QUEENLY QUEST

Chapter Six - The King's Summons

As I drifted off to sleep, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Asher's presence had calmed my nerves, and I knew he would do everything in his power to help Tiffany. But as I slipped into slumber, my mind began to race once more. Dreams of the king's palace and dark dungeons filled my head, and I tossed and turned, my heart pounding in my chest.

Suddenly, I sat up with a start, my eyes wide open. Asher was still sitting beside me, his eyes closed, his breathing steady. But something had woken me, something that felt urgent and important.

I spun around, but there was no one there.  I felt a shiver run down my spine as I turned back to Asher. He was still asleep, oblivious to the strange feeling in the room. 

I lay back down, my mind racing. I tried to push the thoughts aside and focus on the task at hand - helping Tiffany. 

Asher stirred, rubbing his eyes. "Helena, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

I tried to calm down, but my heart was still racing. I didn't answer his question, instead asking, "What time is it? Is my mom back yet?"

Asher glanced out the window, where the moon was high in the sky. "It's about 1 am, and yes, your mom is back. She came in a little while ago."

I nodded, but Asher could see the fear still lingering in my eyes. He pulled me towards him, and I snuggled into his embrace, feeling safe and protected.

Just as we settled in, Asher asked again, "Helena, what's wrong? You were whimpering in your sleep, and when you woke up, you looked so scared."

"Oh, i had no idea you were awake." I hesitated, unsure if I should tell him about all that's been happening with me lately. But Asher's gentle prodding and the warmth of his arms around me made me open up a little. "I had a nightmare," I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "I dreamt the king's men came for Tiffany, and I couldn't do anything to stop them."

Asher's grip tightened around me. "We'll face it together, Helena. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out."

I nodded, and Asher gently lay me back down, pulling the blankets up around me. As I closed my eyes, I felt his lips brush against my forehead, and a sense of calm washed over me.

The next thing I knew, it was morning, and the sun was streaming through the window. Asher was still sitting beside me, his eyes fixed on mine as I opened them.

"Good morning," he said, smiling softly. "We've got a lot to talk about today."

I blinked, and blinked again, rubbing my eyes in confusion. Why was Asher sitting beside me, looking so...amused? I cocked my head, trying to clear the fog from my mind.

And then, it all came flooding back - the king's summons, the nightmares and Asher staying with me to keep me safe. My eyes widened in realization, and I quickly pulled the blanket up to cover my almost bare body, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks.

"You stayed all night," I said, more as a statement than a question.

Asher nodded, his smile still plastered on his face. "I did. I wasn't going to leave you alone after what happened."

I shook my head, still trying to process everything. "But...my mom? She allowed you to stay?"

Asher chuckled. "Well, let's just say she wasn't thrilled about it, but she understood that you needed someone to watch over you. And who better than me?"

I raised an eyebrow, feeling a mix of gratitude and embarrassment. "I guess that's true."

Asher's expression turned serious. "Hey, Helena? We need to talk about what happened last night."

I nodded, feeling a sense of determination wash over me. We would get to the bottom of this mystery, and we would keep Tiffany safe. No matter what it took.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, feeling a bit more awake after Asher's reassurances. He stood up, stretching his lean frame, and offered me a hand to help me up. 

"Thanks," I said, smiling up at him.

He smiled back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Anytime, Helena. Let's go downstairs and see what your mom has cooked up for breakfast."

"After we a bath of course." I said teasingly. "Right." He gave me a dimpled smile and I smiled back.

After cleaning up we headed downstairs, the creaky stairs echoing our footsteps. The aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling meat wafted up from the kitchen, making my stomach growl with hunger.

As we entered the kitchen, my mom looked up from the stove, a warm smile on her face. "Good morning, sweetie! Good morning, Asher. How did you two sleep?"

I smiled back, feeling a bit more at ease with Asher by my side. "Good morning, Mom. We slept okay, I think."

Asher nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the kitchen as if searching for something. "Yeah, we slept fine. Thanks for letting me stay over, Mrs. ... um, Helena's mom."

My mom chuckled, her eyes twinkling. "Of course, Asher. You're always welcome here. Now, let's get some breakfast going!"

And with that, she expertly stirred the stew on the stove, the sizzle and aroma filling the kitchen and making my stomach growl even louder.

After a delicious breakfast, Asher stood up to leave. "I should get going," he said, smiling at me and my mom. "Thanks for letting me stay over, Mrs Curtis."

My mom smiled and nodded. "Of course, Asher. Thank you for watching over Helena last night."

I walked Asher to the door, feeling a little awkward but also grateful for his presence. "Thanks, Asher. I owe you one."

Asher chuckled and ruffled my hair. "Anytime, Helena. Take care, and don't worry about last night. We'll figure it out."

With that, he turned and left, leaving me feeling a mix of emotions. I watched him go before closing the door and turning to my mom, who was busy concocting some sort of medicine in the kitchen.

"What's that, Mom?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"Just a little something to help you sleep better tonight," she replied, her eyes focused on the mixture. "You've been having a lot of nightmares lately, and I want to make sure you're okay."

I nodded, feeling a pang of worry. What was going on with me?