A Ruined Wedding Night

[Alexandria Eveleigh- Demarais]

[EDWARD] After leaving, or rather, being forced out of the reception, Edward had spent time fuming in his room, angered by his brother who punched him in the face and should be punished for striking a king. And he was angered by the queen who seemingly did not want him. What the hell did Aric have that he did not? Her.. He had her.
After a while, he left his room and wandered to the halls. First finding Aric's room and seeing it was empty, then he found the queen's room and demanded the guards let him in. His own guard that was beside him, threatened to kill the guards if they did not step aside. Edward and his guard would safeguard the queen tonight, he told them. So they left, and Edward and his guard entered the queen's room, only to find the newlyweds had not returned to it yet. So he would wait there, in the dark. And he'd get a show when they finally came to the room. He watched silently, the entire time, his own blood beginning to boil with desire, only making him want the queen even more. When they seemingly finished, Edward stood up and began clapping his hands. "Well done, brother..." He called out quietly. "I would have lasted a bit longer and made her scream a bit more.... Though."

[ALEXANDRIA] She almost didn't hear the voice over her laughter, though when she did, she nearly shrieked. "What the fuck!?" She yelled out, looking up at Aric with a bit of panic in her eyes. If he had not come to her room with her, would her thoughts of Edward attacking her, had come true? He was hiding in her room!? She was trapped under Aric, though, and she wanted nothing more than to quickly cover herself up and crawl away into the darkest corner away from Edward.

[ARIC] And within seconds, everything good was gone. Everything they had strived to forget came to a shrieking halt. They should have just stayed in the library. His blood instantly ran cold when he heard the clapping, followed by the voice he was praying was just in his head, even after the worse of times. But it wasn't. He looked over to find Edward sheathed in shadow, having been there the entire time. Aric thought he was going to be sick. Even in his most inebriated state, Edward would not have done this. What the fuck was wrong with him?! He was swiftly slipping off of Alexandria, drawing a blanket over to cover her nude form as he pulled those breeches back up on to his hips. He was shocked, he was furious, and he wasn't sure what he was going to do. Aric should have noticed the guards hadn't been there...and he was certainly going to make sure they no longer had jobs once he took care of this crazed man. "What are you doing here?!" he demanded, beginning to approach him even weaponless. "This is some sick, twisted fucking game..." Hands were clenching at his sides, itching to strike again. Aric just knew that if he started...he may not stop this time.

[EDWARD] He laughed at the reactions out of the two. First, he turned to the queen as she frantically was trying to cover herself. "A queen should not speak in such vulgar tongue. No man wants to hear his woman speak like that..." He waved his finger as if tsking her. "And no need to cover up, I've already seen everything..." Edward's guard was quickly standing in front of Edward as Aric began to approach. The man was larger than Aric, of course... Something Edward had planned out ahead of time in case his brother would retaliate again. Edward shook his head. "No. Not a game. Don't you remember Tresterian tradition, brother? You're lucky it was just me and my guard... If you had been in Tresteria..the whole court would have been watching. I needed to make sure this marriage was consummated. You will have an heir here.." He demanded. His eyes wandered over to the queen again, taking her in. "Though.... I won't be able to get those sounds you make out of my head... Someday it will be I who makes you scream. Especially if my brother cannot impregnate you. I'll do the job myself if I have to, to ensure this alliance with Tresteria remains bound to Aralore."

[ALEXANDRIA] Once Aric was off of her, she grabbed the blanket he handed to her and she covered it completely around her body--despite Edward telling her not to. Her eyes narrowed at him as she knelt at the edge of the bed. Her eyes flickered to Aric as Edward began speaking to him, and Alexandria could see the rage in his eyes and in his posture. She knew how badly he lost his temper around his brother, and rightfully so. But the more Edward kept speaking, the worse it was getting, and she was now tempted to kill this man herself as he spoke of her needing to provide a Tresterian heir...whether it was from Aric...or him. Was she actually hearing all of this correctly? She slipped from the bed, standing with that blanket held tightly around her. Before Aric could say anything, Alexandria was yelling harshly. "Get out of this room now" Her own blood was boiling with anger, and the coward actually had the nerve to bring a guard with him this time? One bigger than Aric. Despite wanting to kill this man right now, and she was sure Aric felt similar, they still (unfortunately) needed him for the alliance, which made this all the more difficult to deal with. He knew they needed him and Tresteria, so he just did as he wanted and would get away with it. "Get out." She repeated, as he did not seem to be moving. And he wouldn't look away from her, which only made her pull that blanket tighter around herself. She would have called for her guards, but it seemed they were not there for some reason... which was upsetting her further. She was at a loss for words. Was Aric really related to this man?

[ARIC] He couldn't see straight. Everything was blindingly red as his rage was completely consuming him. This was far from alright, far from normal, and he was trying to grasp how Edward could suddenly be this way. This was too much, he had gone too far, and it was taking every ounce of his will not to strike him down. Even when the large guard stepped between them, Aric didn't seem to care. There was actually a darkly amused grin on his face, knowing Edward needed this precaution. He knew Aric could and would tear him apart. And if Alexandria wasn't there, he might have actually tried. But the more his brother said, speaking that idle threat of an heir, he took another step forward, only to stop when the queen ordered Edward to leave. Fingers curled into tight fists at his sides, glaring at him. "You heard the queen...get out," he growled dangerously low. He was only going to tell him once. "And you can have your man here-" A flick of his chin towards the massive man standing in front of him. "Pack your things, because you'll be on that ship to leave tomorrow. Or, so help me, Edward, I will fucking throw you onto it myself." And that was a promise. By now, he would have screamed for guards, but he wasn't moving, keeping himself between Edward and Alexandria.

[EDWARD] He glared at the queen as she demanded he leave. But he couldn't bring himself to. He was mad with lust now and he couldn't take his eyes off of her. He barely heard Aric's words, and waved him off, not even looking at him. Right. He'd love to see him try to throw him onto that ship. He wasn't leaving until he had a taste of her... He motioned to his guard to grab hold of Aric to hold him back, the man obeyed and quickly moved grabbing Aric's throat and pushed him towards the wall, pinning him there, now moving to hold his shoulders down.


***



[STEFAN] He had been appointed one of the Queen's guards by Orin, though he had not been on guard duty when Edward had dismissed the other guards. Had he were, he would not have trusted the man unless the queen herself gave him those orders. He swore an oath to protect and serve her majesty. As his shift was approaching, he made his way to the Queen's chambers. But found it odd no one was there. He knew it was the wedding night, and thought maybe with Aric being with her, they had dismissed them to ahem have some privacy. He supposed it made sense, and he had no doubt the future king would keep her protected. Little did he know there was a threat inside that very room. He could hear some scuffling at first, and then some yelling, and it perked his attention. A hand went to the doorknob but he hesitated, worrying it could just be the newlyweds quarreling. But no, something didn't seem right. He heard the screams and instantly tried opening the door. It was locked. Panic filled him as he tried throwing himself into the door to break it open, to no avail. But he'd continue to try until he heard the click of the lock open, and he shoved the door open, eyes glancing around in horror as he saw Aric being attacked by a rather large man, and someone on top of the queen in her bed? He immediately drew his sword and rushed over to the bed, grabbing the man's arm and he ripped him right off the queen, holding the point of the sword to the man's chest. Eyes widened again to see it was the Tresterian king, and he suddenly wasn't sure if he was supposed to stop this? Was this some sick Tresterian thing? Even so, it did not seem the queen wanted this, based on her screams. So he stood there, towering over the king,hand still gripping tightly around the man's arm and sword held in place as he'd wait for an order on what to do with the man.



[ARIC] He hit the stone hard as the man grabbed him before he could get to Edward. Rage and desperation fueled him, trying to get the guard off of him as Alexandria's cries echoed in his head. Aric was terrified, panicking that he wouldn't be able to stop this in time...but there were heavy footsteps as Stefan came charging in, stopping Edward before he could ruin this all forever. With a new vigor, Aric twisted and slammed a fierce elbow into the guard's face to free himself from his grasp once more. The prince climbed up to his feet as he heard others beginning to rush down the hall, and went to retrieve that beautiful Aralorian sword. He unsheathed it with a singing of steel. Those dark eyes fell upon Edward, and all he wanted to do was run him through with it...but instead, that murderous intent shifted to the guard who held him back, allowed his king to try and have his way with his prince's wife. He knew he had to stop, but the fury that coursed through his veins had him kicking him over onto his back while he got up to his hands and knees...before the point of that sword pierced the guard beneath his arm, where his heavy, leather jerkin didn't protect him. Two Aralorian guards had rushed in by then, stunned by what they saw, and a Tresterian convulsing on the floor as blood spilled from him. "Bring me Orin. Now!" His tone was loud and harsh because he was struggling with coming down from this furious high. When one of the men ran off, Aric's seething gaze found his brother once more; his hand gripping knuckle white on the handle of that blood-covered blade. It was very clear how much he was fighting with himself not to kill him. His chest heaved with angered breath, his free hand twitching at his side, and he couldn't move. His mind teetering over the edge and he was just seconds away from running Edward through.



[ALEXANDRIA] She laid there stunned, her body was trembling as she felt Edward nearly entering her. Her heart suddenly broke. But then she felt the king's body quickly being removed from her and she instantly scrambled to sit up and move to the far side of the bed as far away as possible, grabbing the blanket to cover herself. She still trembled as wide eyes darted around the room to find Aric as he broke away from the Tresterian guard. She watched him as he suddenly stuck the man with that Aralorian sword and she cringed, burying her face into her knees as she wrapped her arms around them. What else could be thrown at her and Aric tonight? Part of her just wanted to let Aric kill his brother right then and there, but she knew that would bring along other consequences. She lifted her gaze and over to him as she saw that rage in him and knew she would need to stop him before he did something. "Aric..." she called out to him with a shaken desperation in her voice. She could not look at Edward. She would not.



[EDWARD] So close to feeling her, he groaned in excitement. But the Aralorian guard was suddenly grabbing his arm and yanking him off the queen. He growled in frustration but when he saw the size of this guard now standing in his way with the sword to his chest, he fell silent (for a moment) and placed his hands on his hips. "Who are you to stand in the way of a king?!" He hissed at the guard before calling out to his to come to his aid. But then Aric was driving that sword onto his guard and he yelled out. "Aric, stop!" When his brother looked at him, seething in rage as if he were a viscous animal, Edward pointed at him, completely disregarding that he had a sword pointed at his chest. "Aric...put the bloody sword down now. I am you brother and your king and I demand you to step down. Who are you to deny the king what he wants?!"



[STEFAN] At the king's words to him, his brows lowered and he shook his head. "I do not serve anyone but her majesty and she has not given me any orders yet...." He did not dare take those piercing eyes away from this seemingly deranged king. And as he spoke to Aric, his grip tightened around his arm, jaw clenching. He came to realization that he had just been about to rape the queen, and suddenly his own rage began to burn. Not just because this was their queen, but because that was completely unacceptable for any man, regardless of status, to force themselves on any woman. He pressed the tip of the sword into the man's chest, showing him he had the upper hand here and he would drive that sword into him if given the orders.



[ARIC] He was shaking with his rage, hands still shaking as he was clearly fighting with himself and obviously not listening to a single word his brother said, despite those eyes still glaring at him. Edward was so blind, so lost to think he could ever do this. Not just to his wife, not just to a queen, but a woman. It sickened him to wonder how many poor women he had forced... These thoughts spurred him forward another step before Alexandria's shaking voice brought him to a stop. It wasn't enough to stop that rage as Edward spat out more nonsense. "YOU WILL DEMAND NOTHING!" he bellowed. And then he snapped. Aric was shoving Stefan's sword away from Edward as his own fell to clank to the floor on his way to close that gap. He had his brother against the wall, blindly wailing a fist at his face, unable to stop until he saw blood, heard the cracking of bone, anything.



[ALEXANDRIA] She sat there, frozen and unable to move, unable to look up or at Edward. She wasn't sure if Aric had heard her calling him, because he was suddenly shoving Stefan's sword away and grabbing Edward and holding him against that wall. She watched in horror, Aric was going to kill him.



[STEFAN] As Aric took control over Edward, knocking his sword away, he was quick to pick it back up and he turned to his queen, though averting his eyes to not look at her even though she was covered up now, but he felt it was still inappropriate for him to catch any sort of glance at her skin. "Are you alright, my queen? What would you have me do?"



[ALEXANDRIA] Her eyes finally turned to look at Stefan in horror, noticing he would not look at her, she pulled that blanket to cover herself up more. At his question, she instantly answered, "don't let him kill him... He can't" Although she so badly wanted him to..but she did not want to deal or see those consequences.



[STEFAN] He nodded to Alexandria and quickly moved over to where Aric and Edward were. He tried to grab Aric's fist before it slammed back into Edward. "Stop, stop!" He tried to hold Aric back, as best he could.



[ORIN] At some point he began running until they made it to Alexandria's room. He rushed in and instantly looked around, scared to see the worst. Eyes found Alexandria curled up at the far edge of the bed, with nothing but a blanket covering her. The dying man on the floor, and Stefan trying to stop Aric from something. When he saw who was getting their face pounded in, he only could wonder what in the hell had happened. He was piecing things together, trying to imagine what happened and it was bringing his rage right up there with Aric's. He rushed forward, trying to grasp onto Aric to pull him away, "come on, Aric... " he tried to urge him away, holding onto the man's shoulder and pulling him back. "What happened?"



[ARIC] Everything around him was a blur. All he could see or focus on was messing up that pretty face. To break every bone in it, even as it simultaneously broke the bones in his hand. He felt the warm blood across his knuckles, and he wasn't stopping for anything until a strong hand was suddenly halting him, and then another drawing him back. Aric's eyes glared at Stefan before finally realizing what was happening, finding Orin soon after. Immediately stepping away from Edward, the pain in his hand was beginning to shoot up his arm. "That son-of-a-bitch..." he began to explain out of breath, even though he was sure Orin will want to kill him. "He touched her, he tried to-" He looked down at his hands, realizing that he was shaking. "He was in here, waiting...I want the name of the men who let him in here! Understand?" Yes, that was an order, but one he didn't think his brother-in-law would have a problem with. Finally, realizing she was still probably terrified, Aric turned to rush towards Alexandria to take her into his arms. "I'm sorry...I'm so fucking sorry..."



[ORIN] As Aric tried to explain what happened, Orin's anger grew the more Aric said, finally realizing what the issue was. He almost let Aric go to continue beating the life out of this pathetic excuse for a king, but he was going to his sister and now it was Orin's turn. He glared at Edward, his own breath becoming labored. He would up and punched him in the face, feeling bad hearing his nose crack. Then Orin had the man by his throat and he was lifting him up that wall. "I'll fucking kill you myself right now." He didn't care if he'd go to Tresterian prison for it either. This man deserved to die now.



[STEFAN] He let go of Aric as he stepped away and was explaining to Orin what happened. He nodded, only adding what Aric didn't. "He was on top of her when I pulled him off of her." And now Orin was going after the king and he was moving to try and stop Orin. "Let him go, Orin. The queen doesn't want him dead."



[ALEXANDRIA] There was nothing she could do at this point, so she just sat there, burying her face into her drawn up knees and she cried, her whole body still trembling. She heard Orin's voice now and Aric explained in fragments of what happened. This all was such a blur right now and she didn't know what to do. When she finally felt Aric's arms around her, she flinched, reacting as if about to be attacked again since she hadn't seen him coming to her. But upon hearing his voice, she curled up into his arms and buried her face into his chest, crying and trembling against him.



[ARIC] He could only stop shaking once he held her, suddenly becoming the foundation in which she could lean on. The guilt and fright from the whole thing still made his stomach twist into knots, but held her tightly against him, kissing the top of her head as he continued to murmur how sorry he was. He felt tears well up in his eyes. More guards began to pile into the room, immediately beginning to pick up the dead man from the floor. Aric looked up to find Stefan stopping Orin from doing what he, too, wanted to do. "There should never not be men outside this door. I want the guard tripled, and outside Cassandra's door and Henry's. They answer to no one but us!" His heart kept pounding and he couldn't stop it. "Someone should check on Eleesa and the boys." His mind was running a mile a minute, but he was terrified for those children. It was like some sickness had mentally taken over his brother. His uninjured hand subconsciously pulled the blanket around Alexandria tighter before he found Stefan's eyes, a look of overwhelming praise mixed in with his fear and sadness, "Thank you..." Aric's head cleared only enough for him to speak those words. Were it not for him, the worst could have happened...and the prince would forever be grateful to him.



[CASSANDRA] "Oh my God..." she whispered in horror. She had been standing in the doorway for almost a minute, terrified by the sights she saw in that room. She only stepped aside when the men dragged away the dead Tresterian, and she finally spotted Edward bleeding on the floor. For a second, she wondered if he was dead but in fact saw his labored breathing. The Duchess didn't need to ask to suddenly piece everything together, and she felt her throat tighten up. Edward was always high and mighty...but this? This wasn't right. There was something wrong with him.



[ARIC] He only glanced over at his cousin for a brief moment, tear-filled eyes telling her what happened without speaking a word. But to the other guards standing there in confusion and horror, he barked a single order. "Take the Tresterian King to the dungeons. He deserves a proper cell this time..."



[ORIN] At Stefan's suggestion, and only because he said Alexandria didn't want him dead, Orin threw Edward down to the floor and spit on him. "Piece of shit." He glanced to where Aric and his sister were and as Aric began yelling, he wasn't sure if he was yelling at him about there always needing to be guards outside Alexandria's door, or just in general to all the other guards in the room. Orin had already ordered at least one guard to always be outside this door no matter what, so he was a little confused why Aric was yelling about that, not knowing there had been no one outside her door to begin with. As Aric made suggestions on where guards should be placed and who should be checked on, the guards began to leave, obeying the man's orders immediately. He turned to Stefan and nodded to Edward. "Take him away...before I kill him." He would bring the man himself, but he might have accidentally thrown the man down the stairs or something. He stood there reeling in anger.



[STEFAN] After Orin threw the man down to the floor by his throat, Stefan held the man down so he couldn't get away. He glanced over to Aric as he started to bark out orders and everyone was scrambling around. At mention of there needing to be guards, he spoke up. "I was coming for my shift and no one was here. It should have been Thomas and Robert..." He stood up, bringing Edward up with him, lifting the man over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He didn't need the thanks from Aric, because he was just doing his job. A nod was given though to him and then Orin and he left the room, carrying the Tresterian king out.



[ALEXANDRIA] She clung to Aric, unable to stop her crying and her trembling body. Her face remained in his chest, not wanting to see any of the horrors happening in her room right now. Her mind was still trapped in her dark past as if she really had just been raped and she was left reeling in her pain and humiliation.



[ARIC] Was this it? Was this how their lives were going to be, being dictated by a mad man? Living in fear that Edward might do something completely insane? His heart was still thundering wildly in his chest as he held Alexandria close, as if his body could shield her from every danger possible. But he couldn't stop thinking about how he wouldn't have made it, that he would have been too late were it not for Stefan. The guilt was weighing him down, and he felt his hands shaking again. "He was...already in here..." he managed to add to the guard's words as he carried his brother out of the room. He didn't want to explain further, but it would have been clear that, for whatever reason, the men guarding this room stepped away by Edward's orders. That couldn't happen again.



[CASSANDRA] She stood there, just staring until her eyes trailed after Stefan with a beaten and bloodied Edward over his shoulder. That was no king, and she couldn't help but wonder how long he had been losing his bloody mind like this. There was a fear in her eyes, especially when they traveled back to Alexandria. Aric's hands were even shaking. She was quick to note his damaged hand, but she wasn't about to try and pry him away from his terrified wife. Silently, she moved to retrieve the queen's robe, laying it on the bed beside them for whenever she wished for it. In case. "He's not going to stop, is he?" she quietly questioned out loud, perhaps to no one in particular. Aric looked at her but couldn't find the words to say, and she knew he was just as concerned about the state of not only Edward's mind, but Tresteria as well. It wasn't just his sudden lust for a queen he had cared nothing for...it was everything. The way he simply wanted more power, more everything, willing to break a treaty because it wasn't going his way right at the start. Something felt off, at least to her, and her attention was drifting back to the doorway. Her thoughts were straying and falling back into that darkness, into that place she should not go.



[ORIN] He stood there as Stefan removed the king from the room and all that was left were the four of them. When Aric spoke, his brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean he was already in here? Waiting to attack?" He really didn't fully know or understand what had happened, because he wasn't thinking straight in his state of rage.



[ALEXANDRIA] She couldn't stop her trembling or her tears, remaining buried into Aric's arms. It perhaps seemed a bit off that this stubborn and strong woman was seemingly so fragile and broken right now, and Aric would be the only one to know why. She couldn't even think straight enough right now to care that people would see her this weakened. The scariest part of all was that Alexandria had no idea how far Edward had gotten before he was pulled off of her. She just remembered him climbing over her, and the rest was black.



[ARIC] Orin wasn't understanding because Aric wasn't explaining very well. Understandably so. It would take him a moment to calm down enough to explain, even though he didn't want to utter another word of it in front of Alexandria...but he wasn't leaving her side, either. "He and his man were already in here...when we came in..." He couldn't explain what happened next, and it would only make things worse. "The guard held me back, and Edward tried to..." His eyes flickered down to the queen in his arms, saying no further. "There were no guards at the door. There was no one...so, he had access." Dark eyes flickered up to Orin, and by the look on his face, it was clear that he wanted the names of the men who were supposed to be here. And if he didn't deal with them, Aric would.



[CASSANDRA] A staggered intake of breath, she wasn't listening to any of them anymore as her clouded gaze suddenly cleared up. Aric told them Edward nearly raped the queen, and it was all she needed to hear. There were things she needed to mull over, but not until she checked up on Eleesa and the boys. She didn't want her hearing about any of this through gossip. Her own shaking hands hiked up the hem of her skirt as she turned from them, casually stepping over that puddle of blood on the floor to leave in silence. She was done letting this shit keep happening, and it would only get worse. Cassandra couldn't be the only one who saw that.



[ORIN] His jaw clenched as Aric further explained and he was putting the pieces together. What in the fuck? He looked over at his sister in this strange state. She didn't typically let things bother her as much as she seemed to be now, so he assumed the worst, and Orin nearly whispered his question to Aric, "Did he..?" He swore, if Aric said yes, he would just go kill the man right now.

He watched as Cassandra left, and he frowned slightly before looking back to Aric. "I will figure out what happened with the guards and why they weren't there..." Stefan had said Thomas and Robert. He would start with them. He took just a step closer to the bed and looked down at Alexandria, "is she...alright?"



[ARIC] It was all so surreal. He couldn't believe that any of this had actually happened. He noticed Cassandra leave, but his attention was drifting towards Orin. "No." He shook his head lightly. "Stefan got in here in time..." Because he wouldn't have made it, a realization that he simply could not shake no matter what he thought or did. Lips pressed to the top of Alexandria's head as he answered him once more. "She will be." Aric didn't know if that was a lie or not, but Orin couldn't know why his sister was so incredibly shaken up. Still, for a woman to nearly be raped, they would be stricken with fear. Alexandria was just fighting a past no one else knew about. "I'll...keep her in my room tonight." His tone made it clear that he would not be leaving her sight. But this room was filled with the wrong memories now, including the blood on the floor.



[ORIN] He felt somewhat relieved that Edward hadn't succeeded with what he was intending to do. Still, the man deserved to die for this. He would check in on Cassandra later, but for now, he needed to figure out what had happened to the guards who were supposed to be there. He nodded to Aric. "Alright... I will send a couple guards to stay outside. And we'll get this cleaned up. I'll check on Cassandra later." He assured him, before he turned to leave the room. What a fucking night.



[ALEXANDRIA] When the room fell quiet and it was just Aric and her now, she finally lifted her head from his chest. "Aric...I'm sorry...I couldn't fight him off... I don't know what happened...if he..." she couldn't finish her sentence, unsure if she wanted to know if Edward had gone through with it and how far he had gotten.



[ARIC] "Thank you," was all he was able to say before Orin left. After everything, he felt completely helpless all of a sudden, wishing he had done more, would have been more cautious...but who would think Edward would have been hiding away in the queen's bedroom? His throat was suddenly so dry, not knowing what to do or say until he heard her quiet voice. He was almost surprised to hear that she didn't know if the worst had happened. Perhaps she had been too traumatized. Removing one arm from her, he cupped the side of her face gently as he looked down at her; his vision blurred by tears. "Don't you dare apologize. None of this has been your fault. Nothing, you understand?" His voice wavered even though he was trying to stay strong. "You're alright now. Nothing happened...I promise." He was silently thanking God for that, pressing lips against her forehead. "I'm so sorry..."



[ALEXANDRIA] They had been so absorbed in their own passion that they hadn't thought anything about the guards not being there. At least Alexandria hadn't. She found Aric's eyes as he touched her face, and she noticed the tears in his eyes. He was claiming none of this was her fault, but she couldn't help but think of all the things she had done wrong. Not noticing the lack of guards, not seeing him in the dark corner of her room, for making noises as Aric pleasured her, for looking the way she did... for not being strong enough to fight back.

Tears streamed down her face and her hands were still trembling. He promised nothing happened but she remembered feeling him right there...and the thought of it made her start crying a bit harder. What if he had? She clutched to Aric and buried her face into his shoulder. She should have fought harder.



[ARIC] She could think it was her fault all she wanted...but it wasn't. None of it was. Yet, he felt her pain, her guilt, because all he could think about was how close Edward had gotten, what it would have done to her. Perhaps he should be thinking about how to handle this situation now, what they were going to do with his brother, king or not...yet nothing else mattered right now but her. He needed to take care of her. As she cried, he was carefully scooping her up into his arms, ensuring that he grabbed that robe and that she was still modestly covered in that blanket before he lifted her from the bed. He carried her from that haunted room, catching the eyes of a servant girl who was on her way in, having the unfortunate task of cleaning the blood off of the floor. The girl looked confused and terrified, and he was sure that the entire castle would know what happened by morning. And he didn't care. For everything, Edward had dug his own grave...and he could lay in it now for all he cared. He tried soothing her with words, telling Alexandria that she was alright as he made it to his room where men were already stationed. One of them opened the door so that he could carry the queen inside, promptly shutting the door after scanning the dimly lit room. His arms were shaking, but he still held her before gently placing her onto the bed.



[ALEXANDRIA] As Aric scooped her up into his arms, she curled up against him, resting her head on his shoulder, burying her face into his neck. She quietly sobbed as he carried her down the halls and to his room. She couldn't seem to calm down, despite Aric's soothing words, though she felt grateful for him taking her away from that room. She just kept thinking about how close he had gotten to her, and what if he had? She worried it would have ruined things between her and Aric. She worried that maybe it already did ruin things a little despite nothing happening. But he was still here with her, trying his best to comfort her, despite everything. When he laid her in the bed, she curled herself up onto her side, drawing her knees to her chest and wrapping the blanket tightly around herself and up to her chin, tucking her face inward. She just wanted to disappear.



[ARIC] Now, he didn't know what to do. He watched her curl up into herself. In a way, he was surprised that she was even allowing him near her. A part of him was afraid she was pull back from him, maybe even blame him in some way for what his brother had done. All he wanted to do was hold her, but he hesitated. Instead, he drew the blanket that was folded at the foot of the bed and draped it over, offering more warmth and coverage. Then, on shaking legs, he moved to find himself a shirt. As he was pulling it on, however, he realized how much his hand ached and the blood was already drying on his knuckles. Moving to the water basin, he tried to wipe his hands free of blood, knowing immediately that one of his fingers was broken. He gritted his teeth against the pain.



[ALEXANDRIA] Part of her just wanted to drift off to sleep, to forget about everything and hope to wake up to find it was all just a dream. But she knew that wasn't the case. And she feared going to sleep even more, afraid to close her eyes to see his face. To imagine what could have happened if Aric hadn't been able to unlock that door. If Stefan hadn't come to help. If anything had happened moments too late. But she was safe now, she had to keep telling herself. The warmth of that second blanket made her feel a little better, and as Aric walked away, she peered out from the blanket and watched him quietly--wondering what was going on through his mind. She didn't and would never blame him for any of this. He had apologized to her so many times already, as if it were his fault. But she didn't know what to say to him. As he went to wash his hand from the blood, she heard him trying to grit through the pain. She pulled the blanket away from her face and spoke quietly, almost inaudible. "Are you okay?" Her question not just regarding his hand, but about everything.



[ARIC] He was terrified of everything now. Where did they go from here? How did they handle any of this? That damaged hand was shaking as reddish water dripped from it, his eyes staring as if it would have some sort of answer. When he heard her voice, though, watered eyes turned their gaze down to her...not knowing how to answer that question. One that he should be asking her, but he was afraid to hear her fear, to see her withdraw from him all over again. "I'm...fairly certain a finger is broken..." he stammered out quietly. Maybe part of his hand had even shattered. He didn't even know because he was becoming numb to the pain. It was his heart that ached the most. After a moment, unable to take it, he was stumbling over to her, falling to his knees beside the bed. He didn't dare climb onto it next to her, but his good hand was reaching across it for her. "I failed you, Alexandria," he spoke, his voice cracking. "I would have been too late..."



[ALEXANDRIA] Her brows furrowed in concern as he told her of his broken finger. She shifted up onto an elbow ane was about to tell him he should get a healer to come look at it, but he was moving over to her, kneeling beside the bed. She took his hand into one of hers as he was blaming himself. She could feel the pain he must have been feeling. The guilt, and she hated that. She sat up a bit more and shook her head. "No, Aric..." Her eyes started to well up with tears and she was fighting to hold sobs back again. "Don't say that... Don't even think that." She shook her head again. Her own voice cracking as she tried to speak. "That stupid guard..." She knew Aric had fought to get to her, and would of had it not been for that large man that Edward hid behind and used. "You weren't too late. You got the door unlocked to get help." She squeezed his hand and brought it to her lips, kissing his knuckles. "You did not fail me, Aric... "



[ARIC] He wished he could believe her right now, but it was proving difficult. Maybe it would even be impossible. There came a small sigh of relief, though, when she reached for his hand, and he leaned up so that he could kiss her knuckles. "I'm sorry," he murmured against her skin, unable to stop apologizing for the shit his brother had done. "Are you alright?" That was a loaded question, wasn't it? Of course she wasn't, at least not mentally. "What can I do?" It was clear he was worried that she was going to withdraw from him again. Not necessarily during intimacy, because that was far from his mind now...but in general. With everything. Had this caused a rift in their marriage that hadn't even gotten the chance to really begin?



[ALEXANDRIA] He was apologizing again, for something he had no fault in, and she frowned, shifting from the bed and down to the floor beside him. She curled up into his arms against him and rested her head on his chest. She couldn't recoil from him. He was her husband and she trusted him more than anything. He was not responsible for his brother, and had done everything in his power to try and stop him. "I will be." She answered him quietly. And to his next question, "You can be my husband. Hold me... Love me... Stop apologizing for your brother..." She sighed and wrapped her arms around him. "Are you angry with me?" Maybe anger was the wrong word to use. She couldn't figure out how to explain what she was worrying about. That this had or will put a strain on their marriage now.



[ARIC] He was only a little bit surprised when she sat down on the floor with him, but he did not hesitate to wrap his arms around her and secure her against him, seeming as if he was worried he'd never be able to again. She spoke, telling him to apologize, and he knew it was going to be difficult not to, but he was pressing a kiss to the top of her head, suppressing his guilt and sadness as much as he possibly could...if only for her sake. But with her last question, he was quick to pull back so that he could look down at her, his hands cupping the sides of her face. "Why would I be angry with you?" Fingers tucked a couple strands of hair behind her ear, his brow furrowed in concern.



[ALEXANDRIA] Her sapphire eyes searched Aric's as he asked her with that concern in is eyes. She was silent for a moment as she tried to think of how to explain. So when she did, her words were broken and she stuttered in confusion and upset, trying to choke back her tears. "Because..." Her eyes fell downward, even though he held her face. "He touched me... I tempted him... You were so upset by him kissing my neck... What of this? Will you not be able to touch me anymore? Not want to kiss me? Love me? Is our marriage ruined by this?" Tears were streaming down her face with worry.



[ARIC] Listening to her try to explain, she would see the confusion slowly become very apparent on his face. Was he hearing her correctly? Aric could only stare at her for a long moment before managing to find his voice; so quiet that it nearly cracked, "How...could you say that?" Swallowing a lump in his throat, he leaned his forehead against hers, still holding her face as he would not allow her to sink into this darkness. "You did not tempt him. You did nothing to warrant any of that." How could she blame herself for that? Unless he was somehow horribly mistaken, she did not ask for any of it. Although unsure if she might pull back in fear, Aric leaned forward to press a hard, lingering kiss to her lips. "I love you, Alexandria. I love you, do you hear me?"



[ALEXANDRIA] He was staring at her and not saying much, which further worried her. When he asked her how she could say that. Her brows furrowed and she started crying again as he leaned his forehead against hers. Her eyes searched his, though her vision blurred by her tears. She *hadn't tried to tempt him or warrant anything from Edward. She thought she had been quite obvious that all of her affections belonged to Aric and she did not want Edward. But he simply did not wish to take no for an answer. But still, she felt responsible. If perhaps she had not looked the way she did for their wedding... If she had been more quiet... Edward had admitted he would not be able to forget about the noises she made... She shook her head, about to argue with Aric these things, but he was leaning into her and kissing her lips. She kissed him back, crying into that kiss, because she was so confused--so hurt and worried. But Aric was pulling back and telling her he loved her. She looked at him, crying still and she searched his eyes. "I love you, Aric... I'm so sorry for all of this... I told you horrible things happen around me."



[ARIC] He hated when she cried. It broke him every time and he wished he could keep her from ever having to cry again. The least he could do was hold her tight, reiterate how much he loved her, but he knew that worry would still linger...as it would linger in his own mind. It was enough to make him forget how much his hand throbbed. He was drying those tears with feather light kisses while she tried apologizing, yet again. Aric shook his head lightly before those dark eyes bore into sapphire blue, making sure that she was paying attention to him. "And I told you that we would weather it all together." A thumb brushed along her cheek. "Do not abandon me, and I will not abandon you. I'm here. I'm right here."



[ALEXANDRIA] She looked back into his eyes as he held her face and stole her attention. When he spoke, she couldn't help but cry again, but not out of pain or upset. She nodded to him and placed her own hands on his face, still never looking away from his eyes. "How did I get so lucky to marry such a wonderful man?" She pressed her forehead against his, sobbing against him. He had already been through so much with her, and while it may have scared other men away, here he was, still at her side. Still willing to love her and be there for her. She kissed his lips for a quick moment. "I would never abandon you, Aric... You are my life now... My whole heart..."



[ARIC] It didn't matter how broken she thought she was, because he was just as broken. It was why they worked, how it worked, because they were each other's missing piece. He knew tomorrow would only bring on another storm, but they had to get passed this last one. They needed to ignore everything else and heal even a little bit from this one. Shutting his eyes with that brief kiss, they were slow to open as she spoke, finally eliciting a small smile from him. "We'll get through this, I promise you..." He didn't know how, but he had to believe it was possible. Pressing a gentle kiss to her temple, he sighed from that ebbing frustration and tiredness. Even though his mind was running wild, his body ached and he didn't feel like dealing with his hand right now. "Would you be able to sleep?" If she couldn't, he would stay up with her if he had to, even if it was just to sit on the floor.



[ALEXANDRIA] She nodded as he assured her they would get through this. She only could hope. At his question, she sort of laughed a little. "Doubtful..." Her hand reached for his injured one and she carefully looked at it. It was definitely broken, and she frowned. "Aric..." Her voice came out as a whisper. "We need to call someone in to have this looked at." She looked over the bed and towards the door before calling out. "Guard..." When the door opened, she asked him to fetch a healer right away. The guard nodded before closing the door again. She carefully held his hand, not letting go of it, but careful not to further hurt him. "You must have hit him pretty hard..." Her eyes looked back at him. "You are quite frightful when you are angered..." She raised a brow, almost asking him if he had always had such a temper. Though she didn't blame him for this. "Thank you for fighting for me..."



[ARIC] A light grumble, he said nothing when she instructed the guard to fetch a healer. The old man was probably trying to sleep, and now he'd have to deal with an annoyed prince after a very long night. His eyes drifted to her in mild concern when she brought up his temper. Yes, he had always been that way, only with particular things. She knew he had a bit of a mood, and Cassandra liked to say he brooded too much, but he was never furious or violent without reason. Lips parted to tell her he was sorry if he frightened her, that he would never be that way with her, but her last words brought him pause. His good hand hooked behind her neck, gently caressing the side of her neck with his thumb. "I will always fight for you. I would die for you." He'd say it a hundred times over if he had to.



[ALEXANDRIA] She never imagined Aric would lose his temper without reason. Orin was quite similar in that sense, and she was used to that sort of thing. And, in all honesty, was the type of men she wanted to keep around her. Because it showed they cared fiercly and would stand for what they believed in...What mattered to them. Aric hadn't frightened her, she had just been a bit surprised with how enraged he had gotten, not expecting it to become so extreme that he'd nearly kill his own brother. For her. Her eyes found his again when he held her neck and spoke. And she shook her head. "You're not allowed to die. I cannot live without you."



[ARIC] He would not have been so willing to come close enough to kill his own brother were it not for the circumstances. He dealt with Edward doing many foolish things...but that had been wrong, over the line, and something no woman should have had to endure. The fool just happened to go after his wife, the one he had promised to protect until his dying breath. After she spoke, the faintest smirk curled his mouth while his eyes dropped to her lips. The soft grip at the back of her neck eased even more and he leaned forward to kiss her. It was gentle, slow, but loving, only lasting for as long as she wanted it to. At the back of his mind, he worried Edward had broken her again, and now he was tiptoeing around even the most small and innocent of things.



[ALEXANDRIA] She did not want to let what Edward did to her ruin things between her and Aric. She couldn't. Then he would have won. He would have accomplished what he wanted to. Aric had already done so much to help her get through some of her demons and she couldn't make him pay for what Edward had done. So when he leaned forward to kiss her, she let her eyes fall shut and she fought herself from drawing back. Her body tensed up slightly, but as she felt the gentleness and love from him, she slowly relaxed, placing her hand on his cheek and she kissed him back for a few moments until there was a knock at the door. It made Alexandria jump with startle, breaking their kiss, and she was pulling that blanket around herself as if she were in danger of something.



[ARIC] There was no unnecessary heat in that kiss, because he knew better. That, and he was completely exhausted at this point that all he wanted to do was try to sleep. But he also wanted her to be okay. And sometimes, words just weren't enough. So the kiss remained gentle, only hesitant when she had tensed up, but his own body relaxed when she accepted it... only for a knock at the door to interrupt it all. "Your Majesty, the healer you requested is here," said one of the guards. Aric got up and walked to the door to unlock it, opening the door enough to see the familiar face of the older man. Stepping aside, he allowed him in with a soft grumble. He knew he shouldn't let that hand sit without being looked at, but he'd like some damn peace for once in his life. "Is everything alright, Majesty?" the healer asked, bowing then regarding Alexandria who was clutching a blanket around her form. Was she ill?



[ALEXANDRIA] Without knowing what happened, one might have assumed that she and Aric had been fighting, or that he had been abused by him, with how distraught she looked as she sat on the floor, clutching to that blanket around herself as if her life depended on it. And when she heard the voice of another man, she curled herself up even more, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. She rested her head down on her knees and couldn't bring herself to look at the healer, even as he asked her if she was alright. "Yes. I'm fine... Aric may have broken his hand.." She wasn't even thinking about how that sounded and how this all looked to someone who didn't know what had happened.



[ARIC] No, this didn't look good at all, especially with her curling into herself, clearly terrified. He further wished she would have just ignored his hand, let him deal with it in the morning. Now, rumors could spread if the true reason hadn't already traveled through the castle like wildfire. And what then? Would all of Aralore think Aric was as horrible as Edward? He looked conflicted before kneeling down in front of her, placing his good hand on her shoulder. "Alexandria, please get up off the ground..." It wasn't a simple request as it was a plea, if only to help make it clear to the healer that this wasn't what it appeared to be. If she accepted, he would pull her up to her feet and to wherever she wished to sit. Meanwhile, the old man was indeed thinking the worst. His tired eyes watched the queen, looking for any sign of abuse without being too blatantly obvious about it.



[ALEXANDRIA] When she felt Aric's hand on her shoulder and his voice by her ear, she looked up as if asking him if she was safe. Slowly, she stood up, bringing that blanket with her and keeping herself covered up. She needed to find something else to cover up with, not knowing Aric had grabbed her robe, she leaned into Aric and whispered to him, "Can I have one of your shirts?" She motioned down at herself, as she was still very naked under the blankets, and felt awkward about it with the healer there. She moved over to a chair and sat down in it.



[ARIC] He'd forgotten the robe, unsure of where it had even gone to. But he would nod, and quickly rush to the wardrobe once she was seated to grab one of his shirts for her. When he gave it to her, he pointed to the dressing screen, "If you want to change now..." he whispered. Then he turned to the healer with an apologetic expression; the man was silently judging, he knew, and he didn't blame him. This all looked wrong. When the man, Seamus if he recalled, gestured for him to sit, he held his hand out for Aric's to examine it. "You've fractured it," he said bluntly after carefully pressing along the swollen and bruised skin. Grey eyes flickered to the prince's face. "How in all of Elysium did you do this?" "My brother's face," he responded just as bluntly. That took the healer by surprise, and he hadn't seen any marks on the queen. If Aric was to lie, he could've said the wall. With a sigh, Seamus went about cleaning the cuts a little better before he'd attempt wrapping the hand securely enough for the cracked bones to heal properly.



[ALEXANDRIA] She silently thanked Aric for his shirt and she stood again, making her way behind the screen to place the shirt on and remove the stockings and garters. Her legs still exposed, she almost considered just staying hidden behind that screen, but she didn't, she wrapped the blanket back around herself though to keep herself covered and she walked back to the chair, sitting quietly, her eyes finally moved over to where Aric and the healer were and she watched as his hand was wrapped. She silently wondered what Edward's face looked like if Aric had broken his hand over it.

Alexandria finally spoke, her voice shaken. "His brother attacked me." She said to the healer, realizing the judgment the man wore on his features. He had the wrong idea.



[ARIC] It was more than just uncomfortable when Seamus was placing the small, thin splints, as they dug into his hand with the wrap on top. It would help keep the bones from moving too much, he supposed. It was going to be awkward not being able to use his dominant hand for a while, especially with the looming threat of Saelis. He'll want a sword in his hand at any moment's notice. "The king?" the healer said quickly, but he wasn't really asking...and he almost didn't sound surprised. He heard what happened at the reception and expected whatever happened with this would surely be known by everyone in the morning. His gray eyes softened as they regarded the queen while still carefully wrapping her husband's hand. "Are you alright, Majesty?" he asked again. "Do you need me for anything?" He heard "attacked" and had to be sure that she wasn't physically hurt.



[ALEXANDRIA] Her eyes moved down to her wrists where she finally saw the red bruised rings around both of them. He had held her wrists tightly at the reception, and again when he pinned her down to the bed. Her hands started to tremble again and she shook her head, "No, I'm alright.. just some bruises.." she admitted, trying to think of anywhere else he had touched her. Then she remembered he had touched her, forced her legs apart and put his hand there, feeling her, before he climbed on her and had gotten so dangerously close. Her eyes had started to well up with tears then, and she pulled her knees closer to herself and wrapped her arms around them before putting her head down and she was crying again in broken sobs.



[ARIC] He was watching her carefully, noticing the redness around her wrists, knowing the would only get uglier before they got better. They would be a reminder of what had almost happened. Aric was reaching for her as she began to sob, letting his hand rest atop her arm because he was not able to draw her to him. Seamus noted a lot, but he wasn't the type for gossip. He was simply concerned for his queen who had clearly been through and ordeal. Once he carefully tied off the bandaging on the prince's hand, he rustled through his medical bag to procure a small bottle and placed it upon the table. "Just a simple sleeping draft...should you need it. Just a drop on your tongue should be sufficient enough." Gray eyes drifted from Alexandria, where he would nod in acknowledgement to Aric's words of thank you. "I'll see you in a couple days for that, understand?" He pointed to his injured hand, his tone stern but still somehow kind. But he was aware of how stubborn Aric was with injuries already. "Should you need anything else...don't hesitate to ask," Seamus added gently, speaking to the both of them. Then he quietly packed up and left.



[ALEXANDRIA] She lifted her gaze as the man placed the bottle down on the table for her to help with sleep. When he left, she looked back to Aric and shook her head. "I just keep thinking... seeing it all in my mind again..." Her tears rolled down her face and she lifted her hands to wipe her face. Then she suddenly thought about something and panic rose in her eyes. "What's going to happen when I don't get pregnant? Don't give you an heir?" She buried her face in her hands and started crying again.



[ARIC] Just when things were getting better... the world around them began to collapse all over again. And there was little he could do about it. He didn't know what else to do. Along with her, he was terrified, but he was trying not to show it anymore. Right now, he had to remain strong and unmovable, even if he actually felt weak and helpless. But when she let her mind drift to a particular dark place, he was desperate to have her listen. "Stop." Although his whole body seemed to ache right, he moved to drop down to a knee in front of her. "Don't you dare think about that." His voice was stern but it was also compassionate. "He will not be setting foot in this castle, or in Aralore, ever again. Do you hear me?" Aric didn't know how he was going to make that possible, but he'd figure it out.



[ALEXANDRIA] She couldn't help it. Edward had threatened to try to impregnate her if Aric did not succeed. And it wouldn't be Aric's fault for failing, it would be hers and despite Aric trying to assure her Edward would not be coming back to Aralore, it would also mean she couldn't go to Tresteria. She looked into Aric's eyes, but he was blurred from her tears. Her eyes were stinging and her head was beginning to throb with pain. "How can I not think about that, Aric? You heard him yourself..." Her fingers were trembling again. "I just... feel like I shouldn't be here... be alive... because everything just crumbles around me... Even when I manage to find a moment of happiness...it's like I am not allowed it..." She couldn't control her tears as they were flowing down her face, and her whole body trembled.



[ARIC] As much as he wanted to believe that they would find some sort of light at the end of the tunnel, he was slowly beginning to believe it may not be possible. The helplessness was overbearing now, because what more he could he say? How could he promise something when he truly did not know what to do? Still, he reached up with his good hand, trying to wipe away those tears with his thumb. "I did hear him, Alexandria...and all I heard were the words of a madman." As she continued, speaking of not being alive, of all this bad luck, he rose up a little straighter, fingers curling around her neck to gently urge her face down to his. "Please do not speak of such things. Please don't." If he had to beg her, he would, because he couldn't let her fall deeper. "Things are just not easy right now...but we have to brace the storm. I need you to stay here with me, stand strong, because I know you are. Do not give him the satisfaction." It was all a sick game to Edward. This is what he did, and he had to figure out how to stop him from ever harming her again.



[ALEXANDRIA] She looked down at Aric as he urged her too. Her eyes were filled with such pain and fear. She felt as if she were crumbling and could no longer be strong right now. And Aric was urging her to be, which made it all the more difficult, because she hated him to see her this way. Weak and fragile. She was trying so hard to pull herself together but it just seemed so impossible right now. She just nodded to Aric in response, not knowing what else to say. He asked her not to speak of such things, but that didn't stop the thoughts of it. That maybe she was cursed and then world would just be a better place without her in it. Though Aric held her attention, she let her gaze fall away from him, trying to catch her breath from her sobs. "I will be better in the morning. I promise." But right now, she just wanted to crumble.



[ARIC] "I know it is hard, I know..." he murmured, refraining from letting out a sigh. It was like he was asking the world of her, to carry it on tired shoulders. "But I need you to hang on, even if you need to hang onto me. Do not disappear from me, Alexandria, please..." His voice had lowered, quivering as he rested his forehead against hers. He would make this right somehow. He had to. He wanted to see her smile, hear her laughter, to see that she was honestly and truly happy...like she had been briefly today. Aric heard her promise, but he knew she couldn't easily keep it.



[ALEXANDRIA] She couldn't look at him while she felt so weak and helpless right now. Even as he rested his forehead against hers and begged her to hang on and not to disappear from him. His words only made her cry more, because she was trying so hard not to. But that darkness of her past was pulling her further and further away from him, making her become that empty shell of a woman. The warmth and love in her eyes slowly fading to darkness and cold. She was trying to fight it, but she was slowly losing the battle. Her fingers moved to curl into his shirt and she let her legs fall from the chair and slowly slid out of the chair and into his arms on the floor again.



[ARIC] And he was right there to cradle her against his chest, sitting back so that she could rest comfortably in his lap. He didn't try to get up and move to the bed, he didn't try to go anywhere else; just held her there in his arms because, perhaps, it was all he could do until this entire horrible situation could somehow right itself. And it had to. He could not lose her this way. Drawing that blanket around her a little tighter, he tilted his head to rest on top of her...and after a moment, she'd feel the soft vibration within his chest as he began to hum. The same one he had hummed earlier. The same song he had hummed that first time in the library.



[ALEXANDRIA] She felt safe and warm in his arms, it was the only place she felt at peace, even if just a little bit right now. She rested her head down against him and closed her eyes as he rested his head on her. Her body still trembled against him, though she was beginning to settle down, still catching her breath every so often from her previous sobs. When he started to hum, she melted into him, trying to take comfort in the warmth he gave her, and the soothing sound of his voice. She wanted to smile, but it seemed impossible. So she reached for his uninjured hand and entwined her fingers with his.



[ARIC] So long as she remained with him, physically here and mentally, this would be okay. She didn't have to smile or laugh yet- she had every right to wallow in her sadness. Aric would remain there quietly to brush away her tears. He continued to hum, kissing the top of her head as she interlaced their fingers. "I love you, Alex...don't forget that," he whispered into her hair in between the quiet tune.



[ALEXANDRIA] She just wanted to sink further against him, but she was already as close as she could get. When she heard his voice at the top of her head she squeezed his hand. "I love you too..." She was silent for a moment before she whispered to him, almost inaudible. "Thank you for marrying me..." Not that he had a choice, but still.. He had gone through with everything and remained by her side through it all. She couldn't appreciate him enough.



[ARIC] His humming drifted off before he smiled lightly, buried in the scent of her hair. His hand found that particular ring upon her finger, as though making a point. "I would do it all over again." He really would. A strange chain of events brought them together, and he had to be thankful for them because he may not have ever met this woman.



[ALEXANDRIA] She squeezed his hand again at his words and her gaze fell to that ring on her finger. She stared at it for a moment, one of her fingers moving to spin it slightly around her finger before she found his hand and saw the ring she had given her. Strangely, without trying, they matched. It made her feel that they were supposed to find each other, whether it had been arranged or not. It may have just been more difficult if they hadn't been arranged.