It was the worst three weeks of her life…even worse than when her mother died…at least, back then she had Loghain…but now, she was alone…
She spent her days dragged from shop to shop by Emilia to choose fabrics to make dresses and nightgowns she had to wear for the pleasure of a man she didn't want…and Emilia who kept reminding her of how lucky she was for being able to buy such expensive tissues…
On the Thursday of the fourth week, Loghain came to her chamber.
Kallian almost fell from her chair when the door opened and it was him…not a servant or Emilia who did come often to pester her about her imminent wedding…it was Loghain…
He came inside and shut the door behind him…he was not wearing his armor…just a shirt and a pair of leather pants and boots.
Kallian stood up and bowed her head.
"My Lord," she said…her voice lacked the usual cheerfulness she had when she addressed him.
"How are the preparation progressing?" he asked, looking intensely at the young woman.
"…well…everything is going well," Kallian answered with a forced smile.
"Good," Loghain said sitting on a chair near her bed…Kallian was confused…did he want to talk to her like they often did before? Or was he hiding from all those responsibilities in her room?...no, Loghain was not a man to hide from responsibilities.
"Show me," he said.
"I beg your pardon?" Kallian was more confused.
"Show me the dresses you made for your wedding," He simply said.
"of corse, my lord" Kallian tried not to look so surprised.
She went to a wooden box at a corner of the room and started pulling all the gowns she had made…then she took them one by one and lifted each one to show him…she couldn't tell if he was satisfied with her choice of fabrics and designs…until he…
"Hold on," he said, "put this one on and show me" he ordered.
Kallian frowned…she looked at him with surprise then she looked at the gown he was pointing his finger at…it was a nightgown…made of a see-through white lace … then she looked back at him…
"put it on," he repeated, crossing his legs and leaning back in his chair…
Without uttering a word Kallian went behind the wooden room divider and started changing…she would soon know the meaning of all of this…
The nightgown was meant to be worn without any small-clothes underneath…she hesitated a little then decided to go without…it was not like he had never seen her naked…he had even done more than simply watching… Kallian shut her eyes remembering the taste of him on her lips and how bold and impatient he had acted.
Loghain watched as Kallian came out, shy at first then more confident as they locked eyes and she became aware of the burning desire he failed to hide behind his cold blue stare…
"Is this to your taste, my lord" she whispered.
He didn't answer…he grunted and rose up from his seat violently…two large steps and he was standing in front of her…inches were separating them…Kallian arched her neck to be able to look the tall man in the eye… he suddenly was furious and she didn't expect him to grab her arm and shake her roughly "you are planning on wearing this for him?" he muttered between his teeth… Kallian's eyes widened with surprise…what was she supposed to say?...did he have a problem with the gown or with her future husband?
Loghain was a logical man…unfortunately, jalousie knew no logic…he was the one who ordered her to marry…but was it necessary to make such clothes to wear for this man?
"You are the only one I want to wear that kind of clothes for" Kallian objected…
"Little liar," Loghain tightened his grip around her arm…
"You have to choose, Loghain, I cannot be both yours and the future wife of another man…" she said… "I have to choose?" he repeated incredulously… "you, insolent brat, need a little correction" he chuckled gripping her wrist and twisting it behind her back as he sat on the bed, and bent a struggling Kallian over his knees.
"This, for your insolence," he said before smacking her bared behind.
"And this, for your lack of shame" another slap…Kallian held her breath…she didn't scream or struggle anymore…he was angry…that was a good sign.
"…For this vulgar outfit you choose"…his hand hit fell hard on her flesh…his voice was getting more and more husky.
"This, for agreeing to marry another man after I had you…" he barely whispered before hitting her again…he felt her tense…then she laughed…
"This, for laughing" he spanked her one more time
"You rejected me after you had me…I couldn't…I thought you didn't find me worthy of you…" she confessed…Loghain let go of her wrist and she slowly slid from his lap to a sitting position on the floor before him…she rearranged her thick curls that were hiding her face and rose her head to look at him.
"You are nineteen…choosing to be with me implicates never getting married nor have children" he warned.
"I choose you…" she said
He could have girls her age, prettier than her without some love drama and only for pleasure…his reason, his good judgment and every logical fiber of his being were telling him to put an end to this… it was more than wrong…it was simply stupid…a virgin…an elf…a girl he had practically raised… in times like those…it was inconsiderate.
"You choose…then take my hand," he said as he held out his hand for her.
