The Paladin (The King Eternal Monarch AU)

Stories Etched on Skin

The proposal came right out of nowhere. If James had been honest with himself, he had been wondering how to propose to the Queen. Protocol dictated that Elizabeth had to do the proposing.

She was a reigning Queen and he was her subject. He had wanted to raise the topic with her but thought that it was too soon into their relationship.

"I know we haven't discussed anything," she gesticulated wildly and rapidly, misreading his silence, "and we've just barely begun to know each other. And it's probably an extension of the no-sex clause that's ruining my neurones but -"

He touched her lips with his thumb to silence her.

"Whoa Princess, slow down."

She did not slow down.

"I'm so scared," she told him. "I'm scared that something will happen to you and we'll run out of time. And I don't want to live with more regret."

He understood. This woman had lost her entire family. Hid her emotions from the world. 'Performed' in public with her wonderful public persona. James' heart broke for this brave woman in front of him.

"Princess," he tenderly ran his fingers through her long hair. "Yes, I would love to marry you. Although I'm not sure I should accept without a ring. My friends wouldn't believe me even if I told them."

He loved that she actually glowered at him during a proposal. He began laughing out loud.

She punched him in the arm and gave him marching orders to shower. He complained loudly about how her punches hurt him. They laughed over his whiny behaviour.

James stripped off his utilitarian black clothing and stared in the mirror. He had been away for so long that he had grown a stubble. For what he had in mind, the stubble had to go.

He thought of Elizabeth, who was probably overthinking as usual. Overthinking the proposal. Overthinking about breaking the clause. He knew one quick way to stop her from overthinking. He opened the bathroom door casually.

"Would you like to join me?"

Her face turned pink.

"In the shower?"

He rested one arm on the door post and nodded. She was seated at her vanity table.

"No, thank you," she replied primly.

James took seven steps from the door to the vanity table and dragged her by the hand in to the bathroom.

"I need help. Why are you blushing?"

"I don't think I can help you after all," she kept her eyes firmly on his. He noticed that she avoided looking anywhere below his neck. He didn't blame her. He was only clad in his underwear. It sported a low-key erection.

"Are you thinking naughty thoughts?" He chuckled, "I just wanted you to help me shave. Do you have a shaver?"

"Ohh," she said, clearly not expecting that.

"Well, do you?" He prompted. "I haven't shaved for three weeks."

She handed him one from the cabinet behind the mirror.

"A neon pink shaver. God forbid," he dropped it as though he was just handed heated tongs.

She tsked and picked it up off the bathroom tiles.

"Stand still," she brandished the electric shaver in front of his face.

"I can't. It's too pink," he shielded his face like a vampire seeing garlic.