Author's Note: Ask and you shall receive (if you are lucky and I have something I can actually sign my name to with pride). Here is the second chapter. Side note I am still in need of a Beta and if anyone feels up to it please message me.
Bird of Ill Omen
Chapter 2
A Lamb Before the Slaughter
The horse rides on through the woods and for a moment I consider what a strange sensation it is to be riding on top of a beast. I have never done it before. I have hardly ever seen it done.
"Whose woods are these?" I wonder. "How have I never thought of it before?" Maybe it never mattered to me if I was caught and hung for poaching the king's deer, or hung for poaching a cardinal's deer.
I wish in some ways they would have killed me then I was ready to go without saying anything in that moment. Now we are going to talk. I have already made up my mind not to reveal I have a family. It will only complicate things further.
"What could they wish to speak to me about?" I have heard stories about other countries in Christendom where they make endless inquiries about people until they locate all the heretics living in a community. All the reports end with the heretics being killed. I have never paid much attentions to these stories for I always felt more inclined to focus on where my next meal was coming from than church teaching.
"I am a good Christian." I remind myself, but I know that is being generous to say the least. I attend mass once on Sunday with the rest of the people. But the truly devout go everyday before sunrise. A good Christian family would give one of their children to the church, especially when they became destitute without a father. However, I could not leave because no one else would provide food and I could not send Prim because it would break my heart to send her away to a nunnery. I begin to worry when I realize I cannot even remember the last time I have been to confession.
We approach the home. It is a low flat building made of stone and I cannot imagine how they support a roof of that size when the one over my tiny home is always near to collapsing. After we dismount the horse I feel as I am moving within a dream as I pass by all the unfamiliar faces. I have no sense of belonging here; as odd as a fish that flies through the air.
Stefan guides me down dark hallways with more twist and turns than I feel like I have taken in my whole life. When we reach the final spot he opens a narrow door with a key from around his belt and speaks for the first time.
"Wait here."
Two words that is all the instruction I am given. The room inside is small with a wicker chair that has its back punched out, a broom, and a bucket covered with cloth. I turn to ask him something, but he is already shutting the door and I hear it lock behind me.
Regrets fill my mind. The first ones are why did I not eat this morning or drink more water. I feel like I am suddenly dying of thirst. More remorse follows. I berate myself for taking that path in the woods, for not quitting after I killed the rabbit, for allowing that man to break my father's bow. One scene after another I replay all the events that led me here to this little dark room as I consider all the things I could have done differently, but did not.
In an effort to distract myself from my remorse I search the room hoping to find food hidden under the bucket with the cloth. I take my time and use both hands to remove the tattered linen, after this discovery there will be no more diversions. Mimicking the motions priests use to reveal a new relic of a saint I take the cloth away and then cautiously move my eyes down as if someone less than worthy will be blinded by the sight.
Luck is for and against me. It is food. In the form of uncooked potatoes which will do me no good. I retreat to a different corner of the room. Time passes and I notice a small window high above me. I cannot see out, but from the light I can tell that it is midday.
They hours drag on one after another and I admit to myself I thought I would be better at this. "How often have I stood in one spot for countless hours when I was waiting for game?" I think to myself.
Waiting without the chance of making a kill or feeling the wind on my face seems pointless.
More time passes and it is dark now. The skin at the back of my throat feels like it is about to split into a thousand pieces. "They have forgotten me in here." I tell myself. "They have forgotten me as they lead their busy, decadent lives."
The hours drag on and a lean against the wall and try and get some rest. It is no good I am too thirsty to sleep. "I wish they would have killed me cleanly in the woods instead of letting me die from thirst."
I wet my mouth with spit as best I can and close my eyes even if I can't sleep. I cannot bare to look at the same pattern of stone any more.
The sound of a key unlocking the door awakens me and I realize I must have dosed off. I am on my feet before the door swings open.
It is Stefan again. "Come with me." He says.
I follow him again the only difference this time is the labyrinth of halls are lit by torches and I am in awe at such extravagance. Two voices fill the hall and by and by I begin to pick up pieces of the conversation.
"It will not do. It will simply not do. This is not the way things are done. There will be no blessing for it!"
I recognize this rasping voice as Cardinal Snow. Another voice follows.
"Blessing? You speak of blessings? There have been no blessings for that boy in over five years only pain and suffering."
"Pain makes the heart and spirit chaste. It does not, however, upset the balance of all society. He should be with a princess as it is his rightful place according to his birth."
"A princess." The second voice repeats and then follows with bitter laughter. "You think we can give him a princess. As if he is normal and whole? As if the father of the bride will not take up arms against me over such an insult. No man wants his daughter married under such circumstances."
"The papacy will not approve of it. His Holiness will not approve of it." Snow tries again in a tense voice.
"The papacy? The Pope?" The man says in mock confusion. "Since when has the Pope concerned himself with the marriage of a king's third son? Besides it will not be a long union there is not much time as it is." The voice breaks in anguish. "His brothers are now both married. When he was young I promised him he may have all they have despite his illness. Despite his injury. How else can I fulfil this promise? How else can I remain true to my word?"
The voices are getting louder as Stefan leads me towards double doors at the end of a massive hall.
"You have no idea the diseases she carries." Snow says. "These people live in drunken debauchery. With no thought–"
Stefan knocks on the door and for a moment there is quiet.
"Come in." A voice calls from the other side. I know the voice it is the golden man who found me earlier in the woods.
Stefan opens the door and gestures for me to go in alone. The first sight I see behind the door is the impossibly large fire that covers half the wall. The flames dancing thick and high. Throughout the room there is a continuous tapestry draped along the wall that in daylight may look like people dancing, but in this moment look like figures writhing in pain. My heart is pounding and I feel like I have just entered the pit of hell.
The door closes behind me and I face the two figures bathed in flame. The whites of their eyes are red from fire light.
"Here she is. We now have the opportunity to ask questions and then determine her character." The golden man says to Cardinal Snow as if I am not here.
Snows eyes roll back to the corner of the room and then hone in on me. "There is no reason to 'determine her character' I already know. She is a vulgar little wench of mean birth. She poaches my deer for unknown reasons. And she is as dark as a Moor and perhaps a druid."
On the word 'druid' he looks at me and then the flame as if I am already fit to burn for heresy. My knees knock together and I scream in my mind, "Why have you taken me here!"
"Can you speak child?" The golden man asks me and for the first time I wonder if he may be just a little concerned for my welfare.
"Yes." I croak. My voice is dry and rattles from lack of water.
He gives a smile as I wet my lips, "Do you have a name?"
"Yes, Katniss." I feel dizzy from thirst. Why is he asking me these things?
"Do you have a family name, Katniss?"
Do not reveal your family, a voice screams in my head.
"No."
"And does you father have a name?"
I wet my lips again preparing to lie. "No, I have been an orphan since birth."
My small answer causes a reaction from both men. Cardinal Snow looks at me and then to the golden man and moves his arms first in my direction and then towards the man. It is as if he is saying, 'Behold, the evidence of her great crime.'
The golden man's reaction is much different. He glances at me and then the cardinal as if being an orphan is somehow a great blessing.
The golden man speaks again. "Are you pure Katniss?"
I buck back in dismay. Is he honestly accusing me of being a druid? "Consider your words carefully." A voice says in my mind. I lick my lips again, and am glad I have had nothing to drink. I fear I would vomit if it was otherwise.
"Yes, I am pure." I begin. "I was baptized in the Holy Church and partake in the Holy Eucharist. Daily I attend confession and weekly I–"
"He means are you a virgin." Snow says in a demeaning voice.
No air seems to enter my lungs no matter how hard I strain. Why are they asking these things of me? All my life I have had the privilege of being ignored by men. I look like a boy in my too large tunic and my face is far from pretty. What do these men want with me?
"See she doesn't answer!" Cardinal Snow screams as he points to me. "Proof of what I have told you. These people sin with impunity and searching for some unattainable 'good' and 'pure' one is like sifting through manure for jewels."
"She has not yet answered because you have not given her a chance. I repeat my question Katniss, are you pure?"
I can barely make myself whisper, but I answer. "Yes I am pure."
The golden man's voice is more gentle this time. He is almost whispering too when he says, "And would you say that it is true that you have no carnal knowledge of a man?"
"Yes, it is true."
"And if I would bring a physician in here to inspect would he also say it is true?" Snow says with a wicked smile twisting his face.
My face burns as blood rushes to my face. How does he expect me to answer under such humiliation?
"Look she even blushes like a maiden." The golden man says pointing to me. "I think we are finished here."
Cardinal Snow starts to protest but is cut off by the man in gold. "I said we are finished here. We have asked our questions and she has answered. Now go I have other services from you I will require tonight."
Snow's eyes open wide and his head jerks back, "My lord I must refuse–"
"You will refuse nothing!" This is the first time I have heard the golden man raise his voice. "Remember Snow it is out of my generosity you live in this fine house. Believe me it is not beyond my power to make other arraignments for you. Now go prepare yourself. I wish to speak to her alone."
Snow releases a sigh of disgust. All his strides towards the door are overdramatic as if each one is a great strain to him. His red silk robes glimmer in the firelight as he slams the door behind him. I am now alone in the room with the golden man and I fear what is expected of me.
"Katniss do you know why you are here?" The man asks in a voice as soft as butterfly wings.
His gentleness relaxes me and for the first time I am able to speak in a voice that does not quiver. "I am here because I was caught hunting on land that was not mine."
The man's head bobs up and down languidly, and his eyes search my face. "Yes, you are here because of that. Tell me Katniss do you know the punishment for such a crime?"
"Yes sire. It is death."
"Yes, death is the penalty for poaching. Katniss do you know who owns these lands? Do you know whose deer you slaughter?"
"No sire. I do not."
"These are my lands and they are my deer Katniss. And because of this, hunting on this land is a crime against me. I get to decide the punishment for such activity and I have decided not to punish you."
"Thank you sire." I say trying to sound as sincere as possible. However, I have already worked out that he did not intend to kill me. He could have done that in the woods if that was all he wanted.
"Would you now say you owe me your life under the circumstances?"
"Yes, I would sire." My mind is racing ahead as I try to understand where this conversation is headed
"I would agree. You do owe me your life. Do you intend to repay me?"
I want to panic and ask what sort of payment he has in mind. Instead I say, "If there are circumstances that would allow it."
He says nothing and his eyes search my face again. Then he turns away and walks to the fire as if mesmerized by the flame. An eternity seems to pass between that moment and when he finally speaks again.
"I have a son, Katniss." He says as he looks into the fire.
I am not sure what to make of this and consider my wording carefully. I decide I am going to say the phrase, 'how fortunate', but he continues speaking without prompting.
"I have a son, Katniss." He repeats, "And he is in much need of love and kindness. He needs a tender touch and a gentle hand." He looks to me and I can see a tear drifting down the side of his face. The tear looks gold in the firelight. A golden tear for a golden man, how fitting. "My son is in need of a wife."
I want to react, but don't. I cannot wrap my mind around the events that are unfolding around me and I feel like I am watching to events happen to someone else.
"I have decided you will become his wife. His helpmeet. A constant friend for him in this cruel world. Be assured this will repay the debt you owe me in full." With each word he says more tears fall from his eyes. His whole face now holds the reflection of the flame as it reflects off the water covering his face.
What could his son have done to make him feel so miserable?
"I will do as you wish sire." There is nothing else I can say. No way for me to deny him what he asks.
He brings up his hand to wipe his face and sniffles as he tries to contain his running nose.
"This entirely human creature is the lord of the land?" I think to myself in confusion. The world seems so backwards today.
The golden man looks at me and then to my ragged clothes. I can feel his mind turning over some question in his head.
"I see the marriage as a matter of urgency and plan to have it performed tonight."
I start to nod my head, but he feels the need to explain further.
"You will be taken from here, washed, and prepared for the wedding. That is all." He looks away from me and to the door.
"Stefan! Stefan!" The golden man calls.
The door swings open and there is the ever faithful servant waiting for his next command.
"Stefan take her to the bath house. The women will know what to do with her."
I look back to the golden man. I feel like I should say something, but when I turn he is looking into the fire again. His whole chest is heaving with silent sobs.
Stefan beckons me to follow.
I think to myself, "Yes here you are again Stefan. Here to lead me around like a lamb before the slaughter. A creature that never fusses at all until it meets the butcher's knife."
Please Review. I really need the feed back for once in my life I don't know where my story is going before I write it which is terrifying and thrilling all at the same time.