The New Kings Pet

Chapter 12

I was feeling tired when we finally made it back to the Kings Chambers, Henry picked me up and carried me into our room and placed me gently on the bed. He cups my face with his hands and leans in to kiss me before there is a sharp knock at the door, he swears under his breath but goes to the door. I felt bad for the person on the other side of that door, Henry didn't seem pleased to be interrupted. "What is it that you disturb the Queen and I while we are at rest" he growls and I get off the bed wanting to see who was at the door. 

The servant that went to prepare Nicholas for bed was standing there, she seemed fidgety and nervous as she played with her hands and avoided eye contact. "I-I'm sorry my King, but the young Prince has awakened from a nightmare and won't settle" she stutters looking up and we make eye contact and her eyes seem as if tears are going to fall under the intense gaze of Henry. "I shall go and see what is troubling him" I put my hand on Henry's arm as he continues to glare daggers at the servant. 

He steps aside to let me through but not before roughly pulling me against him and kisses me harshly, when he lets go I begin to walk off but he grabs a hold of my butt and squeezes it. I yelp and the servant jumps frightened by the sudden noise as I rush away from Henry as he smirks at me with his arms crossed against his chest and he leans against the door frame. 

When we get to Nicholas's room I can hear soft sobs coming from the other side of the door. I rush in to find him on the bed when he sees me Nicholas rushes out of the bed and into my arms. I hold him tightly "it's okay I'm here now, you're okay I promise, there is no need to be afraid" I whisper hoping to reassure him. When his cries calm down a bit I finally catch a glimpse of his puffy red eyes and the snots running down his nose as he wipes it off with his sleeve. "Mommy I can't sleep by myself" he whispers and I nod kissing his head.

"How about we get you some new pyjamas and you sleep in bed with me and daddy?" he nods enthusiastically and I lift him up and open a drawer picking out a clean pair without snots on the sleeve. When he was dressed I carried him back to my room hoping not to find a naked Henry, thankfully when I opened the door again he wasn't in the bedroom and the sound of running water meant he was in the bathroom. "Okay, now be a good boy and hop in bed" he jumps from my arms and runs to the bed and under the covers.

I walk into the closet finding a nightdress and changing into it, I catch a glimpse of Nicholas sound asleep as I make my way to the bathroom hoping the get myself ready for bed. "Come in,"Henry's voice says from the other side and I open the door slightly squeezing through and shutting it behind me. "Was the child okay?" he asks softly his back facing me as he wraps a towel low around his waist, "I hope that it's okay with you but I brought him back to sleep in bed with us, just for tonight until I can sort something for him" he turns around and I see his face.

His eyes are sunken and his skin is beginning to look pale, "are you okay, are you feeling well?" I ask immediately rushing to him and holding his face between my palms. He leans into my touch and lets out a soft sigh and nods his head, I lean his tall body against mine and help him to the closet wanting to get him into bed and rest. I grab him a thin t-shirt and silently slip it over his head and guide his arms into the sleeves all the while I feel his heated gaze on me.

"You can manage to do the rest?" I asked gesturing to the rest of his body still covered by the towel. He nods again and I go to leave wanting to look after Nicholas, "thank you, I know you still have your doubts about me but I'm not your enemy Julia" he grabs my hand his eyes willing me to stay but I shake his hand and leave not daring to look back because the looks he would give me would make me forgive him in a heartbeat.

"You just had to ruin a perfect moment" I mumble getting into the bed as Nicholas cuddles up to me instantly, this reminds me of when I was this age waking up with a nightmare and creeping into my parent's room in the dead of night. My mother would get out of the bed and ask me what was the matter and I wouldn't be able to talk, she'd let me jump into bed with her and father and cuddle me until I fell back asleep. She'd pet my hair over and over, this calmed me down as she would hum soft songs to me. One song, in particular, was about letting the bad dreams leave and inviting the sweet dreams in. I remembered the tune and hummed it softly as I pet Nicholas's head.

"sleepy little child with the bad dreams in your head, filling you sleepy mind with dread, we didn't invite them in. goodbye bad dreams, now we have room to sweet dreams fit for a sleepy little head, now with sweet dreams in your head sleepy little child can finally sleep in the bed"

I sing it softly until his breathing evens out and he's fast asleep, I look up and see Henry smiling at me he walks over and gets into the bed each of us either side of Nicholas. "You'll be a great mother to a child of our own one day" he whispers closing his eyes. 

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Monsters don't sleep under your bed. They sleep beside you in it 

Peace out, Ty