The Heart Knows.

Chapter 2

Late into the night of my first day in the Queen's House, I lay in bed unable to sleep. I was a comfortable enough bed. In fact, it was softer than any I had slept on before, but I couldn't get over the fact that I was currently chained to it. The golden circlet they had placed around each of our necks would seem innocuous enough if you didn't know its purpose. It was a beautiful and probably expensive piece of jewelry. It was gold plated and looked intricately woven in a delicate pattern, but the metal underneath was not bendable in the least. I was confused and scared when it was literally welded around each of our necks, but its purpose became clear soon enough. Besides an obvious identifier that we were property of the Queen's House, it was currently attached to a thin but sturdy chain that was bolted to the bed post near my head. There was no way to remove the collar, and the chain made of sturdy metal. I turned on my side and the soft clank of the metal irked me for the hundredth time that night. I was surely a prisoner here, no matter how luxurious the surroundings.

After the 'initiation' as it was called, the day had been filled with orienting the new girls to the school. I learned that the new initiate class included the eight girls from our group earlier and four more self-initiates. I knew that most of the girls had been taken from their families as I was, but it was shocking to realize that there were girls out there who thought being chosen for this life was an honor. They came to the school to audition for acceptance. I noted with disdain that those four girls still wore the collar, but they weren't chained to their beds at night like dogs.

With nothing positive to think on in my current surroundings, my mind drifted into the past. I thought of my brother Seth. When I was a child, my mother passed away giving birth to my only sibling. I had raised him since he was a baby, taking care of the things my mother would have were she alive. I watched Seth, cooked, cleaned, mended the clothing as best I could and took care of the animals. I remembered the last time I had seen Seth and my father.

I watched as Seth worked around the chicken coop, chasing the hens out of their nests so he could collect the eggs, while I brushed down our family horse from the days labor. Seth was only seven years old, but he was a rambunctious child all his life. I had to keep a close eye on him or who knew what trouble he would get into. Unexpectedly, Father came running towards us. I went out to meet him, already aware that something was wrong.

He had run in from the back field where he had been tending the crops and was out of breath. Worry was etched across his face.

"The King's Soldiers are coming for his Tribute." I didn't understand his apprehension. The Tribute was expected this month from all the subjects of the King. Our village had been harvesting grains and selling a shared portion of our crops and livestock to pay for the King's tribute. We didn't know they would be coming today, but we had been expecting them and should be prepared to give it. I said as much.

"I just learned that along with the Tribute, the King has the called for initiates to the Queen's House. He hasn't made a call in many, many years. Usually they have so many additions from minor nobles and such looking to gain favor… it hasn't been done in a long time. All the unmarried women of age are to be brought to the town center for selection."

"What does that mean?" I feared the answer.

"The young women who are selected are taken to the Queen's House to be used by the King. They are traded and awarded at the King's whim. They say it is an honor to be chosen. There are those who willingly sell their daughters into this slavery. It's sick." I'm sure a look of horror dawned across my face as I realized what he was saying. He held me by the arms and looked into my eyes sincerely.

"Bella, I would never choose this for you. I'm so sorry, I don't know what to do. We don't have a choice – if we try to hide you and someone tells, or they find out some way… The penalty is death. For our whole family." He looked between me and Seth. I could tell he was still debating our chances if we ran and hid. I knew at that moment that it was up to me to protect my family. I would go willingly to protect them. I could only pray that they wouldn't choose me. After much convincing and sorrowful tears, my father agreed with my decision.

Our little family rode into town in our horse-drawn buggy. We rode in silence, except for the innocent chatter of Seth. I watched in silence as we drove away from the only home I had ever known. The house became smaller and smaller until I could no longer see even the tops of the trees on our property line. I felt a twinge in my heart as I realized I might never see it again.

After the news of the soldier's arrival reached us, my father had helped me pick out my most plain dress and instructed me to remove the only piece of jewelry I owned and wore every day - my mother's necklace. I didn't bother to scrub my face clean as I would have normally and I left my hair down, un-brushed. My father looked me over again after helping me from the cart and told me again he was sorry. "You are so much like your mother, just so lovely. I do not see how they will miss your beauty despite our efforts to make you seem plain."

As the soldiers came into town, their Captain went to secure the tribute with his men and left three soldiers to oversee the small matter of my future. I stood in a line, along with five other girls of age, while the three soldiers looked us over. Several of the families seemed to have helped their daughters to dress their best for the occasion. The girls were arrayed in their finest clothing, and adorned with makeup and elaborate hairdos. The mothers touted their skill at music, dance, cooking and cleaning, and whatever they thought would be attractive. I guess not only nobles tried to curry favor this way. I couldn't understand their callousness. I wanted nothing more than to stay with my family in our quiet village. I had no desire to be owned and used by anyone, not even a king.

The soldiers remained stoic as they looked over each of the girls. As they reached me, I kept my eyes cast down to the ground. I tried to hide behind my hair so they would pass by the plain girl in the plain dress that was too shy to meet their eyes. I had no such luck as a finger was placed under my chin and I was forced to lift my face to look into the eyes of a battle-hardened soldier. We locked eyes and I noticed that he had beautiful, blue eyes, like a clear lake on a hot summer day. That was the only beautiful thing about him. He was scarred and tanned like leather from too much time in the sun. His cruel features were adorned with a sneer as he looked me over.

"This one."

"What? No. I don't want to go. Take one of them!" I tried to pull away from his grip. This couldn't be happening. There were girls here who wanted to go. They wanted this supposed honor. I didn't want this. His grip tightened around my arm to painful proportions.

Another soldier called to him as he stroked the face of one of the gussied up girls. "Are you sure James? There are some really eager girls here…"

They were silenced with a wicked glare from James, whose painful grasp against my arm was making me lose sensation in my hand. The other two soldiers relinquished their earlier interests with a disappointed shrug and joined the efforts of loading the King's tribute into their wagons.

"Come on, girl. You've been selected for entrance into the Queen's House. It is an honor." Again he sneered at me. James dragged me over to their wagon as I looked around frantically for my father. His path to me was being blocked by one of the other soldiers. He didn't dare step forward. They weren't even going to let me say good bye. James followed my gaze to my father, who was struggling to restrain an upset Seth who didn't understand what was happening. James deposited me into the back of a wagon filled with boxes and supplies. He pulled out a small length of rope from a bag there. He used it to bind my wrists and then pushed me down onto the bench. "I can tell you're going to be trouble." He leaned in close to whisper in my ear as I cringed away from him. "I like trouble." He laughed at me and then thankfully backed out of the wagon.

I leaned out of the wagon to watch as James went back to my father and tossed him a small bag of coins. Payment for me, I realized.

"The King thanks you for your contribution and reminds you that you have been compensated fairly. She is no longer your concern."

He strode back toward the wagon and winked at me as passed. I felt a shiver run down my spine. As the wagons pulled away, I watched with bleary eyes until I could no longer see my father or my brother. I bid a teary farewell to the only home I'd ever known.

After some time on the road, we stopped to water the horses. James appeared at the tail gate. He didn't offer to untie my hands, but instead lifted me down to the ground. His hands slid up my sides as he did this and I felt sick to my stomach. He led me over to a small stream where a few other girls of various ages were drawing water for themselves. I noticed none of them were bound as I was. I glared at the back of James' head as he walked quickly to the stream. He gave me a little tug and combined with an ill timed stumble I fell to my knees in front of the water. I bit my lip to keep from crying out as my knee hid hard on a rock. I wouldn't show him any weakness. I heard him chuckling cruelly behind me.

"James." An unfamiliar voice called out and both James and I looked toward the source. The man I recognized as the captain stood a few feet away. James had somehow caught his attention. James back stiffened formally. "That's hardly necessary," the captain reprimanded.

"Yes, sir."

"Tend to your other duties," the captain dismissed him.


James turned back to me and instructed me in a harsh whisper. "Drink. I'll be back for you in ten minutes." He turned and left, presumably to take care of his other responsibilities during the break. I let out a silent sigh of relief and drank greedily from the stream as best I could with my hands still tied. My throat was parched and dry from the dust of the road. The cool, crisp water was refreshing.

After I drank enough water to feel sated, I sat back on my heels and closed my eyes, soaking in the familiar warmth of the noon day sun. A shadow fell across my vision and I opened my eyes to see the Captain staring down at me. I automatically flinched back from his stare.

He crouched down before me and without the sun blinding me, I could see his face clearly. He had a kind face. He had the same tanned skin and battle hardened features of a soldier as James, but his eyes were kind and almost soft. I immediately felt relaxed in his presence. I knew that looks could be deceiving though and reminded myself not to trust him. He smiled tentatively at me.

"I don't suppose these are necessary. You're not going to try and run, right?" I shook my head and he reached out to untie my wrists. I rubbed them against the prickling sensation of blood returning to the skin.

"Thank you." I felt I owed him some sort of thanks for the kindness, even if he was, ultimately, my captor.

"You're welcome. I know you can be trusted. You know what would happen to your family if you ran." He didn't say it in a menacing way and in fact it was his compassionate tone that made me decide he was a sincerely kind man.

"Bella, my name is Bella."His kindness threw me off balance and I surprised myself by offering my name and my hand before I thought it through. I was raised to be polite- it was in my nature.

He laughed in surprise and took my hand, kissing the back of it formally instead of shaking it as I had expected. "Captain Whitlock. First Battalion, Royal Guard. It's a pleasure to meet you Lady Bella." I could sense the humor behind actions. I was certainly no lady, but his kindness to me was still surprising. I wasn't sure what to say in response. I didn't have a chance to come up with a response before he rose to leave.

"You have a few more minutes to rest. I'll see that you are placed with the other women for the remainder of the journey."

I dried the tears that had leaked from my eyes at remembering my last day with my family. I had made my choice to protect them and I would do my best to continue on that path. I resolved that night that I would not shed any more tears for the life I lost. I also vowed that no matter how luxurious these surroundings, like the golden necklace, they were here to keep me captive. I would adapt and play by their rules so that someday I would gain the freedom to be able to see my family again. I fell into the last fitful sleep I would have as the person I was. Tomorrow I would awaken into my new life.