Marciana held her breath as she listened to the guard walk by the hiding place and when he'd gone she gave a quick glance in either direction before hurrying down the steps of her home. It wasn't a castle per say... others might call it as much but in her mind it was small. She reached the small forest clearing soon enough to wait for him.
It was only a few minutes later that Seth arrived. A huge smiled appeared on his face when she saw Marciana. "Did anyone see you? I'm sure no one saw me."
"I don't think so," She rushed happily to him, her arms wrapping around his neck to greet him with a tender kiss.
"I missed you," She murmured. They saw each other all the time... but she had to pretend he was only a stable boy and an old friend.
Seth wrapped his arms around her and nodded as she spoke. "I missed you too. I just... I wish we didn't have to hide like this."
She sighed softly, her head resting on his shoulder, a soft smile on her lips. "As do I..." but she was set to marry another... even then she would not stop seeing him. She couldn't, she loved him with all her heart and soul.
Seth lightly kissed her cheek. "But as long as no one finds out, we can keep meeting like this."
"Forever," She agreed, pressing her lips to his. Probably the worst time then for a curious follower to see them. Seth just deepened the kiss, brushing Marciana's hair out of her face as he did.
She sighed softly and smiled as the parted, though she stayed very much in his arms... it was then she heard someone start running for it and her eyes widened. Had they been seen? She was betrothed to one of the most powerful young lords in the land though...
Seth looked towards where the footsteps were. "Should we part? Pretend that this didn't happen and deny whoever says did?"
She nodded, "We had better," She agreed, but she didn't want to leave him... not when she hadn't even told him... though it might be unwise now to tell Seth that she was pregnant... it would mean a world of trouble for this anyways though she had planned to run away... and ask Seth to come with her.
He gave her one, quick kiss before withdrawing, half running, and half walking back to where he lived. He lived alone. So no one could say he wasn't at home.
Marciana had a more difficult journey and when caught she claimed she had been thirsty and only wished for some water though for that she normally would have called her servant.
"Sir... I have some... troubling news. It's about Marciana."
"What about my betrothed?" The man looked up from the papers he was dealing with.
"She was spotted with another man. It seems as if she snuck out just to see him. And... It was a more intimate visit. With kisses."
The man paused. "What?"
After all, as his betrothed she was to be faithful to him. No other man was to have her the way Seth had already had her numerous times. The person who had informed him gulped. "Exactly as I said, sir. She was with another man. And it seemed as if they were together, though she is supposed to be with you."
The man was furious naturally and early morning she was summoned to him. Marciana was worried... terrified that he knew her secret.
"Marciana..." He started, eyes flicking to her face. "Where were you last night? Your chambers were empty for a period of time."
"I went for a glass of water, my lord," She spoke calmly, no, he couldn't know... please don't let him know!
"It's strange, that you did. Usually, you call for a servant."
"I was restless My Lord, I hoped that the walk would help me sleep," She lied easily enough, her gold eyes locked on the man she was betrothed to.
"Then explain why you were spotted a way away from the grounds." He did know.
"And who was it who spotted me? I swear to you My Lord; I did not leave the castle last night."
"A messenger. One of mine. He is loyal, and says he watched for a few minutes to assure that it was you he saw, and not one similar."
"He must still have been confused then... or not as loyal as you had hoped, my lord." She spoke more stiffly now. She hoped he mistook it for her anger at having her honor questioned though truly she was frightened. For herself, for her lover and for the baby growing inside her already.
The man walked towards Marciana now. "He swears on his life, Marciana. And other servants claim to have seen you enter the castle after midnight."
She backed away, "Exactly what are you accusing me of?" She asked now. Her husband-to-be had always frightened her to a degree, and more so now than ever before.
"I'm accusing you of being unfaithful. And I have the means to tell if you tell the truth or not."
"Is that so... and how do you propose to determine such a thing?" She asked with a small frown. They weren't married yet so if he touched her it was rape, and even he could not avoid the punishment... castration was less than pleasant she had heard.
The man frowned, and roughly grabbed her shoulders. They were alone in his own bedchambers. Before Marciana could say something, he pushed her onto the bed. "You brought this to yourself."
She struggled of course with everything she had but it was no use. She wasn't nearly as strong as he was and though she screamed and cried out, no one came to her aide there... there was no one else around save those very loyal to this man.
Of course, he didn't stop. He just had his way with her. Though, his eyes narrowed, seeing as he entered her too easily for it to be her first time. It angered him.
She ran when she was finally able to... right to her lover and a complete mess. He dress was torn and she was crying, her hair was a mess too, normally tied back neatly as could be.
Seth's eyes widened when he saw her, and he quickly wrapped his arms around her as he brought her in. "What happened?"
"H-he knew, h-he knows!" Was all she could say when she flung her arms around him. They had to leave, and now before he had them hurt... Seth was sure to be executed for some false charge and who would they believe? The most powerful man in the land or a stable boy?
His eyes widened. "He knows?" Seth cursed under his breath. "I have clothes. Normal clothes for you. Change into them, and then we can leave. We have to leave... Right?"
She hiccupped and nodded quietly. They would be destitute for a while, but they would have their lives and each other... and their baby.
The baby that Seth still didn't know about. He nodded and got the outfit. It was a simple dress. Something that he thought the royals wouldn't be able to recognize Marciana in.
Or anyone for that matter. She prayed as much anyways and dressed. "Seth..." She had to tell him now in case it was too late. "I'm pregnant,"
His eyes widened, surprised. "You... Are?" Despite the situation, he smiled. "So we have another reason to get away. Come on." He grabbed Marciana's hand before leading her away. They had to get away. Quickly too.
But it was too late. "Attempting to flee are you" Their path to any horses was blocked and she took Seth's hand in fright, hiding behind him.
Seth blocked Marciana from the men who were blocking them. "What do you mean, flee? I was just going for a walk with my out-of-town relative."
"Lady Marciana is no relative of yours," The guard smirked cruelly and she swallowed. They were going to kill them both, she knew.
Still, Seth persisted. "Lady Marciana? You must be mistaken. This isn't the lady, however much they may look alike. People do have similar looks throughout the world."
"We've been told to arrest you... both of you, so come with us or die here," He said with a smirk.
Seth glanced at Marciana, unsure of what to do. He needed her to live. He'd rather die than let her, even if it was them together. "Why arrest us? What are the charges?"
"You've been charged with rape and attempted kidnapping, and the Lady has been charged with being unfaithful and theft," They smirked.
Seth gulped. The charges were serious ones. Ones he couldn't possibly be able to rebut against. Now, he looked towards Marciana, not knowing what to do.
"We're dead either way with such charges..." She murmured. She hated this... she hated the man who had now done this and she hated that she hadn't run sooner.
It would have saved their and their baby's life. "Should we go with them...? Or die here?"
"We might refute the charges," She said, "Very well, we are entitled to a trial," Though if the judge was their accuser they were dead.
Seth nodded. "That we are. And we both demand one."
"And a trial you shall have." The trial was three days later... and a sham of one at that, a show so others would say there was one. Both were found guilty in the eyes of the Gods and of man and both sentenced to die but there was one other punishment. A curse, something her betrothed did out of pure spite.
Spite because she didn't love him, and she wanted her to suffer. Her and her 'lover'. And it was an evil one at that. They were cursed to reincarnate, lifetime after lifetime but to fail to recognise one another as lovers... and to hate one another until their souls were repulsed by each other as much as they could ever be... and only then would their curse be lifted. Marciana wept when it was placed over them, she hated knowing that she would never again know Seth as her one true love, but to think him her greatest enemy.
And Seth cursed the man, though it got him punched. He didn't want to lose his love, and his child, but they would be. Forever.
Seth was killed first, beheaded for his crimes where Marciana was hanged. It would be eons before their curse broke, over a millennia would pass in fact...