Long chapter coming your way!

AND

Mature content!

-Jade-

The following day the snowstorm had shifted into a slight snowfall. It fell as light as feathers and it made for quite the beautiful day.

They had continued their journey as soon as the first light touched the snow-covered ground. Jade was riding next to Loren who were driving the carriage. A harmonious silence rested around them and between them.

Jade felt calmer than usual. Her heart was lighter than it had been in a while, and it was all because William had slept through the night. For the first time he had slept soundly without waking up in agony. He had slept like a babe and it pleased Jade immensely. She had stayed up for hours after they had said goodnight to the others, worrying about him. She had been awake, looking at him whilst the light from the lit candles around them had played on his face.

It had been the first time they had shared a bed formally since their marriage. It had felt strange, but mostly because William was not completely himself yet. To share a bed with him had contributed to the easy state of mind she was experiencing now.

Jade drifted off into her thoughts more and more. She did not notice that Loren had started talking to her. She thought back to last night as Loren's voice became noise around her.

. . .

William had been sleeping for hours but Jade was still awake. The yellow and orange flames made the generally hard features in his face seem softer... calmer even, but she missed the old William. The decisive and stubborn man. The one who was infuriated by the most meaningless thing... or by something she had said in a snide remark.

A part of her could not believe that she missed that part of him since he had hurt her so many times while giving in to his own anger and taking it out on her... but she did. It did not matter how cruel he had been in the past. She missed the spark of life in him and how it used to glow in those dark blue eyes. Nowadays he was so tired, all the time...

And on top of it all there was a war coming. Nothing could be done to prevent it and she knew nothing of what it would bring their way. A heavy sensation erupted in her chest and her lungs felt too small for her.

What if he dies in the war...? What will I do then? What if the king dies? She wondered and brushed some hair away from William's forehead. He was not sweating like he used to, which was a good sign. Maybe he truly was becoming better and would be back to his old self soon?

With heavy eyelids, and her head filled with terribly scenarios caused by the war, she studied William's chest rise and fall as he breathed. She held her breath when he stopped for just a fraction of a second. Afraid that his final moment had arrived, but it never did. She felt silly, but could help being concerned... Feeling this way had become part of her life and it was hard to ignore it.

What if his wretched mother wants him to die after all of this? Could she be that spiteful? Jade thought and squirmed a bit. She knows where his castle is... which means that so does his uncle by now...

Jade laid awake, watching William.

Until he suddenly woke up. He frowned, puzzled by the candles that were still lit. A light grimace flew over his face and he turned to see if she was still next to her. When he noticed that she was still awake his eyes softened somewhat.

"Stop it." He sighed tiredly and rested his head against the pillow.

"Stop what...?" She whispered and did the same.

"You do not have to watch over me like this, Jade." He whispered and brushed his thumb over her lower lip. "Please, go to sleep."

"I..." She yawned and blinked slowly. "I do not know how to stop. I am used to it..."

"Why not start with getting some sleep for once? I know that you barely sleep... Come closer." He whispered and motioned her to crawl in closer to him. He lifted his right arm as much as he could without pain. She studied his body for a second and tried to figure out how she could lay as close as she wanted without hurting him. "Stop it." He warned her.

"I just-"

"I am not made of glass." He informed her sternly. Her heart skipped a beat at the tone in his voice, and she could not hold back a faint smile. "What?"

"It is good to hear that bad-tempered side of you..." She whispered, leaned in over him and kissed him softly. She felt him inhale slowly through his nose while he seemed to enjoy the kiss to its fullest.

"I thought you hated that part of me." He whispered and brushed away a strand of her hair from her face. Jade bit her lower lip and allowed herself to drown in his gaze momentarily.

"Only when you are being cruel." She answered quietly. "Right now, it comforts me..."

"How so?" He asked with furrowed brows but a handsome smile on his lips.

"It means you are getting better..." She sighed and drummed her fingers against his chest. "And that is the only thing that matters to me."

"I do not deserve you." He whispered while staring into her eyes.

He did this for a moment, warmth radiated from his eyes. She shook her head to object against what he had just said, but he just hushed her. His lips searched for hers. They locked around hers as soon as they found them. A very low moan escaped her when he tasted her so deeply, for the first time in months she crawled closer and stole an even deeper kiss.

"Be quiet, William."

. . .

The words 'be quiet' echoed in Jade's mind as she woke up from the memory of last night. She had drifted off completely while Loren was talking to her about which way they should take.

"You decide." She mumbled and looked over her shoulder at the carriage. "I have never been there remember? Have you been there?"

"Once." Loren answered her. She could hear on the sound of his voice that he knew she had not paid attention to a thing he had said. "He is fine, miss." He told her quietly, like he knew what she was thinking.

"I know..."

"Then why are you so worried? The doctor and my mother is with him."

"I guess I am just used to it." Jade confessed in a heavy sigh. "How much further?" She asked, wanting to change the subject. The light of midday shone down on them, the could not be far away by now, could they? "We only have a couple of hours of the day left."

"At least three hours, or more." Loren groaned tiredly and stretched his arms out.

"You need some sleep." Jade remarked in a short laughter, but there was no joy in it.

"I know..." Loren agreed. "As soon as we arrive, I think I will sleep for two or three days straight."

"Well, no one could say you have not earned it." Jade remarked and studied what laid in front of them; snow and more snow.

They were traveling down a road which had not seen travelers since the snow had fallen. There were no tracks or traces, it was completely untouched.

Later...

During the last hour of bright sunlight, right before the rays became orange and fading, they rode out of the trees and another white field spread out before them.

I cannot wait until spring arrives... Jade thought tiredly and patted Dimma comfortingly on the sight of his neck. She figured that he was exhausted, but he never complained. He just kept trudging through the ankle high snow.

"There it is." Loren exclaimed in a relieved sigh and Jade looked up from Dimma. "Finally!"

Resting on a plateau of rock and soil, a majestic vision of rusticated masonry appeared before Jade.

Upon the plateau stood a fortified castle with walls higher than any she had witnessed before. From where they stood it was possible to spot three cylinder-shaped towers which rose above up behind the huge walls.

The towers looked strong enough to withhold any attack Jade could imagine. They had small windows at four levels and Jade quickly guessed that there were four stories. She found herself curiously wondering when she would get the chance to climb each of the towers.

"It is quite the view, isn't it?" Loren chuckled. He had noticed her reaction and was looking at her first and then the castle.

"This must have taken forever to build..." Jade breathed and frowned a little. William could not have planned this castle out completely by himself. If so, he must have been very young... Too young.

"Years." Loren confirmed. "How many I cannot count though. The king and William have been talking about it and sending workers up here for as long as I can remember."

"Correct me if I am wrong..." Jade began. "... but this castle is bigger than the king's?" She asked with a finger leisurely pointing at the subject of their discussion.

Loren nodded and smirked at her, which told her that it was a lot bigger than the king's.

Jade snickered and brought Dimma to a hold as she took the sight of her new home in.

It was nothing less than spectacular. She was glad that it was still bright daylight around them, otherwise she would not have gotten this extraordinary view of it.

The castle's walls were high, solid and constructed to be what Jade assumed was impenetrable. Around the walls, and below them, a dark green forest rested. The deciduous trees were naked due it being winter, but proud fir trees still brought some color to the sight. Jade could not wait to see the rest of the naked trees in spring when they would be springing with buds of new green life.

"Do you like it?" Jade gasped when she was startled by William's voice. She turned her face to the left. William had opened the window of the carriage and was looking at her with such pride in his eyes.

"What?" she asked quietly and ripped her eyes off him to study the castle and its enormous body again. For all she could see, this was not even all of it.

"What do you think?" He asked her calmly and she could hear that he joined her in studying their new home.

"I do not think anything..." Jade sighed in astonishment and clenched her hands around the reins. "I have never seen anything like it."

"Well... This is your home now." He told her and she turned to look at him again. He was looking at her with affection glowing in his eyes. "Our home."

"It is so quiet." She stated in a sigh. It was so peaceful and tranquil. There was now sound around them except the panting of the horses and the creaking sound coming from the carriage. "So... peaceful."

"Welcome home..." She heard her husband's pleased voice next to her. "My queen."

Jade felt her heart fill with a feeling of joy she had not experienced before. She had been happy before, overjoyed even... but this was something else. It felt like she was looking at exactly what William had called it; her home. Their home. This was were she was supposed to be... and she could feel it all the way from her heart out to her fingertips.

"I love it." She whispered and felt his eyes on her as she took the sight of the castle in once more before they continued down the road.

When they entered the courtyard, Jade was surprised by the life in it. Soldiers were training, shouting and jousting.

Two men, black with dirt and soot, stood by anvils, working with metal glowing red and yellow. Clanking sounds echoed through the already busy courtyard as their tools were swung down hard on their masterpieces. Little yellow fleas fled the metal when the tools collided with the metal.

From nowhere came a group of women, servants, carrying baskets of freshly washed sheets. They hurried towards the nearest door. Their breaths created small white clouds and Jade saw that they did not hurry because of wanting to continue their chores as fast as possibly. They were freezing and that was why they were in a rush.

All of the life around them stopped when someone noticed Loren and called out to him. Everyone especially stopped when they laid their eyes on Jade. Like they knew who she was but could not believe that she was actually there.

"It is her!" One of the soldiers gasped at another. His friend elbowed him in his side without ripping his own gaze from Jade.

"Who is she?" The one who had elbowed the first one asked.

"The new princess."

The other soldier gave his friend a confused look. Jade furrowed her brows, intrigued by their conversation. They noticed that she was looking at them and quickly turned their gazes toward each other.

"There has not been a coronation." The second one stated in some form of objection to his friend's statement.

"She married Prince William." The first soldier countered. "That, to me, sounds awfully a lot like what a princess is. At the very least."

Has the rumor of William's and my wedding traveled up here already? She thought. Of course it has... some seem to recognize me even though they have never seen me before.

"No." The other one objected stubbornly. "She has to be-"

"I am not deaf." Jade called out to them when she had grown tired of listening to them speaking about her. They both bowed instantly.

"My sincerest apologies, your grace!" The first soldier exclaimed.

"For what?" Jade asked him. "Did you say something rude?" She asked and implied that she had heard every word.

"No!" He exclaimed and immediately appeared to have been filled with panic. "I just told my friend here, about your arrival and who you are." He explained nervously. "Are you truly-"

"Yes, she is." Loren answered him bored. "Do you want me to get the prince so he can confirm it as well?"

"No! No, of course not!" They both whispered and bowed before Jade again. She smiled at the fact that even up north people feared her husband's terrible temper.

"If that is all you did, then I do not think you owe me an apology." Jade snickered and shot Loren a look. He rolled his eyes at the soldiers' nervousness.

The soldiers bowed once more before leaving without a word.

"Is this going to be something I have to look at for the rest of my life?" She muttered to herself.

"If you are referring to the soldiers bowing before you, then yes." Loren laughed quietly. "Get used to it, your grace."

"Shut up, Loren." She laughed back but much lower than him.

-William-

The doctor and Loren helped him out of the carriage and he breathed in the cold refreshing air of the north. As his feet hit the stones of the courtyard he made sure they let him go. He did not want the soliders to see him as one who was in need of help.

These men had seen him come out of battles without a scratch and now he was temporarily crippled. He did not want them to find out how he had been hurt. It would damage what he had fought so hard to earn; their respect and loyalty.

If his father's and his own men would find out that a deranged servant had done this to him, he would have to work twice as hard to earn their respect all over again. Because of this, he insisted that Loren and the doctor let him do the rest himself.

His eyes swept over his surroundings and only when Jade entered his line of sight did he relax. He immediately felt at peace and forgot the throbbing pain in his side.

She was still occupied with taking the castle and its size in.

I cannot believe it is over. She is here. He thought and relived the same relief he had felt when she had first arrived at his father's castle. But the mere more that this was were they where going to live from now on, together, brought him ten times more of what he has experienced back then.

"Your grace!"

William turned his eyes towards the soldier calling out for him.

"What is it?" He asked back and tried his best not to grimace from the pain as he moved too quickly.

Will this fucking wound ever heal?

A young soldier came walking up to him with two others behind him. He changed his face to one of stone. William's mask appeared without struggle even though he hadn't worn if for some time. He was partially relieved and partially bothered by it. He had enjoyed being free of having to put it on but at the same time he was glad od how easy it was to find it again.

When the soldiers stood two meters from him they all bent the knee.

A very discreet, annoyed scoff erupted from the direction where his beautiful wife was standing.

Jade stood a few steps away and she did not look too impressed. The icy blue eyes studies the men in front of him as their heads were facing downwards in respect. He could almost hear her snide thoughts inside that head of hers... and he loved her for it. She caught him looking at her and blushed.

"What?" She mouthed to him.

"I heard that." He answered her without a sound. She rolled her eyes and suppressed a chuckle.

She will definitely be the hardest queen to impress in history... He thought and smirked internally.

After a couple of seconds the soldiers looked up at him and he nodded, giving them permission to rise to their feet.

"It is good to see you again, your grace." The soldier greeted him. "Will you be staying long?"

"We will be living here from now on." He answered the soldier and stretched his arm out towards Jade.

She walked over and took his hand. Slowly, he pulled her close and inhaled the scent of her hair when it appeared beneath his chin.

"Congratulations to your union." One of the other soldiers said with a sincere smile on his lips and quickly bowed his head.

"Thank you." William sighed and excused them with a single nod afterwards.

Jade looked up at him and his heart melted instantly.

"You cannot scoff like that, Jade." He told her quietly and smiled at her. "It is disrespectful."

"To you?" She asked back and narrowed her eyes teasingly.

"To them." He answered and nodded at the soliders walking away.

"I did not mean to offend them, it just... I think it is so stupid." She giggled and tried to keep her voice down.

William grabbed her cheek and locked eyes with her.

"I know you do, and I love you so much for it. But please try to not do it when they are within earshot."

"Fine..." She promised and nudged him carefully in the chest with her free hand; pleading for a kiss.

He studied her for a second before giving her what she wanted, and more.

"It is good to see you on your feet." She sighed against his lips after the kiss had ended.

. . .

An hour later William was sitting on the edge of his bed.

Jade had helped him to what would now be their chamber. He had insisted on walking but he could not do it all by himself. The stairs had proven be his biggest enemy right now, but no one had been around to see him in need of help..

Jade's neat fingers freed him from his cloak and then continued with unlacing his shirt. She had asked some servants, very kindly, to prepare a bath for him in their chamber and was now undressing him. Help that he was not going to turn down.

"Is it true?" She asked out of the blue without looking at him. The blue eyes rested upon what her fingers were doing.

It was impossible to keep his mind away from what could have been had he been completely healed.

"Is what true?" William asked and barely managed to even care about what she was going to say next.

He was not really in the mood of talking about anything else than how much he wanted her right now. Behind a locked door, as his wife. But he did not say anything. He just amused himself with looking at her breasts which were occasionally pressed against him as she continued undressing him.

"That there has to be a coronation... for them to acknowledge me as..."

"As...?" William wanted her to say it.

"Royal." She whispered. It brought him so much pleasure to hear that word roll off her tongue.

"Is that what you are thinking about?" He sighed darkly as her hands dove underneath his shirt and freed him from this as well. Her action forced her to step closer and he was close enough to kiss her chest... if he wanted to.

"What else would I be thinking of?" She teased him and avoided his aroused stare.

She knows. He thought and his lust spread through him like wildfire.

William felt himself grow when she traded him like this. His hands betrayed him and placed themselves at her hips, pulling her so close that her soft skin pressed against his face.

A light moan vibrated against him and he felt how he grew more and more.

"Stop it." She sighed and pushed herself away a bit.

-Jade-

William was looking at her with glowing eyes. She knew that he could sense what he did to her but she was not taking any chances.

If she gave in he would not be able, and unwilling to control himself. If she gave herself to him, in the way they both craved, it would end up in him hurting himself.

"Tell me to stop." He whispered and hauled her closer to himself again. She followed his lead with ease, only to keep him from getting hurt, which he would if she fought back.

"I just did." She laughed quietly and held his face between her hands. The dark blue eyes glowed.

"But you did not mean it." He answered darkly, and awfully confident.

I know... but we really shouldn't. Jade thought while she bit her lower lip.

"You are practically begging for it when you are doing that..." he moaned, grabbed around her neck and ripped her close to his face.

"You will get hurt." She protested airily but did not push him away.

"Are you rejecting me?" He groaned huskily and licked her lower lip quickly before he played a fiery kiss against her lips.

Her body came alive immediately and it almost hurt her. Her blood rushed through her veins. She wanted him badly, and it was by far the worst internal battle she had ever had with herself.

"Yes, because you need a bath." She sighed and used up all of her willpower to resist him.

"Do I smell that bad?" He whispered and kissed the skin just above her cleavage.

The storm of feelings that came with his lips went straight down between Jade's legs.

"No. You just need a bath." She gasped and focused her eyes on the tub that stood further into the chamber.

This will not work. I will not be able to-

"Then you should join me." He mumbled, noticeably aroused by what he was doing, to them both. "Do not make me beg, Jade." He whispered, kissed her at the same spot again and looked up at her.

"Fine." Jade moaned both aroused and exhausted by his stubbornness.

. . .

The sound of water moving around her body was the only thing audible as Jade lowered herself into the warm water. William was patiently waiting for her to join him. She moved closer and touched the outskirts of his wound with her fingertips, very carefully.

"How do you feel?" She asked quietly.

"Exceptionally content." He answered, eyed her up and down before he leaned back against the edge of the tub. He looked so beautiful right now but his answer had provoked her to raise her brows at him.

"How are you?" She asked sternly. A smile broke out on his lips. "What?"

"You look so grave and determined."

"Answer me." She muttered.

"I am alright, Jade. Please, stop worrying." He whispered and pulled her closer. She observed every inch of his face and lingered at the sharp jaw and his eyes. It would take forever for her to stop worrying... but maybe he was right.

"Where did you go?" He whispered and she woke up to the feeling of his thumb and index finger grabbing her chin. He gently forced her to look into his eyes.

"Nowhere." She answered and caressed his cheek softly.

William pulled her closer and skillfully to place her over himself. She deliberately made the fatal decision of meeting his gaze. She lowered herself until their foreheads met and stroked his cheek with her thumb.

"Kiss me." He ordered her with a deep voice, and she did it.

The hungry lips fed themselves on hers for a moment until they traveled down to her neck. His hands trailed down her back. The left arm hooked around her back and grabbed her at her waist. The right hand ventured further down and grabbed greedily at one of her butt cheeks, hard.

Suddenly the sound of knocking disturbed them. It echoed in the corridor on the other side of the door.

"Ignore it." William groaned and his hand continued further down, in under her, until it reached a part of her which had not been touched in forever.

"Will-" His fingers' touch broke her voice and her objection died with a loud cry of pleasure. "What if it's important?" She whispered breathlessly against his mouth.

"Nothing besides this is important." He growled and pressed her closer to his erection. "Come now, Jade. I want to feel you around me." He groaned against her lips in a heated kiss.

"It could be about the war..." She breathed against his lips. It was impossible to sway him. He had already made up his mind. "That is important."

"I will deal with it after." He promised her.

"You will hurt yourself." She whimpered when his fingers teased and tortured her once more.

"Your grace!" A dark voice called through the door. The person sounded hesitant but also demanding in tone. Like whatever they wanted was urgent, but as it always was with the man in Jade's arms; everyone, besides her, feared upsetting him.

"NO!" William roared at the guard on the other side. Jade held on to his shoulder to keep herself from falling backwards when he turned towards to door as he shouted. "THE ABSENCE OF MY ANSWER MEANS FUCKING NO! LEAVE OR I WILL MURDER YOU!"

The sound of the metal in the guard's armor, clanking as he walked away, told them that hey were alone again.

Jade fought back a laughter as William's rage unraveled itself.

"Stop laughing, Jade." He warned her darkly.

"Or what?" She laughed quietly with raised eyebrows.

The answer she received was given by his fingers which entered her slowly. He watched her with simmering fury pouring out of his eyes but a content, smug smile rested on his lips as he punished her for her haughtiness.

---------------------------

I hope you liked it!

Much love,

Jenny