DAHLIA POV
The water rippled around as my mother’s hand dipped into the water before she brought out the wash cloth and began to wash . Her gentle fingers road on my body carefully, almost as if she thought I was going to break under her hand. I held my head down, watching the soft waves ebb and flow against the marble side of the tub. The scent of sweet slling oil hung heavily in the air, entangling us both in a delicate protective sphere.
Fire from the torches danced on the golden walls of the bathroom creating dancing dynamics which transford into moving shadows each ti the flas crackles around. My mother continued to bath while humming soft tunes and I tried to stay still as possible, not wanting whatever spell I was bound in to break.
Her touch was gentle, far gentle than that of my maid servant, Heidi who always bath while intentionally delivering harsh stroke. She always tugged at my hair hard, almost like she wanted to remove my scalp along with it. Each ti I complained she always claid that she wanted to be clean so I could seat next to my father.
But feeling my mother tend to with such delicate care, her fingers gently untangling the knot in my hair, I knew right then that it was her I wanted to bath for all the ti.
I rarely get to see my mother, knowing she was in the east wing of the castle but still I never got a chance to see her and she never ca to see either. The only ti I get to see her was during formal events and it doesn’t matter how hard Heidi scrubbed or if I put on the prettiest dresses, she never noticed . She acknowledged with just a nod and spend the ti with Bjorn and on my father’s arms.
So this ti around she was giving a piece of her, a quiet mont and it was just for us!
"You are being quiet." My mother suddenly spoke and I tensed up, "Are you okay?"
"Y...Y...Yes." I fumbled with that single word, if Heidi could hear now she would have been so angry and disciplined at that mont.
A princess isn’t one to fumble with her words! She would have yelled at .
But how could I not? It’s my mother! Soone I’ve longed to talk too and now she was bathing gently as if this was a normal routine.
My mother released a soft chuckle, "I must have startled you then."
"No!" I answered a little bit too quickly earning another chuckle from my mother.
My mother didn’t say anything and instead applied more shampoo to my hair. Her hands gently massaging my scalp and I had to keep my mouth shut from moaning at the wonderful sensation.
"I know we haven’t spent much ti together," My mother suddenly spoke again and I tensed at it, "But I promise that will change, it will all change soon and I’ve found a way for us to be together again."
Curiosity got the best of and I turned to look at her. "Together?"
My mother offered a single nod in response a smile on her face. But I should have known right then that sothing was off in her smile, in her eyes and I should have also sensed it when she spoke the next words.
"It’s getting boring here." My mother said as she looked around her voice dropping to a whisper. "How about we play a ga?"
I frowned cocking my head at her, "A ga?"
My mother nodded her head eagerly, "Yes my dear, a ga."
"But princesses are not allowed to..."
My mother reached forward to grab my hands. "Oh forget about the rules for a day you dear sweet child. You want to be with don’t you? Together forever?"
I nodded my head at her in agreent. "Yes." I said but there was no mistaking the uncertainty in my small voice.
"How about we play a ga? We see how long you can hold your breath under water?"
I frowned, "Right here?" I asked her.
My mother smiled wryly at . "Yeah that way I don’t have to have too many eyes on us, princesses aren’t supposed to play gas rember?"
I bit my bottom lip, knowing very well that she was right. But since this was the only ti I will ever get to play with my mother, I decided to honor her!
"Okay." I mumbled, shifting in the tub and then I drew in a deep breath and disappeared under the water.
I laid flat on the bathtub seeing the distorted face of my mother on the surface as I laid still. One...two...three...four...five...six...seven...eight...nine...ten.... I slowly counted and by the ti I got to twelve, I was already struggling to hold my breath.
I tried to seat up and co back to the surface but suddenly two hands were suddenly on . The hands were pressed in my shoulder blades, holding down under the water. I gasped as I struggled to fight against the weight that was holding underwater. I thrashed as I tried to free myself and co back up for air.
"Mom!" I called, the sound muffled against the water.
I struggled again, trying to shove her away from but she was just too strong. Panic clawed in my throat as my brain registered what was happening. Even at such a young age, my brain could understand what was going on.
Mommy lied to , she wasn’t playing a ga with ! I thought but still I struggled even as all my organs began to fill with water.
"Shhhhh, little Dahlia." I could hear my mom’s voice through the struggled, "Don’t worry, it will all be over soon and we will be together!"
Even hearing her soothing voice call over I still struggled against her. This was wrong and it was starting to get too much. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t breathe at all. I wanted to get out of the bathtub, I couldn’t beat and I was starting to choke on water and I could feel my struggles getting weaker.
I fought, bubbles spilling from my mouth as fear filled my lungs. The distorted face of my mother ca into view, her face looked calm, serene, almost at peace and a small smile graced her lips as she stared down at .
I kicked with all my might, trying to get free. My fingernails rasped across her wrists underwater, but she wouldn’t let go of . Her grip only tightened, holding down like a toy.
No. No. Mama... stop... please—Mom, please! I ntally pleaded, I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!
"Don’t worry my sweet child, it will all be over soon!" My mother soothingly voice whispered over heard, "Don’t fight it, just give in my child!"
My legs grew limp and my eyes grew lazy, the only thing I could see was the darkness as it descended on . I decided to do what my mom said.
"Don’t fight, just give in!"
And that was exactly what I did!
I gave in!
***
"Wake up!"
I heard a voice fighting to get to from where I was in the darkness. I tried to open my eyes but for so reason my eyelids felt to heavy and there was also the fact that I could feel so heavy weight pressing against my shoulders too.
"Wake up Dahlia!" The voice called again, seeming more urgent than before! "Oh for fuck’s sake, wake up Dahlia! Please!" The voice yelled at in desperation.
And just like that, as if a switch was suddenly flipped on in my consciousness, my eyes snapped open. I stood up with a gasp, clawing at my throat while coughing as if trying to get the water out. But nothing except air ca out, it was a dream!
It was just a dream! Just a dream! I thought but that still wasn’t enough, I was still riled up from the old mory I thought I had locked away but apparently not.
"Are you okay?"
My gaze snapped up only to see Reagan staring down at with a note of concern on his face, lies!
"Yes," I answered grateful my voice was steady, "I’m fine."
Reagan’s gaze trailed over my body and rested on my hands that were still trembling from the dream I had. Swallowing, I fisted my hands on the bed sheet needing sothing to hold on to.
Reagan sighed, "I will go send for Heather."
"No." I said as I raked a hand through my hair, "Don’t she needs her sleep." I said knowing we’ve been on the road for days.
Reagan grunted in response. "Need to stay with you then?"
"No." I answered without looking at him.
"Okay." Reagan said and I heard rustling.
I thought he was about to leave but I only turned to see him laying his bedroll on the bed right next to .
"What are you doing?"
"It’s like you said, we all need our sleep and I for one I’m tired." Reagan responded, "So go to sleep if you can that is."
I didn’t have it in to argue with him, I was too tired. I laid on my bed but couldn’t sleep, just stared at the ceilings slowly counting the minutes till daybreak, everywhere was silent until.
"Dahlia?" I heard Reagan call.
"Hmm?"
Reagan was quiet for a mont, and then, "I’m sorry!" He whispered into the darkness.
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