Chapter 11

Freya's POV

Forcefully, I peeled my eyes open. It took an effort because it felt like they had been glued shut. Light flooded my vision from every angle and I squinted at the sudden brightness, it was too intense.

When my eyes finally adjusted to the light, I tried to sit up and looked around. The door to the bathing chambers opened suddenly and Ana emerged holding a basin filled with water and a small towel. Both items fell from her arms when she saw me struggling to sit up.

"Your Grace" she exclaimed, rushing to me and grabbing my hand. "Your Grace, you're finally awake. Everyone was so worried." Tears streamed down her face. I had only met Ana when I moved to the palace but we had slowly forged a bond as time had passed and I felt a twinge of guilt for making her and everyone worry so much.

"Ana," my voice came out hoarse, but she continued crying, seemingly oblivious to her name. "Ana!" I called again, more insistent this time. She then paused her crying and looked up at me, her beautiful violet eyes swimming in pools of tears.

"Ana, I need water." I forced out. If I didn't get any water soon, I might resort to making her cry some more so I could ease my parched throat with her tears. My throat was drier than everything I had ever felt. For just how long was I asleep? I wondered within me.

Ana turned to the bedside table, it held a pitcher of water and a cup. She filled the cup and handed it to me. I drank the fresh water greedily, asking for more when I was done. She refilled my cup quickly and I emptied half of its contents before the dryness eased.

She then returned the cup to the table, her eyes filling with tears again. She knelt at the edge of the bed, grabbing my hand a second time.

"You have scared us all, Your grace," she cried. "I was so worried that you wouldn't…." her words died on a hiccup and her cries increased in volume.

Gathering my strength, I rubbed a hand over silky tresses. "I didn't mean to worry you or anyone at all Ana. Wipe your tears; everything is ok now." The corner of her lips turned up in a teary smile, and she gave repeated nods.

I patted her head and cleaned a teardrop. I was lucky to have this one. She obviously cared deeply about me as I did about her.

I felt rested and energized, a sharp contrast to how I felt during the birthing. "Now, where's my King?" I laughed. I couldn't wait to see Adrien and meet my child.

"I'll ask them to send a message to the King right away, Your grace." Ana said as she got off her knees. She went to the doors of the bedchamber and whispered something to one of the guards stationed there. I was quite sure there were several more on the corridors leading here.

She came back to me, nodding. "Message of your present state will reach the King soon."

"Thank you, Ana." I replied. "Can you get me a mirror?" I did not know for how long I had slept or what I looked like at the moment and I wanted to look pleasing to Adrien at all times.

"My lady?"

"A mirror Ana, quickly." I shooed her into action with my hands. I still felt a little bit weak, probably from lying down for so long, but my strength and mobility were returning.

"Yes, My lady." She hurried to the bathing chambers, side-stepping the mess she had made earlier and she returned a moment later, carrying a handheld mirror.

"There you go, My lady." she handed it to me.

Bright eyes stared back at me from the mirror, the blue looked vivid, not like I had been through a stressful birthing and had been unconscious for a while. It was the faint lines around the said eyes that gave me away. I had aged a little from the stress, nothing more rest wouldn't cure.

And my hair! The white lengths looked tangled up and not at all queenly. I didn't want Adrien to see me this way.

"Could you get me a hairbrush as well, Ana? I look awful." I asked and put the mirror down. Ana stood and watched me as I examined my face.

"The King would always think you to be delightful no matter the state you're in, My lady." She answered. "And you always do look radiant in all states."

"Thank you, Ana," I smiled. "but I would need that brush regardless. Hurry!" Adrien would be here any second now.

Ana soon came, carrying a delicate hair brush. I sat upright and allowed her to run the brush through my tangled hair in soothing motions while I looked to the far fields that I could see through the window.

"You have such lovely hair, My lady." She sighed from behind me.

Then, I felt it, an instant change in the atmosphere. The air became charged and all my senses were at alert.

Adrien was here!

"She is right, Snow." He drawled in his deep voice. I raised my downturned head quickly to see him. He stood at the entrance of the room, the sun kissing his skin and giving him an ethereal glow. He looked like something I had conjured up, and he took my breath away.

It felt like I had not seen him in forever and I wanted to rush into his arms. Ana quietly put the brush away, bowing to him before she left the room.

"Hello, Adrien." I whispered with a shy smile.

"Hello, Snow." He replied, raising one perfect eyebrow.

Laughing, I opened and stretched both arms out to him. And he came, climbing atop the bed covers and enveloping me in a crushing hug.

"Welcome back my love. I've missed you." He murmured into my hair.

I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him back as best as I could in that position. I relaxed into his arms, breathing in his familiar smell.

He finally let me go but stayed beside me on the bed and left an arm around my shoulders, hugging me to him. He nuzzled my hair and left kisses on my shoulders. It was a beautiful moment and we stayed that way, getting used to the feel of each other again.

"How long was I asleep for?" I asked after a while.

"Two weeks."

"Two weeks?" I exclaimed incredulously. "I was asleep for that long?" Surely he wasn't serious.

"Yes, Snow. You just slept, continuously." He replied seriously. "Only your constant breathing indicated that you were alive."

"You must have worried. I didn't mean to trouble you." I mumbled, looking away from him.

"But you did, Snow." His voice went octaves lower, and with a finger under my chin, he turned my head to face him.

His voice went even lower as he said, "And deep down, I know that you love to trouble me."

My heart rate went up, with the blood rushing through my veins. "Adrien," I whispered.

"Shhhhhhhhhh.... I'll make sure you know the errors of your ways, Snow." He rumbled as he brought his lips to mine.

My blood ignited in my body and I opened my mouth, eager to taste him. It had been so long and I ached for him.

Contrary to what I was expecting, he left a short kiss on my lips before leaning back. I frowned to show my disappointment.

"Later, Snow. You will pay for worrying me." I could not wait! His hooded eyes promised that I would enjoy every second of my punishment.

"The prince is here, Your Majesty." Ana announced from the other side of the door.

"Enter." Adrien boomed.

My heart skipped a beat. I was finally meeting my son. I did not get to hold him at all before I passed out on the day of the birthing and now, I finally could. My heart quickened for an entirely different reason this time.

The doors opened and Ana entered, carrying a little bundle wrapped in white clothes. I sat up immediately, leaving the embrace of Adrien's arms, and watched as Ana approached with my child. Mine! I could not believe it.

She placed the little bundle in my arms when she reached me, then stepped back. I carefully held the child to my chest, examining him and looking over every tiny detail.

Beautifully bright eyes stared at me in wonder and question, and his little patch of black hair shone so much. He was breathtakingly beautiful and looked so much like Adrien. Only his eyes were mine.

Every other feature on his face, from his little nose and lips and the curve of his chin pointed to Adrien. He was a little copy of the love of my life.

Staring at his face filled me with joy and another feeling I couldn't quite describe. Was this what motherhood was about?

I wanted to hide him away from everyone and show off that he was mine at the same time. I gently cradled my baby, tears pouring from my eyes. He was so so precious and I vowed within me to always protect him with all that I had.

The baby just looked on at me, probably not understanding why a strange woman was staring at him and crying.

"He is so perfect, Adrien." I murmured.

"Yes, he is." He murmured back.

"How did we create something so perfect? He is everything, Adrien. He is everything I wanted and more."

"I feel the same way, Freya. You and this child are everything to me."

"You hear that baby? You are everything your mother and father asked for." I cooed and kissed his little nose. I was rewarded with a wide toothless smile. He was so big already.

"What did you name him?" I asked, turning to Adrien.

"I didn't, I waited for you to wake up so we could do it together." He smacked a kiss on the baby's head making him giggle in excitement.

"What if I never woke up?" It surprised me that he decided to wait this long.

"You would have, Snow. There were no two ways about it"

"But what if I didn't?" I really wanted to know why he was so sure.

"Freya, you would not leave me behind. I would have gone to the ends of the world and beyond. I would have searched through universes to find you and bring you back to me," he said passionately. "I love you, Freya, and it only means that you are mine, and I am not letting go."

I stared at him, not saying a word as gratitude filled my heart. How was I deserving of all these? I must have been very good in my past life and I was reaping the benefits now.

"So what would you like to name him?" he asked after leaving me speechless with his words.

I turned my attention back to the curious gaze of our baby.

"Let us name him Killian, our little warrior. And one day, he'll hopefully become as strong and confident as his father." The baby giggled and cooed happily like he could understand my words.

"I like the name. It's perfect," Adrien agreed. "And I think he likes it too."

I watched the father interact with his child. He grabbed and played with the baby's little fist, increasing his giggles.

I smiled so hard that it hurt and contentment wrapped itself around me like a thick blanket on a very cold day. I felt so warm and fluffy on the inside. This was exactly how things were meant to be.