belladonna » finan the agile | the last kingdom

TWENTY

"Father," I said, greeting him with a soft smile. He had approached me with a stern expression and I had little doubt he was going to say something unamicable. He was a blunt man and lacked the virtues that my Mother had possessed. As Owain once said, I did not inherit my charm from my Father. It was of much surprise to those who met my siblings and I that my brothers were not more like my Father. They were kind men, at least to me, and resembled my Mother more so in their manner and resembled my Father in appearance.

"Daughter," He responded to my greeting with a cold tone. He paused before speaking again, eyeing me with a suspicious glint in his eyes. It was becoming rapidly clear that his subsequent words would not be to my liking. "Rosamund, I must ask,"

"Yes, Father?" I questioned, trying to keep my words as respectful as possible. I did not wish for him to have a sudden outburst; as men said, it was he who I inherited my temper from.

"Are you with child yet?" I was taken aback by the nature of his question. It took but a second for me to be filled with subsequent rage. The man was full of, for want of better vocabulary, chicken shit.

I let out an awkward chuckle before responding to him, "How would I know, Father? I have been married but two months, surely-" My tone was full of a fury that was easily heard, but it was increased somewhat by his interjection.

"Your Mother knew," He cut me off. "Which leads me to surmise that you, too, would know." He had no right to intercede when I was talking. He may be a Duke and he may be my Father but I was now Queen and more beholden to my husband than to him. I was his weak and naive daughter no longer but a grown woman who knew her mind.

"Well I don't," I snapped, frowning at him. "I am inexperienced in such matters as, after all, did you not fail to educate me in such matters? As I recall it was servants and maids who were forced to inform me of such things only hours before I departed from Aquitaine."

He let out an exasperated sigh and rolled his eyes at my defence. Father parted his lips to speak again but I did wish he had not; I knew the words he would speak would be most distasteful.

"You must secure your position, child. I will send physicians to your rooms to check."

"Check?" I asked, prompting him further. Alas, I neither understood his meaning nor wished to know what exactly he was insinuating. Nonetheless, he obliged me.

"Whether you are doing your duty." He snarled before glancing at Madelgarde. She was walking behind us, as was her station. Father was her husband thus above her anyway, much to my annoyance, but as a Queen I was higher in station, ordained by God to rule, even if I was her stepdaughter."The Duchess is already pregnant after but a few months of marriage. You must do the same."

"Of course, Father," I responded with a stern tone, making my view quite clear to him. He could not fight it or else he would be seen as insulting me - something which wouldn't have particularly good consequences for him. As Finan once said, my words could cut a man in half."Now, if you would excuse me," I said, meeting Owain's eyes, "I must be with my husband, the King,"

Today, it seemed, Owain wished to continue, what could only be described as, marital bliss. I walked towards him and watched as a familiar smile spread across his lips. I curtsied a little, as was expected, but grinned as I rose back up.

"Is your Father being persistent?" He chuckled. I sighed and nodded, confirming his suspicions.

"He believes I would know I was already with child," I admitted. He met my eyes and his expression became a little more serious,

"And are you?" He asked, a glint of hope shimmering in his eyes. I failed to disappoint but there was little I could do about such a matter, though I doubted he would dislike what I could do about such a matter. "With child?"

I scoffed and shook my head, dismissing such ridicule, "I would not know such a thing. My.. issues are a little late this month but that is nothing irregular."

He nodded knowingly but I could see there was a little bit of sadness. But he couldn't wish for a child so soon, surely? I did not think it possible, but then again, I was no expert in such matters. Madelgarde, on the other hand, was apparently full of expertise that no other woman possessed. Or so my Father said. I, thus, made it an objective to speak with her — but not now. I was enjoying my time with Owain too much to abruptly end it.

"He wishes to send physicians to my rooms to check if my belly swells," I admitted, glaring at my Father as he walked the grounds. I turned back to Owain and arched a brow, "He is too audacious for my liking,"

"He is your Father," Owain said in a comforting manner. I scoffed,

"He is not worthy of such a title. He was neither loving nor Fatherly during my childhood, I can assure you,"

"Well, I hope to be worthy of the title to our own children," Owain said softly, "May God strike me down if I am not,"

I gave him a soft smile. I took comfort from his intentions in regards to any potential children we may have; I wished them to be happier than I. I wished them to have two loving parents and to make loving marriages - though the former was easier to achieve than the latter.

Owain took hold of a bow and held it out, looking at me expectantly. I tilted my head and gave him a quizzical look,

"And what do you propose I do with this?" I chuckled, taking it. A smirk formed on his lips as he responded,

"You said you wished to learn, did you not?" He shrugged. In truth, I hadn't expected him to oblige me but I was ever so grateful that he had.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

"Yes!" I exclaimed, watching as the arrow, finally, hit the target.

After many failed attempts and Owain's incessant laughter, I had finally shot an arrow right at the target. It wasn't perfect, admittedly, but it had hit it - something which I was pleased with.

"You have a skill with bows," Owain commented with a smug smirk. I giggled lightly,

"I wouldn't quite call it a skill." I smiled. "The test is trying to hit the target again,"

I pulled back the string again and aimed but knew there was little chance of it hitting the target. Owain noticed this and I heard him take steps towards me before his hand clasped around my own. It pulled back the string a little further and I heard him speak,

"Tilt a little to the left," He instructed. His lips were just above my ear as he spoke, causing shivers to run down my spine. He placed his free hand on my waist and pushed my body a little into position before taking a second. It was so silent I could hear his slow breaths as he focused me. "Now, let go," His voice was mouthwateringly striking, in a positive manner. It was like a harp, singing to my ears. I could barely resist it. 

I did as he said and the arrow whizzed forward at immeasurable speed, hitting the target directly in the middle. I cheered and smiled, turning to face Owain.

"You're getting the hang of it," He complimented, still smirking. I nodded and giggled,

"I had quite a skilled instructor," I replied, a smile tugging at my lips. "I am sure he knows what he is doing."

"He would hope so." He spoke a little quieter. I still had a tight grip on the wooden bow but felt it drop to the ground with a clatter when Owain closed the gap between us, tilting my chin up with a soft push from his hand. My Father would've said this was not how marriage was supposed to be but we were living in a new age. One of prosperity and kindness. And Owain was both of those things.

I had to push my feet up a little to reach him but our lips brushed against one another, creating a boldness in Owain to kiss me as you would kiss a wife. He had electrified me by a mere touch and I had a moment's bliss before I found myself awash with guilt once more. He was not Finan and I did not feel as I did when Finan kissed me, no. But I still felt something and that much made me fill with regret. But once more I reminded myself, as I had to, I was not Finan's wife. I was Owain's. And thus, I relaxed and allowed myself to enjoy it, no matter how much guilt was created. For I could not live a life with just guilt, no, that was a sinner's purgatory and I was not a sinner, not at that moment anyway.