The next few weeks passed by quickly. Paige began to heal not only physically, but also emotionally. She spent time with Guinevere talking like young women will. From what Guinevere could tell, Paige had never had this kind of attention showered on her in her life. So, in order to secure her emotions, Guinevere treated her like a sister.
"Guinevere," Paige said one afternoon, "I have fallen for someone, but I do not know how he feels about me."
"This someone, is he a certain knight by the name of Lancelot?" Guinevere asked, smiling knowingly.
Paige blushed slightly and replied, "Yes. Ever since he rescued me that night, I have felt something inside myself that I could neither explain or comprehend."
"That is normal for you to feel like that. I felt the same way when Arthur came into my life. He rescued me as well from a prison-like existence and freed me," Guinevere said, pausing to gather her thoughts before continuing. "Paige, the night you came here, you were badly injured. I am no fool, so I know something happened to you that you are not telling me."
"I do not know where to begin," Paige sighed. "It started after my mother died. My father blamed me for her death because my birth put too much strain on her. She died when I was about two years old. From that time on, he would punish me for the slightest mistake I made in comparison to my older brother, Tai. When I was about seventeen, he got tired of me and sold me into slavery because he did not want me."
"That is horrible," Guinevere gasped.
"I served in a household for nearly three years, until I neared my twentieth birthday, then I was sold again to another household a few weeks ago. This home was much different than my other one. In this home, I was pampered and fed well for no work. All the other women servants of the home pitied me and I never caught onto why until the night I left," Paige explained, her voice quivering. "That night I was specially dressed in elegant robes and taken to another part of the house that I had never seen before. It was the master's side of the house. There, I was presented to my master for the first time in an elegant throne room for him to look at and decide his approval. I assumed that all servants went through the same thing before they were to work. My master looked me over and nodded in approval. He signaled for me to be removed to another room. From there I was taken to another room, my clothing was removed and I was bathed in elegant oils, soaps, and my hair was taken down and brushed."
At this point, Guinevere was completely engrossed in Paige's tale. She nodded in understanding of what Paige was saying.
"After being bathed, a soft robe was draped over my shoulders. The women in charge of me kept saying, 'You must please the master for him to like you.' Of course I assumed they meant for me to work hard. It was only when they placed me on a bed that I began to ponder the meaning of everything I was going through that night. I clasped the robe around me tightly as I laid on the bed alone. Moments later, my master appeared in the room in a robe similar to mine. He sat on the other side of the bed and softly said to me, 'Tonight you will be broken in and be mine.' After saying that, he began to remove my robe. I fought it and he hit me. I realized what was going to happen to me and I did not want it to happen. I kept fighting, but I was not strong enough. He held my wrists to the bed as he ripped my robe off. I felt violated. He let go of my wrists long enough to pull his own robe off. I tried to fight back and he again hit me. From there, he pinned me with he weight and took my virtue away from me. I finally found the strength to run when he fell asleep a while later."
Guinevere gasped and was in tears for her newfound friend. She did not know what to say to comfort Paige. The only thing she could offer was her hand and an offer of help.
"Paige, that is an awful thing to go through. I cannot imagine what you are going through, but I am always here if you need to talk," Guinevere said.
"Thank you. I just do not know how to tell Lancelot. I have gotten to know him over the past few weeks and he seems so protective. If I told him the truth, I am sure he would try to hunt down and kill the man. But…there is something else," Paige replied.
"What is it?" Guinevere asked.
Paige began sobbing. Tears rolled down her cheeks and onto her dress. It was clear that she was ashamed about something else. Finally, after a few minutes, Paige regained her composure enough to speak.
"Lancelot would never love me," Paige cried.
"Why ever not?" Guinevere inquired.
"Because I carry another man's child! That night I conceived a child when my master took my virtue!" Paige exclaimed.
"Did you give it to him willingly?" Guinevere asked.
"No, I did not. He stole it from me," Paige answered.
"Then it is not your fault. Lancelot would never judge you for that. If I know him, he would help you even more and want to kill the bastard responsible for hurting you," Guinevere reassured Paige.
More tears fell from Paige's eyes as she leaned her head on Guinevere's shoulder for comfort. Her body racked with violent sobs for a few minutes. When her sobs softened to whimpers, Guinevere looked her in the eyes.
"You are going to have to tell him sooner or later. A secret like that cannot stay secret for long. Lancelot will want to help you and it may possibly make him love you more because you have overcome so much. He will admire your strength," Guinevere explained.
Paige nodded in agreement and said, "You are right, I will tell Lancelot."
"Tell me what?" Lancelot asked as he walked through the door.
A look of terror fell across Paige's face when he walked in. The words would not come out of her mouth. She looked to Guinevere for strength and was met with a kind, reassuring face. Guinevere gave her a look that told her everything would be fine.
"I will leave you two alone to talk," Guinevere said, getting up and walking out of the room, leaving Paige alone with Lancelot.
A/N: So, what do you think of Paige's character? Good, bad, both? Let me know!