With no more use for the bowl of water, Belladonna had to go back and return it. It was swift but coming back to the room didn't come with as much ease. Somehow, along the way, her steps had become clumsy, her sight a little blurry and the fogginess returning toback to her brain. She felt a great need to rest her weight upon something so she wouldn't fall, laughter bubbled from within her and chuckled for no reason, as it increasingly felt like the floor was playing jokes on her with it's unsteady movements.
It was slight though, nothing she couldn't handle, at least now that she was in her bed and well fed, she might just sleep it off and get better when she wakes up.
Before she could lay in bed though, there was knock, one that came in rapid succession.
Why were there so many knockings this morning? She didn't remember always having so many knockings by this time.
Eventually, she got the door and the person on the other side turned out to be...
"Isn't that my masked lover?" Her smile was wide, her eyes glimmering with childlike joy as she leaned heavily against the door.
"Masked lover?" Eli asked, his eyes roaming over her in observation. If he hadn't been delayed with Kestra's report and the reports of more of those traitors that had gotten to him this morning, he would have been the first person she would lay her eyes upon the minute they were open.
Last night he had stayed for as long as possible till he had no choice but to leave and listen to Kestra's report.
Without hesitation, Eli let himself in, carrying her in his arms and laying he on the bed. She giggled, shutting her eyes like she had just experienced the most hilarious thing.
"Are you, perhaps, drunk?" He asked in worry, sniffing the air to see if he would catch a whiff of alcohol. If Kestra was filling her with that intoxicating liquid again, then he certainly wouldn't take it lightly with her.
His Bride was permitted fine wine anytime she wanted but this was a critical moment, and he didn't think it was advisable to get intoxicated after the nightmare of last night along with the spell that had been performed to abet it's effect.
What if that blurred the effect of things or hurt her already tampered memory any further?
Not that he believed that Kestra would ever do anything to hurt his Bride but still, he was protective of her and he would rather die than let any harm come upon her, and worse under his nose?
"Drunk?" She paused, opening her eyes and slipping her hands around his neck, pulling him closer so he had no choice but to continue staring down at her. "Hmm-mmm."
Well, that was good.
"Did you," he let out a short sigh, the guilt that had been battling his conscience since he had allowed Kestra to perform that spell, filling his heart again, "sleep well?"
Her smile broadened, and she pulled him closer, until his ear was a little distance from her lips.
"Like a well fed baby." She whispered, giggling as she pulled away.
A soft chuckle escaped his lips too.
This must just be an after effect.
He enjoyed it. There wasn't apart of her character that he didn't enjoy, even when she was stubborn, it was justified. He enjoyed it all, but still, he hoped this would wear off soon. He enjoyed her more when she was logical and in control of herself.
He would have to inquire from Kestra when this would wear off.
Hopefully, soon.
His fists buried into the bed as he remained close enough that her breath spilled into his mask and the warmth caressed his face beneath.
As his next question formed, his smile dwindled and he was grateful that he had the mask to hid this from her.
There were times when the mask was his saving grace.
Times like this one.
He didn't want her to see the hurt, guilt and pain pass over his face for what he had allowed to happen, but it was for greater good, that was the only thing that gave him little comfort.
It was for the best.
Her best.
"You have something to tell me?" He asked, hoping at one side of his heart that she would still remember what it was that she wanted to say to him in the hallway. It had seemed important but it had also seem related to the nightmare.
"Uhn? I---" A giggle. "Sorry, everything is just so funny." Her hands swayed from his neck and up his mask tracing it. "This one isn't funny though. I don't like it."
"What?"
There was something about him that his Bride didn't like? That was normal, right? Absolutely normal. One's heart couldn't like everything about---By Ignas, why didn't she like his mask?!
"Would you prefer it in another color?"
That would be a lot of stress, he was already used to this one, but certainly he could manage.
Just a little discomfort here and there, and the annoying smell of a newly forged mask that he remembered had greatly irritated his nose but certainly he wouldn't die from it.
He could pull it off, he would be fine.
"I would prefer it not be there at all." She didn't giggle this time, her half closed eyes manged to look up at him with full intent.
Concealing a smile, he pulled off his mask.
"Better?"
"Hmmm."
By Ignas, did she not like his face anymore?
He looked into the mirror this morning and he still looked very much himself.
Did Kestra's spell have an effect on her to not like the things she used to like anymo--
"Lay next to me?"
Oh.
Wait, what?
Her hands had slipped away from his neck and was patting a place on the bed for him. As much as she would love that, her gaze wasn't really promising control.
"Donna--"
"Please."
"Well, only for a moment," he said more to himself than to her, as he slipped into the side she had patted for him, from the corner of his eyes he could see how she was nodding.
"Lady Kestra is back," she threw a knee over his thighs and his back pressed firmly against the headrest in shock.
"What are you doing--" his question was cut short as her hands cupped his face.
"I want to see your face." She leaned closer, takin in every aspect of his face and burning it into her fogged memory. Her eyes roaming from his eyebrows, to his eyes and down to his scales.
She leaned closer, there breath mingling as the distance in-between them became smaller.
"Your scales intoxicate me."
Eli gulped.
Well, she wasn't the only getting intoxicating at the moment.
((Happy new year, my lovely readers! May this year be filled with grand adventures and wonderful opportunities for us all.))