Desires of the Crown

15 - The Sounds of the Forest

          Alliar

I stomped through the camp site a little angry, at what I wasn't sure. I was frustrated with this situation, with the feelings rushing through me and with my forced predicament. But, mostly, I was extremely annoyed by my lack of control over my life.

Control was never something I had a lot of being a princess, I was told what to do, where to stand, what to say and how to dress. But I could say no. Now, however I had no control over anything really and the idea annoyed me immensely.

"Stop pouting." Jonathan ordered as he rolled his eyes at me and took a seat in one of the sleeping bags set up.

"I'm not pouting!" I said rather loudly earning me a chorus of groans and curses from the men around me, already trying to sleep as the sun set. "Sorry," I quickly apologised for my rudeness.

"Shut up and sleep Little Miss."

"And if I say no?" I folded my arms across my chest.

"Demetri get me my dagger, she wants to die!" He called out.

Die. Death. No I didn't want that. I bit down my pride and decided sleep would help pass the time despite the fact that I wasn't at all tried, or perhaps I was over tired?

I walked towards Jonathan as he reclined back on the make shift bed and sat myself down beside. "You have your dagger in your belt."

"I do. But you did as I said now didn't you." He smirked as he looked up at me.

I narrowed my eyes at him, showing him my discontent.

Jonathan reached up and gripped my chin hard. "Don't glare at me."

I pulled my chin away and out of his reach. My pride struggled to stay down and remain dormant.

Sighing deeply, I moved my body to lay down on the ground, pulling the thin blanket over me and trying to sleep.

Night fell quicker than I remembered, and the forest in which we slumbered in was soon black with only the light of the stars to guide your dreams. The cold breeze set a small frost over the ground and each breath I took created a strong mist in the air.

I bit down on my bottom lip trying to stop the chattering of my teeth as my body shock from the cold.

We must be further North than I first thought.

"Will you shut up already?!" Jonathan scolded me as turned again in his sleep.

"It's cold!" I yelled in whisper.

"Yes it is, deal with it."

"I am trying!"

I wrapped my arms further around me and hugged myself closer.

"Oh for the sake of the gods." He cursed and sat up. His hands gripped my waist and pulled me towards him until I was cuddled against his chest. His fingers ran down my dress as he pulled the strings of my corset until it fell from me making me a lot more exposed.

"What are you doing?" I frowned. I was cold as it was and he was attempting to take my clothes off?

"Shut up."

I rolled my eyes at him and waited silently. Jonathan's body soon warmed my back as he pressed himself against me, the heat of another person was a welcomes relief fro the bitter cold.

"If you even think about reaching for the dagger, I will drive it through your throat." He warned me.

"I'm too cold to move." I informed him in an attempt to give him piece of mind while he slept although I knew from my previous exposure to the man; he was too light a sleeper for me to gain the upper hand.