Chapter 77.
"I do not understand why he is so short with me lately Father, he snaps at me and sometimes the children. I want to just sit and talk to him, to find out what I did wrong, but we are too often inturrupted." She said and Hogun regarded her, her sadness showing as she looked at the swaddled boy in her arms. "Does he still speak highly of me?"
"He does, and his praise comes often when he speaks, but there are rumors." Hogun said, and Floria stopped him to look at her Father.
"What rumors?" She asked, frowning and she folded her hands in worry.
"Some of the palace staff speak of how you and he are not intimate as you once were. That perhaps, he has grown weary of you need for his attentions and gives them elsewhere." He said, his hand lifting her chin to see the truth in his daughters eyes. She blinked back tears, and she nodded softly.
"It is true, but we have tried. We are interrupted, and we cannot seem to find a place to be alone together." She said and started walking quickly, wiping her eyes. "I cannot please my own Husband, and he is becoming angry with me because of it."
She walked through the castle doors with the children, hiding her face from the Guards, and Hogun stood as she left. He let out a long breath, unable to see his daughter so upset, and he turned on his heel to have words with the source of her sadness. The father of the girl in question who was causing many of the rumors, and then to see his King.
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Floria returned to the Chambers, calming herself in order to look presentable, only to find them empty. She looked around at the rooms, a bit of dread filling her and she walked to fetch a Guard. She heard a cough, and she stopped and turned to see Loki sitting on the couch. He had a rose in his fingers and she let out a calming breath, laughing a bit as he twirled it at her.
"Loki! Where are the Ladies?" She asked him and he stood up, walking toward her and he carefully placed the rose petals against her shoulder and drew it across her neck. She gasped, lifting her chin to let him tease her and he leaned against the door.
"I sent them off to enjoy the rest of the day, I found myself needing to spend time alone with my Queen." He said and she smiled up at him. She stepped up to kiss him and he leaned in, his elbow and weight still on the door. They kissed, and she whimpered into his mouth as their lips met and she smiled as she rested back down on ther feet. He caressed her cheek with the flower, dragging it over her lips and chin. He slowly made his way down to the swell of her breasts and she arched up into his touch, her breath becoming ragged.
"You are so very..." He started, but the door opened and he fell sideways, crashing to the floor as Lady Sofia stood in the doorway. Floria shouted in panic, falling to her knees next to him and Sofia joined her.
"My King! I did not know you were leaning there, I am so very sorry." Sofia said, lifting his head and placing it in her lap. Floria saw what was happening, biting back her jealousy and Loki groaned in irritation.
"I probably should not have leaned against the door, I thought I granted you the afternoon off." He said, sitting up and his eyes went wide at the low cut of her gown. Floria stood, crossing her arms and walked into their Chambers, closing the door after her and he glared at the blonde woman.
"I was worried Her Majesty would get lonely, and decided to stay behind." She replied and Loki picked himself off the floor. He walked toward the Library, Lady Sofia chasing after him and they stood in the deserted hall.
"My King." She called out and he stopped, looking back at her. "I do have a confession to make to you Sir."
"What is it? Have you grown fond of a Guard?" He asked and she took his hand, gazing up at him with soft eyes.
"No. I have made the decision... that... that I desire you with all my heart, and pray that you would find me desirable as well." Sofia said, placing his hand over her breast and gasping at the touch. "You are such a great man, any woman would beg for a moment in your sun."
"Lady Sofia." He said, pulling his hand back woth no avail and she stepped closer to him and caressed the back of his hand with her fingers. "I am married to Queen Floria, she is the only woman I need."
"Then why do you not take back your hand, surely you are stronger than I." She said and he looked at his hand and he pulled it away from her, his eyes flashing in anger as she smiled at him. She leaned toward him, looking into his eyes and she put her hands on his chest.
"Lady, I suggest you step back and remember your tenuous place in this household." He said and she giggled at him, her eyes on his.
"I promise you my Maidenhood." She whispered, and she lifted her skirts to untie a bit of emerald colored ribbon from around her thigh. She slipped it into his hand, and he felt disgusted by holding it.
"I am married." He said, stepping back, yielding space to her and walked toward the Library. He looked at the ribbon, tossing it out the window and letting it fall to the ground below.
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Floria sat on the bed when he entered that evening, a book open in her lap and she glanced at him with a smile as he walked toward her. He stripped off his tunic, and unbuckled his belt as he walked toward Floria, wanting her more than anything. She set her book aside, opening her arms to him and he lay next to her and kicked his boots off.
"I missed you so much." She said, her hands caressing his arms and he kissed her softly. His head rested on her breast, and he wrapped his arms around her waist in weariness.
"And I you, I wish I could just hide you and I away from the Court." He said and she sighed softly at him. She kissed his forehead, and he looked up at Floria to see her eyes filled with joy. He sat up, and took her hands in his and she giggled as she guided her hands to her belly. His mouth fell open, and she nodded at him.
"When?" He asked her and she laughed as he bressed his cheek to her belly and she carded his hair with her fingers.
"I believe it happened just after the Coronation. I do not even show yet." She said, and he lifted his head to kiss her. He lifted her shift to expose her belly and he kissed the skin, his lips moving over it and she laughed.
"I am so very happy at this news, I love you so much Floria." He said and a knock at the door stopped them and he groaned. "If that is Lady Sofia, I will have her taken to spend the night in the dungeon."
"I will not argue against it." Floria said, arranging herself again so that she was covered and she pulled the blankets over her.
He walked to the door, opening it and he saw two Guards standing with a battered Lady Sofia in the hall. She was weeping and she looked at him with pain, one of her eyes swollen and she cried loudly. He groaned, wondering what was going on now and stepped into the hall.
"What happened to her?" He demanded, the girl trying to not wail loudly.
"We saved her, a man attacked her in the halls and attempted to use her. He ran, and we were unable to catch him." One Guard said and Floria opened the door behind him and looked at the crying girl. Her eyes filled with sadness for Lady Sofia, and she held her arms open to her.
"Did they?" Floria asked and Sofia shook her head, Loki looking at the girl and he sighed to himself. He was starting to think this was a ruse to get his attention, but he thought himself wrong.
"Take her to a Healer, she needs to be tended to. And tell her Father what happened." Loki said, pulling Floria back and the Guards took both her hands gently. They walked her down the hall, her tears filling it as she whimpered and cried as they walked. Loki helped Floria back to the bed, she lay down on it and he lay next to her and chewed at his thumbnail as he thought. Floria settled onto her side, her face and body calming him as he faced a dilemma with Sofia. If he dismissed or had her dismissed now, he would be thought cruel to a woman who had been assaulted. He was trapped, with no way to deny what was happening.
"I am sure she will be well." Loki said to Floria and she nodded into the pillow, hiding her tears and she let out a breath. She was supposed to share a moment of joy with her husband, her telling him that she was with his child a third time was to be a great joy. But Sofia was always in the way, she thought about how she glanced at him, the way she held his gaze and her worry began new. While she had his praise, she feared she was loosing him.
"I will pray for it. I love you Loki." She said, hiding her sadness as she spoke and he lay close to her, holding her and he kissed her just below her ear. She smiled, feeling more secure in the gesture and he held her close to him as he dozed.
"I worship you my sweet Nightengale." He replied, and she dozed to sleep.