A/N: Dear followers, please do leave a review. It's quite disappointing to wait for some and get none *sniffs*
Ok enough with the drama-queen act, here's a new chapter!:P.. But seriously, do leave a review xD
Malak stirred when she heard a nearby chatter, voices that tried to keep quiet, but failed at it miserably. She heard every word perfectly clear, and recognized the voices as three females.
"Who is the lass?" One asked with the utmost curiosity.
"I've no idea! I came a little after dawn, as I usually do, and found her sleeping there on the floor near the fireplace." Another replied with a hint of suspicion.
"Ladies!" The third hushed with a voice that held an incredible amount of authority, "Where are your manners? The young one is none of your business, and keep your voices down or you will wake Master Gisborne."
"Yes Ma'am." The two replied in unison as low as possible before heading back to their respective chores.
The brunette smiled as it got quiet again, and huddled up deeper into her fetal position, slowly going back to sleep.
The peaceful moment didn't last long. She heard a faint sound of heavy footsteps, and then suddenly a foot was placed over her, and rolled her to her side.
"Wake up, you lazy wench!" Guy demanded with his arms crossed over his chest.
Malak moaned softly from being harshly, and abruptly, awakened.
"My Lord!" The woman with the authoritative voice gasped, "Forgive my insolence. I may have no idea who this lass is, but to prod a young lady with your foot and call her by such a disgraceful name is no way for a gentleman to act!"
"Wake her up and teach her the ways of this manor." Guy ordered, pointing at the lass that was still lying on the floor, and ignoring the woman's prior protest. He was in an awful mood, for he had not slept the whole night, as he kept thinking of the way he acted in front of the lass the night before. He then headed back upstairs, and added, "She is to help around, day and night, so teach her well. I wish her to be as good as you, or even better if possible."
As soon as Guy had disappeared, the woman bent over, lending Malak a hand to help the girl stand to her feet.
"My name is Gytha. What is yours, young lady?" Gytha asked with a gentle tone. She was a middle-aged woman, almost in her late-forties. Her fair face, even though lined with quite a few wrinkles, beamed with elegance; kind, blue-greyish eyes, a celestial nose, and a pair of well-defined and rosy lips, all of which were complimented by raven-dark hair that was carefully pulled back in a bun with a silver pin.
"Malak." The lass answered with a rough, low voice as she took the lent hand with her left one, and rubbed her eyes with the other.
"Well Malak, you can head outside where you will find a barrel filled with clean water that you can use to wash and freshen up." Gytha instructed, pointing toward the back door, "Then you can come back so that I can show you around the manor."
Malak barely took two steps when her stomach growled madly. She froze in embarrassment, and blushed as she heard the woman behind her chuckle softly.
"Or maybe we can feed that angry stomach of yours." Gytha added, placing her hand over her lips as she chuckled.
While washing up, Malak saw Guy, who was now fully dressed in black leather, as he headed toward the stable to fetch his black beauty and then galloped away. She deeply admired him, and the mare he rode just complimented him further. They looked perfect together, like God created one for the other, and for no one else. She sighed deeply, remembering the man's ill-temper and unpleasant attitude; if only he could always smile the way he did the first time she had met him- like an angel sent from heaven. Well, maybe its beauty was in the rarity of it.
The young lass giggled happily, and skipped gracefully toward the kitchen where the three ladies had been chattering; well, two were, while the other sat, sturdily kneading the dough.
"What are you giggling all about, young lass?" The suspicion one asked as soon as Malak entered the kitchen through the back door.
"You saw her, Trudy, eyeing the Master with those large, audacious eyes of hers." The other teased, waving a hand toward the stables, "You know you should be careful around him."
"I-I wasn't." Malak stammered in embarrassment; she had had no idea that the women were looking as she had been stupidly admiring the lord of the manor.
"Trudy, Roberta! Would you two stop teasing the lass! As if you never eyed the Master at least once or twice! " Gytha exclaimed with a frown, "You haven't even acquainted yourselves properly. How many times must I tell you? Manners!"
Gytha waved a hand at Malak, gesturing at a chair that was next to hers, and then spoke, "The teaser is Roberta, and the other is Trudy. Ladies, this is Malak, she will be serving the Master throughout the day, and during the night, which makes her the only constant help around. I will be teaching her everything I know, and I expect you both to do so as well."
"She will be staying overnights?" Trudy gasped, with dark, blue eyes widening in shock. She was a skinny and young, with pale skin, and blonde hair that was covered with a white-laced scarf.
"I surely will not envy you, you poor thing. How did you end up with such a horrible fate?" Roberta asked, less with sympathy, and more sardonically. She was a voluptuous woman, also pale skinned, but with auburn locks that framed her large, brown eyes.
"I took something from him." Malak muttered after quite some hesitation, with her eyes staring at the edge of the table, trying to avoid the eyes of the women who surrounded her.
"You stole from THE Guy of Gisborne, and you are still alive and unscathed?!" Trudy scorned, totally doubting the young lass.
"Go on, you two! Enough with this worthless chatter! Chores won't be doing themselves you know. Now go on!" Gytha ordered angrily, dismissing the two woman with her hand, "Ignore those two; they just love to gossip."
"Is he that bad? Lord Guy, that is." Malak asked, nervously rubbing her hands.
"What do you think, sweetheart?" Gytha replied with her kind, soothing voice.
"Well… I think one whose smile shines as bright as the sun has definitely a warm, gentle side." Malak answered with sincerity.
"Come on now, young one! There's so little time, and so much to teach you." Gytha stood up abruptly, walking toward the door that lead to the manor, while gesturing for Malak, who was taken aback by the sudden change in the subject, to follow her.
The young one's answer had taken Gytha by surprise, for she had no idea how it happened, how Malak had seen her Master's smile. Nonetheless, Gytha smiled, and deep down she was most grateful, not only for the former, but for the innocence and sincerity in the youth's voice that brought warmth to her heart.
That night, Guy didn't return to the manor, which got Malak worried, but Gytha assured her that it was normal for the Master to spend his nights at the castle. Malak didn't mind sleeping in an empty house, but still wished that Guy would be there, sleeping upstairs in his room. Nevertheless, always looking at the bright side, she took this opportunity to head back to her house, and sneak back to the manor as soon as she could.
Fortunately for her, she managed to come back a little before dawn, and a couple of hours before Guy's sudden and brash arrival.
Guy of Gisborne slammed the door open, startling the women who were busy doing their daily chores. He barged into the manor, stomped directly upstairs to his room, and then closed the door with a loud thud. He was mad, extremely mad. That's what all the women had seen, except for Malak. She had seen a pain masked by all that anger.
"What's wrong with him? Does he always barge in like that?" Malak asked with genuine care.
"Well, I heard that Lady Marian's father passed away yesterday in an unfortunate incident, which lead to the Lady's sudden disappearance." Trudy replied, answering Malak's question.
"Word around the castle is that Master Guy still has a thing for the Lady of Knighton which might explain his anger." Roberta elaborated with a sour face.
Hearing the rather unexpected answer had brought a sharp sting to Malak's chaste heart. If she fancied the man in black, and nothing more, then why did she feel so hurt?
Gytha, noticing the sudden pain in Malak's eye, placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and said with a stern voice to the others, "How many times have I told you? Once you step into this manor, you must refrain from speaking of these outrageous gossips! Go back to your chores unless you want your necks hanging by a rope!"
The scared women went back to their work, knowing that it was best to be as quiet as possible if they wished to live through their Master's extremely foul mood.
"Now, now my dear. Don't let this bother you, and I advise you to stay away from the Master as much as possible, unless he asks for you." Gytha instructed Malak before moving her hand from the young one's shoulder.
It was almost dinnertime, and Guy had neither stepped out of his room nor called for any of the servants since his sudden arrival.
Malak found herself getting worried, and so she came up with a plan that planted a grin on her face. She went to the kitchen, placed a piece of bread, that she had helped bake earlier, on a plate, topped it with a little bit of honey, and then filled a pitcher with some wine. She stealthily carried it upstairs, trying to avoid Gytha, whom she clearly was disobeying. She took a deep, hushed breath and knocked on her Master's door.
"What?!" Guy snapped, flipping the door open. But no one was there, except for a plate that had a piece of bread and a pitcher. Guy took the offered food inside of his mysterious chambers and slammed the door shut. He didn't notice the lass that was concealed in the dark, watching him as he took the food.
Malak skipped happily down the stairs, her face drew a victorious and relieved smile. She was humming a happy tone when the middle-aged woman suddenly appeared in front of her, staring with an erected eyebrow.
"What?" Malak asked with a nervous smile.
"You barely spent two days in here and you are already disobeying orders." Gytha stated with a frown and crossed arms, "You got lucky, young lady. I will let it slide this time since no harm was done. But next time you will have to face the consequences, and I assure you they won't be pretty."
"I'm sorry. I promise I won't step my limits again." Malak apologized to the woman.
"I do hope so." Gytha sighed as she walked to grab her shawl, "And try not to make last night a daily habit. I bid you a good night, and please take care of the Master until I'm back tomorrow morning."
With that, Gytha left, leaving behind her a shocked young lass who wondered how the older lady knew about her little adventure to Nottingham. If she knew, then the chances of Guy knowing were great too, but she had no choice. If Guy was ever to find out then she was prepared to face the worst.
The lass went to the fireplace and sat, trying not to think of anything, and enjoy her earlier accomplishment. Unfortunately, she couldn't stop thinking of the Lady of Knighton, Lady Marian. Who was this woman who appealed to her Master's attention? Were the rumors true? If they were, then she must most definitely be a great woman. A person like Guy would not settle for any less, and with that thought, Malak felt another sting eating her heart away.
A/N: Don't forget to check my profile for my other RH stories! :D