Chapter twenty six:
When Darling reached her room, Raven used her magic to open to the doors, Darling smiled down at her and said to her gratefully. "Thank you, my love."
"You are welcome." Raven said to her with a smile of her own.
Darling carried Raven into her dorm room, when they reached the bed, Raven once more used her magic in order to pull back the covers on the bed. Darling shot her another thankful smile, then carefully set Raven down onto the bed.
Raven took a moment to settle herself down in the bed and cover herself with the bed clothes. Darling waited until Raven had made herself comfortable and then addresses Raven. "Do you want me to go to your dorm room and get you some pyjamas?"
Raven was thoughtful for a few moments before answering her question. "I should have enough magic to change my clothes to sleep clothes without you needing to go and face a million questions from Apple about what has happened."
A small chuckle left Darling, as she could well imagine the way that Apple would pepper her with million questions if she should make an appearance at Raven and Apple's dorm room to fetch Raven some pyjamas.
Before either of them could say a word to each other there came a knocking on the door to the dorm room. "I'll go and see who that is." Darling told Raven.
Raven nodded in agreement too these words and Darling seeing this she made her way to the door and opened it. Standing in the corridor was Apple, she had a rather large purple bag with her and the moment Apple saw Darling she smiled at her in a kind way. "I received an m-mail from the headmaster explaining that due to your bonds you share with Raven the two of you need to spend some time alone together in your dorm room. So, I packed Raven some clothes, pyjamas and a couple of books for her stay." As she said this part Apple held the bag out towards Darling.
As Darling accepted the bag from Apple she smiled at her gratefully. "Thank you, Apple, this is very kind of you."
"You are welcome. How is Raven?" Apple asked her with concern.
"She is a little weak and tired at the moment, but other than that Raven is doing well." Darling told her honestly.
These words caused a relived sigh to leave Apple, who had been very worried about Raven and then asked Darling. "May I come to see Raven some times?"
"Of course, you may, all we ask is you send a text before you come." Darling informed her simply.
"I can understand that you would want a text before visits." Apple said with a nod for Darling, then before Darling could say anything to Apple, she addressed Darling once more. "May I see Raven just for a moment…I promise I won't stay to long…"
Darling was quiet for a moment as she considered the request from her and then eventually, she said to Apple. "You can see her, but please don't expect too much from Raven right now, okay?"
"Okay." Apple agreed as Darling moved back from the doorway and into the dorm room.
Apple followed Darling into the room and together they made their way over to the bed. As Raven saw them both she shot Darling a loving smile and then a friendly one to Apple before greeting her in a weak voice. "Hey Apple."
Apple could see that Raven was pail, she also looked fragile and tired. "Hey, I brought over somethings I thought you might need until you are doing better. I know from what the headmaster said in the m-mail that it may take a while for things to settle down for you and for Darling."
"Thanks for being so understanding Apple." Raven said to Apple appreciatively.
Apple looked back and forth between Darling and Raven saying as she did so. "I'll be honest there is so much I want ask you both right now about this situation and why Raven is so much weaker than Darling right now…But I know that this isn't the right time to do so."
"You are right, this isn't the time, but we will tell you what we can, when we can or feel ready." Darling told her in a firm, but not unkind voice.
Apple could tell that Darling was feeling protective over Raven, she could understand why Darling would be feeling this way at this time, so Apple decided not to say anything more to them about what had happened at this time and leave the two of them alone together. "I'll leave you both alone now."
Raven nodded to her and said to Apple. "See you soon."
"Thank you, Apple and we will see you when we are able to." Darling said to her as she escorted her back to the door of the dorm room.
Once Apple had left the room, Darling closed the door behind her, she returned to the side of her bed and then asked Raven. "Would you like me to see what is in the bag?"
With a nod of the head Raven said to her. "Yes, please."
Darling opened the bag, she unpacked it showing Raven that inside the bag were several changes of clothes, including a few sets of pyjamas and some books. Darling carefully packed Raven's clothes away in one of the spare draws of her chest of draws, she kept out one set of the pyjamas and turned back to Raven, saying to her as she held out to her the pyjamas towards Raven. "Would you like to use your magic to change into these now?"
Raven nodded to her, respectfully Darling turned her back to Raven. Raven lit up brightly with her lavender magic, the pyjamas disappeared from Darling's hands, they were replaced a short moment later by her folded clothes. "I'm changed." Raven told her.
Darling turned back around, she put these clothes away with the others and then grabbed a set of her own pyjamas. "I'll go into the bathroom to change. I'll be right back."
"Okay, my love." Raven told Darling.
While Darling was in the bathroom Raven got herself comfortable in the bed. A short while later Darling came out of the bedroom dressed in her pyjamas, she put her own clothes away and then came over to the bed. "May I join you?" Darling asked Raven with a slight blush colouring her cheeks as she asked the question.
Raven smiled brilliantly up at Darling, she nodded to her and at the same time she held her arms up towards Darling. "Yes, please do."
Darling returned Raven's smile, she climbed into the bed and into Raven's waiting arms. With a happy sigh Raven closed her arms around Darling and nuzzled into her.
"How are you feeling my lady princess?" Darling asked her solicitously.
Raven looked up at Darling as she answered the question. "Though I know that there is no darkness left in me, but somehow I still feel weak and tired."
Trying to offer the one she loved some form of comfort, Darling stroked one of her hands over Raven's hair. "Considering the ordeal, you have just been through I am not surprised that you would feel that way. Do you want to get some sleep?"
"That sounds like a good suggestion." Raven said before yawning a little.
Darling smiled softly at her. "You rest my lady princess and I will look into what we will need for a formal betrothal."
"Okay." Raven agreed in a sleepy voice, she let out a contented sigh, closed her eyes and instantly fell into a peaceful sleep.
Darling spent a few moments watching Raven sleep. It was a sight which made her heart feel warm and caused a soft but happy smile to spread over her face. She could still hardly believe that this beautiful princess was all hers and accepted her exactly as she was. At the same time Darling was very much looking forwards to spending her future with Raven with all of her heart.
As not to wake Raven back up Darling carefully sat up in the bed, she picked up her mirror phone from the bedside table and very quietly started to type away on the phone.
After a while Darling managed to find a page on formal betrothals, it was split into sections which concerned various kingdoms and their traditions. As Darling was well aware of her own families and kingdoms traditions on formal betrothal, she searched the mirror net page for a section on the Kingdom of Regal.
It didn't take her long for her to locate this section on the page, opened it and started to read what it had to say. The information there told Darling that the betrothal rings would come from the bride's family and that these rings would like Draco would have been made when Raven was a baby. The couple would exchange a promise which according to the mirror net page had been used since the time of King Arthur. Darling read the promise out to herself in a whisper. "My heart is all yours, my soul is completely yours, all my life is yours too, this I swear to you is for all my life and beyond that. We are bound together by these rings, they are a mark for all to see that we have sworn to be together for all time and show that in time we shall wed."
Darling liked this traditional oath, however she found herself wanting to personalise it for them and Darling wondered if Raven would agree to personalising their vows. Darling really wanted to be able to use Raven's new title, hers and add to it on her side being Raven's sword and shield, as this was a phrase which since Raven had first said it to her Darling had come to love.
Still being careful not to disturb Raven Darling began to write on her phone the betrothal vow which she would like to make with Raven.
Darling was so lost in what she was working on and making it perfect, that she did not notice when Raven woke up from her nap.
As she lay in the bed beside Darling, Raven didn't say anything to her, because she didn't want to disturb Darling, as it was clear to Raven from the expression of concentration on her face that Darling was working on something. Raven decided to simply spent a while laying in the bed quietly admiring the one, she loves.
When Darling looked up from her phone to check on Raven, she was surprised to find Raven was awake, quickly Darling placed her mirror phone on the bedside table and turned her full attention onto Raven. "Hello my lady princess…Have you been awake long?"
"Just for a little while…" Raven informed her truthfully.
"Why didn't you let me know you had woken up?" Darling asked her with confusion.
Raven smiled lovingly at Darling as she answered the question. "I didn't want to disturb you and I was also enjoying watching you my beautiful one."
A slight blush spread over Darling's cheeks, she felt warm and so very happy to hear Raven say this to her. "I am glad to know that you think I am beautiful."
"What were you up to?" Raven enquired of Darling curiously.
The blush on Darling's cheeks deepened, but she explained to Raven what she had been doing. "I was looking into what a betrothal was like in your home kingdom."
Raven nodded to her and asked Darling inquisitively. "Oh? And what did you think of what you have discovered?"
"It sounds amazing. The oath I read is beautifully worded and I am looking forwards to exchanging those words with you. I have something I really want to ask…But I'm a little concerned that you might think my question is rude…" Darling said to her blushing slightly, and felt nerves bubbling up in her as she said this to Raven.
Seeing the blush on Darling's face and hearing the nervousness in her voice, Raven took one of Darling's hands into hers and gave it a tight squeeze, saying as she did so. "I am sure that what ever it is you want to ask me I will not think that it is rude. So please feel free to ask me what ever you feel you want too about this."
Darling shot her a grateful smile, squeezed her hand and then asked. "Do you have a betrothal ring? The online sources said you would have, had one made when you were a child, but I was unsure if you would have one because, your family might be unsure if you would ever marry, due to the destiny of the Evil Queen."
Raven could understand while Darling would be cautious about asking her about the betrothal ring and Raven was more than happy to help ease the concerns of the one, she loves about asking her this question. "Yes, I have a ring. It was made at the same time as Draco was. Would you like to see it?"
This answer made Darling feel thrilled, and she was immensely glad to see that her inquiry about the ring had not caused Raven to feel pain in anyway. "I would love to see your betrothal ring."
Without hesitation Raven held out the hand she had been using to hold Darling's, a small glow of lavender magic appeared around Raven's hand for a moment and a ring appeared on the palm of her glowing hand. "Here we go, this is it."
Darling looked carefully at the ring, it was a silvery metal, which was set with two amethyst stones, with a diamond in between them. "It's beautiful Raven." Darling told her in a soft and awed voice.
Hearing Darling's tone of voice Raven smiled at her widely and felt some relief go through her making Raven realise that she had unknowingly been tense about what Darling might think of her betrothal ring. "I am so happy to hear that you like it."
"I can't wait to be able to ware it and show the ring to everyone." Darling said to her truthfully.
As Raven thought about the day they would become betrothed, it caused her heart to beat faster, joy and love travelled through Raven and then she blushed slightly. "I am sure it will look wonderful on you. I look forwards to everyone knowing we are together and nothing can come between us."
Darling smiled down at Raven, saying honestly as she did so. "I am very much looking forwards to finding my own ring for you and the exchanging of the betrothal oaths."
Hearing Darling saying this caused Raven to smile widely at her. "It's great to know that we are on the same page."
"It certainly is." Darling said to her with a nod of agreement, before speaking to Raven once more in a firm and possessive voice. "I am also very much looking forwards to being able to our wedding."
A small chuckle left Raven, causing Darling to give her a confused look, seeing this expression on Darling's face Raven explained to her why she had chuckled at her words. "You sound very much like a normally overprotective fairy tale prince Charming. It is clear you want to make sure no one else can come between us, while at the same time it is obvious to me how much you love me."
The moment Raven said this to her Darling blushed, and then she ducked her head a little in embracement. Raven instantly noticed this reaction from her, Raven brought one of her hands up, she gently but firmly took hold of Darling's chin and directed her face back towards her. "Don't be ashamed by the way you are reacting, I know that it is perfectly natural was for a prince Charming at the end of a story such as ours."
Darling smiled with relief at Raven and then explained to her with relief clear in her voice. "I never thought I would react to our situation in such a traditionally prince Charming way…I am however glad you are not upset with me for reacting in such a traditional way without even noticing I was doing so."
"Oh Darling, I don't hate traditional fairy tale roles and considering the what almost happened to me today I completely understand why you would unknowingly feel the necessity to bind us together as tightly as possible as soon as possible." Raven told her in absolute sincerity, as she released Darling's chin and placed her hand onto Darling's cheek while smiling up at her with warmth and love clear in her eyes.
Unable to resist her beautiful princess and the way she was looking up at her, Darling lent down and brought her lips to Raven's in a soft and loving kiss. With a hum of delight Raven quickly started kissing Darling back, she lifted her arms and used them to tug Darling down into the bed beside her.
As they settled down into the bed side by side Darling carefully put her arms around Raven and kissed her a little more deeply than she had a few moments before. Raven slowly stroked her hands over Darling's back, before she pulled up the back of Darling's pyjama top, placed her hands to the skin under the top and swept her hands gently over the soft skin.
When Raven did this to Darling, she let out a soft hum come moan of delight and tightened her hold on Raven. At this moment they both broke the kiss to breath, as they took some moments to gain some air, Raven nuzzled into the side of Darling's neck and began to kiss along her neck.
A gasp of delight left Darling and she said in voice filled with pleasure. "Unn, that feels good."
"Good I am glad to hear it." Raven told her, with her breath tickling Darling's neck as she spoke. Raven went back to kissing over neck, before kissing her way to the join of the neck and shoulder and then her way back up gently kissing behind Darling's ear.
A shuddering gasp left Darling, she placed her fingers into Raven's hair and pulled her back in for another deep kiss. As they kissed Darling pulled the bedcovers up over them and then drew Raven even closer to her than before bringing their bodies flush to each other.
The sensations of their bodies now brushing against each other caused both women to whimper in delight and break this second kiss. "We should stop…" Darling gasped out.
"Yes…We should…" Raven agreed breathlessly.
With a nod they drew apart, before either of them could say anything more about what had just been happening there came a knock at the door.
Sighing deeply Darling carefully got out of bed, she made her way over to the door and when Darling opened it, she found a member of the cafeteria staff standing there with two takeout boxes, two lots of cutlery wrapped up in napkins and two bottles of drink. "Two meals, cutlery and drinks for Raven and yourself." He said to her cheerfully.
"Thank you." Darling said to him gratefully, while accepting the meals and drinks from him.
"You're most welcome." He said to her, before turning away and making his way back towards the kitchens.
Darling shut the door to the dorm room and made her way back to the bed, saying to Raven as she approached. "Dinner arrived!"
"Wonderful!" Raven enthused.
Cautiously Darling got back into the bed, she handed the box with Raven's name on it to her and then offered her the two bottles. "Which one of the drinks would you like?"
Raven took a moment to look at them and then answered the question. "The blackcurrant juice please."
Darling gave her the correct bottle. They both opened their boxes, unwrapped their cutlery and started to eat. When Darling and Raven finished their food, Darling broke the boxes down at put them in the rubbish, she then wrapped the cutlery back up in the napkins to return to the next member of staff who came with their meals and placed them onto her desk
When she had finished doing all of this Darling returned to the bed, she got in beside Raven, the two settled down side by side in the bed and quickly the couple fell asleep.
