Mad Dog

Chapter 5

I'll never get used to waking up to this ceiling. The pale blue canopy swallowing me hole. Was it the color? The shape? Or just the fact that even now, I'm still waking up here. At some point, you just lose hope that it's a dream you'll wake from. I pull the covers over my face as if hiding will make the room change. I thought of my bed back home. It wasn't as soft as this bed. I run my hands along the sheets, then tuck them around me. My sheets weren't this silky. Tears spring to my eyes, and I hug my pillow close. My pillow was better than this. I picked it myself. I want to sob into it, but my tears just hung there as if I was frozen in time. Suddenly, I hear a knock at the door. I don't get up. I'd rather they think I was asleep and leave. They knocked again, but this time, I also heard, "Alinia."

I jerk upright. Rohan. He knocks again firmer this time.

"If you don't want me to come in, come to the door." He snapped. I laugh with disgust, get up, then walk slowly over to the door. He seemed to wait this time. As if knowing his threat would work.

"What." I spit out, not even opening the door. I feel like I hear him sigh in frustration before he says, "We're going out tomorrow. After breakfast and you will eat, or I will force you myself."

I glare at the door. Feeling a heat flash through me at his tone. Who was he to drag me out. If I wanted to sit in this room for the rest of my life, I would. He didn't bother to wait for a response. I heard his footsteps echoing away. I wanted to call after him. To tell him I'd die before I breathe his air. But after thinking about it, I didn't bother. I knew I wasn't going anywhere tomorrow.

The royal hunt is happening soon. He always left 2 weeks before. 'To make sure everything is in line,' he says. There can never be a thing out of place with Rohan around. I've seen knight, my father's age tremble in his presence. The Iron Knight they whispered behind his back. One spoken between revere or spit. Spit when falling from mine.

When supper came, I begrudgingly ate it. I knew he wouldn't come tomorrow, but who knew if he'd come again today. I hated how good it tasted. It felt like stones sinking deep in my stomach. It made me want to heave. I lay down in the bed, curling into a ball. Desperately keeping it down. I lay there so long I finally fell into a fitful sleep filled with sinking ships and dripping walls.

Waking up the next morning, I could already tell what kind of day it was going to be. Having slept the way I had, plus not eating for so long, had given me a very stiff body and a thundering headache. I slowly make my way to the washroom, grateful that I never opened the shades yesterday. It had been a while since I bathed, and now it was the only thing I wanted to do today. I dip my toes in the water. The water came from a natural hotspring, so I never needed an attendant. I remember being grateful for that when I first got here, but now I wonder if that was another excuse to treat less than I am. I lay in the bath for a long time. Gently easing my headache into a dull hum. I finally drag myself out and dry myself off. I wrap my robe around me and walk out only to stop in my tracks.

Rohan was sitting in his chair-my chair by the fireplace. He looked up as I came out, and we both stared at each other for a moment. He eyes had an unreadable expression. I turn red and reach for the nearest thing. Which happened to be a vase.

"How dare you!" I, shriek, throwing it as hard as I can at him. He dodges and gets up, rushing to grab me before I can find another victim. He grabs, my arm flinging me around before pinning me to him.

"I'm getting real tired of restraining you." He says smoothly into my ear. It sends chills up my spine. It had been a while since I was coherent enough to realize how close he was. He smelled the same. I pushed him off me, wanting to fling him across the room, but he let go of me and turned around.

"Your maid didn't inform me you were in a bath. Get ready to, go out, " He said shortly and exited, leaving me staring after him in disbelief.

A maid I didn't know hurried in after scurring frantically to prepare me. How long had he been there?

"What time is it?" I ask.

"Half past 2 ma'am"

So late already. I tried to think of when I went in, but I had stopped looking at clocks, and the curtains made it impossible to guess. I knew he liked to leave before noon, but it's absurd to think he would have been that patient. Did he really not know I was in there. I played back his expression, but it was still unreadable. I look at myself in the mirror, seeing my copper waves gliding down over my shoulder sheltering a tired but beautiful face. It was like grief had made me shine brighter. It gave me a crazed glow in my eye and flush in my face. I almost didn't recognize her. I look away and get to my feet quickly. Not wanting to be near him but not wanting to keep looking at the creature before me. Walking out the door, I slowly make my way to the staircase. Dragging it out as much as I can. Inch by Inch. Stair by stair. It felt like forever, but forever wasn't long enough. Reaching the bottom, I freeze. He's sitting waiting for his wife to finish her slow march to him. Watching me with his hawk like eyes. He stands walking towards me he extends me his arm to hold. It takes everything in me to touch him. I grip him hard, hoping my talons cause pain, but he says nothing. Just leads me into the carriage and sitting himself in front of me. I glare out the window. He could force me in here, but he I'll be damned if I acknowledged him. It was hard not to notice him. His whole presence seemed to fill the air, suffocating me into my corner. I burrowed myself deeper, taking in the passing landscape. Silence stretched between us, so deafening it made me want to scream. Finally I couldn't take it anymore.

"So where are you taking me? That is so important you had to barge into my chambers." I say through gritted teeth. It had better be somewhere near and quick. He raised an eyebrow at me as if surprised.

"Somewhere neither of us will be happy but where we're needing to make a statement." He replied.

"And what statement is that?" Becoming annoyed at his dancing around the question.

He looks me in my eyes. "That you're my wife."

"You can't mean -"

But I knew from the look in his eye that he did mean. It seemed my behavior lately had triggered something I never wanted. I was going to the royal hunt