Here's chapter 3:
Callista POV
I woke up the next morning to find myself curled up next to Ilosovic. How had that happened? I then remembered how I had forgiven him last night, why on Earth did I do that? He hasn't even changed. I've heard what he's done in the last ten years, sleeping around in the Red Queen's Palace and I'm not just talking about the queen herself I'm talking about the women in her court. He's probably only trying to charm me so he can get what he wants. I'll just make this a little more challenging for him.
I then got up and grabbed a black and white dress from my wardrobe had headed towards the bathroom to shower leaving Stayne asleep on my bed. When I came back in I put on my shoes, brushed and styled my hair, and put on my makeup while Stayne was still asleep. Annoyed I walked over to my bed and shook him saying, "Stayne get up you have thirty minutes to get ready before you have to be down in the entrance hall for patrol!"
Stayne hit my hand still asleep not really getting what I had said. Even more annoyed I grabbed the vase off my table, took the flowers out of it, and poured the water on him. That finally woke him up, "I'm up! Now what's going on?"
"Stayne as I said before you have thirty minutes to get ready before you have to be in the entrance hall for patrol. Now I suggest you hurry up if you want to get the chance to eat something. You have a long day ahead of you and I will not have you slacking off. Understood," I said while refilling the vase, putting the flowers back in it, and setting it back on the table.
"Yes ma'm," he replied heading for his chambers.
"Good," I said while closing my door. I then grabbed my weapons and bag before heading outside to wait in the hallway for him.
Fifteen minutes later he was ready. We then headed down to the kitchen where I grabbed a few apples and put them in a bag and grabbing a muffin to eat. Stayne who never ate breakfast just waited for me to finish.
"I would suggest eating something unless you thing you can last eight hours to eat something. We don't get back from patrol until noon," I suggested. He then grabbed a couple of apples and ate one. Once we finished we headed towards the entrance hall where we would be meeting up with some of the other members of the guard.
"Captain Schlumpgarden, good to see you again. I take it your wife and little boy are doing well if you've come back," I told the captain before hugging him.
He whispered in my ear, "My lady if I'm not wrong I do believe your fellow knave is a bit jealous."
"Our captain here is not the only one returning to duty today. Ilosovic Stayne the former Knave of Hearts has rejoined the guard and will be working to gain back his position as Knave of Spades. I do not want to hear any complaints this is the Queen's decision. Captain you will take half the guard and patrol the far borders while Stayne and I will take the remaining guard and check the local borders," I said before assigning the troops.
Stayne POV
Callie had been acting weird all morning, like nothing had happened last night. When we went outside to meet up with the rest of the guard she goes and hugs someone else in front of me. I know that she no longer loves me but when the woman who at one point was almost your fiancé does something like that it bugs you.
We set out to check the close borders and everything was fine we were just about to return home when a group of rebels attacked us. Of course being part of the guard we prepared to fight, but we didn't expect them to be able to use magic so strongly. (Everyone in Underland has magic but for the most part the only people's magic is strong enough to use quite often are the queens'.)
Callie was quickly involved in a sword fight with the leader of the rebels who was twice her size. He quickly overtook and stabbed her in the ribs. I quickly fought off my two attackers, killed them, and avenged her. I then walked over to Callie's side where I used as much magic as I could without draining myself of energy to help heal her wounds. I then carried her back to Marmoreal with Adrian and the rest of the men following us.
When we reached Marmoreal we met Mirana, the Hatter, and Alice at the gates. "What happened?" Mirana asked.
"Rebels attacked us during our journey back. Callista tried to fight off the leader but was overtaken by them and wounded. The whole group is dead though. Now if you don't mind me then I'll be taking her up to the Hospital Wing to be treated properly," I told the Queen before entering the castle.
When I reached the hospital I told the woman in charge the same story I told the queen before setting Callie down on the nearest bed. The woman then ran off for herbs and potions that she would need. The woman asked me to leave just when hatter came in asking to talk to me when we were in the safety of his workshop he asked, "What happened?"
"I already told Mirana and you were then when I did," I replied coldly.
"Not the attack, last night," Hatter explained.
"I'm not sure. Last night she said she forgave me and today she's been acting like I'm the worst person alive," I replied.
"Stayne, I think I know why. Callie probably wants to forgive you, so when she saw you looking like your old self last night she probably forgot everything that happened between you. Most like she remembered everything this morning and is still mad about what happened between you. Before you ask, you might have already fixed it. She was attacked and could have been killed and by the looks of things you helped prevent that. That might help you gain her trust again," Hatter told me.
"Thank you Hatter. Now if you don't mind I'll be heading back to the hospital wing I want to be there when she wakes up," I said while heading towards the door.
"You're welcome Stayne, and you may call me Tarrant," he replied as I walked out of the room.
Callista POV
I woke up to find myself in the hospital wing back in Marmoreal, but that doesn't make any sense the last thing I remember is those rebels attacking us. "Oh good, your awake miss. That will make Lord Stayne happy," The nurse said while walking past me, "I'll go get you something to eat. You're probably starving."
A few minutes later the nurse came back with a tray full of food. There was more food on that tray then I would eat normally in a day. "You're up," Stayne said while entering the room.
"Looks like it doesn't it. Since when are you a lord?" I asked while picking at some fruit.
"I've always been a lord like you I come from Underland's nobility," Stayne replied while grabbing a muffin off my tray.
"I know that, but you lost your title when you betrayed us and came back," I retorted.
"I earned it back in the battle," Stayne explained. Seeing my confused face he continued, "You don't remember that do you? I don't blame you; you were out for half of it."
"That's great now if you don't mind could you tell me what actually happened!" I yelled.
The nurse then decided to show up, "My lord if you're going to upset the patient this much then I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"She's fine besides I really don't think she wants her rescuer to leave just yet, "Stayne told the nurse."Fine, but if she gets any worse you won't be allowed back in," the nurse replied while beginning to check on other patients, "Brought her back here half dead, almost fatally wounded and he says she's fine."
"What is she talking about bringing me back here half dead?" I asked while moving the tray over.
Stayne picks it up and moves it too the empty bed next to me, "Look at your ribs. Do you remember how that got there?"
I moved the shirt I was wearing so my ribs would be exposed and saw a bunch of bloody gauze wrapped around them. "What happened?"
"The leader of the rebels stabbed you there. You collapsed and almost died. I killed him and then used as much of my magic as I could without causing myself to collapse to heal you. I then carried you back to Marmoreal where you've been here in the hospital wing for the last two days. The whole group was killed by me and the rest of the troops. The nurse believes you'll be better in a couple of days, but you will have to stay around the castle until you're completely healed. That could take a couple of months," Stayne said from his chair next to me.
"Two days…. I've been out for two days. Are you sure?" I asked in disbelief.
"Yes, I've spent the last two days here waiting for you to wake up and heal," Stayne responded.
"You did all of that for me. You killed someone just because they hurt me. You don't have to stay here you know if anything bad happens word will spread through the castle and you'll find out. You could be gaining your title as knave back," I told him.
"Callie have you ever thought that maybe I don't want to leave, that maybe that title doesn't mean anything to me anymore, that you're all that matters. Anyone can have that title of knave, anyone. I'd rather have the title of the man you love," he replied while grabbing my right hand.
I was absolutely stunned when he said that. This wasn't the Ilosovic Stayne that I had no even before the last ten years. "Stayne, I…."
Stayne POV
"Stayne, I…." Callie began to say after I told why I hadn't left her side during the last two days.
"Stayne your needed in the throne room Mirana wants to talk to you, now," Alice says while walking in and then back out of the room.
"I'm sorry, but I have to go. I'll be back as soon as I can," I said before kissing Callie's forehead and leaving. Figures just plain figures as soon as something good happens it's interrupted.
"You called for me your majesty," I asked when I had entered the throne room.
"Good you're here. Stayne I need you to relay that information about the rebellion to Captain Schlumpgarden here. Other than that you're free to do whatever you want until Callista has healed enough to make sure your loyalty lies with us," Mirana said.
"Of course your majesty," I said before bowing and leaving the room to tell the captain about the rebellion.
On my way back to the Hospital Wing I ran into Tarrant who seemed to be heading in my direction. "Stayne, I've been looking all over the place for you!"
"Tarrant what's wrong? What's happened to Callie? Has she gotten worse?" I asked nervous that something bad had happened.
"No, actually that's what I was going to ask you. The last thing that I heard about her was that she was still out cold," Tarrant replied a bit confused.
"She had recently woken up before I left to see Mirana. She'd probably love to see you," I said leading Tarrant to the Hospital Wing.
When we reached the Hospital Wing we found Callie sitting up in her bed arguing with the nurse on if she was well enough to leave the room. "You only woke up a few hours ago! You've almost been fatally wounded and have been knocked out for two days and you think you're well enough to leave here! I think not!" The nurse yelled at Callie.
"You do know that I am the head of the Queen's guard that I've had worse injuries and have gone back to guarding sooner than this," Callie retorted.
The nurse walked off and saw Tarrant and I in the door way, "Maybe the two of you can talk some sense into her."
"Callie how are you feeling?" Tarrant asked hesitantly.
"Fine, I don't see why everyone's making such a big deal. It's not like I'm going to die if I get out of this stupid bloody bed!" Callie ranted.
"Callie maybe the nurse is right. Maybe you should stay here for a little while longer," Tarrant suggested.
"I'm stronger than that. I can get through this I don't want to be cared for I want to be back out there not cooped up in here," Callie whined.
"Callie we know that. We know you've had worse injuries, but that was when you were younger and you began to recover quicker those times. We're only trying to do what's best for you," I told her trying to calm her down.
"I don't even want to leave the castle, I'll stay in it. All I'm asking is to leave this depressing room," Callie told us while sounding a bit calmer.
"How about we do that tomorrow when we know for sure that you're well enough," I said before gently hugging her. She then finally calmed down and began to relax.
The next day….
Callie was discharged from the hospital but she had to be extremely careful meaning she couldn't leave the castle grounds or do anything reckless like training. Basically it seemed like being in prison for her. "Great now I'm under house arrest," Callie said while we were sitting outside in one of the gardens.
"Oh come on Callie it's not that bad. It's actually kind of peaceful. Think about it now you don't have to worry about training or patrols or anything like that," I suggested.
"True and I definitely get to spend more time with you…. and Tarrant and McTwisp and Mallyumpkin," Callie said trying to cover up what she said.
"Are you on bipolar or something?" I asked genuinely curious to see why she was acting this way.
"What do you mean?" she asked confused.
"One day you're all loving and kind and then the next you're ready to rip my face off," I told her.
"I guess I have trust issues. I wanted to forgive you and when I saw you looking like how you did before you betrayed us. I wanted you to be him again so badly. The next morning I woke up and remembered what you had done and I was mad at myself for falling for you. When you told me what happened and what you did you regained my trust and I finally allowed myself to care for you again," she explained.
"I'm sorry for everything I've put you through," I whispered in her ear.
"Stayne enough with the apologies they're driving me crazy. I already told you that I forgive you," Callie replied turning around to face me.
"I know but I don't think I'll ever forgive myself. I left you broken both you and Tarrant have said that and I don't want to let that ever happen again," I said pulling her closer to me.
"It won't happen again. And you know why because you're never going to leave me like that again," Callie said before leaning into kiss me. We kissed and felt just like it had those ten years ago filled with passion, joy, and love. Callie had to stop the kiss much sooner than both of us would have preferred gasping for air.
"I'm sorry love, I should have stopped the kiss sooner," I said.
"Will you stop apologizing," Callie said once she regained her breath. She then pushed me off the bench we were sitting on and onto the grass while I took her down with me.
To be continued…
Okay I had to end the chapter somewhere I mean this one is about 2800 words long. Now to explain what's going on in their relationship in case you're confused:
The two of them are back together but Callie still isn't completely sure if she can trust Stayne.
Thx for reading. Please review.
slytherin4evur