Chapter 3

When I left my room there was a maid waiting outside for me to show me to the dining hall. I followed silently. The hall was huge. It had many chandeliers hanging from the roof and all of them were lit. I almost expected count Dracula to step up and welcome me – the place had a dark feel to it somehow... I saw Este and another person seated at the end of the long table. This must be the king... I followed the lady who had fetched me from my room to a seat opposite Este on the king's left. I didn't know how to behave...was I supposed to curtsy or something? Este sniggered. I must have looked like an idiot, just staring at the king. He seemed to not have noticed or ignored it.

"Welcome to my castle, Miss Monforte," he said,"please take a seat." He gestured and then someone pulled the chair out for me.

"Miss?" I recognised the voice and looked up into the gold eyes of the butler. Was he laughing at me too?! I could feel my face burn from embarrassment.

"Thank you," I said and took a seat.

All the questions I had wanted to ask the king seemed to have gotten stuck in my throat and we ate our meal in silence. I stole a couple of glances. The king had shoulder length black hair and grey eyes. He was quite attractive and appeared to be perhaps in his late twenties? I noticed that there was no-one else in the dining hall now that the food had been brought in except for us and the butler, who stood to his master's left, which meant just behind me. This made me a bit nervous as I couldn't see him and it would be rude to turn around in my chair to look at him. I was too nervous to eat all the food on my plate, even though it was very delicious. It was even better than Piccadilly's, a well-known restaurant in town, and that is saying something! Eventually people came to take our plates away and then served us dessert. Only afterwards did the king finally speak up.

"You two no doubt have many questions?"

Este was the first to say something. She sounded like an excited puppy.

"I never knew this place existed. Is this the fabled dark Castle of the Unmarked lands?"

The king smiled, but it didn't seem to reach his eyes.

"I suppose you could call it such...it is known as Shadowlands castle."

Perhaps Este offended him? I tried to defuse the situation.

"My lord, we had unknowingly wandered here and imposed ourselves on your generosity. Please except our heartfelt thanks for sheltering us for the night," I said and bowed my head slightly to the king. Would it be okay to say that, I wondered?

Este made a funny noise. "What's with the archaic Shakespeare Cat?" I didn't mind people shortening my name, but the way Este said it rubbed me up the wrong way. I was just about to say something to her when the king's voice suddenly sounded up.

"I feel I need to...clear up a misunderstanding, Miss Monforte. You are not imposing as your coming here had been foreseen."

We both stared at the king in astonishment.

"I wish to get to know you both better and in time choose one of you to become my wife."

The glass that I was holding fell from my hand and shattered. At the same time I had pushed my chair back and would have toppled over with it had the butler not steadied me.

"Get a grip Cat!" Este was almost yelling at me. What was wrong with her? Was she okay with this?!

I ignored her and pushed away from the butler.

"I want to leave...now!"

"That is not possible," the king continued as if nothing strange had just happened. He took another sip of his wine, "these lands are under my control and you will not be able to leave until I decide otherwise."

"That's...kidnapping! A crime punishable by law!" I stammered.

"By whose law? The laws of your people do not apply to the unmarked lands, Miss Monforte. So please, compose yourself and let us discuss the matter in a civilised matter."

I felt embarrassed for acting so childishly, but at the same time I was furious. How dare he! A maid was cleaning up the broken glass pieces. I let the butler push my chair in and sat down.

"You will have everything you desire while you stay here. I trust that your rooms are to your liking? Should you need anything at all just ask one of the servants. All I request is that you both allow me time to get to know you. It will also mean that you will get to know me better. I ask nothing more." He now got up.

"Please excuse me, I still have matters to attend to. I hope that you both rest well and look forward to getting better acquainted with you." He then left the hall.

I sat there in shocked silence.

"You're such a child!" Este was now piping up, "a king asks to get to know you better and you go on a rampage like a elephant in a china shop!"

I tried my best not to let my anger get the best of me.

"Only someone like you will get all happy when you basically get told that you are a prisoner and that you might get forced to marry someone you don't know. And I don't know about you, but the decorations in my room is... too perfect."

"You're just a sissy! This is the most excitement I've had in years – this surely beats staying home while everyone else is partying it up. Aren't you at least a little curious? You can hardly say we are prisoners when we are treated like royalty! And you have to admit, the king is quite handsome!"

"Unlike you, Este, I view a relationship with a man very seriously..."

"Are you saying I'm a slut?!" she was almost yelling at me.

"Miss Thatcher, Monforte," if you would be so kind as to let me escort you to your rooms," the butler interrupted. I had forgotten that we weren't alone and felt embarrassed. Este looked like she was about to throw something at me.

We followed the butler in silence. This time he first stopped by my room and then continued with Este to hers. I decided that I had to escape. I pulled out my cellphone, but as expected it didn't have steady reception, it kept flickering on and off. My room opened up onto a balcony. I peered over and saw that it wasn't too high to the ground, this appeared to be the second floor. I noticed there was a creeper growing up the wall and felt it to see how steady it would be to support my weight. It felt firm. I quickly changed back into my old still damp riding gear and climbed down the creeper. My heart was beating furiously. What if I got caught?