Page 157 of Long Live the King

“Nae, tis more like he is anxious. He feels he has seen the future, where his father dies and he becomes a king. He is haunted by it.”

“Poor kid.”

“Aye, tae be a prince is a hard thing.”

I looked up at him and he met my eyes.

Then he averted his eyes. “I hae been wonderin’...”

“Wondering what?”

“If ye meant it when ye took the thumb oath, if ye still mean it... ? I never meant tae beguile ye, Ash, or bring ye intae danger. When ye were taken I felt verra lost...”

I watched his face, his eyes cast down, handsome and yes, seeming lost, worried...

I said, “You have a heart as big as the world, Lochie. I am so grateful that you’re in love with me, and yes, I meant the thumb oath.” I put my thumb in my mouth and held it out, covered in slobber, because I was getting pretty loopy again.

He sucked on his thumb and then pressed it to mine. “From this day forward, I winna beguile ye.”

I giggled, sleepily. “Good, because I would kick your hot, sexy butt. ”

He laughed.

I said, “Will you come get in bed with me? I’m starting to feel loopy. You love me, you have to hold me while I sleep, part of the deal.”

He pulled off his shoes and socks and said, “Sorry tis a frightful stench.” He moved them away.

I said, my voice kind of slurring, “I’m a frightful stench... been wearing these clothes for years.” I giggled.

He said, “Ye are a wee bit odiferous.”

“My breath or my pits?”

He climbed onto the bed behind me. “Tis yer pits, they smell as if ye fought a battle in the thirteenth century.”

I said, “Ugh, I guess we’re moving right past looking beautiful for you, to you telling me I stink.”

He jokingly pulled up his own arm and put it near my nose. “Ye are always goin’ tae smell better than m’own stench. We must grow used tae it, there inna any smeary sticks of deodorant anywhere near here.” Then he pressed his nose to my arm near my pit. “Yers smell of battle that has been fought and won and a bit of onion, so it calms me and makes me hungry. These are good things.”

I laughed. “And you still love me.”

“Aye. Even more.” He spooned me with an arm draped around my side. “Does this hurt yer shoulder?”

“No,” I wriggled closer, so his face was right behind my head, his deep breath near my ear.

He asked, “Did he hurt ye?”

I shook my head. “No, he didn’t even touch me. He made me sign a contract, Lochie, claiming it made us ‘married’ but I didn’t even sign my last name. I don’t think it would hold up in a court of law in any year or in any time.”

“Aye, ye signed under duress. Also ye already pressed yer spit-covered thumb tae mine, he canna hae ye, ye pledged yerself tae me first.”

I smiled. “It was so important. I didn’t know it at the time, but I am very glad I pressed my spit-thumb to yours.”

“Twas important, especially after holdin’ my hand and servin’ me yer pie.”

He exhaled. “I am glad he dinna hurt ye. I am still goin’ tae kill him, but this means I can revenge upon him more methodically, with more thought.”

“Revenge is a dish best served cold.”

---