The Knight of the Forest Series

Chapter 11

Lillia awoke the next morning with sun kissing the tip of her nose and her lashes, rousing the girl from her deep slumber. She felt sore in all the strangest places, mainly her legs, lower abdomen and her stomach. Rolling over Lily was shocked but then again not really that surprised when she found Loras's side of the bed void of any living being, the side of the bed cold indicating that he had been gone for a while.

The girl slowly pushed the thin sheets back and sat herself on the edge of the bed. She feared that if she got up her legs would buckle beneath her. just then the bedroom door flew open and Maria skipped in with a towel, salt, oils and everything required for a full body bath and changing.

The girl had been bringing those things every morning since Lily had arrived in King's Landing in the hopes that one day Lily would gladly give her leave to make the bath. However not once had Lily willingly gotten into a morning bath except the one time when Mary and Olivia had pinned her down until she complied.

"would you care for a bath my lady?" the girl asked with hope in her Brown eyes.

Lily smiled softly and nodded, "I believe I would Maria. Thank you. Could you also ask Alice to change the bed linens?"

Maria's eyes nearly popped out of her head until her eyes trailed over to the four poster bed and she saw the faint blood stains and the faint scent of passion in the air. The girl went to beam with joy for her mistress until she saw the pale complexion on Lily's face, the way that her lip trembled and how her smile did not reach her saddened eyes.

Knowing better than to pity the woman for it would only make the situation worse, Maria set about preparing the bath with extra salts and oils and choosing a loose comfortable yellow dress for her mistress to wear.

As Lily sunk deep into the steaming hot water, she sighed heavily, splashing the warm water on her face to wash away the dried tears. Before Maria could, Lily about washing her hair but took her time, relishing the warmth and relaxation. She dumped herself to rince when she emerged Maria rushed in with a towel and a smile on her face.

"my lady! The carnations have bloomed!" she cried.

Lily's face lit up for the first time that morning, "oh... how many... what color!?"

Lily had always grown plants with her powers but never like a normal person until Mary gave her a pot of carnation bulbs, neither of them knowing if they would grow back nor what color they would be.

Maria giggled, glad to see that the light was back in her mistress, "there are two of them my lady! And they are both a beautiful pink!"

Lily smiled as she leant back against the edge of the tub. Meanwhile elsewhere in the castle, James stood outside Oliver's room, a furrow on his brow and his teeth biting on his bottom lip in thought. What could he do in this situation? Go in and speak to Oliver, explaining that he would not be visiting him anymore or just ghost him and return to Lily immediately.

Hopefully Oliver would give up and leave him be in his new happy marriage and that way James did not have to "break up" with him. Either way Oliver would no longer be in his life and James could move on. He could try to obtain the title of a Lord once his sister became Queen and he could take Lillia away from this hell hole of a city.

Build a home near Highgarden so that they might visit James's brothers often. He and Lilly could begin to try and start a family. He could just see the little children running around the garden that was fresh green and blooming from Lily's earthen abilities, the children trying to urge their heavily pregnant mother to walk faster to greet James at the gate as he rode home after a tournament.

Curls bouncing, beautiful Gray and green eyes, Golden hair all around as James bent down to kiss each of them before gathering Lily in his arms to kiss her soundly and then adoringly stroking her bulging belly. The only thing holding him back from this happiness and giving Lily the life and love that she deserved was the guilt that hung in and surrounding James and Oliver's past relationship.