A Married Woman
Chapter Four
Her eyes scanned the beautiful room, a large fire flickered in the grate and a overly large bed stood to one side of the chamber, the room was decorated in a deep red and a gold that glinted in the light of the fire. She almost rolled her eyes in the 'pride' he had for his lineage. Her eyes went over the rich, detailed furniture, a writing desk, chairs and wardrobe amongst other things and she remembered just how found he was of beautiful things. She suddenly felt a presence behind her and was about to turn when a pair of large, strong arms wrapped around her waist, lips on the back of her neck, she closed her eyes but not in pleasure.
"My love…" he breathed in her ear and she swallowed, tensing in his embrace, her eyes went to the mirror and she saw him, he dwarfed her in size, he was a tall man, built and strong, muscular with darkly handsome features.
"My husband…" She felt the vibration in his chest from his slight laugh, low and intimidating. Philip was a handsome man but his whole image screamed at you to stay away from him. He was the type of man who wouldn't order your execution but instead do it himself. He had dark hair with dark eyes to match; he was not at all merciful and spent an awful lot of time killing people he did not like. He had three favourite things, killing, sex and food, in that order.
"Oh come now…" His voice was low, sinister in some way as he let his arm slide from her and he walked across the room to a large bowl of water and began washing his face "You can do better than that." She turned around to look at him as he finished, looking over his shoulder and smirking. "Dirt suits you…maybe I should start taking you into battle."
"I see your humour hasn't changed,"
"And I see your heart hasn't melted." He said raising an eyebrow and she glared at him, her jaw locking. He laughed a little, his bare chest impressive in the candle light "Now Eleanorah…can we not put these differences behind us and for once act like we mean something to one another?" she looked at him for a long while, her lips pursed,
"Where are my chambers?" she asked suddenly, not wanting this meeting to carry on any longer, he cocked his head to the side as he watched her,
"Here, my lady," he spread his hands out and she frowned
"…what do you mean?" she asked, confused, he began to take slow steps towards her,
"I mean they are here…with me…where they should be," she shook her head
"No. We have never shared chambers, I don't want that-" he began to laugh at her again
"I'm sorry, 'don't want'? …My love," he said putting a hand to her cheek and looking down at her "You don't have a say in this." She slapped his hand away, going to walk out of the room but he caught her around the middle, dragging her back, her back against his chest "I want you in my bed," he hissed and she gritted her teeth trying to get him to let her go but he was strong and she was small which were not a good combination if you are trying to get away.
"Let go!" She said loudly "Philip let me go!" She repeated but he didn't budge, his hands on her waist, she suddenly dug her nails across his arm, drawing blood and causing him to let go, she stumbled a little, her back against the door and facing him, fear present on her features "You've drawn blood…" he said half amazed, half impressed, he narrowed his eyes a little as he looked at her "There is hope for you yet."
"…What is this?" She asked, confused, almost shaking in anger "What is it you want from me?"
"A son." He said bluntly and her whole body froze, she swallowed and he almost laughed "Yes my love…I want a son…"
"B-but you've never been serious before! It's always just been if it happens it happens! You already have sons!" she said angrily, standing her ground with a frown, talking of his affairs with other women,
"Well, you see my love," he said slowly, walking over to his desk "my father, the important man that he is, taught me something…you need a legitimate son to give all your wealth too and of course…" he trailed off for a moment "It gives me a good reason to ravish you night after night." He saw the tears well in her eyes and he cocked his head to the side again, a cruel smile on his lips "Why do you think I brought you here?"
"For safety!" She exclaimed angrily, he leaned back in his chair,
"I have to admit that was part of it…I can't have you being killed, you'll be a perfect mother to my children." She frowned shaking her head "Did you not realise why I married you? You are very beautiful, hence my children shall be beautiful, you are strong, my children will be strong, you are clever, so my children will be clever," he paused for a moment "And of course it gives me pleasure too…" his eyes flicked down her body for a moment and she glared at him
"You will not do that too me. That was not part of the agreement!" She exclaimed running towards the doors but as she grabbed the handle his hand slammed against it and she shrieked, trying to run away but he kept her in place by grabbing her neck.
"Now my little Norah…you must remember that the agreement was you being a good wife…"
"I never agreed to give you children! If it happened by mistake then fine! But I refuse to be used in order to give you an heir!" He slammed her against the door and lights popped in front of her eyes and she hissed in pain,
"…I can always take your sister." Her eyes snapped open and she looked at him wide eyed,
"Don't you dare touch her!" She shrieked and he laughed but said nothing, "I mean it Philip! Don't you dare!"
"Dare…" he said lowly, his tone dangerous "Don't I dare? How about don't you dare, I can see that giving you the freedom I have has caused you to become stronger willed than I wanted…we will have to bring your pride down a few notches. Remember one thing my love…I am your husband…you are mine and you will obey everything I want you to do or say or think. You do not have to like it but it WILL happen."
She spat at him. Like he always did, Philip remained terrifyingly calm, his hand travelled up from her neck to her face and he cocked his head to the side a little, wiping her spit from his cheek with the other hand. "You can be rather stupid can't you?" He said with a smile, he could feel her trembling before he'd even done anything. Suddenly there was a knock at the door and he looked at her pointedly before yanking her across the room, she stumbled into the cabinet the other side, gripping her neck as he opened the door.
"Yes?" He questioned, clearly irritated
"Messengers for you sir…from Rome." Philip nodded before shutting the door and turning around to look at her. He stood and beckoned her towards him
"I am not a dog!" She exclaimed and he raised his eyebrows
"Wrong. You are my bitch and you will do as you are told." She shook her head hurriedly, he exhaled angrily, his expression dark "You are extremely lucky that I have to leave this room." He said dangerously, he grabbed a shirt and slipped it over his head, "But I can't have you going anywhere my love," he said "I could always tie you down…" Her eyes widened and she retreated towards the corner of the room "No, I do not have time for that," he grabbed his sword and belted it to his waist and looked up at her "I'll be locking you in. Behave or I won't be very happy when I return. Do you understand?" The command in his voice made her flinch and she nodded,
"Good girl." He said before leaving the room. Her legs gave way beneath her and she slid down the wall, hearing the doomed sound of the key in the lock.
"…That's her husband?" Galahad said with a frown the Knights eyes all on him as they sat in the tavern. Breakfast was in order as it usually was the first morning back from a mission.
"Yeah," Gawain nodded tearing at a chunk of bread "A bastard of the grandest kind. And not just because he's pitiless."
"What do you mean?" Lancelot said, his dark eyes finding Gawain. Lancelot had been uncommonly quiet this morning and although his brother's had noticed, none had said a word about it.
"You haven't heard the rumours?" Gawain said with a raised eyebrow "Supposedly, he's the bastard son of the current Emperor of Rome and said Emperor liked the bastard's mother so much that he gave him a seat of power in Briton."
"…That's like?" Galahad laughed into his cup "Why in God's name would you want to be here?"
"Because it's open land…he can claim it and rule over it. He's one of the highest authorities around…son of a whore to head of Briton."
"Incredible, and here, us lowly born out of wedlock men stand." Galahad said with another laugh and Gawain punched him in the arm, "Oh yes, except you Gawain."
"I'm going to kill you." Gawain said calmly
"You are too slow to catch me old man." He said with a laugh, Gawain raised an eyebrow and before Galahad could mock him with another retort, Gawain had reached forward and shoved Galahad completely off of his stool. The other's laughed, Bors' boom echoing across the courtyard as Gawain reached forward, grabbing Galahads tunic just before he touched the floor, a smile split across Galahad's face as he was pulled back up onto his seat.
"How's that for too slow?" Galahad laughed shaking his head and Gawain smiled but slowly it faded and he looked up at the others thoughtfully "Do you think she's happy?"
"Why wouldn't she be? She's rich." Galahad retorted, who hadn't been at the table for Lancelot's description of Philip.
"There is more to happiness than money." Dagonet said, his low, calm voice entering the conversation for a rare moment.
"By what Lady Norah was saying, their marriage is more of a contract." Lancelot put in, Dagonet nodded solemnly
"When is it not with nobles?" Gawain said with a shrug, now beginning to peel an apple with a more than sharp enough knife.
"True." Lancelot returned,
"I wonder if she has a lover?" Galahad put in, "Lord, the thing's I'd do to her if-" he was stopped by Gawain shoving him once again but this time he landed in a heap on the floor instead of being caught.
"Watch your tongue. She's a Lady and one who I deem a friend, so don't speak of her in such vulgar words."
"Honourable, honourable." Galahad muttered from the floor, "One of these days I'm going to kick your honour right where the sun does not shine." He pulled himself up off the floor and back up too the table, scowling at Gawain who only found this more amusing. "Push me all you like, someone will look upon her and won't be able to help himself. And it will happen, she's beautiful and rich…and lonely, the worst combination for sleeping with a man who is not your husband." Lancelot turned away from their conversation, standing up and walking out of the tavern. He closed his eyes for a moment, walking through the open street and turning a corner to the only place he found peace. The stables.
He stood for a moment, his hands wrapped around the wooden fencing, deep in thought.
"You know what they think don't you." He turned his head, looking over his shoulder to see Tristan who walked forwards towards his horse that was currently happily eating hay.
"Who?"
"The others."
"…No, what do they think?" Lancelot said in a dark, edgy voice, clearly uncaring at what Tristan had to say and wanting him to leave. Tristan looked at him silently for a moment.
"That you are bedding Lady Eleanorah-" Lancelot's eyes widened,
"Are you mad?" He hissed, looking towards the door "If you say that and the wrong people are around too hear it I'll lose my head!"
"So it's true?"
"No it isn't!" Lancelot said angrily,
"I saw the way you looked at her." He said, he wasn't accusing Lancelot of anything but simply stating what he already knew. He fixed his eyes on Lancelot who was looking at him with a sullen, dangerous expression "But you must stop." He said bluntly.
"What?" Lancelot said, clearly irritated,
"Before it goes any further."
"Nothing has happened!" He exclaimed, not understanding, could Tristan read his damn mind now?
"So why are you so on edge?"
"I-"
"Perhaps nothing happened." Tristan cut him off taking a few steps towards him and closing the gap between them "But she is a taken."
"I know-"
"So, whatever happened in the forest, whatever happened when you were alone together, whatever this is," he paused, his voice low and sinister "It ends now." Tristan and Lancelot stared at each other for a moment, eyes crushing each other before Tristan looked down, taking a bite of an Apple and stepping around Lancelot.
"Why?" Lancelot said suddenly, turning and looking at the back of the usually indifferent Knight. Tristan stopped, looking over his shoulder; Lancelot got a glimpse of a glint for the dark shadow of his eyes before he replied.
"Because you do not understand the implications this will hold." He paused for a second "By doing what you are thinking about, you risk all of our lives and I tell you now, I won't die because you wanted a fuck that was unavailable at the time." Tristan gave him another pointed look before taking another bite of his apple and walking off into the street.