Blowing out a long breath, he began,
“I solemnly swear fealty to Her Majesty, my sovereign andqueen. With blade and breath, with heart and hand, I pledge my life to her service. I shall be her shield in shadow, her sword in peril, and her safeguard of secrets. No treachery shall pass while I draw breath, no harm shall befall her under my watch. By honor unbroken and unwavering loyalty, I vow to guard her person, obey her command, and stand steadfast in storm and sun, in peace and war, until my final days.”
Alex was impressed but not surprised that Andrew remembered his oath line for line. It was just who he was. He hadn’t missed one word. “You will do well to continue to remember those words for the queen's safety, and your own.”
With that, Alex gave Andrew a small nod of respect and entered her queen’s bedchambers. Her scent filled the air, and a fresh pang of torture ripped through her heart. Rivka wasn’t in the main section of her chambers, but Alex could hear soft, muffled sounds coming from the washroom. Her feet moved that direction on their own, drawn to the sound and scent of familiarity.
Rivka sat on a bench, wrapped in a towel, crying softly. Her hair was still dripping from her bath, her skin red and raw as if she had tried to scrub it off. Pulling up short, Alex stopped. She could only stare. This was the woman she loved, and she was obviously hurting. The sight of Rivka’s tears pushed the hurt and anger back a notch.Was this guilt, or did something else happen?
“Are you hurt? Did something happen?” Alex asked but didn't approach further.
Gasping, Rivka jumped up, almost dropping her towel.
“I knocked but you didn’t answer, I was afraid I may have been…interrupting something.”
“No need to apologize. There is no one here but me.”
Alex kept her face a blank canvas, not a drop of emotionshowing through. A look she reserved only for battlefields, but had never directed at Rivka.
They stood, staring at each other for a moment, seemingly unsure of what to say next. Neither making a move towards the other. Alex never missed an opportunity to sweep Rivka into her arms but not this time. She kept her distance, both physically and emotionally. It was obvious to both of them that there was a cavernous pit of unspoken confessions waiting to engulf them.
“Is everything ok?” Rivka asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“In what sense of the word? Nothing is okay, but everything must be okay.”
“I’m not sure that I quite understand what you mean.” Rivka’s tone was full of uncertainty.
“I think you do. You know exactly what I am talking about. Don’t make me say it, Riv.”
The color slowly drained from Rivka’s face. “Why, Riv? How could you? What can you possibly say that could excuse what you’ve done?” Alex’s voice broke on the last word.
Rivka’s chest collapsed. “How did you find out? Did Ellis tell you?”
Alex’s eyes flashed, the anger undeniable.Ellis knew? Ellis KNEW!? How long have they played me the fool? Was I always meant to simply be her placeholder until she moved on to someone else?
“Ellis didn’t tell me anything, Rivka. I saw you fucking him with my own eyes.”
“You saw me… us, I mean?” Rivka whispered in stunned horror.
“It isn’t what you are thinking! I didn’t sleep with him knowingly! I didn’t even remember it. I must have been drunk and…”
“You weren’t drunk. You never drink. At least take responsibility for your actions, your choices.” Alex cut her off, the last word coming out more bitter than she intended.
Rivka started crying again. “Why can’t you believe me?”She raised her arm like she wanted to touch her, but the look on Alex’s face had her dropping her hand.“I swear it! I have no idea how we wound up together! I didn’t remember anything past going to the washroom and then waking up this morning in my own bed!”
“I find it hard to believe, Riv, that you had zero memory of having sex with that man. He wasinsideyou!” Alex was vibrating from trying to keep her emotions in control. “And you seemed to be enjoying every second of it.”
Rivka just stood there, pinned still by the force of Alex’s words, with tears staining her face. Alex couldn’t believe her… her hurt was too great, her anger all-consuming. Rivka began shivering, almost as if she were going into shock. Her skin was pale against her dark hair. It took all of Alex’s willpower not to offer any comfort. Her love was blind to the fresh betrayal and it reached out to quell the pain plainly coursing through Rivka.
Reaching behind her, Rivka grabbed her robe, letting go of her wet towel, sliding her arms into the sleeves. Alex spun around quickly so that her back was fully to her.
“Did you really just turn your back to me, Alex?”
There was a long pause, where only their breaths cut through the silence, before Alex finally spoke, her voice tortured.
“It's not my place anymore. I knew it was only a matter of time. I could never give you what you need. My soul was yours from the moment our lips touched, but I guess I never realized how one-sided and trivial my heart was to you.”
“Ria, ple…”
