The Blood Prince

020

Xavier sits up slowly, looking over to Tatiana as she lays asleep in bed.

He looks over at the window as the sun begins to rise.

He stands slowly out of bed, weakly pushing himself up and walks to the window and rubbing his large, steel gloved on his hands together.

He hisses as he attempts to remove the gloves. Eventually, he undoes the latch on one glove and it slips off, clinking loudly to the ground.

He cautiously looks back at Tatiana, who jumps slightly and then opens her eyes.

She looks over at him and sits up a bit.

"What are you doing my love?"she questions, rubbing her eyes.

He glances at the window before speaking.

"I wanted to see the castle."he says softly.

She yawns as she sits up, standing out of bed. She walks over to him, gripping his gloved hand and removing the steel glove from it.

She then carefully places his arm around her shoulders and allows him to lean his weight on to her, his hand not touching her.

"Come along."

She begins walking with him towards the window, and Xavier looks at her in awe.

"Why are you looking at me like that, Xavier?"she asks, looking up at him.

"...do you dislike me for taking you away the way I did?"

Tatiana stays silent for a bit and then sighs.

"..y-you're just so good to me, Tatiana. You're so good to me and I don't deserve it."

Tatiana clears her throat, thinking about her response before she speaks it.

"... we'll, I've come to love you very much, Xavier. And yes, I admit in the beginning I was rather... afraid, and a bit resentful. You did take me away from my home..my family."she says softly.

Xavier looks down, his face of stone suddenly appearing.

"..was that not what you wanted to hear, Xavier?"she questions.

He only shakes his head.

"It was exactly what I needed to hear...I only regret asking because I was content not knowing how you felt. And that's terrible."he says softly.

Tatiana frowns placing her hand on his cheek.

"I do forgive you, Xavier."she says softly.

He slightly smiles as they reach the window, peering over the mountains and seeing the top of Tatiana's home castle.

....

I wall with Xavier into the familiar burnt field, where I had seen Xavier release his flame before.

"Are you going to be okay?"I question, pulling his cloak off his shoulders and allowing him to stand straight.

"Yes. I'd rather you not see this part though, Tatiana."he says softly before slipping his heavy gloves off his hands.

"Why?"I question, causing him to glance over at me.

"There's a lot to release."he responds.

I only nod and then do a formal curtsy before walking away, back into the castle.

I immediately go into the royal tailors, and she smiles as she sees me before she bows.

"Queen Tatiana! What a treat!"she smiles.

"Hello Flora."I say, walking over to the window.

"Are you in need of a gown?"she questions as I look out, seeing Xavier standing in the field again.

"No."I say, sitting down in the chair a bit away from the window.

Flora looks out as well, seeing Xavier with his eyes closed.

"Oh, looks like the king will be releasing his flame soon. You should-"

Immediately, there's a loud boom and a bright, blinding light. I cover my eyes as I feel the room begin to heat up instantly.

"Away from the window, your majesty!"Flora says before hurrying me towards the back of the room.

I look back at the window, seeing tall flames lapping at the window.

I watch in awe as the window begins to crack and I see the fiery figure of Xavier in the distance.

I can see that flames were erupting from his mouth and eyes, and I gasp as I stand and attempt to walk towards the window.

"Your majesty please! Come away from the glass!"

I look back out at Xavier as she quickly tucks me into a safe corner and then runs to close the shutters on the window.

...

After a short while, the room finally stops vibrating.

Flora quickly walks over to the window and opens the shutters. She tries to open the window, but it shatters upon her touching them and it causes her to shout.

I stand, rushing to aid her. But instantly, I see Xavier's naked body steaming at the center of the burnt field.

I almost shriek, instead lifting my gown and quickly running out of the room and down the hall to the courtyard exit.

I step outside, seeing the still smoldering grass and rock as I approach him.

I drop down and attempt to grab him, but my fingertips burn as I touch his skin and I hiss.

I quickly look around before taking off my thick petticoat, stepping out of It and then covering Xavier's naked body.

I look at my burnt finger tips and then back to his unconscious body.

I release a shaky breath before cupping his cheeks gently, instantly feeling the burn.

"Xavier? W-wake up my love, please."I say, gently shaking his face.

His eyes slightly part and his eyes move to me.

"Oh no..did I over do it?"he asks softly before looking down at my hands that were cupping his cheeks.

He pulls away from me, instantly seeing the burns on my hands before I could tuck them away.

"W-why did you touch me? Look at your hands!"he says, quickly sitting up.

"I-i was just trying to help. I-i don't mind the burns Xavier, in okay-"I say, causing him to cut me off aggressively.

"I can't keep hurting you, damn it!"he shouts.

"Xavier I am your wife."I say, standing up as he stands, clutching the cloth I provided over his groin.

"You and I are in this together do you not understand? The burns will heal."I say sternly.

He shakes his head before looking down.

"Hold out your hand."he says softly.

I hold my hands out towards him and he leans down over them, breathing out a steam like breath and causing my hands to sting a bit.

My hands suddenly no longer hurt, and he stands up to reveal my hand burns were nicely scarred over and healed.

I look up at him and smile.

"See? Now, the chambermaids are glaring at your bare arse."I say quietly.

"..I don't deserve you."he says as he begins to walk through the burnt yard towards the bedrooms.

I sigh softly, my hand coming to the burn on my hip.

....