The Dream Oath

Chapter 5.9

Maria paced a circle around her sitting room. Gwen and June watched wide-eyed. Their mistress hadn't spoken a word since she got back. She'd stop every few laps to stare out the window and sigh.

The reality of her position had hit her repeatedly in the past six months. But this was different. It wasn't even the debate of her duty as queen that turned her arms to lead. She had duties just like everyone else in the castle. That was what survival required - not just from her, from every living creature in the kingdom.

But Ralse had been a good friend to her. She took several more circuits around the room turning the idea of friendship with the man who was responsible for destroying her future. He was a good man in spite of all of that. Edgar had drilled home the importance of facing unpleasant facts over the course of her husband's trip.

Ralse was a good man. Fact. He even seemed to genuinely care for her. Probable fact.

It would be wrong of her to give herself to him while still longing for another man.

Draco was dead. Fact. Maria squeezed her eyes shut and halted her pacing for a moment. Still a fact. If he'd managed to survive, he would have come back for her by now.

Even her dreams where he did arrive, she was now plagued with hesitation between following her heart and following her duty to her country.

Maybe Ralse would understand that she was still grieving - for her family of course. Best not to discover if he was the jealous type.

She could have resigned herself to her duty if he'd not given her an option. Maria clenched her fist as she walked frustrated that she was given a choice. Deep down she knew that she would do the right thing for her country and unexpected family. But maybe not right now.

She'd try to love Draco first. It'd been months. Her heart still hurt for Draco and Cecil, but it was time to move on.

Gwen rushed to open the door as Maria switched courses to go look for her husband. Neither paid attention as Maria collided into Ralse whose hand was raised to knock. As they collided, Ralse's arm automatically moved around Maria's waist to prevent her from falling.

The couple froze for a moment as they realized what their bodies had done while their minds were elsewhere. Ralse immediately removed his arm from her waist and took her hand instead.

Maria looked up into his eyes. Without the resistance to him she saw trepidation, as if he was unsure of her as she of him. The corners of her mouth turned slightly up as they held each other's gaze. She noticed brown flecks in his green eyes that she'd never seen before. There was another emotion. One she recognized from a seeming eternity ago.

He loved her. Maybe he didn't even know. Maria recognized the expression from how Draco used to look at her when they were young. The hope for something with underlying uncertainty.

Maria saw her hand move up to touch his check. With her mind still fixed on his eyes, her hand registered the rough stubble, the strong jawline. He looked surprised at her touch.

"You're a good man," Maria broke the silence.

"Maria," Ralse interrupted. "My half-sister sent word that she will not sign a treaty with us until she meets you. She's worried you'll want revenge."