With maternal instincts in mind Rosie hurried back to her room, to her husband. After spending another day with Tina and her newborn, she hadn't seen Creedy since this morning, and felt a deep need to be in his arms again.
"Rosiiiie?", Eddie's voice was slurred as he appeared out of a dark corner. "Come here I need to ask you ...I need to tell you something."
Rosie stopped still and stared at him, all her happy feelings gone. Eddie had never been somebody she felt comfortable around, she had caught him staring at her a few times, and leering after Tina. Rosie knew very little about him, he had lost his wife and had children. Creedy never spoke to highly of him either.
Eddie lurched forward. "Come here, I need to tell you something, it's about Creedy."
Rosie smiled, as her husband's name flew to her ears.
Without warning Eddie grabbed Rosie and dragged her into the dark cove with him.
Rosie screamed in alarm, as he pressed his body against hers. Clamping one dirty hand against her mouth, his other hand began lifting her skirts.
"You are a tease little one, acting the wife are we? Well I'll show you what a real man is like."
Rosie bit down on his hand hard, "Dave's twice the man you are!" she spat. Desperately she tried clawing her way out, but received a fist to the kidneys for her troubles, then a second to her stomach. Winded she fell forward, tears sprung to her eyes. Again his hands grabbed her, she kicked out her legs again, receiving a slap to the face.
"Just keep still, this won't take long."
Rosie closed her eyes and waited, she felt bile rise in her throat, there was no way she could escape, there was nobody about. Suddenly an idea hit her. Fluttering her eyelashes she looked up at Eddie seductively.
"OK, but can we go somewhere a bit more private?"
Eddie stopped, and shook his head, trying to comprehend what he just heard.
"Alright!" he roared, looking smug. "But don't try anything funny, girl." Gripping her hair he began to drag her toward his room. Taking the opportunity, Rosie twisted her body away, screaming as she left a clump of hair in his hand. Twirling round she planted her knee between his legs, then ran for her life.

"If I had a clock," Creedy mused, "it would say to me I have been alone all day, and Rosie is stupidly late coming to bed. I can't believe I'm talking to myself." Creedy looked around his empty room quickly to check no one had caught him in his moment of lonely insanity. Sighing he walked to the fire and threw a few more logs on top.
The door burst open with a loud smash as it hit the wall, he spun round in shock and took in the sight of Rosie.
Covered in mud, her hair was a mess, her skirts ripped and her face bruised, her tears flowing.
"Dave!" she sobbed, and ran into his arms.
Half an hour later, Creedy had her stripped and carefully washed. He had kissed her bruises and calmed her down, yet still waited patiently for an explanation.
"I'll ask you again Rosie, what happened?"
Rosie let more tears fall, trying to find the words to explain her experience. Suddenly the door burst open and Tom stood there, holding his terrified twin.
"Creedy come quick, Quinn's gone mad!"
Creedy looked from his wife to Tom, Rosie smiled. "I'll be OK for two minutes, go see what's wrong."
.Creedy kissed her head, "I'll be right back." he muttered and shot out of the room.

Creedy took in the sight of Quinn kicking the hell out of Eddie, then blinked. Sure him and Quinn had always shared a dislike of this man but neither had ever attacked him before. Creedy watched 3 men drag Quinn of him, and ran over to Eddie, picking him off the floor.
"You alright mate? What's happened?"
Eddie's eyes were fearful as he allowed himself to be lifted up by Creedy.
"Creedy get off that fucking bastard!" Quinn's voice rang over the room. "You of all people don't want to touch him!"
"Me of all people?" Creedy's face was confused.
Tears filled Quinn's eyes. "Have you not seen Rosie yet? Not seen what he did! He was down here laughing about it! You didn't bargain on me still being up did you Eddie?"
A feeling of hate washed over Creedy, as if someone had thrown cold water over him. Tears filled his eyes as he thought of Rosie trying to fight off this monster he was holding. All eyes followed Creedy as he dropped Eddie on the floor and walked calmly out of the room.
The room was silent for all of 10 seconds until Creedy walked back holding a large bit of wood.
Tina walked in trying to hold Creedy back. "No don't, please Creedy!"
Creedy flicked her off without thought and advanced on Eddie, bringing the wood down on his body with a sickening crack.
Eddies scream filled the castle, reaching Rosie who sat up in bed. Grabbing her clothes she followed the howls.
None of the men felt like stopping Creedy just yet, each stood and watched, and Creedy repeatedly smashed Eddie with the stick, eventually throwing it away and dragging Eddie to his feet, only to raise his fist and smash him back down to the floor.
Eddies face was barely recognisable when Creedy sighed and stood back.
Rosie ran into the hall and looked around, seeing Eddie on the floor her stomach flipped with hate and pity. Creedy turned and looked at her, tears flowing down his face. Turning back to Eddie threw he all his weight behind his foot as it cracked into his already destroyed ribs.
Creedy walked to Rosie, took her hand and lead her back to their room. Once there he howled with frustration, and collapsed on the bed.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He turned his anger on Rosie now.
"Because of what you just did, I knew what your reaction would be. I don't want all this hate."
"What did he do to you?"
Rosie walked over and sat beside him, "Nothing, we both know what he tried to do. But I fought him off and ran here. Eddie was drunk, doubt he will even remember why you have almost killed him in the morning."
Creedy dropped his head in his hands and cried some more. "I feel so helpless, what can I do now? I can't even protect you in your own home!"
"You couldn't have known." Rosie pulled Creedy into a hug.
"Look at you, comforting me. God I'm so selfish, are you OK? Do you want to talk about it?
Rosie laughed and walked over to dip a rag into a bowl of water across the room.
"Selfish, Dave you're my world. One man gropes me in a fit of drunken passion and you beat him to death in front of everybody." Rosie began dabbing Creedy's bloody knuckles with the rag. "I shall be the height of conversation tomorrow, besides you can't blame the guy for wanting a piece of this."
Creedy smiled and kissed her.
"Seriously Dave, I fought off drunken men all the time in Ireland. Tonight was no different, I escaped and I'm fine, plus I have you."
Rosie pulled Creedy into a hug, and pulled him down to their bed. After a long kiss, they both fell asleep.