wow this is a really long chapter i have no idea if the rest of them will be around this long who knows any way. this is my first fanfic for this section so pls enjoy and review
I had been standing in this same position for ages, awaiting my sentence; I have no idea why I am being sentenced. I t may be because I was caught stealing bread from the kitchens, or maybe even because my parents are mutes and can't support me any more even though I'm the one supporting them. Or it was most likely because I was found sleeping with one of the guards. Yeah I know what you are thinking. Sleeping with a guard a girl of my age, which happens to be seventeen, sleeping with a guard who is probably in his fifties.
Well it wasn't my choice; I did not choose to have that as my life. Nobody chose it for me but that is what I do sleep with men. The reason behind this is well my parents are paralysed and mute they can't do anything for themselves. Literally, I have to support them and the way I do that is, working. I looked over to the king sitting in his chair all comfortable. I watched his face as he read my report. His eyes widened, he was probably reading the part about me being found with the guard great my reputation ruined I wish I could just die. Dying would be so much better than being put in prison.
I stood there continuing to look around the hall. There was a quiet murmur going round I caught a few of the words. "Stupid girl" and "disgusting selling herself to men." Hey I wanted to shout. I don't have a choice. I do that sort of stuff because it's the only way I can get money. If I were as wealthy or stuck up as these people who were cursing my very name then maybe I wouldn't be in this situation.
The king rose from his chair and cleared his throat; he surveyed the hall and then looked back to the parchment in his hand...
"Eleanor Wind-rift," I groaned they always said my name wrong
"Your sentence has been decided, I king Duncan sentence you to instant death"
I feel the weight rise from my shoulders, YES I thought I'm free no more of this accursed life. The king instructs the guards to take me away with a wave of his hand. They grab my arms and being to drag me away. I look to ether face of the men and see that the second man is looking at me as well. He winks oh god not again. He smiles and whispers to me the secret code word breadcrumbs.
I groan great just when I thought I was free and now I will have to go to his bed tonight. My eyes look through the crowd focusing on people for no more than a few seconds. All of them are chatting together not taking notice of the girl being dragged out. But then I catch sight of a young man maybe a couple of years older than my self. He is probably the only person in this whole building who is looking at me. His eyes are full with sorrow and sympathy. The blue colour makes them look even sadder. Great I can't stand people feeling sorry for me. I sneered at him and he looked away his eyes still looked sad but his face was scrunched together as though he were thinking. I looked ahead of me and saw that the guards and I were almost at the door a few more metre, and then that's when heard it.
"I will take her." My head spun road and I saw him the man standing. His head raised looking at the king. He was wearing a cloak. He wasn't very tall and not to short ether. What on earth could this guy want with me? I wondered. The king stared at the man his eyes winded he mouth the word what and continued staring.
"I'll take her, your majesty." The man said, his voice was like velvet, the king nods.
"Okay but we are going to have to discuss this" he stepped down from his throne and walked over to where I was standing. He directed the guards in to a little room and called the man over.
We all gather in the room. The king sat first then the man and then I was forced into my seat. The guards were then instructed to leave.
"Hamish, you cannot be serious, taking in this….. This" the king gestured in my direction looking disgusted. I of course pretended not to notice and stare at the wood grain in the table. I had seen plenty of bed heads in my day but this wood would have to be the best looking I had ever come across, considering it belonged to the king it made sense.
"Your majesty, I am willing to take this girl into my care as an apprentice." The man who was obviously called Hamish said.
Not wanting to seem rude or anything all though my reputation was far from perfect I raised my hand. Nobody took any notice so I cleared my throat as well. Hamish and the king both looked at me. I could feel my cheeks turning red but I spoke anyway.
"An apprentice of what exactly?" I stammered
"A ranger's apprentice." Hamish answered. My jaw dropped.
"But I'm not ….. I'm no good at that stuff… sneaking up on people… I … well… what... That's absurd."
"Ranger Hamish has offered to take care of you meaning you will not be killed and all you can say is you'd rather not take his offer, Eleanor child that is what I would call absurd.
"but I'd rather be dead, I don't wish to live any more it's too hard to much, everyone hates me… all of those people out there think I'm a devil, it's not my fault…" my voice was getting louder every second and before I knew it I was screaming at the king. " I never wanted to sleep with anyone of those men, it wasn't my choice but it was either that or me and my parents would die." I finished my screaming rant and breathed deeply, I suddenly realised what I had said and burst into tears. I feel to the floor and curled up there I sobbed. Over the strangely loud sobs coming from me I heard the king's voice
"Hamish you may take, but if there is one muck up she is coming straight back here and her sentence will be carried out."
"Yes your majesty when does y….."
"Just take her and get out of my sight."
I heard a chair scrape across the floor and heard footsteps come closer to me. I didn't need help getting up. So I stood took one last look around the room and bolted for the door, wrenched it open and ran out into the corridor. I vaguely knew where the entrance was to the castle so I wasn't really paying attention to where I was going. I could hear foot steps behind me I turn my head slightly to my right and using my peripheral vision saw that Hamish was running after me. He was fast, faster that many men and I should know considering how many I had run from. I snapped my head back around and just in time cause I was about to run into the wall. I turned the corner and blinked away a few tears that were clouding my vision.
There it was the entrance I ran on a few more metres and I would be out and then a few more and I would be at the gate. I ran through the door and was half way to the great iron gates when I heard him.
"Eleanor Windreth" I paused but then quickly remembered my situation. I continued running I passed the gates and I was out, I turned slightly to the left but Hamish had caught up with me he grabbed my arm and pulled back I tripped and went tumbling taking him with me. We rolled round and round me trying to fight off his grip. And him trying to keep a firm hold. Dust rose and got into our mouth we coughed and spluttered and finally we stopped rolling. For a few minutes we lay there and then Hamish stood pulling me to my feet. I stumbled a little but he steadied me.
"Well" he said his voice slightly breathy from all the running. "I expect you to have better self control next time or I'm afraid I'll have to hand you over for execution."
"Well that would be the best thing in the world right now." I said snarling at him.
Again the same sympathetic look veils his eyes. I shrugged my shoulders and turned away.
"So where is it that we are going?" I said staring off into the distance taking one last look at this horizon.
well after all that i bet some of you are puzzuled as to how to pronounce the last name of Eleanor
well i'll try my best to teach you
it is wind- rath except say it fast and the 'a' in rath sounds like and 'e' so its windreth
(i have no idea if it is a real word i made it up because i thought i sounded nice and complimented her first name)
well thats all for today hope you enjoyed it and review
Vanity Storm
V.S.
