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Fhirdiad winter tended to cut like a knife. No matter what measures you took to keep the biting winds at bay, it seemed to seep into your very bones. Marianne learned this quickly after first moving to the capital city to be with Dimitri when even her thickest shawl didn’t seem to cut through the cold.
Now, years later, she still wasn’t accustomed to the chill. Edmund territory wasn’t exactly balmy during the winter but it at least didn’t have chilly winds and endless snowfalls. Wrapping herself even tighter in her cloak, Marianne shuffled just a few inches closer to the fire, knowing that if she went any farther she might accidentally burn herself. Despite the layers she wore, the cold rose from the stone walls and floors and bit at her
“My love?” Dimitri's voice came. Marianne turned her head to see Dimitri standing in the doorway, hand still on the door’s handle. “I thought you would have been up by now. Is there something that’s troubling you?”
“No, I’m fine,” she responded quickly, wanting to dispel her husband’s worry as soon as she could. “It’s just a little cold for me, that’s all. I’m sure I‘ll warm up soon enough.”
Dimitri frowned and entered the room, quietly closing the door behind him as he made his way towards his wife. “Is there anything I can do? Perhaps you should return to bed; at least until midday has warmed up the city a bit.” He offered.
A small smile appeared on Marianne’s face at her husband’s fretting. It was sweet to see him concern over her even when it came to the smallest of things. If she was hungry he would have dinner made early or if she mentioned liking something she saw at the market, he would buy it for her the very next day. Dimitri would do anything and everything just to see her smile. Every gesture was genuine and heartfelt and it always left her feeling a little warm inside.
“I can’t just stay in bed all day, dear,” she reminded him gently. “Remember, we have that conference with some of the lords.”
“You can skip it if you would be more comfortable here,” Dimitri offered as a solution, placing his hand on her shoulder with a small frown on his face.
Marianne placed a hand on top of his and gave it a squeeze as she reassured him. “I wouldn’t leave you to speak to them alone though. We always speak together.”
Dimitri hummed in thought for a moment before taking a step back and unclasping his cloak. “I suppose you have a point. At the very least take this. We may have matters to take care of but I still do not wish to see you freezing.” He offered as he draped it over her shoulders.
The cloak proved to be rather big on Marianne. Though it fit perfectly on Dimitri, it seemed to dwarf her in size. Still, it provided a level of warmth that deeply comforted her. Resting her cheek into the thick fabric, she grinned up at Dimitri. “Thank you.”
“Of course,” Dimitri responded warmly. “I know you are not yet accustomed to winters here in Fhirdiad.”
“At this point, I fear I never will be.”
That made Dimitri chuckle. “If that ends up being the case I will just need to keep accommodating you; a task I do not mind.”
His words made Marianne’s heart soar. What did she do to deserve this? Dimitri always knew just what to say and do. “Now,” He continued, holding out a hand to his wife. “Shall we go?”
Placing her hand in his, she nodded. “Yes, I’m ready. We wouldn’t want to keep the lords waiting.”
Hours later, the two returned to their chambers, Dimitri seeming a little worse for wear. As Marianne shut the door behind themselves, he let out a long sigh as he dropped into a chair. “I still do not understand why each trade discussion we have must last for hours on end. Is it simply too hard to report that all is well?”
Marianne approached him after depositing the cloak she wore on their bed. She ended up wearing it for a majority of the meeting, something that seemed to please Dimitri. Surprisingly, she seemed rather put together even after the long meeting. “They just want their king to know that everything is running smoothly,” she explained softly, taking the time to pick up a brush from their bedside before standing just behind her husband. “I know you dislike long meetings, but I think you did wonderfully.”
“All thanks to your wisdom, my love. You always know exactly what to say.” He responded, making Marianne smile. Slowly, she began brushing through his hair, making Dimitri turn his head. “What are you doing?”
“Returning the favor,” she replied as she continued combing through his hair, gently turning his head to look forward again. “You deserve to be watched after as well after all.”
“Returning the…for offering you my cloak? You know I do not mind letting you borrow it, especially on days like this. You shouldn’t have to be cold for hours on end.”
“And you deserve to be cared for as well. Today was hard, so let me watch after you. At least let me do this.” Marianne insisted.
Dimitri’s objections silenced after that and the two fell quiet for a time. Marianne didn’t mind all too much. They would often work side by side for hours at a time with nothing but a few words spoken between them. They didn’t always need to be deep in conversation to enjoy one another’s company. That’s one of the things she admired the most about their relationship.
After a while, Marianne finally stepped back. “There, I’ve finished.” She announced, letting Dimitri run a hand through his hair.
“Thank you, Marianne. You know you didn’t need to do that.”
“I didn’t,” She agreed, placing her hands on his shoulders and planting a kiss on his temple. “But I wanted to.”