5. Decide The Punishment

Nicklaus aided her in getting off the horse, but as soon as she shifted her weight onto her leg, her knee started to ache. Not wanting to draw attention she didn't say anything, but Nicklaus must have known because he put his strong arms behind her knees and back and lifted her with ease.

"What are you doing?" Tiana asked, embarrassed.

"Carrying you," he stated simply.

"I know that, please put me down. I can walk," she said, her face and neck flushing red.

"Wife, if I were to let you walk, we wouldn't reach the room even after sunrise and I would like to get some sleep." 

Did he just call me wife? She liked the sound of it.

As they moved through the halls, the maids and servants looked down quickly as soon as they caught sight of them, and Tiana was thankful for that. He stopped for a while and told a maid to bring something to clean the wound before walking again.

Upon arrival at their chambers, he put Tiana down on the bed gently as a maid came in with things to clean the wound. He took the kit from her and dismissed her shortly. Taking a seat beside her on the bed, he lifted her dress up above my knee.

"Uh...it's fine I can clean it myself." She stuttered nervously. 

"Just sit still," he ordered.

He put one hand on the back of her leg, his hand cold yet his touch hot. She wondered how such a strong and tall man could touch so gently. Strangely, his touch made Tiana yearn for more and she found herself imagining how it would feel if he ran his hand down her leg or if he…

A burning pain interrupted her naughty thoughts and she hissed.

"It will burn a little," he warned as he continued to clean her wound. 

Tiana bit her lower lip because the burning was too much and she didn't want to complain. As if sensing her pain, he paused and then blew on her wound. When his hot breath touched her skin it made her shiver and curl her toes. 

‘Good Lord, he was doing things to me without doing almost anything.’ She lamented inwardly.

"Feel better?" he asked.

"Yes," Tiana whispered, "thank you."

When he was done he pulled her dress back down over her leg.

"You should change," he said standing up. "Do you want me to call a maid for you?"

"No, I can manage," she replied.

Walking with an aching knee, Tiana went into the dressing room and slipped into her nightgown and a robe and then walked into the chamber.

Only a few candles were lit now. Nicklaus was laying down on the bed looking up at the ceiling. His shiny black hair was spread across the pillow and his flaming blue eyes glowed in the dim light.

When Tiana walked up to the bed he turned his head.

"You should take your robe off. It's very hot in here at night." His observation was completely innocent, but it made her heart beat faster, and suddenly it felt really hot in the room.

Tiana opened her robe and let it slide down her arms. His eyes followed her every movement. She then laid down on the bed, facing the other way. Even though he said he could wait to consummate the wedding, she still felt nervous.

She felt him shift on the bed and stiffened.

"Tiana," he whispered, his voice a soft brush on her back.

"Yes?" she struggled to keep her voice neutral.

"Turn around!" he commanded. she found myself turning around to face him. 

"I promised to treat you well; you don't have to be afraid."

"I am not," she whispered.

He didn't say anything for a while. He probably knew she was lying.

"Goodnight," he finally said.

"Goodnight," she whispered back feeling more relaxed until eventually she fell asleep.

In the morning,

She woke up and tried to shift in the bed, but then realized that a strong arm was around her waist restricting her movement. Nicklaus!

Her back was pressed against his hard chest and she could feel his hot breath on her neck and some strands of his soft hair on her shoulder. He smelled good. somehow she found herself melting in his embrace. She liked it, liked the warm and secure feeling it gave.

Suddenly, he slid his arm away and sat up on the bed. 

"What is it?" Tiana asked sitting up as well.

He seemed to be listening to something.  She looked around and strained her ears, but couldn't hear anything. For the first time she hated that she had no ability the she was just a human. Climbing down from the bed he put his robe on. 

"We have a problem," he said and walked to the door. she quickly put her robe on and went after him.

Some maids and guards were gathered in the hall arguing about something. They fell silent as soon as they saw Nicklaus.

"Your Highness," they said and bowed.

"What is the problem?" Nicklaus asked.

They had a look of fear in their eyes. One maid in particular was trembling with her hands behind her back.

"What do you have there?" Nicklaus demanded. 

The maid was shaking now. He went up to her and took the hidden thing from behind her back. It was a diamond hairpin, Tiana’s hairpin. One of the guards quickly came to the front and fell to his knees in front of Nicklaus.

"I am sorry, Your Highness, it will never happen again; you can punish me instead," he begged. "Please spare her, she is just a child."

The maid in question did look quite young. The white-faced maid fell to her knees too, shaking as much as before.

"No, please, it was my fault! Don't punish my brother. He didn't know," she cried.

Tiana had no idea what Nicklaus would do to them. For that, she both pitied and feared for them. They might even be executed, or if they were lucky then they would get shackled and flogged. Tiana didn't know which one sounded worse. Stealing was of course not okay, but she didn't think anyone should die for it. She hoped Nicklaus would have mercy on them.

Walking back to Tiana he placed his hands on her shoulders. "Since you stole from my wife, I should let her decide the punishment for you." Tiana froze for a moment, surprised and unsure what to do.

"How do you want me to punish them for you?" he asked.

Tiana looked at the young maid sitting on her knees crying and shaking violently. She went up to her.

"Why did you do it?" she inquired in a gentle voice.

"I am sorry, Your Highness. I didn't want to, but my mother is sick and her treatment costs a lot," she croaked, crying hysterically.

"Get up!" Tiana ordered them both. 

"What's your name?" she prompted once they got on their feet.

"Amara, Your Highness" she said meekly.

"Amara, you can have the hairpin, but you need to promise me that you will never steal again. There are more honest ways to find money. Besides, putting your life at risk wouldn't help your mother in any way."

Everyone looked at her wide-eyed. They clearly didn't expect them to be left alive. Amara was in shock and just stared at Tiana.

"Do you promise me?" Tiana repeated.

"I... I promise you...I promise Your Highness," she spouted. "Thank you so much...thank you." She had begun to cry again, but this time tears of relief.

"Thank you, Your Highness," her brother repeated. His eyes were also glistening with unshed tears of gratitude.

"Now everyone can go back to work," Tiana said, relieved that the situation ended well.

They walked away, Amara hugging her brother and crying while he was scolding her. " Never do that again!" Tiana found myself smiling. She wishes she had a brother like that. her brothers were spoiled brats.

Turning around to head back, she found Nicklaus standing there, his arms crossed behind his back. He looked at Tiana with what seemed like admiration, but she wasn't sure.

Crossing the distance between them he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace.

"Let's get back to bed," his deep voice sending shivers down her spine.