The Crown's Entrapment

Clara felt like the entire world had put itself over her chest as it was painfully pushed up and down in a steady, yet panicked rhythm. With each push that her chest received, her consciousness slowly came back to her. It wasn't enough to get her back to reality just yet, but it was enough to make her dream… To dream of a world where she had died…

Strangely, Clara didn't really expect herself to go out like this. She had seen her fair share of battles, and yet something like this never happened to her even when she was injured. Instead, she simply pushed forward, feeling absolutely fine despite having brushed against death far too many times than she could count.

This time was different, however. A feeling of dread and regret filled her entire being. She couldn't remember why, but there was a faint feeling of longing within her that not even Darius had made her feel. Sure, it was very much powerful, but it paled in comparison to this one.

"Come on, Clara… Wake up…"

But just as she decided to ponder on such feelings, the sounds of the world around her slowly filtered back to her. A male voice called for her to wake up. And along with it, the memories of falling into the icy waters played itself in her head.

'Oh right… I fell down into the lake…'

Another round of compressions threatened to shatter her chest as she finally felt herself breathe again. Her eyes opened wide, and she coughed out a steady stream of cold water out of her lungs as she felt her body being helped up by warm and steady hands.

"Y-You're alive…"

Weakly, she looked up, only to see that a number of people were currently gathered around her. However, there was one person that occupied the vast majority of her sight. Hovering above her with a relieved expression on his face, Gilas smiled at her, his eyes glowing as he quickly wrapped a warm cloth around her.

"Clara… Are you alright?" he worriedly asked, his embrace providing her with much needed warmth as he cradled her in his arms. "I almost thought that you…"

"That what? I'd die?" she joked in a whisper. "I… I had faith that you'd find me…"

Before she could hear him reply, Clara suddenly felt herself being carried up in his arms. She would've blushed if she could, but the chills forcing her body to shiver made it almost impossible for her cheeks to turn red even if she tried.

"I'm… I'm glad that you think that highly of me, but that can wait, Save your breath," Gilas warmly advised her with a smile as he carried her to safety. "Let's get you to somewhere warm first. We can talk from there."

***

Once again, Clara felt like the world went by far too quickly around her while she remained a bystander watching her life unfold before her eyes. As Gilas had said, he indeed took her to the nearest enclosed place available away from the elements. The nearby inn was more than accommodating to the Great Constable of the Kingdom, and they both promptly got the treatment they needed after being fully submerged in icy waters for minutes on end. Sure, Gilas himself didn't need much help, but the same couldn't be said for her.

She had fallen unconscious again after some time. By the time she woke up again, the warmth of her surroundings stood in contrast to the chills she was still feeling. Vaguely, she overheard that she'd need a considerable amount of time warming up and that her body wouldn't be able to handle too many shocks before she had fully recovered.

"Alright then," she heard Gilas speaking above her from where she was currently resting. "She's at least well enough to take back to our inn then?"

"Yes, Lord Gilas," what she assumed to be her healer replied. "Again, she shouldn't be moving too much. She'll need a day's rest before traveling through the cold in extended periods."

Clara inwardly frowned. They were needed in Cordon Castle, and a day's delay was something she really didn't want to happen just because she was supposedly unwell.

"I-I'm fine…" she weakly protested as she sat up, surprising both Gilas and the healer. "I can travel just-"

"Clara, you should be resting," Gilas quickly turned to her with a frown. "You're far from being healthy."

"I know, but I know I can travel just fine," she grumbled as she turned her body to sit on the bed she had just woken up in. "This is nothing…"

"Lady Clara, being exposed to freezing temperatures for as long as you both had is liable to damage your health," the healer frowned. "Both of you. If I had my way, you two will have a full day of rest before leaving the warmth."

This time, Gilas frowned. "But I feel fine."

"Frankly, that's the adrenaline speaking, Lord Gilas," the healer sighed. "In a few hours, the damage will catch up to your body, and you two will both be shivering and huddled up against the nearest fireplace."

"That's… not bad, actually."

Clara almost did a double-take as she stared at Gilas. Surprisingly, her mate had a thinking look on him as he addressed the healer.

"Still, I can at least take ourselves back to our own inn, right?"

Once more, the healer sighed. "Yes, Lord Gilas. However, I highly advise against it."

"That's more than enough of a confirmation for me then," Gilas chuckled. He then turned to her and smiled. "Come then. Let's get back before Mother worries."

Clara could only smile and blush as she yet again felt Gilas's arms lifting her up to his chest. This time, she had enough rest to actually feel her cheeks redden, and the warmth he was exuding felt far more comforting than the blankets that she was previously using.

"Thank you for the help," Clara softly thanked the healer.

"Likewise," Gilas seconded. "I wouldn't know what I would've done if you weren't here."

"Please, I'm just doing my job," the healer bowed her head to them. "...Still, I would be more grateful if you two stayed to rest."

"It's fine. You just said that I still have a bit of time, right?" Gilas chuckled. "I'll just be quick in taking us back to warmth."

Clara could only shake her head as she then felt herself being carried off in Gilas's back as he transformed. Before she knew it, they were back in their inn, and Lady Shila was already looking at them in both curiosity and worry as she stood by the inn's lobby.

Shila worriedly frowned as she asked, "Where have you two been?"