She nodded. “I do, but then again, everyone loved her.”
“The love of a daughter is far greater than that of a subject.”
She smiled, laughing a little. “My mother didn’t see the townspeople as subjects, she saw them as family. She was a trained midwife, and was at every birth in town, no matter the hour. She helped nurse those who were injured in the war, she fed the orphans. She was a brilliant woman.”
“That she was.”
I watched as she wiped a tear from her eye, and I could feel my heart break a little. Even if I didn’t know the princess well, I could tell that her love for her mother was genuine. It was a shame, I thought, that she couldn’t get the same love from her father or sister. How it must pain her every day, knowing that her father would never look at her the same way her mother did.
“Shall we go inside?” I suggested. “It’s almost time to leave for tea, but you can freshen up a little first if you’d like.”
She cocked her head. “Tea?”
I laughed out loud. “Yes, tea. The Mad Hatter’s tea.”
Chapter 7
Lara
I stared at the peculiar people that I was surrounded by.
A black-haired man, who was in a mismatched suit and bright red top hat, sat to my right, continuously pouring tea into what seemed like a never ending teacup. The girl that I heard called Samantha was wrapped around his arm, lovingly smiling at the man, completely enthralled with his story. Across from them, a red headed boy and brown – haired beauty were curled into each other, obviously in a relationship. Sitting directly across from me and the Huntsman, the girl I knew as Ina and the man who would visit her were holding hands, a chaste but deliberate show of affection for each other.
It seemed as if the Huntsman was the only one in his group of friends who was a bachelor, and I wondered why that was. He was good looking, if I were being honest. His light brown hair was pulled back at the nape of his neck, unlike it had been earlier. A single, thicker strand of hair had separated from the rest of his hair, hanging down near his eye. The forest green orbs would shine as he laughed at something the man in the top hat said, his white teeth glistening in the sun. His tan was an obvious sign of his hard work, the callouses on his hands indicated many years of labor.
Someone cleared their throat, and I blushed as I realized that the entire table had gone quiet and was now staring at me. I ducked my head, not daring to check what the Huntsman’s reaction was to finding me staring at him like a fool. Thankfully, he didn’t say anything, which saved me from any further embarrassment. He surprised me by wrapping his arm around me and pulling me into his side, allowing me to hide my face in his chest. He joined back into the conversation again as if nothing had happened, as if there had not just been a five minute break of silence.
As I instinctively curled myself into him, I wondered silently if it was wrong. I couldn’t help but ask myself why I was allowing myself to get so close to a man I had just met not even a full day before, why I was allowing myself to become attached. I wondered if he felt the same way, or if he was just being a gentleman and saving me from sitting alone in embarrassment because of my actions. I wondered if perhaps he didn’t think of me at all. Maybe he saw me as just another job, just another responsibility. But, surely that couldn’t be it. If it were, then wouldn’t I already be dead?
My mind was swimming with doubts and ‘what if’s’ by the time the sun set and we began to say our goodbyes. Huntsman hadn’t removed his arm from around my shoulders, keeping me close to him all throughout the get together. I didn’t mind. It brought me a strange comfort, knowing that someone was there for me, keeping me safe. Especially when that someone was a man. He turned to me, smile in place, and moved his arm from around my shoulder, only to take my hand in his.
“How would you feel about staying with one of my friends tonight? You can choose who, it doesn’t matter to any of us. We only want you comfortable.”
I thought about it silently. “I get to choose?” He nodded in assurance. “Then, I would like to stay with Ina, if that’s alright.”
The girl smiled, taking my free hand in both of hers. “That’s more than okay, that’s great! We’ll be the best of friends.”
I tried to smile in reassurance, but I wasn’t sure what to make of the girls bubbly personality. She seemed to be happy for no reason, and yet every reason imaginable at the same time. I supposed when you don’t have to worry about disappointing your father, then you are able to be whoever you wanted to be.
“I believe you both with get along just fine,” the Huntsman said in assurance to me, noticing the apprehension on my face. “Ina is a Royal as well, you will both have much to speak about.”
“Just because we’re both from a Royal family doesn’t mean that we’ll have a lot to speak about, Huntsman.” Ina said, rolling her eyes. I was thankful that she spoke what I had been thinking, because I had been unsure of how to say it without insulting the man.
The Huntsman rolled his eyes. “Of course not, how daft of me to insinuate such a thing!”
That night, I laid awake in the small room that Ina and Wolfsbane had set aside for me, wondering what things were going to be like now. I didn’t know what I would do, not having my family with me. Although, I’m not sure that they could be considered a family anymore. I didn’t want to be a burden on anyone, didn’t want to put anyone out.
I wondered what it would be like to live on my own. Would it be possible for me to fend for myself, to take care of myself? I’m sure that Ina and the rest of my new acquaintances would be willing to help if I truly needed it, but could I handle the majority of the responsibility myself? I wanted to believe that I could.
My mother had always taught me to be independent. She always said that a true princess didn’t need a man to lead her, but rather could lead herself. I wondered if that still applied now, in the life of solitude and hiding. I’m sure it would, but then again, my insecurities came back to haunt me.
If I were being completely honest, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I had lost my family, my belongings. My entire life had become a jumbled mess. I didn’t know who these people were, or if I could trust them completely, although I didn’t get any bad signals from a single one of them. I didn’t completely know where I was, or where I would go after this. I didn’t know what I was going to do.
Before I knew it, the pale morning light started to shine through the thin glass of my window. With a sigh, I climbed out of my bed and began my morning routine to the best of my abilities. Once I was dressed and presentable, I made my way out to the kitchen. I found Ina cooking at the large, iron stove, much like the ones that we had in the castle.
“Is there anything I can help with?” I asked, feeling bad when she dropped a bowl of berries from surprise.
“Oh, good morning, Lara. And, no thank you, you’re the guest. I can handle a simple breakfast. You just make yourself comfortable.”
“If you’re sure,” I hesitated. “I don’t mind helping, truly.”
“Maybe tomorrow morning,” she said with a wink as I sat down at the long table. “Do you know how to cook?”
I nodded. “More than a lady of high stature should, or at least that’s what my father says.”
“How did you learn?”
“My mother didn’t come from a very rich family, though they were still of a noble stature. She and her mother had done most of the cooking in their home, since they couldn’t afford a cook. She had started teaching me from a young age. When she died, Mammy, our cook and my nurse, took over the lessons.”
Her face softened at the mention of my mother. “I heard about the Queen’s passing. I’m so sorry, Lara. It must be terrible to lose a mother.”
“It was hard, but I always have a little piece of her inside of me. My father always said I was a spitting image of her. Mammy also said that I had my mother’s rebellious spirit.” I laughed a little. “Maybe that’s how I ended up here.”
Bef
ore we could finish our conversation, Wolfsbane and the Huntsman walked in the side door, talking away a storm. I watched as Wolfsbane shook his head, hanging his coat on a hook. “I’m telling you, we should take out the back wall, open up the living room while we’re already at it.”
“What are you boys arguing about now?” Ina asked, giving Wolfsbane a chaste kiss on the cheek.
The Huntsman sighed. “This one,” he jerked his thumb in Wolfsbanes direction. “Thinks we should knock out the entire back wall, instead of just the part behind the bedroom.”
“What are you remodeling?”
“His house,” Wolfsbane replied, snaking his arm around Ina’s waist. “He wants to put in a second bedroom. But, you know how tiny his house is anyways, he could use the extra space.”
“You should knock out the entire back wall.” I replied quietly.
Wolfsbane shouted. “Even the girl agrees with me! Wait,” he turned to me. “Why are you agreeing with me?”
Chapter 8
Huntsman
“You should knock out the entire back wall,” she said a little louder, ignoring my friend’s question. “Because, you’re right, your house is small. If you knock out the entire back wall, you could build the extra room horizontally instead of vertically, and still pull the living room out about another foot or so, giving more room without the illusion of a bigger space.”
We all sat there, staring at her in awe. It was a few minutes before Wolfsbane spoke. “She’s right. How is she right?”
The princess shrugged her shoulders. “I read a lot.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the innocence behind her comment. “That is something I believe.”
“So,” Wolfsbane pressed. “What do you say?”
I sighed. “I suppose we can try it her way.”
I watched as my friend ran to the princess, picking her up in a hug and spinning her around. She laughed, her hair flying around her. When he put her down, she braced herself on him, smiling as big as I could imagine was possible. He made sure she was steady before letting go of her.
I couldn’t help but get a little jealous at their interaction, wishing in the back of my mind that it was me instead of him. I had to remind myself that she was my assignment, I couldn’t get attached. It had only been a day, after all. I couldn’t truly be falling for her already, could I?
I was snapped out of my thoughts by Ina, who was fanning her hand in my face. “Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah,” I reassured her. “Why?”
“I just asked if you wanted to stay for breakfast, and you didn’t answer me.”
“I’m sorry, of course I would like to stay for breakfast.”
“Okay,” she said, giving me a look before gesturing to the table. “Go take a seat then. It’s almost done.”
Wolfsbane and I both took a seat. I tried to put as much space as I could between myself and the princess without being rude, but there only ended up being a chair between us. I saw out of the corner of my eye disappointment shadow her face before it returned to the smile it had before I sat down. Wolfsbane gave me a confused look, and I shook my head, signaling that I would explain myself later. Not that I truly needed too. But, I knew that if anyone could help me figure out what was going on with me, it would be my friends.
After the food had been put on the table and everyone had filled their plates, Ina smiled at the princess. “Lara, have you ever been on this side of the Realm?”
She shook her head. “I was never really allowed outside of the kingdom. And, when I was, I always had a multitude of guards with me.”
“That’s not surprising. Not many people from the Northern Kingdom come this way,” Ina paused to take a bite of a berry. “It’s sad, really. Anyways, how would you like Sam, Angie and I to show you around today? We won’t go far, and there are some great little shops in Wonderland we could go see.”
“That would be wonderful. Thank you.” The princess smiled, genuinely thankful for the offer.
Ina waived her hand in the air. “It’s not a problem. Since you like to read, I could take you by my favorite bookstore too. I have to talk to Morice anyways about a new book that I want to read.”
Wolfsbane laughed. “I think that man gets more business from you than anyone else.”
Ina slapped his arm, causing him to laugh harder. It was contagious, and both Ina and the princess started laughing as well. I smiled and shook my head as they continued with their fit. I seemed to pick up on the princess’ laughter more than the others. The sound was pure, more so than I ever thought possible. I didn’t know why, but it drew me to her, I wanted to grow closer.
I clutched the lip of the table, forcing myself to stay where I was at. I tried to remind myself that she was my assignment. I had to remind myself that I couldn’t get close to her. I couldn’t start feeling anything for her.
Apparently, my struggle was noticeable, because the princess looked over at me with a pained and worried expression. “Are you alright?”
I nodded, unable to speak. I didn’t understand. Why was being even a short distance from her so painful? It felt as if it were physically killing me, tearing me apart from the inside out. I needed to be next to her, to touch her, even if it was a simple brush of the fingers. I wondered what it would feel like, just the simple brush of skin. I hadn’t touched her since I helped her over a log on the walk to my house. It felt like such a long time ago, and yet, in reality, it was only a few hours before.
Unable to resist, I carefully brushed the pads of my fingers across the top of hers, barely ghosting over her hand. I watched her, gauging her reaction. It didn’t seem to affect her on the outside, but when Wolfsbane glanced over at me, I could tell that he heard her pulse quicken.
“Perhaps you girls should go get Sam, it’s almost the noon hour,” Wolfsbane suggested. “You don’t want the day to waste away.
Ina nodded and I breathed a heavy sigh of relief. The princess gave me another worried glance, but agreed, following Ina out of the room. Once we heard the front door closed, and their footsteps faded away, I finally relaxed as much as I could. Wolfsbane turned to me, a knowing expression on his face.
I still couldn’t speak, and it was as if the pain had gotten worse. I thought having her farther away would help ease the pain and tension that I had, and yet it had only intensified. It was almost unbearable, the fire inside. I felt as if my very nerves were burning, slowly melting until there was nothing left of me inside. I looked up at my friend in agony.
“Why do I feel this way?” I asked between gritted teeth. “Why is there so much pain?”
He chuckled a little, and there was a small part of me that hated him in that moment.
“Why is my pain funny? Why does seeing me writhing in unbearable agony bring you joy?”
“It’s not that it brings me joy. It’s that I know exactly what you are going through, and I know see why Hatter and Peter thought it was funny also.”
“What in the bloody hell are you talking about?” I threw my head on the table, unable to bear the pain anymore, leaving a large dent in the wooden table.
“Ina is going to kill you for that,” he said, pointing to the indented wood as he got up and went to one of the many cabinets in the large kitchen.
“Will you stop making jokes and tell me what’s wrong with me? I feel like I’m dying!” I screamed, releasing some of the built-up pain with my answer.
He rolled his eyes. “Have you always been so impatient? No wonder the Fates paired you with someone like Lara. Perhaps her patience will mellow you out some. You’re a bit high strung, my friend.”
I just stared at him, unable to speak. I had used up all of my energy, what little there was that I had, trying to get an answer out of him before. He was so vague in his responses, and his most current one didn’t help either.
“Think about it, boy! Think about what I just said. The Fates. Pairing. Lara. Surely you can’t be that daft!”
“You…..You mean…..”
He nodded. “Now you’re getting it!” He slapped me on the back, sending tendrils of red hot pain to all corners of my body. I gritted my teeth, trying to prevent myself from ripping his head off right there.
“So….all this pain….It’s from….”
“The Bonding.” He finished for me, as if he couldn’t believe that it had taken me that long to figure it out.
“But….I was supposed to kill her! I wasn’t supposed to let her live! How can I believe that I am supposed to be her Other Half?”
He shrugged. “I’m not the Keeper, I don’t know. But, I’m sure that if you’re already feeling this much pain, then you are pretty close to having the bond finished.”
I simply shook my head, unable to speak anymore. As the lights started to fade into darkness, I wondered what the Fates were thinking when they gave me a girl like the princess.
Chapter 9
Lara
I felt bad when the girls decided that we should wait to see the area for another day. I felt like it was all my fault. And, in a way, it was.
During breakfast, my entire body ached. It was sore, as if I had just ran a hundred miles without a break. I felt woozy, barely able to stay sitting upright in my chair. After the Huntsman had touched me, it all went away. I had thought that it was just a coincidence, but apparently, there was more to it than I had imagined.
Because, before we even made it to the first store, I had collapsed. I don’t remember much about what happened, just that I had been walking, then was lightheaded. The world around me began to spin before I felt my head connect with the ground beneath me.
I woke up in the same room that I had been in since the Huntsman took me away from the castle. I woke up, foggy headed, but my pain was gone. I felt fine. It was as if nothing had happened to me.
Sitting up, I perched on the edge of the bed, waiting to be sure that I was stable. When no dizziness or wooziness came, I eased myself off, walking towards the closet. I jumped when I heard his voice, startled by the unexpected presence in the room.
Huntsman: Love Will Find a Way Page 4