THE Knight's Hidden Princess
Chapter 98: Just Give In

Chapter 98: Just Give In

DAHLIA POV

The water rippled around me as my mother’s hand dipped into the water before she brought out the wash cloth and began to wash me. Her gentle fingers roamed on my body carefully, almost as if she thought I was going to break under her hand. I held my head down, watching the soft waves ebb and flow against the marble side of the tub. The scent of sweet smelling oil hung heavily in the air, entangling us both in a delicate protective sphere.

Fire from the torches danced on the golden walls of the bathroom creating dancing dynamics which transformed into moving shadows each time the flames crackles around. My mother continued to bath me while humming soft tunes and I tried to stay still as possible, not wanting whatever spell I was bound in to break.

Her touch was gentle, far gentle than that of my maid servant, Heidi who always bath me while intentionally delivering harsh stroke. She always tugged at my hair hard, almost like she wanted to remove my scalp along with it. Each time I complained she always claimed that she wanted me to be clean so I could seat next to my father.

But feeling my mother tend to me with such delicate care, her fingers gently untangling the knot in my hair, I knew right then that it was her I wanted to bath for me all the time.

I rarely get to see my mother, knowing she was in the east wing of the castle but still I never got a chance to see her and she never came to see me either. The only time I get to see her was during formal events and it doesn’t matter how hard Heidi scrubbed me or if I put on the prettiest dresses, she never noticed me. She acknowledged me with just a nod and spend the time with Bjorn and on my father’s arms.

So this time around she was giving me a piece of her, a quiet moment and it was just for us!

"You are being quiet." My mother suddenly spoke and I tensed up, "Are you okay?"

"Y...Y...Yes." I fumbled with that single word, if Heidi could hear me now she would have been so angry and disciplined me at that moment.

A princess isn’t one to fumble with her words! She would have yelled at me.

But how could I not? It’s my mother! Someone I’ve longed to talk too and now she was bathing me gently as if this was a normal routine.

My mother released a soft chuckle, "I must have startled you then."

"No!" I answered a little bit too quickly earning another chuckle from my mother.

My mother didn’t say anything and instead applied more shampoo to my hair. Her hands gently massaging my scalp and I had to keep my mouth shut from moaning at the wonderful sensation.

"I know we haven’t spent much time together," My mother suddenly spoke again and I tensed at it, "But I promise that will change, it will all change soon and I’ve found a way for us to be together again."

Curiosity got the best of me and I turned to look at her. "Together?"

My mother offered me a single nod in response a smile on her face. But I should have known right then that something was off in her smile, in her eyes and I should have also sensed it when she spoke the next words.

"It’s getting boring here." My mother said as she looked around her voice dropping to a whisper. "How about we play a game?"

I frowned cocking my head at her, "A game?"

My mother nodded her head eagerly, "Yes my dear, a game."

"But princesses are not allowed to..."

My mother reached forward to grab my hands. "Oh forget about the rules for a day you dear sweet child. You want to be with me don’t you? Together forever?"

I nodded my head at her in agreement. "Yes." I said but there was no mistaking the uncertainty in my small voice.

"How about we play a game? We see how long you can hold your breath under water?"

I frowned, "Right here?" I asked her.

My mother smiled wryly at me. "Yeah that way I don’t have to have too many eyes on us, princesses aren’t supposed to play games remember?"

I bit my bottom lip, knowing very well that she was right. But since this was the only time I will ever get to play with my mother, I decided to honor her!

"Okay." I mumbled, shifting in the tub and then I drew in a deep breath and disappeared under the water.

I laid flat on the bathtub seeing the distorted face of my mother on the surface as I laid still. One...two...three...four...five...six...seven...eight...nine...ten.... I slowly counted and by the time I got to twelve, I was already struggling to hold my breath.

I tried to seat up and come back to the surface but suddenly two hands were suddenly on me. The hands were pressed in my shoulder blades, holding me down under the water. I gasped as I struggled to fight against the weight that was holding me underwater. I thrashed as I tried to free myself and come back up for air.

"Mom!" I called, the sound muffled against the water.

I struggled again, trying to shove her away from me but she was just too strong. Panic clawed in my throat as my brain registered what was happening. Even at such a young age, my brain could understand what was going on.

Mommy lied to me, she wasn’t playing a game with me! I thought but still I struggled even as all my organs began to fill with water.

"Shhhhh, little Dahlia." I could hear my mom’s voice through the struggled, "Don’t worry, it will all be over soon and we will be together!"

Even hearing her soothing voice call over me I still struggled against her. This was wrong and it was starting to get too much. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t breathe at all. I wanted to get out of the bathtub, I couldn’t beat and I was starting to choke on water and I could feel my struggles getting weaker.

I fought, bubbles spilling from my mouth as fear filled my lungs. The distorted face of my mother came into view, her face looked calm, serene, almost at peace and a small smile graced her lips as she stared down at me.

I kicked with all my might, trying to get free. My fingernails rasped across her wrists underwater, but she wouldn’t let go of me. Her grip only tightened, holding me down like a toy.

No. No. Mama... stop... please—Mom, please! I mentally pleaded, I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!

"Don’t worry my sweet child, it will all be over soon!" My mother soothingly voice whispered over heard, "Don’t fight it, just give in my child!"

My legs grew limp and my eyes grew lazy, the only thing I could see was the darkness as it descended on me. I decided to do what my mom said.

"Don’t fight, just give in!"

And that was exactly what I did!

I gave in!

***

"Wake up!"

I heard a voice fighting to get to me from where I was in the darkness. I tried to open my eyes but for some reason my eyelids felt to heavy and there was also the fact that I could feel some heavy weight pressing against my shoulders too.

"Wake up Dahlia!" The voice called again, seeming more urgent than before! "Oh for fuck’s sake, wake up Dahlia! Please!" The voice yelled at me in desperation.

And just like that, as if a switch was suddenly flipped on in my consciousness, my eyes snapped open. I stood up with a gasp, clawing at my throat while coughing as if trying to get the water out. But nothing except air came out, it was a dream!

It was just a dream! Just a dream! I thought but that still wasn’t enough, I was still riled up from the old memory I thought I had locked away but apparently not.

"Are you okay?"

My gaze snapped up only to see Reagan staring down at me with a note of concern on his face, lies!

"Yes," I answered grateful my voice was steady, "I’m fine."

Reagan’s gaze trailed over my body and rested on my hands that were still trembling from the dream I had. Swallowing, I fisted my hands on the bed sheet needing something to hold on to.

Reagan sighed, "I will go send for Heather."

"No." I said as I raked a hand through my hair, "Don’t she needs her sleep." I said knowing we’ve been on the road for days.

Reagan grunted in response. "Need me to stay with you then?"

"No." I answered without looking at him.

"Okay." Reagan said and I heard rustling.

I thought he was about to leave but I only turned to see him laying his bedroll on the bed right next to me.

"What are you doing?"

"It’s like you said, we all need our sleep and I for one I’m tired." Reagan responded, "So go to sleep if you can that is."

I didn’t have it in me to argue with him, I was too tired. I laid on my bed but couldn’t sleep, just stared at the ceilings slowly counting the minutes till daybreak, everywhere was silent until.

"Dahlia?" I heard Reagan call.

"Hmm?"

Reagan was quiet for a moment, and then, "I’m sorry!" He whispered into the darkness.

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