Disclaimer: I do not own Tortall, or any of the Tamora Pierce characters- obviously. Only characters a hard core fan doesn't recognize are mine- IE Aaurie, Branic and Illean.
Aaurie was vaguely aware of Garvey climbing off of her, spitting on her naked, bruised and bloody form. He said something to Rurik, who must not have responded because he shouted it again. With what little energy she had Aaurie pulled herself into the fetal position, ashamed of her nakedness but unable to cover herself.
She felt Garvey's breath on her shoulder as he leaned forward, his breath hot on her ear.
"You run your mouth little girl and you'll never be a knight- I'll kill you first," Garvey hissed, planting a kiss on throat before straightening.
Rurik pulled his clothing back on, saying something- his own weak insults, before following after Garvey and slamming the door behind him. Aaurie was not sure if this was a kindness or an accident. She couldn't bear to think that someone walking by might look in and see her like this.
"Well hello Owen," Aaurie knew Alanna's voice as it neared her door. Aaurie silently prayed it wouldn't be the first female knight who found her like this. "Where are you off to?"
"To see Aaurien actually, she was supposed to meet me for dinner," Owen replied, mild concern evident in his voice.
"Ah, well, I was stopping by to wish her luck as a squire," Alanna said, her voice kind. New tears fell down Aaurie's cheeks as she struggled to determine how dreadful she must look. Please gods, don't let Alanna and Owen find me like this- please.
Knock, Knock.
Aaurie cried, hearing the doorknob turn.
"Aaurie? – Oh goddess! Owen, go get Nealan!" Owen seemed to stop and protest in confusion, Alanna had not opened the door wide enough for him to see. "Go!"
"Goddess, Aaurien? Aaurien can you hear me?" Aaurie felt Alanna's weight on the bed next to her, the older woman cradling her against her chest.
Alanna's eyes scanned the trembling girl. Her face was covered with blood, her lips coated. Bruises marked her ribs, hips, breasts and thighs. Alanna was scared to have her final question answered, and when she gently pushed Aaurie's thighs apart she gasped to see the blood smeared there.
"I'm sorry, sorry," Aaurie cried, humiliated.
"What for? You have nothing to be sorry for, just hang on. Neal and I are going to get you to the infirmary," Alanna cooed. She desperately wanted to heal the girl herself, but knew that Duke Baird would need to do it in order to ensure that the rapist could be caught and tried.
"No, please. I don't want anyone to know, please," Aaurie hiccupped, burying her face against Alanna's shirt.
"Alanna- what's going on? You have Owen scared to death," Neal stopped, seeing the blood smeared across Alanna's shirt, a bundled form draped across her lap, shaking.
"Carry her to the infirmary Neal, your father will need to look at her," Alanna said quietly, trying to soothe the girl. She'd put as much of her gift into the girl to calm her as she could without harming her. Aaurie's breathing had evened out but she still shed silent tears.
"Mithros, what happened?" Owen whispered from the doorway, horror reaching his eyes when Neal picked Aaurie's limp body, the blanket sliding slightly to reveal her nakedness beneath.
"Let's get her taken care of, and then we'll find out."
---
Aaurie groaned, opening her eyes slowly and shutting them quickly in response to the bright light that poured into the room. She knew she was in the infirmary; she knew the smell and recognized the scratchy wool sheets on the cot she lay in. She could hear breathing and people moving around her.
"Broken nose, that cut on her cheek will leave a small scar- bruising from her neck down," Duke Baird sighed from somewhere beside her bed.
"There was blood-" Alanna stopped her voice hesitant and angry.
"Yes. She was raped Alanna. There was a lot of tearing and blood, but it will be up to her to tell me who did it," Duke Baird replied.
"She can tell us who, I'll see to it he's thrown away," Alanna growled.
"Alanna- think about it. Anyone with half a mind will know how to spin it. They'll call her a Scanran whore- the Lord's already dislike her. Do you really think they'd be willing to imprison a Tortallan noble for the rape of a girl they deem a whore?" Duke Baird said quietly. He was enraged by what had happened to the girl, but he also knew how the courts would spin it. He'd said noble because he had a fairly good idea of who did it, but even Aaurie's confirmation would mean little to the courts.
Aaurie felt Alanna's small, feminine hand on her arm and she gave an uncontrollable shiver. Alanna withdrew her hand, frowning.
"Aaurie darling? You awake?" Alanna asked kindly. Aaurie nodded, opening her eyes slowly.
Alanna sat in the chair beside her bed, Duke Baird stood beside her- Neal standing silently at his father's side, sorrow written on his face.
"Aaurie- what happened?" Alanna asked, wondering if the girl would answer or simply break out in tears.
"I- I don't, please- I don't," Aaurie stuttered, beginning to tremble involuntarily. Neal stiffened at his father's side, before moving quickly to her side and sweeping her up against his chest.
Aaurie was alarmed and flinched away at first, but suddenly found herself relaxing against him, crying into his hard chest.
"Tell us what happened Aaurie, it's important," Neal whispered, smoothing down her hair.
"He, I tripped and he grabbed me. My leg, it hurt so much I couldn't get him off. I didn't- I tried to and he punched me and then my leg- it just hurt so much. I begged him not to but he just laughed at me," Aaurie sobbed. "And then he…" Neal held her closer, looking up at Alanna with concern.
As a squire, Alanna had dragged Neal through so many refugee camps and villages, and he had seen his fair share of battered and raped young woman. Some were in denial, others angry and vengeful- others couldn't stand what happened and feel apart.
"Aaurie, just tell us who and he'll be tried and locked away," Alanna tried. Aaurie met her gaze and knew that the older women wished that it were true, but knew in her heart that it wasn't.
"I don't know," Aaurie said quietly. "I don't know."
"You didn't see him?" Duke Baird asked in disbelief. Aaurie held his gaze, blinking through tears.
"No milord. You'll find I often trip and fall, with no idea as to what displaced me- why should this be different?" Aaurie whispered. Duke Baird frowned, recognizing her excuse from the first time she saw him- she'd gotten in a fight with Rurik had tried to use the age old pages' excuse.
"Aaurie- are you sure? Think hard," Alanna tried, urging the girl. Aaurie shook her head.
"I didn't see him. My answer won't change. I- will I still be able to leave tomorrow?" Aaurie asked, trying to block the day from her mind.
"You'll sleep here tonight, and I'll give Neal instructions for your continued care- but yes, you may leave with Neal and the Own tomorrow." Duke Baird decided. He knew now that she'd heard what he said, and had decided to spare herself the agony of a failed trial. He felt guilt over having helped her make the decision, but knew too that a trial would only be like experiencing the rape all over again.
Duke Baird watched as Neal helped her slide back down into the bed, covering her quietly. Aaurie was asleep almost as soon as Neal had pulled up the covers, another courtesy of Alanna's gift.
"You know she's lying," Alanna said helplessly. Duke Baird nodded.
"Neal will keep an eye on her, for now to lie is the best thing for her. Later there will come a time for the truth."