Stolen Moment

A sudden knock on the door shattered the moment. They both froze, hearts pounding in their chests as reality crashed over them like a cold wave. "Your Highness, may I come in?" a maid's voice called from the other side, polite yet insistent.

Eirik's eyes flew open, panic and desire warring within him. The tension between him and Sadiki was thick enough to cut with a knife. For a brief moment, they were two souls caught in the treacherous currents of their forbidden love, teetering on the edge of an abyss.

Another knock came, louder this time, jolting them from their shared shock. Eirik's frustration was palpable, his breath coming in short, angry bursts. "Wait a moment!" he called out, his voice strained and edged with irritation.

In a flurry of motion, Eirik and Sadiki scrambled to dress, the intimacy of their moment shattered by the interruption.

Eirik's hands trembled with anger and disappointment as he fastened his robe, the lingering heat of their encounter a bitter reminder of what had been lost.

The sense of urgency gnawed at him, each stolen moment with Sadiki was a precious treasure, yet so fleeting, so fragile.

As they hurried to compose themselves, the maid's persistent knocking continued, each knock a reminder of the precariousness of their situation.

Eirik took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He shot a glance at Sadiki, whose eyes mirrored his own frustration and longing.

"I'm sorry, my prince," Sadiki whispered, his voice heavy with regret and unshed tears.

Eirik shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. "It's not your fault," he said softly, voice thick with emotion. "We will find another moment."

The maid knocked again, more insistently this time, her concern evident. "Your Highness, are you alright?"

Eirik took a steadying breath, his voice strained but controlled. "Yes, you can come in now."

The door creaked open, and the maid entered, curtsying deeply. "Your Highness, I've brought your meal," she said, her tone deferential but her eyes sharp as they scanned the room.

Eirik forced a smile, though his heart still pounded with residual desire. "Thank you. Just leave it on the table," he instructed, his voice clipped, as he tried to suppress the frustration bubbling inside him.

The maid nodded and stepped into the room, carefully placing the tray on the table. As she arranged the dishes, her gaze swept over the disheveled bed and Eirik's flushed appearance. "Is everything alright, Your Highness?" she asked, her concern laced with curiosity. "You seem…"

Eirik's heart skipped a beat. "I'm fine," he interrupted, perhaps a bit too quickly. "Just a bit tired."

The maid gave him a small, uncertain smile. For someone that just woke up, I don't think so, her expression seemed to say, but she held her tongue. "Of course, Your Highness. If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to call."

Sadiki bowed slightly to Eirik, his eyes conveying all the words he could not speak aloud. Eirik nodded in return, a silent promise passing between them.

They would find a way to be together, no matter what the future held. For now, they had to play their roles, but their love would never be quenched.

The maid went about her duties, changing the prince's bedding and tidying up the room.

She noticed the bed was more rumpled than usual but shrugged it off, attributing it to a restless night.

To her, it was just another day of attending to her duties. To Eirik and Sadiki, it was an eternity of frustration and unspoken longing.

Eirik watched her, his thoughts far from the mundane tasks she performed. His mind was consumed with how he could create another moment with Sadiki, how they could steal time in a world determined to keep them apart.

The maid finished changing the bedding and gathered the dirty sheets in her arms. "I'll be back shortly to prepare your bath, Your Highness," she said, curtsying again before exiting the room.

The moment the door closed behind her, Eirik turned to Sadiki, who had maintained his post by the door.

Their eyes met, a spark of understanding passing between them. Sadiki's presence was both a comfort and a torment, a reminder of what they shared and the insurmountable barriers they faced.

Eirik's gaze dropped to the meal before him. Though his appetite was nonexistent, he began to eat, mechanically lifting bites of food to his mouth.

Each bite felt like a chore, his mind replaying their stolen moment, his heart yearning for more.

Sadiki stepped closer, his eyes dark with intensity. "My prince," he said softly, his voice a low murmur, "we must be more careful."

Eirik sighed deeply, running a hand through his still-tousled hair. "I know," he whispered, voice thick with frustration and resignation. "But we don't have much time. I could be sent to Zephyros at any moment."

Sadiki's gaze softened, his fingers brushing against Eirik's. The contact was brief, but it sent a shiver down Eirik's spine. "I understand, my prince. Just know that, no matter what happens, I'll always love you. Always."

Eirik leaned into Sadiki's touch, his heart aching with the weight of their shared but unspoken vows.

"We'll find a way," he repeated, more to reassure himself than anything. But as the words left his lips, they felt hollow, like a promise he wasn't sure he could keep.

Sadiki nodded, bending down to press a gentle kiss to Eirik's forehead. "We will," he said firmly, his voice a quiet vow. "No matter what it takes."

Eirik resumed picking at his food, the meal before him turning to ash in his mouth. Sadiki reluctantly returned to his post by the door, his eyes still lingering on Eirik, when he heard footsteps approaching.

The door creaked open again, and the maid returned, carrying a large basin of steaming water. She set it down near the bath and began to prepare the rest of the bathing area, oblivious to the charged atmosphere between the prince and his guard.

Eirik and Sadiki exchanged a final, lingering look. Then, Eirik moved to the bath, allowing the maid to help him undress and slip into the warm water. The heat seeped into his skin, soothing his tense muscles, but it did nothing to calm the storm within him.

Sadiki's eyes followed Eirik's every movement, dark with intensity. His heart was heavy with the weight of their unspoken vows, the silent promises that could never be fulfilled.

It was a torment to be so close, yet so far, a cruel game of fate that had entwined their lives together only to keep them apart.

As Eirik sank into the bath, he closed his eyes, allowing his mind to drift back to the fleeting moments of intimacy with Sadiki. Each memory was a bittersweet balm to his aching heart, a reminder of what they shared and what they could never fully have.

The maid worked efficiently, washing Eirik's hair and scrubbing his skin with practiced hands. She chatted lightly, trying to engage him in conversation, but Eirik's responses were distant and monosyllabic. His mind was elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of Sadiki and the future they both longed for but could never pursue.

Finally, the maid finished her task and helped Eirik from the bath, wrapping him in a soft towel. She dried him off and dressed him in a fresh robe, all the while unaware of the emotional turmoil swirling within him.

"Is there anything else you need, Your Highness?" she asked, gathering the dirty towels and linens.

Eirik shook his head, offering her a polite but distant smile. "No, thank you. That will be all."

The maid curtsied and left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

As soon as she was gone, Sadiki moved to Eirik's side, his presence a balm to Eirik's troubled heart. They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their unspoken words hanging between them.

"My prince," Sadiki said softly, breaking the silence. "We'll find a way."

Eirik nodded, reaching out to take Sadiki's hand. "I know," he whispered, his voice filled with determination. "We'll find a way. No matter what it takes."