Chapter 25: Someone's help

Larkin stood beside the bed with her hands over Astrid who was sleeping soundly. Niel sat beside her holding her hand and caressing it gently while he watched Larkin closely. He was startled by her presence but also relieved.

"So?" He asked impatient and scared.

"Let her rest, she's good for now" Larkin opened her eyes and frowned. Her eyes darted around the room and then back to Astrid. "That would be all"

She said a little bit loud. Then sent a hand signal towards Niel. They both stepped away from Astrid and walked to the deeper parts of the room towards the fireplace.

"Someone tried to kill the child" Larkin whispered for Niel to hear. Niel's eyes darkened. He was infuriated by that fact, he felt like burning the culprit alive.

"You have to get the lady out of the kingdom" Astrid continued. "That's the only way she will make it out" she explained.

"Why should I trust the word of a shaman?" Niel also had his doubts.

"Listen, in as much as we despise each other we both have a common goal and that's keeping Astrid safe" she restrained the growl that trembled down her throat. "We have to get her out of here, make sure this is kept between us, not even the queen should know"

"The queen?" Niel arched a brow.

"Whoever is trying to harm Astrid would have the same motive for the queen" Larkin concluded

"How are you so sure?" He retorted and turned to his wife with a tender look in his eyes.

"Isn't obvious, they are after you, what best way to take you down than killing your beloved wife or loving mother" Larkin scoffed, she turned to the flickering flames in the fire and sighed. "Take her to her people, they'll protect her, that I can vouch my life on"

Niel turned back to her and tilted his head."why are you helping us?" Larkin walked past him towards the door.

"I'm not helping you" she hummed "I'm helping someone who I owe my life to" in the twinkle of an eye she was gone.

Niel walked to Astrid and laid beside her, he gently stroked her belly and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stress you"

"It's fine" Astrid smiled and opened her eyes slowly. Niel chuckled and rested on his side.

"Someone was eavesdropping" he teased.

"Not really" Astrid confessed and looked around. "Where's Larkin?"

"She left a while ago, wanted to talk to her?" He asked, Astrid placed her hand on his chest and pushed him down while she sat on him. Niel's eyes darkened as he scanned Astrid's body. "I don't think you can hold up a round in this condition"

Her cheeks lightly flushed at his words. "I was trying to get up" she denied while turning to the fireplace. Niel gently stroke her down south and raised himself up. He leaned closer to her flushed ears and whispered.

"I think you helped someone else get up"

"Nielsen!!!" She shrieked. Niel laughed lightly and hugged her gently resting his head on her bossom.

"I love you Astrid, heir or no heir"

Astrid tangled her fingers in his hair. "I love you Nielsen, throne or no throne"

OONA'S POV

I watched lady Cornette and her girls twirl and twirl round the room as they danced to the music being played. My eyes lazied round the steps.

Dancing wasn't a problem for me, it was enough to keep me calm in my dungeon. Cornette kept counting from one to three while doing some fancy foot work.

"I presume you are jotting down the steps" she said, I looked at the book in my hand. All I wrote down were words I recalled from the books I've read and a scrawny drawing of me and Nohr.

"I'm terrible at this" I sighed heavily and covered my book. It was almost dinner time but Lady Cornette wasn't letting go. She was practically forcing me to stay here.

"You look tired" my heart skipped a beat when I felt a presence above me. Sage stood behind the couch I sat on. His eyes glued to the book in my hands. "You've improved in your spelling"

"Milord" Cornette bowed to him and smiled brightly. "It's an honor to have you here, mind taking a few turns with Milady, she needs tutoring to help her sore footing"

I felt a sting in my chest, I was complimented by this woman a few minutes ago, now her tongue twists into tutoring and a sore footing.

"Alright" I craned my neck to look at him. My breath hitched when he leaned forward. 'too close'

"May I?" Sage seemed different since the day at the lake, he looked more free and at ease. Even his eyes had turned calm and soothing. We have had a few decent conversations, though there are hardly any laughs but at least, decent.

I put aside my book and took his hand. He led me to the dancing floor and directed me on the way I should start. "This is easy" I hummed to myself while bowing gently.

The next minute I was half an inch away from Sage. I could tell my face was betraying me and my voice squealed when his arm firmly wrapped my waist. "Are you alright?" He asked gently.

Once again I was reminded of how little I was in front of him. His body literally towered mine. The music began to play and we danced to the tune. My eyes were glued to the little space between us, I was trying to hide my cheeks and swelling face.

"You don't seem to be enjoying yourself" I raised my head gently, resting my gaze on his russet. I could clearly hear his beating heart up close. 'He does have a heart'

"I am" I replied shortly. "I am good at dancing" I tried to sound calm and composed.

I heard a sweet hum one that had my eyes staring at Sage for a while. He had a smile on his face, a calm, sweet and sincere smile. I felt giddy inside. Of course I've seen Sage smile a lot of times but none were this pure, real and sweet.

I was so entranced by his smile, I hadn't noticed we were both glued to each other. His face drew near mine and I felt warmth on my forehead. Something I remember vividly.

"Mother"

"Are you alright?" I broke from my thoughts and turned to him. He looked worried and his hand palmed my cheek.

"I am" I sniffed in, I was definitely crying. I rubbed off my tears with my long sleeve and smiled reassuringly. Just then my stomach growled.

Sage turned to Lady Cornette and she stopped the music. "Come let's eat". He pulled my hand and led me out of the room. As we walked past Lady Cornette I could see a smile draw up her face.

What was cracking the old lady up?

We both entered the dinning hall, hand in hand. Well a lot of servants had smiles on their faces, Bjorn on the other hand was grinning with his teeth open.

We sat down and quietly ate our meals, I could feel a thousand eyes on me. I often glanced at Sage to see his reaction but he didn't seem fazed as usual. A smile creeped on my face and a warm feeling in my chest. "Thank you Nohr"

I whispered to myself and wiped off any threatening tears.

THIRD PERSON POV

Sage watched Oona closely as they ate quietly in the room. He was right after all, if he was going to harness the full potential of Oona's power he had to be more calm, patient and free with her.

A deadly glint appeared in his eyes and a sinister smile. He was a few steps closer to achieving his goal.

Oona stared at ceiling, watching the paintings on it, her lips curved upward and her eyes glimmered. She wished she could reach out to the paintings and touch them, feel them.

She swayed round and round, humming to herself. These few days had been easy on her, maybe God finally heard her cries. She giggled and skipped in joy.

"Oona" she paused for a bit and stood still, looking back and forth she found no one. She wondered to herself where she was this time.

Her eyes trailed round the hallway then back at the ceiling. "Oona, I am watching you" her breath hitched. She felt a heavy presence right behind her.

"Did you think I was gone?" the hallway became gloomy and dim, creating a lot of shadows and shades on object. "I'm still watching you, your every move. I have my eyes on you maiden of death"

Oona squeezed her gown tight and shut her eyes. Her mouth gaped and she squealed. "Who are you?" She turned round and flung her eyes open. She was tired of being haunted down, though she knew she deserved it, she wished her punishment was at a go.

A maiden stood in front of her, the same from her nightmares but this time she had human skin. Her eyes stared at Oona like she was a prey to feed on. "So you are aware you deserve death?"

Oona was shocked at first. How could she read her thoughts? "Don't be surprised" the lady hummed. "You're death, all restless souls reside with you. Almost as if we're one"

"I'm deeply sorry if I have killed you or caused pain to you in the past..."

"You did none of such" the spirit smiled. "I just know who you are and the sins you've committed"

"So why are you tormenting me?" Oona felt a little bit unhappy, what could she possibly have done to be strangled every night by someone she did no harm to.

"I need your help" the spirit took bold steps closing the distance between the both of them. She stared intensely at Oona's blue eyes. "I know you're the only one who can help me, you've gained my trust so I can entrust my soul with you"

Oona was lost in the eyes of a sad soul. Her eyes could see the past of the woman infront of her. Almost reliving her life. "You're..."

"Goodnight Oona" the spirit whispered into her ears. Oona's eyes became heavy and she slumped.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: It's a dream

Oona woke up feeling light like a feather, she never thought she could sleep without a nightmare. The curtains were down and the room was a little bit dim. She looked round but she couldn't find Sage. He'd normally be sitting somewhere in the room watching her.

She tried to move but felt someone else's warmth caressing her back. Her body jolted to the tip and her breath hitched. He was right behind her. She pretended to be asleep for a while when she realized that Sage was moving closer to her.

Her thoughts became furry and clouded. "Are you running away from me?" Her stomach twisted in guilt. "You did something wrong didn't you?"

She tried to say something but her tongue failed her, she was beyond guilty. Worst of all she ran away right after she caused havoc. Sage slid his hand through her waist and pulled her in.

Oona gasped and quickly covered her mouth while wiggling like a worm trying to free herself. "Ohh you aren't going to go unpunished that I'll assure you" her face grew pale.

She had never done something that warranted a punishment from Sage, even when she broke a vase. She could only imagine the kind of treatment she'd receive. Her face

She summoned up courage and wiggled herself to face him, which she later regretted. Sage wasn't wearing a shirt. Her face was directly facing his chest. Her breath hitched and her eyes began to glow up.

"What are you trying to buy your way out?" Sage asked calmly unfazed by oona's cowering figure.

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath along with Sage's scent. "I-I am..." She looked up to his face. Both stared at each other's eyes. "I'm sorry"

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Releasing 3 chapters next week. It will explain a few vague things in this chapter.