WHY SHE'S UPSET

The next morning, Thaggar woke up to find Akira already out of bed. He got up and looked around the room before the door opened and some women carried in a tub and pails of water. Akira entered after them with a bucket of her own and she smiled at him.

"You shouldn't be doing that." Thaggar reprimanded seriously,"Who gave that to you?"

The other women looked at one another and Akira sighed.

"I did it on my own. This is just in case the water is too hot."

Thaggar glared at her for a few seconds then he nodded and got up. Akira's face fell and the blood drained from her cheeks. He was standing completely naked as if she was the only one there even though there were other women her age. She was glad that they weren't innocent young girls but she didn't like the fact that they didn't even avert their gazes and we're blushing.

"What are waiting for?" He asked making the women start pouring the water into the tub and walk out in a queue.

"Let's bath together." Thaggar said gently to Akira as he took the bucket from her and put it down.

"No. Why don't you call them back and bath with them, you seemed quite comfortable a while ago."

Thaggar blinked a few times and then his features hardened as if realization had dawned on him.

"They aren't required to bath me anymore since you are here. They shouldn't make you feel insecure."

The air in Akira's lungs was sucked out of her as her jaw dropped. A grown man was being bathed?! Akira slowly backed away from him while laughing but he could tell she was angry.

"Akira, they just scrubbed me." He said closing the distance.she had created between them.

"All of them?! Scrub a grow man?"

"No. One for each body part." Thaggar corrected with a sloppy smile on his face that made Akira want to slap off.

How was that any better?! Akira was about to say something when her eyes fell on his lower half. Was there someone to wash that as well?!

"I don't want to speak with you." Akira said and turned around making Thaggar both confused and panicked.

He grabbed her hand and went to stand in front of her to block her path.

"Why are you upset?"

"Ask the women who bathed you. I'm sure they'll know. I'm going to my room. Don't talk to me until you find out why I'm upset."

Akira walked away from him and left the room, leaving him standing with a confused look on his face. He was unhappy but he bathed and then left to attend the daily council meeting. As expected they were all looking cross after the turn of events last night. Fanak in particular looked like he was about to explode with anger. Ignoring their expressions, he sat on the throne and officially begun the meeting.

"There is a change in the date of my marriage to Akira. It shall be in a week on the night of the new moon."

"What made you change your mind?" Fanak asked not trying to mask his displeasure.

"I just the people to know their queen." Thaggar answered matching Fanak's tone.

Fanak harrumphed and looked away, not saying anything else.

"I have a question, my king."

"Go on, Teffa."

"Why haven't you consummated your marriage to Savvy?"

The room fell silent and even Fanak was now paying attention. Thaggar was quiet for a while then he sighed and his eyes fell on Fanak before quickly lifting to look at the door that was slightly ajar.

"Who is at the door?!" He barked and the person quickly closed it.

"As for your question, ask Daki. She knows the answer and I'm sure you are all on good terms."

Thaggar got up and started walking out, not wanting to continue with the meeting. He knew there really was nothing to discuss so leaving would make no difference. They all wanted to talk about last night and he knew they were all formulating ways of making another competition between Akira and Savvy.

"We won't have any meetings until the wedding passes. Make it as grand as possible!" He announced as he threw open the doors.

He heard the murmurs as he walked out and ignored them.

"Where did she go?" Thaggar asked a guard that was standing outside.

Without a word, the man pointed to the right to a hallway that led to the backside veranda. He nodded and walked in that direction to find Savvy folded up in a corner, crying. His gaze softened as he approached her and sat next to her. He let her finish crying without disturbing her and he waited until she composed herself.

"Are you alright?" He asked, truly concerned.

"Why won't you love me?" Savvy asked, her voice cracking.

"Ask Daki." Thaggar responded without hesitation.

He wanted his marriage with Akira to be accepted by everyone and that included Savvy; she was his sister after all.

"Why can't you tell me?"

"It's not my story to tell. I only know part of it."

Savvy finally looked him in the eyes, her own shinning with unshed tears. She nodded and looked away in resignation.

"If you choose to only be with Akira then...what happens to me?"

"You have your own crown to wear but....it isn't as queen."

"It's isn't about being queen, it's about being YOUR queen."

Savvy took hold of his hand and tried to wrap it around herself but Thaggar quickly pulled away, clearly cross in contrast to his earlier gentle facade.

"Akira wouldn't like it if she saw you touching me."

"Akira.....?" Savvy asked weakly, looking down at her hand that Thaggar had separated from himself,"You met her merely a few days ago and she is this important? So important to the mighty king of the North!"

Thaggar stood up and looked down at Savvy who was back to crying, looking him straight in the eyes.

"Yes Savvy, Akira doesn't like other women touching me."

Not wanting to see her tears, Thaggar turned and walked away. He heard something shutter behind him, probably a vase but he didn't stop walking.