Yessss I managed to finish this chapter tonight. So here's an extra treat for you, lovelies. Enjoy~ :D
P.S. I do not own any of the Hollow Crown characters. I only own Odette and any other OC you might encounter along the way :)
Shelter
Wrapping the black cloak around her shoulders Odette hefted herself into the saddle and galloped out onto the dirt road, [...] until the darkness of the world engulfed her and the sound of hooves hitting the dry earth faded into songs of crickets.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Along with the sun rising in the heavens came Odette's stormy arrival in London, her stallion afoam, his black coat covered in sweat drops glistening like diamonds, steam rising from his heated body into the cold autumn morning.
She had startled the gate guards, who at first had believed her to be a demon spawned from Hell itself. Once she had revealed her face and stated her name she had been allowed into the city without any further questions; for the guards knew better than to hinder a member of the Willoughby family, the dearest to the King.
It was now that she walked the muddy streets of London, having left her stallion in the care of the guards who had promised to deliver him to the royal stables immediately. In spite of her better judgment, the girl had by now decided to wander the city for a few hours, attempting to settle her thoughts in order so that she would not embarrass herself before the King. Her moment of respite was to be short lived however... with the guard delivering her stallion to the castle word reached her father that she was in the city, thus he had asked the Sheriff to find his daughter and give her in his hands, as if sensing that her arrival would bring about unpleasant events.
A mere three hours after her arrival, Odette was startled by the sight of a group of black clad men coming down the street; the fervent movements of their eyes told her that they were searching for something... or someone. Inwardly cursing at the thought that her father had already learned of her presence in London, she stepped into a side alley, breathing lightly when the group passed by without seeing her.
"So you are the one they are looking for..."
Startled by the male voice coming from behind her, the girl spun around with a hand tightly clenched around the handle of her sword. What stilled her hand before she struck him was that upon turning she found herself looking into a pair of eyes so blue and so deep that she felt as if her gaze had fallen upon the sea itself.
Smiling at her stare, the young male now stepped back whilst folding his arms. Taking a moment to look her over, the Prince found that he quite liked the sight before him.
"If you gaze upon me with such intensity befitting a lioness, my Lady, I shall forswear all my courage."
His words seemed to return her to life; and whilst she was pleasantly surprised by his artistic words, she did not wish to let herself get distracted.
"I have no time for petty attempts at wooing..." she retorted.
Ignoring the way he narrowed his eyes at her, and the sudden strength which had come to his gaze, she too looked him over.
"Are you a member of the Royal Court?" she asked.
Granted, his attire gave him away, as his clothes were clean and bore the aspect of a nobleman's garments, rather than the soiled, shredded rags wrapped around the common folk bustling in the streets.
"Perhaps..."
His evasive reply managed to draw her attention back to his face, although her reaction was not the one he had expected.
"Do you not know where you belong?" she asked, her tone betraying a shade of irony.
"Do you not know who I am?"
"I know not, and I care not for your name. Still, I know what you are, if you do not offer me the help I need... and that is, useless."
For a brief moment Hal could do nothing but stare at the woman before him in shock; no one had had the gall to call him useless until then... not even his own father, although God knew the man would have had all the reasons in the world to call him such. Taking his failure to reply as a refusal to help her, Odette now turned her back on him and walked out into the street again after making sure none of the Sheriff's men were around.
It took a few minutes before Hal recovered enough that he could follow her; and he found the girl just when she was dashing away from a group of Carriers which had apparently sighted her. Moving along the back alleys with ease, as he knew them by heart already, he soon caught the right moment to grab her arm and drag her into the shadows. The crowd on the street helped as well, shielding his action from the Sheriff's men who now simply passed them by whilst Hal held the girl in an unrelenting grasp, one of his hands covering her mouth to keep her from screaming in fright. Once he was sure they were far enough, he finally released her only to have Odette whirl around and scowl at him.
"Just what do you think..." she began, bent on chastising him for what she had viewed as his attempt at foiling her.
Realizing she was speaking loud enough to attract attention, and sighting the Carriers turning back to trace their steps in an attempt at figuring out where they had lost her, the young Prince gritted his teeth as his analytical mind quickly reached a decision. Before she could finish her phrase, he grabbed her arms again and shoved her against the wall, pressing his body to hers to keep her from squirming and hitting him. At the same time his lips crushed onto her own, in his attempt to keep her quiet whilst the Carriers passed by the alleyway again. What truly aided him in his endeavor, however, was the fact that his actions had surprised Odette to such a depth that she had been utterly unable to react in any way. Upon sighting the black garments of the Carriers at the corner of her eye, she finally understood the reason behind his assault on her. In turn that made her relax, a thing which Hal himself interpreted as something else.
It was odd actually... even with the danger of the Sheriff's men now gone he kept prolonging that kiss beyond his own willpower, as though his body had suddenly gained a mind of its own. Furthermore, with their bodies so closely pressed against one another he could tell – not without a measure of surprise – that she was unlike any other woman he had ever touched before. Her legs and arms were well toned and her breasts were firm against his chest; in truth it was getting to his head to some extent, for her body was unlike the soft, often saggy flesh of tavern wenches with plump thighs and floppy chests.
When he got lost in those thoughts and his hands began to roam freely, Odette finally regained her bearings and grasped his wrists whilst leaning away from his inviting mouth. By now her heart was pounding in her chest and her cheeks were flushed and her lips were slightly swollen from his merciless attack – for a moment she had actually felt as if he was trying to assert some form of authority over her; and to her great astonishment, she found that she didn't quite mind that idea.
Even if he was currently just a nameless noble, of what she knew so far, one thing she could not deny or ignore... he made her heart beat in a way that no other man ever had. Still, recalling why she had arrived to London in the first place, she now made an attempt at pushing him away only to find that she had no strength left in her arms to do so.
"I do believe that is enough, Sir..." she stated, hating her breathless tone.
The Prince's desire to offer a snarky remark at the flustered state he had left her in was only outmatched by his desire to restore his pride and prove wrong her impression that he was useless. Thus he now stepped back to release her, before speaking once again.
"Why are they chasing you? What have you done?"
His tone left Odette speechless for a moment, as she experienced the sensation that she was standing before the King himself and not some nameless male. Discarding that as a fleeting impression brought on by her current confused state, she picked herself off the wall to reply.
"I am here to see the King... my father, apparently, received word of that; I see no other reason for him to send the Sheriff out for me."
Narrowing his eyes at the fact that she had deliberately avoided giving him an actual answer, he once again grasped her arm, this time leading her away from the main streets.
"What are you doing?" she asked, despite the fact that she was following him without resistance.
"I am taking you to see the King... is that not what you said you wished?"
oOoOo
A mere hour later Odette was now following her unexpected rescuer into the palace gardens. The fact that the guards had let them pass without even so much as a word of inquiry only further cemented her impression that she had bumped into a high ranking nobleman... or perhaps the son of a high ranking noble family, given that he looked not much older than her. Still, the way everyone simply allowed them to pass without even bothering to question their presence there was uncanny and she began to suspect he was more than first met the eye.
Before she could dwell too much on that thought, however, she found herself entering the throne room where Henry was seated speaking to John whom she recognized from his visits at her father's estate. Being of the same age they had quickly become close friends, the Prince also sharing some of her passion for literature and music.
"Odette..." he smiled, upon sighting her. "This is a most unexpected and pleasant surprise."
Approaching and embracing her, he then stepped aside whilst Henry himself descended from the throne with a smile.
"Your father has kept you secluded far too long... you were but a child when last I saw you." he said, placing a kiss to the girl's forehead. "And still I recognized you; you have your mother's fair face, God rest her soul."
"You honor me with your gracious words, my sovereign liege." she replied, offering a shy smile in return.
Looking to his younger son, Henry now spoke again whilst motioning Odette to approach the throne.
"Call your brothers, so that they may meet your cousin."
With a slight bow the Prince rushed out of the hall, leaving only Hal there.
"My liege, may I ask why the Sheriff has sent his men to search for me and bring me here as a prisoner?"
All humor left Henry's expression at her statement, and in a moment he was no longer the caring uncle she had just seen; he was once again the dignified King of her country, ready to handle the matter at hand swiftly and firmly.
"What say you? I gave no such order..."
"Then it was my father's doing, as I suspected."
Briefly pondering on whether or not to play such a risky card, the girl now turned to the King and reached forward to grasp his hands.
"Uncle, please hear me... I arrived here to see you, for I will find no understanding in my father." she said with a pleading gaze.
Biting back a relieved sigh when he nodded, she was then utterly surprised to see Henry glancing toward her rescuer but not dismissing the young man.
"My liege, this is the young noble who aided me in escaping the Carriers and who brought me before Your Majesty." she now stated.
Sure, he wasn't quite the noblest man to walk the earth, but he had helped her nonetheless and she felt the need to repay him somehow, even if just with praise. Henry's reply, however, left her speechless.
"I am surprised to hear a woman – other than tavern wenches – speaking well of you."
Her stunned stare was only interrupted by the younger male's soft chuckle.
"Come now, father... plenty of noble women speak well of me."
With her gaze drawn back to him, Odette finally realized that the aura of royalty she had caught glimpses of had been no mere impression. Upon sighting her expression, Hal again chuckled and grasped her hand placing a soft kiss to the back of her fingers.
"O how rude of me, my Lady... I forgot to introduce myself." he state on an utterly satisfied tone. "I am Harry, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the throne of England."
Shaking his head at his eldest son's antics, Henry now walked back to the throne.
"When will you learn proper manners, you scatter-brained boy?" he sighed.
When he turned to face them again and sit onto the throne, however, he found – not without a rather powerful sense of surprise – that something in the way his son and the girl were looking at each other as they stood there like colorful statues, reminded him of the way he and his wife had so often gazed upon one another in their private moments. Raising his arms he motioned the counselors to leave the hall and once the heavy doors had been closed, he spoke once again.
"Now leave her be, Harry... come, Odette. Tell us what brings you here."
His tone was enough to drag the girl back from where she had again become lost in the seemingly endless pools of sky beneath Hal's thin brows. Stepping away from the Prince she turned toward the throne and offered a light bow.
"My most sovereign liege, I traveled throughout the night to arrive here this morning with a personal matter."
The fact that Hal was now silently watching her with that scrutinizing gaze he had given her earlier upon their first meeting wasn't helping at all. It made her feel like a spoiled child for having come to complain to the King on such a trivial matter. Inwardly shaking her head, she clenched her jaw... no, that was not a trivial matter. Her whole future depended on what her uncle would decide after hearing her. Thus she now took a deep breath and continued speaking.
"The matter which brings me before your throne is one that – whilst it might seem trivial – is as important to me as breathing. As you well know, my liege, I am Odette of Willoughby. And though my father is but a distant relative of yours, my mother was first cousin to King Charles of France. After my mother's passing, father has dedicated more time to you than he has to me and I do not condemn him for that; for I am joyous that he takes such good care of Your Grace, and I did not lack care or education, despite lacking his presence."
When Henry merely nodded and motioned for her to continue, Odette lightly bowed her head using that as a mask for the fleeting glance she threw Hal's way. Why did he have to watch her with such undivided attention? It made her feel flustered as she kept recalling the taste of his lips and the unfamiliar but not unpleasant sensation of his strong body against hers. Nevertheless she again drew a deep breath to continue with her speech, bracing herself for the King's reaction to her words.
"Recently my father has been trying to arrange my marriage to one named Harold of Hemingway. I would not dare speak wrongly of him in front of your royal person, were you not as dear to me as an uncle."
"You would speak wrongly of him in what way? For if he truly has done something of ill intent toward you – seeking to take advantage of your father's absence – we will see that he answers for it."
"He has done nothing of the sort of malice you might be thinking of, my liege. Yet it is my strong desire that this marriage be forbidden from taking place. He is not the kind of man my mother would have chosen for me."
Ultimately her official façade crumbled away as a pleading shade – bordering on desperation – settled onto her face; even Hal himself was impressed by the intensity of the feelings he could decipher on her fair features.
"Uncle..." she said softly, almost as a fearful whisper. "I do not want to spend my life with a man I feel nothing for, except repulsion. All he ever knows to speak of is politics and warfare... and death. He knows nothing of arts or music or simply of enjoying the beauty that God bestowed upon our great lands. Mother would have been enraged at such a poor choice on my father's part... and if she would have been unable to convince him to find a better suitor, she would have surely preferred to send me away in secret and have me marry a French nobleman from her cousin's Royal Court."
The silence that followed lasted no more than a minute, although to Odette it seemed like an eternity, as she watched the crevices set above the King's furrowed brow. She knew that expression as she remembered it from the little time she had spent with her parents in London, following Henry's coronation; he was weighing her words and the current situation, to find the best solution.
"We have taken your plea into account and this is what we have to say... we will find you a better suitor."
Her first reaction was to stare at the King silently; then, as her mind finally processed his words, she had to fight back her second reaction and stop herself from leaping into his arms as joy filled her. And though she was attempting to restrain a smile, her happiness radiated from her in such a way that even Hal felt his lips twitching toward a grin. His focus was soon drawn to the doors, however, when Odette's father burst into the hall.
"My liege!" he exclaimed, only to fall silent when Henry raised his hand.
"William..." the King replied in acknowledgment of the nobleman's presence. "Why have you not informed us of your daughter's approaching wedding?"
"My sovereign King, I did not believe it to be of such great importance. It has not yet been settled beyond any doubt... I am still speaking to Sir Harold of it."
"Your daughter has spoken to us of this Harold of Hemingway... and we have decided that he is not worthy of a descendant of royal blood such as her. Therefore, we have settled upon a better suitor."
Astounded that he already seemed to have someone in mind, Odette now listened with curiosity until she saw Henry moving his arm in a sweeping motion toward his eldest son who stood off to the side.
"I believe the Prince of Wales would be a worthy match for a woman of the French royal bloodline."
Whilst both Odette and her father turned their stunned gazes upon Hal, the Prince himself set his astonished expression upon the King.
"Father, what...?" he began on an admonishing tone.
"Our decision is final, Harry!" Henry cut him off on a louder note. "We have had more than enough of your recklessness and wild escapades through London. It is our firm belief that marriage will open your eyes to responsibility and make you into a Prince more worthy of becoming King."
In truth – though such thoughts would remain secret for now – he had another reason to enforce that marriage unto his son; namely Odette being a direct descendant of the French royal bloodline, which meant that through her marriage with Harry, England stood great chances of expanding upon the French territories. Watching as his son's gaze finally turned toward the girl, he then witnessed the young Prince's stormy departure. But it did not concern him too much... Harry would grow to love Odette that much he could already tell. And Odette would learn to love Harry in return, for she would never find a better suitor than a future King.