Robart lead Ayla up the stairs until they stood in front of his room. The room he will be sharing with his new wife. Two guards were in front of the door.

When Ayla entered the room, she stopped in her tracks. It was big, bigger than her old room. A big bed, made out from oak tree, covered with all kinds of furs, a desk, armchairs, a wardrobe, a table with two chairs, and a bookshelf were well distributed across the room. But what captivated Ayla was the big fireplace and the fire that seemed to dance inside, warming all the space.

"Is something the matter? This is our room now. I assume it is different from your former room. We like simple things in Nordmar, not like in Myrthana," Robart said.

He knew that Myrthana people liked fine silks, sweet wine, gold and silver, and all kinds of precious gems. In Nordmar, people liked more simple things. Besides, silks did not help one in Nordmar when he was out in the cold, hunting. Furs and thick leathers kept the cold away.

Even if snow covered most of Nordmar, the Kingdom is rich. Apart from gold, silver, and precious gems, Nordmar had something more important. Magic ore. And from this magic ore, the armors and the weapons of the paladins are made. The magic ore is the only thing that can kill an orc.

And it was because of the magic ore that the war started. Myrthana wanted to gain control over the mines from which this precious ore is extracted. In the past, Nordmar has been attacked by other Kingdoms, but Nordmar always won.

Ayla was not sure what Robart meant. Her former room was smaller and not as beautiful as this one.

"Oh no! It is beautiful and very spacious. I like it," Ayla said and blushed.

Robart did not care if Ayla likes it or not. She is his wife, and she will do as he says.

Ayla stood there, near the door, like she was waiting for someone or something. It took Robart a few moments to realize that Ayla had no maid with her. Innos knows why Queens and Princesses need a maid. He will have to find one for her. Probably she can't do anything by herself.

"I know you had to leave your personal maid in Myrthana. Tomorrow I will assign a maid to help you."

"Thank you, King Robart."

"I am not doing it so you can thank me, I am doing it because people like you have been pampered all their lives. I am sure you can't do anything without a maid next to you."

Ayla said nothing about what King Robart told her. She was capable of dressing and undressing all by herself. And what does he mean by people like her? He is high born just like her.

With a quick movement, Robart first took off his gloves and armor and remained dressed in a pair of wool trousers and a tunic. At the same time, Ayla started taking off first her gloves then her cloak. She folded her cloak and put it on a chair and the gloves on top of the cloak. Robart looked ar her delicate hands. Her fingers were long and elegant. He could tell she never had to work, not once in her lifetime. His hands were callous, not only from the hard training he did since he was small but also from the war. He killed so many people because of King's Amul greed.

When Robart started taking his armor off, Ayla saw how well built Robart really was. She looked at him with round eyes.

"Don't worry. I won't do anything tonight. You don't have to look that scared."

Ayla wasn't sure what he was talking about. What wasn't he going to do? She only hoped he wouldn't hurt her. Some men like to beat their wives. Ayla has seen his hands. Big and strong. How bad would it hurt if he were to hit her? She was so much smaller than him, only 5'5 ft tall. But she was Robart's property, and she has to obey him.

"No, I am not scared..." Ayla said and licked her lips nervously. It was a lie, she did fear him.

Robart knew that Ayla was lying, but he kept quiet. He still remembered how she looked at him on their wedding day, like he was an Orc.

Ayla sat on a chair and started taking her boots off. Once she had both her feet free, she put the boots next to the chair. She remained seated on the chair, waiting to see if Robart will say anything to her.

"I will be right back. Wait for me here," Robart said and got out of the room.

He went to tell the maids to bring some food and to prepare the bath.

While the maids rushed to do as the King ordered, Robart decided to go to the dining room. He knew that the Paladins would be there eating.

"You are not going to dine with us?" Murak, one of the seven Paladins of the Kingdom, asked Robart.

He took a seat at the table, but Robart did not serve himself any food.

Reynold, Gorn, Lester, Godefray, Murak, Sigmor, Tizgar are the strong and brave Paladins of Nordmar. It is thanks to them and Robart that Nordmar won the war almost a month ago.

"Not tonight," said Robart.

Gorn lifted his eyes from his plate, looked at Robart, and smirked.

"If I had a wife as beautiful as the Queen, waiting for me in my room, I wouldn't leave the bed for a week."

"I really don't know what you see in her. And she is the daughter of King Amul. After the deaths he brought to our people, you had to marry his daughter. We should have killed the new King Galien and had the army fuck the Princess," Godefray said.

Of all the Paladins, Godefray was the only one that declared his hated for Ayla. His brother died in the hands of King Amul. And to see King Robart married to Amul's daughter was too much for him. He wanted to get revenge.

"We all know what happened to Patrick. But Ayla is my wife now. It is enough that I dislike her," Robart said.

"Dislike you say. I hate her. After all the deaths her father is responsible for, you marry her?" Godefray asked.

It was more than dislike that Robart felt for Ayla, but he kept quiet.

"I have my own reasons to marry her," Robart said.

He had his reasons for marrying Ayla. Reasons he won't be sharing with anyone.

"From the way you took care of her during the journey, one would believe you love her," Godefray said.

A few other Paladanis approved the words of Godefray. Robart didn't like this. It was enough that he hated her; he didn't want others to poison their lives with hatred.

"Love is not in my agenda," Robart said.

"I say we all look for a soft and welcoming woman to spend this night with," Lester said, and the other Paladins lifted their mead in the air.

The maids prepared a tray of food and took it to the King's room. Robart entered the room the moment the maids put the tray on top of the table.

Ayla was still seated on the chair, and she felt very sleepy. All she wanted was to get in bed and sleep.

Robart took a seat at the table and looked at Ayla.

"Come and eat before the stew gets cold," he said in a cold voice.

Ayla stood and went to the table. She sat on a chair while the maids served rabbit stew, cheese, and fresh-baked bread.

They started eating in silence. The food was delicious, and Ayla ate until she was too full to take another bite. Then she pushed the bowl away.

While they ate, servants entered the room, bringing Ayla's chests full of her clothes and other things she took with her. Only now Ayla saw how silly she has been to bring all this stuff with her. Nordmar was too cold for her to wear any of her thin clothes. She told the servants that they don't have to unpack her things, and they left.