The Dream Oath

Chapter 3.3

Maria stepped into her new chambers, the Queen's Rooms. No one had used them since her mother died when she was a small child. The skeleton staff had worked hard dusting and polishing, but they still felt sparse.

"I was unsure how you preferred to decorate them," Ralse broke into her thoughts. "so I thought it better to leave everything to you."

"Thank you," Maria replied, looking at the bare stone walls.

"Maria," Ralse hesitated "sit with me a moment."

He retook her hand and led her over to one of the sofas near the roaring fire. She complied as she had with every request he'd made since she agreed to marry him.

"I know this is not how you saw your life going," he said gently still holding both of her hands in his. "If you can tell me how to make you happy, I will do it. I do not want to cause you further pain or grief. Your choices are yours, and I will always support you."

Ralse searched Maria's eyes to see if she took his meaning. He didn't want to scare her.

"I understand," Maria replied, dropping her gaze.

They sat in awkward silence for a moment before Maria stood.

"Please help me with my dress," Maria turned her side to Ralse so he could start on one of the many sets of strings holding the enormous contraption in place.

Ralse, unsure of her intentions, did as he was bid. First unfastening then helping her step out of layer after layer until she only had a petticoat left. He inwardly laughed at himself for seeming more frightened than she did. While the material was nearly transparent, Ralse kept his eyes steadily on her face watching for a flash of any emotion that would help him determine how to proceed.

"Well?" Maria asked pointedly as Ralse stood in silence. He stepped forward and gently cupped once cheek in his hand. Maria flinched.

"Is this what you want?" he asked.

"This is my duty as you have yours," Maria pointed out. Ralse dropped his hand away from her cheek and took her left hand in both of his, kissing her knuckles. A second flinch confirmed his suspicions.

"Do you want children?" Ralse asked.

"Does it matter?"

"Do you want me?" he pressed.

Maria looked at the floor, a tiny crease between her brows. When she said nothing, Ralse dropped to a knee in front of her to catch her gaze.

"Maria, I am not the sort of man to force myself on any woman. Much less the one I just vowed to cherish and protect."

Ralse paused to gauge her reaction, but she gave nothing away, so he continued.

"I would have you eat with me, take walks with me, rule with me if you wish, but here we cannot compromise. If you decide you want children, I will give you children. If you ever decide that you can trust me, I am here. But I will not force any more horrors on you."

"Then how will you have an heir?"

"Edgar will marry, and my niece or nephew will rule after me."

"I see," was all Maria offered in the way of reply. Inwardly, she relaxed. The worst was over. Her husband wasn't the brute he could have been, that many men would likely have been.

"Shall I send for your maids?" Ralse asked after a few moments of silence as Maria digested how her new life was going to be.

"Please," she said quietly before adding as a quick afterthought, "And Ralse?"

He looked up to see her eyes shimmering with an emotion he couldn't identify.

"Thank you," she said.

Ralse's heart glowed. A smile lit his eyes like fairy fires. Maria's countenance lost a little of its severity in the face of such a grin. Ralse's heart banged on the ribcage that held it in place. A thank you meant she wasn't entirely a lost cause. He had a chance.