THE Knight's Hidden Princess-Chapter 212: Mission Accomplished

REAGAN POV

Thankfully we were able to get everyone out without so any problems. Killian and Bjorn rode off to go and hide them in somewhere in the city. Dahlia and Nikolai were going to be riding with me. We had horses waiting that would take us back to the manor but the minute we had stepped out of the ship we had already been surrounded by well-wishers who were glad to see their lady back to their country.

Some shouted her name while some shed tears as they stared at her in wonder. My gaze turned to look at her, I wasn’t sure how she must feel about the whole thing. I probably should have looked for some secret way to see if she could get back to the manor unnoticed. Seeing this must be too much for her, but Dahlia stared ahead a smile on her face. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Only I could see the way her hands trembled slightly which she now curled into a fist. Nikolai went to stand right next to her, his hand grabbing just one of her hands. Dahlia released a rush of breath and she slowly turned to look at Nikolai and offered him a smile.

I was grateful to Nikolai for that bit of comfort and then I turned to look at the crowd once more. I signaled for one of the men to bring our horses which he did. The people dispersed as we stepped forward and mounted our horses.

The journey from the dock to the manor wasn’t far. One could see the docks from the top of the manor’s balcony, so the journey wasn’t a long one. I did wish that we had enough time though. Dahlia was silent the entire ride not saying anything except smiling towards our well wishers who wouldn’t stop cheering.

This was something Nikolai and were used to. Every time we conquered a city, they were always there waiting for us and waving flags while children and women toss petals at us chanting our names like we were saviors, like we were heroes.

But this time around it was different and I think everyone knew that.

I glanced back at Dahlia again. She rode the horse with the same grace and dignity. Her shoulders were rigid a little and her hands gripped the reins firmly but she still smiled at everyone and I know that she couldn’t wait to get home.

I wanted to reach out and hold her hands, let her know that she wasn’t alone. Dahlia turned to look at me and offered me a small smile and this one was genuine. She was letting me know that she was alright.

The only thing I could do was smile back at her as we rode into the gates of the manor where my family was already waiting for me. I could make out my mother standing alongside my siblings. Heather and Ivana along with Ada and Celeste were also present.

Their dresses fluttered slightly in the wind as they stood a silent demonstration of power and solidarity. My mother stood clutching Ivar in her arms and my heart soared at the sight of my son. I took a quick glance at Dahlia to see her staring at Ivar with her lips slightly parted.

She no longer looked tensed, if anything it was anticipation and determination that was on her face. Her hands that once held the reins of the horses too tight now loosened as she zeroed in on Ivar, our son with a look of wonder on her face.

Home! That was what he was to her. Her blood, a piece of her soul that’s he thought she wouldn’t be seeing again but now she was seeing him.

Dahlia raced ahead of me and I let her. I watched as she pulled the horse to a halt, ignoring one of the coachman that had come to help her she got down from her horse. Her eyes never strayed away from Ivar as she walked purposefully towards my mother who still carried Ivar who had a pout on his face which was a result to my mom gently swatting his hand anytime he tries to remove the frilly cap they had put on his head.

I shared my son’s sentiment about the frilly cap, it’s not something I see the son of Reagan Hawthorne wearing and I was going to question my mother about her choices later but for now, I took in the sight in front of me. I almost laughed when he tried to grab the cap again only to receive a second little smack from my mother.

He gave a slight squeal of indignation, his brows drawn together as he stared at my mother before he released a small huff of breath as he stared forward, his face already betokening the stubbornness which he had inherited from both me and Dahlia.

I followed Dahlia carefully as I watched her approach my mother who stared at Dahlia and without another word she held Ivar forward, lowering him into Dahlia’s outstretched arms like that was where he was meant to be in the beginning.

The look of gratitude on Dahlia’s face before she turned to look at Ivar made me believe she wasn’t the only one who was surprised at that gesture. Dahlia gently cradled Ivar in her arms who stared back at her with no sign of recognition at all but his green eyes held curiosity in them.

Who are you to me? They seem to say as he continued to stare at Dahlia who reached out to touch his chubby cheeks.

"Wow." She breathed out in disbelief and wonder, "He is big. Did I really push him out of me?" She asked and I chuckled as I stepped close to her.

"We really did well, didn’t we?" I asked peering over her shoulders to look at our son.

The moment Ivar saw me, his face lit up and he reached out towards me while bouncing gently on Dahlia’s hands. He cried out when I reached towards him and lifted him in my arms, throwing him in the air once as he let out a squeal.

I held him close to mine, kissing his head repeatedly. I really have missed my son and based on the way he nuzzled into my neck, I could tell that I wasn’t the only one who felt the same way.

Dahlia watched us, her arms extended slightly as though she could not yet comprehend the fact that she was no longer holding Ivar. But then, her green eyes softened, her lashes tipped with tears causing her eyes to sparkle and a smile formed on her face as though pleased with the sight before her.

Tiny fingers fisted the collar of my cloak as Ivar cuddled next to me and he grabbed a rope about to much on it but I grabbed it away so he grabbed a finger forcefully and began to chomp on it with his little gums. He was in that phase, teething I think was what my mom called it. So, it doesn’t matter what he sees, everything goes to his mouth.

"My lady."

We all turned only to see Heather stepping forward, her hands wrangling her hands in front of her in a nervous gesture. I understood how Heather felt seeing her lady that she thought she had no hope of seeing. Even though Dahlia had finally put on one of the finest dresses that I found for her, making her look every bit like the lady she was supposed to but I suppose even Heather could see past it.

Heather’s eyes shone with tears as she stared at Dahlia, her eyes raking over every inch of Dahlia’s body no doubt searching for just the tiniest bit of injury.

"I’m fine." Dahlia said to Heather and it was only then did she allow herself to look up at Heather. "I’ve missed you too Heather."

Apparently that was all the confirmation Ivana needed because one minute she was standing still next to Ada and in a flash, she was in Dahlia’s arms.

The force of which she used to hug Dahlia almost sent her crashing to the floor and she would have if I hadn’t stepped forward at the right moment using an arm to steady her. Dahlia regained her footing and hugged Ivana before she looked up at Heather who sniffled, looking at me for confirmation.

She didn’t need to though because before I could nod Dahlia was already pulling her for a hug and the women hugged each other while kissing each other on the head affectionately.

"Oh for fuck’s sake, I had told myself that I wasn’t going to cry, damn it!" Adrianna sniffed and I arched a brow up at her which she rolled her eyes at. "What? I’m allowed to be emotional on a day like this."

Indeed she does! I muse as I smiled faintly before turning to look at Dahlia and the women who were now weeping. My mother said something about them being over dramatic but even she knows that they are allowed to be over dramatic for today.

Everyone is allowed to and_

"Oh heavens, can someone please fetch the prince cap before the wind blows it away?" I heard my mother yell to the servants and I looked down only to find my son looking up at me with a smile on his face, cap discarded somewhere behind me and I had no doubt that what was going through his small head was...

Mission accomplished!