Chapter Thirty One

One of the guards wakes Tilly at approximately 0470, which allows her enough time to do her morning toilet, wash up and dress before going to the parlor where she starts the fire under the water pot and the tea kettle. When those tasks are complete she climbs the stairs, lighting one of the candles sitting next to the large one that burns at the head of the stair and goes to the Queen's rooms. Tapping gently on the bedchamber door before opening it she enters the room.

Rufina and Emi are spooned together, Rufina in front, with Emi hugging her tightly, a single pillow under their heads. Neither are wearing a stitch of clothing this morning. After lighting the candle on the bed side table, As Tilly shakes Emi's shoulder, "Time for training Emi."

Emi rolls to her back,"Morning Tilly." As Tilly leaves to continue her morning routine I get off the bed to do my morning toilet. Once that is completed I sit on the edge of the bed and begin stroking Rufina's cheek. When Rufina rolls to her back I lean down to give her a passionate kiss.

When the kiss ends Rufina mutters, "Morning already?"

"Yes, love. Now up with you." I pull the sheet off her, pull her legs to the edge of the bed then help her sit up. Once she is sitting up, I move to the wardrobe, removing undergarments, stockings, panties and bra which I bring to the bed. Followed by a pair of shorts and a short tunic. Once Rufina has her toilet complete, I help her dress then assists her into the armor. After placing the helmet on her head, still holding her head I kiss her once more, "Take care love."

"I will love. Now go get dressed. I'll see you in a bit." Rufina departs, heading to the back courtyard. I strip the bed, removing the sheets, they are in need laundering. The sheets, the wash cloths and towels join the clothing in the basket. Once the room is in order, I dress in the clothing I have stored in the wardrobe. I brushing my hair, putting it in order for now, I will do a more thorough job after we bathe. After moving the basket out to sitting room I snuff the candles. Carrying the basket out to the garden, placing it by the gate. The laundry women will be bringing yesterdays laundry back today then picking up todays dirty laundry.

Returning inside, I go to the kitchen, taking a glance at Rufina and Kalvin practicing sword play on the way. I am unfamiliar with fighting but even so, I can tell Rufina is much improved from last week. Nodding, I continue to the kitchen. Tilly is upstairs in the barracks kitchen preparing breakfast but has left a pot of tea on the table. I pour myself a cup, adding a half spoon of honey to the cup. Ever since Rufina purchased the Shangeen tea from Scott, I have enjoyed a cup of it in the morning. I like the way it wakes me up in morning.

Once the cup of tea is finished I place it and the spoon in the wash tub then ascend the stairs to wake the others. Starting with Eliza I knock on the door. Not getting a response I open the door then walk to the head of the bed. After lighting the candle on the bedside table, I gently shake Eliza awake,"Time to get up, Eliza."

Eliza wakens with a start, eyes darting around. "Oh, good morning Emi."

"Good morning, Eliza. Do you wish some hot water this morning?"

"Yes, please." She rolls to the edge of the bed, stretching.

"I will return shortly then." After pouring some of the cool water in basin, I take the pitcher back down to the parlor and the hot water cauldron. I pour the partial pitcher full of water into the cauldron then refill it with hot water. Returning to Eliza's room I mix the water in the basin to a pleasing temperature then leave Eliza to her morning toilet.

Going across the sitting room I gently knock on Helen's door. Again I get no response so open the door. Helen's bed is empty. I smile as I light the candle by the bed anyway, Helen will need the light when she returns.

Leaving Helen's bedchamber, I go to the goddess' rooms. I knock on the outer door and wait, there is no response. Entering I cross to the bedchamber door where I knock again. Still no response. I enter. Looking at the the bed I see Sophia and Helen cuddled together, Helen draped over Sophia, using her as a body pillow. After lighting the candle I wake first Sophia then Helen.

"Good morning, Emi," They greet me.

"Good morning. Would you like some hot water this morning?"

"Yes, please," replies Sophia.

"Could you take some to my room, please, Emi?" asks Helen.

"Of course, Helen. I have a candle lit in your room. I'll return shortly with the water." Taking Sophia's pitcher I return to Helen's room, taking her pitcher also. Descending to the parlor, I again empty and fill the pitchers before returning back up stairs. Leaving one of the pitchers in Helen's room I return to Sophia's. Helen passes me on the way.

Once in Sophia's bedchamber I prepare the water. I notice Sophia is still in her night wear, a chemise, I asks, "Do you wish help bathing this morning, Sophia?"

"Yes, please, dear," as she removes the chemise.

Preparing a soapy cloth I begin scrubbing Sophia's back. Giving her a quick but thorough washing, then rinsing her. As I dry her, Sophia gathers me in her arms, kissing me.

"Thank you, dear. You do that so well," as she strokes my back. We kiss again. When the kiss ends, I finish drying her then assist her with her clothes. When Sophia leaves to get her morning tea I gather the soiled clothing, towels and bedding in the basket then taking it to the garden gate, placing it beside the other basket. I return to the others in the kitchen.

When I arrive, Tilly has joined the other three at the table. The four of them are sipping their tea, hands wrapped around the warm cups, breathing the aroma of the tea.

"Emi, in your next letter to Mark will you ask him to order another pound of this excellent tea, please."

"Of course I will, Tilly. It is a splendid brew, isn't it." The others nod in agreement.

We sit, talking of what we will be doing later today. When Aden joins us a few minutes before 600 we walk to the back courtyard where we watch the queen and Kalvin do the last of their training.

As Tobias joins us, Kalvin ends the training session with, "Very good, Your Majesty. Your stamina and strength are both increasing, your skill with weapons is steadily improving but still has a long way to go."

Rufina reaches up, taking off her helm, giving her head a vigorous shake. Her short damp hair flares out, droplets flying. I meet her at the edge of the training space, taking the helm and the gauntlets from her, laying them near the stairway. I kneel, undoing the grieves and removing her boots and stockings. The others have moved to the garden patio getting ready for T'ai Chi.

This morning Rufina shows us two new forms, repeating them twice before starting the warmup exercises. I think to myself, 'She is so patient,' as I watch her.

As I do the forms with the others my mind relaxes. My body moves slowly, with each move I can feel the muscles stretch. When we reach the finishing vertical position, I feel like I had just woken from a nap, relaxed and ready to work. Standing in vertical centering with my eyes closed I can hear those around me gently breathing, the breeze from the sea stirring the leaves of the plants in the garden. I sense when Rufina comes to stand beside me.

Reaching out I take her hand before leading her into the palace, stopping to pickup the sword and armor. Going up the stairs we head toward Rufina's rooms. Placing the armor I am carrying on the rack I then help her remove the remaining armor, placing it on the rack as it comes off. There is a knock on the door as Rufina is removing her clothing.

"I have brought hot water." It is Sophia. She enters, placing the the pitcher on the table next to the basin. Then moves to the bed, sitting down on it.

"Thank you, Sophia." Both Emi and Rufina say. I prepare the water then wet and soap a cloth. I begin scrubbing Rufina. As I scrub I notice that Rufina has filled out these last four weeks. Her ribs aren't prominent any longer, the skin of her upper body smooth with barely a ripple over her ribs. Her arms and legs are no longer skin covered sinew and bones but have muscle and thin layer of fat covering them. I can no longer encircle either with my hands.

"Sophia, did you bestow a blessing on Rufina? It should take a much more time to develop this amount of muscle." I ask as I continue scrubbing.

Sophia tilts her head, looking at Rufina's body, "I did bless her the night Rosa arrived, to help her recover. Rufina's body still had the poison in it, which need to be purged." She stands, coming over to where to we are. Moving her hands over Rufina, she scans her. She nods several times, "There is no damage, you are in prefect health, your muscles are growing as they should be, your bones are strong, all your organs are functioning as they should. Oh, however your sex hormones are elevated." She looks at Rufina, "Are you feeling like you are more sexually driven than before?"

Rufina's brow wrinkles, her eyes close. Several minutes later she states, "Thinking about it, I do seem to want sex more than I did, both as Rosa and Rufina. I'm not complaining, just stating that I seem to be getting horny more often."

I feel my ears growing warm as I say, "I don't mind her being that way."

"I can adjust your hormones levels if you wish."

Rufina looks at me, a smile on her face. "No, let's leave them be for now." She strokes my ears. The tip of my tail begins twitching back and forth.

"As for gaining muscle, do you wish me to tone the blessing down or remove it?"

"Not yet. I need to get fit quickly, so it helps immensely."

"Let me know when you wish it removed or reduced. I'll leave you two to finish, see you down stairs." She caresses Rufina's cheek, kissing her forehead then leaves.

I finish washing Rufina then sit her on the chest to begin scrubbing her hair. Rufina moans as my fingers rub her scalp. Mixing the last of the hot water with some cool, I rinse the her hair. After a quick rub with a towel I start brushing her hair. Finishing that I go to the wardrobe, removing the clothing of the day which I then assist her into. After I slip her slippers on her feet, Rufina helps me rise, pulling me into a hug.

"Thank you, Emi," She whisper then kisses me.

When the kiss ends, I snuff the candles then lead Rufina down to breakfast.