Winterfall

"What is it?” I asked him as I watched his body language had shifted in an instant. He went from joy and love to stone cold as he just stared out into the ocean.

"Shit." Théoden repeated again as he ran his hand through his hair and his heart began to race. "Damn it!" Théoden shouted startling me as he slammed his left fist against the sand, causing sand to fly up in the air.

"Théoden tell me what is wrong." I began to feel a wave of panic overcome me. There was something in his tone, something in his abrupt change of behavior that shook me to the core. I placed my hand on his right thigh gently and looked up at him. His face shone panic, something that I rarely saw in his eyes.

It took him a moment before he answered as I saw his body relax before me. “I sensed another dragon a few years back. But then the sense faded. Magic can block a dragon’s ability to sense each other. This tattoo…” He said pointing out an invisible tattoo to most, but visible to me, “Hides me from other dragons.” I was fully aware of the tattoo and its ability. He was worried that him being here in the kingdom would attract unwanted attention as some dragon’s can get very territorial. Dragon's in a sense had a rep for attracting various hunting groups, often wanting to kill them. “She could have easily gotten one of these to cause that block. I remember trying to track the dragon but the sense went cold fast. I did not think much of it after that.”

Théoden began to stare off in the distance again as I could feel his own mind race with the possibility that Crimson was a dragon who had infiltrated the Council and signed the decree that made my arranged marriage happen. We still lacked the proof of this theory but this made perfectly made sense given what we know already.

“I remember you telling me that. Father thought you were a bit crazy.” I recalled him mentioning the scenario to me. And the timeline for it fit in perfectly as it occurred before my parents death.

“And now this.” He said with a huff. "Marcel and the arranged marriage. Crimson, the fiery best." He shook his head as he felt disappointed in himself. “I should have tried harder. Perhaps they would have been still alive.” Théoden mumbled. He was in disbelief with himself. I could sense he was bothered by the situation. I could sense that it made him feel like a complete failure.

“Don’t blame yourself. Crimson has been hiding in the shadows this whole time. Apparently, laying the groundwork for Marcel.” I pointed out to him. "Crimson must of gotten the tattoo."

“I failed. I failed at protecting this kingdom.” He turned away from me. Afraid to look at me anymore. The sensation I got through the bond, was a sense of guilt and failure. He felt guilty because he didn't stop Crimson when he had the chance. The sense of failure, well, that was pretty self-explanatory.

“Théoden Ryuu Lodsmok.” I said, causing him to flinch a bit at the use of his full name. “You did not fail us. You have not failed us. Don’t you dare think that way.” I held a pleading stare as I hoped he would sense the comfort I was trying to give him through the bond.

He slowly turned back and looked at me with a bit of pain in his eyes, something I only seen a handful of times “I’ll make this right.” He spoke those four words with confidence.

“I know you will.” I kissed his lips softly, “You are not at fault with any of this.” I said once more in hopes that he would truly understand that this was not his fault.

“Thank you Maria. Thank you for always believing in me.” He kissed my forehead. "I will make this right. I have an idea but I need to rest on it." Théoden said, "Just promise me, you will be open to anything that involves the protection of the kingdom."

"Of course, I trust my life and my kingdom with you."

"Thank you Maria." He kissed my lips one last time before the dream slowly faded away.