katemary77

Thanks! I decided to up the rating! Hope you like this chapter as well.

Devonshirelass

Thank you! I did end up upping the rating just to be safe! They are strong people to do so much just so they can live! It won't get any brighter for them anytime soon.

Mustang Gal

Yeah I am kind of going for the sympathy thing when writing about her. It will be interesting to see how she reacts to Tris!

Kungfuchick

I did put it to R just incase. I have a feeling it would probably get a little graphic. I won't bring the knights in till Bandon hill but they will get in there. It's not too far away.

Tomb Raider X

I'm glad you like this! I wish you would stop getting writers block. I luv your story.

Andrea

Yeah I hate Cynric too. He's gross. Yeah the end pairing is my secret but it will be completely dramatic!

Sugar-skylines friend

What I got from that is you like my story? I think. Oh well here's a chappy I hope you like!

banatic66

I love your stories so it's an honor that you've said you like what I've done so far. Yay! I always try and be as original as possible.

Wild-honey-pie

I'm glad you like it! There is romance but Hubby will die. That means crazy controversial stuff! Fun!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except a ton of homework!

Warning graphic (rape, self harm)

MARCH

Ardiaths legs ached and her knees sent sharp jolts of pain up her spine every time she took a step. Gods know how long she had been walking. She didn't want to think about it. She kept her head high and her mouth firmly sealed. She had been maneuvered into the middle of the main army. If she had been of high rank or of importance this would have been a place of protection. But for her it was a place of torment.

The Saxons poked her with the blunt end of their spears. If she lagged she was hit and yelled at. When she kept up the Saxons cried lewd remarks and leered at her. She kept her face blank all but once. One Saxon stuck his spear in front of her legs. Ardiath didn't see it until it was too late and she couldn't prevent herself from falling.

Her head just missed striking a rock but her hands and knees jarred at the impact. As she kept her face down turned she couldn't suppress a grimace. She could feel the stinging graze on her hands and when she examined her hand she could see the first dots of blood. She didn't yell or cry. Tears didn't threaten to spill. Ardiath struggled to rise before unyielding Saxon foot soldiers could trample her.

Suddenly a rough hand grabbed her forearm and yanked. She was placed on her feet and after she got her balance back Ardiath could look at the one who assisted her. Cedric still had his hand curled around her bicep, nails digging cruelly into her skin. Old Ardiath would have cried out in pain before starting to sob. Now she took a deep breath and inhaled it slowly trying to forget the pain in her body.

"You will walk with me," Cedric commanded of her before walking away still dragging her. The Saxons moved out of Cedrics way. He pulled her to the very front of the army. Cynric shot her a vicious look and Ardiath moved a little so Cedric was in between blocking Cynics view of her. Cedric let her arm go and Ardiath became aware of just how much he had been holding her up. She stumbled a little when he let go and then found her feet.

Here she could look around and see the world as it passed. They had left behind the stark nature of the cliffs. She could no longer see the sea and mourned the fact. She had stopped hearing the gulls hours ago but it hadn't registered in her mind that they had left the coast. They were now approaching a large ominous looking forest. Ardiath could just make out a village but they were still and hours march from there.

"Cynric go check and make sure those damn soldiers are holding rank," Cedric grated out with a cold voice. Cynric looked at him taken aback. Cedric never asked him to venture back and check the army. He looked like he would protest but a swift glare from Cedrics eyes sent him back. Not before he shot Ardiath a glare. Cynric was no fool. He could understand the basis and he knew his removal from the head of the army had something to do with Ardiaths presence.

Ardiath lowered her eyes to the ground and for a while she focused only on the grass and mud passing beneath her feet. Cedric waited until his son had passed completely out of earshot before speaking to the silent girl.

"You will go to his rooms tonight," He drawled this out slowly. He watched her out of the corner of his eyes expecting the woman to dissolve into a blubbering mass of tears. She surprised him by not reacting at all. Indeed Ardiath kept her eyes paying attention to the ground before lifting her head to stare straight ahead. It was another second before she nodded almost inperceivably. Cedric let out a dry chuckle. The girl had backbone.

"You will listen to everything he says and report in the morning," He waited for her to say something still half anticipating a response from her. Ardiath continued to walk.

"Is your soul still there?" Cedric asked. It wasn't a sensitive question, inquiring into how she fared. It was fueled by curiosity. It seemed impossible for a woman to remain so stoic in such a situation. This question caused some rise from her. She raised her head and turned to look at him. Her eyes were clear but such was the intensity of blue that he felt like he had a part of him frozen. Again he laughed callously.

"You should go to the back of the column now. We are about to embezzle that village. Murder, steal, burn and rape," Cedric had turned his pitiless gaze to the village that continued to loom closer. If he had watched Ardiath he would have seen her react for the first time. At the mention of rape she bit her bottom lip hard. Before turning on her heel and walking swiftly back. Cedric turned at the movement and saw the woman retreating. He motioned to Raewald to follow her. It wouldn't do if the girl died before she reached his sons bed.

Ardiath tried not to think about the fate of all the people in the village. She already that none would live through the ordeal. Instead of dwelling on it she offered a silent prayer but not to any god. Tristan, come save us. Please come save us. She repeated it over and over in her head only minutely aware she was doing it.

Joachim moved stealthily back towards the Saxons. He could see them through the forest. A black line in the distance approaching the village that was situated at the base of the wood. A twig broke and Joachim jerked his attention to the direction of the sound. He glanced around quickly. He heard a footstep. It was too heavy for an animal. He brought his hand to his bow and arrow. The one the Saxons confiscated when he came back and gave to him every time he went out to scout.

There was silence now but Joachim knew that despite the quiet he was far from alone. He was just with someone who knew what they were doing. Joachim stood like that frozen and ready to fight. He heard a little bit of a noise but it was so distant he had no way of knowing whether it was just the plants or the human. He sighed deeply. He had to assume that the Saxons were being tracked.

He turned and waited and watched. He didn't close his eyes once. Not when the Saxons first entered. The people came rushing out to see what these foreigners would bring. Were they traders or magicians? Joachim watched furiously as the first person was cut down. A little boy. He watched the slaughter with burning eyes. He wanted to run down and kill each one of the Saxons but he held himself back for his sake and his wifes. He saw a woman dragged out and raped repeatedly. He had never seen a woman raped before. He closed his eyes as the third man approached the woman. She had stopped screaming by now. Joachim wondered if she was dead. Did it matter to the Saxons if it was an alive or dead woman they lay with? Joachim couldn't watch it. He didn't want to be able to imagine Ardiath with Cynric.

Eventually when everyone was dead and the food stolen he moved down. The village was burning brightly. He made his way towards Cedric who was standing on the outskirts, holding back as if to admire his handiwork.

"We are very close," Joachim didn't waste time with pleasantries. Cedric would know of what he spoke.

"Are they afraid? Have they heard?"

"There seems to be no panic," Joachims eyes began to water. The smoke was stinging his eyes and his nose. Cedric seemed immune.

"Sound the drums," Cedric roared. The Saxons cheered loudly. To them it was just a victory beat but Joachim knew the sound of the collective drums would be heard at the villa. He thought it would be foolish to alert the people with the pounding of a drum but there was no point reasoning with Cedric. What did Joachim care if his plans went to hell?

"Joachim, you're going out again," Cedric informed the scout carefully watching his reaction. The scout visibly tensed. Cedric was satisfied. It was turning out to be so much more fun to tease the scout than to torment his wife. The scout wisely held his tongue.

"I'm not a cruel man," Cedric continued, "It's just that Cynric has called Ardiath to him tonight. I think it would be better for you not to be here."

Images of the woman getting raped flashed before his eyes. You sick bastard, Joachim thought. He wanted him to know that Cynric would rape his wife again. Cedric stared at him. Waiting for the British scout to disappear back up into the forest. Joachims hand had automatically gone to his sword. It was reaction. Cedric challengingly eyed him. Eventually Joachim turned and walked back towards the forest. Cedric watched the defeated way the man walked and smiled broadly.

"Shut up," He yelled at the drummers.

Ardiath was in her tent. Her stomach churned. She didn't want to go to Cynric tonight. It had been different when he had called her but to go there without summons? Maybe she wouldn't be required to sleep with him but to just get him to talk for a little while before he threw her out.

"You will lie with him. If you don't I shall know," A scratchy voice echoed from her tent flap. Ardiath gave a strangled gasp when she saw Cedric. He looked at her a moment longer to make sure she had heard him before leaving just as swiftly as he had came. He wanted to see the woman break.

Ardiath was wondering if Cedric could read her mind. He had destroyed her only hope. She could feel her heart breaking inside her frozen shell. She took a deep breath and moved to a bucket of water. She seized a wooden cup and dipped it in the water. She watched the water slide inside. She walked over and gently placed it down. She retrieved the blade and cut into her skin violently. The blood flowed strongly and she hissed in pain. She didn't make another cup. There was no need.

Later, after her wrist was bound tight, she made her way to Cynrics tent. She opened the flap without announcing herself. Nobody thought to stop her. They assumed Cynric had called for her. Cynric looked up stunned when she entered but he was quickly on his feet and viciously grabbed her arm.

"What are you doing here?"

Ardiath couldn't answer. She had no idea what to do. Did she tell him she wanted to sleep with him? She would never give him that satisfaction. Instead she sat down on her pallet and looked at him wordlessly. She hoped he would catch on with out her having to say anything.

'Oh so you want that do you my little whore? Husband not keeping you satisfied?" Cynric looked her over. She wanted to stab him. She wished he'd just take her and get it over and done with.

"Well if I give you what you want you have to be my little slave," Cynric murmured suggestively bending to toy with a slither of her hair. Ardiath resisted the urge to scream that she wanted nothing less.

"Take off your clothes," Cynric commanded. Ardiath looked up and even she couldn't keep the look of disbelief of her face. Cynric continued to look at her. Ardiath rose to her feet and with barley concealed shaking hands she removed her dress. Cynric had seen her naked before but she had never been forced to parade it in front of him like this. She looked straight ahead as he walked around examining her body.

"Get on your back," He commanded now. Ardiath was beginning to understand that he was going to treat her like she was his puppet. Ardiath felt like she had no control and she didn't and she hated it. She did what he told her to.

"Do you want me to put this inside you straight away?"

Ardiath looked at him carefully trying to judge what the correct answer would be. Cynric wasn't asking what she wanted. He was making her guess what he wanted. She shook her head. Cynric smiled. She had guessed right.

"Close your eyes," Cynric was sneering. She really didn't want to but she did anyway. She felt him kneel beside her. There were coarse hands on her knees and thighs. She resisted the urge to retch. He bent her knees up and spread her legs. Ardiath tried to control her body. She didn't want to blush at her exposure. She desperately tried to think of the sea but it didn't work because Cynric had taken this opportunity to slip a finger inside.

She could tell he was smirking as he traced his other hand up her thighs while his other hand moved against her inner thighs. He added another finger. Ardiath could feel herself reacting to this motion and she felt disgusted with herself.

"Do you want me?" Cynric asked. She didn't move. Ardiath was trying not to feel anything about the sensations tingling through her body.

"Answer me and do not lie," He snarled.

She didn't want him but again it wasn't about her.

"Yes," She forced out hoarsely. She felt him withdraw his fingers. She could hear him move around the room and then come back so he was between her legs now.

"Keep your eyes shut," He dictated. He entered her suddenly. She didn't cry out but she wanted to. He moved straight away. It hurt like it always hurt. It was this time that Ardiath usually retreated to her trance. But this time Cynric was going to be especially malicious.

"Tell me you want this!" He demanded. Ardiath knew the routine now.

'I want this," She responded. It was flat and emotionless but it seemed to satisfy Cynric.

"Tell me it feels good! Tell me you like!"

"I want this. I like it. It feels good," Ardiath recited back to him. Cynric groaned against her.

"Show me how much. I want to hear you groan," Cynric asked more of her. He was beginning to pant. Ardiath tried to do what he asked and still block herself off. But she couldn't. She couldn't escape. Every time he spoke. Every time he made her speak she was so aware of him. His hands on her body. Of him moving roughly inside.

It was the most torturous hour of her life. And when he finished with her he made her lie there naked in front of him and tell him how much she enjoyed it. Ardiath felt sick to her stomach. Than he informed her that she should come back the next night and he would think up something a little more creative.

She stumbled out of the tent then. She hated Cynric. She felt dirty. She staggered back to her tent. She hadn't even got anything to tell Cedric. She could felt the pain growing inside her. That wasn't right! Not so soon after cutting herself. She frantically reached for the blade and water and forced herself to replace tonight's pain with new pain.

AN: As you may be able to see I upped the rating. From now on anytime there is something I think people may not like in the chapters I'm going to put a warning up the top but so I don't spoil the story it will just be warning. So just so people understand warning means there could be rape, self-harm or graphic violence in this coming chappy. Well hope you guys review. I'm alternating between updating this fic and my blade one which has yet to be reviewed.

MD666