Red

Twenty.

I woke up later than usual. Typically, I woke up once the sun started to rise, but when I woke up today Court was already in the room seated in a chair. I looked up at him and jumped when I woke up before settling down.

Court looked over and smiled at me. "Morning sleeping beauty." Court murmured.

"What time is it?" I asked and Court looked outside.

"Around noon." Court answered and I nodded as I got out of bed. Court smiled at me as I went over to the wardrobe and picked out a dress for me to wear today. "I made some lunch for you. I made chicken soup with some noodles in it." Court turned over and picked up a wooden bowl.

"It's cooled off enough not to be hot." Court told me as I came over and took the wooden bowl from him.

"Thank you, Court." I murmured and he smiled.

I sat down on the bed and went to eating the soup. Like Court said the soup was warm but not hot which was refreshing. I didn't have to worry about burning my mouth, but the soup wasn't cold either which made it less desirable.

Court took a deep breath as I took another bite of my soup. "Are you okay?" I asked.

"I'm fine, just a rough night. I had to scare some teenager off at the sacrifice. He decided it would be appropriate to hang around the area and I had to scare him off before any of my pack showed up and decided to take other means to make him leave." Court revealed.

"Oh, I'm sorry." I murmured and Court shook his head.

"Not your fault, you didn't tell him to show up now did you?" Court asked as he fixed his posture and looked up at me with a smile on his face. 

"I didn't." I whispered. Court smiled.

"Anyways do you have anything you want to do today? I'm free for most of the day before I must go back and see the queen as she has some things planned today. So, I have to be back by dinner." Court asked with a smile on his face.

"Can we pick some more berries and fruit?" I asked and Court nodded.

"Get dressed and meet me outside with Celeste." Court told me and I nodded as he grabbed his coat and left me in the room by myself. I went back over to the wardrobe and took out my cloak and a jacket to wear with it. After that I put on my boots before going outside.

Court stood outside saddling up Celeste. He turned around and smiled at me as he finished tacking up. I went over and Court lifted me up onto the back of Celeste before he got up next. Celeste had a basket tied to his saddle for the berries.

I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around Court's waist. Court smiled as he steered Celeste out into the woods as we began the journey.

☾

"And here we are." Court spoke as he rode Celeste up to some bushes full of berries. He had brought us back to the original bushes. Court got off Celeste before helping me down as he tied Celeste to a tree and gave him some grass to munch on.

Court took the basket off Celeste before handing it to me. I went up and began picking the same berries as before as Court stood next to me watching. I smiled at him as I picked through the berries and put them in the basket.

"Could you help me pick some flowers?" I asked after grabbing the berries I wanted.

"Yes, I can show you the non-poisonous ones." Court smiled a little as he grabbed my hand and led me over to some flowers. "These are wild lilies. They won't get you sick." Court told me as I bent down and ran my fingers. "I can pick them for you." Court bent down and took out a knife he had on him and cut the stems before he had six cut lilies.