All The King's Men

All The King's Men-Chapter Four

The water was freezing cold. Amelia stayed under for as long as her lungs would allow than slowly surfaced. She breathed deeply, and tread water as she tried to calm her racing heart. 

Eleanor is dead, and Micah will be put to death for her murder. Two lives gone for one miserable act. I will miss them both, she thought.

Her fingers and toes grew numb from the cold. She regretted her hasty decision to get into the water, and crawled on the shore shivering.

"God's Bones, girl, where are your clothes." She hadn't heard Lucas approach but suddenly he was beside her. He pulled her to her feet and wrapped his cloak around her shoulders. "You will be fortunate if you do not catch your death." He tried to lift her into his arms, but she jerked away. 

"Leave me be." She snapped.

"What were you thinking? Your on a mountain, it's barely Spring. You could freeze to death." He pointed back the way she had come. "Go back to the castle." 

"Nay," She held the cloak tightly around her wet, naked shivering body. Her teeth chattered as she stood defiant against him. "I do...not...wish...to see...their...conte...mpt." 

"Stop being such a child, Amelia, and get back to the castle before I drag you back." 

"I am not a child." She snapped back. He reached for her again, and she jerked away. Stepping back into the water up to her ankles. 

"Damn it, Amelia." Lucas advanced on her again, he lifted her into his arms and carried her towards the trail. 

"Release me, immediately." She screamed at him. 

"Are you ready to walk?" He asked.

Amelia's mind was numb from the cold. She shivered and curled into his warmth. "NO." She pouted. 

"What possessed you to go swimming in the middle of the night?" 

"I was covered in Ellie's blood." She whispered, resting her cheek against his surcoat covered shoulder, she sighed. "I miss her already." 

"I know." He sighed, as he stepped carefully in the darkness through the forest, he subconsciously tightened his hold on her. 

She squeezed her eyes closed tightly, trying to stop the tears that threatened. But the floodgates had opened, and the tears would not be stopped. Grief ripped at her heart as she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face against his shoulder. Sobs shook her. 

He rested his cheek against the top of her head and walked slower. They reached the clearing in front of the castle, he paused. Only one guard stood at the top of the gatehouse. Was that normal? he wondered. One guard in the middle of the night? He stepped back into the shadows of the trees. "Amelia." He nudged her with his shoulder. "Ame, is there usually only one guard on the gatehouse this late?" 

"Yes," She sobbed. "One guard at each tower." 

Lucas was surprised, but shrugged and carried her across the clearing. The guard nodded to him, but made no comment as they crossed the open drawbridge and moved through the outer barbican. 

By the time he reached the keep, and her chamber, the shoulder of his white surcoat was soaked with her tears. He set her on her feet just inside her chamber, and pulled the cloak tighter around her. Her chamber was freezing, the fire having all but gone out. "Hello," he called out. "Your Princess needs assistance." 

"There isn't anyone here." Amelia told him. She stepped away from him and let the cloak drop as she headed for the bed and the nightgown that lay at the bottom.