Stories For the Damned

Rough Day 2

She carried her human through the halls for an hour or two, listening to the woman's soft breaths to pass the time. She also occupied herself with thinking of ways to avoid a situation like this and keep Y/n from breaking down.

It wasn't until she felt a slight shift in her arms and the sound of a soft yawn that she looked down with a smile, watching her maiden rub the sleep from her eyes before whispering hoarsely. "Alcina?"

"Yes, my love?" She nuzzled against the top of Y/n's head, rubbing more of her scent, soothing her.

Y/n did not give a straight answer, she just sigh deeply relaxing further into her Lady's arms.

"How was your rest?"

"Okay," Y/n whispered. "I-I'm sorry for..."

"It's alright."

Alcina's reassurance seemed to do little to help her maiden's guilt so she went further. "Y'know, I get like that too sometimes."

"Really?" Y/n said, perking up, tilting her head to look into her Lady's eyes.

"Really. Of course you know...my temper..."

"...A little, yeah."

It was usually Y/n overhearing Alcina shouting over the phone or walking into their room to find the vanity or multiple teacups broken.

"And when I was human...I had my moments also. Your anxiety is getting worse?"

Y/n looked a little embarrassed at the insinuation. They both knew she struggled with it and it's what often made her have panic attacks and explode in anger like before. It wasn't something she was proud of or like discussing, much preferring to try and deal with it herself but... "Yeah."

Alcina hummed and kissed her love on the cheek. "I'll have the Duke order those pills-"

"No, Alcina-"

"Only if you want them."

From the moment Alcina first vowed to protect her maiden with her life she also promised to help her with her mental health. The medication was a last resort option of course, but upon doing research for the condition she found that they could help.

A swift request was made by her to the Duke for a set list of medications that were often used to alleviate the disorder.

Y/n had been quite opposed to using them the first time Alcina had suggested it after another breakdown.

"The...the..."

"Hydroxyzine."

"Yeah, that."

"Does it still help?"

"Only if I take it before...but...it doesn't stop the problem." Y/n frowned and in turn Alcina did too.

"And...what...what's the problem, my love?"

Now the answer for this question took a minute to think of. Her maiden sat in her arms, quiet until it came to her. "It's complicated. Complex in a way, I don't...it tends to be one thing and a million things all at once if that makes sense."

"Hmm."

Alcina felt Y/n's breath quicken with sudden nerves and she was quick to try and comfort. Fingers rubbing steady circles on her back, kisses pressing to her cheeks.

"Sometimes it feels as if I only have to stop thinking for it all to go away. That's the problem. I think too much. And when I think I worry...I worry that...that I'll do something wrong and then you'll be mad with me and then you'll decide you don't love me and then you'll throw me out." Tears were welling in Y/n's eyes and Alcina's heart ached for her, saddened that Y/n would even think those things.

"And some-sometimes...I just can't stop thinking!" She was full on crying again, whilst apologizing softly.

"My Y/n, my love, my maiden," Alcina stopped walking and held Y/n close to her, her own tears threatening to spill words could not describe how much she wished to spare Y/n of her horrible emotions and guilt. "My maiden..." she repeated, burying her face against Y/n's head. Kisses were placed in a vain effort to quell both of their sorrow.

And so they sobbed, together, in the hallway. Undisturbed by nothing but the faint tick of a distant clock.

They remained that way for a minute or two, Alcina slowly leaned against the wall and sat, holding her maiden in her lap. She was the one to stop crying first. The one to sigh softly and swipe the tears from Y/n's cheek. The one to miraculously feel something in her pants pocket.

Holding the sniffling woman to her with one hand, she used the other to get the hidden object.

"Y/n...?" she murmured once she discovered what it was, something that she had shoved in there time and time again, too...nervous to give it to her maiden.

A band, made of wood. Practically a promise ring, something she had commissioned from her sister. It had an intricate carving of her family's seal and the interior simply said 'te iubesc'. It was generic and simple but to Alcina it had all the meaning in the world. It was a symbol.

A promise.

"I am in love with you. You are mine, my mate," she gave Y/n's kiss a cheek, holding the ring between them. And she gently held her humans hand up, showing the wedding ring that they already wore. "When I wed you I made a promise to carry your burdens as mine, and to be with you forever, no matter what..." She slipped the ring onto another finger of hers, and Y/n sniffled again, looking up at her.

Alcina smiled, golden eyes a little tarnished from tears but just as beautiful as ever.

"I would do anything for you, I promise."