Chapter Three: Mist-Covered Mountains
Her room was dark and quite as she slept soundly. Her dreams filled with the love of her mother that she once knew so well. Her back healed and so her wrist but the fright was still there. She had been in bed for the past week letting herself heal slowly. She had had this type of punishment before, but she never knew it would hurt more the second time. Today she would leave her home and be forced into a marriage that she did not agree to. Her father would say things about her to a man that would not be true to be rid of her.
Mina entered knowing the despair that her friend felt. She had known Serena since she was a child and had become her best and only friend when her mother died. She liked Serena a lot, not only because some one of high rank had become her friend, but also because Serena didn't care about her rank. Serena treated her with the same respect that she treated every one else with, no matter their status.
Mina opened the drapes to let the fall sun enter the nearly empty room. She then filled up the water basin and refueled the fire with fresh wood. She left the room and soon came back with warm oatmeal and toast. Setting the tray on the table she went to Serena's bed and pulled back the drapes that surrounded the bed. Serena stirred in the slightest and mumbled, "Mama, please don't go...please..." Mina worried for her friend woke her with a slight shake to the shoulder and a tug at the coverlet.
Serena rolled over and smiled at her friend. "Good day Mina. So what's for breakfast?" She saw that Mina was going to remind her of what the events of the day would be, but she stopped her in time. "Please don't remind me of what is to happen today. I just want to get though this as soon as possible. Now help me out of bed so that I may dress, eat and be on my way."
Mina did as asked and helped Serena. Serena washed her face in the fresh water and ate her meal before she began to get dressed. She was glad that her friend would be joining her and that she would not be alone in her hours of solitude.
She dressed in her crimson red day dress and looked in the mirror. She hated the clothes her father made her wear she thought them degrading and disgusting. "Only a whore would wear this." She said. "Hand me that black head scarf." She told Mina, who was about to put it away. Carefully she tucked the ends into the top piece of her dress. The neckline was extremely low cut and unfitting to a lady. The sleeves were long and triangle shaped. When she finished arranging the scarf it at least looked decent to wear in public. She simply braided her hair and made a small knot at the base of her neck. "Much better! Now to call Marcus and have him take our belongings to the carriage." She turned and walked out the door headed for the servant quarters, Mina running to catch up to her friend.
"Marcus," Serena called. "My friend I need your services please."
A man in his mid twenties walked briskly towards Serena and Mina. His blonde red hair was cut short and he was always clean-shaven. Serena knew that he was in love with her and she had feelings for him too. However, they both knew her father would never allow any thing between them.
He stop in front of them both and did a sharp nod of the head to show respect. His green eyes sparkled as he asked, "How may I serve you, me Lady?"
Serena giggled softly because she knew he was flirting with her. "Oh Marcus, please you know what will happen if my father sees what you are doing. Now listen closely..." She trailed off to the slightest whisper. She explained what was happening and what had recently taken place to cause her to stay in bed for the past week. Serena saw the look of anger in his eyes but calmed him immediately. "It won't do any good. Here now stop fidgeting. Be off with you and remember take care not to let our secret be discovered."
He nodded again before he left her and Mina. He was on his way, he would be certain to put all of her fighting clothes and weapons in his barracks, so that while both were gone and her room searched by her father's guards they could find nothing. Marcus was determined not to let any more harm come to her if possible. He was at least glad that her father had appointed him as Serena's guardian while out and about the countryside.
They had left the manner two days ago and every one was beginning to feel the weariness of the road. Serena, Mina and Lord Stephen rode in the same carriage. No conversation was held and no one looked at each other. Marcus rode horse back beside the carriage, watching and guarding. It would take two more days of this before they reached the Palace, and even then they would only have three days before the Galla began. Those three days would be spent relaxing and taking a hot bath.
Lord Stephen refused to stop longer than an hour at any inn. He did not want to spend money on such, as he called them, trivial things. It was hard to sleep in a bouncing carriage that smelled of sweat and rotten meat. Still Serena's father insisted and she obeyed with no questions asked.
The days were long and soon on the fourth morning the Palace came into view. It would be another two to three hours before the carriage arrived at the gates of the city, let alone the drawbridge of the Palace.
Serena and Mina both looked the worse for wear and she suspected that her father had intended this. He would probably want her to look common so that no one would take interest in her. She didn't care one bit all she wanted was a good three-hour long nap. Serena had to constantly stifled yawns so that she wouldn't offend her father.
After what seemed like hours on end they reached the Palace gates. Slowly they passed through, and Serena was glad to finally step out of the carriage after four days of travel and very little stops. When she stepped out of the carriage she found it hard to breathe and could not stand so well on her own. Mina tried to help her stand, but she was too heavy. Lord Stephen had left all ready with Marcus and a Palace guard on his way to greet the Queen. She was so weak that she almost fell to the ground when strong arms helped her to stand. With no time to react she passed out from exhaustion and lack of food.
When Serena woke she found herself in a bed she did not recognize, frightened that something had happened to her, she sat up abruptly. She sat up so fast that the speed caused her head to spin and throw up whatever meal she had in her stomach. She felt miserable and wanted to know where she was. She realized that some one had expected her to wake up and feel ill for there was water basin and jug full of steaming water. Slowly she got off the massive bed and walked over to the water. She cleaned her face and washed her hands, she only wished that she could take a proper bath. After cleaning herself off she walked over to the side of the bed she had thrown up on and tried washing out the mess.
When she finished she put the basin and jug back on the table. She remembered arriving at the Palace and stepping out of the carriage, then stumbling and nothing else after. Serena walked around the room and noticed that all of her belongings along with Mina's were in the room. She also noticed that it was just the beginning of sunset of the next day after she arrives. She guessed after some time that she must have passed out and was brought to this room. What puzzled her though was the fact that Marcus had left with her father and Mina would have never been able to get her to this room on her own.
Serena walked around the room for a bit looking at the paintings and tapestries on the walls. Before long she found herself begin to get tired and start to have dizzy spells. She slowly walked back over to her bed to sleep a bit more. She however, did not make it to the bed in time she was about five steps away when she collapsed again.
Serena thought she heard the door open and heard heated whispers go back and forth between two people. She wasn't sure so she stayed put where she was. It wasn't very comfortable on the cold stone floor, but she stayed put anyway.
"You should have told me. Now her father is going to think that I'm some kind of whore, thanks to you. Prince or not you should not have let me stay in your room last night. If Lord Holborne finds out I will have your head . . . why are you looking at me like that?" Mina paused just a moment to look in the direction the man she was yelling at looked too. "Oh my Gods, Serena! Don't just stand there, help me." She rushed over to Serena's side and began to try and lift her.
Serena felt Mina place her arms around her waist and try to lift, but Mina as weak as she was was only able to lift her halfway. Soon Serena felt another pair of arms lift her legs and support her back. She smelt the musk of pine and oak with a little bit of peppermint mixed together. Her head rested against something that felt of satin, but she was unsure. She was still in between the sleeping world and the conscience world, but something kept getting at her. Unable to fight the demons that haunted her unconscious mind she began to struggle. "No! Mother please don't leave me. I don't trust him. He'll hurt me, please MOTHER . . .. Father, you can't make me . . .ugh no your hurting me . . ." She pounded on the chest that a moment ago felt so comforting.
Serena was laid down on the bed and yet she still fought. Mina sat by her side and began to slowly bring her in to the waking world. "Serena, it's all right your among friends here. Your father cannot harm you here. Please me friend wake up." Mina shook Serena in the slightest.
Serena shot up with a scream, her eyes wide open from terror. She was breathing hard when she spotted Mina. Upon seeing her friend she wrapped her arms around her and began to cry, "Mina, it happened again. Why does he haunt my dreams? Why?"
"It only happens because you let it. Now my friend please clam yourself. You have a visitor, he's the young man that helped me carry you to this room." Mina said.
"Oh no, Mina I can't meet any body. Not looking like this, you know what my father would do if he found out . . ." Serena was cut short by a husky male voice.
"No one will know of what has taken place I swear it." A tall man in his early twenties, with black hair and the deepest blue of eyes that Serena had ever seen, stepped out from behind the bed curtain.
Serena gasped and looked at Mina questionably, "Mina I'm going to kill you. Why did you let him in here? You could have called for help from another maid."
"He was coming here to see if you were alright from your fall. I'm sorry Serena but I couldn't stop him. He was worried just as I was about you." Mina looked away hurt by her friend's words. "Please Serena, try to understand no one will know, honest."
"She's right no one will know that I have been here. No one saw me come in and I can leave through a trap door that I know of." His eyes danced at the amusement of a disappearing act. He knew his mother would approve if he did give his word to this young woman.
"You don't understand my father has eyes and ears everywhere. Even if you could find a way for him not to know, some one would report it to him. And if he were to know that you touched me, even if it was to help he will kill you."
"My dear lady your father would not be able to touch me even if he wanted too."
"What do you mean?" She looked from him to Mina. "Who are to think that my father would not find a way to kill you?"
"My Lady," he bowed at the waist to her in formal greeting. "I am Prince Darien of Ireland. I have already met your hand maiden by formal greetings, but I have yet to meet you in the same way."
Serena's eyes went wide as she looked from Darien to Mina and back again. Slowly she stepped out of the bed, despite protests from Mina. "I am the eldest and only daughter of Lord Stephen Holborne."
"Is that all you are, the name of your Father. You wouldn't happen to have a name of your own would you?" He asked.
"I do, but I thought that a proper introduction was to be given. In other words, I was fallowing your orders." She retorted.
"My lady I did not give an order, I simply asked your name. I did not ask you for your father's name or you father's title. Now please may I know you by name?" He asked trying to be a gentleman.
Serena looked at Mina confused. She didn't know what to do. "My name is Serena Holborne. I hope that I have satisfied you."
"Very much indeed Lady Serena. I am sorry but I am going to have to cut our meeting short, I must go and speak with my mother about the Galla." Darien made a short bow and turned to Mina. "My lady, thank you for the most interesting day." He then walked up to the painting of a young boy in blue satin, and pulled it aside. With out looking back he went through. The trap door closing quietly behind him.
Mina looked after him for a moment then turned back to Serena. "I think he likes you." She then saw that Serena wasn't looking too good and said, "Come on lets get you back to bed. Tomorrow after you are rested you can take a relaxing bath and walk around the gardens. Marcus was worried about you. Your father on the other hand didn't care at all. And while you sleep I will clean this coverlet." Mina said all of this while she helped Serena into bed and made it comfortable for her. She walked out the door caring the coverlet away from her with a look of disgust.