Captured

Revenge and Desire

"This should fit you my dear" Agnes stated holding out a green woolen dress. Emily gingerly took it feeling the coarse fabric in her hand and smiled "Thank you". They had walked to the servant's quarters where Agnes had requested one of the servant girls to offer up a dress. One of the older girls and eventually come forward and offered the day dress, however displeasure was clearly evident on her features at having to part with it.

Quickly changing into the garment Emily noticed it was too large for her, both in width and length. However she did not complain, instead apprehending another dress would likely not be offered. Making her way back to the great hall, she held the dress up as she walked, so as not to trip over its hem. Her stomach began to growl with a gnawing hunger as she entered the great hall where she instantly met Blaise's cold stare. His eyes looked her up and down before he barked "Get over here and serve me".

She moved toward the table then, a cold stare evident in her eyes and made to grab a piece of bread from the table. With lightning speed his hand shot out and roughly grabbed her wrist causing her pain. "Ahh get off me!" she cried as his eyes bored into hers and he whispered "Nice try" in a deathly whisper. "You don't eat until you serve me...you need to learn obedience if you are to be my wife".

Her heart bet wildly as she noticed the cruel glint in his eyes. She then realised that it was fruitless to argue, her body was tired and hungry and she could not fight any more, for today at least. Nodding she pulled her hand from his grasp and lifted the jug of ale on the table before pouring some into his tankard. Taking his plate she moved around the table and cut some pork before placing it on his plate. The thought of lifting said knife and plunging it into his blackened heart overcame her. However, logic interceded and she rationalised that he would easily overpower her. He was a brute after all, she believed.

"Bread" he barked and she proceeded to place a large portion of it on his plate. Walking back toward him she positioned the laden plate it in front of him. "Is that all you require" she sneered. Taking a large bite of bread he eyed her askance and grunted "for now". She took the seat beside his and moved to take some pork when he growled "Did I give you permission?"

She paused then and tried to calm the anger that erupted in her once more before she stated "May I eat my lord?" His mouth quirked into a small smile "You may, however if you try to disobey me again you will not eat for a week". She bit her tongue refusing to respond, food was more important at this moment than revenge. Emily realised she needed to pick her battles strategically, and now wasn't the time to fight. Nodding in supplication she devoured a piece of pork and then proceeded to scoff a lump of bread.

Blaise eyed her with amusement as she consumed the food before her. The chit certainly had a hearty appetite he mused. The term "ravenous bear" came to mind and he smirked to himself. He let his eyes wander over her then and noticed that her long red hair hung unbound against the dark green of her dress. The dress she wore was evidently too big for her and it hung loosely around her figure. She looked like a woodland imp feasting at a great table he thought.

As he watched she reached forward to take the jug of ale before her and the sleeve of her dress fell down to reveal the creamy white skin of her shoulder. His eyes stared unmoving at the uncovered patch of flesh until a warmth started to build within him. Tearing his eyes from her he grunted "That's enough" in a gravely tone, before he quickly stood from his chair causing it to screech across the floor. Emily jumped at his abrupt movement, dropping the pork in her hand and stared at him oddly.

"Agnes" he bellowed once more and the elderly woman bustled in looking exceedingly annoyed "What is all this shouting about my lord!" "Take my wife to my chambers" Agnes stared at him then, looking dumbfounded before she whispered "Your wife?"

"Yes now get on with it" he said, annoyance starting to build inside him once more. Emily stood and moved toward Agnes, keeping her eyes downcast as she went. Realising that Blaise was in no humour to be questioned further she tucked Emily's hand under the crook of her arm and left the room.

As they ascended the spiral stone staircase to the first floor Agnes turned to Emily and stated "Can this be true? You are married to the master?" Emily kept her eyes downcast and uttered a single syllable in response "Yes". "Well my dear I offer my congratulations but how did it come about?"

"I would rather not speak of it tonight, perhaps you could as my husband" Emily scoffed. "Very well my dear" Agnes conceded before they reached a large wooden door.

They entered the dim confines of the master bedchamber and Emily's eyes scanned the vast expanse to notice a large four poster bed in the centre of the room with large animal furs strewn across the bottom. A large wall hanging depicting a hunting scene hung on one wall, marking it as a highly masculine room.

"Well good night Mistress" Agnes spoke speaking the last word hesitantly. She quickly exited and a feeling of dread then swamped Emily as she stood alone in the unfamiliar space.

"Will he try to bed me?" Emily thought and gulped in response. His rough behaviour told her that if he decided to take her as a husband takes a wife, he would likely not be gentle. She shivered at the thought and began to pace the room feeling as if she was trapped in a cage of his making. Moving toward the dying fire in the hearth, she tried to warm her chilled flesh before beginning to pace the room once more.

She felt as if she had been pacing nervously for a couple of hours, however Blaise did not arrive. Exhausted she gingerly crept onto the edge of the large bed to rest her weary body and revelled in its comfort. It felt like a band aid to her bruised and tired body and so when she closed her eyes intending just to rest them she fell into a deep slumber. It was like this that Blaise found Emily as he entered the bedchamber and closed the door behind him.

He had remained in the great hall drinking ale and trying to drown the memory of her fiery hair and milky skin to little avail. Thus, on entering and seeing the vixen asleep on his bed the fire he had tried to drown reignited once more and he cursed himself.

"Remember she is of Ballard blood...traitorous murderous blood!" he admonished internally and stamped down any foolish yearning on his part. He did not want any child that was connected to that family, thus he was determined to leave her untouched.

Departing his bedchamber he decided to seek out one of the guest chambers instead, not trusting himself to be in the same room as her. He knew he needed to come up with some sort of plan for their living arrangements on the morrow. However for now he needed the staff to believe that they had consummated their union. Gossip travelled quickly and he could not have anyone disputing the validity of their marriage. His plan for revenge was finally being realised after all, and nothing or no one was going to stand in his way.