A slave's doubts

Astrid didn't expect a royal dinner to be this... casual.

They laugh, they drink and they tell stories from their past. Tamara didn't exaggerate at all, they do seem very close to one another. And to her surprise, Astrid didn't feel like the third wheel to the cart, their comfort around each other extended to her and she was able to join their conversations in a way that felt natural. She told stories from her childhood, laughed, and joked like she was around her own family.

The king listened to her, laughed and shared his stories too. As the night continued, they seemed so engaged in their own conversation that they didn't even notice Tamara going to the balcony.

And it was not like Astrid imagined. He wasn't seductive, not in an aggressive way, he was charming and open. He made Astrid feel like...home.

When about an hour passed and they realized Tamara was gone, the king went to check on her on the balcony and Astrid was left behind to take a look around the huge room.

"Astrid, are you alright?" Tamara asks as Astrid stares at the king's bed, a bit later in the evening. But Astrid is not sure what to answer. Her mind feels all fogged-up and the surroundings seem to lose their shape when she tries to look at them. And the bed... just a few hours ago Lanna was in this bed. A few hours ago her oldest friend fell in love with the king in this bed. Now she is here, understanding too well how easy is to fall in love with him so quickly, so unexpectedly.

"You slept with Lanna last night." Astrid says, not as an accusation, but as a conclusion to her thoughts.

"Astrid!" Tamara gasps, surprised by her insolence.

But to everyone's surprise, the king laughs.

"I think this should be a private conversation. Everyone, leave." The king says with an amused smirk.

No one protests to his order, but Tamara gives Astrid one last worried look before she gets out of the door. When they are alone, before she can say anything, Astrid's legs betray her and she almost falls.

A strong pair of arms catch her in time and she finds herself in the king's embrace.

"Were you really interested in me?" Astrid asks, making no effort to get back on her feet, as the king's chest feels so comfortable, so warm.

"I think you had too many glasses." The king laughs and gently places her on the bed.

"It was just tea..." Astrid says, remembering the drunks in her village. Her dad used to say he had too many glasses too. But he drank wine, Astrid drank some tea. She had tea before.

"That was Shira, a Valarian wine." The king explained looking more and more amused by the situation.

At this point, they lay in bed next to each other.

"It tasted like tea!"

"It is tea. With a little spice to it." He winks and she laughs.

"I am drunk next to the all mighty dragon king. You might as well throw me out of the palace right now."

"Why would I throw you out?"

"Because!" She shouts and gets up, but the world starts spending around her and she gets back down. "You are a king. And I saw. I saw many beautiful girls. They all love you. And Lanna too. She hopes she gets pregnant. What am I doing here?"

"Well, if Lanna would get pregnant, I would call that a miracle." The king answers and Astrid looks confused.

"Why?"

"Because I did not sleep with her."

Now, this woke Astrid up a little bit.

"What do you mean?"

"I needed to choose a new favorite. I choose Lanna because she is your friend and I wanted to find out more about you. Instead, I gave her a status that means she will live her life in comfort. She was happy to agree." The king explained and Astrid is even more confused.

"You needed a new favorite?" She asks.

"After catching you fall from the balcony in the middle of an assassination attempt, yes, I needed to distract everyone's attention from you."

"And she won't be in danger?"

"No one will consider her a threat as long as she won't return to my room." The king continues to explain and he seems so sincere... Astrid thinks about how Lanna acted in the morning. It was all just an act?

"But why did you need more information about me?"

"Curiosity, what kind of slave looks a king straight in the eyes."

After that, they continue to talk for a long time, but Astrid can't seem to remember the words that have been said, only that at some point, her spinning head was resting on the king's chest.

She wakes up in the morning with a tremendous headache. And alone.

In the king's bed!

She can't remember much about what happened last night. All the memories after Tamara left to go to the balcony are a blur and trying to remember only makes her headache worse.

She looks around. Her dress is a mess, but is still on her. That is good. That means she didn't... sleep with him, no? Or she did. Her throat is dry. She has to get out of here, to clear her head. If he touched her... her first time would be like this. She would hate it. Someone touching her in that state.

She feels like she's about to throw up.

She gets up, fighting the pain, and runs to the door. Locked?

Astrid panics for a second, until the guards on the other side open it for her, bowing their heads.

"My Lady." They greet her as she rushes past them, throwing a hurried good morning.

Fortunately, Tamara's room is right next to the Golden Path so no one sees her coming from the king's chambers.

She sighs in relief once she closes the door to her own room.

Now what?

She decides that probably a bath will make her feel better so she changes into something that doesn't look like she just came out from an official dinner and heads down to the bathhouse.

"Are you going to the bathhouse?" Lanna's voice comes from behind her and Astrid almost jumps. She feels guilty as Lanna was with the king just the other night. She even seemed in love, and now Astrid took her place.

"Yeah, I have a little headache." Astrid answers and Lanna takes her hand.

"Then let's go together. I want to make sure you don't fall in there."

Astrid thanks her, but she can't look her friend in the eyes. Especially as she still can't remember what happened. Lanna notices the distance and hugs Astrid.

"I'm sorry about yesterday. I was mean to you. I don't know what came over me. Will you forgive me?"

Astrid feels like someone just punched her in the stomach. She was the one that hurt Lanna, not the other way around...

"Lanna, I..."

"No need to answer now. You have the right to be a little mad. Let's eat dinner together tonight and talk. If Lady Tamara allows you, of course."

Astrid nods, as she doesn't feel like she can talk without crying now.

They go to the bathhouse and a few maids take care of Lanna, washing her, massaging her body with rose oils while serving her fruits and tea. Astrid looks at Lanna while she washes herself. Her friend really seems t enjoy her new status.

Until Lysa comes in. And ruined every chance Astrid had to tell Lanna about what happened and explain herself.

"The king's new favorites. How nice that you are friends." Lysa says with a voice that resembled poisoned honey.

The plural seems to confuse Lanna and drain the blood out of Astrid's checks.

"Lady Lysa..." They all bow, except for Lanna.

"No, No." Lysa says looking at Astrid. "Favorites don't bow to each other. Didn't they tell you that when you came out of the king's bedroom in the morning?"

"Astrid?" Lanna asks, her voice trembling.

"Oh, you didn't know?" Lysa asks with a smirk on her face. "Well, she came out of that bedroom running, so I guess she wanted to keep it a secret from you. My mistake."

With that, she sits down and lets her maids take care of her, ignoring Astrid and Lanna.

"Lanna, I wanted to explain to you. It's really not like that..." Astrid tries to whisper, but Lanna cuts her off.

"You are a two-faced snake, Astrid! He was mine!" Lanna shouts and Astrid sees Lysa smile.

"Lanna, nothing happened!"

"And nothing will, then. Swear to me. Swear you don't like him, that you have no interest in him! And that you never will" Lanna asks and Astrid is about to cry.

When she remembers... Everything they talked. About Lanna, about him, about her. The way she felt in his arms, the way he looked at her when they were lying in bed.

"I... I can't..." Astrid answers, defeated.

Lanna slaps her and walks away. But what else could Astrid do? She won't lie. She started to like the king.

And that terrifies her.