Desires of the Crown

25 - Plain, Simple, and Silent

          Allair

I opened my eyes feeling the nip of the cold air tickle my skin. My teeth began to clutter and make an unpleasant noise. I turned my head feeling a small breeze carry into the room. The glass doors to the balcony were open and Jonathan stood outside, leaning against the railing, watching the sunrise with the tide.

It was moments like these were I wished I had of cut his throat the first night.

I stood up from the bed and wrapped the fur blanket around my body to keep myself from shaking. Tentatively I walked, barefooted, outside to stand just behind him. His black eyes were focused on the horizon, watching as the sun rose above the horizon and the water ripple and reflect the colours of the sky. His bare chest and back was bubbling in goosebumps from the cold but yet he made effort to warm himself. I studied him puzzled. He was tense. His shoulders hunched as he leaned forward, his arms showing their strength and his fingers were laced together so tightly his knuckles were turning white.

There was something about his stance and demeanor that had me turning back around and walking away. Whatever it was he thinking about, it was private and I wasn't going to question him about it.

I walked towards the chairs by the freshly lit fire and sat down, bringing my knees to my chest and watching the flames dance.

A knock sounded at the door and I turned my head towards the sound. The noise seemed to have snapped Jonathan out of his moment of reprieve as he shook his head and walked back into the room, closing the doors behind him. "Come in." He ordered.

The door opened and a young man rushed in with a tray and his head bowed down - just as he had last night. "Your Grace," he bowed and quickly retreated.

Jonathan moved to sit in the chair just opposite me and nodded towards the food. "Eat."

I didn't need to be told twice. Pulling the tray of fruit towards me I took a big bite of a fresh apple while my hands spread some jaw across a piece of bread.

"See it's moments like these when I think you've been raised in barn." He smiled and reached across the table, taking one of the pieces of bread I had spread the jam on.

"You starved me for days, I think I've earned the right to indulge a little." I let him take the bread and went to work on buttering another piece.

Jonathan nodded and quietly ate his breakfast.

As he finished eating he reached for a shirt and pulled it over his head and smoothed it out over his chest. "There is a dress on the bed for today. Don't draw attention to yourself." He warned me once again as he tied his belt around his waist and added his multiple daggers to his belt and boots.

"I won't." Well, at least not on purpose anyways.

Jonathan disappeared out the door with haste while I made my way over towards the dress. I unfolded the cloth and dropped the furs to the floor. Pulling the dress over my head I fixed it to my body and worked to tie the strings at my breasts to keep it from falling.

It was was a deep blue, plain and modest. Nothing to make me stand out amongst the crowd - which, was the desired aspect. There was a layer of lace over the top with long laced shelves that were held in place from gold rings at my elbows that I tightened slightly. I pulled my hair back over towards the left side of my face while I worked on creating three small braids and tying them at the back of my head. There. I doubt Sister Claira would have much to disapprove about this.

It felt truly amazing to be free of mud and wearing a dress so simple and elegant again. I never much cared for it back when it was all I had in my life, but now that I have known what it was like to have that same comfort taken away from me, I welcomed it back with opened arms and prayed it never left me again.