The Paladin (The King Eternal Monarch AU)

The Devil's Lair

"What do you plan to do with me, Sir?" Elizabeth asked, her teeth chattered cold gusts of wind blew into the little shelter. It brought sheets of cold rain with it.

"Move inside, behind the boxes," James looked at the unrelenting wind and rain with concern. He was also cold.

Forgoing the hot cocoa and letting the princess sit nearer to the electric stove was starting to take a toll. He was glad that there was no dissent from the princess. She followed his instructions quickly.

James quickly grabbed the wooden box that became a makeshift table for the hot cocoa and piled it over the other wooden box. At least she would have some respite away from the cold wind. Without waiting to be invited over, he carried the electric stove and put it at the princess' feet.

Then, he sat down unceremoniously next to her. She looked a little startled. After a long silence, as together they sat listening to the wind and rain, she opened up the blanket that was covering herself and offered one edge to him.

James shook his head. The Princess still held out the blanket to him. He shook his head again, slower. Just to get his point across. The Princess opened her eyes wider, nonverbally telling him not to be stubborn.

This continued back and forth until the princess' eyes narrowed dangerously. She looked ready to murder him. It was scary, so James acquiesced. This was really no place for chivalry. He too, was starting to feel the effects of the cold morning swim.

With the patchwork quilt blanket wrapped around them both, he felt a lot better. The rocky ground they sat on, however, was cold.

"I'm so sleepy," she slurred.

James looked at Elizabeth sharply. She was shivering under the blanket and breathing short, shallow breaths. He knew the signs – hypothermia. He knew she had to be kept warm and dry. But there was nothing else to cover her with.

You have socks in the box, idiot.

He divested himself from under the blanket and searched for one in his boxes. There was a long, woolen pair.

James handed the socks over to the princess. She struggled to put them on. He took over and could not help but notice that her feet were ice cold.

"Please excuse me, princess. I must do this for you to survive," James inched over the little gap between them under the blanket. He reached over to hold her hands – they were so cold, he flinched.

Momentarily, she was awake again, wary of him. She pulled back her hands instantly.

"What do you think you're doing?" Her long eyelashes looking up at him made him think of Bambi. Up close like this, James saw that her alabaster skin was flawless. There was not even a single freckle.

Stop noticing the small things. This is your Queen you are looking at, his brain reminded him.

"You're having hypothermia. If you don't warm up soon, your heart will go into arrythmia. We can't go anywhere until this weather is clear or you're feeling better."

"Are you using this as an excuse to feel me up?"

"Why did this happen to me on my off day? Heaven grant me patience," James tilted his head upwards and then turned back to her, explaining slowly, "I'm trying to warm you up as best as I can. There isn't enough heat from the electric stove."

"Miser. Buy a more efficient stove next time."

James started. Did she just insult me?

"And miss my chance to feel up the next person I save from drowning?" He retorted. The idea that there was going to be a next time was so improbable that it was laughable.