Ascardia

((10)) No Time For Mourning

Once awake, Nyx felt her grief take hold like an iron corset, squeezing until she could no longer breathe. The events of the night before lifted her grief until she woke. She was alone in the bed she shared with Nox. Her husband. The word still felt so foreign to her, even with their comsummation last night.

She rose from the plush bed, feeling the soreness between her legs. She rang the bell on the wall, and Clio appeared.

"Morning Cattra Onyx. Would you like me to run a bath for you?"

"That sounds lovely Clio."

Never being one to be shy, Nyx shed the men's blouse she wore. The cool air of the bedchamber made her nipples instantly hard and the sensation caused a throbbing sensation between her legs.

"Would you like help washing your back and hair?" Clio asked from the bathroom, the rose scented oils wafting towards Nyx as she stepped closer.

"No, could you find Enoch so he may aid me?"

"I'm afraid Lord Enoch is in a meeting. They're planning the coronation."

The coronation another nail in the coffin reminding her she had no time for mourning her dead father.

"Very well." Nyx slid her body into the water. Having had many bruises before now, she hadn't noticed any until Clio gasped.

"Princess, your breasts are bruised! As is your stomache are you alright?! Did Lord Enoch harm you?!"

Onyx couldn't help but to laugh at the absurd accusation that Nox could ever harm her, in love with her or not. She was far more skilled in combat than he was.

"That's absurd! Nox could and would never harm me...unless I wished it so." Onyx gave her handmaiden a wicked smirk.

Clio gasped at the innuendo and went back to the task of brushing and washing her long ebony waves. Onyx busied herself by washing between her legs, her arms, her thighs, calves, feet, and chest. Clio got everything she couldn't reach.

"It is good to see you happy again Onyx Rose. Even in this time of sorrow, you find a little happy with Lord Enoch."

Onyx dressed in a simple mourning frock, it was black satin with emerald lace overlay. Her corset was well hidden, and bit into her skin with fervor. It was uncomfortable, but it was proper attire when the castle was occupying guests.

Properly dressed, Clio attacked her hair and makeup. When she was done, Nyx's hair was pulled back in an empire pony tail high on her head, and her eyes reminded her of the Pagani she had faced all those months ago. Her lips were her trademarked red, and Clio had given her a beauty mark just above her lip on the left side.

Satisfied, Onyx slipped on appropriate shoes for a soon to be Queen, and went to find her husband.

***

Enoch woke before even Malik. He stood and looked to the still sleeping form of his wife, she had begun to cry in her sleep, fresh tear tracks stained her beautiful face. He placed a kiss on her forehead before dressing for the day.

Perhaps he would ride Matilda into the garden, it had been a long while since they had galloped anywhere and perhaps a race with Deidra would be satisfactory.

Nox pulled on his riding boots before exiting the room. Clio and Bernie were tending the fire and putting a tea kettle on to boil.

"Good morning Lord Enoch, would you like some tea?"

"No thank you Clio. When my love wakes, draw her a bath with the rose oils."

"Of course mi'lord." Clio said before turning back to her task.