Chapter 3.
The sky of that grey morning wept the tears that she concealed from the people of Wearhalla. Edwynn, dressed in her riding dress of deep red velvet, walked through the great hall like the shadow that she was. In her hand a great sword of silver glinted upon the steel, the sunlight of the early dawn reflecting off the blade like a mirror of the past. From behind her there came a strong voice.
“My lady,” Edwynn's feet came to a halt when a rough hand wrapped itself around her wrist. When she turned to face the one who had dared to touch royalty, her heart sank at the sight before her. Lord Morris. “My lord?” His hair was dishevelled, the crisp pristine look of a prince now gone. In its place was a young man, unshaven, hair of gold wild and untamed like a lions mane, shirt of white open at the collar revealing a hard chest beneath. Due to the inconvenience, Edwynn could not help but steal a glance at the young man. “Apologies my lady, but I only want to speak with my soon to be wife.” His voice seemed to shake when he spoke. Edwynn frowned. “Do you fair well Lord Morris? You do not seem yourself. Shall I call for a physician?”
At her words the young prince eyed the girl hungrily before he answered her question. “I must confess that I have seen better days my lady.” It was only when a clatter erupted around the great hall that captured the young lords attention did she notice the blood upon the lip of his shirt. Edwynn frowned. “Your bleeding.” She told him, reaching out with her thumb and finger to trace the blood upon his shirt. “Have you been injured Sir?” Lord Morris shook his head though his eyes stated otherwise. “It is nothing my lady, only a cut. Nothing I cannot handle alone.” A strangely soft smile stretched across his lips then as he stared down at the raven haired girl. Edwynn looked back at him, her mind racing.
“Well,” She whispered nervously, “I wish you good health my lord but I must be on my way. I have business to attend to in town.” Still he did not release his hands from off of her. Edwynn frowned. The lord stared down at her with a blank expression on his face before he seemed to return to his normal state. “Then at least let me accompany you into town Lady Edwynn. The village is no place for a woman of royalty to walk so openly without a chaperone.”
“I assure you sir there is no need,” But he would see none of it, for the insistent lord was already heading back to his own chambers. “I will return shortly.” He insisted leaving the young woman aghast.
When he did return he seemed to look a different man. Gone were the rags that he had previously been clothed and in their place was now the man that she had witnessed at the feast. Dressed in his signature black silk shirt, golden mane of hair now sleek and tied back with a black sash. The only thing that remained of the wild man was the dirty blonde stubble that covered his handsome face. Edwynn had to force herself to remain vigilant about her task. She was going to visit her brothers crypt at the tombs. By sundown she would reach there. Or so she had hoped.
When Lord Morris approached her he smiled at her a smile that would have sent the hearts of any other young lady aflutter. Although his smile did stir a foreign feeling within her, Edwynn fought desperately to refrain from giggling uncontrollably like a loved up child.
A drawn out silence passed between the two before the lord finally extended his arm to the raven haired beauty. Edwynn looked down at his arm and back up to his face, taken a little off guard by the action. At her confused expression the young lord laughed the same laugh from the night before. “May I?” He inquired, pointing gently to her arm. It took a moment before she realized what he meant for her to do and so not quite knowing what to answer with, she let the young lord take hold of her arm, and link it through his as he guided her to the great double doors that led to the outside world.
“Red suits you.” He said helping her mount her horse after a moment of an uncomfortable silence. “Thank you.” Edwynn replied quietly though she had no patience for his honeyed words. “Please, call me Thomas” Lord Morris instructed the young woman. He sat atop his horse across from her like the regal man that he was. A confident smile was still etched upon his face, golden eyes sparkling. The stable boy reached up to whisper something into the young lords ear and what she saw upon his neck unnerved her. A deep gash showed upon his neck, black and crusting. Edwynn stared at the wound in awe until the smiling lord turned his eyes back to hers. Edwynn faked a smile that did not reach her own eyes, watching suspiciously as the lord kicked his horse into a gallop and out of her sight.
The air of the early morning light filled her lungs as her young mare sped over the grassland. Edwynn's cloak of black velvet billowed in the wind, her hair blowing around her as she rode. Whenever the raven haired girl was away from the castle and the people within it, did she then feel truly free. The prince had raced up the mountain and had jolted his stallion to a firm halt as he waited patiently for the girl to arrive. When finally she caught up with the prince a great smile was stretched across her face, a smile of pure enjoyment. Whenever she rode her horse she felt alive. Even in the company of the man that was to be her husband. “You ride well lady Edwynn.” Lord Morris complemented her gently, eyes of gold glittering. Feeling rather abashed, Edwynn smiled back at the handsome lord. “Thank you.” She whispered again, the urge of adrenaline still coursing through her veins. Lord Morris trotted his black stallion up to next to Edwynn's mare. Gently the two horses rubbed their noses together in a form of greeting. Edwynn patted her horse gently in a reassuring manner.
“I know that you are sceptical about my intentions lady Edwynn,” The young lord told her calmly, “But I am no tyrant. I only want to make you happy. Your mother has informed me of your past pains. I am greatly sorry for your loss, for I too know how it feels to have a loved one stripped away from your side.”
The wind clawed at Edwynn's hair as if it was comforting her. Each time that the death of her brother was mentioned was like a new wound being reopened. “I..” She began but words failed her. The life that the queen had bestowed upon her remaining child, was a life that Edwynn was not accustomed too. Edwynn had never imagined that she would be married even though it was her duty. In her heart she felt pain for not only did she feel torn but betrayed by her own feelings. In all her young years there had only been one man who had stayed in her life and he was no lord. He was a peasant, the complete opposite of what lord Morris was. Where he had rank, the peasant had skill. One way or another, she had to make a decision. “If we are to be married my lady,” The prince continued, “Then we should be spending our days getting to know one another. I brought you here because I know your heart belongs to your kingdom, as any future ruler's heart should. There is more than meets the eye with you lady Edwynn. You have your secrets as I have mine.” Something in the way he spoke the last sentence ignited the raven haired girls curiosity. The way his eyes glowed and the way he seemed so confident, made Edwynn believe that there was more to this man than just a title. Somehow she could sense that he had a secret all of his own. It was then that Edwynn began to wonder whether his secret was as dark as her own.
#