I'm shook because I updated when I said I'll be busy. This just means that I was procrastinating. But really I can't update in the next two weeks so enjoy.

I got carried away with this chapter and it unintentionally turned into a filler chapter

EXCUSE THE ERRORS xx

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"Reina! Run!"

  Faster: that was all Reina could think of doing. Running faster. Her heart bruised from battering against her ribcage vigorously from the panic and fear that swirled deep within her. Her frantic, luminous eyes squinted in the darkness as her feet carried her through the deep, pitch black forest. Harry was hot on her heels, snapping his head back every now and then to see if they were still chasing, and they were. Eerie, bone chilling, and uncanny they were, with their ghostly, golden masks.

  Reina gasped when an arrow flew out of nowhere and struck a tree she just passed by. Her heart was lodged up in her throat. Adrenaline coursed through the blood that flowed in her veins. Skin prickled due to the icy breeze that washed over her face as she sprinted. Her lungs screamed and wailed for air, but she couldn't breathe. She couldn't stop, because if she did, she would be dead. Her mind couldn't process any more thoughts other than that she had to run fast, but the darkness made it difficult for her to do that.

  The silvery moonlight was their only savior as it provided a trickle of luminosity for them to see where they were going. But even then, the blanket of darkness that covered the thick maze of woodland kept closing on them, pressing down and suffocating them. Reina tried to watch her step, but it proved to be difficult when her foot got caught in a hole of a log that they tried to jump over. Harry successfully leapt over it, but Reina fell to her knees with a shout, ankle twisting in the process.

   "Harry!" she called out loudly, hand reaching out for him.

  His feet halted their movements and he spun around, eyes landing on Reina who trembled in pain, trying her hardest not to scream in agony as she tried to wrench her leg out of the tight hole. But as soon as he took a step forwards, a loud sickening noise was emitted when an arrow shot out from behind Reina and drove itself straight into his heart.

  Reina's gaze shot up at the sound, eyes widening and jaw dropping when she saw the arrow that was buried into his chest half way. Harry staggered back, and Reina felt her heart shatter into a million pieces. When he dropped to the forest ground, she let out a piercing scream, struggling vigorously against the log.

   "No!"

  Her wild movements were restrained when rough pairs of hands grabbed her arms harshly, holding her back while another pair of hands wrapped around her calf. An ear-piercing screech was elicited when the ambusher pulled her twisted, now swollen ankle out of the hole. Despite the torturous pain, she struggled vigorously against the men, wild, tear-filled eyes locked on Harry who now lay dead on the forest ground, only a few meters away from her.

  She could see his pale, dead eyes. She could see the blood that spread quickly across his white, ruffled shirt. She could see that the view of him was growing smaller as the ambushers dragged her away roughly, further into the dark, haunting woods.

   "Harry!"

   "Reina! Wake up!"

  Reina's eyes shot open, so wide each iris was a perfect circle of pure green. She sat up at the same time, fists flying in defense as her heart pounded wildly, cheeks wet with tears. She cried out loud when a pair of hands grabbed her wrists and pulled them down, her green eyes wound tightly shut. But then she heard him speak. Speak smooth, slow comforting words. She didn't realize that she was saying something too this whole time, as she cried and struggled like a little child. She was saying his name.

   "Reina, open your eyes. You're safe, my love," Harry murmured to her softly and calmly, loosening his grip on her wrists when she stopped flailing around wildly. "Look at me, darling."

   "H-Harry, Harry," she repeated over and over again, shaking and trembling.

   "I am right here, look," he told her, making her finally open her eyes.

  He felt his heart crack in his chest when he saw the fear in her eyes, fear and panic mixed with relief now that she knew that he wasn't dead. Her fingers skimmed his cheeks to see if he was real, because her nightmare scared her to that point. She saw his lively, beautiful green eyes and not the cold, dead, pale ones in her dream. She saw that there was no arrow sticking out of his chest, and that he was completely fine and alive. She told herself not to break down, and Harry could see the internal battle she was having due to that.

   "Come here, come into my arms," he encouraged her, holding his arms out for her to crawl into them, and she did.

   "You are alright, you are alive," Reina whispered to herself in reassurance, tone full of emotion as she hugged him firmly, sitting in his lap.

   "I am, do not worry, it was not real," he told her firmly, stroking her dark locks soothingly as he held her smaller body to him. He held her so close he could feel her heart pounding wildly through her chest. "I've got you, my darling. You are safe with me now."

   "They k-killed you," she whimpered with a shudder, feeling the urge to break down and cry hard.

   "Who did?" he questioned quietly.

   "The ambushers, the ones who attacked us y-yesterday," she told him with a sniffle. "It was horrible!"

   "I know, my love, I know," he sighed heavily, feeling her pull her head back to rest her forehead against his, eyes closed. "Don't cry, please."

   "I-I was so scared," she whispered with a long tear rolling down her cheek. "So scared I lost you."

   "Oh love," Harry whispered with an aching hurt. "You did not lose me, I am still here, aren't I? None of it was real, Reina. You are safe and alive. I am safe and alive. Do not worry your beautiful heart over this," Harry hushed her with comforting strokes of his thumbs on her cheeks, wiping her small tears away. "It is alright now. It is all over."

  Harry was in slight shock even though he didn't show it as much. He had never seen Reina so frightened and so shaken up before. She seemed so vulnerable and that didn't seem like her, which really shocked him that he was seeing this side to her now.

  Reina couldn't help but be traumatized by the dream and the ambush that happened yesterday. She felt like she had lost the love of her life all over again, and she couldn't even comprehend what had happened because with Harry in the dream she felt that she could've stopped it from happening. It was different to when Jon died, which she had no control of.

  Harry held Reina like that for a few more minutes, rocking back and forth gently while murmuring soft and sweet words to comfort her. He wanted to shower her with kisses, let her know that he was there for her, but he was unsure if he was even allowed to do that. Instead he just settled for rubbing her back and stroking her hair comfortingly, holding her snuggly to his chest. This was a big indication that she truly did care for him very deeply seeing that she was so shaken up mostly because Harry died in her nightmare.

  After a few minutes, they decided to just lie down quietly until they fall back to sleep again. Reina didn't make any indication of moving away from Harry at this point, so Harry decided to keep holding her while they lay together. Reina had completely forgotten about her bandaged wound when she woke up and started flailing around. It was now throbbing from moving around so much, but Reina tried to ignore the pain as she lay with Harry.

  She laid on her right side, as her wound was on the left side of her abdomen, with her head on Harry's arm that laid outstretched on the pillow. Her back was pressed against his chest, other arm lightly draped over her hip. They were like two puzzle pieces fitting perfectly and snuggly together as being apart for so long.

  Even though they were going through an awkward phase in their relationship, lying together like this felt completely normal. The heat that radiated off of Harry's body, warming hers, comforted her. The sound of his soft breathing against her neck comforted her. Just his presence comforted her, and made her feel safe.

   "Reina," Harry spoke up quietly, gaining her attention. "I want you to know that I will never let anything like that happen to you ever again," he whispered firmly, referring to her getting stabbed.

   "Harry, you can't make promises you cannot keep," Reina couldn't help but say, making him tense up behind him.

   "I can try," he insisted, knowing she would respond like that. "What happened last night...I couldn't even comprehend any of it. But I will protect you, Reina, I will."

  He sounded so firm and sure of himself, it was hard to argue and after everything that happened Reina was reluctant to. She just didn't want him to feel guilty if something ever happened to her again, and it out of his control. She knew he would take it to heart and feel as if he broke his promise to her and she didn't want that. She turned around slowly in his hold, bright eyes gazing into his jade ones, his face serious with his eyebrows lowered and a crease on his forehead.

   "If you want to protect me, then I want to protect you too," Reina told him, making an amused smirk appear on his lips.

   "You want to protect me? Truly, Reina- oh you are serious," Harry noticed her incredibly serious expression, with a brow arched at him challengingly.

   "Do you not believe that I can protect you as well?"

   "Well..." Harry trailed off, before rethinking his words and considering what she expected him to say. "I just do not see how you can do that."

   "When the time comes for when you need my protection, you will see," Reina said vaguely, making Harry frown a little.

  Reina moved to lie on her back, but winced suddenly due to the searing pain her wound had suddenly caused her. Harry noticed her pained expression, worry etching onto his features as he touched her abdomen, holding her hand.

   "Be careful, love. You need to heal," Harry told her softly, before he noticed her oddly, worried expression. "What's the matter?"

   "What?" Reina questioned in confusion.

   "Something is troubling you, and it's not just the pain. I can see it in your eyes," Harry pulled his brows low and stared at her, making Reina inwardly panic because he could see right through her. She was just reminded again of how there was the possibility that she was infertile, so that worry appeared on her face and now Harry was curious.

   "It is nothing, Harry, just the pain from the wound," she told him with a murmur. "We should sleep now."

  Just like that the conversation ended. Reina turned to lie on her side again, slightly disappointed and sad when Harry didn't hold her like she had expected. She shrugged it off; he was only holding her earlier to calm her down, now she clearly didn't need it. But she wanted it. She wanted his arms around him; warm and strong. It was a feeling she missed because it's been a while since he had last held her in their sleep. A part of her wanted to keep being tense and awkward with him because he didn't deserve to hold her that quickly after everything he said.

  But after the nightmare, she found herself in need of his touch and presence for reassurance. She forced herself to forget about it and sleep anyways, because after all things were still tense between them even though she thought what just happened with the nightmare and him comforting her would have reduced that awkwardness between them.

  Her eyes drooped as exhaustion rolled over her, breathing deepening and mind going to sleep. But before she was completely knocked out, she felt strong arms wrap gently yet firmly around her, avoiding her bandaged wound. She was dragged back against a firm chest, warm breath fanning against her neck as his face buried itself into the crook of her neck. A ghost of a smile danced on her lips, body welcoming that comforting feeling of being in Harry's arms.

  She felt his fingers adjust her hair so that it wasn't in his face, pulling it back from behind her ear to allow his lips to brush against the skin there. He pressed a kiss to the spot near her ear at the hinge of her jaw. The action made her heart flutter in her chest, and reassurance flood her body, telling her that everything was going to be fine between them.

  Her nightmare made her feel just a fraction of what Harry was feeling when he saw her get stabbed and almost die from it. Both moments reminded them of how their constant arguing and fighting was petty and unnecessary most of the time, and just not worth it because at the end of the day what mattered the most was their love for each other, even if they haven't admitted it.

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  Reina stirred awake to the warm, sunlight crawling over her face, disturbing her sleep due to its extreme luminosity. Her eyes flickered open, before quickly shutting again when the light blinded her: a soft groan escaping her lips. She turned her head, facing the ceiling of the room and yawned. Her left hand fell outstretched beside her, causing a frown to etch onto her face when she found that the space beside her was vacant. Her frown then disappeared, realization dawning upon her. Harry was most probably already gone to have breakfast with his family, which she's not allowed to attend.

   "Good morning, Reina."

  Reina's gaze quickly snapped to her right when she heard her husband's deep, raspy voice resonate through her ears, surprising her. There he stood leaning against the entrance of the open balcony, sunlight shining in sharp rays around his figure, looking like a godly figure. His body adorned his favorite, simple white-ruffled shirt, tucked into his dark pants with black, leather boots. He made his way towards her, lips set in a straight line with his eyebrows slightly lowered, the expression that usually appeared on his face when he pondered over something.

   "Did you sleep well?" he asked her, sitting down on the edge of the bed, lacing his fingers together.

   "Yes, I did," Reina murmured tiredly with a nod. "Will you be leaving for breakfast with your family?"

   "No, I made sure to cancel all my plans for the day except for the meeting with my father and you about the ambush," he said to her, making a frown etch onto her face.

   "Why?"

   "I promised you I would return yesterday and I never did," he said guiltily. "A-And I need to be there for you more often, not only because of what happened with the ambush but also before we left to Vardomos, when I would keep spend majority of my time away from you."

   "Harry, you had to do that, your duties took up most of your time and that is not your fault," Reina murmured quietly. "Plus, now is the time your father would be more adamant on making you shadow him during meetings."

   "I know, but I want to take care of you," Harry said firmly, brows pulling tightly over her eyes. "I do not like being away from you, Reina, especially when you're injured like this."

  Harry's words made Reina's heart warm up in her chest, bringing a gentle smile to her lips, which Harry mirrored, dimple dipping into his cheek. His hand shifted to hold hers, thumb running over the skin on the back of it. His eyes were captured by her mesmerizing beauty; the pretty lime green color of her sleep eyes, the softness of her pale, pink lips and her raven locks fanned out across the pillow like black paint streaks on a white canvas. He pulled her hand up to brush his lips against her knuckles, placing a gentle kiss on them before speaking.

   "I will be waiting outside in the garden for Fredric to escort you there for breakfast once you are done getting dressed," Harry told her with a smile, making her mirror it and nod in response.

  Harry stood up, giving her one last charming smile before letting go of her hand and leaving to order her handmaids to help her dress. Reina cleaned her teeth after he left, and with the help of her handmaids, got dressed in a soft, simple gray dress that paired with some dragon jewelry. She had the crown of her hair braided beautifully, and her favorite dragon necklace on, a gorgeous silver dragon wrapped around her neck.

  She then made her way to the royal gardens with Fredric walking in front of her. She passed by a large hallway that lead to the throne room, where Jaide was standing, speaking to her father. Jaide turned to look when she heard the clanking of armor, eyes widening when she saw Reina. She parted her lips to call out to her in excitement.

   "Reina!"

  Reina turned her head to the right, green eyes widening and a smile gracing her lips at the sight of her friend waving at her. Reina immediately made a move towards Jaide, wanting to speak to her before seeing Harry. Jaide excused herself from the conversation she was having with her father, before picking up her dress and rushing towards Reina with a bright grin on her face. The two friends embraced with a blissful laugh. Reina found that Jaide's positive and bubbly energy always made Reina feel good, just the sight of her was enough to make her smile.

   "Reina, it's been so long!" Jaide exclaimed, holding her hands and squeezing them. "I heard what had happened, and I was in tears! I am so relieved to see that you are well."

   "Oh Jaide," Reina smiled lightly at her words. "I am well, thankfully. It was frightening...what happened."

   "Oh do tell! I want to hear all about Vardomos!" Jaide said with a smile, and Reina returned it with a hint of sadness, knowing that Jaide didn't know about the drama that had occurred with Harry.

   "We will chat soon, right now I must go. I am having breakfast with Harry," Reina told her, making Jaide nod in understanding. "I will see you soon."

   "Of course! I just hope Gemma doesn't try and occupy me again," Jaide chuckled a little worriedly, making me frown.

   "If I hear that Gemma has occupied you with herself just to prevent you from seeing me I will come and drag you away," Reina said firmly, making Jaide giggle in amusement.

   "Please do! She is driving me insane!" Jaide pulled a face, making Reina chuckle in response. "I must leave you before Harry wonders where you are."

  They went their separate ways after saying goodbye. Reina found herself enjoying breakfast with Harry. She felt that he was trying hard to cheer her up and make her laugh after that horrible nightmare she had endured. He made sure to supply her with all her favorite foods for breakfast, including her beloved honey cake. Reina appreciated his efforts immensely, and was happy that they were pretty much out of that brief awkward phase they were in. But deep down Reina knew it would be hard and awkward for them to be together intimately again.

  She knew Harry was going to be paranoid and think that she was going to imagine him as Jon when they have sex again. She knew he was going to think the same even when they kiss, which was why he was refraining from doing so. Also because it often takes them time to get back into that after arguments and fights. Reina just told herself that when the time is right she will make the first move and she'll prove to him that he was the only one on her mind right now, and for the rest of their lives.

   "I need to visit the physician before we meet your father," Reina told him as they strolled around the royal gardens, admiring the gorgeous flowers that grew in it.

   "Is your wound hurting again?" Harry asked with a frown, knowing that she wasn't scheduled for another visit until tomorrow.

   "No but-"

   "Then why must you go?" he asked curiously, immediately telling by the panicked look in her eyes that something was wrong. "My father requested us to meet him in about a few minutes. Is it really important?"

   "It-" she began to say but stopped momentarily. "It is fine, forget it."

   "Reina, what's the matter?" Harry stopped her from walking away, hand wrapped around her wrist to pull her back gently. "Please, talk to me."

  His pleading made her open up her mouth and tell him what has been bothering her for some time now.

   "I just wanted to re-check something with him," she told him honestly.

   "Such as?"

   "If the stabbing has any effect on my ability to get pregnant," she answered him, watching his expression morph into a deep frown. "I figured that since I was stabbed in the abdomen it must have some effect."

   "You said you wanted to re-check? What did he say the first time?" Harry questioned firmly, unable to calm the slight panic in his heart.

   "He said it had no effect, but it's worrying me anyways because I haven't been able to get pregnant so far," Reina rambled a little. "I am worried your parents will find out and-and perhaps force you to leave me and marry another who will give you children because I can't-"

   "Reina, love, listen to me," Harry interrupted her worried rambling, cupping her cheeks gently and catching her off-guard. "Do not talk such nonsense. I am sure you are just fine, and that you do have the ability to become pregnant. It will just take some time."

   "As for my parents, " he continued to say. "I will run away with you if they ever make me do such a thing. So please do not worry you pretty little heart over that. These things come with time and patience."

   "You are right," Reina nodded against his grip, feeling his thumbs stroke her cheeks. "B-But if I am infertile, how will you get an heir?"

   "Please do not even consider the thought," Harry muttered under his breath, gaze averting. He really didn't want to think about any of it.

   "I have to," Reina responded with narrowed eyes. "It is, after all, my duty to produce an heir."

   "Yes but you do not exactly follow your duties now do you?" Harry shot back in irritation, pretty much referring to how she lost her virginity.

  Reina was caught off-guard with his words, face falling when she heard them, expression turning into one of sadness and disappointment. He was doing so well. Regret flooded Harry's veins as soon as he realized what he said, panicking when Reina shook her head lightly and began walking away.

   "Reina! Wait, please," Harry called out, darting forwards to grab her hand. "I am sorry, I-I didn't mean to refer to-"

   "My decision to lose my virginity?" Reina arched a brow at him, making him nod shortly, swallowing thickly.

   "Yes, but please, I'm sorry I said that," Harry mumbled sincerely, panicking because he didn't want to lose all the progress he had made today. "The thought of you being infertile crossed my mind a couple of times earlier, but I thought nothing of it and reassured myself. But now hearing the same thoughts from you worries me and I still tried to push that worry away and try to be optimistic because you're worried."

   "So you snapped because I wasn't letting it go," Reina murmured in response, making him nod slightly.

   "I need to control what I say," Harry said firmly.

   "You recognize your weaknesses, that's all you do, Harry," Reina sighed lightly, averting her gaze to the pretty peonies on her right. "But I'm still waiting on you to improve on them."

   "I know I know," he said, stepping forwards to take her hands into his, forehead dropping to hers when he lifted a hand up to cup her chin. "Please give me time, that's all I ask."

  His pleading tone that contained vulnerability couldn't help but soften Reina's heart. She was of course going to give him time, but she hoped he remembered what she said about her getting hurt in order for him to learn from his mistakes. Reina nodded lightly in response, and Harry smiled gratefully and in relief. Just in time, Fredric found them together and informed them that it was time for their meeting with the King. They made their way to the throne room. Harry's hand settled on her lower back as they walked, and they earned looks from countless of noblemen and noble ladies.

   "Reina," Harry spoke up before they entered the throne room. "I just want you to know that my father will try to connect the fact that the ambushers are foreign, to you."

   "What?" Reina whispered in surprise. "That is ridiculous! One of them stabbed me!"

   "I know. But I was just warning you because he might make assumptions about foreigners that you won't agree with," Harry told her, making her nod in understanding.

   "You are worried I am going to say something I'll regret," she murmured, looking at him while he averted his gaze. "You need not to worry, Harry. I will remain calm and composed, well, I'll try to."

   "If he says anything to offend you I will stand up for you," Harry said to her firmly, making Reina smile lightly turning to touch his cheek.

   "Oh Harry, I am perfectly capable of standing up for myself," she responded to his words, making Harry smile sheepishly and nod.

   "Now shall we?"

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∙ how was that chapter guyssss???

∙ any predictions????

∙ if you want to help for me deciding who the next female lead should be. So I put up like a poll on my Rambles book so please check it and out.

thiø c