Madelaine:262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcaj6j42lA
A knock sounded on my door, gloved knuckles rapping out a beat. I looked up from reading the stolen note a third time, crinkled from where I held it. I had a replica made, ready to be sent off to my mother. I planned to give it to Hamish who stood outside my door.
Holding the forgery carefully folded into a pigeon tube, I walked over towards the door.
“Tomas,” I smiled, looking up at the handsome man clothed in riding gear. “I would say you’re a welcome surprise, but I knew you were coming.”
I watched his eyes travel down to my own riding boots, lifting an eyebrow at my attire. “No side-saddle today?”
I shook my head, clasping my hands behind my back, “I want to ride, and not bothered by skirts and underskirts, and pins and corsets.”
I leaned into him, stepping past Hamish who lounged by the doorway. “Does it displease you Lord?”
I flipped the small tube up in my fingers, gently swaying it to catch the captain’s eye. I felt him slowly stand behind me, casually leaning an arm on the doorframe.
Lord Tomas shook his head, turning around and offering me his arm. In one smooth movement, Hamish knelt to one knee to tie his shoe while I dropped the tube behind me. It fell into his waiting hand below as I stepped up to take Tomas’ arm. It was the same as when I was a child, but usually I was the one catching the present he had. Chocolate, small gifts made of paper or small wooden carvings he had made on his travels. I had learned later my father had commanded such an exercise for such situations as these.
“Lady Madelaine,” Hamish said, stepping up slightly to my shoulder, “as you are in safe hands, would you mind if I take my leave?”
Before I could answer, Tomas turned his head, “of course, captain,” before pulling me away. I turned to look at Hamish, catching his nod before turning the corner of the corridor.
“So, where is it you would like to go?” Lord Tomas asked me, turning his horse so he could look at my face.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJLR4Bu8PY
“Find me a wild garden,” I said, “something wild and free.”
He smiled, leading me out the gate, “As you wish.”
People flocked to watch us pass, waving bits of cloth or holding up bishop’s lace, my flower. I smiled and waved, catching Tomas wink at a boy. The boy scurried off down the lane ahead of us, popping up to smile at me from time to time. We rode through the small city, the people loving the sight of their protector on the streets.
We trotted past houses, markets, street stalls, children hiding in mothers’ skirts. Tomas waved at them all, his keen eyes taking in the poorer areas and rich alike. Was this my life? To be married to a man beloved by the city. A loved man.
He looked back, his eyes searching mine. “You have been silent a long time.”
“I have been considering my future.”
“As good or ill?”
I smiled at him, “I am not sure.”
He stopped beside a small cluster of bushes, waiting for me to catch up.
“Where are we?”
“When the walls were built, instead of hacking away the forest which covered our northside, they simply built the wall through the forest. It is too dense to reach from the forest side, and my spies keep it well monitored.”
He pushed aside the bushes to reveal the quiet outburst of wilderness. A small lake had built up over the years, making sure only one man at a time could walk past from one side to the other. I breathed in the trees, smiling.
“What a place you have cultivated Lord Tomas.”
He took my hand, leading me towards the lake, “just Tomas.”
I nodded, allowing him to press my hands to his back as we walked past the lake, pulling me behind him. The trees loomed, birds’ song stopping in its tracks from our intrusion.
“I come here to think,” he said, “I feel closer to home here.”
“Where is home? Were you not born and raised in the city?”
He turned to look at me, the evening light glittering in his blue eyes.
“Lukas,” He called, turning when the boy’s head popped up from a nearby tree root, “perimeter for earshot.”
The boy nodded twice, whistling a short sharp note before scampering further into the forest. For two heartbeats silent footsteps seemed to wriggle around us until all was still.
“The forest scouts are more on the young side. It teaches them loyalty.” Tomas said, breaking a twig in his path, “but you know all about that, do you not?”
I watched him, refusing to reply.
“This forest is the safest place I have due to such organisations. Child soldiers, such a cruel world we live in. But it keeps the orphaned and forgotten fed.”
“Indeed.” I said, sitting on a log near the small lake.
He sat next to me, looking out to the water, “Tell me, how old was Sarah when she came to you?”
“When I reached womanhood, she is my companion.” I frowned, trying to follow the conversation.
“Companion? Is that why she is stalking our perimeters, waiting on top of a nearby building? Quite curious behaviour.”
“What is it you want me to say?” I sighed, ignoring his gaze, and crossing one leg over the other. In the back of my mind I hoped Sarah would not harm anyone, I was perfectly safe.
“Your plans.”
I smiled, tilting my head coyly, “I have told you multiple times Tomas, I am here to marry you. An arranged marriage since birth.”
He growled deeply in his throat, “you toy with me!” He stood up, forcing me to look up at his face.
“You do not trust me.” I purred, “I suppose trust is lost in this broken world.” I tugged at his sleeve, watching him hesitate, then kneel before me.
“You seek for enemies where there are only shadows. My family is incredibly old, we have had protectors for the ladies from early times. We have wealth through careful political moves and gambles. You are a move, I, a chess piece. That is all there is to it. I am no spy.” I frowned at him, “only those who have something to hide fear spies.”
He took my hand and turned it over, pulling off my riding glove. He ran his fingers gently down my hand, stopping in places.
“Well Madelaine, I see you know how to use a sword. You have been writing recently – to who? You have fine hands, fit for playing piano and fitting around the hilt of a dagger. You have a scar along your palm – a fighting mark.” He looked up, covering my hand with his own, “how can I trust someone who hides herself?”
I frowned again, running through my head reactions and consequences. I pushed him, watching him fall to his back. I straddled him, an easy feat in the riding pants I wore.
“Perimeter you said?” I asked, “does this mean no one will bother us?”
His eyes widened, watching as I pulled a dagger out of my boot. I smiled, raising the dagger, “trust is hard – isn’t it.”
I dug the dagger beside his head into the grass, leaning in at the same moment to lock my lips to his. His ridged body took in the change, running his hands down my back. I pulled back, taking the pins out of my hair. He could see the pin ends were sharpened to a point as my hair fell around my shoulders.
“Who are you?” He whispered, his eyes hooded with desire.
“Your fiancé.” I smiled, leaning in to catch his mouth again.
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