I fell asleep at one point, though I couldn't exactly recall when. The ride in this carriage was infinitely smoother than the previous rickety one we had left with. And the cushions were so comfortable in comparison to the log I had slept against. I didn't feel the carriage stop when we returned to the palace grounds, but I did feel when someone tried to move me.

"I'm okay. I can walk," I grumbled, but even just opening my eyes felt like a strain at the time. "I don't want to be a bother."

Strong arms slid behind my back and beneath my legs, lifting me off the bench seat. I knew just from the way my body sank into comfort, just from the subtle scent of spring wind and campfire that it was Xion who held me.

"Oh, little dove," he murmured, his words sounding so close to my ear. "I would name every star in the sky after you. Let me at least do this for you."

And so, I melted a little further into his hold and let out a soft sigh. I didn't open my eyes again until we were in my bedroom.

"Here we are, darling," Xion whispered. I felt his arms shift as he moved to put me on the bed. After such a long carriage ride, I should have been dying to lie down and it was clear that I needed a nap. But my own arms moved, winding themselves around his neck.

He froze instantly.

"Right," he muttered to himself. "You probably don't want to crawl into bed in your traveling clothes." And I was tipped so my feet were on the floor. His hold moved to my waist as I continued to keep my arms wound around him.

I was tired, exhausted to the bone. I needed time to process what I had just been told, all of the things his mother had said. And he was right, I probably needed to change, but something in me refused to release him. I wanted him to stay. I wanted him to whisper all the sweet things on his mind to me, wanted him to tell me about the moon and the stars again until I fell asleep.

"Do you..." he cleared his throat awkwardly. "Would you like assistance with undressing?"

"I can help her," Daisy offered. And it was the sound of her quiet footfalls that made me leap away from Xion as if he had burned me.

"I don't think I really need help. Sorry, Xion. I didn't realize just how tired I was. But you are right. I should probably change into something better to sleep in. Maybe, I'll even have a bath before I try to sleep for a while."

"I will fetch some water for you," Daisy offered.

"Right, well." Xion shuffled backwards, eyes dropping to his boots. "I should probably go catch up on the things that were left unattended. Kingdoms apparently don't run themselves. But, if you have questions about anything at all, come find me. Okay?"

I gave him the barest of smiles. "Okay."

With how often Daisy had demanded I undress and redress in front of her, I had no issues being bare in the water with her around. Frankly, it was hard to complain about anything when the steamy air in the bathing chamber smelled like rose petals and the hot water soothed my deepest aches and pains. I felt like my eyes were closed more often than they were open while I lied there.

"I can take care of myself. You are a seamstress, not my maid," I said, but didn't move to stop her as she began rubbing soap into my hair. I couldn't label the scent that was floating in the air, but I knew that I liked it and with Daisy, I knew that I would come out of this bath looking like a goddess.

"You scared off the only woman who wanted to even consider being your maid shortly after you came here. I'm sure Xion would assign you another if you asked, but for right now, you're stuck with me."

"Well, I am delighted to have you take care of me," I sighed.

She pampered me to the fullest extent. Any part of me that had been a little disappointed to not venture into the hot springs was soothed by her steady hands and her sweet-smelling hair oils. She hummed as she worked, allowing me to close my eyes and rest. She helped me dry off when she had finished and the sharp pains I had been feeling before softened into dull aches as I climbed into my bed.

"Should I assume that your dress is not worth salvaging?" she asked, wrinkling her nose in disgust at my dirty and damaged tunic and pants.

"You would be correct," I confessed. "Sorry."

"It's alright. But are you alright? Judging by these clothes, your journey was quite eventful. More eventful than the quiet carriage ride I dressed you for." Her brow furrowed as she dug through the bags that had been brought up while I was bathing. "Where are the rest of the clothes? I sent you with a trunkful. Where are the trunks, anyway?"

"We hit a snag and it was best to leave them behind," I admitted.

"A snag?" her dark brows shot up into her curly hair.

"Nothing of consequence. The merprovince was wetter and muddier than any of us anticipated," I promised. But I knew that when I closed my eyes at night, I would see the bodies, when I moved around the dark hallways at night, I would hear the sounds of death, feel it on my skin.

"That's not too bad then."

"Daisy," I whispered, suddenly feeling like I needed answers from someone other than my mate. her wide eyes shone with a little concern and so much trust. "Does the kingdom really hate Xion so much that we have to travel around in an unmarked carriage?"

The little seamstress stilled; her expression somber for what felt like the first time ever. I could almost see the gear turning in her head, trying to gauge what to say.

"It is just the two of us here and you know that my relationship with the king has not been the smoothest of sailing. Please, just be honest with me. I feel like I have more than enough people trying to be discreet or outright lie to me."

She took a deep breath, busying her hands with folding the destroyed garments. "I cannot say that the kingdom hates him. That is not fair. Many people were opposed to the previous king too. Social classes, picking favorites, the treatment of humans, the treatment of other species were all issues. Change is just...hard." Her arms were loaded with clothes that would surely be discarded. "But regardless of how hard change is, it does not excuse him for treating you badly, if that is the case."

Her dark eyes flashed to me, the set of her mouth telling me that she would stomp right up to Xion and shout in his face if she thought she needed to. I had no doubt that Xion had been correct in saying that Daisy was not a skilled fighter, but even so, I doubted he wanted to be on the receiving end of her anger.

"He is not treating me badly," I promised, feeling heat crawl up my throat and settle into my cheeks. He certainly hadn't been treating me badly when we were in the tent together, when his teeth scraped so deliciously against my throat.

The air in the room shifted immediately.

Daisy gave out a little squeal, acting as if she were about to clap her hands, but could not with the load she was carrying. "Oh my word! Tell me everything! Have you kissed him? Was it wonderful? I hope it was-"

"Daisy," I laughed, the issue of his mother and the opposition slipping away. "Please. We haven't kissed yet. I wish there was more to report, but there really isn't anything. We shared a tent together out of necessity. That's all."

"But it was nice?" she pressed.

"Yes." The confession made my entire face glow red, but it was true. Even with everything that had happened, waking up with his body against mine and an arm around me had been nice. Very nice. "But you cannot tell anyone. Not even Seraphina," I ordered.

"My lips are sealed," she promised, then dashed from the room, giggling so loudly that I could hear her long after the door shut.

With a stupid grin on my own face, I pulled the heavy blankets above my head and willed myself to be perfectly content to sleep alone. 

~~~Question of the Day~~~

What is the best part of going on vacation?