The Marks that Define Them

Chapter 3:

Chapter 3:

Aine

Aine watched as Astraea made her way towards her chamber. She scowled at the girl as a memory of her first loss replayed in her head.

(17 years ago):

"I can't do this anymore. I just can't" Reyn stated with a defeated voice. Aine covered herself with the sheet and watched as Reyn desperately tried to find his clothes and put them on.

"Is it because of her?"

"SHE is my wife, my pregnant wife. Not you." AIne flinched at the sound of his voice. He had never been this angry towards her. The tone erose a fire inside of her.

"She is scum, worthless scum. I am your Queen. I am the only reason why you made it to the highest rank in your division. ME not her or anyone else." She was livid. Loathing soaked her words that revealed her true feelings about his wife.

WIth shock written in his face he spoke with bewilderness,"You got me where I was. My skills got me where I was." Aine laughed at his remark.
"You think you got yourself there. You couldn't even read before you met me." Reyn retracted himself from the conversation and left. Aine wouldn't lose to her. She wouldn't lose to anyone ever in her life. She reached under her bed to grab a wooden box filled all of the love notes he had sent her. She walked to door and asked one of the guards to deliver this to his chamber quickly. Apart of her tried to reason with her not to do this as she handed to box over. But the greedy and reluctant part overshadowed it. Allowing her to hand it over. She always won. Always.

(Present)

Aine walked towards her her bathroom. Thinking of the memory made her want to scrub it off of her.

"Girl, come fix me a milk bath" Astraea nodded her head eye's glued to the floor. The fact that the girl wouldn't look her in the eyes mad Aine's frustration grow.

"Look me in the eyes when your Queen is speaking to you. Or do you not respect me enough to give me that honor." Astraea's head rose from the ground. She tensed at the Queen brash tone.

"Forgive my Queen I no disrespect. I am forever sorry." When there eyes met she saw the instant fear blossoming inside of her. And AIne thrived off of it. With out any time Astraea walked over to the large fountain to fetch water for the bath. The girl set lavender in the tub along with the goat milk. Aine discarded her robe and stepped into the tub slowly until she was fully submerged. Astraea sat across for the Queen head down. Half way through her bath the Queen was interrupted. The knock was loud against the wooden door. Astraea got up to answer it. To everyone's shock it was the king.

"What do you want? Don't you see that I am in the middle of something?"

"I just needed Astraea for a while." The way he spoke her name made her feel like her skin had crawled away leaving her there exposed.

"She is serving my now."

"You can't hog her all time." 

"Fine then take her." The king took that opportunity to extend his hand forward. gesturing Astraea to come with him. Hesitantly she gave him her hand and left the Queen.

Astraea:

The king's grip was painfully tight. He pulled her through corridors left and right until he stopped which allowed her to know that this was their destination. She was at unease being alone with him. He moved from in front to behind her. His cold hands ran up and down her arms until they rested on her shoulder. HE leaned his head to the crook of her neck breathing in her scent. She tensed. His nose brushed up her neck. Frozen, she felt his hand grip the fabric at her shoulder and tugged.