IM BACK! Did y'all miss me?

Of course you did.

Happy Ramadan to all those celebrating and here's a hella long chapter I actually wrote weeks ago lmao.

Also before you read, I just wanted to remind you guys that Reina and Harry are both only 20 years old here. They're like barely adults, or have just become adults and they have so much on their shoulders, so it's all obviously going to affect them drastically. Just keep that in mind.

Enjoy and excuse any errors (:

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"Reina."

Reina's teary gaze flickered up when she heard the door close shut, widening when she saw Harry's back. She quickly flipped over to the other side so that her back was facing him. Harry sighed heavily as he turned around, guilty green eyes laying upon him as he moved towards the bed and sat down next to her. Reina, during the past few months, had never cried in front of him, so seeing her do this snapped him out of the awful mood he was in.

   "Reina," Harry murmured quietly, hand reaching out to touch her. His eyes widened when she shuffled away and muttered in response.

   "Do not touch me."

  Harry retracted his hand, swallowing thickly at her harsh tone. He knew he deserved it. He knew he didn't deserve her. He was disappointed in himself, more than anyone, that he didn't live up to his promises. That he let the stress of becoming King, take over him and change himself to what he was before he had met Reina. He didn't know why it was all coming to him now, and he was worried that it was all too late. Nonetheless, he still cleared his throat and parted his lips to speak.

   "Reina-"

   "I want to go back to Vardomos."

  Harry was rendered speechless by her words, eyes widening and lips parting. He started shaking his head in panic, standing up and quickly walking over to the other side of the bed so that he could look at her. He felt the cracks in his walls grow deeper at the sight of her broken, pale eyes and tear-stained cheeks. What broke him even more was the emotionless expression she was putting on to hide the pain.

   "Reina, you don't mean that y-you're just upset-"

   "No I do mean it," she snapped quietly, voice raw from crying. "I am done, Harry. I cannot spend another minute in this castle, constantly getting rudely dismissed by you as well as neglected when I am your pregnant wife! At least in Vardomos, I'll be with my family and people who actually love and care about me."

   "How could you say that?" Harry widened his eyes. "I love and care for you!"

   "It certainly doesn't seem like it," she muttered, turning away so that she wasn't facing him again. "If you loved and cared for me-" she began to say, wiping her tears away because she hated crying. "You wouldn't have been so rude to me for the past few months. I could understand you not being there for me during this pregnancy, but making excuses to not talk to me? Not even a single word? Saying that news about our children isn't as important as the fucking Messians?"

   "I was just trying to focus more on the Messians because I want to protect everyone from dying or-or getting hurt. You and our unborn children most of all! That's all I ever wanted to do," Harry murmured quietly in a sincere tone, fiddling with his fingers.

   "I still don't understand why you have to be so cruel to me every time I came to visit you," Reina responded.

   "You were beginning to..." Harry trailed off a little, slightly afraid. 

   "Just say it Harry."

   "You were beginning to irritate me. After we made love a few months ago, I truly did try to spend as much time with you as I could with you. But it was never enough, and you were the one who kept picking fights with me and complaining that I wasn't doing enough even though I was trying. It was causing me more stress so I thought shutting you out until this Messian problem was over, would help," Harry explained himself, and Reina bit her lower lip at his response knowing that what he was speaking the truth about how she complained.

   "But clearly you let it consume you to a point where you neglected your pregnant wife," she huffed stubbornly. "Shutting me out was your solution? Why couldn't you just be honest and tell me?"

   "You're right, I honestly should have just talked to you, neglecting you was wrong of me to do so. I didn't deal with it in a proper way and for that I am so sorry, Reina," Harry reached out to pull her back so that she could look at him, but she kept pushing him away. "Please, I don't want you to feel like you can't live with me anymore."

   "It's too late, Harry. I already feel like that," Reina shook her head, deciding to just climb off the bed so that she could avoid him better. But Harry followed her around and cling to her, dropping to his knees, arms wrapping around her as much as possible. "It'll only be until I give birth, I need to take care of myself and the children."

   "Y-You can't leave, Reina," Harry felt like his heart was going to combust from his chest because his fears of her getting tired of him were coming true. "I don't want you to go please, I promise I'll get better-"

   "Stop giving me these broken promises, Harry!" Reina cried loudly with a shake of her head, hands trying to push him away but he only clung to her harder. "I always forgive you, and you always break your promises."

   "I never meant to!" Harry felt like yelling. "It's just been so hard-"

   "Then why didn't you come to me when I told you to?" Reina demanded. "I told you to talk to me, confide in me. I told you that I would be there for you, Harry, but you never came to me. You continued to let it all bottle up inside of you and turn you into this man I barely even recognize anymore."

   "I don't know why I didn't come to you, it truly isn't that easy for me," Harry spoke honestly, as he pulled himself up to stand in front of her. His pride was partially what kept him from reaching out. He still wanted to show that he was strong and he could handle it. "I-I just don't know, I'm so lost, Reina. Please I don't want you to leave, I love you. Please say that you love me too."

   "I won't say it just because it gives you reassurance that when you behave like this again and break your promise to me, you'll be fine because I'll always love you," she said harshly to him, making his face fall. He was wrong to think that he had extinguished the fire within her; he had only dimmed it. Now it was burning brightly and raging as her anger and irritation began to fuel it more.

   "You know how I feel about you, but do not become dependent on it because even though I say that I forgive but never forget, it doesn't that mean I'll always do it."

   "Now, I am leaving to Vardomos," she began to say slowly, gazing at him with cold eyes. "I will be protected there in my home, with Vaera, my family and my people. I am clearly of no use here since I barely get to rule the country as a Queen. At least in Vardomos, I can help."

   "If that's what you truly want, I would let you go," Harry began to say in a sad tone, but his words made Reina's face contort with a frown. He sat down on the edge of the bed with a sigh. "But it's too dangerous. Even with the best guards, I would never allow it. It's just too risky and I'd rather have you here with me, safe and angry at me. Than far away where I cannot protect you."

   "I made promises that I will love and protect you for all eternity and I will fucking keep it," Harry said firmly with a certain fierceness in his tone that made Reina roll her eyes internally.

   "How can you still believe you can protect me from all harm?" Reina questioned, ignoring his other words for a moment. "The future is so uncertain, Harry. Save yourself from the torment for when the time comes where I will get hurt and you won't be there to stop it from happening."

   "Fine. Then I promise that I will try to protect you as much as I can. Not I will protect you because like you say the future is cruel and uncertain. Anything could happen," Harry spoke with a hint of anger, desperately trying to keep a lid on his temper. "I remember the day you got stabbed, I told you that I would try, thus I will try with everything in my blood to keep you safe. To keep you and our unborn children safe."

   "Fine," Reina uttered in a clipped tone, making Harry scowl in response. "You won't let me go to Vardomos? Then, I demand to have a separate bedchamber for myself."

   "W-What?" Harry's scowl disappeared.

   "Did I fucking stutter?"

   "Reina, you-you can't just distance yourself from me like this. W-We need to fix this," Harry said desperately, grabbing her hands and gazing at her with pleading eyes.

   "You are simply going to promise that you'll do better and that you'll change, and it'll last for either a few weeks or months until another raid occurs or perhaps something even worse and you'll end up the same again, Harry," Reina rambled at him, making his face fall. "I am tired of giving you chances."

   "Please Reina, I don't want us to turn into my parents," Harry pulled her closer until she was standing between his legs, his face pressed against her belly as he refused to let her go. "I don't want our marriage to crumble, you're the love of my life, I am so sorry, fuck. I am I truly am, please believe me."

   "You know we're already becoming like that," Reina uttered in a quite and obvious tone, with barely any sadness or pity present in it. "We need some time apart. It won't make much of a difference anyways, you barely notice me when I am in our own bedchamber. In fact you find me a nuisance. You will be free of me-"

   "No-No, I don't want to be free of you," he responded stubbornly, as she slowly tried to push his hands off of her so that she could leave. She wanted to go tell the handmaids to get a chamber ready.  "Just tell me what to do, Reina. Tell me how to earn your forgiveness, how to-how to apologize-"

   "The only way you could apologize is show me that you truly love, and you care for me and our unborn children," Reina snapped at him in an obvious tone. "Don't show me you love me by having sex with me. Show me by living up to your promises of changed behavior, and not for a fucking week or month."

   "Alright, I-I will do that, just please stay with me-"

   "No," she shook her head firmly. "We are still separating. You need to realize the consequences of your actio-."

  Harry frowned deeply when she stopped speaking momentarily and let out a surprised yelped, quickly stepping away from him, hands darting to her swollen belly. She felt that odd fluttering feeling in her belly again but much more prominently, as if both of the babies caused it. When she looked up, Harry was already on his feet, hands hovering near her with a concerned expression on his face as he looked at her.

   "What's wrong? Is something hurting you?"

   "No," Reina shook her head, hands still resting on her belly. "The babies, they just moved inside of me."

   "Truly?" Harry widened his eyes, the corners of his lips uncontrollably ticking upwards. His hands reached out to feel her tummy, but she surprised him by pulling back. He looked at her with a confused expression on his face. "Reina, I just want to-"

   "I do not want to be touched right now," she muttered in response, turning away to pack her jewelry away.

   "Don't do that," Harry shook his head, face falling. "Don't deprive me of things like that involving our unborn children, please. They're my children too."

   "You told me you would listen to my news tonight. Well it is still the afternoon, isn't it?" she arched a brow at him, before turning back to put back her precious jewelry into her silver box of sentimental trinkets. Harry frowned at what she meant by news, before it dawned upon him what she was saying.

   "That was what you wanted to tell me...the news about the babies was that they moved," Harry muttered in realization. "Reina-"

   "Harry," A voice interrupted him, and into the room walked Declan, looking slightly annoyed with his handsome face contorted into a frown. "Why did you leave the meeting?"

   "Excuse me, Declan but I am having a conversation with my wife," Harry scowled at him, knowing that the nobles probably made Declan come fetch him to continue the meeting he momentarily left.

   "A conversation that is over now. You can go, Harry," Reina spoke with a roll of her eyes, sitting down in her chair and continuing to put away her jewelry. Harry looked at her with a pained expression, making Declan smirk because he sensed something was going on.

   "What ever is the matter with you two lovers? Not enough time for sex?" Declan teased, swinging his arm around Harry's shoulders while Reina refrained from strangling Declan with one of her pearl necklaces. She had forgotten how irritating he can be. "Don't worry, love, I'll make sure our King here gets out early tonight for you two to have some fu-"

   "You don't need to do that," Reina uttered in a clipped tone, making Declan's brows lower in confusion.

   "Oh my, did you awake the dragon, Harold?" Declan mocked with a chuckle, making Harry unable to tear his gaze away from her, heart aching in his chest at the way she was acting. "Thought it was dead considering your constant moping and complaining for the past three months."

   "I can assure you the dragon is not dead," Reina suddenly snapped angrily, gazing at him Declan with blazing bright eyes, but he remained unfazed. He had no respect for Reina, despite her being his Queen. "Now kindly fuck off before I have you put down on my list of people to burn for when these dragons hatch."

  Declan was slightly taken back by her snapping. Harry was too. He didn't even know if she really did have a list. Declan swallowed thickly and nodding vigorously.

   "Apologies, my Queen," Declan straightened himself out and looked at Harry. "Shall we?" he said holding his arm out towards the open door.

  Harry looked at Reina one more time, knowing that when he returns to his bedchamber she won't be there anymore. He didn't expect the pain that hit him when he did return at late at night to his bedchamber, finding his bedchamber feeling oddly empty. Her chest and wardrobe was gone, her things from her dressing table too, as well as the chest of dragon eggs. It felt foreign and upsetting and he didn't like it. It was like she was never there. When he crawled into his bed, he felt more alone than ever without her by his side, snoring quietly and trying to cuddle him in her sleep. Regret and guilt was heavy in his heart, and it kept him tossing and turning all night. At some point he couldn't handle it, so he rolled out of bed and grabbed his red, velvet robe and tugged it on, securing it around his waist.

  His feet carried him to where Reina's bedchamber was, stopping at the beginning of the hallway where it was there at the end of it. He just walked straight up to it, fingers tugging at his lower lip, gaze flicking to the guards whom were stood by either side of the door. He put them there for her protection. Harry reached up and knocked on the door, and then kept on knocking so that Reina would stir awake.

  Reina was already having trouble sleeping due to the babies moving inside of her and her constant trips to the garderobe to piss. Just as she felt that the babies were finally settling and she could get some sleep, she heard the continuous knocking. She grumbled and groaned in irritation under her breath, slowly climbing off the bed with her hand supporting her tummy as her other one gripped the bedpost for support. She briefly wondered if it were the guards banging on the door with the need to tell her something urgent, perhaps about the Messians. But when she swung it open and found herself staring into a pair of pale green, sad eyes, she was a little surprised.

   "Harry?" she mumbled drowsily, one of her hands rubbing the sleepiness out of her right eye. "What are you doing here?"

  Harry just stared at her with parted lips, mind going blank and completely unsure of what to say. Why am I here? He asked himself. He wanted to tell her that he couldn't sleep without her at least being there near him. He wanted to tell her how sorry he was that he hurt her and he would do anything to try and make her happy again. But none of the words came out as he gazed at her face, silver, tired eyes red-rimmed from crying in the afternoon, bags under her eyes and raven locks an unruly mess.

   "Well?" she questioned with narrowed eyes, the irritation she was feeling clear in her tone.

   "I-I noticed you took the babies," Harry randomly blurted out, making her eyebrows slope downwards in confusion. "I meant the dragon eggs."

   "The damn dragon eggs that you wanted to hatch?" Reina arched a brow at him, quoting his words from earlier today, making him grimace and nod. "Of course I took them, someone needs to take care of them."

   "Yes you're right, well I wanted to apologize for my attitude towards them," Harry quickly said, averting his gaze to the floor. "I didn't apologize earlier so I am truly very sorry I spoke that way about them."

   "Alright," Reina nodded, not really forgiving him. "Is that all?"

   "Yes- well no not really," Harry couldn't find the words he really wanted to say.

   "Clearly you have something to say but can't get it out. I understand but I'd rather be sleeping at the moment so goodbye, Harry," Reina said rather brusquely, making his facial expression fall as she stepped back into the bedchamber and slammed the door shut in his face.

  Harry stared at the dark wood of the door, blinking slowly as his lips slowly formed a pout. He cursed at himself under his breath for ever thinking this was a good idea, scowling at the way his heart ached. He was starting to feel the worry in his heart grow, the worry he felt for their marriage. He turned to walk back to his room, but grunted and shook his head turning back to knock on her door again. He didn't know what to do; he really wanted to be with her. He raised his fist to knock on her door again, but stopped himself before he could do it, grimace etching onto his face because he knew how pissed Reina would get if he kept bothering her like this.

  He didn't feel like sleeping due to all the worrying thoughts pounding in his head. His feet carried up and down the hallways of the Gold Den, arms folded over his bare chest that peeked through the half-done robe, fingers tugging at his lower lip while he pondered. His heart told him to go to the person whom he knew cared about him a lot even though they didn't always show it. The person who had gone through the same thing he is currently going through with Reina.

   "Harold? Love, what are you doing here so late?"

   "Mother," Harry mumbled with a small whine, before surprising her by reaching out and hugging her.

  He had to bend down to reach her height, cheek resting on her shoulder with his arms around her. Diana's heart tightened in her chest as she embraced her son and rubbed his back in a comforting manner. She knew how much of a burden being King was and she often times forgot, just like everyone did, that Harry was only 20 years old, just barely emerging adulthood. Diana pulled back to cup his cheeks, gazing at her son with her concerned emerald eyes.

   "Come inside," she urged him, taking his hand and pulling him into her bedchamber.

  It was different to the one she used to sleep in. She couldn't bear sleeping in the bedchamber she used to sleep in with her husband; there were constant reminders of him and it hurt her too much. Harry followed his mother to the bed where they sat down next to each other. Diana looked at Harry, forehead creasing and eyebrows furrowing as she tried to figure him out.

   "Tell me, what's the matter? Why are you up at such an ungodly hour?"

   "Reina wanted to leave to Vardomos today...well I am certain she still wants to," Harry started to say while looking down at his hands, fiddling with his fingers.

   "What? Why?" Diana questioned in confusion.

   "She's unhappy," he responded a little sadly. "I haven't been treating her well, I've just been neglecting her and dismissing her every time she tried to approach me. It was a mistake; I didn't even realize I was doing it, to some extent. I didn't think it'd ever come to this. Now she's staying in a different bedchamber because she can't even bear to sleep with me."

  Harry continued to ramble on and on about the situation he was in while his mother listened attentively. When he was younger, he'd always go to his mother to confide in her and for comfort but it all stopped when she started becoming stricter with him in order to train him to become King. She realizes now her being hard on him had pushed him away, and the training her and Desmond gave Harry wasn't really effective at all. Desmond and her never really expected for Harry to become King during a crisis like this, but they should've been better prepared and Diana regretted that. As Harry neared the end of his ramble, Diana felt more grateful for having her son come to her.

   "She didn't even say it back," Harry murmured with sad eyes. "Because she doesn't want to reassure me that she'll always forgive me and never leave."

   "I just don't want our marriage to turn into yours," he said a little bluntly before realizing what he said. "Oh I'm sorry mother-"

  He stopped when he realized he struck a nerve in his mother because her face fell and gaze averted. Harry didn't understand how much his mother loved his father despite how much he changed from when she first fell in love with him. Diana pulled her hands out of his to wipe the corners of her eyes, making guilt fill up Harry's heart. He wished he knew a way to control his damn mouth better.

   "I truly am sorry, Mother," Harry whispered to her, making her smile sadly and shake her head, trying to push away her sad thoughts.

   "I know what you meant when you said that, Harry," Diana murmured quietly. "There was a lot of things Desmond and I could've done to keep our marriage from falling apart. But him being King really stood in between us."

   "How do I stop it from coming between Reina and I? It already has!" Harry questioned desperately. "I want to please her and take care of her but oftentimes I do not have the time to do so. I honestly did try, Mother!"

   "Harold, from what you've told me I can understand that Reina truly isn't asking for much anymore. The least you could do is talk to her when she comes to you, instead of dismissing her so rudely all the time! Especially if it's about the children," Diana told him. "I am positive spending a minute or two talking to her about your children or her day will cause no harm."

   "Alright yes but...that is of course if she wants to see me anymore," he mumbled in response. "I've gone too far this time."

   "You must win her heart again. You've done it before and she's already told you what you must do as an apology. Be the charming, loving, sweet Prince I know you are in your heart, my love," Diana spoke encouragingly, smiling and stroking his cheek.

   "I will, Mother," Harry nodded, surprising himself by smiling a little. "But I am terrified that something will happen and I will go back to my old ways. It happened when I became King and I barely even realized it. She will never forgive me again. She would demand to be separate or-or request an annulment-"

   "Harry you must believe in yourself that you love her enough to change and stay that way. You must stop thinking of what would happen if you fail and start thinking of the good things that will come if you don't fail," Diana told him firmly.

   "It is so clear that you love her. You just lost yourself along the way when becoming King and that is alright, it's understandable. You must simply find yourself again."

  Harry nodded and smiled gratefully at his mother, remembering Reina's words that were spoken to him before he made love to her about 3 months ago.

  Never forget who you are.

∙♖∙

∙ Two weeks later ∙

   "How is she today?"

   "She's doing just fine, my King," Fredric repeated the same thing he's been saying for the past week every time Harry asked the same question. "Perhaps you should start asking her that."

   "I would but she still continues to ignore me," Harry sighed heavily, as he walked by Fredric's side in the Royal Gardens. He had pulled Fredric away when he noticed him hovering by Reina's side as she had lunch with Gemma and Jaide.

   "What even during the meetings?" Fredric frowned deeply.

   "Actually no during the meetings with the Council she's very loud and opinionated," Harry explained but then grimacing. "But it's always strictly political and even when she responds to something I say, she speaks mostly to the whole council and not me individually."

   "She's just being petty and is simply making you grovel, that's all," Fredric shrugged lightly.

   "Is anything I am doing even working?" Harry questioned him. "I-I've asked her to be on the council so that she can have a say in what happens to the Messians. I've sent her handpicked flowers and letters of love and apology, and honey cake every day for the past two weeks. I'm always waiting for her to come have breakfast, lunch and dinner with me but she never comes. I don't know what else to do Fredric, I just miss her so much."

  They stopped walking when the neared the area Reina was having her lunch with Gemma and Jaide, melodious laughter and chatter wafting through the air from them. Harry felt his heart sink in his chest when she squealed in surprise because both the babies kicked. He saw Gemma grinning, feeling her tummy and laughing when she felt it too. He still hasn't felt the baby kick and it's made him awfully sad because he was starting to realize how invested he was with the Messian problem to a point he had practically forgotten she's pregnant with their children. Fredric gazed at his oldest friend with pity, before parting his lips to speak.

   "How am I supposed to show that my behavior has changed if she refuses to speak a word to me?" Harry sighed heavily, turning away because the sight was making him upset. "I don't understand, doesn't she miss me as well? She looks too happy."

   "That's because she has missed you enough during those months you neglected her," Fredric said with a roll of his eyes, making him scowl. "I don't always know what goes on in her mind but I can tell that she's done feeling miserable over the way you treated her."

   "So she basically doesn't care anymore," Harry muttered quietly. "Fuck that, I am not giving up."

  He turned to pick up a peony from the bunch that was growing nearby, looking at Fredric while holding it.

    "I will ask to dine with her tonight. I have a surprise for her that I know she will love," he said confidently, and then immediately went to ask her.

  Reina, Jaide and Gemma were done having lunch and were enjoying some dessert. Harry felt his heart soften at the sight of her; all plump and happy with her honey cake. She looked so beautiful to him, dressed in black with gold scale-like detailing on her shoulders that joined up to chains around her back. Harry noticed that she had even stopped wearing red, which made him a little sad because he loved how the color always made her look even more stunning than she already was. Plus, it was somewhat of a silent reminder that their bond isn't as strong as it used to be,

But her smile quickly disappeared when she saw him approaching her, nervously grinning with a pretty pink peony in his ring-clad hands. A part of her missed him too, his gorgeous face with short curls, heavy gold crown sat on his head and always dressed so handsomely with that irresistible, contagious smile that was hard to resist. But the bigger part of her was annoyed and angry and thus overpowered the part that missed him. She was stubborn and petty all over again, and was determined to prove that she was fine without him and didn't need him.

   "Hello Reina," Harry smiled as she continued to eat, pretending that she didn't even notice him. Jaide and Gemma were smirking in amusement at the whole conversation that was about to go down.

   "Harold," she greeted him back, making him grimace when she used his full name. "Is whatever you have say that important you have to intervene during my lunch with my ladies?"

  Harry's nervous smile disappeared and instead a frown took its place. He was tired of her constant dismissal.

   "Yes, I'm your husband and the King. I can intervene whenever I want to," he suddenly got annoyed, making Reina's gaze snap to meet his, silvery eyes lighting up with a fire.

   "Truly, Harry? You've been doing so good," Gemma suddenly spoke up with a scoff, making Harry realize what he said. But he scowled anyways, and looked at Reina.

   "When the fuck can I come see you then? You refuse to speak to me all the fucking time! You make Fredric dismiss me whenever I come to ask you to have lunch or-or dinner!" Harry exclaimed loudly while Reina sat there quietly and gazed at him, listening attentively. She picked up her cup of tea to sip quietly while Harry continued to rant.

   "So now you know how it feels," Reina spoke up once he was done, smiling mockingly at him.

   "What?" Harry's frown deepened.

   "Now you know how it feels to be in my position, about two weeks ago. How it felt to be in that position for almost three months," she explained to him, making his expression fall. "However, just imagine everything you are feeling a few more times worse because that is how I felt while also being pregnant."

   "I...understand now," Harry mumbled while looking down and fiddling with the stem of the peony. He got down on one knee, placing the flower in her lap and reaching for her hands. He had them trapped before she could pull away. "And I'm truly sorry for putting you through that. But I want to show you that I've changed, how can I show you if you don't give me the chance to do so?"

  Reina looked at him, refusing to allow his soft, pleading green eyes break through her hard exterior. She didn't trust him enough to give him another chance. The only thing he had done that made her truly happy was letting her be on The Council. Even then with letting her be on The Council, she felt like he clearly did that just to make her happy, and not that he values her advice and intelligence. Nonetheless, she told herself that she'd prove it to him and all the other obnoxious men on the council that having her there was a good idea. Other than that, the flowers, love letters were typical and cliché of him and still not enough, despite how sweet the gestures were.

   "Join me for dinner tonight, I promise I will make it special and worth your time," Harry spoke quietly in a pleading tone. "You can't keep pushing me away."

    "Watch me try," Reina uttered in a sharp tone, pushing his hands off her lap and standing up. The flower fell to the ground by her feet. He followed her movements, also standing up. "I plan to dine with my grandmother tonight anyways."

  Harry's face flushed with embarrassment and anger, nostrils flaring and jaw clenching in frustration. He was so tempted to snap back and fight with her, but he had been trying to improve his ability to keep a lid on his temper. Without another word, he spun around and stomped away. Despite all the anger and irritation Harry felt, his heart stung in his chest after hearing her words. Reina watched his dark velvet cape billow as he exited the garden in rage. Jaime and Gemma exchanged looks before flicking their gaze to Reina who scowled and rolled her eyes. She looked at her friends who quickly looked away.

    "What? Was I too harsh?" Reina questioned with an arch of her brow. Gemma shrugged whereas Jaide, whom was often times sensitive with a soft heart nodded a little.

    "Maybe just a little-"

    "Good," Reina hummed in reply before she noticed Jaide looking away with a sour expression. "What?"

    "I felt that he was being genuine," Jaide defended Harry, making Reina frown at her. "It was just dinner he was asking for. You do want him to show you he's changed, correct?"

    "Yes but it's only been two weeks and I want him to make him grovel more," she said stubbornly. "Plus I honestly do have dinner with my grandmother."

  Reina eventually excused herself because she needed to go write some letters to send. She wanted to write to her mother's family in Khidos for some advice and help on the Messian problem. She had been in contact with them for some time now and they've been trying to help as much as they can by looking around the country to find the Messians. But there wasn't much hope; the Messians were just too good. Reina found that odd and suspicious, and was still determined to find them and end them for what they did to the innocent people of Caunwaiton.

   "How are you, my darling?" Aella questioned her grandmother as they sat down to eat.

   "Exhausted," Reina sighed heavily, grabbing her goblet of water and talking a gulp before grimacing. Her grandmother had told her not to drink wine during the pregnancy. "I wish this was wine."

   "Tragic," Aella chuckled heartily, sipping from her own goblet of summerwine. "How are the little monsters?"

   "They kick more than ever now and I don't know how to stop it sometimes," Reina muttered in irritation as she dug into the steaming venison on her plate. "I'm always exhausted. Almost all my dresses don't fit me; even the ones that fit around my belly don't fit my breasts because they are too damn big and tender! Plus, I go to the garderobe more than I go to any other place in this castle!"

   "Also! I get so aroused sometimes it hurts," Reina continued to complain while Aella listened with an amused smile.

   "Use you fingers-"

   "I've tried, it's not enough," Reina scowled deeply. "I need him but I refuse to let him anywhere near me and my cunt."

   "Still haven't forgiven him?" Aella arched with a brow.

   "No," Reina mumbled with a frown. "It has only been a week, he can suffer for longer. Now, grandmother, what was it you wanted to tell me?"

   "Oh love that can wait, I want to hear more about what's been happening with you," Aella told her with a smile. "I promise it's not that important. It's just a few suspicions I have that've been bothering me."

   "A few suspicions?" Reina questioned with wide eyes. "What of?"

   "It's about the Messians of course but I might be overthinking it," Aella dismissed her quickly, even Reina deep down knew Aella often had a sharp eye and almost right about everything. "Come, let's talk about you. You said you still want to go to Vardomos?"

  Reina ranted about how much she still wanted to go back Vardomos. She missed Reyes, Nira and her dragon, Vaera. She missed her home terribly. Aella pitied her but advised her that it'd be best to stay put due to how pregnant Reina was and how dangerous it would be to go out while the Messians were on the loose. Reina chewed on her honey cake slowly as she listened to her grandmother's words attentively. Aella gave her advice on dealing with Harry, to start letting him show her that he's willing to make efforts again.

   "I truly don't feel like it," Reina said with a sigh, while Aella dug into her apple pie. "I do not want to get disappointed again. I won't allow it. I regret becoming so weak and emotional just because he wouldn't talk to me. I just wasn't myself and I detest that."

   "You love him, Reina. It's not easy on you when the love of your life changes so drastically," Aella told her, before she stuffed her face with more apple pie, humming in satisfaction at how delicious it was.

   "Well I-" Reina began to say before she paused momentarily when Aella stood up all of sudden. "Grandmother? Are you alright?"

  Aella's body was visibly stiffening; hand clutched over her heart while the other gripped her goblet of wine by the stem. Reina stood up as well and just as she stepped out of her seat and moved to help Aella, she suddenly collapsed. A panicked gasp flew out of Reina's lips as she quickly attempted to support Aella, wincing and grimacing at her heavy weight and how difficult it was to hold her when her pregnant belly was getting in the way.

   "Guards! Fredric!" she screamed when she felt Aella's body twitching as they both stumbled to the floor. "No no no, Grandmother!" she cried in fear and utter confusion, watching in horror as Aella's eyes rolled to the back of her head and back arched.

   "My Queen!" Fredric called out as soon as he entered the room, eyes widening when he saw Reina holding her grandmother who was twitching wildly with lips parted and noises of breathing struggles escaping her. "Call the physician! Now! Hurry!" Fredric yelled at the guard next to him. "Matthias, get the King!"

   "W-What's happening to her?" Reina felt her eyes water at the sight of her poor grandmother shaking, unable to breathe. Her heart was beating erratically in her chest as she felt the fear engulf her, rendering her useless in this painful, horrendous situation. Fredric didn't know what to say, his hard face held a pained expression.

   "Please please please, gods don't take her away from me," she cried softly as she held Aella's hands, while her back arched and turned to the side.

  Reina's tearful silver eyes locked with her grandmother's wide open ones, and her heart collapsed in her chest at the sight of her. Body shaking with uncontrollable spasms, lips parts with her eyes white and back arching as short breaths left her wide open mouth. Reina wanted to go find the physician herself and drag him to help her grandmother, but she needed to stay by her side. Her heart soared in her chest when one of the guards stood by the open doors called out saying that he sees the physician coming. She had hope Aella would be saved.

  But suddenly, it all stopped. Reina felt it stop, her gaze flicking down to her grandmother in her arms. She was a deadly still now; eyes wide open just like her mouth. Reina's heart stopped in her chest at the sight of her lifeless body. Her beloved grandmother, the woman who raised her alongside her father: her idol, her best friend, her heart and soul.

  Harry and the physician arrived right at this moment, stepping into the room and halting his movements when his gaze landed on his wife, cradling her grandmother's dead body in her arms. Harry felt his body flooding with shock and sadness, realizing that he had just stepped in when Aella passed away. Reina let out a choked sob in realization, eyes wide with her hands rising by her face in shock, lips parting to wail desolately and loudly.

   "No!"

♕♔♕

❈ WOW a lot happened. 

I know that death was sorta predictable to some of you. But I teared up writing it because seizures (which is what Aella had obvs) are hella sad and scary especially if it's enough to cause death. I nEVER cry while writing but this made me very sad ):

♕ But anyways, how and why do you think Aella died? There's a reason for every death.

♕ What do you think was the important info she had to tell Reina?

❈ Also what do you think of Reina and the way she's acting towards Harry?

A lot of people were saying her fire died and etc. I can assure her fire is not DEAD it's been dimmed and there are reasons for that. Characters change as the novel progresses, did y'all really expect her to stay the same from start to finish? The book ain't over yet so watch her fire come back.

❈ Any predictions for the next chapter? How do you think Reina is gonna grieve? Will she push Harry away or go to him for comfort?

I hope you all enjoyed that chapter! Sorry for the shit load of questions. I like to know the readers opinions sometimes in order to write the next chapter.

Until we meet again...

thiø