Page 75 of A Tale of Ice and Ash
“You really care about the kingdom, huh?”
“Yes,” he said slowly, “and you.”
Eirwen blinked, but the action soon dissolved into coughing. Cole scrambled for a mug and pressed a drink to her lips, rubbing her back.
“Cole?”
“Yes?”
“You… you really don’t seem as bad as I remember you being–”
He cut her off, snorting. “Well, thanks.”
“So, why… why were you so awful to me when you first came to Aberthor?”
Cole paused, turning away from her and running a hand through his hair. “Because Iwasawful. Because I was a spoiled child who suddenly for the first time in his life had no say in anything, and I was wrenched away from everything I knew and I hated it. And you being so kind somehow made me feel worse, because you’d had this huge upheaval in your life too and you handled itso much better.You were nice when I couldn’t be and I hated you for it. And your father… your father cared about you. Mine never did. And Mother was growing stranger and further away by the day. I was jealous and stupid and foolish, and I’m not sure a day has passed by since you left that I didn’t regret what an utter and complete ass I was.” He looked up at her, his dark eyes like shining gems. “I’m… I’m really sorry, Snow. Eirwen. If there’s a way I can make it up to you–”
Eirwen placed a hand to his lips, holding them there for a fraction longer than was necessary. “You’re doing a pretty good job now,” she said. “And… and you can still call me Snow, if you like. It’s kind of growing on me.” Her fingers fell to his hair, brushing it from his eyes. It felt like satin beneath her fingertips. “Thank you for staying with me.”
He smiled, leaning into her touch. “Just returning the favour. That and no one else would have you.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“All right, fine, I actually had to fight for this seat. Your grumpy dwarf-dad finally said I should be the one to sit here because I’d be less trouble that way and had absolutely nothing else to offer. Which, not going to lie, stung a little.”
Eirwen snorted. “That sounds like him.” A yawn forced its way past her jaw.
Cole lifted a hand to her cheek. “You should try and get some more sleep. It’s a while yet till dawn.”
She half wanted to ask if he would still be there when she woke up, but she knew he had to return. What she didn’t know was why the thought bothered her so much. It wasn’t like he was in danger. She just didn’t like the thought of him not beinghere, and she didn’t like that he didn’t want to be there, either.
She slid back down into the bed. Cole’s hand stayed on her cheek, brushing back her hair.
“Are you going to sing me a lullaby?” she grinned.
He chuckled. “It’s tempting, Princess, when you look this sweet, but I’m not sure I’d do the task justice.”
She closed her eyes, trying not to fixate too much on the skim of his fingertips against her hair, or the unfamiliar softness in his voice. “You have a nice voice when you’re not using it to tease me,” she whispered.
He smiled. “That isn’t what I meant,” he said, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “But goodnight, Princess.”
∞∞∞
His chair was empty when she finally rose the following morning, and a coldness had crept into the tent.
It’s just the start of winter,she told herself.Nothing to do with him not being here.
She pulled on the rest of her clothes and drifted outside. Half a dozen people raced up to greet her. Oakley sat her down within seconds and checked her over.
“How do you feel?”
“A little dizzy. My throat hurts.”
“Sorry about that,” he said, “I wasn’t exactly gentle when I shoved the bezoar down there. It’ll clear up in a couple of days.”
Merry came forward and handed her a steaming mug of hot whiskey, honey and ginger. “Drink that,” he said. “It’ll help.”
Eirwen took it gratefully, and before long the two men returned to what they were doing before. Onyx stomped towards her.
