CHAPTER 4 (Part one)
When King Richard started to wake in the mornings, he would always feel like he"s been watched over, strangely though, he didn"t feel bad about it.
As the King tried to get back into routine, Mahnu followed his every move, fascinated at how much he could fit in one day. His children"s protection was prioritized because of the attempts made on his own life. Within the first day of his arrival the King finds out that his son was under attack once while he had been away.
He saw his children two days after he returned and she thought that he was very much the doting father.
King Richard listened to his eleven-year-old son enthusiastically as he went on about his studies and combat lessons.
They both got rather carried away when the young Crowned Prince mentioned about meeting the people in the south town of Harval for a brief time while the King had been absent. He had visited the Queen"s father, the Queen and Princess also attending.
The Prince had loved meeting the people and seeing a blacksmithing shop. Watching the weapons and armour get made was very exciting to him. Mahnu liked the King’s chuckles of laughter at his son’s wide, excited eyes.
After the Prince left, the small eight-year-old Princess entered and ran happily to her father.
Her voice was still that of innocence, as she told her stories to the King. Mahnu watched her closely and wished all little girls could be as happy as the Princess. She seemed energetic and would jump around to emphasis what she was saying. Her energy had made Mahnu stifle back a laugh.
Yes, she thought, little girls like her, who could spread happiness like that, would be great for the humans.
Mahnu, over the days, started to also follow the Princess. It started to become a game for both when Mahnu would appear and disappear and the Princess started to look for her wherever she went.
When only the Princess was looking, Mahnu gave her a flower and then disappeared just as fast.
When the princess talked to her father about her new friend, Mahnu would smile to his thoughts of wondering if it was her.
Mahnu was surprised on how attuned to her the King was, as he was already thinking that she was there watching over him.
Mahnu wasn’t surprised when he even admitted that he liked the idea of her watching over the Princess as well. Even then, it was still apparent, that the thought that it could be her close by, distracted the King.
The thoughts of others observing the King acknowledged a change in his behaviour, worrying Mahnu slightly. Was it that she was too much of a distraction?
That night the Queen could finally see his Majesty and Mahnu was surprised that she seemed mature, until she started to talk.
She seems to worry about needless things, Mahnu noticed. She thinks herself better than others.
A superficial, materialistic Queen didn"t seem to fit what Mahnu had imagined as the King"s Queen. When the Queen left, after talking, Mahnu wondered why they weren’t closer.
Was it because of it being an arranged marriage? Mahnu tried to understand the concept of it and thought it not much of a problem. Is it necessary to become very close to your spouse? Mahnu had seen older people together after a long time and was curious on how they had lasted so long together.
Princess had seemed happy with her husband to stay with him and not be unfaithful.
Were the King and Queen that comfortable together that they didn’t need to see each other for a long period and spend much time together? Then, wouldn’t have been easier if they were just friends so that they could both find someone else that they wanted to be with more? Why do arranged marriages exist in the first place? Even if it was just for the sake of having two families come together, was it something that really worked?
Mahnu shook her head. It seemed like she didn’t know much about human relationships.
***
When another attempt at King Richard’s life came, that is when he saw the maiden next. She stopped the arrow right before it would have hit him in the heart.
Before she left again, she slightly bowed and swiftly ran in the direction that the arrow had come from.
The King forgot about his wife and children, who were attending a walk with him, and ran in the same direction as Mahnu. He was not sure if he"s more worried about her being attacked or that he doesn"t want her to run away and not see her again.
He wanted to see her again, she still needs a bath!
The culprit, this time, was stopped from killing himself and the King let out his anger on him for not being about to see Mahnu!
The knights were only thinking that he was angry because the King was shot at and that no other reason was necessary.
Later, when the King went to have his bath, he let the people to help serve him go and he was left alone.
It was such a rich room, Mahnu saw looking around again, it was a huge bath, like a small dam and there was even a one metre waterfall to the side.
“At least let me thank you for saving my life.” The King said in hope.
He was sure that she was here but nothing happened and he suddenly thought himself so silly that he laughed.
Then, suddenly, she appeared! As though falling from the sky, landing easily on her feet.
She lowered her head and kneeled. This action of hers just made him angry!
King Richard stormed towards her and picked her up, putting her over his shoulder. He heard a small sound from her that made him want to jump for joy. The thrill was almost like winning a war!
I knew it! He thought, antic.i.p.ating that he was going to hear her voice soon.
Throwing her into the bath, he stepped in himself. He put his arm around her waist and watch her breath heavy and saw her eyes wide in shock. She was angry...And so very desirable!
As he held her tightly, he started to take the clothes of her. But she stopped him.
He put his head close to hears and said, "I"m not letting you go till you are nice and clean!"
Nothing, ever, had happened to her like this before! Did he even realize that he had just threatened a G.o.d!?
In return, the King was thinking that she seemed to think she can get away with whatever she wants, even though he was the King!
His breathing on her neck and his arms tightening around her made her forget. How or why could she yearn for something like this? Was it that she hadn’t had someone touch her and now that she has, she wants it?
Mahnu felt his lips touch her skin and to her surprise, she let out a sigh. It was like his touch was magnified to everything else she had known. She had never realised that being touched could cause such sensations!
His closeness had distracted her enough to let him take off the dirty clothes she had on and he held her closer to him, breathing in sharply as he felt her naked body next to his.
Mahnu could tell by his thoughts that he too was feeling like herself, that this feeling was, indeed, interesting. His naked body was quite nice to touch with her hands, although she wasn’t sure on what she had expected in the first place.
With her eyes wide, naked and dripping wet body, he was momentarily paralysed. It was a sight to behold, he thought, feeling himself grow hot with hunger.
Then they stared at each other.
He hadn’t thought about what he was doing. Up till now it was all just natural instinct.
Just what do I plan to do? He asked himself. It was strange that he suddenly became nervous. But as he continued to stare he became lost to his urges once again.
"You are beautiful" He said and kissed her.
He didn"t know why he was so captivated with someone that didn"t even know how to kiss!
She was pushing him away, but he was sure it was not her full strength. The King felt her shiver as she felt his arousal against her and smiled. He wanted her so badly.
Moving a hand down to her higher leg, he brought it up to his hips and started to kiss her neck.
"NO!"
Her voice startled him and before he knew it, she was out of his arms and vanished from the room.
King Richard took a moment, still stunned to hear her voice, to realize that she had disappeared naked!
Putting a hand to his head, he let out a big sigh in frustration. Had I pushed to hard?
He noticed that it was difficult to keep calm, something he had never had to hold back before because he had never felt such desire.
Entering the cold waterfall, he hoped he could cool down both himself and his thoughts.
***