Secrets Wrapped in Silk

Fahmeen's POV:

We were walking back to our room.

Actually, Rolf was charging back and I was intentionally keeping behind in case he decided my father needed a little more retribution.

"Rolf wait."

He stands rather still despite the heavy breathing.

"Let's go to Niverna tonight."

He turns back and I brace myself for a harsh refusal. Instead, he sighs and nods almost defeatedly. Something in me flips and I rush to him, hugging his body to mine. Once he hugs me back, I realise just how much tonight had to have happened from the grip of his arms - and how much it's taken out of him.

...

Throughout the boat ride, I couldn't help but watch him. He kept his eyes beyond the sea, much like how mine used to in days that seem old now.

I brought a small pouch of dates and nuts I found at the imports. The sweet flesh and dark skin reminded me of a warmer land it must have journeyed from. I read that they kept you full for a while and so I was feeding small bites to Rolf. Thankfully he let me. He did not put up any fuss even though I could tell he wasn't too keen on dates. I just wanted to be close to him but I didn't want to be overbearing. I could only imagine the thoughts running through his mind right now.

I eat half of the nut and the rest I stuff into a torn date. I bring it to his lips and he immediately opens them. There was relief every time he did that.

"Thank you." He says in a soft voice, and when he finally looks upon me my heart swells with so much care for him.

"Always, my love." I had to touch him then, so I stroke the side of his face. He does not push me away or even hesitate as he ever so slightly leans into it.

"We're here." Daisy says, and indeed we were. There were so many lights.

"They are expecting us." I say under the now brighter sky. Daisy offers me her hand as we leave the boat and I hear Rolf behind me.

"Of course they are, your Highness." She smirks. I can't help but smile back at her and my hand goes behind me, searching for his. His hand is like one of my blankets, instantly warm and surrounding me with the promise of safety and comfort.

Daisy's POV:

Once the king and queen were settled in the great Nivernan dining hall, I took my leave for the night. It was quite easy to hide my anxiety from Fahmeen this time, she seemed distracted herself. In any case, I just needed a moment, especially since being back here as the last time I wasn't alone. I knew that he must have left already, but the presence of Oko was much like a stain. Hard to remove, or forget. I find myself returning to that very spot. Where he held me in a choke hold and I with a blade to his throat. Another missed opportunity.

"Damn it." I cry. A sadness shaking my body suddenly as I stare up at the moon. He was witness to the last ever moment with...

"Daisy."

Startled by the voice since it belonged to Sapphire, I find her sitting on a bench staring at me. Not rudely, but curiously.

"I wish I could tell you where he is. That my trackers and soldiers are only a step behind him." She rips a bunch of grass off of the land and sighs.

"But I can't. You seemed to have done a good job at scaring him away." She chuckles. The smile didn't last however as neither of us seemed to be in the cheery mood tonight, albeit the glowing lanterns and silky billowing curtains at every door and window.

"I'm worried that he'll consume me."

In case she didn't catch on, I look at her and say,

"Oko."

However, Sapphire stays unblinking as if she understood and stays quiet for longer.

"I've said to myself over and over again, how I only needed one conversation, one moment with him. To find out why. Why he had to take Ivar's life, out of us all, why him. But I didn't. I let my anger drive him back into the shadows. He hides like a coward. And I'm sure he's plotting towards his next victim."

Sapphire speaks.

"Yes."

Standing up, she approaches carefully as if I'll run away.

"That is why you must seek him out. Let him play predator and find you." This time, she doesn't let me speak.

"That is the only way we'll know what he's destroying next. Or who."

She made sense. She really did make sense but I didn't want to agree to this. Let Oko find me? I suppose this would be my chance. She takes my hand and turns me to the moon once again.

"This is the moment you've been patient for...let Oko seek you out."

Fahmeen's POV:

Derek the diplomat, otherwise known as Sapphire's husband was telling us of his latest adventure to someplace West. His eyes lit up upon biting into honey roasted chicken, the same way he spoke of any new political relationships he'd discovered. The man was greedy and ambitious. A sought after ally regardless, and that's what kept him alive and obviously thriving.

I had to keep up appearances for the both of us, since Rolf had been reading the same piece of paper under the table. He thought I hadn't seen. I've acted as such, to avoid eyes on us but it's starting to bother me now as the politics of Vikings was something I was only beginning to understand, and Derek was the impatient sort when it came to filling him in on missing details. In other words, I needed the Viking king to answer on their behalf, especially as all eyes around the wide table pointed at us.

Still, no word from my husband and so I somehow successfully talk my way around politics with Derek the diplomat and excuse us for an early night. Before I could get a word in, Rolf was off. Not towards our temporary chambers but the night sky and an empty balcony.

He settles in his seat and out comes the paper he'd been eyeballing all night. I wait a few seconds, looking to the stars for serenity, as it may be the only time tonight before I ask this same question.

"What are you reading?"

Rolf keeps his back to me and it seems for a few seconds, he will not answer me. His body is no longer slumped over, like at the table.

"I've always admired your curiosity Fahmeen but let me have some privacy."

"Privacy?" I sigh, blinking up at the stars before standing in front of him.

"I can give you privacy Rolf. I don't want to suffocate you."

He finally looks up, but only for a tight smile before returning to reading.

"But there's something... you're distracted by something. Something in those papers. I believe they are important as you do. Does it concern us?"

Rolf shakes his head.

"No?" I ask.

He folds it away.

"Truthfully I can't make sense of them yet. And there's nothing else I can tell you. You don't need to worry." He strokes my face as I am crouched before him. He might as well have spoken in riddles, since I am just as confused by his words. I know he can tell but he doesn't give anymore. Instead, he pulls on my bottom lip and caresses the length of my neck.

"Let's go to bed."

Some time later:

My hands are bound and Rolf is behind me. We're both on our knees, naked and sweaty. He's taken my sight as well. All I could do is feel his palm running up my inner thighs, over my pussy, up my stomach, grabbing at my breasts on the way before wrapping his hand around my throat. He pulls me back into him before fucking me loudly. His other hand pulls me down onto him by the hip and I can't do anything but moan. I thought these days were over.

He pushes me down until I find myself on all fours, and then he continues.

Yet once again he has bought my silence with dirty words and dirtier deeds and I let him, surrendering with his mouth on my neck.