Here, have an update! Let me know what you think. :)
The Queen sat silently in the rocking carriage, faithful husband by her side, trying to wrap her head around the request DG had made. How could she possibly justify letting her youngest daughter serve as Regent? The scope of possible dangers was unknown. The soldiers would have enough to worry about without a princess to watch over, especially one so prone to trouble. Besides, DG was still delicate after her accident. Lately, DG's maid had told the queen that the princess spent her evenings with Raw, trying to gain more strength in her legs. Despite what DG told her mother, she was still recovering, and that increased her vulnerability ten-fold.
"We must allow her to go, my love," Ahamo said gently.
"What sort of mother am I, what sort of Queen, if I allow my daughter to walk into danger?" she asked.
"She will never forgive us," he said, taking her hand. "And then we'll have the pleasure of her constant sulking attitude at every meal, or she'll lock herself in her room, never to be seen again, or she will run away, and we won't have the slightest clue where she is. At least if we let her go, we'll have daily reports of her whereabouts."
"She is not strong enough, Ahamo."
"Nonsense. She is your daughter. She is strong enough."
The Queen pulled her hand from her husband's and patted it. "You have too much faith in her, and me."
"Darling, I don't think I have to tell you that she loves our illustrious Wyatt Cain," the Consort said.
"Did I do the wrong thing? Should I have let him stay in Finaqua as her bodyguard?"
"I think it is too late to consider what could have been. As it stands now, he is vital to our efforts near the Realm of the Unwanted, and to the future happiness of our daughter," Ahamo said.
The carriage leapt and bumped the Queen and Consort together.
"We've arrived, your majesties," the carriage driver said from outside.
"Well?" Ahamo said.
Cain stalled as long as he possibly could at the outpost, waiting for word about Princess DG. She wasn't with the accompanying party, like he had hoped, and the Queen was mum about whether or not DG would be made Regent. He sent Fellowes ahead with his men when the suns were high in the sky; they would be reconvening twenty miles North to make camp and meet with Sergeant Mel Harper, the man Cain would be replacing. The sun was setting when three figures rode towards the outpost and away from the Emerald City stables. Two of the riders wore travel blues, but the third wore a deep purple cloak that billowed behind. When the riders reached the outpost, Cain realized that the cloaked person was the youngest princess, who seemed to be trying very hard not to grin.
"Your highness," Cain said, bowing.
DG wrinkled her nose at the formality. "Sergeant Cain," she said. "I will be acting Regent until peace can be established in the Realm of the Unwanted."
"Peace may not be established for some time, Princess," Cain said, mounting his horse.
"I am prepared." DG's eyes sparkled in the waning light.
Cain felt a surge of pride. "We have a long journey ahead. Best save your preparedness for that." He tipped his hat and DG smiled, but said nothing.
Were it not for the two soldiers escorting them, the conversation might have turned to the fact that Cain loved her, or the fact that DG's legs were still very weak and she had been growing increasingly less mobile. She wanted desperately to be of some use as Regent, without showing weakness. If she were bound to her wheelchair, she knew Cain would force her to go back to Finaqua. Glitch had built a back support for her saddle to relieve her legs on the journey, in the hopes that she could stand once they reached camp, as long as was required. DG felt her leg beginning to ache but she ignored it in favor of listening to Cain brief her about the situation in the Realm of the Unwanted.
By the time they reached the encampment, DG was weary. Lucky for her, Wyatt was still attentive as ever and saw that she was tired. Unfortunately, the Regent's tent had not been prepared because the Queen had not sent advanced word. The only sleeping quarters available to her that offered privacy was the Sergeant's tent, where Cain was supposed to be sleeping.
"Sergeant Cain, I will not rob you of your bed," DG said calmly, though she felt quite frustrated. Eight soldiers gathered around her, along with Sergeant Harper and Cain.
"He doesn't need sleep, highness," Harper chuckled. "He's a Tin Man! Trained insomniacs, every one of us! Take the bed, you'll appreciate it when real conflict comes and sleep is scarce."
Harper bowed to DG and exited the medical tent where they were currently convened. The eight privates followed him out, leaving DG alone with Cain. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"I will send for the Regent's tent tomorrow," Cain said to her, smiling slightly.
"Where will you sleep?" DG asked as she crossed her arms.
"I have many options, Princess." He closed the distance between them but did not touch her. "I'm glad you're here."
"So am I," she whispered, smiling.
"You'd better get to sleep. All the men answer to you."
"Even you?" DG asked, tapping his badge.
"Especially me." Cain clenched his fist to avoid touching her, because anyone could walk in.
"Then sleep in your own bed."
"Will you be in it?" he whispered.
DG raised an eyebrow, but she did not blush. "We should've had this conversation in Finaqua, where there were doors with locks." She ran a finger down Cain's arm until he involuntarily shivered. DG stepped away from Cain and curtseyed, something she never would have done when she first arrived in the OZ. Then, she turned on her heel and lifted the flap of the medical tent.
"Goodnight, Sergeant Cain," she said, letting the flap fall closed behind her.
Cain resisted the urge to pull his lady back into the tent, but then, she wasn't his. The words had not been said. There would be no safe place to say them, either, not for some time. Prying ears were everywhere; Cain would lose the respect of his men if they knew of his affection for the new Regent. But just then, standing inches from her, both insinuating what they wanted… it was enough. For now. When they were once again in the vicinity of a locked door, Cain would be happy to show her exactly how she made him feel.
After a count of twenty, Cain exited the medical tent. The silhouette of the retreating Princess walked to the Sergeant's tent, and he followed, but stopped when he reached the door. Four men were already stationed around the perimeter of the tent, and tonight, Sergeant First Class Wyatt Cain would stand watch while the woman he loved, the crown princess of the OZ, slept.
DG, on the other hand, struggled to stand. The tent was furnished with a desk and a chair, both of which she used as crutches to reach the small bed. She tried to keep her heavy breathing to a minimum so the soldiers outside wouldn't hear her struggling. Once she was seated, DG lifted her legs onto the bed with her hands and lifted up her riding dress to examine them. The right leg looked normal, but the skin above her left knee was sallow and swollen.
"Guard," she called, covering her legs and sitting up as straight as she could.
A moment later, Cain pulled open the flap of the tent and entered. "Yes, your highness," he said.
"What are you doing here?" she mouthed.
"I'm your guard," he replied, smiling.
"Of course," DG said, internally berating herself. Cain was a soldier here, not a friend who could wander as he pleased.
"Is there ice in the camp?" DG asked in her normal voice.
"I believe there is in the medical tent, but not for much longer. We cannot keep things frozen on the road," Cain said.
"No, I suppose not. Would you fetch me a cup of ice?" she asked, hoping he would not ask her why she wanted it.
"Certainly, highness," he replied, though he furrowed his eyebrows. He disappeared, then returned a few minutes later with a large tin cup full of ice chips.
"I wouldn't eat the ice, Princess, but it will do no harm for sore feet," Cain said as he placed the cup on the desk.
"That's just what I need it for," DG said quickly. "I haven't gotten used to my new riding boots yet."
"Can I do anything else for you, your highness?"
"No, thank you, Sergeant," she said, but she held out her hand.
He clasped her hand and DG pulled him down to her level. Cain knelt before her on one knee and touched her cheek. Softly, she pressed her lips to his and graced her fingers down his chest. Cain grasped her wrists to stop her, but one of her hands dropped to his belt and he froze. DG pulled the same hand free of his grasp and stroked down his thigh. Cain broke away from her mouth with a grin and shook his head. The princess pulled her hands away reluctantly, smiling as he stood and bowed to her.
"Goodnight," He said softly, placing his hand over his heart.
"Goodnight, Wyatt Cain," DG replied, mimicking his gesture.
Cain backed out of the tent, trying to adjust his pants that had mysteriously shrunk, and pulled himself together. He winked at her and then left the tent.
DG bit her lip happily, throwing her legs over the bed and standing to retrieve the cup. Her left leg instantly gave out and DG fell against the desk. She grasped the wood as tightly as she could, but she couldn't pull herself up to stand. The fall had driven the corner of the desk into her side, which hindered DG's ability to push against the desk for strength. Finally, near tears, she pulled herself into the chair. Apparently none of her watch had heard the fall, blessedly, so DG risked remaining in the chair to ice her leg.
Her skin was uncommonly hot, which caused the ice to melt quickly. Once it was all gone, DG dragged herself into bed, where she fell asleep promptly.
A/N: This story is progressing in a way I didn't originally plan, but I'm pleased with it. I hope you're happy that I didn't leave this one with a cliffhanger!