those felt quite right. Most of the other women he knew were Rieze Maxians, strengthened by the elements. But she was not shaped that way. Perhaps that was the reason he treated her so different, simply because she was so different from what he knew. As an Elympian, she had a different life, way of thinking, and even a different way of looking at his own world.
It was painful to have her limbs warmed up, but that was the only thing that hurt anymore. He was so overwhelmingly warm and protecting at this moment that she felt she could burst. No, she was already starting to burst as tears started to come down. Her chattering had stopped, and she was now left with the aftereffects of being strong and not crying or giving into them.
"Are you hurt?" he asked simply as he felt her warm tears drip down his shoulder and chest. Feeling her shake her head, he just stayed as he was. They were like that for what felt like quite some time, but he felt it inappropriate to move until she told him that she felt better. Looking down, he could see her fingers returning to a normal color and same with her feet.
As her sniffling stopped, she moved her head back slightly. "I'm sorry for crying. I just… I feel like a fool for not being able to protect myself," she said as she wiped away her tears and looked up. He was shaking his head, and she tilted her head to the side for the silent question.
"You are not a fool. They had been planning this for quite some time it seems, but they simply didn't do enough homework on you or myself. My people mean everything to me, and so long as you are here you will be considered one of the people I protect," he told her as a king would, with authority and confidence.
Smiling with that, she also understood it meant that he could very well do this with anyone and not feel strange because it was seen as protecting them. Feelings of romance seemed off limits to him, although she didn't have to wonder long as to why. He put his people before his own feelings, and that was the reason. To love someone is to be vulnerable, and he did not like to be seen as that. That much she knew. For that, she would accept that answer.
"Thank you, but I think I should rest. My head is still dizzy," she said as he held her as he grabbed her night shirt and held it against his body for a moment to warm it up before slipping it onto her.
"I agree. I will have a doctor look at you once we get back. In the meantime, please rest on the way. We need you healthy and strong soon so we can continue, and so that Rowen need not worry as much as he no doubt will."
Dressing himself quickly, he turned back to her and scooped her up into his arms. Hearing her weak laugh made him worry, but he knew that she simply needed to be taken care of and more rest. Once she was healthy again, he would see to her training himself. It was the only way he would feel confident again that she wouldn't be hurt. Rowen was a good teacher, but she needed more.
Looking down at her once they reached outside of the cavern, she was already sound asleep. Quickly making his way back, he held her close as he tried to keep her as warm as possible. The storm was already practically gone, and that was a blessing that they needed. Once he did see the palace, he was greeted by Rowen who looked at the woman in Gaius's arms with worry.
"At least she is back here. I will see to it that a doctor is in her room. In the meantime, I will watch over her if you would like. There is a meeting with the Elympian trades director waiting for you. I told him that you were seeing to other matters that were urgent, but I'm afraid if we wait much longer…"
"If you could watch her, I would be most grateful. I will attend the meeting," Gaius said as he handed her onto a small stretcher that was brought out with a multitude of warm blankets.
"Of course," Rowen said as he directed men to where they would be stationed. Heightened security and to retrieve the men from the cavern and have them sent to Elympios. The doctor would be waiting and everything seemed to be in order. Following her as the men took her up to her room, he saw that she was being treated and taken care of. He could see the doctor was uneasy, and he knew it was best that she remain under his and Gaius's supervison for quite some time. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that this would be the last time this would be attempted, but he would make sure it was the last time they would succeed.
XXXXXX
Her eyes opened to the sun light through the sheer curtain to the door of the balcony. How long had she been asleep? Letting out a small groan, she stretched her limbs that seemed to crack and pop in every way possible. Turning her head to see the door, she saw none other than Gaius reading over a pamphlet of papers. Her mouth felt like it was full of cotton, dry and useless. Muscles were in agony and her head was still hurting though not as much as being hit by a gun.
As he looked up, he set the papers down on the desk next to her bed. "You've been sleeping for two days now," he stated as he picked up a glass of water. "You must be thirsty." Handing it over to her as she nodded, he let go when he felt that her hands had a firm grip. Weak considering his strength but good enough for her. "Drink slow now, we wouldn't want you getting sick."
Blushing for him bringing to light that she was chugging the water down, she started sipping slowly for a moment. "Thank you," she said as she got rid of the cotton feeling in her mouth. "So, you sent the men back to Elympios?"
"Yes," he said not surprised that she knew of this law considering it was one that they had just passed. Jurisdiction and extradition were now set in place to keep the peace between the two groups. It was complicated, but it was best for now. "Just yesterday they were sent back. No doubt their sentence had been carried out."
So many thoughts were going through her mind, but she knew that none of them had words to be talked about. It was all the turmoil in her own mind. Things that she had no control over, everything but one. "I wish I could have done something more. I caused so much trouble for you…"
"They were the ones who caused trouble for me, not you. You are a valuable asset in this vision I seek. I want peace for my people, but beyond that. Having you here has helped me see that there is more I must know in order to achieve peace for all. It will be a long road, but I want to be able to understand the Elympian way as well as the Rieze Maxian way. Rashugal and Auj Oule were only just united as well, it is a trying time that my country is going through. When it comes to negotiating, Elympios has the upper hand. Being in a lower position with that makes me nervous for my people and what I can hope to give them."
She was moved by his words, he truly did love his people with all of his heart. The idea of a woman for this man would be one that is even stronger, something that she knew not many could possibly be from either world. One couldn't help but feel motivated to work with him towards his goal should he ask. "I believe in your goal. Being here and seeing that for myself, I want to see peace between both Elympios and Rieze Maxia. I will do all I can, and continue my training so I can become stronger. In the meantime, you can count on me to do my job."
"Very well," he said with a small smile as he stood up and outstretched his hand towards her. "I look forward to continuing this peace with you, Ms Esther Von Svent."
Taking his hand and smiling despite being weary yet, she responded kindly as they shook hands, "And I with you, King Gaius."
