Chapter 5: A Prison of Gold and Silk

Alphinaud felt himself awaken slowly. He was feeling sick and tired even though he suspected that he had been sleeping for a long time. Eventually, he became aware of a chilly breeze sweeping over him and he tried to burrow under the covers a little more to try and stay warm. What was the problem? He didn't leave his window open did he?

He then heard a slight gasp of pain and that had been enough to cause him to open his eyes in a panic, not understanding why anyone could be in his room.

As soon as his eyes opened and he looked around at the spacious chamber that was filled with light, he found the source of the noise had come from Claire, who was sitting up at the edge of the bed. It seemed that she had bumped her foot at the bedpost while getting changed out of her nightgown and into a pretty light blue dress for the day, and was rubbing her toes as she was trying to fit them into a slipper.

"Hey," he said as he sat up a little more, causing her to look over at him. "Good morning."

"Morning," she answered back a little nervously as another breeze swept over them and he looked to the open window in confusion.

"I was feeling a little stuffy, I hope I didn't wake you," she answered lightly when she saw him looking to the glass and he shook his head before realizing that the other side of the bed was still neatly made and cold.

"Did you sleep at all last night?" he asked her and she blushed slightly before shaking her head. When he saw the darker circles under her eyes he knew she was telling the truth. In concern, he got out of bed and cautiously approached, asking if she was feeling alright. She could only nod as she pushed her long hair out of her face, looking even more worn down than she did at the ceremony.

But as soon as he touched her shoulder, he remembered her wound from the night before… which led to everything else that happened last night to come rushing back to the forefront of his mind and he suddenly withdrew his hand as if he had just been burned.

She panted slightly as she sat down on the edge of the bed, still looking exhausted as she patted her cheeks to put some color into them and bit down on her lips to give them a rosier tint as she explained, "The servants tend to worry over the slightest thing. This usually fools them, at least at first."

He could only nod, still feeling very awkward.

So… they were married.

That still felt so strange to think about.

"I see," was all he could say. "Sorry for taking the bed all night? If you were so tired then you could have woken me up to take your bed back?"

She shook her head, and he could feel as if there was some kind of invisible wall up between them all of a sudden before she reminded him, "I offered the bed to you. It's fine."

They then looked away, as if neither could bear to look the other in the eyes yet. This was uncomfortable to say the least to think of himself as a husband and she his wife. Whether they liked it or not, they were stuck like this.

"They would be serving breakfast soon," she reminded him, as if hoping to just fill the awkward space between with something. "I think it best if we go and get something soon. You should clean yourself up."

"R-Right," he said, ashamed he couldn't think of anything else to say as he went to his bag to look for something presentable to wear.

"They will probably provide you with more clothes later on," she told him and he nodded while she cleared her throat. He found a set of robes that looked like they would do for today and disappeared into the bathroom without another word. He quickly washed and changed, but he couldn't help but catch a glimpse of himself in the mirror, and saw how he looked like he had aged about ten years overnight.

His face was drawn and even paler than normal, and there was a faint redness to his eyes where he realized that he must've been crying in his sleep to make himself look like a drowned victim.

Gods, he really did look terrible.

He ran a hand over his face as he finished washing and walked back out in time to find Claire sitting on the window seat while she did her hair up in a single long braid that draped across her shoulder.

The sky was a bit gloomy through the large window, though with a few faint sunbeams shining through the thick clouds. It looked like it was definitely going to rain sometime today.

So… what now?

What were they supposed to do now that they tied the knot so to speak? He knew that he was supposed to stay here in Eulmore, but that was the extent of it. Claire didn't seemed to be that concerned, merely getting ready for the day as if nothing had changed.

Perhaps nothing was supposed to change from her perspective… that, or mayhaps she was trying to be as normal as possible. Either possibility seemed likely at the moment. He felt that he should say something, to try and talk to her, mayhaps to ask what their day was supposed to be like today…? Yet before he could find the courage to do so, he heard the sounds of faint footsteps upon the stairs outside.

He paused and turned to look at the door just as he heard a faint clicking sound, signaling that someone was unlocking them from the room. He was half-expecting Ran'jit to be there, but he was grateful to see that it was another servant, a Lalafell dressed all in pink with light lilac hair, who stepped inside and gave them all a friend smile.

"Morning everyone," she chirped up cheerfully, glancing over him with a quick glance before looking to Claire with concern on her sweet face. "How are we feeling today?"

"Very well, thank you Tataru," Claire smiled gently back and the Lalafell seemed to sigh in relief.

She then looked over at Alphinaud and added, "Oh, my apologies. My name is Tataru, and usually I'm in charge of looking after the books and legers here in the castle. But I wanted to check up on you both to see how… things went from last night."

"It went well, Tataru," Claire reassured her, jerking her head at the bed and Tataru approached it. "You are free to tell the servants whatever you want."

Alphinaud wasn't entirely sure what they were talking about as Tataru reassured Claire that Thancred and Y'shtola looked after Ryne last night and that she would be sleeping in this morning, so they probably won't see her at breakfast. But knowing the girl, she would want to have a talk with Claire later today.

"Since we are going to be expecting rain this afternoon, I think that it's good to have breakfast and spend at least a little time outside since we're going to be expecting a lot of a downpour for the rest of the week," Tataru told her. "This is probably the last bit of rain we'll be getting before the end of the year before it gets cold enough for snow."

Claire nodded at that as Tataru seemed to be looking for something in the bed as she pulled back the blankets. That was when he suspected what this was about. Oh Gods, they weren't checking for proof, were they? He felt himself freeze, wondering what on earth he was supposed to do when she pulled back the covers and he blinked, startled at the small splatter of blood upon the sheets.

He stared at it, not really understanding what happened?

"It's alright," Claire reassured him with a dull tone when he met her gaze.

Tataru shook her head at that as she gathered up the blankets and reassured them that she would take care of things before she walked out the door, leaving them without another word.

Alphinaud was very confused here before Claire stood up and sighed, "I don't know why they feel the need to know. But hopefully that will make Vauthry happy thinking that everything's official."

"W-Wait, what did you…?" he asked, looking at her, knowing that there was no blood there when he got up. But then…?

"I figured they would send someone to check," she sighed dully. "We can trust Tataru to make sure that word gets back to Vauthry. Though I find the whole thing disturbing that they want to know about something like this. Either way, I just provided them with something to gossip about. Don't worry, that should be more than enough to make them happy for whatever reason."

But as she was about to pass by on her way to the door he saw her pause, almost freeze in place as a flash of pain seemed to flit across her face. But after taking a deep breath she walked right on by as if nothing happened though he frowned in concern at the sight.

"Is your shoulder still hurting you?" he asked as he stood up as well.

"No, its fine, thank you," she said as she headed to the door. "Let us go, the last thing I want is for Ran'jit to come drag us down the stairs by the hair for being late for breakfast."

She seemed convinced that something like that was going to happen, and he had a feeling that it wasn't the first time that such things did occur. But judging from her sudden attitude, she spoke as if such things happened all the time and that was a clear sign of worry to him. As he followed her down the stairs, he couldn't help but feel concerned about what else was considered to be 'normal' around here.

*Later at Breakfast*

Alphinaud was sitting directly across from Claire when they reached the banquet hall. There was already a wide selection of food laid out for them before they took their seats. After having eaten hardly anything yesterday, he found himself piling his plate, but still finding it all rather awkward as he looked around the hall—remembering the last time he sat here was with Krile.

Upon remembering her, he realized how she was supposed to be heading back to Sharlayan right this moment.

He hoped that she was doing well and was safe.

Meanwhile, he looked across to Claire, who was mostly picking at her food and he remembered that he hadn't been the only person who had a lack of an appetite from the night before and offered, "You really should try to eat something."

"I'm fine," she said, frowning down at the bowl of porridge, stirring the mush around as she would drop bits of fruit inside but still not eating anything.

He felt concern as he tried to reason, "It's just that I don't know when you last had something and I don't want to see you get sick…?"

He shut up as she gave him a rather dour look over the food and just immediately went back to his own plate. Well, this was a great start to the rest of their married life.

But it seemed that she did take his concerns into consideration for she finally was taking a few small bites of this and that, despite how stiff she seemed to be—as if she was having trouble trying to relax. Still, it was heartening to see that much at least.

They continued on with eating in silence, feeling the tensions all around them so thick that you could cut through it with the butter knife. He felt that he should say something… but what could he say? This atmosphere was almost painful… so much so that it was like having a constant toothache that one could not get to stop hurting.

Suddenly, she stopped eating and just pushed her bowl aside as if she honestly couldn't eat anymore and just rested her face in her hands. He looked up at her, and he had the distinct impression that everything had finally hit her all at once. He was almost afraid to ask if she was alright… of course she wasn't alright.

"You're still not hungry?" he gulped nervously.

"What does it matter if I am or not?" she sighed. "Vauthry doesn't care one way or another. Either I eat or I don't. I could waste away for all he cares."

"But your friends do care?" he reminded her as her sad eyes turned back to him. "I'm sure they want you to stay healthy…?"

"I'm sure that they'd understand right now," she told him, looking ready to flee from the table right then and there.

Alphinaud looked down, feeling terrible once more as he suddenly lost any desire for food as well and pushed his own plate away. He had been thinking about this all morning and had wanted to try and speak with her about how things run in the castle and what he could do to improve life there for them but he found his tongue was being unusually uncooperative this morning.

The distance between the two of them was only a few ilms yet it felt like they were suddenly oceans apart. He couldn't think of anything that he could say to lighten the mood, though he desperately wanted to.

Just as the silence was growing to be too much to handle, she had pushed herself away and was ready to get up, the doors to the hall opened up and a servant crept inside, skittering across the floor like a frightened mouse as she got their attention. The two looked up as she went to the side of the table to speak with Claire, who paused to see what the problem was.

"My lady?" the servant said, looking nervous as Claire looked up at her. "L-Lord Vauthry has demanded an audience with you and your husband immediately."

Claire arched an eyebrow at that and asked, "Ran'jit isn't doing it? I would have thought that dog would be up and fetching for his master instead of sending a messenger?"

"With all pardons, my lady," the servant said slowly, "But General Ran'jit is supposed to be getting ready to leave soon so we were asked to… come and get you?"

Claire sighed and stood up, looking ready to go now, taking Alphinaud by surprise as he had to leap up to follow her out of the hall. He was taken aback by how calmly she was taking everything and doing what she was ordered without complaints. She seemed to sense this from him as she answered, "If I don't go, then Vauthry might take his anger out on the servant that he sent."

Alphinaud gulped at that, wondering what was going on as he followed after her as they headed immediately to the lift.

Sooner than he would have liked, the two of them found themselves in the Canopy once more, watching how Vauthry seemed to be finishing up his own large banquet of a breakfast—that looked like it would have been enough to feed a small army.

"Ah, you came as you were bided, that is good," Vauthry smirked smugly as Claire gave him a completely stoic expression, as if she couldn't care less what he was saying. "So… I take it that the two of you are getting along?"

"Would it matter if we weren't?" she asked with a shrug.

"Of course," he said oily in a way that didn't fool Alphinaud at all as he held his tongue.

"So," Alphinaud said, at least attempting to be polite, "What is it that we are supposed to do now that we are married? I assume you have a role for us to play in your kingdom?"

"Role? By whatever do you mean?" the large man asked. "You are both to remain here under my rules. I simply wanted to ensure that the two of you were… playing nicely?"

He smirked as Alphinaud felt his hand twitch in frustration. Now he could see what was going on. Vauthry clearly wanted to rub his victory in their faces. He could see even that much as he looked over them all like a cat who caught the cream. He was mocking them for being so powerless against him.

Claire seemed to have noticed this as well for he could feel the anger radiating off her and suspected she had a few colorful terms going on in her mind right now.

"What is it that you want, uncle?" she cut off, not wanting to play games anymore. "It's not like you to call someone in to see you this early? Did you truly have nothing else to do with your precious time than tormenting us? You won. You got what you wanted, though you yet to explain why it was so important that we hold the wedding so soon?"

"Can we not have a single conversation without you showing your fangs, girl?" he demanded, frowning at her. "I did what I had to, nothing more than that."

"And you have yet to explain yourself," Claire countered. "I doubt that you called us up here just to chat. Now what is it that you want?"

Vauthry rolled his eyes at his niece's biting words, but he didn't seem to be bothered by them as he tilted his head back and swallowed an entire box of food that had been nestled in the palm of his hand. How he could have such beautiful nieces related to him was something that Alphinaud could not understand.

"Very well," he sighed after he chewed and swallowed. "Yes, you are correct. I summoned you both here for two things. One of which is that I simply wanted to confirm that the marriage has been… sealed."

"That's disgusting that you would even ask, uncle," she answered as Alphinaud felt his face turning red.

"Yes, well… I heard from the servants that all appears to be well," he smirked at that. "So for that, I hope that you enjoyed yourselves. One would think that young folk like you be eager for such opportunities."

Alphinaud just looked to the floor in humiliation, feeling lower than an earthworm and merely wanted to crumble away to dust. But a sudden question burned inside him as he asked, "What of Krile? You said that she would be allowed to go free after the ceremony?"

"Hmm? Oh, right, your companion," he yawned at that. "Yes, yes… I was informed that she left on the first ship back to Sharlayan. But that was actually another reason why I wanted to have a word with you both."

His smug attitude seemed to grow even more arrogant as a rather nasty smile spread across his face and Alphinaud felt Claire tensing up next to him. Before he could ask her what the problem was, Vauthry spoke up, stating, "I am told that a letter left this castle last night. I assume that one of you was responsible for such a thing?"

Alphinaud blinked in confusion, wondering what he was talking about before he remembered how he slipped a letter to Krile right in front of Ran'jit last night and he wondered if he was talking about that?

"Now, I don't want to point fingers at which one of you did it," Vauthry said slowly though his beady eyes narrowed in on him, "But I must refrain from you ever sending such messages again. I fear that it would only… complicate matters?"

"You mean you're terrified that any letter leaving this kingdom could be a plot to overthrow you?" Claire countered with a shake of her head. "Is it so hard to imagine that not everything is out to get you, uncle? Not everything is about you."

"You will be silenced girl!" he snapped back. "Now tell me what the contents of that letter was! I know that the letter left here with that Baldesion woman and I demand to know what was inside it!"

"I sent it!" Alphinaud answered back with astonishment at how paranoid this man was. "I was just writing a letter to my parents that I wasn't going to be home in time for my graduation. Which I did tell you about before."

"Oh, really? Is that so?" Vauthry demanded, and Alphinaud could see the anger in his face at this. "Very well, then you should be aware that every letter you send from here on out will be thoroughly searched and anything that seems remotely suspicious will be called into question?"

"Suspicious?" he demanded, anger rising inside him at how he was being treated. "Such as trying to explain to my parents that their son wasn't going to be going home in the near future when they were expecting me? I merely told them the truth that I was made an offer that I couldn't say no to despite how much I tried!"

"ENOUGH!" Vauthry roared out and he was now so angry that spit was flying from his mouth, "I WILL NOT BE SPOKEN TO IN THAT MANNER!"

But Alphinaud almost couldn't take it anymore. It was bad enough that he didn't know when or if he would be able to see his family again, but to be brought before the one responsible for all his suffering right now and humiliated in such a way was too much to take in. In that moment, he didn't care if Vauthry used the choker anymore and it was almost satisfying to see how angry Vauthry was at this point. And without Ran'jit here to take him out again, he found himself a bit braver in speaking out.

"That's enough!" Claire countered suddenly, her eyes blazing as she took a step forward and declared, "I told him to send the letter if you must know! That's all there is to it!"

Hearing her lie was enough to cut through his anger and he stared at her stupidly, wondering why on earth she would say such a thing.

But he learned very quickly that he was playing with fire as the anger faded from Vauthry's face to be replaced by a strange calm… in fact his face was suddenly so calm that Alphinaud stopped dead, feeling unease rising up inside him at the sight of it. Suddenly, a rather evil smirk spread across the demented king's mouth in such an eerie way that it sent chills up Alphinaud's spine.

"Is that so?" he asked in a hushed tone. "Very well then… Claire."

He said her name and the effect was instant. The collar around her neck began to glow with a dark light and suddenly her hands flew to her throat as her air was suddenly cut off. She wheezed and gasped, staggering around and Alphinaud instantly flew to her side, helping to support her as she struggled to breathe. He didn't have a clue what to do or how to help, feeling useless as he could only watch her stagger as she fought for air.

When her face began turning blue, save for the skin under the choker which turning red from the force of the metal, her eyes rolling into the back of her head he begged, "Please stop it!"

As if he had said the magic words, the glow from the collar faded and she was suddenly able to suck in a lungful of air before she stumbled and almost fell to the floor. He reached out and caught her just before that happened, helping to support her head as he turned her over onto her back so that she could breathe easier, her hands shaking as she reached up to hold onto her neck and tears streaming down her cheeks as she tried to master her pain.

He could only stare in shock, at a loss to why it happened at all as Vauthry let out a dramatic sigh.

"One would think she'd learn by now," he stated in a bored way as Alphinaud could only stare at how she was breathing hard to try and recover from her near strangulation. His mind was a complete blank at that moment before he glared hatefully up at Vauthry, outraged that he had done that at all when she had nothing to do with the letter.

"One would think she would be so tired of such punishments," Vauthry said with a shake of his coconut-shaped head. "But now you will see how things will work from here on out with that little demonstration."

"Demonstration of what?" Alphinaud demanded hotly as he helped her to sit up, still wheezing and rubbing her neck.

"For what is to come," Vauthry answered back. "She is well aware of my punishments and thus it is only fitting that you know them as well. You may have wed a princess but you are still beneath me, boy. As such, my rules must be obeyed at all costs. Should I find out that you break any of my rules or go against me in any way then she will be made to pay the price. And vice versa."

Alphinaud stared at him before looking down to Claire in wonder.

"The number of times that she took the punishment for something that her cousin did is truly astonishing," he admitted as she kept her head down. "To be honest, it wouldn't surprise me if she took the punishment to protect her dear cousin, but the effect is still the same in either case. When one goes against me, the other will be severely punished for it. I find that people tend to take it much more seriously that way."

So took the blame because she knew that he would be the one to suffer for it?

"Claire?" he whispered as she gulped down a mouthful of bile.

"Sorry," she wheezed back in a whisper, "I just know what he's like."

He just shook his head in astonishment at her before he felt fury rising inside him as he glared at Vauthry, snarling, "You didn't have to do that!"

"Oh? Are you standing up to me, boy?" he asked lightly. "Or should she have to experience a shortness of breath once more?"

Alphinaud's retort was lost instantly at the threat, terrified of putting her through another round of torture. He just turned his attention back to her, knowing that she needed it far more than Vauthry did as he rubbed her back, letting her breathing return to normal and got her coughing under control.

"I thought not," Vauthry smirked at the sight of the pair of them. "I must say, this is an unexpected pleasure. Only just wed to someone you should rightfully hate… but already your heart bleeds for her plight? Very well, I think that this will work after all."

His eyes then turned to Claire and added, "As for you, young lady, I suggest that you behave yourself from now on. For if you do anything else against my orders, I shall make sure that he will pay the price. And don't think I am above torturing your cousin again."

Claire's eyes screwed up tight as she nodded her head and the sight of that cause Alphinaud to be visited with an outrage—wanting to tear Vauthry limb from limb. Before he could say or do anything that could indulge in that, Claire pushed him off her as she staggered to her feet, still wheezing as she made straight for the doors and was out of his sights faster than blinking.

Alphinaud could only watch after her retreating form, feeling his heart going out to her as he could only imagine the years she had been forced to live like this. It was only a few days since he arrived here but already he felt that he had been trapped in this hell for years. How could someone be forced to live like that for all this time?

"How often?" he whispered quietly.

"What was that?" Vauthry asked, swallowing another plate of food and Alphinaud spun around on his knees before climbing up to his feet.

"How often have you done that to her?" Alphinaud demanded, angry on her behalf.

"Oh, I lost track of how many times I had to punish her," he sighed as if being asked what the weather was like today. "But it has to be at least twice a week. It used to be around four but it seems that she is getting better if we are reducing such restrictions."

"Twice a week?!" Alphinaud demanded, horrified at what he just learned.

"Don't make such a fuss about what you've just witnessed!" he barked back, his beady eyes narrowing even more. "As her guardian, it is only right to fix my niece's rebellious mind. It is simply part of how one must discipline such a child."

The word just seemed to echo about in Alphinaud's mind, not sure he even heard it right as he asked, through numb lips, "Discipline? What you just did… was discipline?"

He had his fair share of punishments growing up, but his parents never would have used such cruel tactics. He remembered how whenever he did something wrong, his father would yell at him before sending him off to his room to wait for him. Alphinaud remembered how he would curl up on his bed, under his blankets, feeling terrible as he awaited for his father to come and speak to him. As a child, about to be punished, one cannot help but think that it was the end of the world and no one could be suffering more than you. But after he would get a long lecture from his father on what he did wrong and why he should never do it again, his father would always embrace him and tell him to be more careful.

This… this was nothing less than torture.

He didn't know how he looked right now, but it seemed that whatever fury was in Alphinaud's face didn't go over well with Vauthry at all.

"She must be taught this difficult way to make her learn how to properly obey orders," he spat out the words, as if he wasn't happy with the fact that he had to excuse his actions.

"She shouldn't have been punished for something I did," Alphinaud countered, at that point not even caring if he was short on breath for a moment just to have the satisfaction of seeing him upset. "Even if what I did was against your rules, you didn't have to resort to so harsh a punishment."

"My orders are absolute," he answered back with an imperious wave. "She knows this better than anyone."

"She is your niece though! Surely you don't need to resort to such measures?" he asked and Vauthry rolled his eyes before Alphinaud added, "Not only that, but she is also my wife now, which you were so insistent about. She is no longer a child if she had your blessing to get married. Meaning that I should have some decision in if she is to be punished or not!"

"You are trying my patience boy," he scolded. "I suggest that you learn. Since you are still getting used to how things are run in this kingdom, I will let your ignorance slide. But test me anymore, and I will be forced to hurt her again. I'll also drag in her cousin just because. So leave now if you know what's good for you."

Alphinaud forced his mouth shut even though every part of him was screaming out against this injustice. But not wishing to drag anyone else innocent into this mess, he swallowed his words and turned, leaving the room shaking.

Once he was out, he ran for the lift, letting out his scream of frustration all the way down as he left the Canopy.

What was he to do now?

Her words last night caused him to wonder just what kind of life she had been forced to live? For her to be so surprised that someone put her opinions into consideration? Did she believe that he would be no different than those who kept a leash on her?

He hated such a thought.

He needed to speak with her—if nothing else than to apologize that she got hurt because of him.

So he went in search of her, trying to figure out where she would be at this hour of the day. When he flagged down some servants to ask, he got mixed reactions. Some were surprised at his concern, others were suspicious, as if they were wondering just what he would want with Claire now after all this? Was it so strange for him to speak with his wife?

Gods, just thinking of 'his wife' sounded so strange.

In the end, he ended up running into the mage named Y'shtola, whose blank silver eyes narrowed in great suspicion when he asked her if she could help him.

"And for what reason do you wish to speak with my lady?" she asked rigidly as he sighed.

"I just wanted to talk with her, that's all," he said, trying his best not to scream in frustration for a second time. "Vauthry wanted a word with us and he… well he…?"

"Ah, of course," Y'shtola said in understanding, shaking her head at the thought. "At this point I think that he's just looking for excuses to torture her."

"Why? Why does he do this to her? What could she do that causes him to think that he can get away with that?" he asked anxiously and Y'shtola shrugged.

"Vauthry sees enemies everywhere," she answered back. "He doesn't like it when he's not in control… when he's not in control or even when he feels his control slipping… that's when he becomes dangerous. And Claire… let's just say that she is one of the few who pushes back whenever given a chance. He doesn't like that and therefore has convinced himself that she is plotting against him. That is how he rules here."

"Has it always been like that?" he whispered, thinking back of Gatetown and how run down it all was.

"At least here in Eulmore," she shrugged back. "Other places in Norvrandt have their fair share of problems, but things are by far the worse here. Mostly because Vauthry has his army searching for the Warrior of Darkness."

The Warrior of Darkness again.

What was Vauthry's obsession with this mysterious figure?

"Is the Warrior of Darkness really that dangerous?" he asked.

"Of course they are. But it's because of that strength that he feels so threatened. The Warrior of Darkness has done much good all across Norvrandt," she explained, folding her arms with a rather proud smile upon her lips. "The Crystarium in Lakeland has thrived, the Greatwood has opened relations with the rest of the continent, then there's how the deserts of Amh Araeng are rebuilding their mining operations… even the Fae Folk of Il Mheg love and respect the Warrior of Darkness."

"So… if that's the case, then why does Vauthry…?" he asked, not understanding why anyone would hate someone who had done so much good, but she interrupted him before he could finish.

"Because he can't control them," she answered briskly. "He sees the Warrior of Darkness as a threat to his rule and is convinced that Claire is working in secret with them to take him down. Which is ridiculous, but since he can't take his anger out on his sworn enemy, he takes it out on her instead. Ironic…?"

She paused there, as if she had wanted to say more but Alphinaud was trying to digest all of this.

The more that he learned of this Warrior of Darkness, the more he felt his respect rise for them, not least of all that anyone would could make Vauthry this paranoid can't be all that bad anyway. But one would think that he would be sending out assassins to try and kill them and be done with it…?

As if she knew exactly what he was thinking, she added, "It's only by the popularity of the people that he hasn't tried marching across the mainland to try and find them. But he does send Ran'jit away quite often to lead the hunt for a 'potentially dangerous criminal' so we can all breathe a little easier when he's gone. In fact, he should be leaving in the next few days to lead another hunt to try and track them down so things will be less strict around here without him breathing down our necks. Which means that without his guard dog around, Vauthry's going to be keeping himself locked up in his room."

So that means that they would be free of such a stifling presence for a short time. That was one good thing, he supposed.

"I see, thank you for telling me this," he said gratefully, planning on continuing his search for Claire and Y'shtola shrugged.

"I'm only telling you this because my lady has told me what you did last night… or rather, what you didn't do," she answered and he turned bright red at that as he looked down to his feet.

"Don't worry," she added and her tone became a little kinder. "She says that you were the prefect gentleman and she is truly grateful for it… as are the servants. Vauthry was very harsh with her punishments until he was able to get her to accept the proposal. She was resigned to just about anything until you decided to forgo 'tradition'."

"I… well I… it didn't feel right," he said, trying to get her to understand. "She's not some kind of toy to be tossed around and abused like that. I couldn't… I never would have forgiven myself if I forced something that I didn't feel and…?"

"I know," she cut him off but she was smiling at him this time. "She confessed it all to me just a short while ago—when I found her leaving the Canopy. And I have to say that you earned a bit of respect from some of the servants whom she trusted enough to tell. Even Thancred, whom you met last night, was grateful."

Alphinaud remembered the man from last night, as well as his threats echoing in the back of his head, sighed in relief that he didn't do anything to have brought down the man's ire upon him.

"It's only because of the respect you showed to her, that I tell you this," she reminded him. "I still don't know what to make of you, but the lady has told us to not give you a hard time. She is much loved among the people here, and you would have no shortage of hostile enemies should you do something to hurt her."

Though he knew that she spoke as a warning, he couldn't help but feel that he was being threatened in a way and only nodded, promising not to do anything that could make things worse for him. But if that was the case then…?

"Also… I've heard her say things at breakfast that concerned me. Does she have no sense of freedom here? Does Vauthry not give her anything here other than commands?" he asked, wanting to know the full extent to how bad things were here.

Y'shtola tilted her head, still on guard with him, but answered honestly, "Vauthry has no love for his nieces. They are tools to him. Not even people in his eyes. Of course he doesn't take how they feel into consideration. If he did then the marriage never would have taken place."

He had been afraid of that.

"If that is the case, then… I wish to speak with her now, if that is alright," he pleaded. "Can you please tell me where I can find her?"

Y'shtola sighed and regarded him for a moment before finally answering, "You can find her out in the courtyard. Tis one of the few places that one can go to for privacy. She should be there now with Ryne."

"The courtyard? Right, thank you!" he said gratefully as he ran off, still feeling Y'shtola's slightly disturbing eyes following after him.

When he arrived outside, he sucked in a breath of fresh air and immediately felt better after being trapped inside the stuffy castle all this time. The entire garden was well cared for and blooming with all manner of flowers as he walked along, staring at the blossoming roses and felt an odd sense of comfort with all this greenery around him.

He hadn't had a chance to really get a good look around until now, but he was amazed at how large and thriving everything was. It certainly looked like someone put in a lot of effort to make this garden so beautiful. The flowers blossomed in all manner of colors while the hedges in a maze-like pattern seemed to take on a natural-like state appearance. It was clear that someone had tended to them to create their shapes but in such a way that it wasn't perfectly trimmed so that it looked like they had simply grew this way.

There were also vines that grew along the castle walls that had the remains of flower buds upon the thick creepers. He spotted the tower where he slept last night that was also covered with thick plants that crept up all the way to the circular window, curling around it on one side, and he knew that it was going to look beautiful when spring came around again and everything was covered in blossoming flowers.

As he walked around, he noticed that there was certainly a lack in the guards around here. He saw at least one on every floor in the castle, but aside from the guards at the castle gates and the entrance, there were very few of them out here. Now he understood what Y'shtola meant when she said that one could come out here for some privacy.

Eventually, he heard voices and slowed his walk down as he drew closer to them but when he rounded a fluffy hedge, he stopped dead at what he saw. Claire was sitting upon a low stone bench with her dress pulled up to her knees as Ryne was casting some sort of healing spell upon a deep cut in her leg.

"There," she said, panting slightly as she dabbed at the remaining blood with a cloth. "Sorry I'm not better at healing yet, but at least the bleeding stopped."

"It's fine," Claire told her kindly. "It doesn't hurt anymore. I guess it opened up again after I left the Canopy."

He watched how Claire looked up and gave her cousin a loving smile before her eyes caught sight of him there and she immediately grew pale. She quickly threw her dress over her legs once more as Ryne jumped and backed away as he held up his hands to show that he meant no harm.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to frighten anyone. I just…?" he knew that he was already making a mess of things and cleared his throat before saying in a softer tone, coming closer as they both regarded him with tension. "I had wondered where the blood came from earlier. I was… worried."

Despite how concerned he was to find her, now that he was here, he found his tongue betraying him once again. They stood there like that for a time as his mind worked furiously to try and come up with something that didn't make him sound like a complete idiot. That was when he realized that he had yet to properly introduce himself to her young cousin.

"Hello," he said to the younger princess, whom he realized he never really spoke to before. "It's… ah… nice to meet you."

The girl, Ryne, nodded back and after a quick look at Claire, who nodded encouragingly, she said with a slight stutter, "Th-Thank you. It's n-nice to meet you. My name is Ryne."

He forced a smile before he looked black to Claire with concern and asked, "I saw you healing her. I take it that you know about healing?"

"Oh, yes… at least, a little," Ryne said shyly but there was a faint bit of pride in her voice. "I'm not as good as Y'shtola yet, but I'm learning. I heard that Vauthry…?"

She looked down and he felt a chill go up his spine at the thought of that beast and gulped down to a sudden dry throat.

"Well. Thank you, for looking after her. But if it's alright, may… may I have a word with her, alone?" he asked politely to Ryne, who looked from him to Claire, who nodded back and she bowed her head to him.

"Yes," she said, and left with only one nervous look between the two of them before she hurried off. Alphinaud watched after her, suddenly wishing that he let her stay and Claire said, "She's a bit shy around newcomers."

"I can tell, but she seems sweet," he said as he slowly approached.

"She's the best," she said and he realized that her voice was slightly hoarse and he felt concern rising up in him.

"Are… are you alright?" he asked slowly and she nodded, massaging her throat as best as she could with the collar in the way.

"I've developed a sort of tolerance for it," she sighed. "So I recover quickly."

"And your leg…?" he asked, "Is that where the blood on the sheets came from?"

She rubbed the spot where he had seen the wound and she answered, "I cut myself on an old nail while you were in the bathroom. I figured that it would be enough to get them off our backs."

Silence once again and he shifted uncomfortably as he looked around the beautiful flowers that were starting to whither with the approach of winter and stated, "The servants all seem wary of me."

"That's only because they aren't used to you. You have to forgive them," she answered back as he drew nearer to her and she patted the seat next to her on the bench, silently telling him to join her. He took the other end, keeping his distance as she smoothed out the folds of the dress just for something to do. "Some of the servants are… a bit protective of me and Ryne. So, of course, they would regard one who may hurt one of us with suspicion."

"Oh, I see," he sighed. "Yeah, I ran into Y'shtola while I was looking for you and she explained."

"Oh no… I hope that she didn't frighten you too badly," she said with a tiny smile. "She means well, but can come on pretty harsh."

"No, she was… kind enough," he said slowly. "How have you two known each other?"

"She's an old friend," she answered back. "I knew her since before coming here. I used to live in Eorzea, in the city of Ishgard. She was studying under her master at the time but she would come to the city to pick up ingredients or supplies and we started talking. She finished her training not long before I was brought here to Eulmore and she insisted on coming with me."

Alphinaud nodded, though he had a feeling that there was more to the story than that as he asked, "Why did Vauthry…?"

"Because my parents were dead," she answered his question before he finished asking. "You see, I didn't grow up with royalty. My family never ruled over anything… I just happen to be part of the bloodline as descendants of Venat."

He nodded at that. Everyone knew the story Venat. That long ago in the past there was a woman who famously left the royal family and chose to travel the world, helping people and saving countless lives. At times she would lend a hand… other times she would bear claws… but throughout all the legends and stories about her there was one constant fact. That she loved this star and all who called it home.

"I was orphaned but later adopted by House Fortemps of Ishgard," she explained to him. "My friend, Haurchefant, knew of my plight after my parents deaths and so he begged his father to take me in. I was happy living there, but then… Ran'jit appeared, and since it turns out that I am distantly related to Vauthry, he was ordered to bring me here. The same holds true for Ryne, and how she was brought here after her parents deaths."

She then turned back and added, "Thancred was with her long before I met them, but we got to know each other very well since then and she's very dear to me. It was how Vauthry was able to convince me to go through with the wedding after all."

"He was threatening Ryne?" he asked and she nodded while shutting her eyes.

"He told me that if I refused to marry you then he would keep Ryne locked up in the gaol below the city until she reached of age and then marry her off in my stead," she confessed. "I couldn't stand the thought of her being locked up like that. I had no choice."

He looked down, feeling terrible about all of that and muttered, "I'm sorry."

She shook her head.

"You're as much a victim in this as we are," she reassured him. "Though I am very much relieved that you don't seem to be a bad person."

He blinked at that and he shifted uncomfortably here.

He knew that they were supposed to be married… but what did that mean exactly? He wasn't sure he really understood what he should or shouldn't do. He knew that he wanted to continue his studies while he was here so he was sure to be able to spend time in the library but…? What about after that? What was he really going to be able to do?

"Listen," he told her, his hand barely brushing against hers as he turned to face her. "I don't know what your life has been like before I got here, but I want to make it better for you. I mean… I don't want you to think that I'm here for my own gain, believe me, I never intended for any of this to happen."

She slowly turned her head to look back at him as he explained, "I didn't have a say in any of this. I was told that I was here representing Sharlayan. That is all. The day after I met with Vauthry was when he said, nay commanded, that I marry you. So, I can tell that he's used to getting his way."

She nodded, confirming it, and he could still see the redness around her neck where the collar did its damage. He then reached out a hand and used a slight healing spell upon the redness, watching how the skin returned to its usual rosy color and he smiled faintly at that.

"But now I get it… you took the blame that he would hurt you instead of me?" he said, knowing it wasn't a question, just confirming the truth and she bowed her head.

"I'm sorry," she muttered sadly. "I just knew what he was like and…?"

"No, I'm sorry, I had no idea," he said and he lowered his hand, still keeping a respectful distance from her. "Listen. I want to just talk to you."

She looked back as he took a deep breath—he had been practicing what he would say when he saw her, but when he spoke, he found the words very different than what he thought.

"I meant what I said last night," he told her sincerely. "I don't love you. But that's only because I don't know you yet. Whether we like it or not, we're stuck with each other. But that doesn't mean that it has to be unbearable for both of us. Vauthry may be content to controlling you through force but please don't think that I'm like that. I don't want to control you or… make you feel that your feelings and opinions don't count. At least, I don't want to become someone who would think otherwise."

She didn't answer as she stared back as his hands twisted in his lap as he added, "I want you to tell me what you want too. I don't think that this union has to be unhappy. We can learn to at least be content until we can figure out what to do about these."

He gestured to the collars and asked, "Is there a way to get them off?"

"Only Vauthry can remove them," she sighed. "Apparently there is a phrase that he has to say to get them to unlock. All he has to say is our names to have the collars try to kill us… but only his command can release us. Not that I know what the command is."

"I see," he sighed, disappointed but not surprised. "Well, until we can figure out what to do about that, I want you to know that I have no intension of hurting you that way. My own parents would be ashamed of me if I ever did something like that."

He could tell that she was still guarded with him. He suspected she told him all that stuff from before was because she didn't feel the need to hide it since it was common enough knowledge. But everything else, he suspected wasn't going to be easy to earn her trust. He hoped to change that as he requested, "Tell me what you want. What would make you comfortable to be around me? If we are going to be spending a lot of time with each other… might we… try to get to know one another? Maybe we may never love each other, but we can… be friends?"

"Friends…" she repeated as she thought that over, something clearly on her mind, but he didn't press it. He remembered how Alisaie would snap at him whenever he tried to push her too hard with whatever was bothering him and he didn't want to repeat that.

"I know that we didn't choose this, either of us," he reassured her. "And I'm not afraid to come up with some kind of rules between us so that we can be more comfortable around each other. Especially since we are expected to share a room…? Maybe we could just be like… roommates?"

"Roommates?" she repeated before a faint smile appeared. "Maybe… I would like that. But… how do we do that?"

Right, how to do that was a tricky question. He knew that they should start off small… so he cast his mind around, trying to think it all over before his eyes fell upon the slowly dying blossoms and remembered how Ran'jit said that it had been the eldest princess who worked on the gardens. She certainly put a lot of love into this place if it was this beautiful even with winter almost here.

"You… like flowers?" he asked awkwardly as she blinked at the randomness of the question, apparently too stunned to speak for a minute. Just when he was thinking that he had made an idiot of himself again, she started to laugh and he sighed in relief as she nodded.

"This garden is mine," she explained, still smiling faintly. "And I had to fight for it from uncle."

"I see," he smiled, glad to see she was feeling better. "Tell me more about it. I'm afraid I know next to nothing about flowers or gardens."

She seemed amused but she did tell him what she could despite the slight hoarseness to her voice.

This could work. They could make this work. Maybe not as a husband and wife, but they could grow like these blooming flowers into friends.

*Meanwhile in the deeper levels of Eulmore*

Thancred frowned slightly at the sight of Ran'jit's form disappearing even deeper into these old gaol cells. Ran'jit was agitated more than he usually was. Which was saying something because Thancred couldn't recall ever seeing the man in anything other than a foul mood. But now, the usual grumpiness seemed to have evolved into a dark thunderclouds that followed him with every step.

He had been eager to find out why Vauthry was so insistent upon this wedding with such little notice and why it had to be someone from Sharlayan all of a sudden? All of this seemed too strange and random even for that living tub of lard. It was no secret that Vauthry wasn't the brightest tyrant around, most of his schemes were thought up of with Ran'jit… and he was certain that Ran'jit was playing an important role in the sudden desire to marry Claire off… especially to some nobody from across the sea.

Thancred smelt a rat and he was certain that if he kept watch after Ran'jit, he would be able to track it all down.

Upon learning that Ran'jit was planning on leaving on yet another excursion to hunt down the Warrior of Darkness the day after tomorrow, he felt that now was as good a time as any to be able to follow him and see what he could find out.

As he kept to the shadows, he was surprised to find Ran'jit had strayed down the hidden passageway to the lower levels of the castle… levels that had long since been considered 'too dangerous' to be able to venture into for fear that the old supports could give in.

Thancred frowned as he watched how the old man disappeared into the darkness of the tunnels.

"Let's see what you are hiding," he whispered as he crept after him, not aware of what he would find down in the darkest levels of this 'city of endless pleasures'.

(So now we have a look at what is awaiting our happy couple. So yeah, Vauthry is a paranoid tyrant with the mind of a three-year-old in the middle of a tantrum. What else is new? But he is definitely hiding something and he seems to be having his reasons for doing so. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter as well as the little heart-to-heart with our newly married couple. The next chapter will be a bit more bonding between the two as well as the first suspicions that Claire may know something about the Warrior of Darkness after all.)