by Kira Freitas
- Majesty... - Ravenna tried to argue, but my father raised a hand.
- Alistair claimed the right of firstborn. As a father, I must disagree because he wants to bypass an agreement in which he could not miss the word. - Ravenna smiled victoriously, but I knew there was still a "but" and waited until my father had finished. - As king, I must respect the traditions, so whatever Alistair decides will have my blessing.
- What's that? What's that? - Ravenna spit. - You can't do that!
- I can and I will! - my dad said it was taxing. - Either that or you can return the dowry money, which has already been paid, and we put an end to this agreement.
I hid a laugh when Ravenna looked at him the other way around.
- What's your decision? - my father asked her.
Ravenna looked down on me and answered.
- Your wish is an order, Your Highness!
- Alistair? - my father said. - It's your call.
Smile at Aideen's gaze. She stared at me scared. I didn't know what triggered so much fear. I did not consider myself an ogre and had been kind to her every time I met her. I was determined to prove that to her, because Aideen was mine. She just didn't know it yet.
- I want the girl as my wife! - I declared emphatic. - I'll double the dowry if I have to.
She shuddered when she heard the proposal. Ravenna's eyes sparkled when she heard my proposal. Before anyone else responded, Aideen came in front of her mother and begged.
- Your Highness, don't do this! I beg you! - she said in a voice full of despair. - I can't get married!
She begged with her hands together. Her eyes were almost weeping when she asked for it. Those words made me frown and question the reason why she had begged in that way. His words made me more and more curious.
- Why shouldn't I? - I asked confused.
Strangely enough, Ravenna stepped forward and took the floor.
- Aideen is very young, Your Highness! - she said. - Surely you're reticent about becoming a princess or even about marriage, but I'm sure you'll make a great wife.
You bastard! I thought when I heard her arguing for her daughter. I knew if I doubled the dowry's value, she'd reconsider. I should've done that in the first place. I would have spared everyone that stupid talk. Ravenna only cared about the money anyway, she didn't care how her daughter was feeling. At that moment, I promised myself that I would take care of Aideen for all eternity.
- So be it! - my father said standing up. - Let's go to the salon and make this union official.
***
It was dawn, but Dunhill's fortress was still at a party. The cheerful voices could still be heard from my room. I was dizzy from drinking so much wine and talking to Bruce. I was worried about Aideen, who had gone into tears. I tried to talk to her and make sure she was safe, but I didn't succeed. I knew I wouldn't sleep that night so apprehensive I was.
- If only I could go to her. - I whispered.
Aideen was afraid, but the way she gave in to the almost kiss left me intrigued. The way she begged me not to get married also made me apprehensive. There was something about her that attracted me with a very strong interest. It was not only those fleshy lips that I wanted fervently, but it was as if my soul was crying out for yours. I took a deep breath with frustration. I was so tired I barely had the strength to take off my clothes. I decided I'd sleep in my robes that night. However, a noise in the corner of my room made me raise my hand over the handle of the sword that I had just released from my waist.
- Come into the light, even though that won't stop me from killing anybody! - I commanded with a firm voice.
The slender shadow approached out of the shadows and revealed Annabel, who was wrapped in a long black hooded cape.
- You won't need that. - she said, taking off her hood and revealing the long, silver-blonde hair. - I have no intention of hurting you in any way, even though I know how.
I looked at her surprised and frowned.
- Annabel, you shouldn't be here. - he said by lowering his sword. - Ravenna will have a seizure if she knows she's in my quarters and will be able to overturn our agreement tonight. I wouldn't like it at all if she did that.
- I know that, but it was the only appropriate time for us to talk alone. - she answered with a smile. - When my mother, don't worry about her or anyone else. Nobody saw me come in here.
Annabel's voice sounded serene, but there was a hint of urgency. I gazed steadily, but worried. The silver hair must have been one of her grandparents' estates, since she didn't have traces similar to Ravenna or Loch.
- How did you get in here? - I asked. - The front door is locked.
- I have the strange ability to detect secret passages and follow paths to a safe place, even if I have never seen them. - she smiled sitting in a chair next to where she was standing. - I can get in and out of anywhere without being seen. It was easy to find your quarters, although I was in places that made me very uncomfortable before I got here.
- Too uncomfortable? - I wondered what she would have seen.
- Let's just say others will think twice before they go back to where I was.
I had a laugh. The castle even had tunnels that could lead even to the bathhouse, which was rarely used by anyone other than me. I imagine Alec or Bruce were there tonight.
- Did something happen to Aideen? - I asked in a worried way and taking advantage to change the subject. - Is she all right?
- Yeah, she's fine. - Annabel nodded. - Just scared of the fact that she had to marry you.
- Scared? Why would she be scared?
- Let's just say Aideen doesn't like the idea of being touched by a man very much, and that scares her.
- I see! - said settling down. - Tell her I'll be very kind to her and I don't intend to hurt her in any way. I had already made that clear, but it seems she doesn't trust my word.
- Aideen doesn't trust anyone. You'll have to be very patient with her.
- Why doesn't she trust people?
- These are her reasons, and I'd prefer her to explain it herself, if she so wishes.
- Fair enough!
Annabel sighed, remaining silent for a few moments. She smiled at me.
- Aideen is a very special girl, Your Highness. You'll get a chance to see that. You're not enchanted by my sister for nothing. - she took a break from smoothing her dress. - I just want to make sure you protect her when the time comes and don't abandon her. Anyway, no matter what happens or what they say.
- I don't get it! Protect her from what? Whose? - I asked curiously.
- Just promise me, Your Highness! - she asked for evasiveness.
I took a deep breath and then I nodded.
- You have my word that I will protect Aideen with my life if necessary.
- Thank you so much! - she said standing up. - It makes me feel better knowing she'll be safe here.
- One more thing! - said before she walked in the direction she had come from. Annabel was putting her hood over her head and stared at mine. - Why does Ravenna treat you so badly?
- Ah! So you get it? - she sighed, tying her hood. - That's a long story, Your Highness, which I'm not allowed to reveal. All I can say is it was something that went wrong.
She turned and grabbed the end of the tapestry that covered the wall next to the fireplace.
- Take care of her, Your Highness! - she said by making a reminder. - If I hurt you, I'll kill you myself in a very painful way.
With that, Annabel disappeared walking through a door that I didn't even know was in my room. I stood without action while the tapestry returned to its place. What did she mean by those words? Why was there a passage to my room? The most important thing was, why didn't I know it existed?
I breathed through my hands through my hair. Going to the balcony of the small balcony in my room, I contemplated the rain, which now falls more gently on the lake. A few hours later I'd be going into a chapel to get married.
Chapter 06
Aideen
I looked at the wall of the room with a boring look. My sister was finishing attaching the bodice ties to my wedding dress. I had not spoken to her since the night before when I discovered that she herself had supported Prince Alistair's decision to marry me. I barely slept through the night because of the nightmares, which got a lot worse. I kept my fists clenched and my gaze indifferent as Annabel snorted trying to improve my mood. She turned me towards the big mirror of the wall and our eyes met through the reflection.
- Please, Aideen! - asked Annabel in a tone of supplication. - Don't look at me like that.
- In what way? Like I'm looking at a traitor? - I said in a debauched way. - No, of course not!
- I'm not a traitor, Aideen.
- No. He just helped Mommy sell me out. - she said and sighed. - Again, by the way.
- Don't say that! - she said in a hurtful tone. - If I had known what our mother was up to, I would never have left you alone.
I snorted by folding my arms. Annabel was right and I felt terrible about saying those words.
- I'm so sorry! - he said. - I know it wasn't your fault. Can you forgive me for what I said?
Annabel smiled hugging me.
- Of course it is! - she answered. - I only went to the prince to make sure he took care of you and protected you. I was just trying to help her not to go back to that hell she lived in.
- Yeah, but you know that was useless, right? - I responded by walking away. - Sooner or later he'll find out and everything will get worse than it already was.
I turned my back on her.
- I appreciate your concern, but there's no hope for me.
- Aideen? What if you told Alistair what happened to her? Maybe the prince could consider it when the time came, after all, it wasn't his fault.
- Yes, it was! - I fired hard. - If I hadn't been so stubborn, maybe none of that would have happened, Aila wouldn't have had to go to a convent and you wouldn't have had to defend me all the time.
I paused to let the tears roll over my face.
- It's my fault! - I emphasized. - Mine and nobody else's. It hurts me to know that you're stuck with me and that, once again, you're no longer free.
Annabel approached me and made me turn around. She dried the tears from my face.
- You're my sister, Aideen. I'd do anything not to see her suffer the way she does. - she sighed, grabbing my wrists. - You shouldn't do that. You know it's a sin to take your own life.
- You know I don't believe in God!
- Yeah, but he believes you!
I pulled my wrists hard hiding them under the loose sleeve of the dress I was wearing. They were wrapped in a bandage of white fabric, adorned with a silver bracelet and rubies that belonged to my grandmother, and that were to be worn by Aila. His intention was not to adorn my wrists, but to hide the newly opened wounds with the knife he had hidden.
After announcing my marriage to Prince Alistair, I ran into the room and, with the knife I stole from the dining table, I slit my wrists. Annabel found me making the cuts and, at great cost, managed to disarm me. She reworked the bandages and reprimanded me.
- I don't understand why our mother agreed with Alistair, knowing that as soon as he finds out, I'll be beheaded and you'll have a tarnished reputation. - I said thoughtfully. - She doesn't care about me, but letting you get stained doesn't make sense.
- Yeah. That's pretty weird, by the way. - Annabel agreed. - She knows you'll have to be returned and lose the dowry, which has already been paid. Why go through with this marriage?
- That's a good question. - I whispered, contemplating the sky.
Annabel walked to the chair where she had put the veil.
- Did you know that everyone in Scotland thinks we're witches? - she said distractedly. - I wonder where they got an idea like that.
- That's silly! - I fired in a funny way. - If I were a witch, I'd fly out on a nice broom. Before, I'd turn Ravenna into a very warting frog.
- How mean! - Annabel laughed.
I had a laugh. I've heard some rumors like that before. Our fame as a witch spread all over the plains of Scotland, even reaching the battlefields. Little did they know that I, or any of my sisters, couldn't do a single spell.
- I like it when you laugh. - Annabel said taking my face and staring at me with a sad look. - I wanted you to smile more.
Grabbing the veil, she tied it to the crown and threw it over my face. Taking a deep breath, I picked up the bouquet that Annabel gave me and headed towards the bedroom door. I was trying to contain the tears that kept on falling. My mother was at the door waiting for me to go. I walked next to my sister until we got to the little chapel behind the castle. Annabel was holding my hand tight like she was trying to stop me from doing something stupid. My sister left me with my father and went inside with my mother. He looked at me with a different look that I couldn't decipher. There was a glow of regret in his eyes, but I ignored him. He took my arm and I took a deep breath. We came in slowly and to my surprise, it was full. Everybody smiles looking happy but me. Alistair had a serious face like he didn't like the idea of being there. How could it be, if the idea was out of it? Would he give up? A wave of hope flooded me at the moment I contemplated his countenance.
Alistair wore a blue kilt that matched the color of his eyes, just like the pie. The sword that was attached to the belt was huge displaying a large ruby on the handle. She seemed very heavy. I began to remember Aila and the times I would hold a sword like that on the sly in our grandparents' house. I was amazed at your courage in handling something like that. She tried to teach me, but I was small and at most I could learn to hold a dagger. Annabel was the one who learned to use the sword and bow most accurately.
To my sadness and despair, the ceremony was brief and I was crowned princess that very night. I tried at all costs to disguise my nervousness and forget that in a few hours I would have a wedding night, or rather, I would walk to the gallows. After what seemed like endless hours, I went to my room. A maid from the castle came in accompanied by Lowenna, who only left me in the room and retired.
- You look nervous. - said the young woman, putting a towel and a basin of water on the sideboard. - Don't stay. Alistair is the best lover a woman could ever have. You're kind and you'll know how to treat her very well.
The boldness with which she spoke to me pissed me off. It would come as no surprise to me to know that Alistair had countless lovers and that some of them would be in that castle among the vassals. I wouldn't mind that at all. In fact, if he wanted to lie with them instead of me, I would be very happy.
- Thanks for the advice. - I answered in a debauched way. - Coming from someone like you, I believe every word.
The woman looked at me with disgust and snorted. She had brown hair, eyes, hazelnut and a curved body. The modest dress showed more than she was hiding and she didn't seem to care about the huge neckline that barely covered her breasts.
- I speak from experience. - she provoked again.
Her gaze was full of malice and she smiled maliciously at me. I didn't know exactly where she wanted to go with that and I didn't care at all. I may have been cloistered this whole time, but I wouldn't let someone like her do to me what my mother used to do. None of Inverness's employees disrespected me. Why would a maid like that do that?
- Listen, I don't mean to be rude, but already being... Your private life doesn't interest me very much. - I said in a serious voice. - I ask only that you maintain decorum, for the man of whom you speak is my Husband and the Lord of this castle. Therefore, put yourself in your place as a servant and remain silent in our presence.
She looked at me furiously. I don't think she expected to hear those words from me, because she must have thought I was just a silly, innocent girl. Little did she know that I had seen more of human evil than she could see in a thousand lives.
- Now leave me alone! - I asked for it harshly. - I can dress myself, and to tell you the truth, I'd like to do it myself.
- Ce
rtainly, ma'am! - she smiled with disdain and made a mockery of herself. - If you need me, just call. My name is Rose, by the way.
- That won't be necessary, Rose. - I returned it in the same tone. - Be sure of that.
I looked disgusted at her as she walked up to the door, rolling her hips. I wonder what attracted Alistair to get involved with such a low-level woman. Soon I dispelled the thought, for nothing in the prince interested me. I wouldn't stay there much longer and the sooner I accepted, the better. In fact, as incredible as it may sound, I longed for the end to come soon.
When Rose left I took a deep breath before going to the door and making sure there was no one in the hallway. The room was different from what it had been before. It was bigger and had a bed adorned with rose petals on the skins. I was moved by the affection and care of the person who prepared that scene. Going to the balcony of the small balcony, I contemplated the cold night and sighed. The sky was black, threatening to pour a new torrential rain all over the plain below. I was so distracted, I could barely tell when Alistair came in. I had a shock when he touched my shoulder softly to get my attention.
- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you! - he said he looked nervous.
- It wasn't you, Your Highness! - said shrinking me. - I was distracted, and I didn't catch him coming in. I ask you to forgive me if I frightened you.
- Why do you keep apologizing for everything? - he asked with a curious look. - I know I can seem scary sometimes, but you don't have to fear me.
I lowered my gaze so he wouldn't realize I was nervous. I didn't want to stare at his blue eyes, because it made my body shiver. Not in a bad way, but it scared me.
- Never let your eyes down. - he said in a soft tone. Placing my index finger under my chin, Alistair raised my face. - Your eyes are the most beautiful I've ever seen. So expressive and vivacious.
- Thank you! - I was able to say.
- His lips... - He took a break. I held my breath when he gently ran his thumb over my lips. - They look like a shiny, reddish apple. They make me want to bite them.
Alistair's hand was rough, but his touch was delicate as if he was afraid to hurt me. Placing his hand on the back of my neck he slowly brought me closer. I couldn't move because Alistair's gaze imprisoned mine. He smiled before leaning over and kissing my forehead, the tip of my nose and my right cheek. At last he took my lips in a gentle and unhurried kiss. My mind was cloudy, so I just let myself be kissed. At first, I didn't know what to do, but little by little I shared the kiss that started to get intense. I shuddered when Alistair introduced the tongue into my mouth and deepened the kiss, at the same time, tightening my neck preventing me from moving away. The other hand looped my waist and brought me into your wide chest. I flattened his broad chest and grabbed his arms right away. It felt like jumping off a cliff. My body's on fire. I've never felt anything so intense before.