Talia paused outside the doors to Prince Mikhail's room. In a single day, she had narrowly avoided being charged with treason, saved the Prince's life, avoided a charge of witchcraft, and had spent hours planning a hasty wedding with Madame DeGhal's assistance.
She was exhausted. She wanted nothing more than to fall into bed and sleep until morning.
On the other side of the door, however, the fall-out from her outburst, hours before, was surely waiting for her.
He had said that they would speak... at length. She would far rather sleep, and if there were any other place for her to go, she would have.
After all, it was ridiculous of her to have been so upset. Their marriage was not the result of a love match! She was a prisoner of war and politics, attempting to save herself and he was... he wanted...
Truly, the marriage would benefit Prince Mikhail in no way that she could see-- other than to assauge his debt of oath to Queen Ora. Which made her outburst all the more unwarranted. In his culture, it was perfectly natural to have as many women as one had an interest in taking.
Talia steeled herself and opened the door.
The first thing she noticed was the empty bed.
She took a few steps into the room, which was dimly lit by the soft glow of candles. It wasn't until she turned toward the fireplace that she saw him.
Prince Mikhail sat on a low stool before the fireplace. He was leaning forward, and his long dark hair hung down over his bare chest, partially hiding his face. An older man in physician' robes, whom she had never seen before, stood over him, and he appeared to be applying fresh plasters to Mikhail's back.
"I... I've returned," she said, though surely they had both seen her enter.
"Have you finished yet?" Prince Mikhail growled to the man beside him.
"Almost, my Prince, this is the last one," the man answered him.
Talia took a few steps towards them, intending to examine any of the wounds that were still exposed, but the Prince held up his hand to ward her off.
"I've had them move your trunks to my dressing room just beyond the bath. You may use it as your dressing room now. If you'd like to change into your nightdress, you may do so in privacy."
Talia frowned slightly. Nightdress? Was he not going to explain who the man was and why he had allowed him to see the marks on his back?
"Who is this man?" She asked.
"A physician in my service- he came from outside of the palace," Mikhail answered, addressing her concern without her mentioning it. "Go and change. He will leave shortly."
Talia's frown deepened as she studied the Prince. He looked well... far better than she had expected. His color had returned, and his posture suggested that his balance and some of his strength had as well.
Was her magic really so powerful?
"Go and change, he will be leaving shortly," Mikhail reminded her gently.
Talia nodded, and walked past him, entering the bath. She had noticed the door on the far wall of the room before, but had always assumed that it was an access for the servants to enter and fill the bath.
She opened it to find a small, circular room filled with drawers, two large wardrobes, and several wooden forms on which her best gowns were displayed. In the center of the room sat a large, comfortable divan heaped with pillows which faced a tall mirror leaning against the wall.
It took only a few minutes of opening drawers to find one containing her nightdresses.
Talia loosened the lacing of her gown and let it fall to the floor, before pulling the thin silk gown over her head.
She glanced at her reflection, and turned slightly, appraising herself from a side angle. The dress was looser than it had been at Bludston-- but perhaps it was partly because she wasn't wearing her underbindings.
At least it was comfortable-- most Unarian clothing was far too heavy and confining.
Talia had changed so swiftly that she worried there would be too little time for the physician to finish his work. She certainly didn't want to wander about in her nightdress in front of a strange man.
Deciding to wait a bit longer, she sat down on the divan, and found that it was quite soft. She was very tired after all... perhaps she could rest her eyes for just a moment...
Talia woke with a start as she was hoisted into the air. It took a few seconds for her to find her bearings and remember where she was.
"Sssh," Prince Mikhail's voice soothed her. "Sleep, Princess."
Lulled by his soft, low voice and the warmth of his chest, she almost did fall asleep again... until the memory of him barely being able to stand only that morning suggested itself to her.
Talia stiffened and grabbed his shoulder nervously.
"What are you doing? Set me down at once, Mikhail!" She hissed.
He paused and glanced down at her.
"I hadn't meant to wake you. I feared you might grow cold and-"
"Set me down, you're injured!" She interrupted, wriggling against his arms.
He frowned, but paused long enough to set her on her feet.
They had just reached the door to the bedroom, and Talia went through with a disapproving glare at him.
"You'll tear your wounds open trying to lift heavy things like that, you know!" She called over her shoulder.
"Heavy?" He muttered, following her in. "A wet sack weighs more than you."
Talia started at his words, and felt the heat rush to her face. He was referring to her being too thin again. If only he hadn't seen her changing!
"I... it isn't my fault that I've lost so much. I always lose a bit when on the road. I'll gain it back with a few proper meals, I always do," she insisted. "How are you... how have you improved to such a degree? This morning you could barely stand on your own."
"You healed me," he reminded her, walking past without a glance. He strode toward the fire place, and pulled the screen. Reaching down, he grabbed a small log from the wood bin, and added it quickly to the fire.
"S-stop that!" Talia sputtered. "You ought to be resting, not up and about, doing this and that. You are still healing. Let me see your back, I can reapply the plasters myself when I've finished examining-"
She reached out, meaning to remove the plaster, but he turned and caught her hand. Raising it quickly to his lips, he kissed her palm before releasing her.
"You should go back to sleep," he said, and turned to reach for another log.
Was he dismissing her yet again? Talia glared at his back.
"You said we'd talk," she reminded him.
"What does the Princess wish to discuss?" He asked, without turning to face her.
"Why you're behaving so strangely! Have I done something to offend you?" She demanded.
Prince Mikhail replaced the screen and then dropped into the chair closet to the fire, extending his legs almost lazily.
"The council members crossed the western border of Unaria early this morning," he said, glancing up at her.
"How long before-"
"They should arrive in the capitol within a week if they move quickly," he answered.
"Which means we'll have to marry within the next few days," she realized.
"What if..." he said and then paused, pressing his lips together.
"What?" Talia pushed.
"What if the King of Blackside has found some sort of a loophole in the treaty-- a way to free you? What if he you offers you safe passage to the Blackside Islands and an alliance?" He asked quietly.
"My people cannot survive another war," she shook her head. "I would never have surrendered in the first place if-"
"Not your damned country. You. What if he offers you... freedom?" The Prince asked, leaning forward in his chair as he watched her.
"Freedom?" She scoffed. "How could I be free while Vezda remains under the Empire? Besides, Blackside has little to offer beyond their navy. I cannot ask them for food or supplies for my people as it well known how much they have to import for themselves."
"If you must think only of Vezda," he began and sighed. " will you not consider that the survival of House Eosin is just as important to its people as-"
"You made me an offer and I accepted it. Do you regret that now? Do you no longer wish to marry me?" She demanded.
Mikhail started as if he'd been slapped and looked up at her with shock.
"Is it... is it because I was angered over your other women? I suppose... I suppose it is something I will grow used to with time," Talia said slowly. "Perhaps it was only that I wasn't... expecting it. It would be better if-"
"When I offered fidelity, I did not lie to you. You will not have to grow 'used to it'," he growled.
Talia nodded, and looked away, nervously clasping her hands together.
"You should know then that... that I will fill out... and look... look healthy again once things have settled somewhat. My bruises are already fading and my hands will soon-"
"You think I don't find you desirable?" He guessed, his tone incredulous.
Talia gave a short, stiff nod.
"This morning... you seemed... colder... after you saw me..." she stuttered.
"Stars of Torobirk," he muttered shaking his head.
Talia flushed and turned away.
"Don't blame me later," he growled.
She looked back to ask what he meant but found herself staring at his chest. Before she could speak, he swept his hand under her knees and hefted her up into his arms.
"What are you-"
"Don't blame me, and don't hate me for being so weak and selfish and that I could not part with you," he warned.
He held her tightly to him as he walked. With her head against his chest, she could hear his heart beating. It was beating fast... too fast, and it seemed irratic somehow, as if something were wrong.
When he set he down on the bed, she reached up, and placed her hand against his neck, still trying to determine what was wrong with his pulse. He scowled down at her.
"Your heart..." she mumbled, concentrating on counting the wild beat.
"You have it," he scoffed. "You've always had it. Why must I say it?"
Shocked, Talia drew a sharp breath and let her hand fall.
"Very well. If you must hear the words, then take them now: Yes, I love you. Yes, I want you. How do you not know it? You are the first thought I have when I open my eyes, and the last thought I have when I close them. You are the sun in my sky, your light warms everything. What? Do you doubt me?" He demanded.
Talia covered her mouth with a shaking hand, and shook her head slightly. There was so much she wanted to say, but the relief that burst from her heart at his words, was making it hard to keep from crying.
"Then what is it? Why do you look away? Why do you cover your mouth like that?" He asked, dropping to his knees beside the bed so that they were eye-to-eye.
"Why have you never said it before? Why do you act as though the idea of marrying me is so... distateful?" She asked, her voice breaking despite her best efforts.
Prince Mikhail sighed heavily, and then pressed his lips together. For a moment, she thought he did not mean to answer at all, but then he spoke, and she recognized the calm, low tone in his voice. It was the voice one would use when trying to calm a spooked horse.
"I know who I... what... I am. I have no illusions. I burned Vezdan cities to the ground. I have spilled as much Vezdan blood as any man in the Unarian army-- truthfully... more than other men. Your father fell beneath my sword. Though I tried, I could not even spare your beloved brother, and even your sister met her end through my involvement... when you first spoke of... of bridges... of feelings... of love, I thought it a clever trap. I thought you would feign such affection in order to set me off my guard-"
"I did not lie!" Talia insisted. "I meant-"
He caught her hand and pressed it to his cheek.
"Sssh... I know, I know that now," he soothed. "How could I not? I know you mean what you say, but your heart is not.. is not something you need waste on me. You are still that child, the one that could laugh and love and shine light on every person around you even in the midst of death and war and starvation. Every person you ever cared for was taken from you, even your people and your home-- snatched away, but what is inside of you is so strong that it must love others, it must continue to shine, and I was all that was there. You have my heart. You always shall, but I need nothing in return. Give your heart to someone who deserves it, Talia, please."