Victoria Short Scenes

Chapter 2

SPOILERS - Continuing 2x03 Warp & Weft

Victoria and Albert were both laying in bed, wrapped in each other's arms, their awaken faces lightened by the weakness of two or three flickering candles. Victoria's cheeks were still wet, for she hadn't been able to stop herself from crying for the past few hours. The room was silent as was the whole palace. Albert was holding and caressing her hand and repetitively kissing the top of her head that was resting on his chest.

She let out a long and trembling sight. All tears seemed to had left her body and this empty look was filling her eyes.

"Albert?" she suddenly said, breaking the silence. She looked up to him.

"Yes, liebes?" he responded, looking deep into her beautiful blue eyes, afraid that their sorrow was going to swallow him up.

"Do you remember" she paused "that time we went to Windsor, and you saved Dash from that terrible trap he got caught in in the woods?" there was a feeble smile on the corner of her lips.

"I do remember. I tore my shirt and made a bandage with a stick. You were so worried about him."

"If it hadn't been for you, I don't know if his wound would have recovered so quickly!"

"Yes he healed very well."

"You know Albert, when I was 18, the morning I woke up when the two messengers came to announce that my uncle had passed away, I knew that I was going to be the Queen of England. I was so nervous and mother would not stop fussing about. I remember thinking 'well at least I am not alone. I have Dash to keep me company!'. He was so excited, he knew what was happening." she was smiling now, as if she could see the pictures of her own early life being played before her eyes. "I remember him running around and following me in the corridors at Kensington. I used to take him to bed with me, even if mother didn't approve of it, and cuddle him before going to sleep. He was so quiet and understanding. He knew when I was happy, he was jumping around and..." tears began to roll down her cheeks again, she sobbed "and answering my laughs with little barks. And he knew when I was worried or sad too. He would sit on my lap without a move, and I would talk to him for as long as mother or sir John would be out of sight."

Albert was looking at her with all the love he could give. He wanted to put his compassion into words, but he wasn't very good at it.

"I just wish...I wish I would have been here...to say goodbye, and...to hold him. He must have felt so lonely." she tried to wipe her cheeks but tears kept coming down.

"You were here, Victoria." Albert whispered "you have been here for him, as he was for you. All this long and beautiful life, here at the palace. You spent all this time cherishing him and I am sure that he was as thankful to you, as you are to him."

"But in the end, he was alone, my tiny dog in this gigantic cold palace."

"No, he was not, because you filled his heart with love, and he couldn't have been at a better place."

"Do you really think so?"

"I do."

They paused again. She had hidden her face in his neck, and he was wrapping her, this tiny and fragile body that kept shivering from time to time. She looked at him, tired.

"I...I went to see Lord M. To say goodbye. He is returning to Brocket Hall."

"I am glad you did. I am sure that meant a lot to him. And to you. I am...so sorry." he was hurt to see her so low, but he couldn't let go, because he wanted her to know that he was here for her, even through the worst. "I wish..oh Victoria, I wish I could make things better but listen; those are difficult times that one must face in life. The difference is that you have me, and I have you. We have each other, so we don't have to suffer in silence like, sadly, most people do. I love you, and I will help you through pain and sorrow and whatever life may bring us."

"Oh Albert..." she took his face into her palms, looked deep into his eyes, and kissed him "I love you too. So much. Thank you, my angel."

He kissed her back, and a few minutes later, she fell asleep into his arms, tired of this emotional day. She would wake up the next morning with the most terrible headache, but at this moment, sleep brought some peace to her heart and mind.