Shackles of Rumour

Rumours have always been synonymous with palace intrigues and political agendas since the beginning of time. King Henry VIII executed his 5th wife based on the rumour that she had been secretly seeing some other man. Rumours fueled revolutions, and provided petty gossip for ladies to converse about whilest they hid their faces beneath their elaborate court fans.

Rumours of love...rumours of political alliances...all these brought war, brought heartbreak, brought separation and dispair and misery. The destructive forces of rumours are known to all, but no smoke without fire. Everyone knows that even the most impossible of rumours may hold a grain of truth.

Marisa awoke groggily, a faint dull pain throbbing at her shoulder.

"Oww…"she groaned, clutching at the source of pain. She saw a faint outline of Joshua beside her, calling her name. "How long was I out?" She mumbled, shaking her head in an attempt to clear her vision and get rid of the headache.

"Slightly more than 2 minutes," Joshua said. "Don't worry, the throwing stars weren't poisoned, so the wound is not infected, not yet at least. We need to get you back to the palace infirmary as soon as possible." Gently, he lifted her up in his arms.

"Wait…what about the spy?" she asked. She had not sacrificed her health and blood for nothing. The least she wanted to do to the spy was subject him to intense interrogation for the next 24 hours.

Joshua jerked his head towards where a mass of black and purple cloths lay in a bloodied heap, limbs tied with a rough hemp rope. "He won't be spying anymore for a very long time," he said, using a tone so cold that she shivered. "And he can be certain that he will have a nice long-term jail cell awarded to his name in the prisons of Jehanna."

That's good to know. At least if I have a permanent scar on my shoulder I could seek comfort in the fact that the maker of that scar is still sitting in his cell eating dry bread and watery porridge.

Cradling her tightly in his arms, Joshua placed her on his horse, then undid his own fur cloak and wrapped her tightly in furs, to protect her from the coldness of the night wind. Roughly, he heaved the unconscious spy onto Amber, who snorted and tossed her mane in annoyance at having become a carrier horse.

Mounting, he flexed the reins with one hand and held Marisa in the other. Winchester reared, kicking his front hooves high in the air and took off in a fast gallop, closely followed by Amber.

Leaning against Joshua's chest, Marisa exhaled softly. Everything was so warm and fuzzy, and she was trying hard to fight off the urge to sleep in his embrace. His cloak smelled exactly like him, radiating the same musky scent that both reassured and intrigued her.

"Enjoying yourself huh?"

A mixture of warmth, drowsiness and comfort caused her to drift back and forth along of sleep. The last thing she heard before she succumbed to sleep was his soft chuckling.

Marisa lay on the soft bed, wrapped tightly in white satin sheets from her feet all the way to her neck.

"It's just a small wound," the healer in the charge, a beautiful cleric named Natasha, reassured her. "I've closed it up as best as I could with magic, but whether it will leave a scar…you will have to leave the wound to heal by itself." Natahsa gave her a warm smile.

"So, I can leave?" Marisa asked, throwing the covers off. They were suffocating, restrictive and tightly uncomfortable. And she could not wait to get away from the pungent smell of herbs, alcohol and medicines.

Natasha gave another smile, seeing her eagerness. "I suppose, your highness, although I advise you to be careful and not engage in any vigorous activity to open the wound."

Joshua tapped his foot. "Okay, all healed, now we can go, right?" He said impatiently. "Here, I'll take you back to your room to prevent you from engaging in any vigorous activity."

She resisted the urge to give a sound slap on his arm, which would most likely result in her wound opening. As much as Natasha appeared patient and understanding, the last thing she wanted to do was ask the healer to heal her all over again.

"Wait for me outside, okay?" Joshua propelled her out of the door. "I need to say a few words to Natasha."

Nodding, she leaned against the wall and watched him disappear behind the satin curtain, then heard the door slam.

One minute passed…two minutes passed…five minutes passed…She tapped her finger against the wall. What exactly did he have to talk to Natasha about that took so long?

"Did you see Prince Joshua walk into the infirmary?" She saw two junior clerics in the dark, carrying two medicinal trays and walking towards the door. "To walk in alone at night…isn't he afraid of another scandal?"

"Given that the last had already exploded beyond containable proportions, perhaps he decided that everyone knows about their relationship already, so he isn't even bothering to hide his actions…" the other cleric giggled mischievously. "Everyone in the palace knew about the scandal, remember? Even the dozing guards woke up to gossip about their affair."

The two clerics burst out laughing, before hurriedly hushing themselves. "But the new princess doesn't know about the incident…" One of them cocked her head. "Does she? She doesn't say much, that's for sure."

"Well…I'll say she didn't…" Her companion said thoughtfully. "Otherwise she wouldn't marry him. No self-respecting female would marry Prince Joshua with such a scandal under his name…" They both burst into shrill laughter.

"Shh…" Her friend silenced her, giggling. "You never know who is walking along these corridors. We may be overheard anytime. I still want my job, you know!"

"Princess Marisa." A voice behind her caused her to jump in shock. She had been so absorbed listening to the clerics' conversation that she had forgotten to watch her back. She whirled around to see a maidservant bowing before her. "There are guests for your highness, two guests. They are waiting in the Hall of Serenity. Would your highness like to receive them?"

A porcelain container smashed behind her, the sharp sound resounded down the dark corridor. She turned back to see the two clerics staring at her, eyes wide with horror. One of them had jerked her tray in her shock and smashed the pot of medicine. Dark red liquid spread in viscous manner across the waxed wooden floor. Shards of porcelain lay gleaming in the pool of medicine.

For a moment, no one moved. The clerics were frozen in shock and horror. The maidservant was still because she was waiting for Marisa's orders.

Marisa stared at the broken pieces of pottery. In the dark red liquid, she could almost see her own reflection, pale and solemn, staring unblinkingly back at herself.

Her heart clenched involuntarily, leaving her short of breath.

Why did she care what happened between Joshua and other women? She was only his wife in name, not in anything else. He was free to love other women, and even freer to pursue these objects of his affection after he became king and they divorced.

So why did she feel this aching pain deep inside her?

"What happened?" Natasha opened the door. Then she saw the broken medicine pot. "Oh…" she frowned. "Sweep it up later, please? Thank you…"

The clerics bowed and hurried away.

Joshua walked out and stood beside Natasha. "Wow, that's a mess…" he joked, looking at Marisa. "Are you sure you didn't have anything to do with it?"

She heard not hear him. Or did she? It no longer mattered. Nothing seemed to matter.

She continued staring at her reflection with glassy eyes. Everything…seemed strangely distant…after she had heard everything…

Was it the truth? Was it a rumour? Did he mean to deceive me?

"Hey, you okay?" Joshua waved his hand in front of her face up and down rapidly. "You look a little…ill…Are you sure you don't need Natasha to give you another check-up?"

She looked up.

The same musky scent swarmed her again, but this time it merely made her heart clench tighter. It did not draw her to him. It repelled her, and she wanted to run, run away from him.

She noticed how strangely compatible he looked with Natasha beside him. She had that distinguished ethereal grace and air of dignity, similar to the manner Queen Ismaire carried herself. Furthermore, despite the plain satin white robes, Natasha still looked hauntingly beautiful with her pale flawless skin and silky blond tresses, like a lovely divine being descended from the heavens.

"I'm fine…" Think about happy things…think about how in a few years' time you will be away from this palace…think of all the freedom and fun you will be able to enjoy then…For some reason, the thoughts seemed to engulf her with more sadness than joy and happiness.

"Your highness," the maidservant bowed again. "Princess, your dress is soaking…"

With a gasp of realization, she hurriedly pulled her long robe from where it was soaking the dark red liquid on the wooden floor, her face flushed from embarrassment at her clumsiness and lack of dignity.

Joshua laughed at her apparent discomfort. "Do you want me to accompany you to your room?"

The maidservant bowed again, this time to him. "Your royal highness, the princess has guests to receive in the Hall of Serenity."

"Guests?" Joshua grinned. "Hmm…that's strange…we never asked for anyone, so who are your mysterious admirers? At such a late hour too! Do you want me to walk you there?" He took her hand in his and squeezed it. "We don't want you to get lost walking in these corridors by yourself.

Breathe, Marisa, breathe deeply and ignore that…whatever it is in your heart. "It's alright," she said at last, forcing a smile. Hesitantly, she pulled her hand away from his grip. It would be better for it to stay close to her instead. "Thank you, Natasha. Your cures are really effective."

Eyes downcast, she turned around, and walked away with as much courage and grace as she could muster, swallowed by the darkness of the corridor.

Breathe, Marisa, breathe deeply.

The two very familiar figures rose as she entered the Hall of Serenity.

"Gerik? Saleh?" She was fairly astonished to see them here, but was also secretly glad and relieved to see her friends again.

"Marisa!" Gerik looked extremely relieved to see her. "You nearly gave me a heart attack the other day you went off like that? Saleh and I had been hunting for you since day one of your disappearance!"

"Now, you've found me, Chief," Marisa smiled, taking a seat opposite her friends. "How's everybody?"

"We're buried to our necks in missions without you, Marisa," Gerik ran a hand through his hair ruefully. "You were our most efficient member, and now Saleh has to take up both strategizing and still be in action. But everyone's pretty fine and sane. Tethys is still dancing. Ewan is still as childish as ever, but that scamp is improving and learning fast. I'm great, just a little sleepy. Saleh…well…"

"Saleh…" Although it had been scarcely over a month, Saleh looked much older than when she had last seen him in the morning of her marriage. Thick eyebags framed his sunken-in eyes. He had grown much thinner, and was much paler in complexion. His clothes, which once fit his frame snugly, hung on his body limply, at least two sizes too big.

Saleh noticed her staring and shrugged nonchalantly. "It's nothing, Marisa." He leant back on the couch and took a sip of the tea. "Why don't you tell us about how it is like living here and being the princess? You look…pretty well-fed."

She blushed. The truth was that she was extremely comfortable living in the palace, having the choicest pick of everything and not having to lift a finger to do anything. "It is quite pleasant…besides the danger aspect…"

"Danger? What danger?" Gerik sat up sharply. "Isn't the royal palace heavily guarded?"

"Spies, they are running around and about…" She recounted her experiences with the spies in the palace. Pulling down one shoulder of her robe, she showed down the wound on her shoulder.

Gerik leant forward and scrutinised the wound, but Saleh flushed and looked away nervously.

"Looks like a wound cut from the stuff we found on the Grado spy that other day, right Saleh?" Gerik said thoughtfully.

Saleh looked up at the mention of his name, briefly glanced at the wound on her shoulder, then looked away again quickly, his face red. "Yeah…yeah…" he said, shifting on the couch.

They continued talking, about light-hearted issues, such as the missions they had been doing and Ewan's pranks.

"The kid has been asking about you everyday," Gerik chuckled fondly. "Asking how you are…by the way, how is the prince?"

"He's…" she hesitated. "Fine…" She decided it was not the time to tell them of the annulment of her marriage in the years to come. That could wait.

"Does he treat you well?" Saleh asked, tensely gripping his teacup.

Taken aback by the intensity of his gaze, she swallowed nervously. "Quite, I suppose…" She wondered whether she should tell them about the scandal. Perhaps not, because judging from Saleh's expression and Gerik's narrowed eyes, they were prepared to storm the castle and murder Joshua if they heard anything about him breaking his marital vows.

"On the orders of Queen Ismaire, Princess Marisa needs to rest for the evening." An attendant came into the room and bowed.

Standing up, Gerik and Saleh exchanged farewells with her. "Take care, Marisa," Gerik grinned. "Don't get lost in the palace, and remember not to eat too much good food lest you grow fat."

She waved him irritably. She was not going to grow fat. "Give my regards to Tethys and Ewan."

"Marisa, take care of yourself." Saleh said, a smile stretched over his pale features. "We'll come and see you often and bring you more news."

"Thank you," she said. "Saleh, eat more. I…" She struggled to find the right word to express the feeling of sympathy that had welled up in her.

He chuckled softly, then grasped her hand. "Marisa, be careful." He whispered. "I-" he hesitated, then with a whirl of his cloak he too was gone out of the door, leaving her with his warmth left lingering on her hand.

Author's Note:

Phew! This chapter's posted, and the update was pretty quick, all thanks to the copious amounts of time I have during this particular blissful period known as holidays! :D

Special thanks goes out to Nacre, who pointed out a flaw in my writing. I will try and improve over the chapters, and hopefully correct this bad habit of mine to use large flamboyant words that do little to move the story.

As for this chapter, I personally like it quite a lot, since now Marisa's relationship is getting all complex and messy. First Joshua's making her feel all comfortable and fuzzy, but then in comes Natasha, followed by Gerik and Saleh, with the past catching up on her. Gerik is still Gerik, but Saleh is not Saleh. Another person will be coming in soon, in approximately a few chapters, and will help us tangle this web further.

Haha, I need to start drawing a character map for my own reference soon.

Thanks for reading and review please!

Cheerios, snowylavendermist