Dressing became a difficult task for Charlie, her mind kept wandering to Nora's cold response and the look of pain in her eyes as she left. She expected those looks from her mother, having grown used to them, but never from Nora. To see those looks coming from Nora hurt Charlie more than anything.
She fastened the dress up, for once not complaining about the way it cinched in at her waist, elongating her hips as it trailed to the bottom. She didn't complain mostly because since arriving she was given full range of deciding upon what to wear, meaning she got to choose the fabric and the color. Her mother always chose the itchiest fabric that left marks on Charlie's skin as it rubbed against it, pairing it with the most unpleasing colors. For herself, Charlie asked the dressmaker to use a softer fabric that while still hung tight to her frame, felt like a glove instead of a potato sack. Choosing a deep scarlet color, for the first time she was almost happy with the way she looked, in a dress nonetheless.
Upon finishing, she carefully opened her door and shut it behind her. Standing next to the wall, Nora looked up when she exited, pushing off with her foot as she motioned for Charlie to lead the way.
She tried to open her mouth and apologize many times. Eventually one fierce look from Nora shut her up as she turned and led them back to the Great Hall in silence.
It had been one of the longest and most uncomfortable walks of her life, even worse than her sentence to the dungeon previously. It was even worse to feel so alone with someone standing right next to you.
The seat where she normally sat left open for her occupation, was accompanied by her father's presence in the seat to her left, right next to Bass at the head of the table. Typically it was customary for kings to sit at the end, but knowing Miles he refused to sit equal in Bass' kingdom.
She tried to give a reassuring smile as he glanced up at her, noticing her entry, but pain must've shone through because he frowned though he said nothing.
Charlie couldn't concentrate the entire meal. While everyone else around her sat in good spirits, a heavy anchor attached itself to Charlie's foot, drowning her in a sea of misery.
She spent half of the time picking at the food on her place and pretending to smile anytime her name was mentioned. The other half of the time she stole quick glances in Nora's direction across the table from her, but Nora never met her gaze.
She didn't seem to be quite as angry as before, that much was evident as she sat more relaxed with her shoulders at ease, but Charlie could tell it stilled weighted heavy on her mind. Nora wasn't one for bringing up the past, and especially not bad memories. That's probably why Charlie only heard few stories about Nora's past, none of which came from her directly.
Miles looked over at Charlie's distracted gaze, "I hope Charlie hasn't been too much of a hassle for you Bass."
"Well what more could I expect, she is your daughter after all, and Rachel's. I'm just glad she hasn't set fire to the place or caused a uproar," he smiled, devouring the last piece of meat that lay on his plate.
"Yeah I mean, minus the one dungeon unpleasant incident, she's more well behaved than me," Connor quietly chuckled, looking down at his food.
He looked up when no one else joined in on the merriment as his smile vanished, "what did I say?"
Miles didn't answer his question, instead he looked to Bass, "mind telling me what your son is talking about?"
Bass sighed, placing his fork down as he rested his arms on the table, "there was just a small mishap that occurred, Charlotte would you care to join in?"
Not hearing her name, Miles nudged her. Seeing Bass look curiously, her brows furrowed, "pardon? I must've been distracted for a moment."
Trying to remain as cordial as possible, there was a slight snark about her comment that put Bass on edge.
Bass frowned, "yes I know, you haven't been paying attention since you sat down. If we're boring you, please feel free to leave."
"Well I'm sorry if I'm not giving you my full undivided attention," she coldly replied, which caused him to grit his teeth.
He cleared his throat, picking the fork back up he pushed around the remaining scraps of food, "we can discuss your lack of attention later—"
She scoffed, "what more is there to discuss?"
Ignoring her, he continued as though she hadn't spoken, "your father would like to know about any trouble you may have caused."
"Actually," Miles interrupted their odd exchange to look at Charlie, "I specifically asked about a dungeon incident Connor so nicely brought to our attention."
With that Charlie glared at him as he ducked his head.
Turning back to Miles she crossed her arms over her chest, "so Bass informed you he had me exiled to the dungeon? After I was wounded by his executioner's sword, mind you."
Miles whipped his head to the side, "what? Are you telling me that you left my daughter in a cold, damp dungeon to rot? What's come over you Bass?"
Looking past Miles, he narrowed his eyes at Charlie, "Charlotte isn't there something more you'd like to add, about how you got yourself into this predicament?"
"How I got myself into this predicament?"
Putting her hand over her chest in outrage, she glowered, "I got myself into this predicament? You're delusional! I didn't get myself into anything. I was showing compassion towards another human being, I couldn't just stand by and let you—"
Slapping his hand firmly on the table, the utensils shook as did Charlie under Bass ferocious gaze, "let's get one thing straight here Charlotte, you do not 'let' me do anything."
"Okay, would someone just please explain to me what the hell is going on?"
Miles groaned before looking at Charlie, "Please for the love of God Charlie, just tell me what happened and leave out all the dramatics."
"There was a young boy who Bass condemned to lose his hand,"
"Because he stole, he committed a crime," Bass interrupted.
Charlie's stomach churned, "he was just a little boy. I jumped in and when I threatened Bass' delicate male pride he threw me in the dungeon."
"That is an outright lie," Bass barked, "I gave you a choice to either sit down and remain quiet or go somewhere I wouldn't have to hear you. You made your choice and you suffered the consequence."
"Some choice that was! That's like choosing to die by blade or by bow, either way it still ends in death," she spat back at him.
Miles put his hands in between them, trying to calm them both down, "Alright enough is enough."
Sternly he looked at Charlie, "Bass was within every right to make that decision Charlie, and while I am furious at his treatment of you, as king he makes the call. It is no different from when I make decisions you disagree with."
"You would never make a decision as horrific as this. I have never seen you act so cruel towards a child."
Miles looked physically pained, but he recovered quickly, "be that as it may, if I were to charge someone with a crime he indeed committed, then the punishment would stand. No matter how much you detest it, that was irresponsible diving headfirst without thinking. You need to be more careful—"
"Careful," she yelled outraged, "there was no time to be careful, he was going to lose his hand right then. Did you expect me to sit there?"
"Yes," Miles nodded his head as Charlie's jaw went slack, not being able to believe what she was hearing. Her father, the man she revered all her life was siding with Bass.
Seeing the look of disgust and hurt in her eyes, he reached out and placed a hand over hers, cringing as she jerked away.
"I'm saying that it was Bass' call, he knows what he is doing, he wouldn't have done it if he wasn't sure."
Rachel rolled her eyes; she couldn't hold in her disagreement any longer, "even if Bass were in the wrong, you would still defend him Miles, that's what you've always done since you were kids. He could be waist deep in someone's blood and all you would see is the remnants of his innocence."
Bass snapped, "right Queen Rachel, holier than thou, because no one else at this table has done things, evil things. It's only me right? Everyone else can be cleansed of their sins, but I'm the one who has to carry it around with me like dead weight."
She pointed a finger in his direction, "do not compare what you've done to anything Miles has done. He is twice the man you'll ever hope to be, and a better king."
Bass just snorted in indifference, "I forgot you're always right, even when you're wrong."
"Enough!"
Miles' clenched fists pounded against the table, making his and Charlie's food catapult into the air, "I won't listen to you two bicker anymore like children especially when you know that isn't the case. Bass is no worse of a man than I am, and I wouldn't defend him if he were wrong."
"You haven't even gotten angry at him with throwing Charlie into a dungeon like some criminal he could beat into submission. Our daughter Miles how could you?"
"How could I? God Rachel, do you even listening to yourself when you speak, it's your fault she's in the condition she's in."
Charlie jumped to her father's defense, "now I'm your daughter, when it's convenient for you? You haven't been my mother in years, maybe even before then. Nora's been more of a mother to me than you have," she gestured to Nora who until then was silently praising God her name hadn't been mentioned.
Even though Nora felt a pang of pride at Charlie's outburst, she knew Rachel would drain the bit of happiness away.
"My dear, how could we ever forget Nora when she's just as much apart of this as the rest of us. She may as well be family right," bitterly she looked at Miles in accusation.
Miles rolled his eyes, "now you're just making a fool of yourself Rachel by acting so pitiful, leave the poor girl out of this. It isn't her fault that she's the one who has been there for Charlie."
"Of course it isn't her fault, it's yours. If you didn't have this need to keep her around for some peculiar reason—"
With this, Nora opened her mouth to defend herself, how dare Rachel accuse her of not being worthy of her position. She worked hard to get where she was, and she would be damned if she let Rachel Matheson make this about her. Lucky for her, Miles finished the battle for her because he knew once Nora started, she wouldn't be able to hold her tongue.
"She is a damn good knight and I would trust her with anything," his eyes flickered to Nora's briefly.
Not skipping a beat he added, "Do not make this about anything other than the truth."
Rachel sadly shook her head, "that's the problem Miles, there's always three sides to the truth, all of which you ignore in favor of personal ties."
No one said anything as tensions rose, the only person who remotely did anything was Bass, and all he did was laugh.
Everyone looked to him as though he was crazy, "wow, always a delight Rachel. I see that you've only gotten bitterer with age. I didn't think that was possible, but once again you proved me wrong with just how much of a bitch you could be."
"Thank you Bass for your helpful insight. I'm done talking about all of this," throwing his cloth napkin down Miles stood up as the chair squealed against the floor in protest. He was so angry Charlie could see his hands shaking as he stood.
"I'm going to bed, but before I do," slowly striding over to Bass, his right arm swung out to hit him square in the face.
Bass's chair tipped back from the force, but he steadied himself quick and regained his balance, snarling at Miles. Cupping his face, he could already feel the droplets of blood on his hand.
Miles bent down, his face inches from Bass', "If you ever treat my daughter with less respect than she deserves I will not hesitate to end you, for real this time. She is my daughter Bass, I don't care what reckless and foolish thing she does, do not treat her like you treat everyone else. And the next time you see fit to punish her, do yourself a favor and don't even think about the dungeon as a feasible option, she does not deserve to be sent there under any circumstances. Do you understand me?"
Without speaking or moving his head, Miles got the impression Bass knew he meant business. Miles Matheson never made threats, he only made promises and he has never broken his promise.