Page 121 of The Silent Mountain
“Your Highness is too kind if he implies I am in any way on par with our strongest warriors,” Ludwig mutters.
“I am not being kind,” I say. “But I chose you and Barbara as Alana’s bodyguards for a reason.”
At least I have piqued his curiosity. “What reason?”
“You are capable and I trust you,” I say. “And I certainly don’t trust many people.”
“Barbara said the same,” he mutters. “Before she… left.”
He looks so broken as he sits here in his bed, that my chest aches for him. How horrible to lose his love that way. We are all used to losing a lot, but things were finally looking upwards, just for that dark spell to hit us. Deep inside, I know we were lucky because we didn’t have many casualties, but my more emotional side mourns for everyone wehavelost.
“Did you send her off?” Ludwig asks.
“Exactly the way she deserved it,” I assure him. “Everyone was grief-stricken by losing her. She was so beloved in the clan.”
“Really?” Knowing how Barbara was loved seems to give him some comfort.
Ludwig’s eyes begin to look drowsy, and to my relief, sleep is slowly lulling him in. Before I leave, I notify Frederick of what Ludwig was about to do. “By Aengus,” he sighs.
“Was it the right thing?” I ask. “To stop him from taking his own life?”
Frederick is silent for a while. “I don’t think anyone could answer that,” he says. “But even if you stopped him once, it doesn’t mean you or any of us will be able to stop him a second time. It’s on him now.” He considers. “I will keep an eye on him as long as he is here. Good thing you were here.”
“I am not certain if my visit even helped him,” I admit. “I didn’t seem to be able to find the right words. But how do you console someone who has just faced this type of loss?“ I ask. “For a second time.”
“I think the fact that you visited him in person has helped him a little,” Frederick says. “Everything else will need time. Will he still be the queen’s guard?”
“Of course.”
“Then, I think that will further help him. I will alert some of his friends and have them spend time with him. We’ll need to give it time, Your Highness.” He studies me. “Forgive my insolence, but you look very tired.”
“It’s not the first time that I’ve heard it today,” I remark. “I will return to the castle and get some sleep. Please don’t worry.”
I follow up on my promise, relieved that Ludwig isn’t alone, and walk back to the castle. In front of my chambers, I can see Sine and Stefan. “Your advisor just told me that you haven’t rested yet!” Sine accuses.
I raise my brows at Stefan. “You told on me?”
“I didn’t know you would return so soon,” he says. “You have a tendency to overwork.”
“I think I am going to take back what I told you earlier,” I mutter. “Youareannoying.”
Stefan chuckles.
“How is my mate doing?” I ask Sine.
“She is healing well. It’s nothing like last year when she almost lost her life,” Sine reassures me. “Her injury will heal well too. She will need to learn how to cope with one hand, but I know my daughter, she is strong. I can only advise you not to fuss over her too much, and let her try and do things and heal on her terms. I bet she will want to return to training soon, and I hope you will let her.” She pauses. “She sacrificed her hand so she could stay alive. Let’s be proud of what she did and support her.”
“I am sure that with or without a hand, she will always be unstoppable,” I say.
Sine smiles. “I was glad to see her marked. It puts a mother’s mind at ease to know she is loved and safe.”
“Everyone here loves her,” I say.
“She holds a lot of meaning to us,” Stefan verifies my words. “She is the king’s mate, and without her, he wouldn’t be able to thrive the way he does. Her happiness is of utmost importance to us.”
“She likes it here,” Sine says. “She wrote several letters to me, and each one was full of love for the clan and her mate, and full of motivation. I don’t think I need to be too worried.”
The look in her eyes betrays her though. She looks incredibly worried. “She is the Warrior Princess,” I say. “On her first day here, she started to train the horses and threw herself into her own training as well. She will do the same now. We will make sure to support her all the way.”
