Chapter 56

"Rhobart, someone can see us!" Ayla said and tried to move from his lap, but Rhobart grabbed her by her waist.

"Let them see! Let everyone see that the King of Nordmar has the most beautiful woman in the world in his arms!" Rhobart said in a loud voice.

Ayla put her hand on his lips, "Not so loud!"

Rhobart kissed her palm, and Ayla snatched her hand back.

"You have always been beautiful, Ayla, but right now, you look like a Queen."

Rhobart captured her mouth in a kiss. When he pushed his tongue into her mouth, Ayla realized that he tasted like mead.

"You are the Queen of Nordmar!" Rhobart said when he broke the kiss.

"Are you drunk?" Ayla asked.

"No! Maybe? A little! Does it matter?" Rhobart asked and kissed her again.

He put his hand on her ribcage, and as he deepened the kiss, his hand moved up until it touched the underside of her breast. His hand continued to go up until his palm was on top of her breast.

Ayla felt how his hand trembled slightly. When he squeezed it, she moaned.

Rhobart broke the kiss, pressed his forehead to hers, and lowered his hands.

"I get intoxicated with your taste every time I kiss you, t'xoria because you taste like the finest wine I have ever drunk."

Ayla laughed, "You really are drunk! How much did you drink?"

Rhobart shrugged, "After the ceremony, while you escaped with Double Trouble, Chief Ulfr invited me to a goblet of mead. I couldn't refuse him."

Ayla laughed until her cheeks hurt, "Double Trouble. You are funny when you are drunk."

"I am not drunk!"

"You want me to believe you drank just one goblet?" Ayla asked.

"One or two," Rhobart said, and Ayla snorted. "Fine, I might have lost count after the fifth one," Rhobart finally admitted.

The King lifted Ayla from his lap and put her on her feet.

"Let's dance, Ayla! Tonight I want to forget about the betrayals of the past. Tonight I just want to live. Because you make my heart feel alive, t'xoria!"

Rhobart and Ayla danced and laughed and lived.

And when the Paladins and Milton joined Rhobart and Ayla, the princess knew that this was the kind of life she wanted to live. She had never realized how dead inside she had been until she had come to live in Nordmar–Nordmar that she had come to love with all her heart in such a short time.

Ayla looked at the King, the man that made her feel so happy and made her leap with joy every time he kissed her. And every time he looked at her with eyes full of happiness, she kept wondering why she ever thought his eyes were as cold as the Void.

And then she looked at Milton. He was the first friend she made in Nordmar. The one who nursed her back to health gave her books and told her more about plants and herbs.

And there were the Paladins, each of them loyal to the King and the Kingdom. Ayla felt deep in het heart that they would also protect her. But Ayla knew that she would also protect them.

Lastly, Ayla looked at Kerra. Her loyal furry friend. Kerra that followed Ayla like a shadow.

As the princess of Myrthana danced while the Paladins and the King clapped their hands, she knew that Nordmar was now her home and would do anything to protect it.

It was morning when they stopped dancing, and they went to sleep.

*******

Ayla knew she was dreaming the moment she saw herself dressed in an armor and had Rhobart's head in her lap. He was in great pain and had a big wound on his stomach. He was losing a lot of blood fast.

Ayla looked at the scene that unfolded before her. She couldn't see where or when it was happening because Ayla could only see herself and Rhobart.

Ayla from the dream was crying and had her fingers interlaced with those of Rhobart's.

"You promised!" she said between sobs.

Rhobart grimaced with pain, "I will always be with you, Ayla!"

She sobbed even harder, "You can't leave me!"

"I will wait for you, t'xoria, in the Eternal Gardens," Rhobart said in a weak voice.

"You promised me that we would grow old together!"

"I am sorry to break that promise!" Rhobart said, and he closed his eyes and stopped breathing.

Ayla screamed and screamed and screamed.

******

Her own screams woke her up. She looked for Rhobart in the bed, but she remembered that they asked for separate rooms. She needed to see him, to make sure he was alright.

The door from her room opened fast, and Rhobart entered, "Ayla! I heard you scream! Are you alright?"

Seeing him unharmed and in her room made Ayla sob.

Rhobart closed the door, went to her, took her in his arms, and sat with her on the bed.

"I dreamed that you were hurt badly, and there was nothing I could do about it! And then you died, and I can't– I can't!" Ayla talked fast and felt she couldn't breathe.

Why was the thought of him ever dying making her feel like her own heart was ripped from her chest, and all that she would ever feel was endless pain?

"You are panicking, Ayla. Breathe for me!"

"Promise me! Promise that you won't leave me!"

"I promise you, Ayla! Just breathe!" Rhobart said and kissed her forehead. "I promise that we will grow old together, Ayla."

"Sweat it to me!"

"I swear it upon my crown!"

Ayla relaxed in his arms. She knew that he would always keep his word.

Rhobart stayed with Ayla until she felt her eye grow heavy. She closed them for a moment. Next moments, she was under the furs, and Rhobart kissed her cheek.

"Sleep well, t'xoria," he said and was about to leave when Ayla grabbed his tunic.

"Stay with me. I don't want to be alone right now."

Rhobart got under the furs with her. She cupped his cheek, and Rhobart bent his head and kissed her. His hand moved to the waistband of her undergarments.

"Can I touch you?" Rhobart asked her.

"You always touch me," Ayla said.

"This is going to be different, Ayla. But you will like it."

Ayla bit her lower lip and nodded.

"Is that a yes?" Rhobart asked.

"Yes," Ayla breathe.

"Spread your legs for me," Rhobart said before putting his hand inside her undergarment.

His lips found hers while his finger touched a little bundle of nerves she never knew she had. When his fingers started rubbing it, sparks of pleasure erupted, making her gasp and moan.

"Rhobart!"

The more he touched her, the better it felt. She fisted his tunic.

"Have you ever touched yourself here?" Rhobart asked her.

Ayla tried to think about what Rhobart asked, but she was feeling too much too fast.

"Have you, Ayla?" Rhobart asked as he pinched her and her hips bucked.

"No! Never! Oh, gods!"

His mouth was back on hers and swallowed her moans and cries of pleasure.

She couldn't believe that he could make her feel so good. This was what was happening between couples? No wonder she never found anything about it.

When his fingers made circles around that bundle of nerves, she felt something building and building.

She broke the kiss, " Rhobart, something is happening. Oh, gods!" She moaned as Rhobart started moving his fingers faster and faster. Her hips bucked and bucked as more pleasure was building up.

"Don't fight it, Ayla! Just let it happen," Rhobart said, and he pinched her again, and Ayla exploded like a firecracker.

"Rhobart!" she moaned.

She buried her face in his neck as he continued to touch her, and she still felt more waves of pleasure every time his finger rubbed her.

Rhobart finally stopped moving his fingers and removed his hand from her undergarments. He kissed her forehead.

"This is what happens between a married couple?" Ayla asked when she caught her breath.

"This is and a lot more," Rhobart said.

Ayla's cheeks turned red, "I like it."