Emhyr Var Emreis x Reader

Forty-Two

Air burned inside your lungs as you sat in the emperor tent, hands folded in your lap, while he stood on the other side of the table.

His forehead showed visible, deep wrinkles from all the thinking he had done before finally ordering one of the writers to create a document that you didn't even dare to dream about.

Now he stood there, for what felt like hours, while his deep brown eyes wandered over the ink, word for word and checked if everything was to his satisfaction.

Not a single sound could be heard from you.

Only the hasty beating of your heart echoed inside your ears. You feared that it was so loud, even he was able to hear it with those simple human ears of his.

Every once in a while a small sound could be heard from him. It was either the one of a thinking man or displeasure about this situation.

You didn't know why you had returned to camp without anything proper in your hands.

You had even given up on Vernon Roche as your insurance.

Guards had taken him. Either he was dead by now or perhaps suffering the most pain he had ever experienced in all of his existence.

Now you had nothing but the emperor's word which was about as much worth as a hand full of dirt.

A shivering breath crossed your lips as his eyes suddenly moved upwards and met yours.

He frowned, slightly confused.

"I've never seen you in a state like this before.", he said, almost calm.

Struck by surprise, you blinked to fully realise he looked at you.

"Every person has emotions.", you replied with regained composure. "It's just a matter of situations when they show."

Frowning, he straightened his back and crossed his arms behind it to look you up and down.

"You look unwell."

Confused why he would be concerned, you huffed.

"I doubt you are truly interested in what I feel, but let me tell you, I'm like a deer facing the predator."

A low sound made his chest vibrate.

"You made the offer.", he said. "But if you don't wish to go through with it I won't force you."

Now you couldn't help but chuckle.

It was strange but the sound made the heavy pressure inside your chest fade a little. Not it just felt like the weight of a cat pushed down on your lungs.

"Don't be ridiculous.", you shook your head. "I want to live. There's no way you'll let me go without any consequences for me."

Something moved in his eyes.

Silence spread between the two of you for a moment.

Then he closed his eyes, let out a deep breath and walked around the table to close the distance between you and him.

You sat up straight to not make him think you feared him all of a sudden.

You didn't.

All you feared was to leave this life without any accomplishments of your own.

Right in front of you he stopped and reached out.

Out of reflex, you pulled back.

But his long, strong fingers wrapped around your jaw and forced you to stay in place.

Wordlessly, he made you tilt your head to the side so he could run his thumb over your (S/C) cheek.

A quick pain made you flinch.

His touch was soft. Obviously he had the hands of a man who had never worked hard a day in his life.

Yet it hurt as he touched the cut that Vernon Roche's blade had caused.

He didn't comment on it.

His eyes wandered on to have a glance at your arm.

He wanted to touch it as well, but you pulled away, too afraid of the pain that it would cause.

All at once, his eyebrows drew together in anger.

"Did he do this to you?", his question struck you by surprise.

"Battles leave scars.", you brushed it off.

The brown of his eyes darkened. Visible displeasure crossed his face for a moment.

"Nobody leaves scars on my possessions.", he finally said and took a step back.

Both confused and irritated by his words, you looked up to find an answer in those eyes of his.

"I'm not yours.", you could barely speak, as flabbergasted as you were.

His face moved.

It was strange, despite him always being the cold, reserved man that he was, he seemed to be more human in that moment.

Golden candlelight kissed his face and made the grey sides of his hair shimmer like silver.

His age showed on his face and yet he didn't look exhausted nor old. He was just older, more mature.

A slight beard shadow showed around his mouth and cheekbones, probably due to him being unable to shave on the battlefield.

It almost made you whimper in fear as you realised that your face started to glow the longer you looked at him.

He was handsome, undeniably so.

Yet it wasn't his face, nor his height or those broad shoulders of his that made you weak.

It was his words.

You were weak for his voice and this small, yet very obvious sign of affection.

Emhyr Var Emreis didn't tell people they were his possession. They were his peasants and servants. Unless he came to care for them.

"No...", you gasped and almost made the chair fall over as you jumped up. "This ridiculous!"

Something made the corners of his mouth twitch. Perhaps it was mockery. Perhaps amusement. But for the slightest hint of a second he seemed to smile.

Never before had you seen him smile.

Not even as a child.

"Ridiculous, you say?", he asked and reached out to wrap his hand around your neck, just the way he had done it before. "I don't think so. This offer of yours, risky, foolish perhaps. But not ridiculous."

"You don't really want this. You just agreed to it because my actions forced you to."

With gentle force he pulled you closer, so close that the tip of his nose brushed against yours.

Lightnings of heat chased through your body.

"I wondered if I would ever be able to get you so close that I don't have to worry about you lurking behind my back.", he breathed against your lips, rough and almost excited. "But now I won't ever have to worry for you took the place by my side on your own accord."

His lips tasted just the way you had expected them to, like noble wine with a hint of pleasant bitterness.