This is me moving the story along, so hopefully it won't look too rushed. I didn't get around the editing it, since I spent six hours writing it, I'm officially pooped. I have two one-shots in the making since I need to freshen up my mind from CoL, so be on the look out for them. Also I think this is the longest chapter I've done in a while, so hopefully it's all good stuff. Well enjoy and I hope nobody will be disappointed with this update.
Chains of Love
Chapter Twenty-Four: The Man in Black and Gold
Bustling bodies and obnoxiously loud shouts from run down stall owners and carriage drivers drowned out whatever noises played in the back ground that usually ran through the streets of Lower Lima.
The Fabray carriage was exactly where it had seriously wanted to avoid being, it was currently stuck in the middle of the mid-day traffic that held the lower city roads at a complete standstill for an unbearably long time.
Quinn had her own reasons for not wanting to be stuck in the traffic, mostly because she just wanted to get home as quickly as possible, back to normality.
Noah on the other hand had more important reasons. He wanted to avoid it because he knew the dangers of having a noble carriage stuck with no escape in the slums of the city, surrounded by desperate folk who wouldn't think twice before trying to rob the elites that sat inside.
Having made a decision based on his experience and knowledge of the lower city, he tuned in his seat and knocked politely on the wooden hatch that could be moved across to reveal the insides of the carriage. He waited for only a moment before Rachel's youthful face appeared where the once plain wood blocked him out. She looked at him questionably, wondering why he knocked and had yet to say anything.
"We're not going to be moving for a while my ladies, I think it best if you were both to don your cloaks and take to foot till you reach the centre city. An unguarded carriage such as this is a prime target for some low life to try and take advantage of." Noah explained.
Before the trip to Berry's farm he wouldn't have even entertained the thought of asking his mistress and her maid to walk through the lower city alone and unprotected, but after seeing Quinn in action, he hardly thought that a mere peasant could take Quinn. Beside on foot it wouldn't even take a quarter of a candle mark to reach the centre where they would be a lot safer.
"How exactly is walking amongst them any safer than staying in here behind these carriage walls?" Quinn asked sceptically, this was certainly a first for her. She was actually surprised the Captain had the gall to actually suggest it.
"On your feet and under your cloaks you'll be one of them, up here in this little glory box on wheels you're a sitting gold mine just waiting to be plundered." Noah explained, between the glances he threw around every now and then to check for any potential threats.
"Come on Quinn, it'll be better out there in the fresh air than sitting in this stuffy box that has a knack of going over every single pot hole in its path." Rachel said attempting to persuade Quinn to do as Noah had suggested.
More than anything Rachel wanted out of the swaying carriage, being able to get a look around the city on the way was just a minor bonus for her.
Quinn didn't bother to huff and puff about what appeared to be an already decided upon suggestion, because she knew full well that should she try Rachel could and would out pout her with ease.
"Try and stick to the main road as best you can, and do not get separated that is essential…that means no wandering off kiddo." Noah added, smirking through the rectangular gap at a now huffing Rachel; who at seeing his smirk shut the peek box with a firm snap.
"He purposely aggravates me Quinn, you just saw him." Rachel rant would have continued, but Quinn decided to save herself and threw the shorter girls cloak at her, hitting her squarely in the face and effectively stopping all complaints from further escape.
She tried her very best not to look at all amused as the light cloak gradually fell from the girls head, slowly revealing the murderous glare that the brunette was sporting, before it land in a folded lump on the floor of the carriage.
"Let's go." Quinn chirped innocently, donning her own cloak with practiced ease and quickly flicked the red hood up over her head, concealing most of her face from view.
Sensing that Noah wasn't going to be getting down from his perch at the front, Quinn took to opening the door of the carriage and quickly jumped out, but not before checking around, the last thing she wanted to do was land on some reeking body and cause a scene.
When she was safely and securely on her feet, she adjusted her hood, pulling it back into place from where it had slipped slightly from her dismount. She then turned and assisted Rachel down from the so called glory box.
As soon as Rachel's little feet touched the cobbled road, she linked her arm through Quinn's and held on tightly, whilst pushing herself flush against Quinn's warm side.
Rachel was taking Noah's instructive advice quite seriously, not only did she not want a repeat of her first ever trip to the market, but she certainly wanted to avoid bumping into random giants…especially in the area of the city, she doubted people around here would be as tactile as the Hudson boy had been when trying to coax her away from the crowd.
She could already hear the blonde grumbling to herself about the disgusting stench of the place and the numerous people who were unfortunate enough to have to live here. Any other time Rachel would have prepared a rant in order to scold Quinn for being so harsh, but being in the position that she was, well she was forced to agree this one time.
It was obvious that the people who habituated the lower area of the city had lived in poverty for a very long and had evidently lost all pride and respect for the area in which they had no choice but to call home.
There wasn't even much around for Rachel to look at, well not with a grimace at least. There had been a very brief moment when she saw some children running around , but it had been very brief as the running children were being quickly followed by a couple of the city guard. None of the houses were eye catching in a good way and all the so called shops looked less than appealing.
If Rachel hadn't been so firmly attached to Quinn's arm she feared she may have already been swept away with the crowd, she had been bumped into more than she cared to remember, strangely enough Quinn hadn't been knocked once, but then Rachel put that down to the older girls' deft skill at dodging oncoming bodies.
"Thank the gods." Quinn sighed heavily, her feet starting to move that much quicker, as her determination to get out of this cess pit grew as she saw the ever glowing city centre.
Rachel looked up at her mistress to see what had shifted her sour mood; it was of course immediately evident when Rachel followed Quinn's line of sight.
The difference between the two sections of the city were very clear, it was almost as if the gods had drawn a line across the city, limiting the sun's rays to shown only upon the upper area, banishing the slums to the darkness, like trying to hide dirt a shadowed corner.
"I'm going to have to talk to my mother about that awful place. Honestly you could smell the poverty never mind see it." Quinn quipped as she planted a firm and sure foot over the golden barrier officially putting both herself and Rachel in her much preferred area, only second to Upper Lima.
Rachel didn't think twice before giving Quinn a sharp yet subtle dig in the ribs with her elbow for making yet another demeaning comment about the poor. She knew that had they not been in such a public setting where Quinn was now likely to be recognised, she would have received a swift bop on her delicate nose for her actions; thankfully Quinn hated to draw attention to them. So all she received from the blonde was a look that promised revenge.
Forgetting about her payback for now, Quinn decided she was comfortable enough in her surroundings that she could remove her concealing hood, and with a flick of her wrist her face was washed over with sunlight.
Rachel was in awe yet again of her love's goddess rivalling beauty, the golden hair embraced the warm glow that the sun bathed upon her eagerly.
"I love you." Rachel whispered breathlessly as she continued to stare upon Quinn and powerful aura she exuded.
Quinn glanced sideways at her girl when she heard her quiet admission, a loving smile licked at her lips as her eyes softened when they met the adoring brown that lavished her with attention.
"I return your affection I'm sure." Quinn replied shyly, it wasn't quite what she had wanted to say, but for her it was at least a start. And thankfully; if Rachel's delighted squeal was anything to go by, the little brunette was pleased with her progress also.
And she was truly was. Rachel hadn't thought Quinn would reply to her at all, but not only had she suggested that she loved Rachel, but Quinn had done so out loud and in public no less…well it wasn't a loud declaration or anything, but that wasn't what Rachel wanted anyway, she just wanted Quinn to accept her feelings and embrace them.
Their giddiness was still lingering around them, making them both smile goofily at one another every now and then, Quinn's smile was less obvious, but that was to be expected. They had moved around the market slowly, checking each and every stall's offer at Rachel's persistence of course, but Quinn was more than happy to oblige her.
While Rachel's happiness wasn't dwelling in the least, it would seem as though her energy was depleting rapidly, the exciting atmosphere of the market was really taking it out of her. Quinn noticed straight away when Rachel started to quieten down and became less enthusiastic about the wares of every stall.
"Are you alright there Rachel?" Quinn asked kindly, she herself wasn't as energetic as she had been previously, but she wasn't lagging as much as her pet was.
"Do we really have to walk all the way home?" Rachel asked in a somewhat whiney voice, she hadn't considered the trek up the hill to the Fabray house before now and after having spent a good three candle marks almost running around the large market place, well she certainly wasn't looking forward to the walk home. Her feet hurt.
"For a farm reared girl, you really are rather lazy Trouble, but to answer your question, yes we will be walking home, unless Puckerman manages to catch us up… unless he has already passed us. Our venture around the market wasn't actually planned." Quinn answered with an amused grin, she watched as Rachel began to pout.
"I think we should start heading back now." Rachel suggested she was really looking forward to relaxing in her mountain of plush pillows; she missed the comfort of sinking into the cushions and dozing off surrounded by everything Quinn.
"We will…as soon as we stop off at Hummel's. We're going to need something for the spring festival; it'll be here in a few moons." Quinn replied, gently tapping the limp hand that lay on the inside of her forearm.
She really hoped Rachel wasn't going to kick up a fuss, Kurt and her darling pet didn't exactly see eye to eye and the last thing Quinn needed was the tailor seeing her babying her slave and him running around the city spreading potentially damaging rumours. Kurt was after all a notorious gossip.
The pair made the short walk to the tailors shop relatively silent, Rachel had made it her mission to try and fit as many overly dramatic sighs in during the walk as humanly possible and it was starting to grate on Quinn's nerves.
"I think maybe you should stay out here and I'll pick the dresses." Quinn said whilst pinching the bridge of her perfectly sculpted nose.
"You can't be serious, what if I get abducted by some maniac?" Rachel gasped her overly imaginative mind running repent at the mere thought.
"You'd only have to open your mouth and I'm sure they would just as quickly drop you, but I suppose you may have a point. I wouldn't want that disgusting blacksmiths to run away with you." Quinn grumbled, her thoughts taking an unfortunate turn towards the man-child who had tried to steal Rachel from her not once, but twice, not to mention that fact that he had broken into the grounds of her home.
She continued to mumble about the Hudson boy using many words that her mother would lose her mind over if she heard her daughter utter such distasteful things. As of that moment though Quinn believed the oaf to be deserving of every slur she could possible produce.
Rachel ignored her mistress's not so quiet rambling as she followed her blonde into the shop. The scents of the many different fabrics hit them as the door closed behind them with the same jingle it had opened with; effectively alerting one Kurt Hummel to their arrival.
"Lady Fabray, it's a pleasure to have you back. You are no doubt looking from a suitable dress for the spring festival, are you not?" He asked, his voice taking on that particular feminine pitch that was strangely unique to no other man in the city but Kurt. "And you've brought your slave…fantastic." He muttered sarcastically.
Luckily for him, Quinn was already busy browsing through the various fabrics that he had lining the wall. She had already noticed the larger framed black woman working diligently at the back end of the shop, she remembered her from when she had seen Rachel talking to her when she visited the blacksmiths with her mother a whole season ago.
What she didn't see was the new and much larger shadow that Rachel had acquired the moment she had stepped away from her to browse the shop.
Against popular belief the sneaky figure didn't have a death wish, and waited patiently for the blonde heiress to be completely distracted by Kurt Hummel on the opposite side of the shop, a fair distance away from his target.
He approached as quietly as his large form allowed; his eyes flicking quickly back towards the busy blonde noble, before he made his presence known to the small brunette.
The unexpected contact on her left shoulder made Rachel jump, which caused her to lose her grip on the masterfully crafted leather boot that she had to scramble to catch. Annoying Kurt by dropping his work was one thing, but she really didn't want to annoy Quinn by doing something irresponsible.
"Did I scare you?" The offender asked dopily. Immediately Rachel knew who was standing behind her before she even bothered to turn around and reprimand the sneak for startling her. She groaned quietly in irritation, one day she hoped to leave Quinn's side and not have the unfortunate luck of bumping into the blacksmith once.
"I wasn't scared; I just wasn't expected to be poked so harshly by a stranger. What are you even doing here Finn?" Rachel whispers harshly, hoping to avoid drawing attention to them whilst the bumbling idiot was trying his luck for the umpteenth time.
Quinn would surely be angered yet again if she saw the two conversing, although Rachel had already promised both Quinn and herself that should the blacksmith approach her again she was not to try and save him. And this time she was definitely going to be sticking to the everyman/slave for themselves plan.
"I'm helping Kurt, there is a lot of heavy stuff he needs moving…so here I am." Finn announced a little too loudly for Rachel's liking, but she still scoffed at the proud smile that could easily pass as a smug grin that the giant had painted across his face.
Rachel spitefully thought that maybe heavy lifting was the only benefit to come from Finn's abnormal height and chubby build.
"Right well, go away. You aren't being much help to Kurt if you're just standing around pestering me." Rachel replied, flicking her hands quickly in an attempt to shoo the blacksmith away whilst Quinn was still unaware of his presence.
"I'm taking a break; do you want to come with?" Finn asked with a confident lopsided smile etched on his lips. He was of course shot down immediately, only Rachel's mouth didn't move to the words that might as well have slapped him in the face.
"Not in this lifetime peasant." Came the snarling response from behind, the familiar voice sent shivers down Rachel's spine, making the small brunette close her eyes to calm her body down. "You just don't know when to quit do you. Are you honestly that stupid that you think you can just break into my home and then continue to harass my slave, and have nothing happen to you?" Quinn spat, her breathing turning heavy as her anger and jealously started to get the better of her.
A dramatic gasp broke into the tense triangle, making Rachel lean sideways a little to see who was brave enough to bring themselves into the verbal bashing.
Of course it was Kurt, Rachel almost rolled her eyes. She should have known the young doll faced tailor would jump into a possible scandal.
"Have you lost you goddess loving mind Finnius Hudson?" Kurt screeched his anger and shock towards his possibly mentally damaged step-brother. "You wait till I tell father about you're ridiculous behaviour." Kurt glared up at the taller man harshly, he then ordered Finn away to the back room, thankfully out of the nobles sight.
He couldn't believe what he had heard come from the Fabray heiress's mouth. Harassing a nobles slave was one thing, but to trespass on to a nobles property was just insane, people were sentenced to severe punishments for a lot less. If his brothers actions lost him his highest paying customer, Kurt would kill the man himself.
"I cannot apologise enough Lady Fabray, I do hope you won't hold my brothers actions against my father and I." Kurt rushed, whilst looking pleadingly towards the frowning blonde heiress. His profits would surely suffer if he lost the Fabray house as a part of his cliental.
"I shan't judge you on your brother's idiocy Kurt. Although you do well to talk some sense into him, as I'm quickly losing the will to be merciful. If he crosses me again, he'll be punished…publically. Do you understand?" Quinn asked, with barely contained anger. It wasn't as if she could punish Kurt for this incident, she needed him to make her clothes after all.
Thankfully she had already come to an agreement with the young tailor about what dresses she wanted for both Rachel and herself. So when the opportunity for a Rachel-esk exit arose, she took it. Head held high and shoulders square, she strode from the shop and into the busy streets of Lima, with her little trouble maker following closely behind.
"I think we should head on home now Mistress." Rachel quietly suggested she wasn't altogether sure how much the unexpected appearance of the blacksmith had affected her love's temper, so she reverted to her innocent submissive self just to be on the safe side of the delicate fence.
Quinn didn't answer, she was much too busy glaring at her surrounds and trying to take deep calming breathes, the gigantic oaf had a knack for getting right under Quinn's skin just from being in sight generally, but even more so when trying his none existent luck with her Rachel.
While she may have been preoccupied with glaring hatefully at the Lima City public, Quinn was still able to unconsciously offer her arm to her girl; who was grinning from ear to ear at Quinn's chivalrous nature.
They continued their walk along the bricked path that would eventually lead them to the Fabray house. It was a surprisingly peaceful walk, both simply happy to be with the other. And Quinn found herself to be calming down quite quickly, compared to the normal comedown she usually went through, which always involved sulking for numerous candle marks.
Even though the walk was nice and the streets were busy, which kept them both entertained, Quinn just couldn't throw off the feeling that they were being watched, potentially stalked if the hairs on the back of her neck were anything to go by. Being the only heir to one of the most iconic families in Lima, Quinn was used to being observed, but this felt different somehow…in a dangerous way.
Luckily Noah had yet to pass them with the carriage and had miraculously appeared alongside them just as they reached the beginning of the stead slop that lead to their home.
Having Noah around again made Quinn instantly more at ease, and the feeling of being watched vanished as she was helped into the carriage by her ever loyal guard.
Unknowingly the young captain had saved Quinn from having to experience yet another very Berry tantrum; Rachel had been building herself up for it the moment the hill came into view.
A few of the main house guards were awaiting their arrival at the front doors of the Fabray house to welcome their mistress home from her trip. They were also there to pass on a message that had been left by Lady Judy for her daughter.
Apparently Quinn's parents were required to go a few towns over to settle a dispute that had erupted between an outside trading company and the towns' local dealers. As it so happened the Fabray house had invested in both businesses.
Her parents' absence meant that Quinn was going to be solely in charge until they returned. Most teenagers would revel in the parentless house, but from what Rachel could see Quinn didn't look too excited about the news.
Rachel didn't know what had dampened her mistress's mood, but she decided that she wasn't going to bother Quinn about it, unless the blonde didn't perk up by the evening. Her love could just be tired after all; Rachel knew that she herself could do with a little nap after all the walking she had done today.
As usual Quinn lead the way into the house and immediately headed towards her much missed bed quarters. Noah brought the luggage along with the assisting guards, but was quick to leave the girls in peace once he had placed the cases down in the far corner of Quinn's room as instructed by Rachel.
When the room was clear of its audience, Rachel subtly moved towards Quinn; who had just uncharacteristically flopped ungracefully onto her bed with a heavy sigh.
"Would you like to talk about what has gotten you so down?" Rachel enquired quietly, whilst slowly crawling across the large bed until she was at Quinn's side. She paused momentarily, but then moved to snuggle up against her sombre mistress. Hopefully a cuddle would cheer her love up a little.
"I hate being left in charge." Quinn groaned, turning her pouting face into Rachel's hair that was so conveniently placed for her to hide in.
"Really? I thought you would love to rule the house for a change, not having to answer to anyone and to do as you please when you so please." Rachel replied her eyes glazed over momentarily as she almost let herself get lost in her dream world of being with Quinn without limitations or expectations.
"I don't know it's almost like people sense that my parents are away and try to take advantage. You'll see there will be people wanting to meet with me a least a dozen times a day." Quinn's voice was muffled but she already sounded tired, just from the thought of having to fend of grabbing hands.
"Can't you just send them away?" Rachel asked while pushing herself closer to Quinn's comforting warmth. She would more than likely fall asleep in a moment or two, she just need Quinn's arms around her.
She didn't have to wait long, as Quinn instinctively moved her arms around Rachel as soon as she felt Rachel wiggle closer.
"It's not a simple as that Trouble, some things will need to be attended to immediately and that falls onto me while my parents are away." Quinn answered, tightening her arms around her pet.
"You're parents trust you to make these decisions?" Rachel mumbled against Quinn's neck; which was where she had just settled her face comfortably.
"I was brought up learnt the in's and out of the business and politic world. I think story time is over now though, so let's sleep okay." Quinn responded quietly, she sensed from the tired and soft tone of Rachel's voice that the girl was settling herself down for a snooze, so she decided she might as well join her. Reality could wait a few more candle marks for Quinn to make an appearance.
Oddly enough the nap was short lived, even though they had both been lacking in energy not a candle mark ago.
If you asked Rachel, she would blame Quinn for looking so adorable and innocent whilst she slept curled up around her and that she just wasn't able to stop herself.
Now if you asked Quinn, she would place the blame solely on Rachel for she herself had been sleeping peacefully before her mischievous little pet had decided to get handsey, which in turn had awoken Quinn with a recently familiar ache pulsing between her legs.
The kissing, touching and sweet whispers of adoration had been unavoidable at that point, Rachel was dead set on touching her mistress as much as she possible could and Quinn was more than happy to let Rachel get her fill. They needed each other it was as simple as they, of course neither were ready to pursue a more physical intimacy just yet.
If they hadn't have been interrupted by Noah Puckerman knocking on the door, Quinn had no doubt that Rachel and she would have still been rolling around on her large bed like frisky young lovers. But alas the door had been knocked upon and apparently Quinn was required to see to the affairs her mother and father had left her in charge of.
If her guards thought it odd that Rachel wasn't at her side then they made no outward sign that Quinn was able to pick up. Of course her little trouble maker had asked if Quinn wanted her to accompany her in the hall, but Quinn decided that it was needless for them both to suffer and if she was honest she didn't want Rachel around to see her handle this visitor, just in case it turned sour as it usually did in most cases.
Unfortunately Rachel had other ideas, she was determined to see her mistress in action, and she had so far yet to be disappointed by her blonde. Since her offer of company had already been declined, Rachel resigned herself in the darkest corner of the hall she could find that allowed her to see both Quinn and the visitor.
A large desk was placed in the centre of the room with four chairs on either side, as Lady and Lord Fabray normally dealt with the issues together, as it was there was only Quinn here, so as to not leave the chair empty Quinn motioned for Noah to take the seat beside her. She already had numerous guards situated around the hall and two were standing on either side of the chair she sat in.
"You may show the visitor in." Quinn ordered, having finally settled in her tall seat. Her mind was already running through the vast lessons she had memorised since her training began six springs ago.
Following the orders given by the young heir, the two guards by the door moved to pull at the handles, revealing a face that Quinn was sure she had seen before.
The man strode into her home confidently; his black long coat was fastened tightly, obviously tailored to his specific form. The coats lining was a material that mimicked the bright rich sheen of gold, as the buttons looked to be made of the real ore itself.
Quinn was clearly dealing with a man of great wealth, one that potentially rivalled her own, but since she didn't recognise the man of his colourings she took a guess in thinking he wasn't a Lima native. And that meant this could be either a business proposition or a social call…neither were Quinn's favoured topics.
"The rumours of your beauty are not false; the gods would truly be envious." The man spoke, his rough accent, gave his origin away immediately; Roman nobleman.
His attempts at flattery had no effect on the cold stone covering Quinn had started to exude the minute his accent registered in her mind. Never trust a roman noble whose tongue is as rich as his gold lined pocket. She was going to take her grandmothers wisdom in this case; she surely hadn't been a fool.
The romans confidence hadn't been deterred even as Quinn continued to remain silent and when the only move of recognition had been a curtly swipe of her hand that told the man to take a seat at her table.
She didn't care what came from this man's mouth; her response will remain a strong and unmoving decline. The Fabray house has never and will never do business with a roman; everyone knew buying into the city of Rome meant treachery and death to those who moved without caution. And they didn't come more cautious than the young heir.
"What is your name roman?" Quinn spoke sternly. Her fierce hazel eyes watched the man of black and gold like a predator, just waiting for her time to deliver the man his fate.
"I'm somewhat wounded that my lady has never heard of me, but neither the less, my name is Arcadian Decius Corcoran and yes I'm of roman decent." He replied, with a slimy grin that made Quinn's skin crawl with distaste.
The more Quinn thought about it the more she was beginning to recognise this man, she had been correct in thinking that she had seen him before. It had been during the trip her family took to Rome a season ago. She remembered him completely now.
Arcadian had been the creep that had been watched her darling Rachel on the day that they were leaving the palace; Rachel had just gotten into the carriage when Quinn had spotted the man watching her.
Immediately the blondes defences went up, this man was here to discuss something with her and she had a feeling it was going to involve her pet. Thankfully she had decline Rachel's company, she didn't want her girl anywhere near this man.
"Do you mind if I get comfortable?" Arcadian asked casually, which caused Quinn to raise a brow at him. She just wanted him to get on with whatever it was that he wanted so that she could say no and send him on his way and away from her home; Rachel.
She watched with increasing disinterest as the short dark haired man moved to stand, so he could remove his coat.
Just as he pulled the coat open Quinn saw his family crest and her heart stopped and her already pale complexion turned a deathly white, a fearful cold washed over her filling her with dread. Her eyes widened and for the life of her couldn't look away.
Arcadian Decius Corcoran's family symbol had been stitched proudly upon his chest pocket in a golden thread; an eagle.
And the sight made Quinn sick.