I know I've been gone FOREVER. I'm so sorry. I gained some new friends, and a wonderful love interest, so I've just been very distracted. I'm writing as much as I can, but I've been so busy and lazy and stuff. This chapter is super boring, but kinda important so PLEASE try not to be done with this story! I love everyone that reads Forever Loved, and I won't give up on this story even if I do hit a few bumps. Hope I haven't lost any readers! Xoxo- May
The one who loves least controls the relationship- Unknown
Tom laughed at Marcys expression, and placed the little box in her hand, guiding her to a park bench and sitting her down. She just stared at the box, not moving at all, "I think you went into shock my love." He announced with a smirk.
"My father is okay with this?" She managed
"He told me I had to, if I wanted to keep seeing you," He outwardly laughed, "As if his approval would make any difference at all. I figured you would eventually want the experience of getting married so, why not."
"I didn't say yes…" she whispered, but Tom couldn't hear her, she repeated herself and he nodded.
"That's fine. No legal issues or anything, I'll just have to completely cut you off from your loved ones-"
"Fine, I suppose if my father feels more comfortable that way it should be okay. It won't be anything big right?" She asked finally coming out of her shocked state.
"I think your family just wants the legality aspect of marriage, but that is entirely up to you. Personally, I don't have enough time or much care for a larger wedding, but if it's necessary-"
"It isn't. I'm fine with signing a few papers and getting this over with." She shook her head, "When we were in Hogwarts I always told myself how I would never allow you to tie yourself to me completely, that I would never legally belong to you, but you managed to have your way as usual."
"I pushed you into nothing my sweet Marcy, it is just the way the world wanted it I suppose," He leaned down and kissed her forehead, "We should get going, I have work to do and I'm sure you want to know your handmaidens a bit better?" with that they apparated to the home, and departed. All the furniture and clothing was there, in the girls room.
"Marcy! Look, look at this!" Shouted Shae as she pulled Marcy over to her bed and nightstand to show her all the new things, "I have a bed of my own, and books and clothes and all sorts of stuff!" She smiled up at her with her round eyes.
"This is all really wonderful Marcy, could you thank Master for us? We were told not to speak to him." Ava said as she pulled back the covers of her sisters sheets, for them to get into bed. Once they were all warm and in bed Marcy blew out the candles and bid them all goodnight. She walked to her own room and changed laying down on the soft white sheets and she waited for Tom. Only minutes later Tom walked into the room, and pulled off his tie. Once dressed for bed he lay down next to her.
"Not tired, are you?" He asked as he pushed hair out of her face.
"Not really, but at the same moment I am." She turned on her side so she could see him better, "You don't love me Tom, admit it."
"I've never felt love Marcy, so I wouldn't know. Let me put it this way, I care about you and how you feel but I also need certain things from you, and I will not hesitate to take what I want." He explained, "But I never want to see you hurt by anyone, and I never want you to be in desperate need of something. I just want you all the time. I want you talking to me, and I want you next to me. Is that love? I don't know, but it's the closest I've ever gotten."
"Well, I think I love you but I'm not entirely sure." She said. Tom thought about it for a moment and then changed the subject.
"The knights will be doing another raid and bringing in prisoners at about six tomorrow morning. After that I'll be leaving and I don't know exactly when I'll be back." He leaned over and turned out the lamp next to the bed, "You should be conscious that there are a group of people who are aware about my plans and are not too satisfied. Someone tipped them off about my whereabouts, so you are not to leave the house, understand?"
"But what if I get bored?" She complained.
"That is why I got the handmaidens." He then rolled over and their conversation ended leaving Marcy alone in the dark. The next morning she woke up and looked over at Toms empty side of the bed. She looked over at the clock to see it was 10:15, and a rainy day. She dressed in a grey dress, smoothed her hair and walked down to the kitchen, to see Sarah, and Ava sitting at the table eating bread and cheese.
"That's not a breakfast," Marcy said with a chuckle, "Why didn't you ask Brinky to make you something?"
"Who is Brinky?" Ava asked.
"This is what Avery gave us… He was very upset this morning." Sarah added as she sipped her water.
"This is what he gave you? This is no breakfast, I know for a fact that we have great food here if you look deep enough into the cabinets." She paused a moment, "Why was Avery upset? Did he say anything to you?"
Quickly Sarah answered Marcy, "He said he doesn't want to be the one taking care of us, and that it's ridiculous Tom kept us."
"Well don't worry about that, I'm glad you're all here," She waved her hand signaling for them to follow, "Come, we'll find a real breakfast, and then we'll wake your sisters." Marcy brought them all to the kitchen where the house-elves were working and immediately the elves came to they're assistance.
"Miss Marcy, may Brinky bring you anything?" Brinky asked wide eyed.
"No thank you Brinky, we're just going to take some food upstairs and cook in that kitchen. We're making a breakfast this morning, considering Tom isn't here and he won't be able to stop me. I do need a basket though, for our food." Brinky swiftly ran into a closet and pulled out a basket large enough for what Marcy needed. Marcy thanked Brinky and walked around the kitchen pulling out all sorts of food. In total the three of them collected, oranges, bacon, eggs, milk, jam and ham. Marcy brought it up to the regular kitchen that was not occupied by the elves and began cooking. It wasn't difficult for Marcy to cook in the slightest and she quite enjoyed it. Sarah set plates for everyone and Ava was able to find cups in the cabinet. Marcy boiled water for tea and woke Jennifer and Shae up. When they all sat down to eat, Marcy couldn't help but think about how grateful she was for the girls. They just seemed to make her feel much better and not so lonely. They gave her a feeling not even Tom could give her.
"That's a pretty ring." Shae said sweetly, grinning at Marcy, "You weren't wearing it yesterday, were you?"
Marcy looked down and saw the small ring, that she had last seen in that little satin box, Tom had given to her in the park, "Oh, I hadn't noticed… Tom had asked me to marry him yesterday." The girls fell silent and looked down at their plates when they heard the distant tone Marcy was speaking in.
May 16th 1946
8:16 P.M.
The rain had never ended, and Marcys day was nothing extraordinary. But yet, she hadn't been this happy in months. She took care of the girls all day, helping them learn to read and write, since their education was not proper. She gave them all of her old dresses, and did their hair. It was what she wanted everyday to be like, happy, easy and loving. She put Shae to bed, and allowed the others to wander around the house, but leave the death eaters alone when they arrived back. As far as Marcy knew the death eaters went out, most likely getting drunk because of Toms absence. Marcy had made a fire in the oversized fireplace and settled down next to the window. She heard the door open with the pounding of boots hitting the floor and the growl of drunken laughter. She buried herself further into her chair, hoping not to attract their attention. For a while they hadn't even noticed her presence, and she intended on keeping it that way. A familiar squeak pierced the semi silent home, causing Marcy to jump out of her chair and tip toe towards the noise. When she entered the room Tom had only allowed her to enter once, the deatheaters were gathered around the large stone table, a figure dangling above them. Marcy moved closer, only to see the figure was Ava.
"Put her down!" Marcy demanded. The Deatheaters all turned and looked at her, "Lower her down." Ava was slowly lowered on the table, and again the Deatheaters laughed as she scrambled to her feet. Before she was able to get away from the group of men, a man with broad shoulders grabbed her ankle and pulled her over to him, where he ravaged her lips with his own. "I can get The Dark Lord to this house as quickly as you can yourself," Her hand met her torso where Tom had marked her not so long ago. "It wouldn't take him over a minute to be by my side, if necessary. The young girls in this house are to be treated with the same amount of respect you would give me. They are not here for your entertainment." The men fell rather silent, as Ava ran to Marcys side. Marcy turned her back to the men, and walked out of the room with Ava. Ava seemed to be shaking and a bit shaken but other than that she was fine. "I'm so sorry Ava."
"It's okay Marcy… I think I'll be going to bed now though. Goodnight." She darted up the stairs, leaving Marcy alone once again in the large Riddle mansion. She strolled around the mansion only able to listen to the soothing rain against the windows and think to herself how pathetic she was.
'Pathetic aren't you?'
'Pathetic is a bit harsh…'
'Well it's true! You bring this on yourself.'
'On myself?
'Indeed! You mope around this place just waiting for Toms return. It's a bit pathetic.'
'I love him. Being without him can get a quite painful.'
'Well find something productive to do with yourself until he returns!'
She shook her head to clear her thoughts and looked up at the large clock on the wall. 9:15 exactly. After pondering on the time for a while she decided sleep would be the most effective thing at the moment. The moment her head hit the pillow she fell into her dreams.
Nurmengard Prison
"Tell me what you told the Mallarks, Xavier!" Tom demanded as he slammed his hand on the desk in front of the young boy he was speaking to. The boy must have been around seventeen, with his dark skin and light brown eyes. His hair was in a fashion, not so popular to the time period and he was wearing a long dark jacket. He didn't look slightly fazed by Toms menacing eyes and threatening proximity. "I will not tolerate this." Tom said sternly
"I will not betray those who are innocent, and I will not back down to you, Riddle. Trusting me was your mistake, but I will not try to reverse what I've done." He leaned back in his chair and smirked up at Riddle, "You'll kill me anyway."
"Do you realize how far you've set me back? You pathetic excuse for a Pure-blood" Tom spat at him, "Do you realize the pain I will put you through, if you refuse to tell me?"
"I am not frightened," he closed his eyes slowly, and then opened them "I'm dead either way."
"I will give you one more chance, all you must do is tell me exactly what you told them and you will leave this prison unharmed."
"Tom, why did you bring me here? I mean, what reasoning did you have to take me to a prison?"
"It is quiet, dark and your screams will go unheard!" Tom said as he pulled out his wand "Crucio!" Xavier's screams echoed through the large room and Tom paused, "How about you tell me where I can find them?"
"Borough Market. The Mallarks would always meet me there for information on you. I don't know their exact location." Xavier wheezed, breathless and searching for something to end his pain.
"Who should I look for?" Tom said searching Xavier's eyes.
"Ava James. She was a maid who worked in the house of the James'. She would come to the Market, and I would give her letters, containing information about you. She would then give the letters to Richard James , who is a mud-blood. His family didn't know about his magical abilities though, so he would trade information about you with the Mallarks, in order to attend Hogwarts under their consent. The Mallarks didn't trust me entirely so they didn't want direct contact with me. Please, Ava didn't know what she was doing. She didn't know about the wizarding world." Xavier explained, as he lay on the floor in agony.
"You are coming with me Xavier, because we've just run into a small issue."
May 17th 1946
6:45 A.M.
The rain had stopped, and the chirping of birds was creating a soft morning. The mansion smelt of dew and had a breath of summer running through it. Marcy was had awoken to the sounds of distant voices. She walked to the window and slightly opened the drapes to peer out into the world she was not allowed to enter. A large pack of darkness was walking in the direction of the mansion. The deatheaters were back from another raid. Marcy dressed herself as quickly as possible, in a flowing black dress that ended just above her knee and she pulled her hair into a thick ponytail that fell down her back. After slipping on flat shoes, she ran down the stairs and shoved a peach in her mouth to sooth her stomach. She heard the large doors, from Toms private room open and close. The group sounded larger than normal but Marcy remained at the table. Avery walked into the kitchen, looking completely drained. His face was a sickly shade of grey and his eyes, bloodshot.
"Avery, you look awful." She said with a small laugh, "Kidnapping and torturing the innocent draining you?"
"Listen, Nott," He spat at her, bringing Marcy back to her days at Hogwarts, "Tom wants you to take over his duties while he's gone. That means you must sort the prisoners. I'll be there, and I will assist you whenever I can, but you must learn one way or another. You are the second master to this house." Marcys jaw dropped a bit with Averys' words, but she did not put up an argument. She walked into the large room and stood in front of, what seemed to be hundreds of people, crying and screaming, preparing herself to be the one to tell them what their fate would be. "You sort them: Servant, Messenger, Experiment, Kepper or Death. The old ones are kept for experimentation unless they seem ill they are put to death. You want to choose a variety for experiment, young, old, female, male the list could go on. A servant is usually young women Wizard or Muggle, Messenger is young men usually muggle. A kepper can range from anyone who is healthy and young. Keppers are often used for entertainment or breeding. Marcy, keppers have often become prostitutes. I know it's something you wouldn't want to force them into but it could be a lot worse. Do your best and good luck." Marcy took a deep breath and started with the first person they pushed forward. It seemed to take hours for her to sort people. She tried her best to keep families together, but when one woman stepped forward and begged for release, she was killed instantly by a death eater. When the room was empty and the screaming faded Marcy rubbed her eyes and turned to Avery,
"If I stay in this household one more day, I can promise I'll go insane…Please give me good news Avery, I'm begging you." She rubbed her temples and moved out of the large room.
"Tom will be home today. He said noon will be the latest." Avery said nonchalantly.
Marcy whirled around, wide eyed "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I had forgotten, my apologies. He won't be home for long though." And with that Avery apparated away from Marcy. The clock was about to strike eleven.