Deepest Betrayal

A Secret Revealed

     Snow falls heavily and steady upon the ground. The wind howls like an injured animal through the trees. I pull my hood tighter around my face, seeking some reprieve  from the biting cold. This winter has been much harsher than the others, the food is dwindling in our family's larder. I dread returning to them with but a few small rabbits, but at least our stomachs shall be full if only for the night. I stop to catch my breath,

remembering the easier times when our clan feasted with the certainty and abandon of

power, respect and strong alliance. What fools we were!

I give myself a firm mental shake and continue on my way. Father says we were the lucky ones. We were not slaughtered like the many other clans. We were spared for a greater purpose he says, but is slowly starving to death with no hope nor help truly a greater purpose? Sometimes I envy the others, their suffering so short and quick.Over in a flash of silver and a spurt of blood. Forever released from this mortal realm and its woes.

  I trudge diligently on... just a few feet more to the safety of home. What I see makes the blood drain from my face and what little heat I manage to conserve leave my body. Six black carriages are parked outside our door, pulled by enormous black stallions each with red feather plumes upon their heads. I break into a full run praying to the gods I am wrong, praying that these carriages belong to someone else, ANYONE else. I reach the first carriage and all hope leaves me. I know that coat of arms. I know it all too well.. I can only pray I'm not too late. 

  My hand flies to the hilt of my sword. I know I have no chance of survival, but I'll be damned if I'm going down with out a fight. my recent kill forgotten upon the stairs, I unsheathe my sword and creep carefully in.I listen for the slightest footfall, the tiniest breath.. something to launch my anger and sword towards. I reach the doorway into the dining hall and sure enough I hear them. Without a second thought I spring through brandishing my weapon, screaming, fully expecting to feel the sharp sting of metal to my side. I am greeted by laughter and a sight that pisses me off more than the slaughter of innocents ever did.

HE'S here and the swine has the audacity to be smiling at me, almost smirking. What the hell?!

  The crown prince of the Scottish Slayers, Duncan, stood with his arms crossed, smirking at the pale red head that had just burst through the doorway brandishing a weapon. A chuckle escaped him before he quickly composed himself. Surely,she didn't plan on attack? The mere thought was enough to elicit another chuckle from him. did she not know?

Was she truly unaware of what was going on, or was her hatred for him and his clan so solid, so deeply rooted in her being that she did not take the time to realize those were NOT war carriages? Did she not see the finery of which he and the others were dressed? Nor did she not notice that there were WOMEN present in his party?He studied her carefully, gods she was everything rumored and more. Long auburn locks falling upon skin as pale as milk, and probably twice as smooth. Her eyes a beautiful pale blue. Eyes he notices currently narrowed in anger right at him.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded.

Ah, so no time for pleasantries? No, somehow he knew she'd be straight to the point.

" I'm here, dearest princess, to collect a debt owed. A debt agreed upon between your father and mine."

" Father, what the f**k is he talking about?!"

King Lionel shifted on his feet and wrung his hands, refusing to look his daughter in his eyes. He was a frail man.The years had been most unkind to him. His once strong back now bent and his once full red hair, thinning and silver.His frame once sturdy and muscular, thin and almost skeletal. He slowly shuffled forward and grasped his daughter hand, a pleading look filling his silver grey eyes.

" My darling daughter, remember when I told you we were spared because of a higher purpose? I was not entirely truthful..We were spared because we had something they wanted, something no other clan had.. "

"WHAT? We have nothing father! We are no longer a rich clan and the only thing we had that the other clans

did not they took possession of long ago!! They have our mines, our riches, our most powerful warriors!!" she screamed.

Oh so she really doesn't get it, does she? Well no sense in leaving her in the dark.Duncan stepped forward and brushed the old king to the side, grasping the princess's face in his hand none too gently, thankful her sword currently lay at her feet and was not clasped in her hands.

" What we wanted was not any of this, sweetheart, the other clan had all of that... think real hard dearest Blair...what is the one thing your darling clan has that the others didn't?"

First confusion flashed in Blair's eyes then a slight fear as realization dawned on her.

" The one thing our clan has that the others didn't is.. is.. an unmarried princess..," she whispered.

" BINGO."

" What... wait... you can't mean..."

" That your father agreed for you to be my bride in order to have his family spared while we laid waste to the others? Oh, but I most certainly do."

"I will never marry you!"

Duncan smiled, " I'm afraid in this you simply don't have many options here. Agree or we kill everyone in here."

Blair dropped her head in defeat. She could not cause the death of thousands of innocent people simply because she detested a single man. 

"Wise choice. Someone escort her to the carriage!"

Blair was quickly seized by two tall black haired men who seemed to appear out of thin air, and spun around.

" Wait... please at least let me say goodbye!"

" You no longer belong to them, your fate is sealed... let us not dally. We have a long road ahead." one of the men grunted, and prodded Blair to walk faster.

   Blair crossed her arms and slumped into the seat, seething. how in the hell could her father do such a thing to her?She knew that one day she would be forced into marriage. She harbored no illusion that her freedom would last forever. She was a princess and at best that meant she was a bargaining chip in matters of alliance, but to be married to HIM of all people. A traitor!!! A murderer!! An outright scoundrel! A monster who for reasons unknown to her only spared children from dying by his blades.

No, any children of a conquered clan were quickly gathered up and sent to an unknown location. The only solace was the rumors that they were at least alive. She contemplated running away when they stopped to camp for the night, but the idea was ridiculous to say the least. His men were known for their tracking skills. They would hunt her down like ravenous dogs and upon finding her most like kill

her, providing Duncan was in a jovial mood and showed her mercy. She laughed to herself. Duncan showing mercy to her? She was neither a child nor warrior. At least not in their eyes. She sighed yet again, and slowly met the gaze of the woman seated opposite her. She was told her name was Camilla and she was to be her most trusted friend and servant. Blair studied Camilla. She wasn't exactly a beauty, her hair was the color of dirty dishwater and oddly styled in ringlets of all styles,she was quite plump, dressed in ,Blair's opinion, clothing in far too childish clothing for a woman her age, but her eyes were kind and this gave Blair

a little bit of comfort. At least she had not been given a prudent lady to look after her.

Camilla must have sensed Blair was looking at her because she smiled.

"You mustn't let Duncan's reputation frighten you dear. I know he has done horrible things but he had his reasons. Try not to judge him too harshly."

" He literally threatened to kill my family just moments ago. That doesn't exactly endear him to me."

Camilla chuckled, " No I suppose it wouldn't, but I doubt it would have come to that. Are you hungry?"

" I suppose, but we are not stopping until we reach the old monastery to eat, and that is another three hours ride at least.

Camilla shifted her back and forth and pulled the hat box beside her closer to her, and slowly opened it.

Cautiously Blair leaned over to see what was in the box... an assortment of cookies and cakes, little wheels of cheese, rolls and tiny jars of jam under a small layer of tissue paper. Blair couldn't help it, her stomach rumbled.

" Hmm. Thought so. Let's see... I think you like this one," Camilla says and hands Blair a slightly peach tinted cake.

Blair pops it into her mouth and instantly regrets it. Her nose scrunches into a grimace and she fights hard not to spit it out.

" Mango... I hate mango," she says.

"Oh.. I see.. my apologies." Camilla waves her hands and suddenly Blair's mouth is empty. The taste of mango completely gone.

Blair reaches up and sticks her fingers in her mouth feeling for crumbs any evidence that she isn't going insane.

"What are you doing?" Camilla asks.

" I'm trying to figure out why i don't feel cake in my mouth."

" Because I haven't given you one yet, silly."

"But you did," Blair insists, " a Mango one."

" But I don't even have mango cakes with me, princess. Your father told me you hated Mango."

OK, what the hell just happened? She was CERTAIN that Camilla had handed her a mango cake and even more certain she had made that

cake disappear from her mouth.

" Perhaps your tired dear, it's been a long day. Why don't you close your eyes and sleep??"

Yes, that's it.. Blair thought, I'm simply tired and distraught, sleep sounds wonderful. She leaned back and closed her eyes,

soon she was softly snoring.

Camilla smiles, reaches into the box and pops a mango cake into her mouth.

" I'm sorry princess it's been so long since I could use my magic I misread you. It won't happen again." 

   Duncan sit astride his mighty stallion and let out a heavy sigh. If he could kick his own ass, he gladly would have.

She already hated him and thought him a tyrant, did he really have to cement the idea by threatening her family? Great idea there, buddy. "Well what choice did you have?" his inner voice prodded, "It's not like she was going to hop in the carriage willingly."

"Yeah, Yeah I know. She hates me. She heard all the stories, seen villages burnt to cinders by my orders. She has every right to hate my guts, but I at least wanted to show her a chance to show her not everything she heard is about me was true, but I totally blew it. Always the asshole, I am. Gods, did she have to be so damn defiant?"

Colin, Duncan's most trusted guard, gave a chuckle.  

" She is certainly a little spitfire, your bride. I might be so inclined as to take her for me self," he teased.

"You and I both now that will never happen, you aren't the marrying type. Wild and free, no chains for me. Were those not your own words?," Duncan chuckled.

" Aye, but you seen the Bonnie lass, I might be changing my ways. You never know."

" Colin, you would never betray me, nor would the others of this clan. They know the price."

"Aye, we now it all to well," Colin agreed and tried to change the subject," I see you assigned my twin sister to the princess. A wise choice, she will care for as her own, but are ye aware my sister practices the ancient arts?"

" I'm aware," Duncan grunted, "I was hoping that would be to my advantage. perhaps she could..."

" If you're saying magically make Blair love you? Nay, she'd not be doing that. She's old fashioned,

my sister is, she believes love should come naturally. Bless her heart she sees good in everyone, even you."

Duncan took a swat at Colin's horse.

"Hey now, I was only teasing, no need to get all riled up and try to get Hector running away with me into the forest." The horse snorted as if in agreement. 

Duncan frowned, Camilla might look favorably on him and believe him good, but she was probably the only female in existence who did. The others of his clan loved him out of necessity or family loyalty. He wondered if anyone could ever love someone such as he. He groaned.Why did he have to be leader of this clan and keep order in this world. Why couldn't he had gone on an ignorant youth, blissfully

unaware of the true nature of things? When his greatest worry was what tasty morsel to put in his mouth first. No all that changed when his beloved father King Richard, breathed his last. He tensed at the memory, and for once was grateful to see the old spire of the church looming over the trees. He gave the signal for the carriages to turn up the road and spurred his horse forward.

The sooner he could eat and seek his rest, the better.

    Camilla looked over at the princess as she popped another cake into her mouth. What a beauty she was. she felt her heart swell with pride as the memory of her charging in with a sword ready to take on almost certain death. She was a fighter, this one. Good, she'd need that in her coming days. Camilla smiled. she leaned over and brushed a stray lock of hair out of Blair's face.

" I know you don't look too kindly on our prince, lassie, but you don't know the hardship he has had to endure. What lies hidden just out of reach of your human eyes. I envy you, precious child, your illusion intact and the veil still firmly in place. I was once just like you, young and beautiful. Desirable. I gave it all up one night to join in the fight. Aye, even sweet innocent looking Camilla harbors great powers," she chuckled to herself, " surely you didn't think I was only capable of making cakes and sweets? Oh no, dearest princess you'll find I'm much more useful then that, now let's get you prettied up for your prince. I'm thinking a lovely emerald green would set you off just fine. now keep your pretty little eyes closed and let old Cammy take care of this."

She waves her hands and says a few words and the dress upon Princess Blair begins to shift from the light silver to a brownish hue then to a brilliant emerald green.

"That's almost perfect it just needs a little something. Ah yes."

She waves her hands again and a beautiful dazzling necklace floats in mid-air above her hands for a few seconds before  gently floating towards and clasping around the princesses neck.

" Oh I've out done me self, I have. Duncan is going to stain his britches when he sees you, my darling. Now then, precious.. time to wake up. we're here."

   Blair slowly fluttered her eyes. She had the most wonderful dream of soaking in a luxurious bath and being dressed in a gown of the finest emerald green silk she had ever seen. She sit up and went to clutch her old silver gown to get out of the carriage, but her hand faltered. Instead of the coarse calico that was so familiar to her, her hand fell upon something soft, something silky, she looked down, and something green. She gave a small gasp, and looked over at Camilla.

" Now, now don't be frightened child. I mean you no harm. Aye, it's true, I'm a witch. Please don't look at me with fear in your eyes,I know the stories of the child eaters, and plague bringers mothers tell their wee bairns at night. I assure ye that I am not that way! Settle down child! Don't ye realize if I truly wished you harm I could have done it the minute ye burst into the room?," she huffed.

Blair supposed that was true, and Camilla didn't really look like the old hags her mother had spoke of in her childhood, which made no sense to her. Mother had told her all witches turn old and shriveled and ugly. Smote by the gods for practicing forbidden arts. she looked again at Camilla. No she was indeed not an old, ugly crone, this Camilla. She opened her mouth to ask the question so prevalent in her mind, then

quickly clamped it shut. She didn't want to offend Camilla, as she truly had done nothing wrong but she was curious.

" It's OK, dear, I know what you were going to ask. I get asked this all the time," Camilla sighed, "why am I not ugly? I'm not ugly because I am good. I refused to drink of the spring of eternal life. I do not command an army of darkness and I most certainly do not eat children. Cakes though, well as you can see, I have quite the fondness for tiny cakes. Although, it quite surprised me you didn't care for mango. I thought everyone loved mango. Eh, no accounting for taste. So, what do you think? Did old Cammy do

you right? Do you like the dress? Doesn't it seem perfect? A right real fairy godmother I am."

She giggled and clapped her hands and leaned forward with the biggest smile on her face, that Blair couldn't help but relax, and smile in return. No she was no danger, her Camilla. In fact, if she thought about it, she was quite fun and would most likely be her only true friend in the days to come.

" Well now, we mustn't keep your handsome prince waiting.. no no. He's waited so very long to see you. My bet is he's pacing the halls this very minute. You won't believe old Cammy of course, but he' s quite smitten with you. Why, I heard him laugh twice upon your arrival, and Duncan rarely laughs at anything anymore." 

Blair just smiled as she climbed down from the carriage, somehow she didn't doubt that, but the thought of him finding her funny infuriated her. Oh I'll make him regret that, she vowed to herself and marched inside.