Erick left the dungeons in a sour mood. Having given clear instructions to the guards - adding more to the regular shift - Erick turned to make his way back to his own room. He was tired, so, so, tired. The day was thinning into evening, and he wanted nothing more than the blissful respite of sleep. A selfish part of him considered canceling dinner for the night, escaping to the refuge of his room for the rest of the day. He quickly dispelled this thought, knowing the ruckus it would stir with both those in attendance and those who wouldn't be.
Erick pulled himself together to make it back to his room, gritting his teeth through the worst of it. If you can make it up those stairs then you can make it to your bedroom. He told himself, repeating it any time his body cried for relief. When he finally arrived, he found visitors at his door.
His sister Grace was there, speaking to one of the guards. She was wearing a gentle green colored dress that was very modest on her, and she stood in her usual put-together yet delicate pose of a healer as she spoke. Beside her was Flora, who had changed into a more comfortable fitting jacket. She had an air of anxiety around her, she clasped her hands together tightly and stood too rigidly for anything but nervousness. They both turned at his approach.
Great divines, he looks worse than when I left him. Erick flinched at Flora's thought, but couldn't help quirking a small yet crooked smile. "I didn't realize I was so popular today." Erick's attempt at a joke landed flat as his sister leveled a glare at him and Flora only looked more upset. Erick winced at their expressions.
"I see our suspicions were correct." Grace said coolly, looking at Flora as she did so. Flora only squeezed her hands tighter before nodding in agreement. Erick sighed in frustrated resolution.
"Let's get moving then." Erick motioned to the doors behind them, trying his best to hide the tiredness from his voice. What he really wanted to say 'let's get this over with' but he didn't want to offend either of the women. Grace nodded in assent and the trio went into his room. Erick swiftly led them through the large drawing room down the hall to his own elaborate bedroom, not caring anymore as he pulled up onto his bed. He rolled on his back, legs hanging off the edge as he closed his eyes in respite.
Flora couldn't chase away her anxiety at not only seeing Erick's injuries but also feeling them. It was as if the longer she spent around him, the closer she was bound to him. The idea sent a jumble of emotions tumbling through her heart, and she barely had any time to process any of them.
Following him and his sister had felt odd yet also the only natural thing to do. No one said anything to her, and so Flora continued to follow them in. She had expected Erick to pause in the drawing room, like when they had dinner together. Was that really just a few weeks ago? It had felt much longer than that, given all that had happened.
And yet Erick continued into the private hallway that joined the main drawing room to several others. It wasn't until they reached the end that Flora realized it was his bedroom. She stopped at the doorway while he and Princess Grace continued in, taking in the sight of the room. Despite the time she had spent here, she never really got to appreciate it as she had floated in and out of sleep.
Erick's bedroom was much larger than her own. The bed was large enough for three or more, and Flora did not like where that thought quickly plunged to. Instead she thought about the large plush blankets and pillows that were neatly arranged on the bed, decorated in intricate patterns in blue and gold. Similarly the rugs and drapes were also in the colors of the kingdom with patterns of dragons and unicorns decorating them.
If Flora thought she had a lot of bookshelves, Erick had more. His shelves sported an array of objects, from history books to decorative potted plants to miscellaneous animal skulls. What's more, he had a seating area that many would describe as a reading nook tucked away at one side of the room. At the end of the room were two doors that set out to a widespread balcony. It was all very impressive.
Flora was pulled back from her admiration at the grunt of noise Erick made as he brought himself onto his bed, a twinge of pain shooting through her. Grace frowned in a mixture of annoyance and disappointment before getting started.
"You can take a seat if you'd like." Grace said over her shoulder as she started to use her magic on her older brother. Flora only nodded with an agreeable noise as she quietly took a seat near the bed. "If it weren't for her," Grace looked pointedly at Flora before turning back to Erick. "You'd probably have an infection, or worse." She told Erick, who's only response was a deep grumble. Grace only sighed as she moved on. Flora had a feeling this was not unusual for her.
Flora watched as the wounds slowly mended back together. The worst ones took longer, most of which still looked a little raw by the time she was done. Most of the cuts and bruises had faded, with very few scars left remaining. It was as if they were nothing more than a ghost of a memory, that perhaps none of this had happened after all.
Erick muttered something to his sister that Flora strained to hear. Something about a sweet smelling woman? Flora wasn't able to make it out, but whatever it was it caused the Princess to laugh.
"You mean Amelia? The female healer from the Bear Clan?" Grace asked nonchalantly, thought Flora was left at a loss. Do they refer to themselves as male and female? Like animals? Flora frowned at the thought, unsure how she felt about referring to someone like Erick as a 'male' rather than a man.
"Yes, well, that would make sense." Grace continued. "In fact, that makes a lot of this mess make sense." She said with a knowing grin. "Unfortunately for you, she's in heat and Balder's already stolen away with her." Erick made a grumbling noise at his sister's statement, but Flora practically choked. She didn't have much to choke on, so she ended up spiraling into a coughing feet.
"Now you've done it." Grace teased her brother as she went over to help Flora. Flora tried to put up a hand to wave her away, but it proved futile as she fell into more coughing. Princess Grace tried to hide a laugh behind her hand as she used the other one to give Flora a heart pat on the back. "Sometimes I forget my audience." Grace said with an apologetic smile when Flora finally collected herself.
"I'm sorry, did you really say in heat? Like an animal?" Flora asked incredulously. Erick pulled himself to sit up, but whatever he was going to say was cut off by his sister.
"Yes, unfortunately shifters aren't as human as they appear." Grace said gently, that look of apology never disappearing. "Some parts of our animal nature never really go away." She gave a pointed look to her brother, who scowled back at her.
"How was I supposed to know? Balder's mood can flip like a switch most days." Erick pointed out. It seems they're blaming the fight on… Hormones? Flora's stomach swam at the implication, especially when she factored in that the first thing he did was come see her. Maybe they're on to something. Flora thought with a blush she couldn't hide. This is weird, right? Do I say something or-
"I'll leave you two to it, I have other duties." Grace said with a small wave before leaving the room, the skirts of her dress swirling like leaves on an Autumn wind. That left Flora alone with Erick - again - and by his sisters' machinations - again - Flora realized.
"I should probably get going myself." Flora said warily, rising from her seat. "I should really go check on Spot." She finished at the same time that he started.
"I actually wanted to talk to you for a moment." Erick said, talking over Flora.
"Oh, um, okay." Flora squeaked. She couldn't help fidgeting under his stare, opting to look at the floor instead.
"Wait, what happened to Spot?" Erick asked, a look of concern crossing his face.
"No it's alright." Flora shook her head. "What did you want to talk about?" She asked, looking back at the King. Part of her was torn between her anxiety of what he had to say and remembering to be polite. Erick said nothing, quirking an eyebrow in a silent way of pushing the issue, refusing to go on until she answered his question. Flora gave a quiet sigh of resignation before continuing.
"Spot got shot today." Flora's voice was so quiet, she wasn't sure if Erick had heard her if not for his quick response. Erick's face quickly went from concern to shock as he jumped off the bed.
"What do you mean shot? What happened?" Erick stepped forward, nearly towering over her as he looked down on her in concern. Flora shifted under his piercing gaze, looking away as she felt the heat of tears threatening to spring up.
"It was in the city." Flora murmured, and she had to grip her arm to stop herself from shaking. She had managed to avoid these feelings all day, but now she was confronting them. It was more than she expected, and more than she could handle.
"What happened? Who was it?" Erick's voice had dropped to a threatening whisper, darkness clouding the edges. Flora nearly shook at the sound of it, knowing it wasn't meant for her but still frightened regardless.
Flora shook her head in response, tears breaking and falling on their own accord. I could have died. She thought with a sick realization. She took a deep breath and turned to look back at Erick. His eyes were alight with a fury she had never seen before, something deep seated and primal in his rage.
"Who was it?" He asked again in that quiet voice. Flora only shook her head again.
"He's dead." She stated flatly before he could ask once more. Saying the words out loud felt like it took a piece of her soul with it. She hadn't been the one to do it, nor had he necessarily been a 'good guy,' but she still felt some sort of responsibility for his death. Or maybe it was the realization that her father was in a very similar position that hurt her the most.
Erick's shoulders visibly dipped at her words, his expression softening. "Oh Flora." Was all he said, and it was enough. Tears came running down her face now, the pain in her heart like a fresh wound as she cried. Erick came up and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in to his broad chest. "I'm so sorry." He murmured against her hair. One hand gently cradled the back of her head while the other held her waist in a comforting embrace. Flora wrapped her arms around him, allowing herself to cry all the tears she held back these past few days. It was a lot.
Flora had pushed aside all of her fears and anxieties these last few days, and now it was overwhelming. She had dismissed the fact that she had dormant magic, not wanting to think about the what if's of it actually emerging. She had continued to ignore that her father was on death row, acting as if he were still back at home just as she had left him. Worst of all was this dance with her King, not a simple will-they-won't-they but a question of whether or not it was real. The question still haunted her, but right now she was more certain that these feelings were real. Not entirely certain, but more certain than she had been before.
Eventually her heaving stopped, and she was able to breathe normally again. Yet she didn't let go of Erick, and neither did he let go of her. Instead she let herself stay there for a moment more, her head still reeling both figuratively and literally. After letting her thoughts quiet, she pulled away from the King, and he put up no resistance as she backed away. She took a deep breath before talking again.
"What was it you wanted to talk about?" Flora asked, turning to face Erick. He huffed a surprised chuckle before responding.
"I actually wanted to apologize for my overly forward behavior earlier." Erick's smile was one of both apologies and a reminder of their earlier interaction. Interaction is putting it lightly. Flora mused.
"I didn't mind," Flora started with a shake of her head. "It was a nice distraction." She started quietly as heat rose to her face at the memory of his intensity. Erick winced a little at her statement. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that." Flora hurried to apologize, throwing up her hands in a panic.
"No, it's okay." Erick raised his own hands in submission. "I suppose I earned that one. I was never really great at 'romantic tension' anyway." He said with a sly grin. Flora couldn't help but throw him a coy look.
"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" A little part of her had a good idea what he meant, but couldn't stop herself from asking it away.
"It means," Erick said with a wolf-like grin, his eyes glistening with a mischievous hunger. "I have a habit of jumping to the fun part." Erick's voice deepened to deeper, a dark glint in his eye. Flora felt her entire body go red at the implication - more so fact that she had already witnessed. Erick looked away with a cough, his own face flushing.
"But that's neither here nor there." Erick returned with an apologetic smile. "I wanted to ask if you would have dinner with me again? Just the two of us?" There was something hidden in his voice that Flora couldn't quite catch.
"Of course, I'd be honored." Flora replied, trying not to sound too hasty in her decision but not too delayed either. She very much liked the idea of being with him again, but she didn't want to sound desperate. Erick looked relieved at her answer.
"I'll see you at the usual time then." Erick told her, leaning down to place a kiss on her forehead as he gently grabbed her hand with a farewell squeeze. Flora couldn't help but give him a beaming smile. Despite the hardships of her day, he found a way to make her feel better. She gave him a polite farewell as she untangled her fingers from his hand and left.
Flora went to her room to check on Spot. She had given explicit orders that he be taken to her room and cared for there, but a part of her couldn't stomach the sight of him in so much pain. While the wound hadn't been fatal, it was still a bullet wound. The animal healer who had come to help had used their magic to force him into a deep slumber, and Flora found him still asleep and curled up in his bed.
Flora knelt down to Spot's bed, gently resting her hand on his sleeping form. Tears threatened to come back once more, but she knew he was alright and that there was no need to cry. Instead she quietly rested her head against his for a moment, allowing her breathing to slow as she peacefully pet her dog. He wasn't just a failed hunting dog anymore, or even just a pet. Spot was her companion.
With one final pat on the head, Flora stood up and returned to her work. With an internal groan, Flora walked to the office space of her rooms. This job has a lot more paperwork than I would have anticipated. She thought somewhat bitterly as she plunked down into her chair and got tow work. The only good to come of it was to distract her thoughts, both good and bad.
After Flora left his room, Erick decided to throw on some clean clothes. A part of him desperately wanted to stay here for the rest of the evening, but he still had work to do and a brother to assuage.
Erick pulled on clothes more befitting of a king. He wore a tight fitting uniform decked in the colors of the kingdom. His pants were an off white color, almost cream in some lighting. It was a little snug for his preference, but nothing unusual in terms of "courtly attire." He put on a shirt and vest of a lighter material, but it would never seem light enough as it had trapped in the heat of his body all too well. Erick grimaced at the thought of having to sit around in stuffy attire for long. It was a similar color to his pants finely decorated in gold thread with swirling imagery and patterns associated with the kingdom's emblems. Over this he draped a long tail coat jacket over his arms, similarly decorated to his shirt and coat but colored in the deep midnight blue he had grown up seeing everywhere. The collar came up high against his neck, something he had learned to suffer through long ago as he buttoned it closed. The shoulders and wrists of the jacket held ornate patterns and threads, even more so than the rest of his clothes. Last was the golden sash he tied around his waist. All together it had him feeling like a stuffed turkey, but was grateful he didn't have to wear the heavy cape, at least for now.
With this one little upside, Erick made his way out of his rooms and back out into the castle. While he had hoped to spend more time resting, he knew he shouldn't put off his duties any longer. It was the grim reality that always filled his life, so full of work that he never really had time for himself. Except for those two weeks with Flora. A traitorous thought whispered at the back of his mind. He shook it away, knowing he let too much out in those two weeks. He had said and done far more than he should have, and now he was just hoping he wouldn't live to regret it. Flora's opinion of him seemed to ever be tipping on a delicate scale, one that he hoped would eventually tip in his favour.
Erick suffered through his meetings like this, always cordial and polite as he had been taught. His mind wandered through the memories of the many meetings he had sat through with his father. It had always been that way, and he had learned from an early age what consequences were. His thoughts took Erick to when he had accompanied his father to meet the king of Vygilslan, ruler of their neighbouring kingdom and Balder's late father. Erick blinked away the memory as he returned to the conversation he was having with Leon.
"I hope you're listening, boy because I won't repeat myself." Leon snapped. Erick sighed heavily through his noose before responding.
"Yes Leon, you were telling me how you didn't want to find another replacement, or come out of retirement." Erick tried his best to hide his frustration from his voice, but based on the look Leon gave him he must have failed. Ever since his aunt's outburst, word had spread like a wildfire during a dry season. It was only a matter of time before the old lion shifter would catch wind of it.
"Eh? Was I?" Leon scratched his chin in thought. "Yes, well, as I was saying." He said with a dismissive wave of his hand. Erick leveled a flat look at the retired Beast Master, raising a single eyebrow at him. "I want to enjoy the rest of my days in peace and quiet." Leon continued, glossing over the look Erick was giving him.
"I'm sure you will, eventually." Erick emphasized the last word, knowing full well how Leon would react. The old man began to make protestations but Erick held up a hand and Leon quieted, though he still looked visibly upset. "I admit this was an unexpected development." Leon snorted in disbelief. "Regardless," Erick continued with a heavy sigh. "I will need your help in finding someone new." Erick finished. Leon was quick to respond.
"There is no one, you saw those other farmhands. I trained her to take my place, not them." Leon stated firmly. Erick couldn't help the look of confusion that overtook his face.
"Why?" Erick asked simply. There was a long pause before Leon answered.
"You remember that wolf shifter farmhand I whipped in the face?" Leon's voice was low and rumbled with age. Erick grimaced at the memory of the boy, barely nineteen at the time, with a wicked lash across his face. The wound had left much to be desired.
"Yeah, what of him?" Erick wasn't sure where this was going but if it had something to do with Flora, he had a feeling he would soon regret asking.
"Do you know why I did that?" Leon's question felt like it was loaded with more than Erick could handle, so instead of responding he said nothing, his mouth tightening into a thin line.
"He had been putting his hands on my girls, and I caught him." Leon didn't hide the snarl of disgust on his face as he said this, and Erick felt his body go rigid as his hands tightened their grip on the arms of his chair. "He had her pinned by one of the stalls in the cavalry horse barn." Erick felt his chest tighten as Leon continued his story. "I had just finished lunging a horse, so I had a whip in my hand." Leon let the silent implication go with one shrug of his shoulder. "I had her work the dog kennels after that, but you know what she asked me?" Leon leaned in as he asked his King this question. Erick couldn't find his voice, his heart still raging at the idea that Flora had been so vulnerable. "She asked me if he was going to be okay. She seemed to think I was going to kill the boy, or have him killed." Leon leaned back into his chair.
"What did you tell her?" Erick asked, his voice quiet with heavy emotions.
"Ahh, I gave her the usual reassurances." Leon waved away the comment. "But I kept a close eye on her after that. She firmly became a thorn in my side, but she always had the animals' best interest at heart. That's why I chose her." Leon finished, his face somber from the memory. Erick said nothing at first, leaning back in his office chair.
"What did you do with him?" Erick asked, curiosity getting the better of him. Leon's face spread into a menacing smirk.
"Strung him up and finished what I started with the whip." Leon started. "Then I caught him again, so I had him gelded like a horse." Leon laughed as Erick blanched at the thought of Leon doing such a thing.
"Father let you do that?" Erick asked incredulously.
"It was your father's idea!" Leon continued laughing, slapping his knee as he let loose. Erick simply shook his head in disbelief. Looking at the clock on the desk, he decided now was as good a time as any to end this meeting.
"As enlightening as this was," Erick started when Leon had caught his breath. "I still have a few things to take care of this afternoon." Erick stood up from his seat, holding out a hand to signal the meeting's end. Leon gave his usual farewell as the two left the office space. Erick was still processing the story when he turned to head towards the royal wing of the castle, sure to find his brother in his room.
Erick tried not to turn the image in his head over and over as it only made him more angry. Servants and guests gave Erick a wide berth as he prowled down the halls, finding it difficult to hide his sour mood. The idea that someone had gotten away with that behaviour in his walls was upsetting as it was, however realistic it may be, but the thought that it had happened to Flora made his blood boil. Erick had to force it aside so that he would be more level headed when he spoke to Balder.
When Erick arrived at Balder's room, he had to take one more moment to center himself before knocking. As he did so, he couldn't help but notice the scent of the Bear Clan healer, Amelia. I really am nothing more than an animal. Erick thought bitterly, fighting the unnameable urge that had sent his heart thundering and his blood pumping. He knocked on his brother's door, making sure it was loud enough to be heard but not so loud as to sound like he was an angry visitor. There was a long pause as Erick heard shuffling from the room within. like most of the royal suites, the room had a drawing room that eventually lead to the bedroom as well as a bathroom and an office space. Or in Balder's case, a training room.
When Balder finally answered the door, he was still in his undergarments. Amelia's scent clung to his freshly scared body like a cloud, and Erick had to bite back the wave of recognition he should have noticed earlier. He should have known better, should have known the scent, and yet he still fell prey to his baser instincts.
"What?" Balder asked briskly, leaning one arm against the door frame. Erick had to shake his head free of the overwhelming emotions rising in him before responding.
"Well, I was going to ask if you were free for a bit," Erick started, taking in Balder's general state of dishevelment. His hair was mussed, the usual braid on the side half undone, and given that he was still in his undergarments, Erick had a good picture of what was going on. "But I see that you're busy." Erick said with a sly grin. He couldn't fault his brother for it, having done the same himself in years past. Balder responded in kind, plastering a grin of his own across his face.
"I might be." Balder teased. His smile faded by a few inches. "I'm sorry I let things go so far." He said, taking his hand off the door frame to rub the back of his neck. "In hind sight, I should have known better than to bring Amelia along." Balder gave a half hearted laugh. Erick couldn't help but laugh and clap his brother on the shoulder.
"I have a feeling you knew full well and still took her." Erick replied. His brother's smile returned.
"Yeah, you're right." Balder admitted as he barked out a laugh. "No hard feelings?" He asked Erick with a certain look in his eye that reminded Erick of when they were younger.
"No, no hard feelings." He replied. "How about we go for a hunt tonight? After dinner?" Erick asked. Balder lifted an inquisitive eyebrow at the question. "A normal hunt, after deer." Erick specified.
"Ah, I figured it was too early for you to get bored of her." Balder replied with a mischievous grin that had Erick rolling his eyes. It only caused Balder to laugh more.
"After dinner?" Erick reiterated. Balder simply nodded as he continued to laugh.
I'll see you then. Erick heard Balder's thought as his brother returned to his bedroom, closing the door behind him. Erick released a sigh of relief, not having realized how tense he had been. He turned to head down the hall, heading for the kitchens. Unlike last time, he would intentionally arrange for just the two of them. Erick couldn't help the bitter smile that splayed across his lips. Esther knew from the start, and thought she'd play matchmaker for me. Erick thought to himself. He wasn't sure if he should be grateful or frustrated at his sister's intervention. He would have been happy to let it play out, even if that meant taking an entire party with him on the Spring Inspection, or wait yet another three years to get anywhere.
Erick decided on the former. While it had been rushed, Erick was grateful for his relationship with Flora. Speaking of Flora… Erick spied her from the third floor balcony. He couldn't help but admire her as she made friendly conversation with those around her. His heart tightened as if a fist had clenched as he thought about the story Leon told her.
She looked at him then, and his heart clenched for an entirely different reason. She's going to ruin me.