Chapter 5 (1/2)

CHAPTER 5

The King woke to find himself alone on the bed. Looking around in haste, he found Mahnu with her eyes closed and fully dressed. Sighing in relief, as she hadn’t gone, he walked over to her. “Is this where you would sleep?”

“I don’t sleep.”

King Richard was sure that was an honest answer but how could that be? Is that why she is grumpy?

He pulled her towards him and kissed her. He was happy how she melted into him, it was like they fit each other perfectly. Mahnu was lost in both of their thoughts again and before she knew it he had stripped her and placed her on top of him, making her let out a cry.

He moved her on top of him as he caressed and kissed her.

She was lost to him.

What a powerful emotion, she thought, looking at him and feeling herself grow in pleasure.

She demanded his mouth now and he complied and moved her faster. As she moaned and she let out the words, “Your Majesty!”

“I told you to call me Richard.” His said, his voice thick with desire.

Letting out a cry, Mahnu felt s.h.i.+vers go through her whole body.

What is this?! Her mind, just like her body, was totally smitten to him!

After another fulfilment of pa.s.sion, he continued to hold her close, breathing in heavily along with her.

Never in his life had he woke up so…well! King Richard chuckled.

Letting out a laugh he said, “You’re stuck with me now! I want to wake up to you every day!”

A knock on the door and then someone walking in stopped Mahnu’s heart. I hadn’t even heard their thoughts coming! How could I not have heard? Am I changing so much that I can’t hear other’s thoughts anymore, besides his and mine?

“Oh! Your Majesty, Forgive me!” When the attendant left in a rush, closing the door behind him, the King looked back at Mahnu.

What do I do? they both thought. Mahnu laughed at his thoughts and the King laughed also. It was a relief to him to see her genuinely smile. Her laughter clutching on to his heart strings.

He grabbed her close and kissed her.

Mahnu pulled back and got up shyly. She hadn’t done this before, there was no other experience she had learnt to help with this situation.

“It’s ok...You really don't know much about love making, do you?” The King asked her, loving the innocence shown on her face.

He got up too and held her hands.

“Love?” Her cracked voice surprised him and he looked into her frightened eyes.

He put her face between his hands and said, “Yes. And it’s going to happen again. But for now, I must go.”

On cue, another knock came from the door.

Mahnu, for some time, was in shock. Do I love him? She wondered.

She knew of love and that people were destroyed because of it. She fell back to the floor and desperately wondered what she had done.

***

King Richard could not concentrate, Mahnu also, even though other’s thoughts went through her again, she felt…Strange.

Mahnu found herself scared for once about the future. Being unable to hear the thoughts of someone coming so close to her had never happened before. Since her creation, it had been an involuntary aspect but this morning...

These changes were...scary.

Is there something wrong with me? She thought

So…this is what being scared is like? Have I fallen that far in love that I can’t even run away anymore?

The King finally realized he should pay attention to the Queen but her ploy to convince him to conceive another child had been wasted. Mahnu heard about the angry Queen and pitied her. After that, the King was moved into a meeting with one of the governors. He was good friends with Dominic but today just wasn’t the day for the usual friendly chat, when he was worried about Mahnu.

The scared look in her eyes, he thought, if I had told her I loved her, would she have run away again??

“You are occupied, Your Majesty, may I suggest I return at a later date?”

Dominic’s question did worry the King, “Am I that transparent?”

Dominic smirked, “No offence intended, Your Majesty, but yes. Can I be of help by chance?”

The King looked at him and sighed, “I love the Queen and my children, you know this.”

“Yes, of course, Your Majesty.”

“I think I’ve fallen in love with someone so deep that I forget I’m a King. I forget everything, it’s like a world with no worry.”

Dominic looked at his friend, the King, surprised. “Oh…”

King Richard laughed at Dominic’s speechless response, “I’m being cruel, aren’t I?”

Dominic stared at the King for a moment before answering, “Would you like to hear my personal opinion Your Majesty?”

“Yes…Yes, always, Dominic!” He answered him eagerly.

“As a friend of Your Majesty, I only wish for your happiness.” And he smiled, bowing his head.

King Richard smiled back, “Thank you good Sir!” Smacking Dominic on the back.

He felt lighter now. Someone close to him was on his side, understanding his feelings. Perhaps I should concentrate again!

“So…business!”

Overhearing their conversation made Mahnu wonder if that is what true friends.h.i.+p really is. That they want their friends to be happy.

Is that what all relations.h.i.+ps are like? Is that what I had wanted for Princess and the boy from so long ago?

Mahnu thought about the role between herself and the King and wondered if his happiness would affect her.

From what she could see now, the King felt and even acted what she thought was happiness. He was smiling and joking and he had liked what Dominic had said about being with me.

So, I make him…happy? Mahnu questioned. Me?

Should I tell him who I am?

Would that stop his happiness? Do I even want him to be happy?

Mahnu sighed. She did, secretly, like being able to make someone happy after all this time. And she liked it more so because it wasn’t because of helping the humans. It was generally just her and her presence…

Mahnu stopped. Where are the sufferings? How long has it been since I’ve felt them?

She hadn’t thought of them all day, they haven’t interrupted her thoughts…it was…peaceful.

Is that because of the King? Does he do to me as I do for him in regards to our status of G.o.d and King? Was it bad that I am not helping out there? But I am helping…

Mahnu was confused, she hadn’t been in this position before.

“My…My Queen!”

The Queen stopped walking and looked at her loyal maid servant, who was out of breath, “What is it?”

“It is said, My Queen…That the King had another woman in his bed chambers this morning. And because of that there is talk there will be a concubine.”

“Why is a rumour already saying…”

“It was seen, My Queen, from a maid that cleans his Majesty’s bed chamber.

What? How dare she?! The Queen wonders how to deal with it. Even she, the Queen, had not woken to his Majesty like that for he had already left before dawn.

The Queen walked to her room and told her servants that she wished to be alone.

As she walked around, she thought about what she should do.

My father will scold me for letting this happen. Oh G.o.d, what if she has a child?

The Queen sat down and started to panic.

I had gotten too used to the King not wanting other women and took advantage of it! What am I doing, worrying about dresses and make up!?