𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑀𝑒 || 𝑀𝐸𝐷𝐼𝐶𝐼： 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑀𝐴𝐺𝑁𝐼𝐹𝐼𝐶𝐸𝑁𝑇

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑉𝐼𝐼

~Leeds Castle~

At Leeds castle, Leena was Queen, there could be no denying that.

She had her own servants, her own people, her own estate over which to rule and from the very first night the little redhead recalled in her newfound power and prestige! At first she had been quite overcome when faced with her new household (something George had had to explain to her) but, as usual, she had appeared to settled into her new role as if it had been made for her and by dinner she had ordered all her servants to the hall to learn their names!

She sat at the high table in the great hall, dressed in her best silks with George and Bella either side of her, feasting upon some of the most scrumptious food that had ever passed their lips!

George was far from sad then, indeed, he was laughing and joking with his little friend as was usual, even asking her to dance with him! By the time they all retired, exhausted and their sides aching from laughter, there could be no denying the excited buzz that encased the castle.

Still, Bella did not forget the promise she had made to herself the earlier day. To take care of the man she loved.

She changed quickly into her nightgown, thankful to have her own room for once as she discarded her dress onto the bed and wrapped her bed robe around her. Using the candle by her bedside to light her way, she tiptoed through the unfamiliar corridors to where George's room lay.

She had seen it only briefly, upon the tour earlier that day where the three travellers had bounded around the castle without a care in the world! Thankfully, she remembered where it was. When she entered, she was surprised to see George was not in bed but sitting in front of the fire, his doublet discarded and a wine pitcher to the side of him.

A half empty glass lay by his foot and Bella watched from the chamber's threshold as his sturdy shoulders rose and fell in a weary sigh. She tilted her head, gently pushing the door shut behind her and approaching the boy by the fire. He seemed not to notice her until she knelt beside him and even then did not look up, continued to stare blankly into the flames, despite one hand reaching out and intertwining with her own.

She squeezed gently, letting him know that she was beside him, telling him she cared as much for him as he did for her. Settling down on the rug beneath them, she laid her head on his shoulder and took to staring into the flames with him. She did not know what he was thinking, what he was feeling, other than a long endured pain but she did not question him.

She waited, just like she always knew she would when it came to him.

"I do miss him" he murmured at last "both of them"
Bella did not need to ask of whom he was speaking, it was clear, he was talking of his Father and Brother. She nodded, squeezing his hand again. She could not even imagine the pain losing ones so beloved would bring to the heart, if she lost her Father and any of her five brother, it would tear her to shreds "but I need not dwell on their deaths" She raised her head at that and he finally turned to her, their eyes meeting in the warm, amber glow of the flames before them.