Chapter Three
Danger in a new life
She opened the bag and found a long sleeved shirt. She pulled it on, buttoning it over her ruined dress. She also found a pair of leather hunting boots. She pulled them on. They were far too big for her. She felt a fool. But she had no time to feel her woes as Jake came in through the flap.
He took one look at her and burst into spontanious laughter. She stared at him, tears brimming in her eyes. How mean of him to make fun of her. He was laughing so hard, clutching his stomach. Melissa finally found her voice.
“All you can do is laugh, just because you’re well off and have no need to worry,” She whispered.
Tears were threatening to spill. But she had no need to care. He stopped laughing and looked at her. She stared back at him, not looking down. Her mother would be ashamed of her right now. But she didn’t care. All she could feel was hurt.
“Hey,” He lifted her chin up to face him, and she looked into his bright green eyes.
“You look beautiful in your over sized clothes. Don’t fret about it,” he gave a small chuckle.
“I feel silly,” She whispered.
“You look silly,” he retorted.
“Oh thanks,” She gave him a look of displeasure.
He chuckled and took a step back, a brief glance at his shoes, looking back up and smiling at her. The same carefree smile. Dazzling.
“Oh, I came to say dinner’s ready. I hope you don’t mind ‘Grilled le pigeon,” He laughed a brisk laugh, wild and outrageous.
His laugh made her shiver, something about it frightened her. It was just so rough, raw, exhilerating. He looked at her meaningfully, waiting for an answer. He knew he had scared her and that suited him just fine. She gave a meek nod and looked down at her big, chunky boots. They were brown leather, full with buckles and straps. He coughed and left the tent without another word.
She took a breath, which she had realised she’d been holding. She quickly smoothed her hair down, and wiped her eyes. Jake had left a bowl of water for her and she washed her face, rubbing at her eyes as if to rub away all the things she’d seen away. Of course it didn’t work. She only remembered more vividly. She walked out of her tent, and joined the men to eat. Piggeons. Never in her life had she been so low. She was used to cavier, roast beef and champagne. This was disturbing. But she had no choice.
“Here you go ma’am,” Arthur handed her a plate of pigeon. She didn’t look at it.
“Thanks,” She whispered. She looked down. It was not respectful to look up at the Nobles. She knew that. She didn’t touch her pigeon.
“We wouldn’t be eating pigeon if it weren’t for Jake losing our supplies,” Arthur explained.
Melissa nodded. Jake just laughed. Once again, dazzling her.
“Yeah, I guess it was kind of my fault. Although I told you not to trust me with supplies,” he flashed a smile at Arthur. Arthur rolled his eyes and smiled apologeticly at Melissa.
“It is fine,” She replied, still looking down.
“So may you grace us with your name?” Arthur enquired.
She froze. What would she say? She knew she could not speak her real name.
“Anna,” she whispered.
Another thing she noticed, she no longer spoke boldly. She had become timid instead of her normally loud self. She was always whispering and she didn’t know why. She was lost. Undeniably lost.
“That’s a nice name,” Arthur was trying to make conversation.
“I’m going to my sleeping chamber, I am exceptionally tired,” she stated and left for her tent.
As she was going inside she heard their voices.
“She speaks well to be a commoner,” Arthur sounded confused.
“Yes, I don’t believe she is whom she proclaims she is,” Jake sounded furious.
She fell to the floor, in a helpless state due to hunger and pressure. She struggled to hold onto consciousness. It was too much of a fight and she collapsed, unable to fight any more.
She awoke to her vision being fuzzy, unable to comprehend what was happening and where she was.
“MOTHER!” The scream was instinctive. She couldn’t stop it.
Her eyes widened in fear as she saw Jake in front of her, a knife held in his rough hand. She tried to move, to run, and to get away from here. She had realised what had happened and she wasn’t ready to lose her life. Her mother had fought to keep her safe and she wasn’t going to let her down. But she couldn’t move. Arthur was holding her hands behind her back.
“Try to move and Arthur here will exert pressure to your wrists, it will be painful. Do not make any attempt of escape or I will kill you straight,” Jake spoke in deadly tones.
She wriggled her hands to check, Arthur leant down and a sharp pain crossed her. She let out a brief scream.
“I warned you. Imposters, they never listen,” Jake shook his head and sighed, looking to the roof of the tent.
She had no choice; she had to reason with him.
“Im not an imposter. I am only looking for peace. Understand that I mean you no harm,” She said calmly, clearly, loudly. In almost her old voice.
“YOU ARE AN IMPOSTER! WHO SENT YOU?!” Jake yelled, causing Melissa to wince and her heart to speed up.
“I...No one. Be aware that I mean no harm. I just need work. Nothing else,” She looked defiantly up at him.
He stopped pacing the room. Took a step towards her. Melissa continued to stare insolently up at him. He brought hand to face and slapped her. Hard. Melissa could feel the sting surround her face and could feel the heat rise to her cheeks. Her eyes brimmed with tears but she bit the inside of her cheek to stop them from spilling.
“NOW TELL ME WHO SENT YOU!” He bellowed, his face discontorted with rage.
He was petrifying like this. She felt angry. Why was she supposed to take this from him when she hadn’t done anything wrong? She used to be loud, she never used to let herself be verbally abused. She wasn’t going to be timid any longer. She glared at him. Her green eyes burned into his.
“Nobody sent me. I’m not a spy. I’ve not done anything wrong,” She said through gritted teeth.
He glowered at her, only getting even more heated.
“RESPECT YOUR NOBLES!” He hit her again, harder than before.
Her face was red, but this time, she couldn’t hold the tears in. They streamed down her face.
“Jacob, that’s enough. I think she’s telling the truth,” Arthur loosened his grip on her hands.
Jake didn’t listen. He pressed the knife against her neck. She could feel the cool steel on her skin. She could feel the leather strap brushing the underneath of her chin.
“Jacob,” Arthur warned.
Jake pressed it harder. Melissa felt a droplet of blood slip down her neck.
“I said that’s enough,” Arthur’s voice was unrecognisable. It held status, control and menace. He had authority.
Jake let go of Melissa, giving her a look that could kill an angel. He spat on the ground and turned to face Arthur.
“Explain, who you are and why you are here,” Arthur demanded, looking at Melissa.
Melissa thought about it. Tell and her life gets saved, don’t tell and her life will not be spared.
“I’m Princess Melissa from Khayren. I am in hiding, there’s been a murder attempt at the palace and I was ordered to run,” She said defeated, looking down.
Jake stopped glaring at her, looking shocked. His green eyes widened and his dishevelled black hair was ruffled by the wind.
“You’re Princess Melissa?!” Arthur looked shocked, but quickly recovered.
Jake just kept staring at her. Not saying anything but not looking anywhere else. He looked hurt, betrayed and in pain.
“Yes,” she whispered and lifted her head to stare back at Jake.
Her green eyes burned into his green eyes. In the whole of the world at the time, green eyes was a sign of evil, bad, wrong. She stared at him, stubborn and feeling foul.
He didn’t glare; he simply looked away and said not a word.
“I think she’s telling the truth,” Arthur said seriously.
Jake looked at Arthur, then he spat on the ground and walked out of the tent.
Arthur sighed and cleaned Melissa’s wounds.
“I don’t know what to do with you,” Arthur admitted.
“You don’t have to take responsibilty for me,” Melissa looked up at him frm beneath her thick lashes.
“I am Arthur, Prince of Mazird. I have a duty to help any lady in distress,” He said formally.
“Well, I pardon you of that duty,” She said and got up. She walked out of the tent, nearly tripping in her too big boots. Arthur followed her out.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Walking to Kasteh,” she replied, stubbornly.
Jake came out of nowhere. He burst into fanatical laughter.
“Walk to Kasteh? Are you mad?” He was still laughing, clutching his stomach.
“Yes,” Melissa narrowed her eyes at him.
“That will take you 3 weeks,” Jake continued laughing.
Melissa gave up, tired and annoyed at the events of today. She resigned to her tent.
A few minutes later, Jake came in.
“Yes?” She barely gave him a second glance.
“I’m sorry about earlier,” He smiled at her. Carefree. Dazzling.
“It’s ok,” she spoke clearly in her posh voice.
He gave a small chuckle.
“Here. I brought you quilts. I hope you find them to your standard. Goodnight Princess,” He smiled at her and left, without giving her a chance to reply.
She kept quiet and lay down, pulling the quilts over her head.
Dear God, Please help me... I only depend on you, no one else. Please help me through this...