by Kira Freitas
Alistair looked at me with a look that I didn't know if it was contempt or disapproval. He stayed this way until Bruce got up from his chair and slapped him on the head. Alistair looked at him with a frown and grumbled as he got up. He no longer remembered the gentle man who had helped me in the woods.
- Good morning! - said Bruce with a bright white smile.
- Good morning! - I whispered by twisting my fingers.
Alistair remained silent. It was clear he didn't want me to be there.
- I'm sorry! - said disguising my nervousness with a forced smile. - I didn't know you'd be here. I don't want to bother you, so I'll ask Elaine to take my breakfast so I can eat it in my room.
As I was about to turn around to go out, I heard Bruce pigeonhole and then Alistair's low voice resounded.
- No, wait! - He asked for it. - We're just finishing up.
I took a deep breath in making sure that my presence was not wanted, but I could not let it appear that it affected me. After all, I was the one who begged to stay. I'd rather have that treatment than have to suffer any Samson my mother gave me.
- Thank you! - said walking to the table. - I promise to be quiet!
I sat down alone, because Alistair did not seem at all willing to show any cordiality to me. Bruce continued to look down on him, but Alistair pretended he wasn't seeing or was really oblivious to it. Taking a deep breath, Bruce stretched out his hand taking an enormous loaf of bread from the basket and breaking it in half.
- Are you enjoying Dunhill? - he asked by taking a huge bite out of the food.
- I don't know much yet, but I intend to take a walk to visit the castle and the town. - I answered by picking an apple and starting to cut it. - That's if you're allowed to.
Alistair took a deep breath, stopped chewing and then leaned back on the chair.
- Of course it is! - he answered in a cold voice. - Like I said, you're only allowed to go to the edge of the village. If you try to go any further, I'm sure I'll know.
- That sounds very comforting. - I said ironically.
I lowered my head, started eating the fruit in silence. A servant came with a steaming teapot and served me. I smelled the blackberry tea I loved so much and smiled. Elaine must have noticed my presence and asked for a teapot of tea to be served to me.
- Thank you! - said enthusiastically, the girl when she served me.
- Not for that! - she answered before leaving the teapot and leaving.
I continued sipping the tea with satisfaction. That was my favorite tea and it was like going to paradise with every sip. I used to drink alone in my room, so I didn't notice I was making some funny noises. Next thing I knew, they were both staring at me. Bruce was more brazen and did not hide his smile, but Alistair kept looking at me with a repressed laugh. He was trying to stay serious and look rude, but he failed miserably. Did he pretend all the time or were his expressions real?
- I'm sorry, that's why I... - I stuttered embarrassed. - I love tea! Especially the cranberry one.
- It's nice to know you're such a sincere lady. - Alistair debauched, then released a roar of pain.
Franzi the forehead.
- Are you all right? I asked you worried.
- Ah! He is, but if he's not, I'll make him stay. - Bruce declared slapping Alistair in the back. - Isn't that right?
- Sure! - Alistair said choking.
I kept looking from one to the other and focused on the tea again.
- You don't talk much at the table, do you?
- Well, in Inverness, I wasn't allowed to have breakfast outside the room. The only one accompanying me was my sister. I learned to like silence and she always respected it when I had nothing to say.
- How awful! - Bruce said by buzzing the bread with desire. - I always knew that Ravenna was not a good person to deal with, always very strict, but not accompanying her daughters during breakfast is a little too much.
- I disagree. - I said quietly. - My mother didn't have much to teach, so she always preferred silence to having to listen to her sermons. Her teachings were of little relevance to me and I did not want to hear her.
- I suppose so. - Alistair ironized by shrugging his shoulders. - Learning to tell lies must be really exhausting. I imagine the tricks your sister learned, too.
I frowned on my forehead.
- Annabel is not a liar! - ...I've stirred up. - You have every right to be angry with me, but do not attack my sister because she is not here to defend herself. Thanks to his total lack of composure!
- My composure? - Alistair shouted standing up. - Are you sure you want to talk about composure? Have you forgotten your condition, whore?
Hearing that word again made me feel deeply hurt. I suddenly felt small and dirty. A tear rolled across my face and Alistair was struggling to keep her expression indignant. I realized that his intention was only to hurt me and it was working, but I would not let myself be discouraged.
- Yeah, maybe, I am a real whore. - I said coldly. - Apparently, I'm a very good whore, since you can't keep your hands off me. Isn't that right?
Alistair grunted when Bruce let out a laugh.
- Alistair! - Bruce screamed when he got up. - Remember what I told you.
With a challenging look, I stood up and ran down the stairs. I was hating Alistair. If he stayed, maybe I'd slap him again.
- Stop being an idiot! - Bruce screamed, but Alistair came after me.
- Aideen! - he screamed running down the stairs. - Come back here!
I ran into the room and tried to close the door, but it was faster than me and prevented me from closing it. Being stronger, Alistair pushed the door making me fall on the floor.
- What's got into you to say that in front of Bruce and the employees? - he asked furiously. - Are you out of your mind?
- It was your fault for accusing me of something I'm not. - I answered by standing up. - You want to torture me? Go ahead! - said by shrugging his shoulders. - But know that I won't make it any easier for you.
- Is that so? You don't think you're gonna soften my heart with those eyes of yours, do you?
Smiling, I just took a deep breath and started opening the dress. We'd see who would win that arm fall.
- What... What are you doing? - he asked mortified.
- So you don't know? - I asked ironically, just keeping my clothes underneath. - I think I'm too dressed for a whore. I think I should be more comfortable from now on.
- Stop it! Stop it! - he ordered it by grabbing my arms. - Don't be childish!
He lowered it, grabbing the dress on the floor.
- Get dressed now!
- No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Alistair grunhiu closing his fists.
- Either you get dressed, or I'll make you do it!
- Do as you like! - said by shrugging his shoulders.
- Oh, great! - he said walking to the fireplace. - You want to get naked? Get naked!
He threw the dress in the fireplace and set it on fire. Then he went to the trunk and threatened to get everyone else.
- What are you doing? What are you doing? - said by grabbing his hands to stop him from grabbing the dresses.
- Didn't I say I wanted to get naked? - He replied in an ironic tone and pulled the clothes out of my hand. - I'll help you with that.
Alistair went to the fireplace and threatened to throw the first dress.
- You promised my sister you'd protect me, but instead you treat me like I'm nothing. - I fired with hatred. - I thought you liked me the way he looked at me.
Alistair turned to face me.
- You made a mistake, miss! - he said coldly. - I don't look at yo
u in a special way, I just feel sorry for you.
- Pity is the lowest feeling one person can feel for another. - I whispered, lowering my gaze.
Alistair loosened the dresses on an armchair. He seemed sorry for his words.
- Aideen, I...
- I'm so sorry! I really didn't want to fool you. - I whispered. - I knew you'd regret it, but I grabbed the hope that you could understand, but you didn't hear what I said.
- Understand what? - ...he got close. - Aideen, talk to me!
He reached out to touch me, but I shrunk.
- Don't be afraid of me!
- Too late!
- Aideen...
- Don't touch me! - said by slapping him.
I got rid of Alistair's hands and ran towards the door, but he held me back by bringing me back. I pushed Alistair so hard I could knock him to the ground.
- Leave me alone! - I screamed before I ran out of the room.
Chapter 11
Alistair
A week later...
Cutting the wood was a very refreshing task, since I didn't have to think about it and could take all my energy out of the wood. Both Bruce and Alec used to do the same when they were frustrated. A technique used by my great-grandfather and passed from father to son. This way, we would pour out our anger, without hurting anyone, and we would also contribute with the wood supply for the fireplaces and stoves. Practical and useful.
After the fight I had with Aideen, all I wanted to do was not think. Her actions intrigued me day after day. I was tired of fighting with her. We looked like two children on the warpath. Every day I was afraid I'd made the wrong judgment about her. What if Bruce was right? If Aideen were really innocent? It's been circling my mind all the time since our last fight.
I haven't spoken to Aideen in a week. In a very clever way, she stayed awake until I slept and so prevented me from touching her. It was weird how she could stay awake for so long. I was used to going without sleep for several hours, but Aideen overcame me in an amazing way. It looked like she'd been trained just not to sleep. We remained silent in the room and, no matter how hard I tried, I always fell asleep first. When I woke up, she was no longer there, because it was already dawn. It wasn't my will to take her by force. I thought it would be easier to wake her up and seduce her at dawn. Maybe I did not win her trust and made her like me a little more. Well, that I didn't deserve your affection. However, that idea worked for a short time and now that my anger was passing away, I missed Aideen's presence. I was frustrated, because my body missed hers and sleeping on the floor was a very stupid idea. I'd have to find a way to go back on that one.
The worst thing was that Aideen's gaze had gone from fearful to empty. She always told Elaine to probe to see if I was around or just ate in the room. I'd rather be cloistered than in my presence.
- Damn it! - I squeezed the stump so hard that it flew off. Luckily there was no one around.
Grabbing my shirt, I dried my face. He was sweaty, though it was cold. It had snowed all week and the town was covered in white. I had seen Aideen watching the children playing in the courtyard from the window, but she came in as soon as our eyes crossed. Now I knew what she really felt when I looked at her with contempt for the first time. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the firewood and tied it up making a big burden. I'd take it to the stable to dry with the others.
- Good morning, Your Highness! - Adam smiled when he saw me come in.
He was standing next to the Sovereign and stopped to make a move. I was surprised by the fact, because he only did that when I asked him to ride or when I took him to exercise. I had done that the day before and today wouldn't have been necessary.
- Good morning! - I answered by hiding my bad mood. - Something wrong so he's out of the bay?
- No, sir! - he answered. - The princess was here asking for a horse and was delighted with the Sovereign. I told her no one was allowed to ride it, so she asked to brush it. I lent her your sister's mare and she named it Chimera when I heard she didn't have one.
I took a deep breath, passing my hand over my face. The mare had been given to my sister a few days before she died. She didn't know what name to give and after her death I forgot about the animal. Adam fed her and took good care of her. Nobody had the guts to ride it.
- Sir? Was I wrong to give the animal to her? - Adam asked with worrying expression. - If you want, I can try to stop her. I know she's gone to the fields.
Not bad! The open fields were not far away and although they ended up in a canyon and the ground was covered with snow, it was not as dangerous as the forest trails.
- No, Adam, it's okay. - I responded by softening my expression. - Anytime she needs it, she can give up the mare. Can you tell if she's back yet?
- No, sir! But I can let you know as soon as she gets here.
- Do it! Thank you. Thank you.
Adam nodded and I'd just finished saving the firewood burden. I was hungry after doing a long manual labor, so I decided to take a bath before eating something. I chose to go to the bathhouse instead of throwing myself in the lake. At that point the temperature would be too low and I needed to relax. The bathhouse had been built in ancient times, when that region was inhabited by Vikings and Celts. She stood behind the castle under a spring of thermal water. It was all made of stones and in its center there was a pool not too deep. I would like to sit at the bottom, and be submerged with water up to almost my neck, leaning around it. The fountain supplies the bathroom, keeping the pool always full and clean. The site was surrounded with walls to give more privacy and a small garden was erected in the entrance courtyard with statues and stone benches. It wasn't very big, but it was beautiful and it was a good place to think. I loved going there when I was in Dunhill and there was a problem. Staying silent, submerged in hot water, helped me to think and find a solution. Now my problems were that damn war and Aideen, but I wanted to concentrate on Aideen.
- Hmm! I knew you'd be here!
The melodious and sensual voice of Rose interrupted my thoughts as soon as I started to undress. I took a deep breath without looking at her.
- What are you doing here? - I asked without patience.
- I thought you might like a little fun, since you're so tense. - she whispered, approaching.
Rose ran her hand over my right arm and came down her fingers slowly through the skin of my chest. She stopped in front of me and smiled.
- I forgive you for what you told me in the library. - she whispered nibbling at my chest. - I'll pretend that none of that happened, nor that you kept me waiting the night after your wedding.
I looked at Rose with a serious face.
- I want to be alone! - said taking his hands and removing them from my chest. - If you'll excuse me, I have a lot on my mind!
Rose grunted.
- I can't believe you're gonna keep letting me go! - she fired frustrated. - I thought you were smarter, Alistair.
- Rose, I thought I made it very clear in the library that our meetings were over. - he said between his teeth. - Now go away! I need to be alone.
She looked at me furiously and I turned around, ignoring it.
- It's all that stupid redhead's fault! - ...she's been poking around. - Ever since she arrived, you seem to be bewitched. Not even the fact that she tried to trick him seems to affect him more.
Turning to Rose, I grabbed her hands hard.
- That's enough! - said harsh - I explained well before leaving for the front that what we had was past and that is where it will stay. The invitation I made on my wedding night was a mistake.
- Was it, Alistair? - she whispered seductively. - Tell me you didn't like being with me one last time.
- What's that? What's that? - I said without understanding.
Without my waiting, Rose pulled one hand and grabbed mine, never bringing me for a kiss. I grabbed her arms tightly and pushed her away.
- You said you'd be sorry. - she whispered licking my ear. - Good luck!
&nb
sp; Puckling his forehead without understanding. That's when I heard a noise and looked in the direction of the entrance. I saw Aideen taking hard steps towards the castle. I looked at Rose who was smiling with satisfaction. It was clear that Aideen had seen what Rose had done. Rose's words implied that I had been with her not long ago. Angrily, I let out a bear before I grabbed Rose's throat. His eyes were filled with fear when I squeezed his neck.
- You're a devil! - he said between his teeth. - I could wring your neck, but I know it won't be worth it.
Saying that, I let her go with a push. Rose fell on the floor coughing to catch her breath. Without looking back, I ran out after Aideen hoping to reach her. When I did, she was already inside the castle in the main room.
- Aideen? - I screamed.
She stopped at the foot of the ladder without staring at me.
- Is this why you sent for me? - she asked with a voice embargoed. - Your humiliations are getting more and more creative.
- What are you talking about? I didn't send for her. I didn't even know you were in the castle. - I said nervous. - It must have been that devil. She did it on purpose to make you angry.
- And I wonder who gave her a chance to do that. - she asked ironically, turning to me. - Are you gonna say it's a lie what she said about our wedding night?
I grunted because of that damn invitation.
- No, but you need to know what...
- I don't need to know anything, Alistair. - she took a break. - You've made it clear I'm just an object. My task here is to generate an heir for you and nothing else. You don't owe me any satisfaction.
Aideen's eyes were watery and red. It was clear that I had hurt her again, but this time, it was without any intention.