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Part 21

I started down at the black lace that covered my hands. It felt itchy, and uncomfortable. My skin felt as if it was being turned raw. I felt a squeeze on my shoulder, and I regretably looked up.

I didn't want to take in the scene that was before me, never wanted to remember this dark and dreary day. It had been a week since Alexander was found dead, and now, alongside half the county, Kingdoms come together, standing around a dark and morbid box. A red and white blanket was laid over the top of the tomb, with the Gutharem royal family crest. Alexander lay in that box. A deep hole still puncturing his body. I turned away again.

Alexander's whole family stared at me, with accusing eyes. I began to get hot beneath my collar. I tugged at it discreetly, keeping my eyes cast downwards.

Troyethe sat on the far bench, opposite me. He did not meet my gaze, for he was as much at fault for Alexander's death as I was - and he knew it. I could feel the once tightly-knit coils of my hair slowly slumping down to the base of my neck. I was sweating and felt disgusting.

Finally the ceremony had come to an end, and I was most thankful that it had. Immediately I whisked up my long black gown and began to make my way past the many crowds, trying to stay in poise, but also trying to get away as fast as I could. The sun had begun to really advance it's brink - boiling overhead in the clearest blue skies. Although the weather was beautiful, the day was dark and dreary from the start.

That night I stripped myself of all the black linens, and instead opted for a salmon-pink slip, with a white overcoat ontop. As I pushed back the strands of hair around my cheeks, I looked around to make sure no one was there. I planned to be alone on this night, free of the accusing threats and nasty tongues.

I slipped through the corridor, and down the turning steps that led to the horsemen's cabins. I knew they were not being occupied this night, for they were out in the country to deliver post-funeral news. I shuddered.

As I passed through the castle to the cabin, I tightened my grip on my overcoat, bidding it closer. The warmth had begun to escape my skin, and I felt like I was slowly being blanketed with a strange cold. My footsteps make little noise, as they gently yet quickly reach the cabins. The horses, although lazy, and fully awake and watching me make my way past. They niegh until I feel a sense of fear taking over, their black eyes boring into my skin. 'Breathe, you silly girl.' I scold myself, loosening my grip on my cloak.

I feel eyes on my back, the gaze of which I know is not a horse's. Although my eyes are slowly adjusting to the light, it is far too dark to see who it is. It is also far too late for anyone to be out to rescue me. As I slowly turn around, I see the outline of a man. Taking a step back, the figure comes closer. The light from the moon hits his face, and Alexander stares into my eyes, a feirce and angry look upon his face.

'NO!' I scream, and push his chest away. I begin to run but soon I am stopped by a tight grasp upon my waist. I can hear my jacket being ripped. I scream again, and try to wriggle away.

"M'lady! Stop! Please stop! Just...stop.." He twists me over and holds both arms above my head. "...moving!"

I try to catch my breath but I just cannot. The man that is holding me down I know is not Alexander, and it was just my mind playing tricks on me again. But I cannot get the picture of him out of my mind. The grip on my wrists are being to ease off.

"Now miss, are you fit to stand? You will not run away again, will you?" He sits me upright, and yet I still cannot see his face. "A chance to explain myself, miss. I was cleaning out one of the stables, as a last moment job. You see, the guests from the funeral of Sir Alexander..." at this point, I felt his fingers leave my skin to allow him to make the sign of the cross. "...need their horses ready for the early morning. When someone came quietly walking into the stables at this hour, well miss, I hadn't a clue who you were."

I don't speak a word, I feel as if my tongue has lost movement.

"And still yet, m'Lady, I do not know your name."

I licked my lips to get feeling back into my mouth. A feeling swept over me, and I grabbed his hand in the darkness. "Let's go."

"Go? Miss? Where to?" He stumbled upwards, so he was standing beside me. I could now tell he was tall. I pulled on his hand until we walked out of the stable, towards the gardens. "Miss? M'lady please stop..." I ignored his pleas, and tugged him farther and farther from the castle. Past the gardens, past the field, and into the forest.

Finally I turned to look at him, the sun now rising. His hair was a floppy brown mess, with dust covering his skin from head to toe from the stable. He was a handsome boy, hardly over the age of seventeen. I stepped infront of him, and began to undo his tunic.

He pulled my hands away. "Miss, dear lord! What is your name woman?" His lips trembled as I pulled at his tunic again. As soon as I got the buttons undone, I pulled the material over his head - he put his arms up agreeably. I could tell he was still confused, but I was not about to stop for that. My hands followed the hair that flowed from his navel to his trousers, in a thin, delicate line. His hands moved quickly to my chin, and pulled it up to push his lips against mine. I felt his tongue prod though my teeth gently, unsure and a bit afraid. I welcomed the intrusion and responded with a nudge of my own.

Grasping his left hand, I brought it down to my chest, and his calloused fingers danced over the silk of my slip. I ran my hands over his shoulders, which were chisled nicely from the hard work in the stables. As he flicked the tip of my breast through the silk, I began to sink down to the leaf-scattered ground. He followed, and pushed his body down ontop of mine, the length of him covering me by the inch. The weight was not uncomfortable, but rather pleasurable.

Soon my slip had been disregarded, and I lay on the forest floor naked under this new man. I closed my eyes and waited for him to pull his trousers off. Soon I felt the pressure of his body ontop of mine once more, his knee proding my legs apart ever so softly. I held onto his shoulders tightly, and opened myself so that he could enter with more ease.

He hovered above me and we locked eyes. His eyes were glazed over, as if pleading, lost in some unknown world that I had not yet discovered. He ran his hand down to my stomach, and I began to whimper. I felt my head nodding, and I took hold of his shoulders more tightly.

Soon I felt a tight and sharp pain as he entered me. I let out a tiny scream, and he withdrew immediately. "Shit! You hadn't told me you had never...had never been given away!" He was suddenly snapped out of his trance, and he looked at me worridly.

I waited until the scorching pain had died down a little, and opened my eyes. He was still there, hovering above me once more. I slid my hands from his shoulders to his hips, and guided him back down into me. It still hurt, but not so much I couldn't bare. Gently I raised my hips up to meet his, and he slowly relaxed once more. I held on tightly as he danced with my body, and I gave out little moans of pleasure as he did so more roughly.

As our bodies tensed and released, I gripped onto him as new feelings washed over me and through me. My skin was tingling, from my fingers to my toes. We were both panting, sweating onto eachother. He rolled over, and I lay against him.

"Kyla." I whispered.

"What?"

"My name. My name is Kyla."