𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴, 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘦𝘴

The Fate

Mother steps back from the doorway to let us in. The grips on my arms have tightened considerably.

"Let her go." Mother speaks from behind me. I turn and see she is hovering awkwardly in the doorway.

When the Guards do not act at once, Mother repeats her demand. Eventually they let go and I am left standing there alone in the middle of the room. The Guards move to each of the doors, blocking any escape.

Finally Mother steps further into the room. She is staring directly into my eyes, a stern expression written on her face.

I wait for her to say something. I will not do what I did with Father. I will play this differently.

Still we wait in silence. Staring at each other. Silence... staring...

"What did you do?" Mother whispers at last.

I wait a few moments before I reply.

"I did what I had to." I say in a strong voice.

Mother shakes her head and rushes forward. Grabbing both my shoulders, her wild eyes search my face. I notice how shadowed the skin is beneath them.

"You did what you had to? What? Getting married to that filthy peasant was not something you had to do. Pretending you were with child was not something you had to do. Running away was not something you had to do. Hilda, you lied to everyone around you so you could do something like that - look where you are now. Look-"

"Mother." I take a step back and out of her grasp. "You do not understand. You never have. Father is crazy. He is the lier. He is dying."

It was like I had slapped her around the face.

"He is dying?" She whimpers.

I raise my eyebrows and tilt my head. So she did not no.

"Yes." I say quieter. "He told me weeks ago. Before the wedding. Back when I still cared about him. Before... before I found some secrets..."

She nods. Almost like she understood and knew what I was talking about.

"He has his let downs, your Father."

"Is that all you can say about him? He has his let downs? We all do. Some more than others but we all do. That is not a let down, he is sick. Beyond help now. Sick." I spit the last word out.

Mother closes her eyes and rests a hand on the arm of a chair.

"Why don't we sit down?"

She doesn't wait for a response, she just collapses into the chair. I perch of the edge of my seat.

"Ferox is disappointed with you." She says it like she is telling off a small child.

"I do not care about him."

Mother purses her lips together, forming a thin line.

"I am disappointed with you." She try again.

"I do not care." And somehow I believe it.

There is a tense silence before Mother nods her head and sighs deeply.

"What made you rebel? What made Lena go with you?"

"You know why. Because we are holding a Prince from Oxbourne and Father is crazy. There is going to be a battle and I - we - wanted to be on the right side."

I do not know how I have remained so calm. Possibly because I know that Mother has been bought into this just as much as I have. Her marriage was arranged, if she had a choice, would she have chosen this lifestyle? Probably not. It is Father I am angry with.

After some time Mother breaks the quiet.

"So, it is true? You are not married to Ferox."

I nod my head.

"He wants to speak with you." At that, she rises from the chair and opens the other door. She steps aside to let the blonde man in.

I stand straight and fidget on my feet. The tension could be cut with a knife.

"Hilda."

I shake my head and shout at Mother.

"What is he doing here? Why must we talk?"

She turns away from me but not before I see the expression on her face, written in her eyes: hurt? Pain? Like she is regretting something but I do not know what.

Ferox waits until the door closes and it is just us and the Guards.

"Hilda." His voice is toneless. I cannot work out what he is feeling. "You are young and naive. You were silly doing what you did. I was blind. I loved you. I did. But I did not see what you were capable of. You were just a girl. Someone I could easily marry and have influence over - but... I loved you..." our eyes meet. There was a strange connection I never noticed before. He really did love me... "I loved you." He whispered. "But it was the opposite way round - you had influence over me. Like I say, I was blinded. Blind from love. You used that to your advantage. You are clever like that. So... maybe... what I said... about you being naive... maybe I was the naive one..."

I remain quiet. I will say nothing. There is nothing to say...

Ferox sighs. "I am sorry for what your Father has planned for you... if I had it my way, I would not do it publicly. I would not want for you to be humiliated like that. But it was not my decision..."

What is he saying?

To answer my question, the door behind me swings open. I spin around to see Father marching into the room. I back away from the man I despise so much. My head whizzes as I try to remain calm.

As the door closes, he turns to me.

"Hilda." He says in a low voice. "Why don't we sit down."

It is as if something hits the back of my knees and I collapse into the chair I had left when Ferox entered the room.

"Oh good, you are going to make things easy for us." He smiled a leering smile and sits back in the chair, his hands resting over his belly.

Ferox stands uncomfortably in the middle of the room. Finally he makes a decision and chooses a chair close to his King.

I wait for him to continue.

At long last, Father sucks in a breath and begins to talk.

"I have made a decision. I knew what it needed to be a while ago. I was just drawing this out. For my own entertainment really." I hate the way he is speaking: a light tone but slightly sinister. "But now the town is waiting. Waiting for answers. Waiting to see what I would do... what I am doing is showing that I am not afraid to do what is necessary..."

He pauses and takes a glance at Ferox. He nods once Father continues in a harsher voice than before.

"I will do what I need to do. You will meet your death. You and that scum. You both will be hanged. Publicly."

You would think I would be frightened. Or angry. Or upset. But I am not. I feel nothing. Nothing whatsoever. I just sit there in silence, staring into my Fathers eyes, him staring back - waiting for some kind of response. He does not get it.

"When?" That is the fist time I have spoken to him today. Completely emotionless.

His eyes narrow before his snarl of a grin covers his face. He speaks.

"Tomorrow."