CHAPTER FOUR

Morrigan can clearly remember the day Colfre first saved her, the first time they met vividly like it just happened yesterday. The memory of that day where she danced with death underwater with the threat of drowning and a perpetrator assassinating her. She can clearly remember how she sank down the deep part of the pool thinking it will be her eternal abyss, where her life will end in that moment not until a young man clad in black jumped in the water and saved her from her almost demise. A young man with ginger hair and bright hazel eyes brought her back to the surface just in time. 

It was the same young man standing near the door of the bathhouse with his back facing her. It was the same bathhouse and the same pool that almost witnessed her demise. The same lavender aroma embracing the place that once was overpowered by the rancid scent of blood. It was all the same things that reminded her of that day but the only difference is that she feels much more secure this time. 

Passing Fiachra’s statue Morrigan can only tiptoe to touch the bottom of the pool and let herself afloat. Still walking further from the marker and slowly losing the ability to touch the bottom, Morrigan knows that when she continues to go further it will be harder for her to get back. The water now almost above her mouth and just letting her head afloat to gather enough air for her to sustain underwater. 

She let the water slowly succumb to her, this time there’s no fear nor worry in her heart. This time she knows she wouldn’t struggle for too long to the point of dancing with death under the water. This time someone will save her the moment she no longer responds to him. She closes her eyes and lets herself sink further away from the surface and to the bottom of the pool. Hugging herself, her jet-black hair dances along with the current in grace. She waited until she heard a strong crash on the water and felt strong ripples around her. 

When she opened her eyes, a pair of bewildered hazel eyes stared back at her. Colfre’s ginger hair dances with hers under the current. His strong arms snaked around her waist and he swam up, bringing both of them back to the surface. Colfre and Morrigan pants synchronously, she can feel Colfre’s heart beating wildly in his chest. Stripped of his armor, she can feel the tension in his muscle below the black inner clothes he wears underneath. Her heart is beating as loud as his like both of their hearts beat in sync. 

Colfre’s firm arms remained to circle around the small of her waist. Her naked body just inches away from his body, his inner clothes soaking wet yet he still emanates heat underneath his drenched clothing. Morrigan’s hands ran through his shoulder and chest, Colfre gasps. “I knew you would save me,” she smiled sweetly. Brushing Colfre’s wet hair with her hands, further exposing the most beautiful pair of hazel eyes she had seen in her life. 

“My queen, why did you do that?” Colfre’s composure fettered despite Morrigan’s intimate touches. He holds Morrigan’s body as if she was a delicate doll that anytime he lets go of her she will be broken forever. He swam towards the statue in the middle of the pool and let Morrigan rest there but never let go of her waist. Scared that the queen will jump again into the depths of the pool. 

Both of them fell in silence, only the ripples of water crashing by the side of the pool could be heard around them and the sun setting outside basked the room with its golden light. The serene aroma of lavender around the room and the emanating steam from the pool make the silence around them as comfortable as it was. Morrigan leaned close to Colfre’s face, and she jumped back in the water. Colfre’s hands remained on her waist but Morrigan’s arms snaked on his nape and pulled him closer to her. Playing with his ginger hair, staring straight at his hazel eyes. The golden light from the sun kissing their skins reveals its natural glow, droplets of water reflecting it like diamonds on their skin. 

“I haven't answered your question,” Morrigan started in a hushed voice enough for the both of them to hear but not enough for the enclosed room to echo the young queen’s words. “I believe that every time you are near me I have a safeguard that I won’t be alone, I will never have to struggle again.” Morrigan leaned close to Colfre, their foreheads touching. She stopped midway, hesitating to say anything more than that. Reflecting if it was enough of an answer. Closing her eyes and finally taking a deep sigh, and when she opens her eyes it glistens with unspeakable emotions. She pulled away from their embrace. 

Colfre watches her as she emerges from the water. The warmth of their bodies still lingers to each other. No one wanted to speak again, Morrigan picked her robe and wore it walking out of the bathhouse not even looking back at Colfre. 

Morrigan found herself back in her room, the sun had already set and a fresh set of clothes were set on her ottoman. She took the bell beside it and called for the servants to help her get changed. No one dared to make a sound as Morrigan got dressed. The grand doors open and Colfre enters her room, in his hands is a tray of letters. 

“My queen, reports of the drought affecting the people in the borders came in. The farmers plead for your grace’s help.” Colfre acts as if nothing happened inside the bathhouse. He is now dressed in another set of fresh clothes, clad in his armor. He still looks handsome as he always is. Morrigan dismissed the servants who helped her dress. Colfre went to her side and put the tray on the ottoman. Morrigan reached for it and started to read its content. It was signed by hundreds of families from the borders of Hymir, signed by blood calling for her help to alleviate or reach her grace to them as they struggle to make a living. 

Colfre’s hands reached out for the brush beside her and took her raven locks. Letting the brush go and slide down her silky hair. “What are your plans, my queen?” He inquired. Morrigan stared at him in her mirror. She met his gaze for a few seconds till she decided to look away from his ardent gazes. “I will go there personally and check on them. The taxes that they should pay will be lessened if not canceled for the time being as the drought goes by. A few months from now rain will come by and will nourish their farmlands.” 

“We will set out to the borders tomorrow, bring some of your best guards.” She ordered. Colfre willingly bowed to her and let go of her silky locks. The feeling of emptiness surges when Colfre let go of her hair and went out of her room to proceed with her orders, not a word coming from him, nothing but a single bow of courtesy. The room is now enveloped with a deafening silence and Morrigan can only look at the closed doors where Colfre exited. 

She walked towards her balcony and looked out to the city outside the palace wall. The street outside flocked with vendors selling from fruits and vegetables to colorful linen, and rogues of vivid colors like the crimson sky. Children fool around the street that is illuminated with warm torchlights. Even at night, the streets are as lively as how Morrigan remembered it. She leaned on the balcony’s cold marble railing and watched the people of her kingdom as the cold wind of the night caressed her whole being. At the far horizon of the capital where she is standing a whole community is starving and asking for her aid. Far from the lively and flourishing economy of the capital. Far from her people are struggling at the borders of Hymir, barely living because of the drought. The poorest of the poor in her kingdom and she couldn’t imagine what she would see the day they set to the borders. She just hopes that Fiachra watches over the people on the borders and brings them away from further destruction and famine.