Chapter 261 - Edelsteintal

"At least let me go horseback riding, I'm feeling sick ..." Alexa put her face out of the carriage window, and this time she wasn't lying. 

The movement of the carriage, for miles on end, made her stomach sick.

Surrounded by protection and in the midst of the lines of the army that would join the army in the east, only two days had passed since Magnus pulled her out of Alexander's garden with a threatening look at his brother.

"No. The doctor said it's not good for you to ride a horse," Magnus was relentless, riding his horse beside the carriage.

The defense of the border could no longer wait, when General Egon had been wounded in the last battle, when he reconquered a fortress. 

Magnus had to go. His presence wasn't only the necessary leadership, but it was also the affirmation of his legitimate power for the other kingdoms.

And contrary to what common sense commanded, he didn't leave Alexa behind.

Nothing was said as an excuse for her presence in the entourage, but somehow Alexa suspected a scandal was inevitable. 

This reminded her of her beloved guardian Lady Eudoxia, a woman who accompanied her general passionately, despite falling out of favor socially because of it. It was ironic that this was happening to her now. Alexa had no appreciation for titles, and would prefer much rather there were no honors and fetters of nobility forcing them to do this or that.

She would have much rather shared a pea soup with him in a dilapidated barn a thousand times than to pretend that he was a single prince and she, a woman married to his brother.

"Your Majesty! Please…! At least let me walk, then!"

He darted his yellow eyes at her, amused and suspicious.

"Your Majesty…?" he moved his lips in provoking questioning. Alexa narrowed her eyes, and this time she didn't blush.

The previous afternoon, they made love so passionately, and again and again, right after Magnus announced that she would follow him and stay at the barracks or at a fortress. His demanding passion had exhausted Alexa, as much as it was fantastic to be with him. "Enough! I'm not… I'm going to be able to travel like this. My body is exhausted!"

"There's not such a thing as 'enough of you', my love!"

"You won't have time for me, because you just don't ... me, nhg! ... let it go to the field?" It was difficult to finish any thoughts while Magnus caused such intense sensations in her body. 

"Because I ... cannot stay away from you ... ah!"

Although the words were complimentary, Alexa knew that there was much more than that, even in the insane and possessive way in which he had her, and with which he dealt with her now. She was sure jealousy was corroding him from inside, because of that silly incident, and it was the reason for his passionate needs. And now, his forceful and greedy behavior.

She nodded, knowing she had mistaken him using the formal treatment. Then she slammed the carriage window shut and placed a handkerchief over her mouth to control her nausea.

'How did things get to this point?' Her heart was pounding in her chest as she thought of Magnus. 

But it wasn't a pleasant feeling. She didn't know why she had that bad feeling in her chest, that lump in her throat. The unnerving apprehension she recognized was very similar to the fear and disgust she felt when she arrived in Holstein.

'Why is he doing this to me again? I am not his property! Doesn't he trust me? '

But Alexa always knew the answer to that.

ººº

"Ahhhh! So beautiful" she took Magnus's hand when he helped her down from the carriage, looking around in ecstasy.

"What place is this?" Alexa looked at the flowery meadow, with yellow daffodils on the green and low carpet reborn with spring. The valley stretched to the four corners, cut in the distance by the road where the army passed in an orderly long line. 

But the Prince had taken her off the road for that moment alone at dusk. The sun went down behind the mountains, while the remaining heat seemed to emanate from the land. The fragrant scent of grass and fertile land was soothing and inspiring.

"We are going to rest there tonight," Magnus pointed to a fortified building at the top of the hill, keeping Alexa's hand in his.

"But… you're already running late because of me! Shouldn't you go ahead while I go with the rear?"

"Stop thinking about it. I wanted to show you this place. It's called Edelsteintal. Do you like the flowers?" Magnus stood behind her, and put his chin on Alexa's shoulder. The warmth of his body and his embrace made her soften.

"Yes, I do." She inhaled the air, looking at the sky tinged with orange and pink colors as night approached.

"Liar, you said you like horses and weapons."

"But I like flowers and sparkling gifts too!" Alexa protested, then turning over her shoulder, grinned with her best dimpled-smile, "And I like you, Mags."

She felt the tender kiss on her hair, then cheeks, and snuggled further into Magnus's arms. 

"I like you so much too, my love! My chest hurts with love!" he whispered with his hoarse next to her ear.

Alexa turned to face him, touching his face, "Mags, I was only there because…"

"Shhh! I don't want to talk about him. I want to look at you and this beautiful place, now. This is one of the most beautiful places in Holstein in the spring…" he gave her waist a slight squeeze, bringing their bodies together.

"Are you aware that when you do that, I have to lift my neck up so much that it hurts and I cross-eyed?"

"Yes, but you look cute when you get cross-eyed!"

"You have to decide ... Whether I am beautiful!"

He looked up at the sky, with an overly thoughtful expression,

"Let me see… Your eyes are like the beginning of the night, and like purple jewels. Your face looks like a delicious peach, and your mouth ... Besides having the most delicious taste and being capable of speaking many absurdities, it has beautiful shiny teeth..."

"What else, what else?!"

"Wow, you have perfect cheeks, with the color of fruits ripening in the sun," he looked down and stroked her cheek with his thumb, then tilted his face to kiss in the exact same spot.

She didn't know that he thought all of this, nor that Magnus' mind could produce these comparisons. Alexa was flattered and appeased about her fears, at least at that moment. 

He continued,

"At first, I thought you were a little strange, since your face was familiar to me. But that's not what I find most beautiful about you, Alexa. Even your body... There were few reasons to make me so feverish around you. That was inexplicable!"

"Yesterday you said that I am fatter ..." she complained suddenly.

In response, Magnus grabbed one of Alexa's buttocks, startling her. He gave it a handful and naughty squeeze, clicking his tongue in approval.

"I didn't say fat, if you remember well ..."

"Hmp!" she feigned outrage, but she just wanted him to continue talking.

"You must stop being dubious ... I like sweet words!"

He looked at her tenderly, pretending to swallow hard under the pressure.

"But I don't know how to say these things."

"You do know, Your Majesty!" Alexa put the tip of the index on his nose. "You always surprise me with the most unexpectedly sweet words when I least expect it... Why can't you do it on purpose, for a change?"

"Oh, this is me, a man who only knows how to be spontaneous!" Magnus pretended to cough embarrassment against his fist, and Alexa laughed. Again he wrapped his arms around her, looking her in the eye with an unmistakable gleam in his eyes.

"Alexa, your soul is the strangest and most unique thing I've ever seen. It is where your true beauty resides. Sometimes, when I think of you, I feel like crying."

"Like crying?!" Alexa certainly didn't expect this confession.

"I already told you. You are the only thing that makes me afraid to die. I'm afraid of losing you. I know it would be unbearable and I wouldn't forgive myself, in a thousand lives, if such a thing exists, because I had you, and lost you between my fingers ..."

Alexa again touched his face with both hands. 

"Magnus. I also like you so much that even when I'm mad, my heart just longs to get back to you. You know it?"

"I can hear it as many times as you want to tell me, Alexa," Magnus' face seemed to twitch in a mask of pain as he rested his forehead on Alexa's forehead.

"What's it?"

"I didn't know that happiness hurts."

She laughed, stroking his face. "I feel it too. I think it hurts because it seems so elusive ..."

He nodded, and in a quick movement, lifted her off the floor. Alexa gave a little cry of fright, but laughed when she realized that this was so they could kiss better. He didn't want her to have neck pain!

The kisses evolved and when night fell, they were lying side by side, among the flowers, watching the first stars appear in the sky. Magnus had wrapped her with his cloak.

Alexa was facing a bright star and thinking about the previous moments. In the ecstasy of the act, a 'petite mort' had engulfed her.

As always, everything had gone dark around her, and it had drawn a blurred vision in her mind.

She held a jewel-yellow heart, pulsing in one hand, feeling guilty and relieved at the same time.

And Magnus' unmistakable voice roared from somewhere nearby:

"ALEXA!!! WHAT DID YOU DO?!!! WHAT DID YOU DO, ALEXA?!"