The air turned heavy in the tent. The happy and cheering faces, a moment ago, turned to scowl. She felt heat beside her and saw light steam forming around Levi. He took a step forward but stopped when Lara stood up.
"We are honored with your presence in our humble village, Your Majesty" Lara bowed slightly to Adrian. "I suggest you rest for the night and return to the Palace tomorrow morning"
"But Chief -" Levi started but stopped for the second time when Lara raised her hand to shut him up.
"Sasha, arrange a room for them and make sure they are comfortable" Lara continued, to which Sasha clenched her fist and nodded. The old woman turned back to Adrian "As promised in the past, you can keep using the cliff, but please avoid entering the village in the future. If we need anything, we will reach out to you."
Before anyone could protest, Lara left the tent. Everyone started following her out of the tent. Some children who were in daze looking at Adrian, were yanked by their parents out. Ignis couldn't look at their crying faces so she looked down at her half finished bowl. She lost her appetite.
"So you are the Fyre Princess" Ignis looked up at Sasha who was glaring at her.
"Yes"
"We knew the King was crazy but I am shocked to see him accept the alliance proposal of an enemy nation" she turned her glare to Adrian.
Adrian's face was hardened. He was looking at the exit through which Lara, Levi and other villagers left. Without turning, he asked Sasha to carry out Lara's orders at which she stomped out of the tent.
Ignis stood and went to Adrian. One look at him and she could see him slowly crumbling. She feared consoling or even touching him might shatter him totally. So she just stood beside him.
Soon they were ushered to a two storied house near the edge of the forest. Sasha led them to a big room with nothing but a partition for a bath, a table with two chairs and a big bed stuck to a wall with a small window. Two women followed them inside with hot bathing water and clean cloth.
"Ignis, go ahead and get fresh. I will come back in some time" he hurriedly left behind Sasha.
Ignis closed the door and went behind the partition. She was in dire need of a good bath after their adventure today. In a small mirror, she saw her face and was shocked to see it dirty and smudged.
Is this how I met others in the village? She was horrified beyond words.
She quickly took a warm bath, paying extra care to the face and changed into fresh clothes.
Ignis climbed the bed and opened the window. A cool breeze greeted her followed by a spectacular view of the cliff edge covered with thousands of glimmering stars.
Even though the view in front of her brought solace, she couldn't forget all the things that happened today. She was happy buying little things in the morning, she was scared when she saw the village boys diving from a cliff, she was embarrassed to cry in Adrian's arms, when she never remember crying in front of her parents. She felt anxious having dinner with Sasha and others and she felt helpless when everyone left Adrian standing alone in the tent, unable to comfort him.
Ignis could hear some fierce arguments on the floor below. There was no doubt what the topic of their discussion was.
She felt drowsy and decided to shut her eyes and wait for Adrian. She crossed her arm on the window sill and laid her head on it.
Ignis woke up to the light tap on her shoulder. She looked up to see Adrian's smiling face.
"Why are you sleeping like that?"
"I was waiting for you. Did you meet the others again? Were they angry?"
"They were angry but that's expected"
Ignis nodded. Adrian gave her a sad smile and fished out a small vial and showed it to her.
"This is a medicine used by the tribe to heal major cuts and injuries. Lara told me it also relieves pain caused by old injuries" he hesitated for a moment before asking "Can you allow me to apply this on your back? If it works till morning, I would like to order a few more before leaving"
Ignis was stunned. She quickly blurted out "N-No, I will ask Domi to apply it when we reach the palace".
Adrian sat beside her, his back to the window, and then slowly nodded "Ah yes, I am sure you are more comfortable with her. We will ask Lady Domini then" he averted his gaze "Get some sleep. We leave early in the morning".
He was about to get up from the bed, when Ignis caught his hand "Where are you going?"
Adrian turned to look at her, he frowned "I will sleep on the chair, you take the bed. Last time you were tossing the whole night. Sleep comfortably, I will wake you up in the morning" he gently patted her hand.
"I am not uncomfortable with you. I am ... I am just embarrassed" she said with slight irritation.
"What are you embarrassed about?" Adrian asked leaning to look into her eyes. She averted her gaze outside the window.
"Many things"
Adrian pulled her into an embrace. "A-Adrian?" she was taken aback momentarily.
"Princess" the way he calls her 'Princess', immediately relaxes her. "Tell me the things you are embarrassed about" he asked in a low voice. In the short time on this Land, she has gone more used to him calling her Princess than anyone in her life. She laid her head on his shoulder looking out on a moonless night.
"To show myself being vulnerable. I don't remember ever crying in front of anyone and today I did that twice in front of you. Last time I showed you my scars, not for any sympathy, but, for making you believe in me and my resolution. But... but, I can't do that again" her words choked.
Adrian gently brushed her long hair. When he spoke, his voice was soft and calm.
"I can't imagine the pain that you went through Princess, and no matter what I say will ever console you. But at this moment, those scars are nothing but proof of how courageously you fought to stay alive. I think it's time for you to let go of this pain. The scars will stay but you might earn some peaceful sleep".
"The pain reminds me of my purpose. If it's gone, I might go astray"
"I will not let you go astray. I promise."
Ignis pulled herself out of his embrace and looked at him. His eyes were calm but determined.
Adrian cupped her face with his hand and spoke with the same soft and calm voice.
"Princess, you have me now to fight with you. I do not plan to stay as your husband on paper only. I am going to fulfill all my duties towards you. I will give you my shoulders when you want to cry, I will believe you, even when, you doubt yourself, I will get angry when you act recklessly, I will take care of you when you are sick, I will cheer you the loudest on your accomplishments and many more things I will do for you."
She felt her body tremble and warm tears started to flow. He rubbed her cheeks with his thumb.
"I meant every single thing I said, so please let me ... let me heal you" Ignis kept looking at his pleading eyes.
After what felt like hours, Ignis lowered her head and nodded. She turned, her back facing Adrian, and tied her hair in a messy bun. She pulled her knees towards herself and put her forehead on it.
When Adrian didn't move for a while, she turned to check what was wrong.
"Uhmm" Adrian hesitated. "How do you open this? Shall I pull the lace?"
Ignis chuckled "You will suffocate me to death if you pull it any further". She told him how to open the lace and turned to face ahead.
"Forgive my ignorance of women's fashion" he said.
Adrian opened the lace meticulously and let the dress slide her shoulder enough for her back to be fully exposed. He took out the vial and slowly poured the viscous fluid, gently rubbing it thoroughly on every injury. A sharp sting made her close her eyes and hide her face between her knees.
"Hang in there, it stings for some time but you will eventually feel fine" Adrian assured her to which she nodded hastily.
He awkwardly massaged her back for some time until all the fluid was absorbed by her skin. He helped her lay down on front and pulled a blanket over her.
"Is it still stinging?" he laid beside her and rubbed the tears off her cheeks.
"It does, but, it's manageable" Ignis croaked then turned her face towards the wall.
Adrian stroked her hair for some time but soon he fell into a deep slumber.
Ignis stayed awake, the cries that she let out in her Castle for so many years, echoed in her ears tonight.