The carriage rumbled along the cobble stones slowly, entering into the mouth of the town walls. It was bigger then I realised, the gate’s pulley system pulling the hard wood up out of sight within the wall.
“Madelaine,” Sarah said gently, ‘I suggest you do not merge with the window pane.’ I pulled back, bashfully wiping my mouth. With my sleeve I rubbed the saliva off the window with a serious expression, breaking out a grin as Sarah chuckled.
‘Ready?’ She asked, smoothing back an escaped ribbon of my hair.
I laughed nervously, taking deep breaths, ‘does it matter if I am? I simply have to convince them-’ I motioned with my head to the world outside, ‘-that I am.’
Sarah gripped my hands, her bright brown eyes like that of a nursing animal, ‘I will always be here for you.’
I squeezed her hands, lifting my shoulders, ‘I believe you,’ I murmured before letting go. She did not speak again, rather settled on the other side of the carriage and silently gave her support. I shifted, trying to ease my corset strings into place at the middle of my back. My hair brushed the carriage wall and I felt something within it move, reaching back to feel flowers expertly worked into the braid. Turning to the window, I tried to zoom in my vision so to see my reflection, and yet unable to concentrate on such a trivial task. I was suddenly restless, unable to bare the waiting any longer. Just as I was about to open my mouth the carriage slowed, the sound of many footsteps echoing around us. I could feel the crowds’ curiosity leaking into our small enclosure, wanting to see us. See me. Slowly I morphed into the perfect daughter, perfect bride. I smiled like a painted doll into the wood, hearing the men station themselves beside the carriage. Slowly, painfully the door finally opened, admitting the ragged face of Hamish. He looked a mixture of amusement and annoyed at the sudden crowd, flicking his gaze onto me solemnly.
‘Ready?’
‘Why does everyone ask me that!?’ I asked quietly, frowning, cracking my composure, ‘if I am or not will not aid my situation!’ His attempt at indifference drowned under a smile, holding up his hand for me to take.
‘Good to know your fighting spirit was not left behind with the thieves.’ He answered dryly. I gripped his hand with my own, smoothing down my dress with the other. Careful not to stand on my gown that was seeping out of the carriage like leaking water, Hamish led me out to the interest of the crowd. I watched the peoples’ wide eyes, the children staring openly at me. Part of me was flattered, the other anxious to meet their expectations. I reached behind my head to carefully untangle a flower from the braid, walking to the right side of the path. A child, barely eight years old stared at me. Her shock of orange hair tangling down her shoulders reminded me of both my own childhood, and the woman who had fought for my coin. All too often children did not make it from their baby years. A part of me wanted to acknowledge this child’s determination to live. I passed the white flower to the girl, allowing her little grubby fingers to curl around the little stem. I looked up from her to smile at the obvious mother, seeing intelligence there.
‘Dry it out if you wish for a keepsake,’ I said softly before gracefully gliding back to my path. Hamish said nothing as he walked back with me, casually clasping his hands behind his back. The atmosphere dropped from the crowd, as though they exhaled breath all at once. Timid smiles flashed like glass in a gutter, making them seem more blinding, more precious. The cobble stones spread out before me as I walked, seeing a man waiting there. He seemed so far away, yet I knew it would take few steps to meet him. He was tall and broad shouldered as expected, his long elaborately embroidered tunic nearly hiding his knee high boots. His hair was a dark brown, almost black waving down a hair's breadth from his shoulders. Like any girl faced with a potential suitor… fiancé… I matched our features together on a fabricated child. I saw a little girl with amber hair, his waves running down her little face to show my delicate features. Tomas held out a hand for mine, my eyes running up his strong chin, refixed nose up to his eyes. And there my gaze stayed. Deep blue eyes filled with gentleness, a promise held within them as surely as they held me. I prayed from the bottom of my heart the child- our child- would inherit his eyes.
‘Lady Elwood.’ He purred, pressing his lips to my hand, ‘I hope your journey has not upset you.’
I blinked, bending into a curtsy slowly as I gathered my wits, ‘it was indeed more adventurous then bargained for.’ I said smoothly, smiling up into those gorgeous eyes. He smiled back at me, curling his arm for mine. I willingly gave it, smelling the distinct smell of bees wax soap. Such a simple smell meant more to me then I realised, it indicating he had bathed very recently. Unheard of within our age. I found the word “ally” ring within my mind, an amused thought. It was not as though I could tell him we shared similar bathing habits.
‘How did you find Captain William?’ Lord Tomas asked me, leading me into the castle. Absentmindedly I realised William had not given me his rank when he introduced himself, rather falling behind my own Captain without complaint.
‘A perfect introduction to your city Lord Tomas.’
‘Please,’ he said, stopping before the entrance, ‘do not stand on ceremony when the only barrier is pride.’ He turned to a servant, taking what she held out to him.
‘I am told you are missing a flower,’ he continued, presenting a small white flower to me, ‘your kindness reaches before you.’ I thanked him, smiling. He could have showered me with bouquets; instead he brought me simplicity, beautiful fragility. I looked up from the flower, seeing his eyes study me.
‘You are surprising.’ I said, slipping the bishop's lace within my braid along with the rest.
‘It grows freely within the city walls, not hard to obtain.’
‘It is the thought and memory rather than the flower My Lord that brightened the child’s smile. And mine.’
‘Tomas,’ he said not unkindly, leading me into the hall.
‘Madelaine.’ I returned, ‘what is to happen to my family’s men now they have escorted me?’
‘They are sure to have orders of their own to attend to,’ he said, ‘my men request to go and retrieve the two men who were slain.’
All I could do was nod, I found the subject morbid, unable to speak my alien feelings.
‘You are sad,’ he said softly, giving me his full attention. His face was strangely open, naked to my gaze as I saw my grief reflected within him. I felt as though he was letting me in for kinship.
‘One was my own men, I value all who present their lives for mine.’ I said slowly, drawn into his open friendship.
‘I am afraid I have matters to attend to. Your room is ready for inspection, and I am sure you would like to explore the grounds further.’ He stepped back and bowed in my direction, looking up from his tumbling hair to smile. It made him mischievous and rugged, not the right demeanour for lord of the city. I curtsied and he again gazed at me unabashed, blue eyes taking me in. I turned to find William – Captain William – standing in the doorway, patiently waiting for the Lord to signal him. I walked across the hall to where the rest of the castle waited, glancing at Sarah as she appeared beside me. With my eyes I blinked meaning at her and her eyes brightened, her form fading away into the architecture. Two new servants appeared in the hallway, willing to escort me to my rooms. Two guards also appeared behind me and I mentally shrugged, they were expected after all.
Halfway up stone steps of a bone white tower I stopped, looking out the large window as something caught my eye. Hamish’s red cloak had been caught in the wind, flowing over the currents of wind. My steady eye made out the stables behind him, a fresh horse being led out. I turned an eye on one of the servants, a young man with cheerful dimples.
‘Stall the captain – my captain.’ I said, ‘Captain Hamish is not to leave before speaking to me.’
‘Yes Lady Elwood,’ he mumbled, stumbling down the steps in a rush.
‘He is quick on his feet,’ I murmured to no one in particular, watching as the boy launch himself into the hall.
‘Do you wish to go to the stables?’ the girl asked nervously, aware of speaking out of turn.
‘Yes,’ I said, smiling warmly at the girl’s courage, ‘I am at your mercy for direction.’ She beamed into her shuffling feet and carefully led me back down the steps. We quickly walked down the steps, weaving between rooms like a thread through fabric. I felt my heart quicken with the pace, unwilling to admit that Captain Hamish meant something to me. He had been there as I studied the sword, studied letters and horsemanship. He had been in the background unspoken for, a guardian from such a young age. I slowed in the garden, admiring the blooms with a practised eye. I knew all the flowers here, I knew which ones should be used for healing and poison, I knew what would cure headaches and what would cause convulsions. Others like the blooming white roses were simply there for their beauty, like a king’s warden. No purpose but goodwill and care.
We ran from the pavilion to the stables, the smell of leather and horse dung quick to consume the perfumes of the flowers before it. The boy was there, Hamish leaning on one foot as he listened to the boy’s earnest plea, the man’s face blank of expression. The blood red cape still fluttered, curling in on itself in a complicated dance only the wind could manipulate.
‘Lady Elwood.’ The boy squeaked, looking at me through his fringe.
‘You did well,’ I reassured, ‘I was lucky to have such a fast envoy.’
‘Her Lady is well pleased with you.’ Hamish said, looking down at me with a curious expression.
‘Wait for me in the garden,’ I told my two servants, ‘I wish to speak to Captain Hamish privately.’ I eyed the two guards shadowing me and I motioned with my hand. ‘I will go ten paces from here, well within eye distance.’
I turned a baleful eye on the captain, daring him to refuse. ‘Come.
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