In Dreams: Red

The Storm Begins

He is standing with his head bowed and shoulders slumped, the rain has soaked through his hair and clothing and is running off him in great rivulets. I'm not certain if he has seen me yet, but the very sight of him inspires me to pity him, despite any anger or doubt I still feel towards him.

"Guards!" I yell fiercely, to which the two come rushing in almost immediately. The prisoner's shoulder's stiffen and he raises his head to look at me. There is a mixture of emotion in his eyes that I can't identify, but pride overtakes them all, and he straightens his posture. "Did no one notice that there is water pouring from the sky? What we civilized folk like to say is: it happens to be raining." I question them crossly.

"Well, uh, yeah, I mean... Yes, My Lady." The soldiers stammer over each other in the affirmative.

"Then did no one think to rectify this?" I ask, pointing at the prisoner. They both look in his direction.

“What, exactly? My Lady? I, um I mean, we don't understand." One of the soldiers answers, worriedly.

"What?! What, exactly?!?" I screech, outraged, and march to the prisoner's side. "What..is..this?" I demand, lifting his wet hair off his shoulders and squeezing the ends until water ran from it through my clenched fingers. The prisoner does not even flinch, though there is a look of wary amusement in his eyes as he watches every move I make.

“Umm, it appears to be water, My Lady." The other soldier responds hesitantly.

"Ohhh, that occurred to you did it? Did you come up with it all by yourself? What are you going to do when they start shooting arrows at you boy, stand and stare while they fly at your face?! Point them out as they stick from your eye sockets?! Keep this up and I'll be sure the both of you are stationed at the front lines come the battle, instead of your nice cushy 'guard the prisoner' job!" I am shrieking like a banshee again, and I notice the prisoner slightly squint as though the sound hurts his ears, but there's definitely a slight smile forming on his lips. This infuriates me further, and I take several deep breaths to calm my mood and my voice. "Both of you are ordered to immediately find this man a covering or another place to stay until this storm is over. And I do mean now." I hiss at them, pointing in their direction now like an angry school girl. They flee from me, apparently off to do my bidding. Taking another few deep breaths I turn back to the prisoner, who is openly grinning now while watching the backs of the fleeing men.

“Well, I can say you certainly gave them a good scare. In fact, I'm not certain what scared them more-your words, or the screeching.” He tells me with amusement, but his expression is grateful again.

"I apologize for their treatment of you. I think with all of the fear surrounding you and your condition, they quite forget that you are a man too. And with the army invading, we just all get so busy with ourselves..." I begin but he abruptly cuts into my apology.

"Army? What invasion? What's going on?" His voice has turned sharp as he interrupts me and his expression takes on one of worry and confusion. I examine him closely.

"You mean to tell me you didn't know? How could you not?" I respond, watching his expression carefully. He simply looks bewildered. "You're not trying to tell me you don't know about the many thousands coming to try to conquer us?" His expression changes to fearful surprise, and suddenly a look of comprehension crosses his face. He looks so earnest, it almost convinces me he is not a spy at all, and that I had been completely wrong about him. I harshly remind myself that I had been fooled before and it could be he is doing so again; so cannot trust his expression.

“My Lady! My Lady!" One of the scolded soldiers has returned, distracting me. I watch him run in our direction. "My Lady." He pants. "'We are to move the prisoner into the stable used during the games here in the courtyard." He points to the stable concerned. "We are to use his chains to bind him within the stable, I'm not certain on the particulars, but we have a few men coming that have been instructed on how to do so." He tells me "I am sorry we did not think to do this earlier. The king was quite angry. We had to awaken him to tell him of your request." Suddenly he blushes, as if remembering who he is talking to. I'm irate again.

“You ran from here and woke up my father, to do what? Double check my request was legitimate? Go over my head? What am I, a child?!" I'm bristling, I can feel my shoulders stiffen and hands clench. The soldier flinches, it looks as though it has occurred to him he has misstepped again. "You and your partner will be reassigned, effective immediately. I will send word back with your replacements concerning your new orders as soon as I leave this place." I am on a rampage, but curb my tirade as I see a small group of soldiers entering the courtyard, presumably to help move the prisoner. They ignore their wide eyed compatriot in front of me and begin to immediately start removing the staves holding the chains connected to the prisoner, while others surround him, pointing weapons at his chest. As soon as the last stave is free they begin ushering him towards the barn. He only takes a few steps in that direction before turning more quickly than I can see. He grasps my hands urgently before the men can stop him.

"Listen, I don't know what you must think of me, but I think I'm beginning to understand. I knew nothing about this army and you must believe that. I need you to know that, and understand that I can help you. Please, let me help you!" He urges in a low voice. There is a general clamor going up around him, with men demanding he let go of me, and others poke him with weapons. He is yanked backwards and he lets go of my hands swiftly, as though to prevent me from being pulled with him. He looks at me pleadingly, as if willing me to believe him. I hesitate, watching as they pull the prisoner, with much arguing and harsh words towards the stables. He continues to look back at me, as though waiting for some sign that I believe him. I cannot quell the thought that I may have been wrong, very wrong, yet again about the prisoner. But he is most definitely hiding something. I slowly start after them and when I finally arrive at the stables, I can hear the commotion as the prisoner is chained up inside. I wait patiently for the soldiers to finish their work before stepping into the stables myself. I see the soldiers have chained the prisoner in the aisle, running the chains out of his reach again to be staked into the dirt floor.

"I will send someone with fresh clothes for you." I inform him, though I'm not sure how he will be able to change, considering the way he is chained. I think the thought has occurred to him too, because he gives a small, wry smile, but he thanks me anyway.

"My Lady!" A new voice demands my attention from behind me, and I turn to see a messenger standing in the doorway of the stables. "Urgent news at the castle for you, regarding the impending attack. Your presence is required immediately in your father's study."

"Very well. Thank you." I reply. The messenger speeds off, not even waiting to see if I will tip him. Must have more messages to deliver. Heaving a sigh, I start after him, but with a great rattling of chains the prisoner calls to me to wait. I look back to see he has flung himself to the ends of his chains, the metal biting deeply into the raw flesh. It looks worse now than it had the night before, possibly in part due to the rain. I can't help but flinch at the sight of the wounds and look away with a grimace. It looks like my makeshift bandage has become water-logged, irritating the wounds. Resolutely, I step towards him and begin to remove it.

"How many?" He murmurs next to my ear, it takes me a moment, but I realize he is asking about the invaders.

"Many thousands, it seems the leader has gathered a great many of my father's enemies to his cause." I tell him as I work the sodden bandages free. I don't have anything to replace them with and I frown. Two guards have stationed themselves inside the stable doorway and I busy myself trying to identify them as I work, trying to ignore my proximity to the prisoner and the way his voice seems to unsettle me.

"When?" He quietly requests.

"A day, possibly two, probably less." I answer and drop the last bandage, stepping back from him swiftly. I sweep out of the door before he can ask anymore questions, or before that soft voice can jangle any more of my nerves. The rain has lightened, but is still steadily coming down. Puddles have formed over everything, and I splash my way towards the castle with no regard for my clothing. It no longer matters what state my gown was in before, it's definitely a mess now. I hurry my way inside and skid around the first comer in my wet shoes. As I do I hear a light giggle and look around to see Peter holding a pear and a piece of bread. "Oh good, Peter! I'm so glad to see you! You up for a big task?" I call to him. He nods vigorously, running over while swallowing a mouthful of food.

"Great! Please run down to the armory for me, will you? There's a man on staff there that also supplies uniforms- Please tell him that I've asked for spare clothes for the prisoner in the gaming courtyard, and that they need to be loosely fitted. Tell him that someone will need to unlock the prisoner's wrists and ankles one at a time when they give him the new clothes, and it shouldn't be anything he has to pull over his head. Can you do that?" I question Peter.

"Ask the man in the armory for new clothes for the prisoner, no pull overs, and unlock his hands and feet one at a time, right?" He repeats after me excitedly. I nod my approval and he races off delightedly, pear and bread still clutched in his hands. I tum the opposite way and rush towards my father's study again. I'm on the verge of running and have to slow myself as I nearly run into Reggie heading the same way.

“Woah, what's the hurry!" He cries, turning and catching me as my shoes slide again. "Oh My Lady, I beg your pardon, I had no idea it was you. I suppose you're headed to the 'great important matter' your father wishes to discuss with us?" I nod, breathlessly. Reginald tucks his hands behind his back, looks at my wet clothing sternly and nods his head himself.

“Don't even comment." I warn him and turn, bristling, towards my father's study again. Reginald wisely keeps his thoughts to himself, though in my head I can imagine about a dozen of the comments he'd like to make about the state of my tardiness and clothing. I take a quick look over my shoulder at him, to see him hide a quick look of amusement. “I mean it Reggie!" I repeat, and this time run straight into my father, who happens to be standing outside his study.

“Kennice!" An almost relieved sound from him, and then more sternly "Kennice! You are soaking wet, child! And look at the state of you! Is this really how a lady of your status should behave? Never mind, inside quickly, we've had news." I step inside the door and wait as Reginald and a couple of others follow me in. There is a small gathering, again my father's advisers are here, a few captains, Reginald and myself. My father follows the last man in and shuts the door behind him. He walks around to stand behind his desk, leaning forward on his left arm, facing the room. “'I don't want to begin a panic, so for now let's keep this information only available to those that absolutely must know." My father speaks urgently and quietly. "The latest scouts say the army will arrive by no later than tonight. We thought the rain would slow them down, but it hasn't impeded them as of yet. Unfortunately, we at first believed there was only to be one group headed towards us, but they have split into two at some point, the war machines are headed directly towards us, but the foot soldiers veered off sometime in the night to try to circle around us on the other side. The intent seems to be to distract us with one while the other brings down our walls. The scouts we sent out to ask for aid from neighboring villages have not returned, I fear they will not make it back in time. I suggest we prepare for the worst. We have set up an underground chamber for any and all unable or unwilling to fight. We have been quietly sending the very elderly, disabled and mothers with young children there in the hopes that if things turn badly, they will be able to wait out the ambush and flee through an underground tunnel. Beyond that I have no words for you. Go home, be with your families, send whom you must to the chamber. Prepare yourselves."