The Taming

Author's Note: Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. As a part of my Christmas gifts, I got a laptop. It works like a charm, the little beauty. Anyways, I think portrayals are very important for my characters because I don't always see them as the young naïve teenagers like in the movies. In my mind, a movie plays out with those same characters with same names but different faces. Just thought you all would like to know the two main ones in my mind.

Bella: Jessica Brown Findlay

Jacob: Steven Strait

Chapter Four: The Nameless Still

I wait in the room with Emiline until she's finished drinking her morning glass of warm milk with cinnamon sticks. The morning is chilly; she sits in her red velvet chair by the little fire in the hearth with a blanket wrapped round her shoulders. "I wonder why it's so very cold this morning," she remarks, lifting her glass to her lips.

I sit in the other identical chair right next to her, lacking both blanket and warm milk. I, more than she, can feel the chilly bite of that morning. Shrugging my shoulders, I lean back into the cushioned seat. "Is it abnormal for a chilly morning in Canavar?" I question, looking over at her in wondering.

Emiline shakes her head. "No. I normally just don't feel it." It's a comical response to a sincere question. I struggle to hold in my laugh; at least she's honest. She looks at me with a hint of humor in her eyes. "You must think that I do not expose myself to the elements much."

"Well, I…"

She holds up her hand to silence me. My eyes widen, thinking that she's upset with me. "It is because I do not." The stretch of silence that follows is oddly uncomfortable. Then Emiline's hidden smile breaks into a large grin and her laughter floods the room like a rainstorm floods a creek.

I laugh too. It's the first time I've laughed in a while, and it feels good to laugh. It feels like happiness is invading each dusty corner of my body that had sat idly for too long. The scars on the right side of her face crinkle up with her merry amusement. She is an exotic beauty with her scars, and I can't help but think of what she would look like without them. Like a true goddess, I suppose.

Emiline lifts her eyes to the sundial sitting beside the window. She goes to it and works with it a little, trying to calculate the time with the way that the sun struck the dial. "It is about eight o' clock," she says to me, her voice still humorous and a smile still plastered on her face. "Breakfast should be starting soon."

She sheds her blanket from her shoulders and raises her arms toward the ceiling, stretching and yawning. She is already dressed in her normal, yet strikingly beautiful red attire. She gave me a new dress this morning to wear when I showed up wearing the same one from yesterday. It is still brown, but with a pretty green lace around the middle.

Emiline walks out of the door, her long red skirts dragging against the floor. I follow her, shutting the two great doors behind me. Into the busy dining hall we walk, and Emiline doesn't spare me a glance as she flocks over to Samuel and her lady friends.

I go to the kitchen with Alice and Angelina and hand out some plates with eggs and fried sausages and potatoes. I eat at the servant table with the others and we talk about our nights.

"Rebecca threw a tantrum because I did not fetch her the right type of wine. I swear to the gods that she told me to get her red, but she claimed she wanted white when I returned with it. She slapped it out of my hand and then I had to clean up the stain on her white carpet. I swear that I scrubbed for hours," Angelina grumbles, folding her arms.

Alice yawns and picks at her plate with her fork. "Rachel's been courting a man, so I haven't really seen her that much. A little free time is nice, so I won't complain."

"Who?" Angelina leans closer, her eyes widened with interest.

Alice shrugs her shoulders. "I don't know. Rachel refuses to tell me anything, even though I can see clear as a summer's day that she comes home red in the face and wisps of hair flung out of her tightly coiled bun. Partook in a midnight rendezvous, I suppose."

Angelina giggles. "How scandalous," she says, her nose wrinkling up with both amusement and slight disgust. "I never took the princess for a girl who goes out to make passionate lovemaking under the stars."

"And in the dirt," another maid named Rosalie chimes in mischievously. "Scandalous love is dirty love at that. How I wonder who it is!"

I sit at the table eating my food silently with my back facing to the wall, opposite of where I sat last time. Now, from the corner, I can see the entire royal table with all of the noblemen and women and royals. And from where I am sitting, I have a clear view of him. He sits on the opposite side of his royal table, and now we are face to face across the whole entire dining room.

I watch as he bites into a potato, his lips enveloping the flesh of the soft vegetable. He looks up from where he's eating and makes accidental eye contact with me. Gasping, I lower my eyes quickly to my own plate before he can notice that I had been staring at him.

I hold my gaze with my sausage and potatoes for a few seconds before looking back up. I gasp rather loudly when I meet his fiery black eyes once more. I'm sure that he'd seen me now. He chews what was in his mouth slowly, narrowing his eyes at me. He looks smug; he knows that I couldn't tear my eyes away. My heartbeat speeds up a little as his intense gaze holds me there, preventing me from looking away.

Those lips curve into a beautiful smile that lingers on the verge of being sincere or pure evil. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest and blood rushing to my cheeks. He stares back at me with such intensity that I know he's challenging me to look away first. I don't want to give into what he wants, so I just narrow my eyes and stare right back at him.

I can see his shoulders rise and fall as he chuckles softly. He then proceeds to lick his lips, his pink tongue sliding out and slipping across his full russet lips. He then puts a little sweet butter on top of his potato and with little flicks of his tongue, licks the butter away. I'm shuddering in my seat, my eyes widening at his vulgarity.

Finally, I look away, the intensity between us becoming too thick. Alice seems to notice my discomfort and frowns. "What's the matter, Isabella?" she asks me. I shake my head, brushing it off.

"Nothing," I reply. "I'm fine. It's just a little hot in here."

"Really?" Rosalie questions. "I think it's a bit chilly."

I grit my teeth together and stab at my sausage with my fork; she just needed to add in that she didn't think it was hot. The tension between No Promises and I is so thick that I could cut it with a knife. I sit there and eat my food. I can practically feel his eyes still lingering on me. Alice, Angelina, and Rosalie are all chattering about men and guards and castle gossip, completely ignoring me. I can't say that I am upset about being ignored; my face is much too bright and my heart pounds much too fast.

I look at my wine and grab the goblet, downing the rest of the drink in one big gulp. My mind seems to have two different opinions on the situation at the current moment—half of me loved how his eyes roamed over me and half of me hated it with a burning passion.

No Promises is a guard and there's no telling whether or not he wants to claim me as his own for one night and then never speak another word to me. Unsettling as it is, I brush the thought away. I go for my goblet of wine one more time, only to realize that it's been empty for a few minutes already. "Do you think it would be okay to refill my glass?" I whisper to Alice.

She nods, taking a bite out of her egg. "Yes. You should be fine. But if anyone asks for anything, you must serve them first."

Of course, I think to myself. What's new there?

Sighing, I push out of my seat and walk down from the little platform that our table was elevated upon. I walk, with my head held high, towards the small mobile table that held the many wine pitchers and sparkling wine glasses. The young servant boy standing by the wine table rushes over to pour me the drink.

I hold up my hand and shake my head. "No," I say softly, a little smile forming at my lips. "You need not serve me. I am just a mere maiden, you see."

The boy backs away slightly, chewing on his lip. I proceed to take the pitcher and pour myself the drink. I nod at him before turning on my heel and lifting the glass to my lips. I look at the royal table. I see Emiline chattering away with Samuel at the corner of the table, and the guards laughing with their mouths full.

The only one that is not laughing is of course No Promises. He chews his food, watching my every single move as I make my way closer towards him before preparing to make the walk back to my lowly table. He reaches out behind him, his fingers skirting across my hip. It was made to look accidental but I know that he knows exactly what it was meant to be.

"Pardon," I say softly, loud enough for only his ears to hear. He lifts his glass to his lips, nodding slowly as he tilted the glass back. He does not take his eyes from mine until I forcefully tear my eyes back to where I am destined to go.

I inhale slowly before exhaling just as slowly. I reach my table once more, pulling out the rich cherry wood chair and sitting down upon it. Alice smiles at me, trying to reassure me that the day would be smoother. She does not know the whole story, but she can read little bits of it, like getting mere glimpses of a book shrouded half in moonlight and half in darkness.

I silently finish my plate, my face burning with the blush that rises up my cheeks and to the tips of my ears. Alice nudges me in the side, causing me to look up after staring at my plate for a few moments. "Why does he look at you so?" she whispers, her eyes staring out at the royal table.

I lift my wine glass to my lips, not bothering to look where she looks. "Whom do you speak of?"

Alice looks at me and rolls her eyes. "Do not be daft."

I say nothing, leaning back in my chair.

The little woman fidgets in her chair and flaps her arms a bit. "Oh, do not tell me that you are this ignorant. I know that you know of whom I speak and I will tell you of this; he is the most dangerous of them all. Beautiful, yes. But beauty is quite deceiving."

I look her in the eyes and touch her chilled hand softly. "I will have nothing to do with that man. I promise you, Alice. You need not worry about me."

"Good." Alice whispers, a little smile playing on her lips. She's still upset by the fact that he was staring at me, and it's evident in the way her voice trembles slightly. "I would not stand to see you hurt by him."

My heart is slightly touched by her words, for no one has ever gave a single care about my wellbeing in my entire existence. I turn my focus back upon my table.

Rosalie leans forwards a bit. "So…is everyone ready for the grand ball to be held tomorrow?"

I furrow my brows. "Grand ball? Tomorrow?"

"Yes, yes," Angelina says, swallowing her sausage piece. "Every year in the season of summer, the grand ball is held in Canavar. It is a festival of light inside and out that celebrates the gods that bring the sun up each morning."

"How interesting," I muse softly. "I suppose the ball will be the major event of tonight. Have they started preparing for it?"

Alice giggles. "They started preparing for this ball last spring," she says in a jesting sort of way. "It is the main event of the whole entire year. You were just lucky enough to arrive just in time for the festivities."

I smile slightly, nodding my head. "I've never been to a ball. Or a light festival."

Rosalie smiles almost sympathetically towards me. "Oh, you poor thing. You don't attend at these balls, you serve at them."

Alice smacks her lightly on the arm. "Oh, hush. She serves Emiline—the princess will allow her to attend. Rebecca even allows Angelina to go."

I stare at them both in wonder.

"Just didn't want to get her hopes—"

"Shh, she's fine."

As the royals begin to wrap up their meals, they begin to leave the dining hall. I look to Emiline, only to realize that she's already walking out, her arm wrapped around Samuel's gigantic bicep. She's so short that she only comes up to about his elbow. She doesn't even spare me a glance as Samuel sweeps her off someplace elsewhere.

I stand there awkwardly as Angelina finds Rebecca and Alice finds Rachel. Rosalie skips off back to the kitchen to help put some of the plates away. I brush off my skirts and begin walking back to the room that I was given. I have nothing else to do, and I'd rather not get lost in the castle trying to find something to do.

I can see him standing there in the corner of the room, staring me down. Today he's left his hair down and the thick black hair frames his face. He sighs, pushing it out of his eyes. I drift right past him with my chin held up into the air, my thick brown curls flowing down my back. He follows me.

"Isabella," his husky bass grinds out, echoing in the cold and quiet hallway. I don't turn around. I sigh and speed up my walking pace even though I know well that I can't outrun him. He repeats my name, reaching his hand out to grasp my arm.

I'm forced against the wall, but he doesn't pin me there with his body. "Why do you run?" he questions. When I say nothing, he chuckles darkly and shakes his head. "You should know you can't outrun me even if you tried."

His eyes flash yellow briefly before turning back to the dark brown that they normally are. He almost looks apologetic for a moment, but he shakes his head, like he's pushing away some sort of evil alter ego. "Why do you follow me?" I ask him, making sure not to sound scared even though my body trembles.

He pushes away from me slightly, running his hand through his hair again. "Because you interest me."

"Why?" I ask him.

"I don't know," comes his reply.

He looks down at me, the muscles in his cheeks bulging as he tenses his jaw. His tongue slides across his full lips as he rolls up his sleeves to his elbows, the veins in his arms swollen with the adrenaline and thick, hot blood that runs through them. The dark eyelashes that frame the dark eyes, and the deep cleft in his chin. His gigantic chest with equally gigantic arms and torso. All things that make him eerily beautiful, and dangerous.

He's so dangerous and yet I do not even know his name. Perhaps I do not wish to know his name because I am afraid of what I will hear. So instead I nod my head, tearing my eyes away from him. "I must retire to my rooms," I whisper, beginning to walk away from him.

"Is the idea of just speaking with me, so sickening to you?" he asks me, his voice barely even audible.

This stops me in my tracks. He almost sounds hurt by my dismissal and this greatly puzzles me. I don't know how to respond to this so I just stand there in awe, blinking slowly. He stands there, staring at me with those menacing dark eyes through the curtain of his hair.

"No," I whisper. "Princess Emiline will only start to worry and I pray that I do not meet her wrath for being late."

His eyes do not brighten by the hint of humor I try to weakly lace into my tone. He shifts from one leg to the other and stares up at the sunlight casting shadows off of the walls. "I see." That's all that he says.

He lets me go then, and I walk slowly down the hallway with my head bowed down. My long skirt sweeps against the dusty, cold floors. I don't even know his name. I don't even know his name. I don't even know his name.

So don't feel bad. He's only trying to brainwash you into his bed.

0o0o0o0o

"Tell me you like it, Bella." Emiline says, holding up her new gown. It is possibly the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. The skirt itself is a beauty, large and ruffled and red color bleeding into orange. There is black lace on the very bottom of it, as well as beautiful shimmering patterns of crystal jewels on the bodice and various parts of the skirt.

"It is beautiful," I whisper. Emiline turns round in the dress, admiring its beauty. She runs her hands down the slimming bodice and fluffs her skirts a little.

She points to a beautiful mask lying on her chair. "Do hand me that," she murmurs. I reach behind me and hand her the animal mask. She puts it up to her face and smiles. "I am a tiger."

I smile as she proceeds to growl like the exotic beast from the southern wild. I look up at her in her dress and imagine myself in one as beautiful as the one she's wearing. "Princess…" I whisper.

She looks down at me and smiles. "Yes?"

"Might I be able to attend the ball?" I ask her, chewing my lip slightly.

Emiline nods her head. "Of course you may! This grand masquerade ball shall be your first Canavarian summer ball, then."

I smile back, elated that she's granted me permission to attend the ball. "What do I wear to these grand masquerade balls, then? Would you help me?"

"Hmm," Emiline muses. "I did not think of that." Then she goes over to her closet and looks through her dresses. She clutches one in particular close to her chest before turning around and showing it to me. My eyes instantly widen.

It is beautiful and of course, red. It has a slimming bodice with small red sleeves and a huge, ruffled skirt that almost looks like dark red feathers. Then she holds up the mask that went along with it. "It was made as my alternative if I did not like the tiger costume that the servants made. I have not worn it yet…if you would do the honors, I would be greatly pleased."

"Oh no, princess. You need not give me such a beautiful dress. I am not worthy of wearing it." When I'd originally asked what to wear, I'd planned on her offering me one that was of little wealth and little beauty, but still more beautiful than the maidservants' dresses that I was instructed to wear every day.

"No," Emiline says. "My personal handmaiden represents me. I am a woman of beauty, am I not? I would have only the best for you, for if I were in your position, I'd wish for someone to be as kind as I am being to you at this very moment."

She hands me the dress and I take it into my hands. I look up at her in great thanks. I can't believe that she's doing this for me. "I do not know how to thank you," I whisper.

She pats her hair and smiles slightly. "I am sure you can find a way to pay me back," she says jokingly. "But anyways, take this dress back to your room and find some pretty red feathers to go along with your costume. I do believe it is a cardinal bird."

I nod my head and make my way towards Emiline's door with the dress and mask wrapped up in my arms.

0o0o0o0o

Short chapter, but I felt like it needed to be chopped off here. Up next is the masquerade ball. I've already got some of that written up so it really shouldn't be long. Are you all excited for some time with our favorite couple at a mysterious masquerade ball and light festival? Please review. They really do provide the crucial encouragement a writer needs to be motivated for the story. Thanks! More soon. (:

Courtney xx