The Queen's Guard

Chapter 9

The dark atmosphere on their way back made Carina wish Vic was there with her wittiness, something to divert her mind from the exhaustion in her legs after hours of riding. Carina occasionally glanced back at Maya, finding her guard seemingly content even after hours on horseback. Unbeknownst to Carina, Maya's true source of endurance was the captivating view of her queen, a sight that could sustain her for a lot longer.

For hours, Maya's mind was consumed by watching Carina's every movement. As night approached, she had to remind herself to stay vigilant. The decision to take a different path back hoped to ensure they wouldn't encounter any surprise visitors, but it was a challenging and lengthy route. This new path led them up into the mountains, where the cold was biting, and as the sun's warmth waned.

They set up camp before reaching higher altitudes, seeking whatever shelter they could find, but it was still freezing. The guards huddled in smaller tents for warmth, strategically placing the queen's tent to make it inaccessible. Despite building a small fire, the men clustered together in smaller tents managed to find some warmth, but the queen, positioned separately, shivered in the cold.

Maya, the vigilant guard stationed at the front of the queen's tent, was surprised to find Carina still awake. Sensing the cold emanating from her queen, she quickly noticed Carina's shivering form and offered her own covers. Carina hesitated, but Maya, determined to protect her, draped the covers over her anyway, their fingers briefly touching, the chill transferring from Carina's cold skin to Maya's.

"You're shivering," Maya observed, a pang of frustration coursing through her for not being able to shield her queen from the cold.

"I'll be okay," Carina attempted to assure, but her stuttering voice wasn't very convincing. As soon as Maya laid back down on her own mat, Carina threw the covers back at her. Concerned for her queen's well-being, Maya tried to return them. "Please, Your Majesty, you need it," she whispered, but Carina couldn't bring herself to accept. Maya, stubborn and determined, persisted. Eventually, Carina suggested they share, catching Maya off guard, but she very willingly complied. She very carefully settled down beside her queen, their bodies drawing close, and Carina could feel the heat from Maya's body. "How are you still warm?" Carina's shiver accompanied her question. Maya, contemplating the source of her warmth, attributed it to the nearby fire, but she herself was rarely ever cold. As she felt the chill emanating from Carina's skin, Maya couldn't fathom how painful it must be to endure such cold. Determined to provide comfort, she inched closer, hoping to share some of her warmth with her queen. Gradually, they found themselves lying so close that they were intertwined in each other's arms. As the night wore on and the cold persisted, Carina instinctively nuzzled herself into Maya's neck, seeking warmth in skin-to-skin contact. The exposed skin radiated more heat, and Maya, responding to the unspoken need for comfort, let the queen's hands slip under her shirt.

Maya moved to take off her shirt when she realized how much it helped, but Carina stopped her, saying, "You don't have to." Carina was scared that she felt pressured to, but the guard didn't mind. She got rid of her shirt and trousers, pulling Carina close again, who was still shivering.

In a moment of desperation and boldness, "May I?" Maya asked, seeking permission to undo the queen's clothes, and Carina nodded. With gentle hands, she helped her, immediately pulling her back into a warm embrace, holding her tight until the shivering subsided.

After a long silence, Maya apologized, saying, "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Carina wondered.

"This plan, the cold," before Maya could continue, Carina assured her, "It's alright. I don't expect you to control the weather; I'm just happy you're keeping me safe."