Summery: A young women from Rome is forced to marry a man she does not love. But soon her feelings for the man grow. One day she finds him murdered by the woads and takes revenge to a whole new level.
Chapter I
The Rabbit is captured.
It wasn't that she actually remember who she was. No she was a girl that was for sure. But the thought of all the killing and suffering she had caused made her feel like more of a man. A horrible one at that. A traitor to the throne that would stop at nothing. She knew she wasn't one. Well that was at least what her father had told her.
But her trust in the man had started to fade. Ever so slowly like a river in a drought. It was slowly starting to disappear. But then she didn't even know if the man was alive anymore. The only news of him that reached her ears where the letters from him. But they where so emotionless and thoughtless that it felt as if he really was dead.
An animal soul less and moral less. she had been the cause of that. Then why couldn't she fix it? Was it so hard to mend what she had broken? She had fallen and ripped her dress on the ground, and now she found that she couldn't mend it. Alas she felt so alone, so distant from everyone she knew. Not that that was unusual.
No depression had set in for while. Testing her and teasing her just like a lover. The carriage was slow, and she so wanted to ride. But her mother had forbidden it, her mother... what could she say about the woman? She was a curse. One that tried to help her. But a curse. She yearned for her father. Her only memories of the man were joyous ones.
She had been young then, she hadn't had to be a lady. To walk like a lady and to act like a lady. The whole idea was her mothers, a stupid one she thought. She was no lady, ladies knew how to act around a man. They knew how to flirt and dance. She knew how to... well nothing like that. She knew how to fight. But that wasn't lady like, and most men wouldn't want to marry a woman who could kill them.
She couldn't cook she couldn't dance and she most definitely couldn't flirt. Not that flirting would ever save her life. But her mother seemed to think that it was important. No fighting was important and her hand itched for a weapon. Any weapon, even a blunt sword would do. Just the thought of feeling the heavy weight of metal made her impatient.
Made her want to move and run, but she was here. Stuck. Like a mouse in a trap, and she had been stupid enough to fall into the trap. Her eyes went to the little window in the carriage. The only window, and her look at freedom. A freedom she could feel, but wasn't there. Like a wind in summer, it was there. But not really. Adjusting her dress she got up just to stretch.
The endless sitting made her restless. Her hand scratched against the ceiling as she stretched. Her dress rustled as she moved, its long flowing hem taking up most of the space in the carriage. Its green and gold fabric the most expensive in Rome. Rome... she hated the city. The bustling crowds and the heat of the day made her sick. She wanted to be back in Russia, where she belonged.
And the men, groaning she turned to stare at the blank wall of the carriage. The men where fickle disgusting and... and? She currently couldn't think of another word. But there was another. They where disgusting, like a dying animal. They prayed on young women like herself. Trying to get the most pleasure they could before their death. But she didn't allow them, she never would. She was a fighter and would never let a man touch her in a way she deemed inappropriate.
--
The carriage sudden stopped. Which caused her to look up. The horses outside shrieked with nervousness and a yell of a man reached her ears. Getting up so stood near the window. Just so she could see outside but not so they could see her. Who ever they where, it might have just been a snake. That had slithered over the path. But as a mans cries reached her ears she knew no snake could put so much fear into a someone's life.
Cursing the small window she made herself move. Knowing that she would be no use inside the carriage. But she wouldn't be one outside either. The men would kill her for putting herself in such danger, and really she was much more useful inside the carriage. Throwing herself back into the seat she heard the fabric of her dress rip with a crack.
She let out another sigh her mind thinking up different excuses why she had ripped it. What would she tell her mother? Nothing she was a full-grown women she didn't have to tell her mother anything. Your only 18 she told herself. Old enough she snapped back. But her mind still rejected her thoughts and she felt a hard sneer cover her mouth. The last screams of dying men soon fell away. A whiplash echoed through the air and suddenly they where off.
--
The city welcomed them like a wolf welcoming its prey. They stared at her wealth and horses as she moved past, and she could only stare back. Dirty as they where, she felt a sense of awkwardness run over her as she sat. Though she could see only out of the little square window, she could feel their stares as she sat there. Closing her eyes she wished for some hidden memory to welcome her again.
But none came; she had been in similar situations but this one proved to be the most awkward. The city gates opened there rusty hinges squeaking in agony. The scene changed. From the normal farmlands to the city, The smell was horrible and now she wished that she had packed the perfume her mother had given her. She would have sprayed the cart full that was for sure. Another squeak of a door filled her ears and again the scenes changed. The city slum and smell disappeared and she smiled when she felt fresh are against her nostrils.
--
The carriage stopped and the door to her carriage opened. Blinking against the sunlight she got up when she saw the familiar smiling face of Alan. His smile was cheeky as usual. One that would make most girls blush and fall over, she merely gave him a raise of an eyebrow and a snort as he helped her from the tiny carriage. The small courtyard had a wall of stone around it.
And the gates that she had just driven through where firmly shut. Two guards stood at the top their eyes peering down at the main city. She saw the man she was supposed to meet. His thin tall figure leaning against a carriage in a casual manner. Two guards on either side of him their eyes hard and cold. She quickly hid the deep rip in her dress and raised her head looking back towards Alan.
He smiled reassuringly and led her over to the man. Pushing himself from the carriage he looked her over in a way that disgusted her. Her eyes flinted back to Alan who bowed to the man. But she stayed put her head raised as always and her thoughts whirling with caution.
"I am Gardious." he said his voice deep and dramatic.
"The lord of this city, and you must be Rya." She nodded deciding not to speak. What was there to talk about? He seemed a bit of a snob really his clothes cleanly pressed and perfect. Alan had straightened himself long ago. She turned towards Alan pushing him slightly forward.
"This is Alan the head of my servants." She said. And it was true. Though her best friend the man had been enslaved to her family all his life. Not that it was her fault. But she had promoted him to head of servant the furthest her family would allow him to go. Gardious looked him over the usual sneer on his face and she moved him away again.
"Guards." he snapped his eyes turning from her and Alan to another man. "Show her to her room."
--
The room like the rest of the world was dreary. A cold piece of hell that was on earth. The stone walls echoed of many years and many memories, the only thing that had the decency to welcome her was the bed. Which made her smile more then she ever had. The windowless room though turned her smile into a frown. Again she was put into a cage. A windowless pit that showed you nothing, of the world around. Shaking her head she turned to Alan who had just set down her bags.
"Well this looks cheery." he said with a smile his eyes flinting around the room. Rolling her own eyes she opened the closet and stuffed her luggage into them.
"What exactly are we doing in this hell hole?" he raised an eyebrow at his tone his expression humerful as he pondered her question. "Your mother." She snorted her eyes going back to the room.
"Ah yes forgot about her." she shock her head then her eyes staring at the stone walks like a pouting child. She was still considered a child. But unlike many other girls she should be married. Married to man she didn't love, to her family she was some one to be sold off. And that would one day be her fate. She could wait for that day, often enough she had faked seizures and other illnesses that got her out of marriage. But it was staring to work less and less. And she was soon finding her life doomed to this. Doomed to marriage and horrible children. Doomed. She just hoped it wasn't to this bastard. A knock at the door awoke both of them from their thoughts and she walked over to open it. A maid stood on the other side. She looked nervous and she fidgeted when she spoke.
"The Lord requests to see you." she looked past her to Alan and then added. "Without the servant." A delicate snort echoed from her lips that caused the maid to squeak. "Very well." she said looking towards Alan. "Please show me to his rooms."
--
His room was just as dark as hers. The only light came from the oil lamps that hung from the walls. But unlike her room huge tapestries littered the room giving it a little more cheer then her own. He sat at a desk his quill scratching at a piece of parchment a deep frown on his face. Clearing her throat as she stepped in he looked up in surprise. A smile came on his face a total opposite of his first expression.
"Ah Rya." he said his voice just as emotionless as before. "Please sit down." he waved her to chair on the other side of his desk, and like every lady she sat. He smiled and then with a sigh got up and walked over to a cabinet. Opening it he got out a bottle of wine and two glasses. Pouring an equal amount for the both of them he passed on to her and sat back down. Lifting the glass to her lips she breathed in the heavenly scent before taking a sip. The burn of alcohol made her grin slightly and she put the glass down despite her want for more.
"So tell me why has my mother sent me here?" She asked looking the man over. He chuckled taking his own sip of wine before replying. "Your mother and my father where friends. I don't know the exact reason why she sent you to me but I think it has something to do with marriage." He then winked at her a small chuckle coming from his lips. Sighing she sank back in her chair. Besides his best intentions she really didn't want to marry this man. Or any man for that fact.
"Why would it included marriage?" She asked her hand going back to her wine. He chuckled his eyes roaming over her for a second before leaning back in his chair. "It was my fathers idea." he said his eyes returning to their emotionless look. "Well you can tell your father that I refuse." she said her eyes looking him over with fury. He snorted in his wine. Much like a horse on a bit. And she couldn't help but think him as one, well more like a donkey if anything.
"It wasn't my decision. I would like never to get married. But then my father makes the decisions around here." She rolled her eyes drinking her wine. Her mind whirling for something to say for him. "You don't want to marry me?" she asked her eyes looking the man over.
"Would you be upset if I said no?" "No." "Good." She chuckled then finishing her wine she filled her own cup again her eyes looking around the room once again. "Why do none of the rooms have windows?" she asked really staring to wonder what time of day it was. He sighed looking around the room just like her. A look of hate drawing onto his lips.
"Father he thought that if there where no windows no enemy could never get in." she snorted in her drink. A cough coming from her mouth as she stared at him. "If someone attacks you won't have accesses to food then. And are we suppose to remain pale for the rest of our lives." Rolling her eyes she took another sip from her glass her eyes looking to the tapestries that hung there different colours accenting the room. He smiled looking around the room.
"I agree but he wasn't thinking when he got it built. Well the rumour is that he was drunk." She chuckled her eyes looking into his. He was handsome and there was no wonder about all the rumours he had heard of this man. But she wished not to marry. She would be damned if she was forced to marry him. But then she had been married twice before and had always sprung her way out of the problem. The only thing was it took time. And she was no longer the young 13 year old virgin she used to be. No she was definitely no virgin.
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AN: Story is rather sketchy right now. Please review. No flames but constructive will do just fine.