Chapter 217: Pain And Blood

'It must be because of this sudden change in the climate. I will get used to it soon," she thought and clutched the blanket. 

She felt so uncomfortable with this shifting temperature that she buried her face inside the blanket but instead, she felt suffocated and moved the blanket aside from her head. 

Others who thought their Queen was feeling cold, asked to add more wood blocks in the fire while they started to feel too hot in the chamber. 

"Your Majesty, is there any issue. Are you not feeling comfortable?" Tyra asked as Xena looked at her worriedly. 

Seren looked at Tyra, "It's just cold. I will be fine soon."

"I have asked to prepare tea and early snacks for you, Your Majesty. I hope you will feel better. If not, we can call for the physician," Tyra suggested. 

"Thank you, Tyra." 

Seren closed her eyes as she tried to bear with this uncomfortable feeling where she felt agitated. Dinner time came by soon and it was served for Seren on her bed as she didn't wish to get out of that warm blanket. 

Seren had a few bites and said, "That's it."

Tyra was not there and looking at the barely touched dishes on the wooden bed food table, Xena said, "Your Majesty, you ate nothing."

"Today I don't wish to. I had too much food during lunch," Seren said to ease the worry on Xena's mind and thought, 'Why am I feeling nauseous suddenly? Is it because I am not used to eating this food?'

"I just want to sleep," Seren said and her servants obeyed. Tucking her to the bed, the servants left. Trying to sleep, she suddenly started to feel the light cramps in her legs, 'It must be too much walking in the cold,' she concluded. 

Even after trying for so long, she couldn't sleep and felt uneasy with what was happening to her. She felt as if her body was hot inside but from outside she felt cold. She felt nauseous and her entire body was heavy, especially the lower half of her body, and curled herself into a ball while folding her knees in front of her chest and 

Suddenly she felt the movement in her bed and a warm hand wrapping around her and a warm masculine chest touching her back. 'So comfortable she thought,' and realized it was him.

"Are you feeling cold, My Queen?" she heard a voice that she seemed to have waited to hear. 

He was back and she felt relieved. 'Did I really miss him? But why?'

"Do you want me to add more wood to the fire?" Drayce asked. 

She already felt comfortable in his embrace that there was no need for him to do it. Moreover, she didn't want to go away or she was worried that the comfort she felt might be lost. 

"I am fine, Your Majesty," she replied. 

Having him closer felt so comfortable that she couldn't help but be greedy and couldn't resist her body instincts. She turned around to face him and hugged him tightly which felt even better. 'This feels better.'

It surprised Drayce but he was also happy that she herself took the initiative and didn't wish to disturb her. He hugged her back and closed his eyes, not willing to trouble her, thinking she must be tired. Moreover, from Tyra, he had already heard that Seren ate nothing and didn't seem to feel better. 

When he got to know it, though he had a lot more things to talk about with Tyra, Drayce hurried to come to Seren. 

The next morning, Seren woke up when the mild sunlight had brightened up her bedchamber. She felt uncomfortable and her body was in mild pain. Her forehead had furrowed lines and she felt pain in her lower abdomen as a mild whining left her lips.

Drayce, who preferred to accompany his wife instead of waking up early, heard her light whining and opened his eyes. 

"My Queen, are you not feeling well?" He asked looking at her face that had sweat on her forehead and painful expressions. 

"I-feel pain," she replied in a shallow voice and her eyes shut tightly. 

Drayce immediately sat up in bed. "Where? Let me check," he asked calmly, though he felt worried inside. 

Under the blanket, Seren moved her hand towards her abdomen and said nothing. 

Drayce moved the blanket and thought she must have a stomach ache. "I will call the physician."

Before Drayce could call for the servant, Seren tried to sit in the bed and Drayce helped her. 

"I need to go to the bathroom," she said in a painful voice and Drayce immediately got out of the bed, "Let me help you." 

Seren didn't deny the help and moved into a bed while sitting but her hand touched something wet in that bed. She lifted her hand and it was red.

"B-Blood?"

Not just her but even Drayce was shocked, "My Queen, are you hurt?" He panicked and moved her a little to check the bed. 

From her hand, she moved her sight to look at him and asked in a crying voice, "Have you poisoned me?"

It shocked Drayce even more, "My Queen, I will die before I could do such a thing," Drayce said and continued to inspect the bed in a panic and then looked at Seren's light pink nightgown which had blood on it around her hips and thighs. 

Something clicked in his mind and he looked at Seren, "My Queen, this…" he didn't know how to say it or ask but he had to, "Aren't you used to see this?" his voice was hesitant.

"Why would I hurt myself like this?" She countered and held her stomach, "It hurts. What did you do to me?"

Drayce understood she was not aware of it and sat in the bed, "My Queen, don't panic, okay. Nothing has happened. I will send Tyra and the Royal physician soon."

Drayce called for the servant and lady Xena entered the bedchamber with her head lowered, "Good Morning, Your…."

"We don't have time for this. Immediately call for Tyra and the Royal physician," Drayce instructed in a hurry. 

Lady Xena left the chamber in a hurry and returned after some time. "They will be here shortly, Your Majesty."

"My Queen, just bear with it for some time," Drayce tried to console Seren who was sitting with her legs flooded in knees while her hands surrounded her stomach. 

Lady Xena finally looked up at her queen, feeling worried about her, and noticed the blood on her nightgown. It puzzled her, 'It can't be miscarriage because it's not even a month since they got married. Monthly Cycle?...but her Majesty is already seventeen, shouldn't she be familiar with it? Or has His Majesty done something to hurt her?' The last thought scared lady Xena for real. 'I am thinking too much,' she shook her head and continued to look at the floor.