Claiming The Remnant

Chapter 63

[ Ethyn ]

Guilty. I was my own judge and jury. Everything was my fault. I had done nothing but make the wrong moves. Every tear that dripped from those precious lapis eyes was my fault.

Should have.

Should have.

Should have.

I was kicking myself on the inside.

Ye Gods, I still didn't know her name. My heart was beating for her. If I had only acted like a decent person when she first stepped into the room none of this would have happened. She wouldn’t be sobbing in my arms. She wouldn’t have thought that I would be as cruel or petty to let her drown.

I gave her space. Not physical space because she had begged me to hold her; not to leave her. No, the space that I gave her was emotional. She was an outpouring of emotion. There was so much for such a small person. This woman, who was suddenly the centre of all my thoughts, didn’t need me to be anything bar a comforting embrace.

Her skin was so soft. Everywhere we were connected made my skin tingle. I never wanted to let go. If only the circumstances were better.

“Hey,” My voice was a whisper, “you’re getting cold. Do you want to go or get back in the water?” Mon foudre was shaking, her teeth were starting to chatter.

"Cold." She sniffled, pulling a little closer. I didn't know what to do. Her whole demeanor had flipped and flopped about like a fish on land. She had pleaded, she'd been earnest, she'd been bold and funny, she'd been angry and now she was withdrawn and needy.

"Ok, let's warm you up then." Trying my best not to jostle, I scootched forward from where I was sitting on the ledge and stepped straight onto the stone seat.

"Ye Gods!" She squealed, slamming her eyes shut. It would have been funny and cute, considering she couldn't see, but as things were it just worried me. "Prince Ethyn, please…"

"Sois encore, mon foudre." I told her in the old language. Mostly it was lost but there were little bits that had stayed with us. There was every chance I was saying it wrong but it soothed her nonetheless. "I won't let go."

She only whimpered in response so I held her tighter. It was awkward but manageable; squating on the seat until my butt was down and I could flex my legs over the side. A sound of contentment unfurled from her lips as the water enveloped her little body.

The shivering subsided and this woman that made me hold my breath in unexplained wonder finally relaxed.

"Strange choice to have not removed your jewelry to bathe." I held the sapphire jewel between my thumb and forefinger. There was a list of questions as extensive as the year is long. I wasn't sure why I started with that one. Once again I was kicking myself.

"It's for medical purposes, Your Highness. Due to my ailment I can't take it off." She gulped. My hand was hovering over her unclothed chest and I recalled the way she had been hesitant to expose her body, the offence she had taken when she thought I was suggesting s*x in exchange for tutoring.

“My apologies, I was curious and forgot our circumstances.” I dropped the Pamperl gem. Was the necklace helping to keep her memories at bay? Had my Father somehow trapped her in this state or was genuinely for her health? A growl was growing in my chest but to avoid scaring her I pushed it down. “May I ask what imbuement it has?”

“It is for pain relief, Prince Ethyn.” Her eyes were open again, looking up at me but not quite at me. Agh, I still hadn’t put the light on. “And these are to syphon the magical infection inside me, Your Royal Highness” Her slender arm rose out of the water so she could show me the three bracelets there. To her it was true but I also hoped that it was the case and they did not have any sinister purposes.

“Please, there is no need to call me by the title Prince or Your Highness. It is just a sound, it means little where you are concerned.” Once again I spoke without thinking. The scent of her skin, like sea spray and mountain breeze, was tangling my mind. It was the scent of adventure. Then there was the way her eyes drank me up and her voice tickled along my spine.

“Is that why you have not asked my name, or used it if you know it? Because it is just a sound? Because I mean little?” Bitter words from her sweet lips that reminded me I was still making a hash of this.

"You are very astute. I wish I could stop putting my foot in my mouth but it seems I have forgotten how to articulate myself. That is how affected I am by your presence." My attempt to explain myself was met with a little confusion but ultimately there was a softening of her features. She glanced off into what was pure darkness for her.

"What is astute?" Her eyes came to my face, slowly. Lashes swished through the air and that sumptuous blue begged me to become immersed. She was a ravenous lamb. Sweet and innocent but hungry for the world. She was lost to her affliction, standing on a cliff edge looking for her beginning.

"When someone is astute they see the way something is and they look at it differently, in a smart way; a way that uses it to their benefit." I explained slowly and as simply as I could.

"Just because I didn't understand a word doesn't mean you need to talk down at me." Mon foudre snapped.

“I am sorry, I didn’t mean it in that way.” I huffed, feeling thoroughly exasperated with myself. “Please, I beg you; may we start over?.” What I wouldn’t give to go back to that moment in the library. To just be Ethyn, just a man struck by love at first sight.