“Ready?” At her slight nod I held her head against my chest and vanished from my room in the earthly mansion. Seconds later we landed in the eastern palace the royal seat of the crown prince. “You can open your eyes now love!”
She looked dazed for a second and couldn’t quite find her footing so I lifted her in my arms and headed for the nearest settee to sit with her on my lap. I knew we didn’t have much time before the others became aware of our presence, but I’d chosen the dead of night to give her at least a few hours to get use to being here.
She picked her head up after sitting in silence for a good five minutes and looked around at the grandeur of the main room where I’d brought us. Her body went tense seconds before I remembered my pet. “Don’t be afraid! Come Bellaque.” I held out my hand for the black lion to come to me.
He made his way slowly towards us, studying this new being who had infiltrated his space. “See, he’s a big old softie.” I rubbed his mane and he closed his eyes in pleasure before they snapped open again. His head turned to her and I was soon forgotten as he rested his head on her stomach; he’d sensed the child.
The two of them had some sort of staring match before she sat up and started petting him, talking softly to him. “Why did you name him after war?”
“Because when he’s not being a big old softie, he’s a vicious tormentor. Get use to him, he’ll be with you when I can’t be.”
She grabbed my arm when I made to get up. “What do you mean? You promised to stay with me.”
“Shh, don’t panic, I’m not going anywhere. I just meant there will be times when I have to meet with the monarch in private and I’ll have to leave you for a few minutes here and there. Those times Bellaque will be with you until my return.”
She looked back at the lion who was waiting patiently for her to continue her petting. “Bellaque, this is your mistress, crown princess Natalia.” He bowed his head in understanding which made her giggle. “Aren’t you the most precious thing? I can’t wait for you to meet Patrick you two will get along very well.”
It was only then that I realized the fairy was in attendance. She must’ve changed during the crossing. “Are you tired? Hungry?” She shook her head no and stood to her feet. “Let’s go for a walk, I want to see this place. I’ve heard stories of its beauty and grandeur but never in a million years would I have imagined being here.”
“Let’s go!” I took her hand and the three of us walked out into the night. Though it was ‘night’ there was no darkness in the kingdom which stays well lit all day with just a golden hue over the sky as the hour grows late. Still, most within the confines of the royal palace were already long abed or close to it.
We walked together with her in the middle and Bellaque and I flanking her on either side. “The moon is so close.” There was awe in her voice as she looked at the brightness of it.
“Yes, after our child is born I’ll take you up to the top of sky-mountain, there you can almost reach out and touch it. Or I can take you to the surface for a mini vacation.”
I didn’t give anything away when she reached for my hand and swung it between us, or when she rested her head on my shoulder as she tried to take in everything at once, but the heart my son accused me earlier of not having swelled in my chest. I like her nymph well enough but I think I can grow very fond of my fairy princess.
“Let’s go back, you’ll have a busy few days ahead I want you well rested.” I took her back before she could argue and not surprisingly she was asleep or halfway there after I gave her a quick bath and put her to bed.
“Why are there no servants here?” She mumbled the words as I settled in beside her.
“They’ll be here tomorrow. Since I’m never here it doesn’t make sense for them to be around constantly, and since I didn’t tell anyone that we were coming there was no need. Why, was there something you needed?”
“No!” Did she realize with what ease she moved over on her own accord and laid her head on my chest? Or how she sighed with pleasure when I wrapped my arms around her? It’s only been a few days, but already we’ve been growing use to each other.
She was no longer withdrawn and hesitant, no longer afraid of me if that mouth of hers was any indication. But these little shows of affection far outweighs anything I could’ve expected at this stage of the game.