Dalliance

Chapter Forty Eight

Holly sat at her throne with a permanent smile on her face, being greeted by those she was in power to protect. Visitors from all corners of the kingdoms knelt at her feet and wished her well along with a long reign. With Dawson at her side, she felt as though nothing cold break her spirit. Going to extend her hand to be kissed, she began to tremble. In a flash, she recalled a few weeks prior when she took the prior King's life. How he had been gasping for breath and the dagger was protruding from his chest. 

"Your highness?" A guard asked as she looked to him as she began to breathe heavy.

"Pardon me." She said while collecting her dress and hurling herself to her chambers. Holding herself against the door, she collapsed on the floor, trembling and crying. A few moments later, Dawson entered with nothing but concern and fear in his eyes.

"My love, are you alright?"

"I cannot do it." She shook her head as she spoke. "I cannot act as if I am alright."

"What are you speaking of?"

"Guilt. It is eating me like nothing else. These people look to me as if I am their only hope, when I am...I not well..."

"Do not speak of things you do not know. Darling, you are the most brave woman I have ever known. You have defeated so much, and saved my and Nicholas's life. For that, I am eternally grateful. There is nothing you can endure that will make me turn from you. We have been torn apart too much to do such a thing...I love you, Holly. That is the strongest thing in this world."

He embraced her as she clung onto the back of his shirt, trying to cease her gaze. While lifting her gaze to the door, she saw the previous King's apparition. Holding the dagger in his grasp,he  had a haunting grimace on his face before disappearing. Dawson then pulled away and wiped the tear from her cheek.

"Now, come. Your people are beyond ecstatic to see you."

He lifted himself to stand, then extending his hand. With a forced smile, she followed him back to their thrones, where they finished the morning by shaking hands and terms of endearment.

By night, while sitting upon the dinner table, Holly stared into her soup, while continuous thoughts of murder and death lingered on her mind. Dawson gently touched her hand and their gazes met. Just as he was going to speak, the dining room door had burst open as a woman stood in the front of the room. She stood with long red hair that was wrapped loosely in a braid. Her chocolate eyes moved back and forth between Dawson and Holly as they both rose to their feet. The woman's skin was a toffee color that complimented her foreign features. She stood just over five feet-about three inches shorter than Holly, and had a look of fear deep in her eye.

"Your majesties..." She curtsied before rising with the remainder of tears on her cheeks. Dawson moved to her side and allowed her to sit beside him, while Holly was hesitant. The woman was wearing a dress not common among the poor and her hair was not able to be crafted on her own-although the story she gave had been just that; she was a poor woman with no money and men coming after her.

"Darling?" Dawson asked as Holly ceased her analyzing of the woman.

"Pardon?"

"She will stay with us, so we can give asylum to her?"

Holly forced yet another smile and nodded.

"Of course. I will have the finest room made up for you. And we will protect you, as much we can."

Dawson turned to her as she developed tears in her eyes.

"Thank you! Truly! It is honest what they say of you...you are such kind people-the most selfless and honest rulers we have ever had."

"Thank you, can we get a name?"

"Oh I apologize! Vera. I do not know my birth family, so it is just Vera."

"Well...just Vera...it is nice to have you here. If we can do anything, please, do not hesitate to ask."

"Yes." Holly agreed, feeling odd with the woman sitting beside her husband. Just to remind her of her place, Holly picked up a glass, making sure her ring was seen by both Dawson and Vera. "A toast, to our new friend."

They both lifted glasses and agreed.

"And to the kindest rulers in history."

Dawson looked to Holly with an amorous linger as she smiled back. As he turned from her, she saw the look Vera was giving to Dawson-the same one Dawson had just given her. Her heart and soul began to twist with a bad feeling. If only she would have acted on it, then...