Entranced - A King George III x Reader Fanfiction

･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* Chapter 10 - Ní Maith Liom Báid*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

✧･ﾟ: Chapter 10 - I Don't Like Boats*:･ﾟ✧

18th of December 1760

I was grasping onto George's arm as I carefully stepped onto the large British boat after saying a brief goodbye to my Mother. I studied the red-coated soldiers I walked past with intent as they either avoided my eye contact or gave me a subtle grin; the ones that had been rather absent for most of the king's interactions with me.

I breathed in the salty air as the sounds of waves lapping against the side of the ship filled my ears. My sense of sight hindered by the dusk that lay thick in the air. Anxiety nipped at the back of my neck as I slowly realised that this boat would be my home for the next night.

"You okay, darling?" I heard George whisper gently to me as he stopped walking and turned to face me, placing his hands over mine.

My eyes met his and I quickly looked way avoiding his gaze as I smiled unconvincingly

"I'm fine, your majesty." I breathed gently, my voice a slight whisper.

George squeezed my hand reassuringly as he dropped my right hand down by my side, holding his left arm out for me to take. I quickly seized the opportunity, needing the comfort. George looked down at me as I looked up at him, concern washed out his normally, bright, intelligent eyes and I felt guilty.

Ever since I was a child, I had a mild fear of boats; or so I thought it was only mild. One day my brother and I decided to take the rowboat out on the river, about a mile away from our house. We had a great time until it started raining torrentially. The river flooded easily in the rain and the current picked up and all I have to say is that it did not end favourably.

Since then, in an attempt to desensitise me to boats my mother had taken me on many short trips. After a while I got better. I had coped on boats many times before, so I could not understand, what was so wrong this time?

I winced slightly as the memory replayed in my brain, the drumming of the rain pounded in my head, the screams from my brother, the hissing of the sharp currents lapping against the jagged rocks of the riverbank.

I stopped walking. I stopped in front of a large door that the king had clearly intended on opening. The room was situated in the hollow space between the upmost deck and the deck we were currently stood on. The dark wood was ornately carved with crests and foliage, the heavy door featured a stained-glass window. The light shone through the glass casting colour on the deck below my feet, the waves and ship featured on the glass had been crafted with great care, it felt worth of admiration. Two red-coats were posted either side of the door, bowing in acknowledgement of the king as they politely grinned at me.

I took another, well needed, deep breath. Inhale, hold, exhale.

"Darlin-" The king looked at me concernedly cutting himself off as I opened my mouth to speak.

"I don't like b-boats." I stated matter-of-factly. This caused the King's mouth to form into an 'o' shape as the pieces fell together in his brain, his eyes briefly connecting with one of the red-coated soldiers.

"How about we get you inside, then we can talk." I smiled politely up at him, aware there was no escaping this conversation now.

He dramatically snapped his fingers, and on cue one of the redcoats carefully pushed open the heavy door, rather dramatically, revealing a dimly lit room. The other red coat then slowly made their way over to the king and quickly passed him the lantern he had previously been holding.

"Thank you, gentlemen." George nodded slightly at them. His arm moved protectively to my waist as he directed me through the door to the room as I heard it close gently behind me.

The room was rather large with the wall running closely to my left. My eyes fell upon the window centred on the back wall of the room. Among the window sat a four-poster bed with a couch opposite. The bed was elegantly made up with red and cream sheets, adorned with many decorative pillows. The bed sat on a fluffy, cream rug that added a cosy touch to the room. In the corner beside the bed was a dressing screen with an elegant chair placed next to it. The moonlight from the large window made shadows dance across the blankets lay across the bed, trailing their way onto the rug, and then the wooden floor.

To my right, stowed away in a little nook, was a desk and library area. I felt George's hand slip from my waist as I walked towards the library tracing my finger upon the spines of the leather bound, the sound of clicking heels following behind me rang through my ears as I gazed up at George in wonder.

"You have all this... on a boat?" He chuckled slightly sitting down onto of the desk.

"I do rule an empire, you know." I rolled my eyes at his arrogance chuckling slightly, pulling a book off the shelf I walked over to face him, placing the book in his lap.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" George whispered, reading aloud. His blue eyes slowly met mine as my lips curled up into a subtle smile.

"Controversial choice Y/N." He said chuckling as my face fell slightly, questioning his morals as a human. Before looking up to see him smile slightly, as I suddenly felt at ease.

"Have you read it?" I said meekly looking up at him as a flush fell upon my pale face.

"Why else would it be on the shelf?" George lifted the book from his lap before gently hitting me across the head with it, he stood up and made his way over to the bed, placing the book on the dark-oak end tables before turning and walking back over to me.

He carefully took my hands and led me towards the dressing screen.

"It's late, Y/N. The boat is getting ready to leave so it may be best if we get you ready for bed." He smiled gently, obviously aware of my anxious behaviour. He gently left me at the dressing screen as he walked towards the door, knocking on it.

A guard opened the door, I watched as they conversed quietly before the guard left, shortly returning with a familiar bundle of white fabric in his arms, making my cheeks heat up.

George chuckled as he made his way back over passing the shirt to me before gesturing to the screen as I slowly stepped behind it.

"My men forgot to pick you up a nightgown so fortunately for me, the shirt will have to do." George chuckled lightly the screen blocking his view from me.

"You're staying?" I said, I had expected him to leave whilst I was changing, like he did last time.

"Yes, I thought you could do with some company." I hummed back in response as I felta blush rise to my cheeks as I cautiously began to change in silence.