The Merger

Catharsis

The sky was dark by the time you arrived at the gates. Samuel announced himself to the guard and saw the fellow's eyes widen.

You smiled sweetly.

"Princess! Where have you been? Everyone has been searching for you."

"P-Princess?" Samuel felt a frog in his throat. He was currently escorting the Princess home. He was touching the Princess. He saved the Princess. Wilson almost fainted at the information.

"I'm fine Wendell. Please escort Sir Samuel to the east wing and provide him with whatever luxury item he desires."

"Yes your highness, " the guard bowed, "oh, Princess?"

"Yes?"

"The King wishes to have a word with you as soon as possible."

"Of course."

---

Your chat with your father would have to wait. All you were focused on doing was washing up and heading to bed. You were hungry but everything seemed to make you want to vomit.

James saw you enter the building with Samuel. The two know each other quite well since Prince Steve was to make Sir Samuel Duke of York after the wedding.

Barnes ran up to you, relieved to see you were okay. But you didn't seem it. There was dirt on your face and all on your front, your hair was dirty and you just didn't seem like yourself.

"Princess-"

"Bucky! So nice to see you!" Samuel interrupted and led James astray. You were thankful for the interruption, you couldn't bear letting him know what happened.

Steve on the other hand. You seemed to want to tell him. Let him say a quick remark, feel like things were back to normal.

He found you bathing later in the night after dinner was served. He hadn't seen you in hours so he assumed you had run off like you always did. He knew you could take care of yourself, you'd done it a thousand times before.

"You had everyone scurrying around for you. What happened? Did you grow tired of your lover?" he began but noticed the fire was low. You were alone, which was odd for a royal. Bathing alone in a cold dark room. Steve began to undress, trying to avoid you but something inside him couldn't. You looked ghoully just sitting there in the water.

"Have you finished?" he sighed. The prince didn't expect you to jump, which caused him to jump.

"Shit! When did you get here?" you covered your body as best you could while grabbing a robe.

"Just then," Steve paused, "are you alright? You're all pruny," he noticed your fingers.

"I'm fine. "

"Then get out. It's my turn."

You took your time getting up, hearing his sighs made you smile. Not out of spite, it was just normal. His bath was drawn as you changed into your nightie. You kept close to the fire, feeling the sudden coldness of the world.

"Do you ever want to get out?" you whispered your thoughts while staring at the flames, noticing the brick in the chimney sweating behind it.

"I can leave whenever I wish. I'm a prince,"

"Not what I meant, " you muttered and turned to him. His back was being scrubbed by a shy servant girl. Eyeing his chest hair as it trailed down his body. Steve loved the attention, especially from the pretty ones.
"Leave us."

The girl paused, staring at you in shock then turned to Steven for affirmation. He shooed her with rolling eyes.

"What is going on with you?" he asked boredly, "you disappear all day and come back with Samuel Wilson as if you're close-"