2 Chapter 2: Drake

I all but dumped her into the steaming bath, night dress still on, and had to bite my lip to keep from laughing as she squealed like a stuck pig.

"Have you no decorum?" She shouted after her head finally surfaced.

"I was told to be sure you had a bath." I shrugged though the movement was lost beneath my armor.

"I could have managed on my own!" She glared at me, her hazel eyes creasing. "Have it your way." She said pulling her night dress over her head.

Though the water covered her completely, the shock of it all nearly knocked me off my feet. She then had the nerve to throw the soaked dress at my feet where it hit with a splash. "Have you no decorum?To remove your clothing in front of a man who is not your husband! Low class Morean."

She smirked at me, her lips twisting up like they were painted on. "You dare call me low class while you stare at a woman in the bath, you godless swine!"

The whole situation seemed so ridiculous that I couldn't keep the smile off my lips. "You're the one who removed your clothing."

Her raven eyebrows raised as she lathered soap into her long raven curls. "And who, exactly, put me into this bath?"

"I..." wanted to argue but she had bested me. I was the one who dumped her into the bath in her clothes. And of course she'd have to remove them if she had any chance of getting all of the blood off her delicate, porcelain skin. "I shall turn my back. But do hurry."

"Why should I hurry? You've no pressing matters to attended. You're my personal guard now, Sir Ramneal." She nearly spit out my name causing me to grin, thankfully I had already turned from her. "Therefore, I shall spend my time as I see fit and you can stand in silence."

I almost spun around to face her but she clicked her tongue at me like one would horse and to my great dishonor I stopped. "You've some nerve."

"I've all the nerve. As I am allowed. Though currently infested by rats, Morea is still under the Amell reign.

Once more I groaned. She was a woman created just to spite me. "Now I'm a rat, am I."

"No. You're a flea. Bouncing 'round at the command of the rats." She said with a gentle splash of the water.

I couldn't stop myself, I spun around so that I could face my enemy while going to war but I came face to face with her bared chest. Her eyes widened and her cheeks reddened as she sunk down into the water and I scrambled to face anywhere but the bath. "I, I apologize, Your Highness!"

"You lecher!" She screamed throwing a sponge that hit me in the back of the head.

I wanted so badly to retaliate but I couldn't turn around again, my heart was still racing from what I had seen of her snow white... "Have you already forgotten how entirely foul you are? You thought to call me a flea and yet did not have the foresight to think I might want to confront you!"

"You just wanted to see me bare! Lech!"

"I am the First Sword of Althea! I could have any woman I desired and when I do she will have more to offer me than what I just saw!"

Once more a sponge hit me, this time bouncing off my armored back. "P-"

"Don't you dare say piss on me!" I said my voice threatening but my eyes never leaving the wall opposite of her.

"Go hang!"

"I pity any man who is forced to spend his life with you, wretched woman."

"Means little coming from a murder!"

I clinched my fist, almost seeing red. "I am no murderer! It was war! I was following my orders! I am a man of honor!"

"Was there truly honor in killing the maids and cooks? How about the stable boys? Where was your honor when my lady in waiting was cut down? Had you only killed soldiers and guards I might have believed this drivel but your words are meaningless and you are forever damned."

I wanted to defend myself but I could not. Though I had not struck down anyone who wasn't wielding a sword, I did little to stop my men from doing so. Had I not marched over the bodies of innocents to get my king to the throne room? I had. Perhaps the Princess was right and I was damned. But weren't we all? "May your hands never be so stained." I said softly before remaining silent for the remainder of her bath.