Mysterious Girl

 

“Mister,” a little girls’ voice echoed down the stone corridor. “Can I have my ball back?” There was a rattle of chains as the man shifted. His marbled grey and blue eyes drifted from her to the white-washed ball. It laid several tiles past his bars on the cold, damp, mildew ridden floor.

“You shouldn’t play in the dungeons Little One.” He extended his arm out past the shadows of his cage. Her small fingers brushed past his own scared fingers. Pale, bleached looking skin, stood out against her pink tinted, sun soaked tan skinned.

She gave him a grin as her green eyes caught his. “No one cares where I go. It’s fun to explore the castle.”

Lightly he patted her wavy brunet hair. “Not all down here are as nice as I.” She merely giggled at the man. The high ceilings and narrow bared windows of the dungeon made it hard for her to see what he looked like. Though hoarse from lack of use, his voice seemed good natured, albeit gruff.

“Will play again real soon… okay?” The girls’ complete lack of concern threw him. Even for a child she had the complete willingness and innocence to trust a strange. Before he had a chance to say anything, she was gone.

True to her word, she did indeed return the next day. It baffled him, how a young girl; probably no older than five or six, managed her way past the guards. Surely the guards were not so careless as to let a child come and go as she pleased. Then again this was the only child he’d ever seen down in the dungeons. Fact it was the only person other than the guards and interrogators he’d seen down here who wasn’t a prisoner.

“Mister,” She started white-washed ball in hand. “Why are you in that cage? Are you some kind of animal?” She asked, setting her ball down. The girl perched herself upon it, keeping her pink and purple dress clean from the floor.

“Why do you think I’m an animal?”

“You’re all shaggy like one, and they put animals in cages. Especially the mean ones they make fight. Are they going to make you fight too?” What she said was not far from the truth. The late day sunlight illuminated his cage, for the briefest of hours. It allowed the girl a clear look at his features. Wrists and ankles shackled the skin raw and chafed. His long black beard and hair were un-kept and greasy.

Though malnourished and skinny, his body still held its muscled condition. The fat of his body had been eaten away from recent near starvation. Partially sunken eyes made him look more like a stray mutt than a person. One thing that stood out was a burn mark on his shoulder. However his loose skin and long hair kept the girl from seeing what it was. She could see that the mark covered his arm from the shoulder down to the elbow.

“Don’t men like to watch animals fight though?” She wondered.

“Only when the animal in question has done nothing wrong. Sides a grizzly grease bag like me wouldn’t provide much entertainment.”

“What did you do wrong Mister?”

A smile appeared on his dry, cracked lips. “Me? Nothing,” The man let out a snort, scoffing a bit. “Nothing at all.” His head jarred to the right, at the sound of a female’s voice. It was like a sirens song to his ears. Until recently the only voices he’d had the pleasure of listening to were the grizzly male voices of the guards. By her tone he could tell that she wasn’t so much talking to, as chewing out the guards. The woman’s words where jumbled with that of the guards who were trying to cover their own asses. From what he could pick up it sounded like they were talking about the child who’d come to visit him.

“I’ve got to go Mister.” Quickly the girl got to her feet, dusting off her dress. In a rush she picked up her ball. “My name is Rosslyn by the way.” She called as an afterthought before disappearing around the corner.

“It’s come to my attention that I’ve failed to give you my name.” The man stated a few days later when the girl was visiting him. His arms hung loosely through the bars until the chain of the cuffs kept his arms from reaching out farther.

“That’s okay Mister.” She looked up at his shadowed form. Her visits had become part of his daily routine in the past few days. They never lasted too long though, enough for idle conversation primarily. Sometimes they’d manage a few detailed questions here and there, before one thing or another would cause the girl to disappear on him.

“Mister makes me sound old and decrepit.”

“But you are old and decrepit Mister.” Rosslyn cut in causing him to laugh.

“I suppose your right.” Her lack of tact and blatant bluntness was a refreshing change of pace. “If you wouldn’t mind calling me Aiden that would be highly appreciated.”

“Okay, Mr. Aiden.” As much as he wanted to scowl and correct her, he didn’t. Her big grin kept him from chewing her out or getting angry. At least she was using his name; that was a start.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure thing Mr. Aiden.” Casually she bounced the ball with both hands. Letting it drop a couple of times before re-establishing her old on it.

“There’s a big wood door with iron bands on it that the guards keep an eye on right?” He pointed his finger down the hall in the direction of the door he was referencing. Upon her nod he continued. “How does one, such as yourself, bypass them?”

“Silly Mr. Aiden, why shouldn’t it be easy for me?” Her words, while obvious to herself, were more than a little cryptic to him. Rather than ask for clarification, Aiden merely proceeded with another question. It would give his mind something to ponder later anyway.

“The woman from a few days ago.” He stopped briefly to gage Rosslyn’s reaction. “The one… talking to the guards, she’s your caretaker?”

Rosslyn shook her head, causing Aiden’s brow to cock. “No, she’s not my caretaker. One of the kitchen servant’s takes care of me.”

“I… See…” Aiden mumbled, piecing the information together. “So why was she chewing out the guards then? Better yet, why did you have to leave when she came down, provided she’s not responsible for you?”

“She is responsible for me, even though I don’t really live with her. Right now I’m not allowed to be around her. She doesn’t like me always running about the castle. But I don’t like being stuck in the boring old kitchen, so I go exploring instead.” The sound of the door creaking open caused her to turn around.

“I think I need to go…” She said in a voice that held concern and worry, neither of which was overly powerful. Rosslyn didn’t wait for a response from Aiden before dashing away. Aiden watched her retreating form finding something amiss about it. Suddenly it hit him, quite literally. Looking down he noted the white-washed ball that rolled against his foot.

She’d forgotten her ball.

2: 02 - Last Request

Last Request

 

“WAKE the sound UP YOU!” of a guard rattling Aiden’s bars with his spear roused him from his sleep. Groggily he sat up in his hay bed. Three guards stood opposite him, watching him awaken from his sleep.

For the most part their uniforms were the same. They wore a scale-mail shirt and breastplates adorned with boars. Their faces covered by visor-d helms, spears gripped in gauntlet clad hands, and long folded blue fabric that hung just above their armored boots. The only difference was that the guard in the middle had golden trim and design on his armor.

“Any last requests?” The central guard asked as he unlocked Aiden’s cell.

One thought came to mind as they worked on unshackling his legs from the wall. They re-shackle his legs, and attached chains to the shackles on his arms. The two secondary guards gripped the chains as he said but a single word. “Ball.”

“Ball?!” the lead guard scoffed.

“Yes; that white-washed one over there.” Aiden pointed to the ball which sat perched at the highest point of his hay mound. “It belongs to a little girl.”

“A-nd?” the guard urged him on. “Why the hell should I care about that?”

“My last request,” Aiden clarified. “If you’d be so kind; would be to return it to its owner.”

Since the night she’d left it, she’d yet to return. He was needless to say confused and dumb struck as to why she’d not come. Rosslyn had always made it a point to come and visit at least once a day. However the door that had opened that night, also closed on her visits.

The tallest guard picked up the ball. He looked it over in his large hand, before handing it to the head guard. Frankly the guard only offered a last request because he was supposed to. Ultimately he didn’t have to fulfill it, but Aiden never caused the guards trouble. The request wasn’t an outrageous one, and it was merely a child’s plaything.

“I suppose there is no harm in that.” The head guard conceded. He turned the ball in his hands a few times, before handing the ball off to Aiden. The man marveled at the fact a silly ball was the object of the prisoners last request. Usually they asked for a real meal, or a ligament bath. Not the quick mandatory monthly clean where they were doused with cold soap water, and scrubbed raw.

No they wanted their teeth cleaned, nails clipped, hair and beards trimmed. Yet this man had no worries about his looks, only the return of a child’s ball. A child with whom he’d probably never see again, after the ball was returned. That was unless the parent was twisted enough to bring the child to watch the prisoners head fall into a basket.

But then, this was the man who to this day petitioned for his innocence. A petition that had fallen on deaf ears, and though he would still claim it, he himself had also fallen silent in his later days.

Aiden paid no mind to the multitude of whispers and disgusted looks aimed his way. Scarcely could he recount ever seeing so many of the lands high class people in one place. Everyone from young lords and ladies, to old dukes and duchesses were gathered. They looked down their noses at him, and even at the guards. As if, by association the guards leading him were just as dirty as he. Their uniforms differed from the guards Aiden saw away from the dungeons. It was not beyond the realm of possibility that the nobles looked down on them because of the guards position either.

“You see the kid yet?” The head guard grumbled to him. It was quite obvious that the guard didn’t enjoy being looked down upon. Yet it was also obvious that it was a more normal interaction than he was willing to let on to Aiden.

“Not yet,” Aiden cleared his voice. “It is a big castle, perhaps we’ve past her? We should check in the kitchen.”

“Alright now this is just use and abuse.” The guard grumbled.

“She said her caretaker worked in the kitchens. So where better to ask?” Aiden questioned, watching the man from the corner of his eye.

“Ugh, alright already, let’s just make this quick. Don’t want people seeing your grubby ass near the kitchen. The news might actually cause the king to croak.”

“Really? I thought King Isaac was in good health?” Aiden tapped his yellowed nails against each other. “Then again… two years away from the world can make one as lost as a newborn pup.”

“There’s a lot you’ve missed, and being silent for the last year hasn’t helped.” The lead snorted lightly as he saw the kitchen door approach. “But frankly it doesn’t matter anymore. Soon enough you won’t know anything anyway.” Squaring off his shoulders, the guard knocked on the kitchen door. “I’m looking for the caretaker of a little girl…” He paused looking back at Aiden.

“She’s about five or so, green eyes, brunet hair.” Aiden added. After a few minutes the door opened. A heavy set woman stepped out, wiping her hands off on her apron. Brunet hair in disarray under the hair net, sweat sticking to her skin. Her brown eyes shifted from one man to the next.

“If you’re talking about Rosslyn, I am her caretaker. However she’s not here now. So if you have any other business I suggest you start flapping your lips like bird wings.” She folded her arms across her chest frowning at the four men. “Else leave me to my work, taking care of these less than savage nobles!”

The four men stared blankly at her. None had expected such an outburst from a woman. Let alone a servant woman. It was clear that while a servant, she was more than aware of how important she was.

“I just…” Aiden recoiled a bit as she stared him down. “…need to find her. I would like to return this.” He presented the white-washed ball. “Before I lose… my… head.”

“As before noted; she is not here for obvious reasons. I suggest you look elsewhere. Try the late Queen Marienna’s Garden or something.” With a huff, she blew a few stray strands of hair from her face. Then without a moment’s notice, she turned around, retreating back into the kitchen. The slam of the door caused the men to involuntarily jump.

“Here we go again.” Grumbled the lead guard.

After what felt like hours of walking around; avoiding as many looks and whispers as possible, they finally caught a break. In a vacant hallway there, perched on her toes, was Rosslyn. Knees pulled to her chest, hugged by her arms. The glow of sunlight that peaked through the cracked open doors bathed the child. Her white dress caught the sunlight, making her appear more like an apparition than a person.

On the other side of the door Aiden could hear hushed voices. One frantic and pleading, the other held a sort of twisted cruelty to it. He recognized the first voice as the one who’d chewed out the guards. That melodic sirens voice was unmistakable.

Aiden however had a more pressing matter, than his own selfish curiosity. With careful calculated movements, Aiden made his way towards the girl. He avoided making any sounds, not wanting to rouse whoever was in the private meeting. Rosslyn jumped when she felt someone tap her on the shoulder. “My Ball!” the girl squealed elatedly, upon seeing Aiden in possession of her ball. In a mere moment all of Aiden’s efforts to be quite were thrown to the dogs.

“Who’s out there?!” Snarled the man on the opposite side of the door. “Bring them here!” In a rush the door was knocked open. Two armed guards with swords drawn stepped into the light; their faces hidden behind their steel Spartan helms. Fur clad arms reaching out towards them.

“Get in here!” Growled the taller of the two. With a strong pull, he dragged not only Aiden, but the guards holding his chains into the room as well. The second guard took the task of securing the girl and lead guard. In the light Aiden could clearly see the people in the rooms. The tallest of the guard squad made many a man look small. He was at least seven feet tall, with more muscle on him than a bull ox. They wore steel helms with horse hair mohawks, gauntlets, and shoulder pads. The rest of their attire consisted of fur pants, bracers, tunic, and leather boots.

It was in stark contrast to the older noble whom they took orders from. Although most likely a well-built man, his belly did all but hide his gluttonous habits. Grey hair trimmed short on his balding head, as his steely green eyes stared them all down. He actually wore somewhat more Avalon looking noble clothes. Overly decorative black and gold robe, with a sash weaved of gold to tie it up. Under the robe one could see his off white tunic and black pants, tucked into boots that could not have been good for long distances.

“What are you doing here?!”

Aiden jerked his head towards the sound of the voice. He was prepared to answer the question, until he realized it wasn’t directed at him. No, the person who’d prompted the question was the woman with the siren voice. Her long brunet hair fell gracefully over the shoulder of her blue and silver dress. The silver lacey corset was hardly needed to accentuate her breath taking curves. The dress hugged her sleek form perfectly. Every fold in the fabric as calculated as the cut and seems of the dress; to bring about her unearthly beauty. However what caught his attention the most was her worry filled hazel eyes. They were looking not at him, but at the terrified child huddled behind him. It was then he knew that the woman’s question was towards Rosslyn, not himself.

Scarcely had he the time to analyze everything; than the guards had to be on their feet. Spears at the ready, unsure of what to do, and given the circumstances no one could blame them. They awaited orders from the woman, while their eyes kept track of everyone in the room.

“YOU!” This time it was the older man who spoke up. His grizzly voice caused Rosslyn to flinch. She cowered behind Aiden’s leg, peaking out just enough to see the going on's.

“Leave her out of this!” The woman demanded.

“Why, when she has everything to do with it.” The glint in his eyes, along with the inflection in his voice sent a chill down all but his guard’s spines. “She might even turn out to be more beautiful than her mother.” He growled out, stroking the inside of his thigh lightly.

“I knew tribes of the Tenók region could be savage,” Aiden spoke up, gaining everyone’s attention. “But I didn’t realize they were fat ugly hogs too.”

The blood boiled in the man’s face. “I am Esodo, of the Gireeké, leading clan of Tenók!” He boasted.

“And you choose to represent yourself as a filthy hog?” Aiden more stated than asked.

“Prisoner, this has nothing to do with you!” Be happy I haven’t dispatched you yet!” Esodo threatened. Esodo fixed his stance, bringing back that smug air of confidence before addressing the woman again. “You marry into my clan, and perhaps I forget we ever had this meeting. You don’t and you will become less desirable than a bath house whore.”

Before anyone could get a word in, Aiden cut in once more. “You dare talk to a woman, let alone a princess like that? It truly is no wonder why you reek like a hog pen.”

“Insolent dog!” Esodo snapped, drawing a spare blade from one of his guards. “I’ll kill you where you stand!” It was clear that the sword was too big and heavy for a man whose most used blade was most likely a butter knife. Taking the chain in hand, Aiden jerked it in Esodo’s direction. A loud crack could be heard as the chain came in contact with the man’s face. The clatter of the blade hitting the ground was echoed by the man screaming in pain.

“Enough!” The princess yelled, before the two sets of guards set upon each other like wolves. “Take this man to be properly cleaned, and Get Out! All of you; get out of my sight!” She demanded, trying not to show her hurricane of emotions.

Two of Esodo’s guards picked him up from the ground. They hoisted him up from under the arms. The guards let the feet of the bleeding noble drag as they quickly left the room.

“Come on you.” The lead guard sighed, leaving only after the Tenóks left. With a jerk on his collar Aiden followed them out, leaving Rosslyn clinging onto her ball.

“We play again Mr. Aiden?”

3: 03 - Things To Come

Things To Come

 

Aiden gasped as the less than fridged water bit at his skin. Two of the female servants had him stripped naked in a stone basin. They doused him with ice cold soap water, as they scrubbed the dirt off his skin. There was a pink tinge in his pale skin due to the raw scrapping of the scrub brush.

They had to change the water in the basin periodically to keep him from soaking in a broth of his own filth. Each time the water seemed to get colder and colder. Two more females worked on cleaning and trimming his nails, while another woman set about cutting and trimming his hair.

The three prison guards watched in amusement as the girls tried to clean two years’ worth of dungeon rot and dirt off of Aiden. They went so far as to place bets as to whom he’d yell at first, and for what.

“We’re going to have to feed him… aren’t we.” The lead guard grumbled.

“Whit mak’s ye say ‘at Kaptain?” the guard who addressed him, was busy polishing a spot on his scale mail sleeve. He was using a section of his lower robe to polish the metal. It earned him a sharp slap to the head, knocking his helm off. “Ow!” he wined, running his fingers through the injured patch of blond hair.

“Biggers, why do you think the Princess told us to bathe him?” Captain didn’t give him a chance to rebuttal. “Because she wants an audience with him; in order to sort out what just happened. That means postponing the execution, AND feeding, AND housing the prisoner in a decent environment. That also means keeping an eye on him till we’re told otherwise.” The Captain grumbled.

“Like… forever…? Until we actually kill him? A twenty-four-seven job?” The other guard complained. The Captain’s look causing him to hang his head in his hands. “It’s bad enough the wife’s going to have a kid, now she’s going to have a cow!”

“Talon, if your wife has a cow about this, just imagine what she’ll have if you miss the birth of that baby, OR that cow.” Captain remarked, the smirk on his face evident by his voice.

“Captain… you’re supposed to inspire confidence in your men… not make them want to crawl in a hole and die,” Talon mumbled into his palms.

“Only when it comes to the job Talon. After that you’re shit out of luck.” Captain explained.

After several hours of grooming Aiden was finally let out of the basin. His long beard was gone replaced with a clean shaven face, his hair also shaved clean off. Apparently dealing with the greasy tangled mess had become too much trouble for the woman. So she chopped it all off. Save for his eyebrows; all the hair vanished from his head. What little pink there was to his skin was temporary, caused by the scrubbing he’d gotten. His skin had been scraped and scrubbed so hard he’d nearly bled. Aiden still looked like a near dead man. His leathery skin, sunken eyes, and malnourished body, were just a few of the things that a bath couldn’t fix.

“Put these on.” The Captain commanded, tossing Aiden a long tunic, pants, and a belt. “Can’t have you wondering around the castle naked now can we.”

Aiden didn’t complain when given the spare clothing. Simple as they were, it was better than prison clothes by a long shot. He felt better than he had in a long time but there was one thing he was worried about. “Are you putting be back in the dungeon then?”

“No you’re coming with us.” Talon spoke up motioning towards the door. “Just don’t try anything stupid alright?”

“Indeed, don’t give them trouble.” The Captain straightened out his uniform as he left Aiden with the two guards. “While you’re with them I’ll secure some food for you.”

 While Talon was willing to let Aiden make his own way Biggers was not. Rather than spend time letting Aiden poke his nose everywhere, Biggers had tightly grabbed him by his bicep. He lead Aiden through the castle to the hidden servant quarters.

“Here’s yer spaur room.” Biggers grunted. “Twa o’ us guards wull be wi’ ye at aw times, sa git comfy.” With that he opened the door allowed Aiden to walkin.

 “You again?!” How many times are you going to come back? I told you already Rosslyn’s not here!”

“Ma’am, please calm yourself.” The Captain hushed, motioning for her to lower her voice. “We found the girl already, the reason for our current visit is to secure food.”

“No doubt for that mongrel that was with you before.” The baker snorted lightly. “Figures they’d let a prisoner eat like a noble, before they better our own condition!” The woman huffed, slamming the door behind her.

The Captain grumbled under his breath as he crossed his arms. His job always left him with the short end of the stick it seemed like. These people were lucky that Avalon was the kingdom in control of country, not that they cared for politics. In spite of his face as masked by the visor his displeasure was evident. When the woman came back his arms where crossed, and he was heavily supported by the edge of the wall.

“Here you go, now leave the kitchen staff alone!” The woman barked at him, as she pushed a cart with food towards The Captain. Grunting The Captain took the cart and headed to where Aiden was now being kept. Using the cart for support as he begrudgingly played the role of servant.

Aiden flexed his toes against bedroom floor. It was smooth against his bare feet. Unlike his cold, hard, moist cell floor; the bedrooms’ floor radiated heat from the morning sun. It was nothing lavish, just a spare servant’s quarter. Just a simple wood framed bed and dresser, with enough space to move about. Blankets and a pillow had been set on the bed for him.

Until his food came, he occupied his time making the bed. Aiden placed careful precision in every movement. Lengthening the task, if only to give him something to do for longer. Aiden did not want to lose the ability to do something after so long of doing nothing. His task was only interrupted by the feel of something hitting him in the back of the head.

“What the…” Aiden turned around, to see a white-wash ball bounce on the ground.

“Your foods here Mr. Aiden.” Rosslyn smiled up at him.

“And,” he bent down to pick up the ball. “Are you here just to deliver my food, or are you going to help me eat it?” Casually he rolled the ball along the ground towards the girl.

“I can help!” She squealed, raising her hand. Quickly she picked up her ball, scrambling over to Aiden. Aiden chuckled, watching Rosslyn attempt to climb onto the bed. Pulling the cart close, he sat down before securing the girl in his arms.

“Better?”

Rosslyn gave a sharp nod of her head. “Yes Mr. Aiden.” Reaching up she touched his face. “Why do you look all weird?”

Taken back by her statement, Aiden stared down at her. He gave himself a moment to process everything before speaking. “And what makes you say that Little One?”

“You’re all bald and pink, and you smell clean.”

“Do normal people not smell clean?” Aiden wondered.

“Some do, but you didn’t. You were all greasy, and hairy, and you smelled funky.” Rosslyn explained. Aiden only shook his head at her. As much as she was probably trying to make him feel better, it only made him feel displaced. He uncovered the plate to reveal a hot plate of garlic roasted duck, smoked potatoes, and a big piece of corn on the cob. There was a small dish of butter, and a small jug of wine to go with it.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had food that didn’t leave the spoon attached to the bowl. Carefully; as if afraid the meal would drift away, he cut into the duck.

Aiden sat with Rosslyn in his lap. They ate in near silence. Occasionally she would ask a question, but he’d rarely respond with more than a curt nod. Since it was clear that he wasn’t going to talk much; if at all, Rosslyn settled for spending time with him. The two ate together in pleasant silence, careful not to get food on his freshly made bed.

Every bite was mouthwatering. The flavors tickled his tongue as he chewed. He sucked back the juice. The last thing he wanted to do was waist a single drop or crumb of food. After not having a meal that was both good and solid for two years, Aiden was surprised he’d managed to eat everything. More than that though, he was impressed that he managed to keep it down after the fact.

A knock on the door interrupted his meal. Aiden paused for a moment, fork halfway to his mouth. Upon hearing a second series of knocks, Aiden laid his fork down. “Enter.”

 

4: 04 - Marry Me?

Marry Me?

 

With a creek the door opened just enough for the person on the other side to walk in. Leaning on the door the princess shut it behind her. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath sighing lightly.

As she opened her eyes they caught Aiden’s inquisitive marbled grey-blue orbs. They stayed like that for a while, neither moved or spoke. Each looked at the other from across the room. Though the space between them was rather small, it felt as though they were worlds apart. Both staring at a distant glimmer that was in the bottomless depths other’s eyes.

Rosslyn looked up at Aiden, then back to the princess. The princesses’ eyes flicked down at Rosslyn. The look she gave was not cold or cruel. It was enough however, to make Rosslyn slide off of Aiden’s lap. She picked up her ball, and proceeded to walk over to the woman. “Am I not allowed to play with Mr. Aiden anymore?” Rosslyn wondered head tilted lightly as she looked back at Aiden.

Aiden watched the woman’s eyes soften as she knelt down. “We will talk about it later, okay?” She whispered softly. “For right now though I need you to go stay with Elena in the kitchen.” Rosslyn puffed out her cheeks, pouting as she hugged her ball tightly. She walked towards the door the woman had opened for her. “Talon, be a dear and escort her please.”

They gave each other a knowing look, before he nodded curtly. “Of course M’lady.” With that she shut the door once more, resting her forehead against it.

“I think she resents me, and I can’t blame her.” The words fell from her lips before she realized what she’d said. As the realization hit and took hold she gasped turning around. Slender hand covering her mouth, back pressed to the door. Hazel eyes wide with a mix of shock, worry, and realization. However the realization was not due to what she said, but the fact that the man in the room with her put her at ease enough to say such a thing out loud. Something she knew probably only confirmed the secret he’d already figured out.

He was a stranger, who only several hours earlier probably saved her from a fate far worse than death. Yet there he sat letting the events unfold around him as he ate away at his food. His voice pulled her from her thoughts.

“Why are you so afraid?” Aiden questioned as he finished off his food. He laid the silverware on the now empty plate, eyes never leaving her as he awaited her response.

“Do you have any idea what would happen if people found out I’ve birthed a child?!” She whispered harshly.

“Well Princess,” Aiden took the last swallow of his wine, before wiping his face off with the napkin. “Based on what Esodo said,” he noted her visible flinch at the sound of his name. “You would be disinherited or at the very least considered not to be marriage material. A bit of a problem for King Isaacs only child, wouldn’t you say?” Aiden stroked the side of his jaw lightly, the prickle of new facial hair tickling his fingertips. “Let me see,” He pondered lightly, leaning forward, resting his elbow on his knee as he cradled his jaw. “If memory serves, your name is Keira. You’re also the only legitimate heir to the throne, seeing as none of Isaacs male siblings married, and his sisters were sent to different kingdoms within the realm to gain political favor. Making your grandfather the first King to actually rule over the country, and I must say it was smart of him…” Aiden was cut short by Keira interrupting him.

“Princess Keira.” She clarified, getting the conversation back on track. “If he reveals that I have a child I won’t be able to marry anyone. In order to keep the throne I’d have to marry him or his blood.” Keira sucked in her lower lip, biting it a bit. Aiden could see her trying to hold her emotions back. “And if I marry no one, no one will accept a Queen without a King. After all a woman needs a man telling her what to do.” There was sarcastic venom in her voice as she said those words. “By blood rights though the throne will be his.”

“Then the father is…?” Aiden trailed off as he arched a brow. Her nod was all the answer he needed. Grumbling he scratched his shaved head. Frankly he missed having hair, greasy or not. “Can you not become queen some other way?”

“I told you if I don’t marry to his clan he’ll reveal my secret. No one will accept a queen that is a whore!” She spat in a harsh whisper. “Why do you care so much anyway?”

“So what happens if you marry someone else?” Aiden queried dodging her question all together.

It only caused her to huff lightly, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “If I marry another he will tell them, and they’ll have me killed, or worse let him manipulate them and wreaking my father’s kingdom.” Keira stared Aiden down, pressing her lips together as she frowned. “Again I ask; why are you…”

“Right, I forgot what babies nobles can be.” Aiden pushed the cart away from him as he leaned into the palm of his hand. “Why not marry someone with a title that isn’t some noble’s bratty son?”

“Yes because that’s plausible.” Keira remarked snidely, glaring at Aiden. “The fall out would be even worse, because they wouldn’t know how to play politics and…”

This time Aiden didn’t let her finish her sentence. “What if I marry you?”

5: 05 - Nothing, Nothing At All

Nothing, Nothing At All

 

Keira shook her head in disbelief. “What?!” She blinked staring at him dumbly while trying to take in what he’d just said.

“Marry me.” Aiden said again waiting for her response. Hoping this time her response was a little more concise.

“I… can’t.” Was the only thing she could manage to sputter out.

“Why not?” He questioned. “Give it a week or so and I won’t look like I’m half dead.” Aiden only half joked.

“It’s not that, the heavens know half the suitors here aren’t what anyone would call… lookers.” Keira looked away slightly, her face showing her obvious discussed at the image it gave her. Taking a slow deep breath, she sighed heavily before getting back on track. “You’re a prisoner. You have less standing than a commoner. Hell you have less standing then the town drunk.”

“Wow… didn’t know royalty could talk like a commoner.” She threw him a dirty look to which he just chuckled at. “You know you or your father could pardon me. AND,” Aiden held up a finger to keep her from cutting him off. “Before I got tossed in your father’s lovely dungeon, I was quite the ranger-ing woods guide. Anyway the viscount of Karatal granted me knighthood, land, blah, blah, blah, fun junk that I really don’t give a damn about, before he had your dear daddy lock me up. Point being you can’t say I have no standing to contend with everyone else here for your hand.” He clarified in a way that sounded more like countering than clarifying. With a shrug of his shoulders he off handedly remarked, “Not that I needing to be knighted anyway.”

“What are you talking about? You have to be at least a night to even think about courting any noble let alone a anyone from the royal houses.”

“OR,” Aiden began with a smug smile on his lips. “By the Old Laws, Rangers and Druids are not subject to the constraints of titles or boundaries.”

“You can’t, be serious.” Keira narrowed her eyes slightly, tilting her head a bit sizing up his claim. He was calm about it, and hadn’t tried to offer up extra information. As much as it could mean he was telling the truth, it could also have been proof that he was a very good liar as well.

“Well unless your bloodline was stupid enough to try and surpass or undo the Old Laws, no I’m not.” Aiden’s tone was serious as he held her gaze.

“You would marry me knowing what you do, because it would keep your head attached to your shoulders.” Keira accused with a frown on her face. She quickly changes the subject, not liking where any part of this conversation was going. There was no question in her mind that his prompting of such an outlandish suggestion was because he stood to gain as much from it as she.

He merely shrugged neither confirming nor denying her claim. “Think what you will.” For the first time since she’d come in, he stood up. Quickly yet at a casual pace he closed the distance between them.

Keira pushed back against the door, instantly regretting her choice of positioning. There was no doubt that at one point in time Aiden; at the very least, looked normal. Rather than his current half dead look. Judging by what he’d said earlier; and the musculature that his body still held, he was probably a more than decent looking human being at that. Even with the scars and burns that clung to his skin, though she could only see those that snuck past his clothes. “And… what would you do?” She quickly found her bearings, not letting herself dwell on her less than ideal position. “People will talk; they will not like a prisoner, even an ex-prison for a king. You know that as well as I.”

“People will talk regardless. They always do. If not me, they’ll either talk about the King betraying his people, or the whore they have for a Queen. It’s like I said before though, whom I marry is not constrained to the modern world of titles and classes. So,” He paused letting her take in his words. “What would you rather they talk about?”

“Then you really do think me a whore, and are just using the situation to your own advantage.” She nearly growled at him as she pressed her body closer to the door. “You are no better…”

“I never said that!” Aiden snapped back, cutting her off. He stood just a few feet away from her, his eyes never leaving hers. Taking a deep breath he calmed his voice. “At least not directly anyway, and not at you. I would never say that in this particular situation, or think it for that matter. No one; man, woman, or child, should be held accountable for that which is not within their control.” Clearing his throat he took a few steps away from her.

“And what will you do? You have no experience dealing with politics. You haven’t a clue how a city works let alone a kingdom.” As he stepped back, she pushed away from the door.

“It doesn’t matter.” As she opened her mouth, he gave her a look that kept her from cutting him off. “I want nothing to do with running your kingdom. You can deal with figure head politics. You need someone to help with back alley politics, and run your military; well then,” He gave her a small smile as he rocked on his heels. “I’ll be happy to lend my assistance.”

“And Rosslyn? What happens to her? You know HE will make it public.” She emphasized though both knew she didn’t have to. Carefully Keira moved away from the door, allowing her a less claustrophobic and more tactical position within the room.

“No he won’t.” Aiden spoke in what many would call an over confident manner. “I’ve already shown him that I’m more than a match for him. And that’s while I’m half dead in comparison to his butter ball size.” Clearing his throat he leaned one shoulder against the wall. “Besides you can always say she’s mine or something. I mean, I’ve been locked up for two years. Who’s to say someone didn’t take pity on my kid and take her in for me?” He scoffed a bit as if it didn’t really matter what excuse she used. “Sides, she’s fond of me as it is. Don’t think she’d mind spending more time with me anyways… You know you can sit.” Aiden offered as he watched her move around his temporary quarters.

Keira rubbed her brow before she folded her dress under her, sitting on the edge of Aiden’s bed. She had to admit he made both good and valid points. Leave it to a prisoner to be too smart for his own good. One thing in particular chewed at the back of her mind. “What brought you here?” This time it was her turn to keep him from making a smart ass comment. “By that I mean what put you in prison. What is it you’d be pardoned from exactly?” Her body language changed almost instantly. She’d gone from scared and concerned to hard and unreadable. Her siren voice went from musical to even and straight.

Aiden let out a chuckling grunt. There was no doubt she was a master at playing chess on a political battle field. He walked over to her, resting one hand on the footboard. “I’ll tell you the same thing I told Rosslyn.” He just gave Keira a smile as he leaned in. “Nothing, nothing at all.”

His answer only made her frown in annoyance. “The truth if you will,” Keira demanded.

“That is; to the best of my knowledge, the truth.” Aiden remarked his eyes locked on hers. Pushing himself off from the footboard he took a deep breath. “I’d just left Karatal…”

“The place where you earned your un-needed nobility from the Viscout?”

“The very place. Anyway I’d left to head back home, only to be stopped and swiftly; and might I say uncomfortably, thrown in shackles. Highway patrol said by the Viscount and King Isaac’s orders I was to be jailed, put under investigation, and trialed for the murder of the entire village of Karatal.” Rubbing his jaw Aiden frowned, walking towards the small window in the room. “Hadn’t a clue what they were talking about then, and I still don’t have a clue now. However it didn’t stop them from beating some sense into me, putting me in the back of a transport wagon, and carting me to your father’s lovely dungeons. Two years and a day later; here I am, sentence to death due to a lack of evidence pointing to any plausible murderer other than me. Hell they didn’t even have anything pointing to me, but the world needs something or someone to blame when people die.” He shrugged his shoulders as he leaned one hand against the windows edge. “To this day I don’t know who scapegoated me or why, granted not that surprising seeing as I’ve been in prison, and no one’s going to look into something that already has someone in line to die.”

Though he’d moved around the room, for the most part his eyes never left her. His body language never once suggested he was hiding something from her. Plus it was hard to argue against a story like that. Most guilty people would try and stick with something simple that they could easily dance around and hope not to get caught on their own lie. Aiden however easily offered her information she could look in too, so it was pointless to lie about it in the end. “I will have words with my father on the matter.” Keira stood up, straightening her dress. As she made her way to the door, Aiden managed to get to it first. He opened it up for her bowing his head slightly.

A squeak caused him to lift his head and peer around the corner. Keira looked out into the hall to see what or rather who had made the noise. There, half in the doorway; was Rosslyn trying to listen in. Aiden let out a chuckle, while Keira frowned with crossed arms.

“Do you not remember what happened the last time you did that?!” Keira scolded.

“But mommy…” Rosslyn whined.

“Not to interrupt but what happened to Talon and the Captain?” Aiden wondered aloud.

“R-osslyn?” Keira gave her daughter a knowing look.

“Th’ Keptain went tae git some rest before he releases one o’us frae yer care. Talon wis suppose’ ta tak’ th’ pup tae th’ kitchen.” Biggers clarified, still standing guard by the door.

“I can’t help it if they got lost.” Rosslyn said in the most innocent and sweetest tone she could muster.

“Come along.” She motioned for the little girl to follow her, as they left Aiden’s presence.

“Rosslyn this needs to stop.” Keira scolded in a soft voice, as they made their way through the castle via the servant hallways.

“But mommy I…”

“Don’t give me that line again. Your eves dropping almost got you killed today.”

“Your just worried people will find out about me.” Rosslyn pouted, pressing her head to the ball. “You never wanted me in the first place. You’ve never wanted me around, so what else am I supposed to do?”

“Sweetie you know the situation is much more complicated than that…”

“But if you marry Mr. Aiden I won’t have to hide anymore!” Rosslyn chirped, looking up at her mother. Her big eyes filled with hope.

Keira offered only a half-smile. “I don’t know if that will even happen. If the King ordered his arrest and execution, he’s the only one who can pardon him.”

“So if grandpa did, would you do it?” Rosslyn continued on, not giving her mother a chance to answer. “Mr. Aiden’s a nice man.” She smiled bouncing her ball. “He always plays with me, and he was really nice when he was in that human cage. Always told me really fun stories, and asked silly questions.” Keira couldn’t help but smile. She’d rarely seen Rosslyn in such good spirits. “So would you?” Rosslyn asked again, this time expecting an answer. “Marry Mr. Aiden that is.”