Prologue
Emily watched the baby that was her brother with tired eyes.
She had been woken up early that morning to come celebrate the birth of this...this pink squirming thing that was in the woman's hands.
She was not happy at all. She looked to her father, not daring to glare at him, but radiating in the annoyance a small child can have if they are woken up.
"Daddy, I wanna go back to bed!" she whined, closing her black eyes and crossing her arms across her chest.
"Quiet!" He snapped, walking forward and touching the boy softly on the head. The baby's mother looked up at Morgarath tiredly and surprisingly with what looked like love, though there was a hint of fear. The woman then looked at Emily and gave her a sad look.
"Let her go to sleep, she can meet him in the morning," she said.
Morgarath looked at her with cold eyes before looking at Emily. "Fine, but don't think there won't be consequences for this," he said to Emily.
Emily opened her eyes, looking up at her father fearfully. Consequences? For sleep?
She shook her head now, faking being wide awake. "No, Daddy, I'm not tired anymore..." she said backing away from him. "I wanna see my brother."
She was watching Morgarath with wide eyes, stopping well out of arm's reach from him. Part of her being knew that this was probably a mistake, but it was fear that had kept her moving backward. She didn't want to be punished. Not today.
Morgarath looked at her before looking at the baby's mother. "Do you have a name for him?" He asked.
She shook her head.
He then looked at the baby who had begun to cry, his face softening into something unrecognizable. "Garath," he said softly,
The woman smiled. "It's lovely," she said before she closed her eyes. "I'm tired," she said, holding the baby toward him.
Morgarath nodded and took the baby gently, rocking him before setting him in the crib. "Go to bed, Emily," he snapped, looking up at her with a once again hard face.
"Please come with me?" She asked quietly. "I'm scared of the dark...I don't wanna go alone..."
She had a motive behind the question. She just wanted to spend some time with her father - time that was few and far between since she had grown older. "And...I want you to read a bedtime story...Please?"
He looked at her, his eyes narrowing. "No, go to bed," he said before he ran a hand over Gareth's small head. The baby quieted and fell asleep. After he was asleep, Morgarath stood and lead her out of the room which is where he parted from her and left the young girl standing in the hall.
The next morning, a servant came and woke Emily up gently. "Your father wishes to see you. I'll help you get dressed, my Lady."
At first, Emily froze in fear and refused to get out of bed. She didn't want to see her father. Not after what had happened the night before. But, reluctantly, she got out of bed.
Her dress that day was a dark blue in color that covered her arms and barely went past her knees in length. Her strawberry blonde hair was tied into a braid, and she made her way to her father's study.
As she was Morgarath's daughter, the guard standing at the door let her into the room. She paused at the door, waiting until the door was closed to speak. "Yes, Daddy?"
Morgarath turned to his daughter from where he'd been facing the window, his face cold and hard.
Then he walked over and raised up his sword sheath. He lifted it then slapped her on the face with it.
Emily cried out in fear and pain, the force of the hit making her fall sideways, onto the floor. "Daddy...I'm sorry...please no more!" She cried, raising her hands up to protect herself.
He nodded. "Good," he said before turning, signalling that he wanted her out of his sight.
Emily, whimpering slightly, stood, and backed toward the door. One hand was holding her bruised cheek, the other was feeling for the door handle. Finding it, she bowed slightly, and left the room.
She waited until she deemed she was far enough away from Morgarath to cry. Doing that in front of him would mean another slap, and that's something she wanted to avoid at all costs.
The crying of her baby brother echoed through the hall to where she sat. The cry was quickly stifled though by a soothing singing voice.
Emily followed the sound of the singing voice until she had entered the doorway of the woman's room. She paused there, listening, wishing she had a mother that would sing to her like the woman was to her brother. She looked at the baby, jealous.
The woman turned and spotted her, smiling and waving her over.
Emily shook her head, still covering her cheek with one hand. "Daddy...Daddy would be mad at me..."
"He won't, because this child is mine too. I won't tell him if you don't," she said, smiling kindly.
Emily walked over to the woman, wiping her eyes with her free hand. She looked at her brother. "Why was he crying?"
"He was hungry," she said. She looked at the child before looking back up. "He has his father's eyes."
"Can you sing to me, too?" She asked, moving the hand that covered her cheek, revealing the bruise. "I don't know if my mommy sang to me.."
Her ice blue eyes softened and she opened her free arm. "Come here, child," she said kindly.
Emily walked over to the woman, sitting next to her and leaning so she was resting on the woman's side. "I'm sorry about last night...Daddy was mad at me..."
"It's not a something you need to apologize for," she said, reaching out and gently touching Emily's head. She turned and grabbed a cloth, dipping it in water and pressed it to Emily's cheek before singing.
Emily smiled, closing her eyes. She felt safe in the arms of the woman, as if she had found a person that cared for her.
It was weeks later that Emily met the Ranger Crowley and his Hibernian friend, Halt. She was standing next to her father's chair, watching the two with interested eyes. She was sporting a new bruise, given to her for a reason she didn't understand. She'd just been hungry.
Every so often, Halt and Emily would make eye contact, and she forced herself to look away, trying to mimic her father's "I could care less" attitude.
Morgarath noticed the glances and he looked at his daughter before looking at the men. "Let's talk in private, shall we?"
"Daddy, I wanna join you...I'm old enough now!"
The two men exchanged a glance.
He narrowed his eyes. "Emily, go to your studies," he said harshly, his eyes cold and angry.
"She's fine here," Crowley said, glancing at the girl. She had tensed with fear, staring at the Ranger.
Rangers were mysterious people, she'd been told, and she didn't know if she trusted this one or not.
Morgarath fixed his cold gaze on Crowley. "She my daughter, I'll send her away if I want to," he said before looking at Emily. "Go. Now," he said.
Emily looked at Halt, who nodded slowly. She shook her head, taking courage from the two strangers who were unafraid of her father. "No. I wanna stay, Daddy."
Morgarath glared at Emily before calling out. "Angelica! Come take Emily."
The black haired woman came in and walked over to Emily, Garath in her arms. "Come on Emily, let your father work," she said softly, her eyes catching on the two Rangers.
"But I wanna work with Daddy!" Emily protested. "I wanna talk to the Rangers, too..."
Crowley watched the exchange, sharing a look with Halt. If Morgarath's behaviour toward his daughter now was any indication of anything...well, he knew that they'd have to help the girl escape from here.
Angelica looked up aghast at Morgarath, not knowing how to deal with the stubborn child.
Morgarath sighed and grabbed Emily's hand, taking her from the room and then slapping her face with his bare hand. "Continue this up and you won't be eating tonight," he hissed before he turned and walked back into the room where the Rangers were.
Emily glared at the floor, standing up and walking back into the room. Crowley had to force himself to not go to the child. Halt grabbed his arm, hiding a glare.
"My Lord, was that necessary?" Crowley asked, watching Emily. She seemed more quiet now as she moved to sit next to her father. She stared at her hands, trying not to cry in front of the strangers or her father.
"She's my child," he said simply.
Angelica looked between them and then looked at her baby as he began to cry. "Shh," she said to him softly before she went to Emily. "Would you like to help me with your brother?" She asked.
Emily looked at her, tears forming in her eyes. But there was a light of defiance in them as well. "I wanna talk to the Rangers."
Halt nodded at the girl's bravery, though he had a feeling where this was going.
"Okay," Angelica replied, her eyes displaying her fear for the girl before she left, humming to the baby in her arms.
Emily took a deep breath, looking at her father, still defiant.
"My Lord," Halt said. "Would your daughter be allowed to join Crowley and I for dinner tonight?"
Morgarath looked at them, then at Emily. "No," he said firmly.
"Daddy, please?" Emily begged. "I wanna talk to the Rangers!"
"I said no!" He shouted, slapping the girl again, not caring that the Rangers were watching.
Emily bit her lip to keep from crying out, although now she let tears fall freely down her cheeks. Crowley glared at Morgarath. "That was unnecessary," He protested, taking a step toward the crying girl. Emily looked at him, shaking her head.
"Get out, we're done here," Morgarath said, standing and grabbing his daughter's wrist, pulling her out of the room.
"Let me go!" She screamed, pulling back. "Daddy, let me go!" She was crying in earnest now, struggling.
"Enough, Emily," he snapped, yanking her and closing the door behind them.
He pulled her down the castle and brought her to her room where he grabbed a whip and started beating her.
Emily cried out in pain and fear, but refused to apologize. She was sobbing, the sobs racking her body. Part of her was hoping that this would stop...That someone would come save her.
She twisted around, taking a whip cut to the chest. Blood ran down her back and now her chest, but she stared at him, defiant as ever. It was obvious the Rangers had given her courage without needing to say a word to her.
He looked at her and narrowed his eyes before he beat her again, until she couldn't stand, then he left the room, which by now the the outside was getting dark
A few minutes later, Angelica came in with a wet cloth and a tub of water as she began to clean the child's wounds.
Emily flinched at the cloth touching her wounds, scooting away. She was still crying softly. "I hurt a lot.." she muttered, looking at Angelica. There was a knock on the door, and Emily looked up at it, her eyes wide with fear.
Angelica then grabbed some more cloth and ripped it, placing them over the wounds. "It's alright, it's the Rangers," she said. Then she raised her voice a bit.
"You may enter," she called out.
The door opened, and Crowley stepped into the room, looking around. For a nobleman's daughter, the room was barely furnished, containing only the bare necessities for a living quarters. Halt followed him.
"Is she alright?" Crowley asked, walking over to Angelica and Emily.
"She'll live, as long as her wounds are treated correctly and don't get infected," Angelica answered.
"You should get her packed," Halt said,
"There isn't much to pack," Angelica said, looking at him.
"What needs to be packed? Does she have a horse?" Halt asked, standing close to Crowley.
Emily watched the two Rangers part scared, and part curiously. "Are they gonna help me?" Emily asked, looking back at Angelica. Halt - grim Halt, who had escaped his home much like the girl was about to do - smiled gently.
"We are." he said.
"You must leave, now. I was only allowed to see you because I told him I didn't want you dying. He's with our son now," she said.
Emily shook her head, looking worried. "He'll hurt you..." she protested, and Crowley put a hand on her shoulder.
"He'll hurt you both if you stay." He said, firmly.
"I can't leave. While he is lord, he's also my Master, I cannot leave, not until I find the opportunity at least," she said.
Emily shook her head, suddenly fearful again.
"We'll be able to help you more if you leave," Halt said, kneeling next to Angelica. "She doesn't want to see you dead, she wants to see you live..."
She shook her head. "I can distract him while you get her out of here. Now go," she said, waving them toward the door.
Crowley picked up the girl, walking to the door, Halt following him. Emily lay her head on the Ranger's shoulder, not looking up at Angelica.
It was slow going, with the two having to duck into open rooms or hallways whenever they heard someone coming.
They finally made it out to their horses. Crowley put Emily down, saddling his horse while Halt saddled his. Then, they were out of the castle yard, riding to the next fief.
A few months later, Morgarath launched his first plot to take over the kingdom. He was unsuccessful and was banished. The Lord then took his servant and their child, knowing how vital the mother was to the child's survival until he could be weaned off from milk.
And since Emily had ran away with the Rangers, Morgarath had kept close eyes on his son, even going so far as to do his work with his son in the same room with him, or on his lap.
Though, it wasn't long after moving to the castle, that he had built by controlling the Wargals, that he discovered his son had a gift for magic, after the boy had gotten angry and his toys had flung across the room without being touched.
Morgarath smiled, knowing he could use his son's gifts in the future. Not long after the boy turned two, his mother disappeared, Morgarath didn't know why, but he didn't care, he had an army to build.
Frostbite: Hello readers! I'm glad you've taken the time to read this. I hope you continue to follow along with the story and learn to fall in love with some of the characters as I have. Thank you!
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