Mary hadn't expected to feel so alone without Francis. The night that Francis left to settle some business in Paris shortly after the attack, once Mary was comfortable with him touching her, Mary felt so alone in bed that night. Her eyes shot open after a nightmare of the attack.
She sat up, looking into the darkness. She reached for Francis and then realized he wasn't there. She stood and wrapped a cardigan over her shoulders as she left her bedroom to walk the halls. Her thoughts went back to the nightmare. He was there again, holding her down, raping her, making sure she felt the pain he could give her.
Mary went directly for Kenna and Bash's room. She gently knocked on the door, waiting quietly for the door to open. Bash peeked from behind the door. "Mary? What's wrong?" He asked. She shook her head. "Can I come in?" She asked. Bash opened the door to reveal Kenna sitting up in bed. "Mary?" Kenna asked.
"I'm sorry if I interrupted anything." Mary said quietly as she sat on a chair. Kenna stood and kneeled in front of her queen, holding both of Mary's hands in hers. "Mary what happened?" Mary took in a shuddering breath. "Francis is gone and I thought I would be fine sleeping alone. But I just had dream after dream of the attack. It seems silly, to be afraid of the dark at my age." Mary said as she looked down at her and Kenna's hands.
"No. Mary you have every reason to be afraid of the dark. What happened was not your fault and you have every right to be afraid to be alone. Would it be better if I slept with you?" Mary nodded and hugged her best friend. The girls stood and Kenna gave Bash a hug and kiss before leaving the room with her.
They noticed Greer and Lola walking the halls also. "Mary. You're okay. We came to check on you, we thought you might be afraid since this is the first night alone and we didn't find you." Lola said as she held Mary's hand. Mary smiled and hugged her friends.
"I went to find Kenna. I got so afraid of the dark, it felt as though he was watching me from all sides, waiting to attack." Mary said. "I offered to sleep with her." Kenna said. The girls began walking towards Mary's room. "We will all sleep in there. So you feel less lonely." Greer said.
#
Leith walked up to Bash, looking around the halls for Greer. She went to check on Mary last night and never returned. "Have you seen Greer?" Bash shook his head. "A guard said he saw all 4 girls talking in the halls and they returned to Mary's chambers. She got afraid last night with Francis gone." Bash said. Leith nodded, understanding her fear of the dark and loneliness. "I understand. Greer has been afraid for Mary since the night of the attack." Leith said.
"The girls haven't woken yet. I just checked. They are all passed out cuddled up to each other on the bed." Claude said as she walked to her brother. Charles was with her, nodding to agree with his elder sisters information. "Mary seems very clingy these days. I don't know what happened in the attack. I was gone." Charles said.
Bash gripped his sword as he looked around. "Me and Francis were gone to investigate something and some men came in, trying to murder Francis. Instead they found Mary and one raped her. She can't sleep by herself, she gets afraid." Bash whispered. Charles nodded.
Francis entered the hall, obviously looking for his wife. "Francis. Nice to see you alive after a night away. I was sure you would die without the touch of your wife." Bash joked. Francis chuckled. "Where exactly is Mary?" He asked. Claude spoke up. "She got afraid last night and went searching for Kenna. They ran into Greer and Lola and all 4 are still asleep in your chambers." Francis nodded. He knew that she may get afraid.
She had been afraid of the dark since the attack. And for all good reasons. She just wanted to feel protected. He walked towards their chambers and opened the door to see the girls sitting and drinking wine. "Good Morning." He said to the girls. They giggled, obviously drunk. "Mary, its too early to be drinking this much." Francis scolded his wife as he took the cup from her and set it on the table, helping her stand.
"Girls I thin that maybe some food and help balance this situation." Francis said to the others. He noticed that the other 3 were more sober than Mary as they walked out the room, laughing about something Kenna said.
He turned to Mary to see her hugging him close. "Don't leave me please." She begged. He chuckled and hugged her close. "Love I'm not leaving. Tell me what happened last night." He sat down, her sitting next to him. "I had a nightmare, of him. Touching me, telling me his plans. I just got scared and once I noticed that my candle had blown out I felt so afraid. I felt that he was watching me from all sides, waiting for my guard to be down so he could hurt me again. I went to find Kenna and fell asleep in here with all my friends." She whispered.
Francis stroked back her hair. "Well don't worry. The business in Paris is over so I will be home from now on."
