Besieged and Betrothed

‘I’ve done a lot of things he wouldn’t have wanted. What’s one more?’

He frowned at the note of despondency in her voice. This was more than just grief. It sounded like guilt, too, though he had no idea what to do about that. A man of words might have been able to comfort her, but he wasn’t one of those. Actions were all he knew.

‘Enough.’ He tugged on her hand, pulling her to her feet.

‘What are you doing?’ She sounded more bewildered than angry. ‘I said I didn’t want to go in.’

‘And I made a promise to your father to take care of you. Now come on.’

‘I said I don’t want to!’ There was an edge to her voice this time.

‘Too bad.’ He wrapped his arms around her, scooping her up off her feet and carrying her along the ramparts.

‘Put me down!’

‘Not if you won’t see sense. I wouldn’t wriggle like that either, not in these conditions, or you’ll knock us both into the moat.’

She stopped resisting and glared at him instead, all along the walkway until they reached the side entrance to the keep.

‘Have you eaten?’ He kicked the door shut behind them, turning his head just in time to see her roll her eyes.

‘Is something amusing?’

‘No, you’re just always asking me that. Next you’ll be telling me to go to bed again.’

‘You’re right, I will.’

‘Lothar...’

‘No argument.’ He pushed her chamber door open with his shoulder and lowered her back to her feet. ‘Wait here.’

He went back to the gallery briefly and came back with a candle, putting it down beside the bed before wrenching the covers away.

‘I’m not tired.’

‘That’s what you always say as well. It’s never convinced me before and it’s not going to convince me now. Now take off your cloak.’

‘I can’t.’ Her voice was quiet again. ‘My hands are too cold.’

‘Here.’ He reached up and unfastened the clasp for her, unwrapping the woollen garment as gently as he could and resisting the urge to wrap his arms around her instead. ‘Now get into bed.’

‘There’s no point. I won’t be able to sleep.’

‘You can rest.’

‘I don’t want to.’

‘But you can sit on top of a gatehouse in the freezing cold?’

‘That’s different.’

‘Why?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Then tell me why you can’t sleep.’

‘I just can’t.’