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So please enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 3
BPOV
The sound of powerful hooves thundering on the dry earth, cut through the quiet night time. I sat next to my mother unsure of our destination. We were in a carriage being escorted by royal guards; only one destination came to mind, but why? Renee sat stone still as she stared out the carriage window, either avoiding me or mentally worrying like I was.
Knowing she wouldn't tell me where we were going in until we arrived, I turned my attention towards the window on my side. The forest surrounding the wall of the castle and that separated my village and many others from the castle itself, rushed by so quickly I could barely see anything.
The moon was hidden by a cloudy sky, and only added to the ominous feeling that settled in the depth of my stomach. The call of the driver urging the beasts forward drew my attention towards the front of the carriage, and the answer to my question. We were headed towards the castle, it loomed in the distance and there was nothing I could do to stop us.
"Mother", I whispered pulling my wind chilled face away from the window. I knew she could also see it, and the atmosphere in the small cabin of the carriage amplified immediately. She never acknowledged me as she continued to stare.
"Draw the curtains." The driver called to us as we approached the gates. The fact that our arrival was under a cloud of secrecy did nothing to quail my fears. Drawing the curtains back, I moved away from the window and closer to my mother.
A shudder ran through my body as scenario after scenario raced through my mind, and none of them ending well. Why were we here? Why wasn't I being told anything? How am I to protect my mother, when I don't know who or what I am to going up against?
As the carriage slowed down, the urge to pull the curtain back was tempting, but I remained in place out of fear.
"Shhh." Renee's voice brought me back to the here and now, and it was only then that I realise I was trembling fiercely.
"Now Isabella, have no fears." She was too calm and I began to suspect she knew what was going on. Pulling away I took deep breaths, in an effort to calm myself, but as I was beginning to feel better, the carriage came to an abrupt stop, throwing me full force back into panic.
Everything seemed to move slowly. The door opened and a hand reached in, helping my mother down. That same had or so I thought, sought mine and I reached out for it. It was as if my body disconnected itself from my brain. In my head I was screaming, pleading for someone to talk to me, tell what was going on, but my mouth stayed shut.
Once I exited, I could see we were at the servant's entrance, more secrecy, more questions, and no answers. Entering the kitchen, no one was milling around, which only suggested our arrival was late as the staff had retired for the night.
"Good night ladies." A quiet voice welcomed us, and I noticed a small woman standing by the fire place. "My name is Bree, I will be your guide tonight". Not waiting for a reply, she turned and walked through a doorway.
Her silent command to follow was heeded by my mother, and she grabbed my hand forcing myself to followed Bree through the dark deserted halls of the castle, not even its beauty could distract me.
Hallway after hallway, twists and turns, it seemed that we marched on for hours, and still not meeting our intended target. Bree walked at a steady pace in front of us, with an oil lamp, as our only source of light, when we encounter parts of the castle with no gas lamps mounted on the walls.
Our feet making quiet thuds on the carpeted floor held my attention, as I began to think of what we were marching to. Who we were marching to?
"Here we are." Bree's spoken words broke the silent air around us, as she opened a door, so hidden, that if you were not looking for it, one would have walk right by it. Pushing it open wider as she stepped in, I expected it to groan, alerting someone of our presence, but it was as quiet as she was.
Crossing the threshold I took in the room before me. It was a sitting room, a few delicate loveseats that surrounded at fire place. In the corner close to the window sat a table with a chess game and two chairs tucked under it. A small book case stood in the furthest corner; a few books were missing and I spotted them littered on a table behind a loveseat.
The colours of the room, now illuminated by the roaring fire, were warm and inviting despite the occasion.
"Please take a seat; I will make your arrival known." Turning she exited through another door I had not noticed. Who was she making our arrival known to? Why wasn't Renee a nervous wreck?
My eyes fell on my mother, who had taken Bree's advice and was seated in one of the loveseats, smoothing her dress. The ease with which she was taking all of this bothered me so much.
Stalking over to her, I dragged her face up in my direction using my fingers. "Mother, what is going on?" My voice was so low, I doubt she heard me.
"Isabella, please don't make a fuss. Trust me; this is a very important night". She huffed her breathe at me.
"Important for who mother, me? I came here with you not knowing where we were going or why. Now we are in the castle, where people like us do not belong, and you act like it is a normal." I was leaning closer to her; hopefully she would see my confusion and ease my worry.
"I am your mother, and you should remember your manners". She stood, but even though she did not even match my height, the fear my mother instilled in me, bubbled to the surface and I backed away but not down.
"You are indeed my mother, and as my mother you should protect me, and be truthful with me." The hurt in her eyes caused me to stumble in my triad.
"Bella, my darling, please do not push this now. I am sorry for the way sorry for the way this is happening but I assure it is for the best. Please believe me when I say, I wish it was not like this."
She reached forward to cup my cheek but I stepped out of her reach. We never held secrets, we were more than mother and daughter, we were sisters. As I was about to speak, someone cleared their throat behind me.
Spinning around I spotted a tall male figure standing in front of the door Bree had exited. His face was shadowed and I could not make out any of his features. On instinct I walked over and stood in front of my mother. We were in the castle alone; none of our friends knew we were here. Anything could happen and none would be the wiser.
"Good evening". His voice was soft but gruff, soothing but held an air of authority. We crusty in greeting to the stranger, but stayed in our positions. He stood there, staring at us, I could feel his eyes on me, and began to feel uneasy. I had to speak out.
"I do not know to whom I speak with, but my mother and I have been brought here and I do not know why." My hand gripped my skirt tightly as I awaited his answer. He cleared his throat once again.
"I am sorry for the way you were brought here, but the secrecy was needed." My heart began to pound. What secret could be so big that such measures had to be taken?
"I do not know what your mother has told you but this meeting has been a long time coming, dear Isabella". I gasped as he said my name. Taking a quick glance back, my mother stood still, eyes wide with her hands covering her mouth.
"How do you know my name?" He took a step out of the shadows, towards me. I immediately stepped back.
"I know much more than that. Isabella Marie Swan." He stepped closer again and I could see his mouth, which was curled in a soft smile.
Stepping back once again, I felt my mother reach out and grasp my shoulder. I reached back and grabbed her free hand in one of mine. Who was this man and why did he know me?
He stepped forward again, but I had nowhere to go. I could now see all of his face. He had beautiful lips that still held that soft smile, above that stood a well groomed moustache. I trailed my eyes up over his nose, and then settled on his eyes. Brown eyes looked back at me; they were soft but held so much more. Finally his hair, it was combed back but the colour was similar to one I had seen many times before. It was similar to mine.
As I took in the man completely, I finally put him all together and almost swallowed my tongue. I was face to face with King Charles II of England.
"Isabella." He spoke my name so softly I barely heard it
"Welcome home daughter."
So I know some of you guessed this was coming. Lol I was kinda transparent but this is just the tip of the iceberg. So what do you guys think? What was your fav part? Thanks for reading.
Cheltivia.