𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐎.

𝐭𝐰𝐨.

CHAPTER II
a perfidious man indeed.

Another early morning. Birds singing, sun rising. Obnoxiously loud knocking... Wait, hold on. The knocking is getting louder, and a lot of footsteps. Is someone banging on the door? Why would someone try to—

"There she is! That's the thief!" Thief?! Who are these people? Are those weapons?! Well, this sure is a lively morning. Your hair and clothes a jumbled mess, slightly disoriented from the extremely abrupt morning call. Multiple strangers, armed ones at that, in your home.

As your eyes faded into focus, you noticed a familiar man. The merchant from the day before! The one with the amber! What was he doing in your house?! How does he know where you live? What is going on?!?

"Sir Terriwin, surely you must be mistaken! My daughter would never do such a thing!" You heard your father, yet barely managed to spot him behind the brigade of men. Sybil stood beside him, confusion and fear in her eyes.

She stood as a bystander while your father fought against the intruders, covering her ears from the loud noise before running through the hall crowded with men and into your room. The merchant staring in shock as Sybil hugged you tight.

Quite shocked yourself, you simply embrace her back once you heard her crying. You pat her hair down gently as you glared at the man who not only ruined your morning but also made your dear sister cry. Rowan and another man step into the room slowly as the others kept your father outside.

"What could be so drastically important that you barge into my home at the mere crack of dawn?!" You yelled out, covering Sybil's ears to spare her from the incoming fight. Rowan laughs mockingly as the other man nudges him.

"Miss (L/N), apologies for the disturbance but Sir Terriwin here, says you've stolen a very precious jewel from him. My men and I are simply here to inspect his claims." You soon recognised the man to be in charge of the 'law enforcement' in your village, Tybalt. Composed of the hunters and a few volunteers, although it was hardly necessary.

"You know for all the books you read, they didn't do much huh? You dirty little thief..." Is this dirty little con-man accusing you of a crime? Is he mad?! Now it was your turn to laugh.

"Me? A thief? HA! And what exactly are you saying I stole from you?" He huffs in amusement as he runs a hand through his hair. Tybalt kicked Rowan slightly as a quint little 'stop it'. He brushed it off quickly.

"So are you saying you didn't take an amber brooch from my stall without even reaching for your poach?" Your eyes widen slightly, almost unnoticeable as you grit your teeth. He really was the scum of the earth. Little rich boy couldn't bribe a lady into bed and he comes barging into your home with accusations.

"Last I checked, you were the one that said it was a gift. 'Consider the amber a gift' were you're exact words of memory serves." Unless he had multiple witnesses that all seemingly had a bottomless hatred for you, you would be back to bed in five minutes or less.

"Is this true, Terriwin? Do either of you have a witness?" Tybalt crosses his arms as the two of you seemed to bicker like children, it was like watching his own kids fight over a stuffed toy. You nodded your head down slightly towards Sybil. You pulled away from her and wiped her tear stained cheeks. Although you did feel bad for involving her at such a time, it was either that of possible punishment.

"Sybil, I know you aren't the best right now but, I need you to help me out here okay?" Your hands on her cheeks, stroking gently. She slowly nods her head before drying off her face with the sleeves of her dress before turning towards the two older men.

"I-I was with (Y/N). I was looking at all the different brooches and fabrics before Mr. Terriwin offered the amber. We denied the offer because of our budget, but he insisted that it was a gift..." Her voice slightly rough and quiet from crying and intimidation of their tall figures.

Tybalt looks to Rowan in expectancy, the latter with a hidden smirk on his face. Rowan gestures for a man to come forward. You didn't recognise him at all, he seemed frightened slightly almost like he didn't even want to be there.

"U-Uh, I um..." His words more of syllables and sounds then actually words. Rowan beckons him to get on with it as he taps his foot on the ground impatiently. The man takes a deep breath to calm his nerves before attempting to speak again.

"I-I saw Ms. (Y/N) run away from the stall with Sybil yesterday, what Sir Terriwin said is true I never saw them even reach for their poaches." This couldn't be happening. You couldn't exactly call him a 'dirty liar' since you did run from the stall but not for this reason! If he wasn't such an absolutely revolting deviant bastard-

"I also saw Sir Terriwin chase after them! But only managed to catch (Y/N), Sybil continued to run off down the street..." Tybalt looked towards you now in... disappointment? Before you could even utter a word out in your defence, you were shushed.

"Unfortunately, Ms. (L/N) whatever you plead this case evidently makes you look guilty. From what I've heard it sounds like you ran and when Rowan caught you, you passed the brooch to Sybil who continued to flee." Sybil looked at you frightened. You could only guess what she was thinking. You patted her head one last time before standing.

"So it seems..." No matter what you'd say it'd end up the same. You had to admit, he managed to spin this quite well in his favour. Would have been admirable if you weren't being punished for it. You sighed in defeat before looking to the brunet.

"What now? Public humiliation? A beating? Maybe even manual labour perhaps? Be quite fitting, I work for what I 'stole'." You counted on your fingers all the possible things they could possibly do. Rowan raised a brow at your behaviour. He was confused at first, and slowly became pissed off! He wanted you begging for forgiveness, willing to do anything to repay him. Not making a mockery of him! And then it clicked. He knew exactly what to do with you.

"How about the dragon's judgement?" Tybalt stared at Rowan wide eyed, as did you and along with everyone else in the room. Tybalt dragged him away slightly by his arm as Sybil hugged you tightly as more tears ran down her cheeks.

"Have you gone mad?! Judgement for some simple theft? The dragon would have our heads for even daring step into the mountain!" He yells in a whisper as Rowan crosses his arms.

"The dragon should pass judgement for such disrespect! For someone to dare commit a crime on the day of the feast should be punished!" Rowan keeps his volume to a minimum as he points towards you. He then grabbed Tybalt by the collar of his shirt with one hand.

"Don't forget who is in charge here, captain." Rowan drops his now crinkled shirt before turning back towards you. A mocking smile on his face as he looks down on you from his full height.

"Take her to the mountain! We let the dragon decide her fate!" Rowan yells as he drags Sybil away from you, her reaching her arms out to you as she cries and yells. Men barging into the room and carrying you out past you father who too, yelled for you pleading you innocence. Tybalt looking away in shame as you were dragged out of your own home and into a shabby wooden carriage.

Metal bars swung into your face as the wagon started moving up the street. You shake and pull at the bars hoping the carriage might fall apart with its loose planks. The bars only squeaked at shuck from the movement, nothing more. Eventually exhausting your energy before leaning your head against the bars, tears of your own falling and soaking into the rotting wood. Your hands squeezing the bars in anger,

AS YOU SCREAMED INTO THE EARLY MORN.

1416 word count.
edited: 13 APRIL 2021