Across Worlds

Ch 26 - Family

Wren was able to wake and sneak out without disturbing Evan in the morning, leaving him a short note saying, You looked too peaceful to disturb. I love you and will see you later.

She made her way to the stable to start work before heading to the training field to meet up with Carter and Cassandra. While the three of them were sparring, there was a commotion at the gate as a carriage entered, a man on horseback following behind it.

"That's the Trevelyan crest," Cassandra commented, noting the coat-of-arms emblazoned on the carriage as well as the driver's tunic.

The man dismounted, handing off his fine grey stallion to one of the stable hands and turning to help two women descend from the carriage. Evan was suddenly there, hurrying down the stairs from the upper courtyard.

"Aaron! Emily! Mother!" he said excitedly, sweeping the younger of the two women, who could be none other than his twin sister, into a firm hug. He clasped arms and hugged his brother and pressed a tender kiss to his mother's cheek.

She quickly ducked back into the crowd of soldiers as Evan's gaze started searching for her. She couldn't meet his family looking like a sweaty, common soldier. But that's what you are, her mind told her, and her heart fell. I can't meet his family, she thought, retreating further, they'll never accept me.

She kept her distance and stayed out of sight as Evan eventually led his family away into the keep. She managed to stay busy and avoid them the rest of the day, but eventually Dottie came to fetch her and hustled her back to her room.

"'Urry, miss! Ye don't wanna be late fer tha evening meal. 'Tis a special night what with tha Inquisitor's family here."

"I really don't think I should be there, Dottie," she protested, even as the maid shooed her behind the changing screen and started readying the bath.

"Nonsense, miss! Why wouldn't tha Inquisitor want ye there? He's courtin' ye after all."

"A fact that I'm fairly certain his family will not approve of," she said, letting Dottie scrub soap into her hair, too forlorn to stop her.

"Bah!" she replied, dumping a bucket of water over her head to rinse her, "Lord Trevelyan has ne'er cared what othas think. Not e'en his own family. He loves ye, miss, an' mark me words he'll make ye his wife regardless what anyone else says."

Wren's heart flipped in her chest at the word 'wife' and she wasn't sure if it was in fear or excitement. She dried off in a daze, her thoughts racing, as Dottie helped her into a pale ice-blue dress with embroidered silver swirls that looked like cresting waves along the bodice and bottom of the skirt. She left her hair down, curling it to fall in gentle waves over her shoulders.

"Thar, now. A beautiful lady to grace tha arm of our Inquisitor," Dottie said, turning her to face the mirror.

She hardly recognized herself. Her form had always been more muscular, but the constant training with the soldiers had given her a leaner, lither build that brought out the curves of her hips. The dress was cut to accentuate her smaller chest and she looked every inch a strong and graceful woman. But the nagging doubts at the back of her mind tore her down again, You're just a soldier playing dress up. You'll never be good enough for the nobility. You don't belong here.

The voice continued to hound her as she walked toward the main hall. She hung back in the doorway, trying to collect herself before wading into the brightly lit room, crowded with people eating and conversing, the sound of the minstrels playing providing an undercurrent of noise in the background.

"There you are," Evan said, surprising her from behind and spinning her into his arms, kissing her firmly in the shadowed doorway. She felt her doubts vanishing as a smile came to her face. Evan always made everything seem okay. "You've been avoiding me all day," he teased with half seriousness.