Mel inhaled and squeezed Danric's hand as the physician spread an ointment over her cut shoulders and back. For his part, Danric just placed his other hand over hers, watching the physician work with worried eyes. Mel wounds weren't getting any better. They had been at this for three days, trying this gel and that goo.
'Poor Mel,' thought Danric. After all, the only complaining she was doing was about going home. Then again, that might be because Danric had been babying her and, although she'd never admit it, Mel was thoroughly enjoying her husband's doting on her.
'Maybe I should get myself captured more often,' was a thought that was persistently in Mel's head. Until she had to make one of these visits.
"I think this one's working," the physician, Joderic, told them. Already the cuts were beginning to get less red and swollen. Right on cue, Mel asked, "Now can we go home?"
Two days later saw Mel feeling better, even though the wounds were only scabbed over. But spirits were high because the physician had released her from his care.
"And you'll rest?" Danric asked, standing in the doorway of the carriage.
"I'll rest, I promise," Mel told him with a smile, "and don't look like that; we both know that carriages make you sick."
Danric gave an exaggerated sigh and rolled his eyes, but she was right, carriages did make him sick. With a last kiss and smile, he closed the carriage door, mounted his horse, and gave the command. They were going home.
"And the emissary from Lord Alton is presenting at court today. Will you be there?"
When Vidanric received no answer from his wife, he looked across the breakfast table to see her staring at nothing, again.
"Mel?" She didn't even twitch.
"Meliara!?" She turned at this and blinked owlishly at him.
"Sorry, did you say something?"
Danric sighed. "I asked if you would be joining me at court today."
Mel's eyes darkened. "No."
Danric could tell by the tone of her voice that the subject was closed. He sighed again. "Very well," Standing, he walked over to her and kissed her cheek, "I'll be back for lunch. Oh, and Bran and Nee will be joining us."
At this last, Mel's head jerked up, but Danric was already gone.
Vidanric's morning flew by in a whirlwind of activity, as it had every morning since he had returned with Mel. Mel…he was so worried about her he could hardly focus. She had spoken of her captivity only once and only to him. Since then, she had refused to answer any and all questions concerning her time in Norsunder. She had also chosen not to return to court, preferring to stay in their private quarters, and had refused all guests.
Danric had tried everything short of force, but nothing he said or did seemed to shake her from the depression she had sunk into. Desperate, Danric had sent a letter to Mel's brother and sister-in-law. They had agreed to come at once and Danric felt hopeful for the first time in weeks.
But when Vidanric arrived at the royal apartments, a vast wing of interconnected rooms located behind two massive goldenwood doors, it was to find Bran and Nee still seated in the entrance hall, just inside the doors.
"Vidanric." Bran said, standing to grasp his hand.
"Bran, Nee. What are you two still doing out here?"
Bran's shoulders slumped and he sighed, but it was Nee, voice quiet, who answered, "She won't let us in."
Danric, his court mask now completely gone, stared at Nee for several seconds before he seemed to understand what she had said. Turning, he walked towards the smaller, inner doors that led into the main receiving room. But when he turned the handle it was only to find the door locked. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he turned and vanished through the servants' entrance. Several minutes passed before Bran and Nee heard the click of the door unlocking. But then Danric opened it for them and ushered them inside, through the main receiving room and into the parlor. The servants were still bringing in food as Bran and Nee sat, watching Vidanric carefully. He excused himself and disappeared into the depths of the apartments, in search of Mel. Bran and Nee said nothing as he left, but exchanged worried glances; something was definitely wrong.
As Vidanric searched for Mel, he struggled to control his normally non-existent temper. He felt hot, as if he had stood to close to a fire, and his fists clenched and unclenched of their own accord.
When Mel wasn't in their bedroom he knew she would be in her study. He threw the door open and was proved right. There was Mel, curled up on her favorite cream cushion, reading.
"What are you doing?" Danric barely managed not to shout this at her.
She didn't even look up as she answered, "Reading."
"We have guests."
That got her attention. Her eyes flickered up. "You let them in?"
"Yes," It was hard for Danric to speak with his jaw clenched so tight, "I let them in."
"Well, send them back out." And she returned to the book.
"No."
This time her whole head came up. "Excuse me?"
"No. They're here because they're worried about you, and I won't send them away." His voice was hard as steel and still Mel didn't flinch. Instead she shrugged, "Fine," and once again returned to the book.
That was the last straw for Vidanric, he snapped. Crossing to her in two strides, he ripped the book from her hands and flung it across the room. He hadn't been this angry since before Galdran was deposed, and certainly never with Mel. And yet he found himself yelling at her, "Get up!" When she didn't move he grabbed her arms and hauled her to her feet.
"Vidanric!" the shock was evident in her voice, but he didn't let go.
"I've had just about enough of your selfishness! You will go out there and be civil to your family!"
"I don't want-" she began, but he cut her off.
"I don't particularly care what you want right now! You may wish to shut me out, but I will not allow you to shut them out!"
Mel stared up at him, her blue eyes wide. This was the first time Vidanric had ever yelled at her, let alone with such ferocity. He stared her down, his jaw set, his gray eyes somehow darker, and cold as stone.
When she lowered her eyes Danric knew she would do as he said.
"Go." He said, letting go of her. She walked past him and he followed her out, closing the door behind them. When Mel entered the parlor Nee flew to her and wrapped her arms around her. "Oh Mel, we were so worried!" And then Bran was hugging her, "I'm glad you're alright Sis." Mel saw the tears in their eyes and heard the sincerity in their voices. "Thank you both. Please, sit down, we'll talk." And they did. Danric listened quietly as Mel opened up about her kidnapping, answering all of their careful questions. But still Danric worried that she kept her emotions bottled up inside, for she didn't shed a single tear.
Vidanric slipped out near the end of the tale, and went back to work, trying to let go of his worry. By the time his day was done and he could return to his chambers it was very late, and Mel was already asleep. Vidanric slid easily into slumber, but was awakened sometime later by a soft sound. He couldn't place the noise at first, but all too soon he realized it was crying. Sitting up, he saw Mel across the room. She was sitting in the window seat, knees drawn up to her chest, her face buried in her arms. Now that his anger had dispersed Danric felt terrible about what had happened between them, and his heart ached as he studied the small sobbing form of the woman he loved. Slipping out of bed, he walked silently over and knelt beside her.
"Mel?" his voice was quiet, but still she jerked upright. He touched her leg, wrapping his hand around her exposed calf.
"Mel, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, please don't cry." But she was shaking her head.
"No. I needed that. You pulled me out of the place I was stuck in."
"Do you forgive me?" He asked anyway, eyes intent. She reached out, touched his face, stroked his cheek. "There's nothing to forgive, my love." His eyes closed momentarily; she hadn't called him that in what seemed like an eternity.
"Then why are you crying?" And it was his turn to touch her face, but he gently wiped her tears away. She made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob.
"My hair!"
Vidanric laughed, he couldn't help it. He stood, picked her up, sat on the window seat himself, and settled her on his lap. She rested her head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat, glad to be close to him for the first time in weeks.
"I know what you're thinking," she told him, "that I'm being silly. But I hadn't cut my hair since my mother died."
His arms pulled her closer, but he said nothing for a long minute.
And then, "Do you remember when I told you that I attended a military academy in Marloven Hess?"
Mel nodded. "Your parents sent you when you were fifteen."
"Yes. What I did not tell you was that as quickly as I made friends I also made enemies. One in particular was a boy a year or two older than me, and his close friends. Their favorite topic was my hair, as I refused to cut it short like all the others. I was coming back late one evening from the practice yards, several weeks into my stay, when they cornered me and gave me their idea of a haircut. We had no mirrors so I could not see what I looked like, and honestly I was more embarrassed by the fact that I did a poor job defending myself. However, I learned a valuable lesson; that true friends care nothing about what you look like."
He paused and Mel looked up at him. "I'm not in love with your hair," he told her and she smiled.
"I suppose this means that I have to come out of seclusion?"
His eyes sparkled. "And what better way to do it than our ball tomorrow night?"
She sighed. "Sometimes I hate you." Vidanric laughed.
"But one day is not nearly enough time to have a ball gown made." Mel groaned.
"True. Which is why I ordered one made for you."
"You didn't even know that I was going to say yes!" Mel accused, her eyes narrowed.
Danric smiled. "Of course I did, I know everything."
She grinned back at him. "Prove it!"
"I know that I'm going to kiss you, and when I do you're going to kiss me back."
Mel's eyebrows rose. "Oh?"
He leaned forward and captured her lips with his own. And of course she couldn't help but respond, deepening the kiss. When he finally released her she was breathless, and he was smirking. "See?"
Her eyes narrowed again. "Lucky guess."
"Would you like to know what else I know?" Danric's voice was almost too innocent, but Mel never could resist a challenge.
"What?"
He whispered in her ear. Mel laughed, clasping her hands behind his neck as he swung her up in his arms and carried her back to bed.