217 Too Much?

AUTHOR'S POV

Helena was so full, she could hardly lift a finger. Wishing Freya was also here, Helena couldn't imagine the joy in Freya's eyes if she takes a bite of one of those served dishes. In Snow Mountain, they have become quite a pair. Freya hunts, while Helena cooks. They eat whatever they can find… from rabbits, seeds, to fruits. When they dream, they make a list of the foods they'll eat once the hunt for their heads is over. Steamed fish is on the top of Freya's list, the only dish Helena didn't touched on the food spread prepared for her.

Helena felt bad that she wasn't able to finish all the food Stellan and Radovid prepared. Indeed, it was too much for just one person when she can only eat as much. She went back to the receiving chambers to check if the portals have come back. Helena knew she can't stay much longer, knowing Celeste is a great tracker.

Helena clearly explained to Stellan about her situation, given that she no longer want to put everyone else in danger. Besides, considering Celeste is paired with Galen… they make an incredible match of vicious killers.

"Food and bath, remember? The servants have already prepared the privy in my bedchambers", Stellan stared at Helena with an adorable begging look.

Since the portals haven't appeared yet, Helena thought having a warm bath would be good before leaving for the snow mountain. She haven't had a good dip for a while now, anyway. "Okay", she agreed.

Stellan led Helena upstairs to his room. He never let go of her hand, afraid that she might get sucked by the portal anytime. It's almost midnight, and the silence in the hallways was deafening that only their footsteps can be heard. As soon as they reached Stellan's chambers, the nervous paladin knight opened the door for Helena.

Helena was welcomed with a strong scent of flowers, soothing and calming to the mind. She was astounded at the sight of Stellan's drawing room, different from everything she have ever seen. Stellan then gently rubbed her cheek as he give her a light kiss on the lips. "Feel free to look around, I'll just check if the bath's ready", Stellan planted another kiss on Helena's forehead before heading to the bathroom.

The butler and a couple of servants maundered to finish everything at once. There were new unfamiliar requests that the paladin made. Hence, the butler made sure that he would go beyond the paladin's expectations for the only woman who made his master very anxious. They left as soon as they were done.

Wandering aimlessly on the carpetted earthen floors, Helena looked around carefully as she patiently wait in the drawing room. Lighted with the fire burning from the central hearth, the entire expanse was like a carving from a legend book, she thought. There were several mounted head of animals, and body parts of rare monsters, all collected and displayed like a trophy. As if empty, the entire room had so much space that she wondered why there were no chairs or tea tables.

Up ahead the large void space, there's an entire wall of books from the ceiling down to the floor. A study table with carvings of dragons on all edges caught Helena's eyes. As a daughter of a man with great talent and craft in wood carving, Helena have earned a good eye on sculptures made of wood. As she look further, Helena found a few papers dirtied with red wine. When she looked closely, there were scribbles and unfinished sketches that she can't comprehend.

"The water is ready, come before it gets cold", Stellan's deep voice sounded prestigious and inviting, with his hand reaching out to her.

"Alright", Helena come closer to Stellan as she reach for his atypically cold hand. He seemed very nervous. "I didn't expect your chambers to be this… plain", she uttered.

Stellan held her hand like a fragile porcelain as they walk across the room. "I train all the time.. it became my sport, my hobby and my rest. Eventually, I had to remove all the furniture and train here in my room as well", Stellan explained as they go beyond the doorway to his bedchambers.

"I see...", Helena was stunned to see Stellan's actual bedchambers. It was bigger than the receiving area downstairs. "This is your bedroom?", she asked.

"Is it not to your taste?", Stellan worriedly asked. 

"You do have this kind of fascination in dark colors", Helena chuckled as she circle her eyes around. A large four-poster bed in black oak fit for a king, black walls, black chandeliers, and thick inky curtains adorned with embellishments and embroidery.

Helena found serenity in the balcony showing a wonderful view of nature. It's a different world in Stellan's room compared to the lavish decors downstairs.

"Blame that to the woman who drove me crazy, insinuating such pigment defines me", Stellan said. "This way, your Highness", he held Helena's hand towards the privy. 

"It's Helena… and thank you ", she said. Helena paused for a while as she notice there were no closets inside Stellan's room.

Stellan noticed that Helena is looking around so much, as if something is missing. "I had the cabinets removed. Every single one of them. My clothes are in a different budoir in the privy, arranged in an open shelf", he figured.

"Ahh..", Helena didn't want to touch such sensitive matter. She knew how hurting it is for Stellan to recall the past. And so, she kept mum about it as she enter the privy.

The privy was even more dreamy. In here, everything was in white and gold, contrast to the dark and shady ambience in Stellan's bedroom. There's a round floor bath tub filled with pristine waters and floating red petals, surrounded with shimmering sheer beige curtains tied with a gold tassel. There were white aromatic candles all around, where the floral scent was coming from. There's a small door leading to a private budoir which Stellan was referring to earlier. Then, right by the corner is a waterfall shower area, that looked like a piece of nature with all the rocks on its part of the walls and floors. "Wow", she dropped her jaw at Stellan's luxurious bath chambers.

"Is it too much?", Stellan asked, caressing Helena's shoulders. He specifically asked Radovid to turn the bathroom to a calming visual for his very important guest. Gladly, the butler didn't disappoint.