Seventeen
1094 Words
DENI’S POV
By first light of the next morning, they were all awake.
Deni had woken up to find that Alaric was not by her side.
Instead he was gone.
She quickly gathered herself and got dressed before he caught her on bed naked.
Last night had been something she was unused to.
She had never lain beside a man.
Yes, Alaric was her new husband, but she did not want it to be a constant thing.
She liked it, last night she had been so warm and comfortable that she had forgotten herself.
She had planned that she was going to wake up as soon as it was first light, but she had been so foolish that she had slept off.
Instead he had woken up before her and left her.
She shook her head and went on to get ready for the journey ahead.
The tent opened and Richard came in with a tray of food.
“Good morning my lady.” He greeted as he set it on a nearby make shift stand.
She blushed heavily once he had come in.
Heavens, she did not want them thinking that she had mated with Alaric just like the way the animals did.
She was very red once she had seen Richard
“How are you Richard?” She asked him trying to keep her cool.
“I am quite well my lady. Did you sleep well my lady?” He asked her.
She smiled and nodded. “It was splendid.”
And then she realised that she had just said it was splendid.
Why had she said that?
She made it sound like they had done something’s at night.
“I saw your tent was down.” Richard said.
“Yes.” She nodded awkwardly. “The wind sort of took it away and Alaric offered to have me sleep here.”
Richard nodded knowingly
Out of all the men that had come with Alaric to take her, and none could Match with Richard.
Richard was very nice and friendly. Almost always ready to initiate a conversation.
While the other men ignored her, Richard himself did not have a lead.
“Richard may I ask you a question?” She asked him.
He nodded. “Of course.”
“Are you the same with other men?” She asked of. “Are you of the same rank with them? They always seem to be very different while you are much calmer.”
He smiled. “Well yes I am. I have been fighting for the west isles and Scotland since I was but a young lad.”
“And how old are you now?” She asked him.
“I have seen twenty five summers.” He said.
“You are quite young.” She said.
“But that does not mean I am not experienced.”
“Why do you speak to me? The other men ignore me. And do not like me, but you are always friendly to me. Why?” She asked.
“It does not pay to be nice to someone.” He said. “You will be arriving a place that you have never been to my lady. A place foreign to you, you need to feel more at home.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you very much for your kind words.”
He nodded.
“I best leave you now, we would be out in a few minutes.”
And with that, he walked out of the tent, leaving Deni to her meal.
Deni wolfed down the food in hunger.
It was so delicious she felt terribly heavy and had her stomach full.
When she was done with her meal, Alaric came in.
“Pack up what is left of your meal.” He said. “We are to be on our way now.
He looked so handsome.
His hair was loose once again and then he had only his plaid on, and his chest boasted of his athletic structure.
“Good Morning.” She told him.
He nodded and then he smiled at her.
To her surprise, his smile was a beautiful one.
“You seemed to like your night.” He said.
“I beg your pardon.” She said lost.
“You were snoring last night.” He said.
“I do not snore.”
“You did.” He said.
“I do not.” She answered back.
“Well you did last night.” He said.
“Snoring is Unladylike.” She told him.
“You ride a wild horse. I am quite sure that that is very unladylike too. Do you not think so?” He asked her.
She turned her face away. “Angel is not a wild horse.”
She stamped her feet and grabbed her remaining food and left the tent.
Deni gathered her remaining belongings and found her way to her horse Angel.
Angel neighed in pleasure once she saw her owner.
“Hello love.” Deni spoke to her horse.
Deni got on her horse and she instantly fell down, landing hand on the floor.
She screamed in pain and Alaric and all the men were by her side already.
“What the hell happened?” Alaric asked her furiously.
“I fell off.” She said as he helped her up.
She swore as her feet hurt her .
“I had told you to not stay on that horse. She wild and dangerous.” Alaric said angrily.
“It was not Angel’s fault. She did not throw me off.” She complained.
“You are so stubborn.” Alaric said in anger.
Deni got up to her feet.
“I am fine and I told you that Angel is not a wild horse.” She said.
“I would not let you die out of your stupidity.” He said and then he hissed at her and left.
Soon all the men dispersed.
She turned and saw Richard who looked at her in pity.
She sighed and turned back to Angel.
“I know it was not you.” She told Angel. “I know you would never wish to harm me.”
Then Deni looked at Angel’s side and saw something strange.
Her saddle had been mishandled. It was like someone had tampered with it.
She turned around and looked at the men.
She had this sickening feelings that one of them had done it on purpose.
She could have died.
Or maybe that was the plan, to kill her.
- Writer
