-Thankyou to my lovely beta, without her this wouldn't be possible, also the quote mentioned by Rowan "It was the short men that caused all the trouble in the world." was by Ian Fleming-
As I sat there resisting the urge to cry, the door squeaked open. Standing there was the maid from earlier, Mary I think Rowan called her.
"Hey," I whispered miserably
"Wha's up laddy?" She asked,
"I think I just upset Rowan but I'm not sure how," I answered. "He seemed quite sad."
"Oh, I'm sure ya didn'. He's probably jus' realised he 'ad a meetin' or somthin'. I'm sure twas nothin' personal." She tried to comfort me.
"Well, I'm sure it is something personal, because he asked me a question, I answered it, then he got that look on his face an-" I started but before I could finish she butted in.
"Wha' loook?" Her accent was thick again.
"The look where he... he... just doesn't... he's just blank." I tried to explain.
"Oohh, nooo laddy, I don' think he looked tha' way because of you," she reassured me. "Anyway, he sen' me to get ya. Ya have to take par' in the politics argumen' thing goin' on." She nodded her head, beckoning me other.
As I walked past her, my fox at my heels, I whispered "I really think I did upset him."
She sighed and shook her head, but gestured for me to follow her.
Walking along winding corridors, we eventually reached a large majestic door. It looked very old. Mary carefully pushed it open a crack, noise poured out. I suppose the door must have been soundproofed. There was a large icy table set in the centre of the room. Everyone was on opposite sides of it, and they all looked like nobility. The were debating something, but I didn't know what. At the far end of the table, set up on a sort of stage, were four ice thrones, decorated in pure silver.
Upon them sat, Queen Mab, Sage and Rowan. Ash wasn't there. Rowan looked irritated at the arguing, for that is what it was. Sage looked tired and the queen, as always, looked impassive, as though she didn't care either way what her subjects were doing. But I knew better. She could look calm, but inside she could be raging and planning your demise.
Firmly I kept my eyes fixed on the table. I didn't want to look at the Queen as she freaked me out so instead I tried to focus on the argument, but I couldn't make sense of what they were saying. They were all shrieking over the top of each other, no one was listening to each other. I hate it when people yell.
I was broken out of my thoughts when Mary jabbed me hard in the ribs with her elbow.
"Ouch!" I cried out "what was that for?" She sighed and shook her head, but said nothing. She awkwardly bowed to the queen, backed up a little then walked away.
The queen cleared her throat, I only just heard it over the noise of the argument, I whipped back around, looking up at her. Her beautiful face set in a frown for a second, then she froze herself off again. Rowan gave me a look.
"What?" I asked, cocking my head to one side. Sage allowed himself to smirk. The queen rose from her throne, immediately everyone around her fell silent. She gestured down at me.
"This is Winter's Heart." She announced. An uproar of voices broke out. She looked down at me. "Shown them your mark." She commanded.
Anharlia had taught me to never show anyone my mark unless I was forced to. She said it was very dangerous thing to do, even if I knew and trusted the people who I was showing. I didn't know or trust any of these people, excluding Rowan, so there was no way I was showing them my mark.
I shook my head. Her look was one of surprise. She snarled at me. "Do as I say. I am the Queen, I am your ruler."
But she wasn't. "You're not my Queen." I realised everyone around me was in total silence. You could have heard a pin drop on to a cushion it was so quiet. Their faces were a perfect picture of surprise. Rowan was shaking his head at me.
The Queen's face was blank. "I'm not your Queen?!" She asked me calmly, too calmly.
"Well, you're not, are you?" I told her.
"Who here, would like to teach this child a lesson?" She sneered. Several guards began to advance. Rowan leapt off his throne, towards me.
"I beg your pardon mother, but the child barely knows anything." He told her. She waved a hand, Rowan had moved to stand between me and the guards.
"Rowan, move out of the way." The queen commanded.
"You know I can't mother." He warned her.
She growled at him. "Get out of their way."
Rowan grabbed my arm, pushing me along in front of him.
"Rowan, Rowan get back here!" The Queen ordered. Rowan kept walking, throwing open the door and letting it slam behind him. He kept pushing me until after a few minutes, I had had enough. Spinning around, I went to say something, but before I could, he whispered,"Not here. Not now."
I sighed but let him keep nudging me forward. When we got to my room, he closed the door locked it and then checked the bathroom. Walking back out, he offered me a small smile. I smiled back.
Then he sighed. "What the hell were you thinking!?" He cried.
I opened my mouth, but he held up a hand, "No, no don't tell me. Just know this, those guards would have beaten you to a pulp. If the Queen tells you to do something, you do it!"
I shook my head. "I can't just go around showing it off. Anharlia told me that was dangerous and that I have to be sure I trusted someone before I showed them."
He narrowed his eyes. "What?" He started. "You let Sage and I see the moment we met you!" He countered,
"Yeah, but that was different. It was an accident." I muttered.
He shook his head again, lying down on the bed. I lay down next to him, resting my head on his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into him. I snuggled up closer. He was always so much warmer than me. The door opened, even though Rowan had locked it, I shot upright. To my delight it was Mary!
"Hiya Mary!" I called out happily
"Well, well, well loook a' wha' we 'ave here! I though' you'd be much longer laddy?" She hadn't noticed Rowan, or she probably would have ignored me. "Ge' bored of ya did they?" She asked
I laughed "something like that." Rowan went to sit up. I purposely sat back into him, propping myself up on my shoulders pushing him down. He wasn't about to scare her off again.
"No surprise really, loook at ya, skinny as a stick, and shor'er than a gremlin, aren' ya?"
"It was that short men that caused all the problems in the world." Rowan announced from behind me, I got the impression he was quoting someone.
Mary stiffened "beggin' your pardon sir, I didn' realise you was 'ere"
"Maybe not, but that doesn't give you an excuse to stop and chat, get on." He ordered. Sometimes I really hated Rowan. After the door swung shut behind her, I puched Rowan in the stomach, and immediately regretted it. He tensed at the moment of impact. I'm sure my fingers were bruised.
"You jerk!" I cried out.
"What?" He asked, seemingly confused.
"You utter, utter prick!" I yelled, nursing my hand.
"What, for tensing when you punched me? That's just a reflex!" He sounded indignant
I slapped the side of his face "NO! Not for that, for scaring her off again!" I continued, bringing my voice down, to raised but not a shout, I really hated shouting, although sometimes I just couldn't help it.
"Scaring her off? She's a bloody maid," he exclaimed.
"She's the only friend around her that I've got!" I explained
"What about me?" Rowan asked
"Yeah but... you're... You're different." I continued.
"Different? How?" He demanded.
"I don't know... you just are. Stop trying to change the subject."
"Why?" He asked
"Because, because... I'm not finished."
"Seems like you are to me."
"Well I'm not. She is the only one who actually explains what's going on around me. The rest if you seem intent on ignoring my questions." I was going to continue, but before I could, he butted in!
"What, has she told you?... exactly?" He insisted.
"No. I'm not telling you anything." I snapped then I tried to get to my feet, but before I could, he seized hold of my shoulders and yanked my back down on top of him.
"I'm sorry. I'll try to tell you more in the future, but what did she tell you?" He interrogated me
"Let go!" I struggled in his firm grasp, he scowled, I huffed "oh, just all your inner workings and secret plans and anything else that's confidential." I growled.
He sighed. "I'm serious."
"I don't care." I was getting frustrated now. I still couldn't free myself from his clasp. "Let me go!" I cried out again. He released me. I rocketed upright and stalked off into the bathroom, slamming the door as hard as I could behind me. Although it was old and heavy, it still made a delightfully loud crashing noise. I slumped up against the door, dropping my head down into my hands.
I had no idea how Rowan could get me worked up so easily. I tipped my head back against the door. I wanted to go back in and lie down with him. I wanted to curl into him and have him hold me all night long. But I couldn't. He would probably leave halfway through to go to some meeting. Besides I was angry with him.
-switch to Rowan's point of view-
I sat up properly and watched him slam the door behind him. Obviously he was angry with me. I wondered how he would take it if I were to knock ceaselessly against the door until he opened it.
I wanted to scream and yell out my love for him, to tell him that he was the only thing that mattered to me now. But the door stayed closed and I stayed quiet. I pondered upon the idea of leaving, but that seemed too cowardly.
I think if perhaps I were to leave a note the- no. That was to cowardly too. I sighed, getting to my feet, but with nothing to do, I quickly lay back down again.
My love for him was effervescent. It was infinite. Every time I thought I came to its boundaries, they moved back. It was always expanding.
I loved everything about him. I loved how passionate he could get, and how he never hid his emotions. I was so exhausted of everyone around me hiding behind their walls, never letting any emotion, other than contempt show. It was refreshing, and honest and pure and I loved it. I loved how small he was. Easy to pick up and cuddle, his hair was soft and his eyes liquid gold.
I've only ever been in love a handful of times, I can count them on one hand, even though I am hundreds of centuries old. But Tyne's different to them. They were mysterious and drew me in. I fell in love with their mystery, in a world where everything else bored me. Where I knew all that there was to know, they offered something new and exciting.
Tyne is different. I have fallen for his honesty. He teaches me new things with everyday I spend with him and challenges and inspires my views.
He is more than I could ever have wished for. Ever even thought of wishing for. He is a hope in world of dark, he is a light shining so bright, from the very core and he brings freedom and new perceptions. He leaves a trail of people befuddled by his honesty, wondering if maybe he was just tricking them. For surely no one can be that authentic, can they? But he can.
Even my mother knows the extent of my love, and although she disapproves, she hasn't outright denied it.
I have grown weary of hiding behind my walls, and Tyne has shown me that I don't have to.
I love him. It is as simple as that.
-switch back to Tyne's point of view-
Eventually I grow bored of sitting up against a hard door. I also want to know if Rowan stayed. Curiosity gets the better of me. Anharlia used to tell me that curiosity killed the cat, when I was very little I used to believe her, I'd sit there and cry and mourn the loss of a cat that never existed. But later on I'd smirk and reply
"Good thing I'm not a cat then!"
I poke my head around the door, he's lying in the middle of the bed. I tiptoe over, thinking he might be asleep, but when I reach him, I see him staring up at the canopy. I crawl on top of him, resting my head on his chest, his arms come up around me. holding me tight, holding me close. I like it, this position makes me feel safe and loved-
I stop my thoughts. Loved? By Rowan? Am I mad?! But yes I think I am, as the biggest scariest realisation -since the wyvern incident- hits me.
I think I might be falling in love with Rowan…