Alice sniffled, it hurt too much to cry everything ached. She wanted to go home she wanted to go back to her mother and brother back to Vincent back where things where safe and warm where people didn’t hate and her distrust her. She do anything now to have Vincent’s arms around her, safe warm letting her know everything was going to be alright just the knowledge that someone somewhere cared for her.

Almost every day since she’d come to the cabin, Heather had taken her out into the wilds she’d been beaten, battered and bruised in the name of “training” she didn’t want to train she didn’t want to fight to be a warrior, she wanted to go back to the farm, work the fields tend the pigs be at home with people who loved her.

She wanted to be anywhere but here. Where Lars could barely look upon her, where Heather despised her and no one really wanted her. Where she was locked in her room and watched where ever she went.

Even now here in the wilderness, the frost biting her fingers and toes, tears running down her face somewhere out there she was watching, watching her fail at her latest test, watching her lie down like a dying dog shivering in the cold watching her cry, disappointed and disapproving, why didn’t they just kill her and be done with it.

She sniffled again and a sharp pain shot up her side from her bruised ribs causing her to cry out in pain, wiping the tears she struggled to sit looking out over the forest, the thick foliage of the evergreen tree’s prevented the snow from sticking on the ground but they did little to protect her from the cold, rubbing her hands together she cursed Heather disallowing her to bring a coat and cursed the cold.  

Stupid test, whatever was she supposed to do anyway..Heather had told her she had to merely be one with nature and survive the night.  She was going to freeze if that was surviving the night then she was doing wonderfully. She’d already miserably failed to make a fire, her one attempt at finding a cave resulted in her being chased off by a pack of angry wolves and tumbling off a cliff, and now she was tucked up as best she could against a hard rock wall, in the freezing cold with nothing but a handful of rocks and twigs for company.

She wasn’t a woodsman, just a farm girl from the down’s she knew about pigs, chickens, cows and the best time of year to plant corn. She knew nothing about being a woodsman, surviving the cold and even less about fighting vampires.

Tucking her knee’s up under her chin she sobbed, the damp of the undergrowth on which she sat, seeping though the simple layered cloth of her gown, but she didn’t care because she couldn’t get any colder.  Time passed what seemed like hours went as the sun set and darkness fell, she’d stopped shivering by now, a slow warmth seemed to seep over her numb limbs.

Suddenly a flash of blue caught her eye.. two bright blue eye’s gleaming into the darkness. The pad of footsteps came towards her and the familiar shape of Heather came out of the darkness nudging her arm the white wolf urged her to stand.  

Alice ignored her, she was too tired to move “Let me sleep” she begged but the wolf wouldn’t let her be, nudging her again more forcefully Heather omitted a low rumbling growl. Alice didn’t need to understand wolf to know what it meant she’d failed and Heather had come to take her back the cabin.

“Leave me “she begged” You don’t care anyway. Just let me freeze”

Heather didn’t move, her blue eye’s cold and unyielding she simply nudged her again.  

“I’m not going back” she sobbed “i don’t want to be a guardian… leave me alone”

Heather let out another low growl, before snapping her sharp teeth clipping Alice’s arm, forcefully enough to cause pain, but not hard enough to leave a mark or break the skin.

“Ow” Alice wailed, pulling back her arm defensively “leave me” she wailed again frustrated.

Heather ignored her, snapping out again this time catching her arm firmly without letting go, Heather dragged her till she lost her balance and tipped onto her side. Alice grunted, pulling herself up “I’m coming” she sobbed “I hate you ..” she grumbled, not knowing if the wolf heard her and not caring either way. However if Heather heard her she ignored it padding off into the darkness confident that the miserable girl would follow.

Asha circled her bedroom in her fathers castle, it’s huge windows allowed light to flood into the entire building, once inside the light seemed to bounces off it’s pristine marble wall’s making everything it touched seem almost luminescent reminding her of the huge paintings she’d seen at the church of what heaven was supposed to be like.  Peering out of the huge ornate window’s she looked down into the courtyard and out into the snow covered mountains, other than her father this view was the only thing that kept her sane in the castle.

As a child she and many other girls across the kingdom often dreamed of being taken away from their lowely lives and being turned into princess’s marrying hansom princes.  Now here she was she had everything most girls dreamed of. Suddenly catapulted from tavern keepers daughter to princess she had all the finest gowns and wasn’t expected to lift a finger with a dozen servants to bend to her every whim.

Even Asha couldn’t deny that it had been fun for a while, but she was quickly finding the restrictive gowns and even more restrictive lifestyle stifling. She’d never had much opportunity to get to know Jasmine before and now that she had she found her fathers wife her only ally in a castle that otherwise sought to smother her. She missed the smoke filled tavern and it’s rowdy customers where there was never a dull night and there was always plenty to do. She missed the satisfaction of a hard day’s work and flopping exhausted into bed, she missed the feeling that she got when her and her family sat down for a meal that they had all truly earned.

Relations between Grimstead and Darkfire had become even more strained since the event’s surrounding her witch hunt. Thomas and Tarik alliance was already an uneasy one and with Grimstead’s Religious leader dead at the hands of Tarik Thomas’s patience had worn out and he had declared that Tarik and Tarik’s people where no-longer welcome in Grimstead.

While most people worried about what this meant especially the merchants living within the castle walls Asha’s father didn’t seem to care, declaring only that if Grimstead wanted to follow a king that deemed burning girls was God’s will, then damn them and damn their god. Darkfire it seemed was now completely isolated, and while it’s people held faith in their King Asha herself worried that her father had put the entire kingdom at risk for the sake of her and for what?  So she could sit lazing around watching other people work? So she could wear dresses that cost more than the average man’s wage. Dress’s that she’d only earned by happening to have the right father and being lucky enough that he acknowledged her existence.

Asha missed her home, she missed the man who’d raised her, she missed her brothers and sisters back home, she even missed working in the tavern and no matter how much the people her tried to make her welcome in the castle she felt out of place and yearned to go back to her old life. A life where she knew her place and had earned it.

“Asha Asha” a familiar voice called, turning around Asha watched as Danica Tariks other daughter come running into the room holding her favourite book.

“What?” Asha smiled.

“Will you read to me?” Danica begged “PLeeeeeese?”

Asha took the book from the young girl’s hand, flicking though the pages “Why don’t you read it to me?” she suggested, she’d become a local hero since she’d arrived and none trailed her more than Danica who now saw her older sister as some kind of idol following her every where Asha’s only peace was when Danica was being schooled.

Danica shook her head, causing her wavy hair to bounce around her face. “but I want you to read it” she begged.

“I can’t read well” Asha admitted, schooling for girls back home was basic at best and while Henry had insisted that all children got an education reading wasn’t always a priority for the girls.

“Can’t read well? Or can’t read?” Danica pouted.

“Can’t read” Asha admitted “A few words here and there… not enough to read a book like that”

Danica looked at her quizzically “why not?” she asked innocently “aren’t you good at school?”

Asha suddenly felt a little embarrassed “ I can do my sums and count but I wasn’t taught to read, Farid showed me some but I’m not good at it”

“What aren’t you good at?” another familiar voice asked, Asha looked up to see Tarik entering the room.

“Asha can’t read?!” Danica giggled as though she found the idea quite silly,  making Asha blush a deep crimson.

Tarik nodded and wandered over tussling the younger girl’s hair as he past “Why don’t you go and bother your mother” he grinned “I need to speak with Asha”

Danica groaned with distain but heeded her father and ran off out of the room.

Tarik smiled at Asha “don’t worry about not reading” he offered “Jasmine doesn’t read well either.. just enough to get by”

“I wasn’t worried” Asha replied defensively.

Tarik nodded a strange knowing smile on his face. “How are you settling in?” he asked.

“Everyone’s been really nice” she replied “I can’t complain”

Tarik nodded, seeming concerned “You don’t seem happy?”

Asha shrugged, not sure how she could tell him that this just wasn’t the life for her. “I miss my brother” she replied deciding that not only was that most believable answer, but also wasn’t a lie.

“Maybe next time you talk to him you can invite him up for a visit” Tarik suggested.

Asha nodded “Maybe”

“Anyway speaking of visitor’s you have one, downstairs .. a handsome young man by all accounts” Tarik smiled with a wink.

“A young man, who?”

“I didn’t think to ask his name.. but he insists he knows you”

Thomas found Abel in Sophie’s chambers the door was open so he didn’t think twice about walking straight in, finding the brother and sister in deep conversation both looking suddenly guilty upon seeing him.

“Abel I was hoping to find you” He tried to smile, while his stomach did somersaults from the new’s he’d just heard.

Abel nodded seeming to sense the gravity of the meeting, patting his sister lightly on the hand before standing, “shall we take it you my chambers or yours?”

“Either is fine”

“Mine are closer” Abel offered, leading the way out into the corridor where wandered down the corridor and into Abels room, taking a seat once inside. “So what did you want to discuss?”

“Your sister” Thomas sighed.

“Is this because i refused to accept Danson as a suitor?” Abel interrupted.

“No” Thomas replied “i mean maybe… can i ask why you refused?”

Abel sighed, and Thomas noted that the young man seemed uncomfortable “I just don’t think now is the time…” he explained “maybe in a few months when things have settled I’ll consider it, but right now i just want what is best for my sister and i don’t think thrusting her on the first willing man is right for her”

“This wouldn’t have anything to do with her possible pregnancy would it?” Thomas asked nervously.

“You know about that?” Abel replied not seeming too surprised.

Thomas nodded.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, I wanted to be sure” He apologised. “I didn’t think it would be fair on Danson to start making arrangements at this point”

“I understand” Thomas nodded.

“I wouldn’t worry” Abel offered “It’s still too soon to be sure”

“Ailana must be sure” Thomas replied “Women tend to keep these things quiet until they are”

“Ailana didn’t tell me” Abel replied.

“Then how?”

“Same way as you I expect” Abel smiled “For a large castle it seems quite difficult to keep a secret”

“I agree” Thomas sighed “And if she is? What then?”

“Then it seems I’m in a rather difficult position”

“Me also” Thomas agreed.

Abel nodded “Though I suspect it’s Ailana herself who is in the most difficult of all”

“Would you have me marry her?” he asked, fearing the answer he knew of course as King no-one would make him do anything but damaged relations between the Hamdun’s and the crown would not be easily mended. “I know you said, no .. but now things are different?”

“Peter and Gabriel will expect it” Abel replied calmly after a long and uncomfortable pause “I don’t doubt it’s what they’ve been hoping for since Holly left”

“I didn’t ask what they would expect” Thomas asked directly “I asked what you would want?”

Abel seemed to consider the situation carefully, before answering “Honestly if she’s with child then I can’t help but hope that you’d do the right thing”

Thomas sighed.

“Of course that doesn’t mean you should” Abel added “I’m thinking selfishly only for her”

“Don’t pull her gown so tightly” Sophie chirped as Persia struggled with the fastenings of Ailana’s dress.

Ailana gasped sharply as her young maid pulled on the ties yet again, she hated this morning ritual, she missed the maids back home, maids who didn’t seem to enjoy torturing her the way Persia did.  

Perisa made no effort to hide the distain she felt for her and although the young woman was far too well trained to say the words, she let her know in every way left open to her. From pulling her corset unbearably tight, to attacking her hair as though a grizzly lived in it that needed to be beaten into submission. Not to mention that almost all of Ailana’s meals arrived cold while her bath was always too hot.

“Don’t pull it so tightly” Sophie insisted again, “You’ll squash the baby flat”

Ailana glowered at her sister, she didn’t know how Sophie knew, Sophie always seemed to know everything and for that she sometimes hated her.  She hadn’t told anyone yet not even Abel, truth be told she wasn’t even sure herself yet, it had only been 6 weeks since her brothers party far too soon to be jumping to such conclusions even if her monthly was a tiny bit late.

“Is it true?” Persia half demanded catching Ailana by surprise.

“What?” she replied the question leaping from her mouth in a gasp as Persia jerked the ties once again.

“Are you with Thomas’s child?” Persia demanded.

She was just about to protest her innocence’s and explain that it was far too early to tell, when she remembered that when all was said and done Persia was the servant and she was the noblewoman and she didn’t need to explain anything to her. Composing herself “That is none of your concern” she simply replied.  

Looking in the mirror she could see Persia’s disgusted expression, an expression she was far too familiar with around the castle by now. The servant’s hated her they hated the fact that she was the cause of the loss of Holly and while Thomas himself seemed to be the only person not to blame her he could not bare to be near her either.

“Danson won’t want you if you’re with Thomas’s child” Persia replied matter of factly, the not so subtle dig biting.  Ailana sighed, if she were alone right she’d cry, but she wouldn’t cry because Hamdun woman didn’t cry in public and most of all not in front of servants.

Rumours were of course already flying about Thomas’s request that Danson marry Ailana, infact it was just that thing that Thomas was talking with Abel about at that very moment.  Gossip’s where talking would they, wouldn’t they .. would Danson agree, would Abel and Peter agree?. Yet thus far not one person had thought to even tell her about it directly never mind ask her if she agreed, she’d only learnt of it from Sophie.  Not that there was anything to agree, if her brothers and Danson agreed her opinion mattered little anyway.

She’d only met Danson in a fleetingly manner on a couple of occasions. On those occasions he’d seemed polite enough, though at the time she’d not considered him as a possible spouse and couldn’t even remember if he was handsome.  Now though she desperately hoped he’d want her and she hoped her late cycle was just due to stress and upset.  Because for her cruelty Persia was right, if she was with Thomas’s child Danson wouldn’t want her.

If she were pregnant her only hope would be that Thomas would marry her out of some twisted loyalty. At least Quillen was evidence that he valued even his bastard children and wouldn’t see her cast out into the cold, but she didn’t hold out much hope that it would ever be a happy union.

Hannah sat curled up in front of the fire her head nodding as she struggled with the urge to sleep. Eadric was sleeping soundly in his crib and she was just waiting for Valdermar to return so she could go home.

She heaved herself up of the seat and stretched heading to the window she opened it as much as she’d dare, letting the biting cold air touch her face in an effort to wake herself up as it would not do for Valdermar to return and find her sleeping.

Looking down at the peaceful baby she pulled the window closed again, before too much of the heat escaped. Edric was a pleasant baby, as long as he was clean and fed he rarely cried. Unlike the rabble she had to deal with back at home. 

They’d been left to pretty much fend for themselves since their mother died, and as the eldest much of the responsibility for the care of the younger ones fell to her. Her Grandmother helped as much as she could by watching the littlest ones during the day while she worked and the older ones went to school. With her earnings and the money Vince Bendett bought round from her father’s wages they where surviving but Hannah was tired.

“Where is your father?” she whispered to the sleeping baby but almost as she said it she watched as the lords coach entered the courtyard “Finally” she smiled hurriedly grabbing her coat and running down the stairs.

As she reached the bottom she watched as Valdermar stagger in having had a few drinks.

“Have a good night Milord?” she asked.

Valdermar nodded, “How’s my little man?”

Hannah smiled “He’s been fed and he’s sleeping, hopefully he won’t trouble you till morning”

Valdermar nodded “You’re a good girl Hannah”

Hannah smiled nervously not liking the way he looked at her sometimes and now was one of those times. “Goodnight milord” she whispered hurrying to leave.

“Do you need to go?” he asked catching her by the arm causing her jump with fright.

“I have lots of things that need doing” she whimpered, trying to pull away. She’d heard of course the stories of Neve and Eden the other servants had warned her about Valdermar and his tastes.

“Come have a drink with me?” he offered holding fast to her arm.

“I can’t milord” she whimpered “my sister’s they need me and it’s late”

“Just one” he smiled.

“I can’t, please I need to go”

“I insist” he commanded half guiding half dragging her into the main lounge, releasing his grip she staggered a couple of steps before recovering herself and sat down on the couch pulling her coat tightly around her before settling her hands nervously on her lap.

Valdermar sauntered over to the bar pouring them both a mug of wine, handing Hannah hers she eyed the liquid suspiciously.  

“Your very good with Edric” he smiled, “I don’t think you realise how grateful I am”

“He’s a good baby” she replied, watching the nobleman like a hawk.

“Are you scared of me?” he asked bluntly.

“No milord”

“You don’t need to lie to me” Valdermar replied with a strange sort of smile “I do know what people think of me. I know that I have a reputation”

Hannah didn’t know how to respond, so she just looked down at her drink swirling the liquid inside the mug.

“Do you think I’m a bad man?” he asked.

Hannah shrugged “I only see you with Edric” she replied “And you seem to love him very much”

“That wasn’t the question?” he chuckled.

“I’m not sure anyone capable of love is beyond hope” she replied, with the most diplomatic answer she had available.

“Interesting that you bring up love” he smiled “do you know where I’ve been tonight?”

Hannah shook her head.

“I’ve been celebrating.. the only woman I ever loved is a free woman again” he smiled seeming unaware of Hannah’s discomfort. “and tomorrow I plan to start winning her back”

Alice sat on the edge of the bed the way she did every morning waiting to be let out of her room. While Lar’s had refused to let Heather send her back, but he was still cautious and distrusting of her.  Locking her securely in her room each night and watching her like a hawk during the day especially if she ventured near his other daughters.

The twin girls had accepted their new ‘sister’ quickly and seemed to relish having the older girl around to fuss over them.  Kaitlyn had returned to the cabin a few days after Alice had arrived and as of whole seemed most displeased about returning. Lar’s had put her up in Raeanne’s cabin rather than keeping her in the house and seemed equally distrusting of his wife as he was of her.

Kaitlyn was a little odd Alice decided, perhaps it was the way of noblewomen but she didn’t have much frame of reference something about her seemed slightly unhinged and Alice wasn’t at all sure she was comfortable with her.  Kaitlyn seemed to deem her some kind of ally and it seemed as though she was beginning to hatch a plan of how to escape with the girls away from the ‘monsters’ and Alice wasn’t at all sure that Kaitlyn realised she was a ‘monster’ too.

As a whole though Alice wasn’t sure she liked Heather or Kaitlyn.  Raeanne however seemed pleasant enough, she’d told her lots of story’s about Wolf her Brother and it seemed that the young woman missed him greatly.

Lar’s himself was a bit of an oddity, she still couldn’t picture him with her mother and it was hard to place the two pictures she had of him side by side, her mother rarely had anything good to say about him and here in the flesh he seemed a stoic and larger than life individual.  

He treated her with a strange sort of indifference but was pleasant enough answering all of her questions about werewolves and about the relationship he’d once had with her mother. Werewolves it seemed lived slightly longer than human’s on average which was why he still seemed so young in comparison to her mother and he insisted that no matter what her mother had told her that once upon a time he’d loved her greatly. 

However as a whole he seemed to keep her at a distance as though he was still unwilling to accept that she was indeed his flesh, mostly though she just couldn’t fathom out the huge man. However every time she came to the conclusion that perhaps her mother and Kaitlyn where right, perhaps he was just a monster incapable of emotion, she’d catch him out of the corner of his eye watching Kaitlyn with a strange pained expression on his face or she’d see him playing with his other daughter’s with undeniable affection.

The familiar grind of the metal latch told her that she was once again free, or as free as one could be when people watched every move you made.  Standing up she headed towards the door looking out into the hall way she could see Lar’s already heading down the corridor away from her without so much as a good morning. Her feet gently padding along the wooden floor after him she headed into the main living area where Raeann and Kaitlyn where already preparing breakfast.

“Morning” Raeanne smiled cheerily.

Alice nodded and smiled back, it really was a strange sort of house everyone but Raeanne knowing the truth, she wasn’t quite sure why they just didn’t tell her and save themselves the trouble of dealing with yet another situation like Kaitlyn’s and her mothers.

“Can i help?” she offered motioning towards the breakfast things.

Raeanne nodded and smiled passing her a basket of freshly baked bread rolls, which she began to set onto the table as she noticed the door open and Heather enter. The female werewolf for the most part terrified the young girl.

She was in charge of Alice’s training and could often be harsh and Alice often came home from her sessions battered and bruised. Lars said it was necessary for her to understand the pack, that Heather was teaching her things that ‘should’ have been taught to her from an early age and that the world that they lived in was brutal and that if she didn’t learn to fight all she would learn was how to die.

“Are you ready Alice?” the woman asked her tone even as always it revealed nothing about how she felt towards her.

Alice glanced towards the table, already the children were gathering in their places ready to eat. “Yes” she nodded, ignoring her rumbling belly setting the basket of bread in the centre of the table and began to head towards her.

“She hasn’t have breakfast yet” Lar’s noted.

Alice paused, Heather looked irritated but nodded “Eat then meet me outside” she instructed.

Danson headed into Thomas’s chamber’s finding the king sitting waiting for him, he immediately noted his old friend looked better than he had in weeks finally freshly shaven and back into his royal garb.

“Your highness” he bowed as was customary unsure if this was business or personal meeting.

“Sit down, you fool” Thomas smiled.

Danson nodded and took a seat relaxing, whatever it was Thomas wished to see I’m about didn’t seem to be a matter of estate or the military just happy that his one time friend seemed to be recovering from his grief.

“I’ve been thinking and I believe I’ve found a solution to both of our problems” Thomas smiled cutting straight to the point.

Danson paused shaking his head slightly not understanding; unaware he even had a problem.

“Ailana” Thomas clarified, “A way of getting her out of the castle without, leaving the poor girl defenceless and without losing Able in the process”

Danson smiled and listened still not quite understanding how this was his problem, but willing to help his king in any way he could.

“You do agree that she needs to go?” Thomas asked noting the confused expression.

“Yes of course Thomas” Danson replied “honestly she should never have been allowed to stay, but im not sure what this has to do with me?”

“Sorry” Thomas apologised apparently realising he hadn’t been very clear “I want you to marry the girl”

“Pardon!” he replied, thinking for a moment that he’d misheard.

“Please” Thomas asked “It would get me out of an awful bind, and I’m sure she’s a lovely girl and good breeding”

“But Thomas.. I .. “ Danson protested, not really having a good reason as to why it was a bad idea but not entirely sure it was a good one either. It had simply been the last thing he’d been expecting to hear.

“You haven’t got your eye on anyone else have you?” Thomas asked seeming suddenly concerned.

“No” he replied, “I hadn’t really thought to marry”

“Not ever?”

“Well… not yet” he replied “I was planning on getting settled first”

“What’s left to settle?” Thomas asked “You’ve taken over your position at the barracks splendidly I couldn’t have wished for finer commander”

“Yes but is a barracks really the place for a noblewoman?” he protested.

“its better place for her than here don’t you think?”

“Well yes.. maybe” he agreed, feeling stunned “Do you think her brother will agree?”

“Who? Abel? I imagine so he’s quite concerned about her future and you’re a better match than she’s likely to obtain otherwise”

“I wasn’t thinking of that, the Hamdun’s have their eye on you? Do you think Gabriel and Peter will agree?”

“I wasn’t planning on giving them much choice about it, Peter dumped her on me in the first place he didn’t seem to concerned for her welfare then”

“I guess he was hoping you’d warm to her?”

“Do you think it likely?” Thomas sighed.

“It’s not for me to say” Danson admitted, feeling as though things were suddenly spiralling out of his control.  “but you will need a wife at some point?” he pointed out “I mean that’s how all this came about do you not think that maybe one day?”

Thomas shook his head “What’s wrong with you? First you where horrified that I let Ailana stay and now you’re concerned I might one day want the girl?”

“It’s not that” Danson replied, thinking more of himself than of Thomas “I’m just not sure offloading the girl on the first willing man is very fair to her”

“You’d treat her well wouldn’t you?” Thomas asked “In all the years I’ve known you, I’ve never known you to be cruel to women”

“Of course I would” Danson replied.

“I’m doing this as much for your good as I am her’s” Thomas smiled “You need a wife and I haven’t see you paying many of the woman around here any interest”.

“It’s difficult” he protested half-heartedly “I’m still considered an outsider”

“And what better way to get into the right circles, marrying into one of the most prestigious family’s in the kingdom” Thomas smiled.

Danson felt defeated sighing, he could see Thomas’s logic but something about the proposal didn’t sit well with him.

“So you agree?” Thomas asked.

“I … I need so time to think on it” Danson replied.

Thomas nodded understanding “Well you go and think on it and I’ll discuss it with Abel see what he thinks’ of the idea”.

Jaedyn had allowed the thought’s of Gabriel’s refusal to allow Daisy to marry to fester in her head, she’d tried to block them out. Telling herself that now they had Finian he didn’t need ‘her’  but as the days dragged on his refusal just seemed to prove to her more and more with each passing minute that for some reason he thought at least that he ‘did’ need her.

Eventually it all became to much tottering dangerously close to becoming the irrational and over emotional  woman she used to be. Jaedyn decided she needed to ask him directly, laying Finian down in his cradle she made her way to Gabriel’s chambers.

She entered to find Gabriel sitting in front of the fire reading; already in his nightshirt he smiled as she entered laying the book down quickly as she entered. “It’s been a while since you visited me here without Finan in your arms” he noted.

Jaedyn smiled uneasily, the truth was she often used the baby to avoid intimate relations with her husband, since the baby’s birth Gabriel had been eager to resume his husbandly rights and while she had no problem with the physical or emotional acts she feared that if a second baby didn’t materialise Gabriel would become suspicious of Finian’s conception.

“Sit down” he offered patting the seat next to him his arms outstretched to receive her.

“I need to talk with you” Jaedyn replied her voice steady but barely more than a whisper.

“What about?” he asked his tone revealing that he’d realised something was wrong.

“Why won’t you let Daisy marry” she asked bluntly almost choking on the words.

“I….” Gabriel began his voice trailing off as he suddenly looked very ashamed “I didn’t know you knew about that?”

“I do”

“Oh!” he sighed “It isn’t how it look’s”

“Then how is it?” she questioned unable to prevent her eye’s from filling up.

“It’s not about her … it’s about Enora”

“What about her?”

“She’s my daughter” Gabriel offered as though that explained everything.

“Finian is your son” she countered, her voice beginning to sound shrill “Lord have bastards all the time, can’t you just leave it to its mother? .. if there is a man willing to take both of them off your hands then i say let him”

“She’s my responsibility” Gabriel offered.

“Why? Why is she?” Jaedyn demanded “most men don’t even acknowledge their bastards… why do you need too?”

“Thomas does” Gabriel replied as though that where reason enough.

“Damn Thomas” Jaedyn countered “Why does it matter?”

“He’s the king”

“SO! What… I’m your wife… I thought you’d forgotten about them, i thought it was over?! Or have you secretly been having contact with them his whole time?”

“No!…. I haven’t” Gabriel replied the words leaping from his lips “I was just that… I guess having Finian made me think about them”

Jaedyn glowered “swear to me nothing has been going on between you and that woman”

“I swear” Gabriel replied.

“If that is the case, then let her marry… let us be done with the whole affair. Let him take over the responsibility of their care.. He seemed to care for her” she demanded, though the thought that anyone could care for the girl seemed quite alien to her.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to upset you” he offered standing and walking over to where she stood, “it all just took me by surprise I didn’t know what to say”

“Promise me that nothing’s going on” she begged. “Promise me that you’re not seeing her”

“I’m not” he promised wrapping his arms around her and pulling her toward him “I have everything i need here” he said brushing wisp’s of hair off her neck before gently kissing it.

“Gabriel don’t” she begged pulling away, because although she belived him she knew where this would lead if she let it.

“Why not?” he asked, releasing his hold a little but not so much that she could pull away entirely. “Stay with me tonight”

“I can’t” she whispered.

“Still sore?” he sighed.

Jaedyn nodded pulling away completely, but understanding from the look in his eye that he was starting to doubt her excuses.  “Goodnight” she whispered kissing him gently on the cheek before quickly making her getaway.

“Have you seen her?” he asked.

Danson turned away from the fire he’d been using to warm himself and looked at Thomas who stood in the doorway and nodded.

“Is she any better?” Thomas asked his voice low, barely a whisper.

Danson paused, noting Thomas’s awkward stance the nervousness in him clearly visible he reminded him somewhat of a naughty child nervously asking for forgiveness. “I’ve seen her” he answered. “But she’s no better”

“I shouldn’t have let her go” Thomas replied looking on the verge of tears, running his hand up and down the wooden frame. “I should not have done so many things….”

Danson nodded not quite knowing what to say to his old friend, they’d been close once but they had grown apart since university. While many people cared for Thomas’s well being it now seemed to the young knight that the king had few people he truly called friend.  

“You have had a hard few years” Danson replied “There has been a lot going on, few men would have delt with it any better” he tried to reassure his old friend.

“My Father would have” Thomas whispered.

“Is it true you have plan’s to marry Ailana?” Danson asked openly, rumour’s where already flying around the castle but few men who dared to ask why she was here.

“No… No of course not” Thomas replied taken by surprise “she’s… just here … Peter.. he… Oh… it’s complicated” he sighed “She won’t be staying… and before you ask … she.. we… it’s not like that”

“Thats not how it looks” Danson replied.

“Do i look like a give a damn how it looks?” Thomas grumbled, lacking the energy to protest with more conviction.

“She still shouldn’t be here” Danson urged, when he’s first found out about Ailana’s presence he like many others had assumed she was here to replace Holly, and like many others it had angered him as Holly’s friend.  However now seeing Thomas the way he was, he found it impossible to believe that Ailana’s presence was anything of that nature. Thomas was obviously in no fit state to entertain thoughts beyond his own misery.

“i know” Thomas muttered “Trust me when i say i don’t want her here anymore than you do and as soon as i work out a way to be rid of her i shall be”

“You could set her up in a house somewhere within the grounds?” Danson offered.

“It’s not seemly having a young woman like that living alone her reputation would be left in tatter’s, besides harbouring her in house like my mistress well not quell the gossiping tongues. Every time i leave the castle they will assume I’ve gone to be with her… no keeping her here in plain sight where everyone can keep an eye on us is the only way”

Danson nodded, though he didn’t understand why Thomas should care for the girl’s reputation as far as he was concerned it was ruined anyway.

“You could send Abel with her?” Danson offered.

“I know, I’ve thought of that but the rate I’m going I’m not going to have any knights left in the castle”

“You do have two estates that need tending; it’s not as if he’d be wasted?”

“I know, I know” Thomas growled resigned “first Daniel now Abel at this rate everyone will be expecting their own estate.

“Indeed” Danson agreed.

“Besides If i sent Abel away, no doubt Vince will complain, his daughters indenture here at the castle isn’t finished. She can’t very well marry if her husband’s living miles away, That in turn would mean i’d be pressured into releasing her early… it all gets very messy very quickly”

 “I understand”

“I don’t believe you do” Thomas murmured “No doubt my father would have dealt with this all very cleanly”

Danson watched as Thomas headed towards the drink’s cabinet pouring himself a large glass of spirits “A little early for that don’t you think?”

Thomas grunted and seemed to ponder over the bottle for a moment, looking at it as though he wasn’t quite sure how it had managed to appear in his hand. “I guess that’s the advantage of being King” he decided, taking a mouthful “I get to choose when it’s too early”

Thomas sat in his nightshirt at the edge of his bed, it was late and he couldn’t sleep. He sighed deeply rubbing his hand to his forehead his throat parched he reached for the jug of water at the side of his bed only to find it empty.

He found the cold stone against his feet refreshing as he stood and wandered towards the window. The stained glass made it impossible to see outside but he stood beside it staring none the less, casually tracing the shapes on the glass with his finger.

Thinking back he remembered another time, a time when Valdermar had been his best friend and life had seemed ripe for the taking, then along came Holly and everything had changed… now he didn’t have a wife and his best friend was his worst enemy. Oh how things had changed.

Pulling himself away from the fascinating facets of the coloured glass, he stared at the jug, he could call for a servant to come and refill it but instead he grabbed it and headed out into the corridor making his way down though the castle towards the courtyard.

Turning a corner he suddenly came to a dead stop seeing a silhouette coming down the corridor towards him.  Recognising it immediately as Ailana he felt his heart stop. He knew she was here of course, he’d permitted her to stay after all but over the week’s he’d been very careful to avoid her at all costs. Yet there she was dressed in her nightclothes a robe wrapped tightly around her and judging by her stance she had seen him too.

They both stood staring at each other for a moment and Thomas debated quickly turning and heading away ‘no that wouldn’t do, she’s clearly seen him and it wouldn’t do for the king to run away from a young girl what would she think of him?’ So taking a deep breath Thomas put one foot steadily in front of the other towards the young girl focusing on the jug held in his hand.

He’d only taken a few steps when out of the corner of his eye he watched as Ailana darted like a frightened rabbit into one of the doorways off the corridor. Approaching he paused outside for a moment, the room was a spare guest room, empty for the time being he debated opening it and seeing what she was doing but it had seemed apparent that she’d just nipped inside to hide from him and he had no wish for a awkward encounter after all what would he even say to her? So instead he breathed a sigh of relief and continued down towards the courtyard to refill his jug.