Not everyone is born the same. Some are born smart, others creative, but this story is about a family born with something completely different for everyone else.
The alfson family was one of a few family's born with something no else had.
They were...
For the next two weeks, charmaine stayed locked in her room. She was determined to stay away from everyone. If she stayed away, she wouldn't hurt anyone. She only went out at night and only to the docks, to watch the stars shine. She finds peace in watching the stars. Seeing them shin made her think she wasn't so alone.
Her father and brothers have all tried talking to charmaine, but she refused to speak to any of them. They would just lie to her. She knows it. When they came up to her room, they would knock and ask to be let in, but she never asked. They could hear her moving around, but she never came to the door.
She barely ate. Only little pieces here and there from what her brothers would bring to the door. She was depressed and it felt like someone had ripped her heart out and broken it into a million little pieces. She didn't know what to do anymore. She didn't want to do anything.
She was broken.
Rune had come to the door the first couple of days, always asking for charmaine to forgive him. He was never let in. After the 5th day, he gives up.
It was for good reason. He thought she was done with him. Forever. He had broken a promise to never lie and had hurt her more than he know, But he had hurt himself as well. Rune himself was depressed. He had hurt himself when he agreed to marry Toria, but his father had demanded he marry her. He couldn't say no and he didn't fight back.
Charmaine heard footsteps coming up the stairs. She know it was her father by the smell. He smelled of freshly chopped wood and freshly cut grass. She had also loved that smell. It made her feel safe. Now it reminded her that her father didn't trust her.
He knocked gently on the door.
"Charmaine, little one. I know we're in there and I just want you to listen. I know I hurt you by not telling you and I'm sorry. I never meant for anything to happen. The family. I know you didn't mean what you did. Put all of us at risk. I love you my little cub and nothing you do will change that." He had spoken softly to her so no one else would hear. He meant every word he had said and hoped she believe him.
Charmaine lay on her bed. Tears were rolling down the sides of her face. She know what her father said had been true but she was too badly hurt to answer him.
She got up slowly and made her way to the window. She already had her red cloak on over her forest green dress with gold inlay. She opened the window ask quietly as she could. When it was open she slipped out. She landed gracefully and made her way to the dock.
Maddox heard her leave but he know where she was going and let her be.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Charmaine sat at the dock in peace. She had been there for a while. The sounds of the waves hitting the shore gently were putting charmaine into a trance. So much so, that she didn't hear when someone started walking on the dock toward her.
"Charmaine." The voice was nervous. Charmaine jumped when she heard the voice. She whipped her head around only to be met with the sight of rune. He looked tired. Dark circles under his eyes. His eyes themselves were lifeless. He looked like how she felt.
Broken.
Rune had spotted charmaine on the dock when he had decided to take a walk for some fresh air. He had stood and watched her for a little while, trying to get the courage to talk to her. He finally decides to just go for it.
Charmaine turned back around and ignored rune.
"Charmaine. I know you're mad but I can explain everything." Rune tried again.
Still nothing.
"Fine, if you're not going to talk then you will listen to what I have to say. It wasn't my idea. My father said I have to marry her for the family. I couldn't refuse. I had no choice charmaine. Please you have to believe. If there was something I got do I would."
"Lies. All lies." Charmaine didn't want to believe him.
In angry, rune walked up to charmaine. He grabbed her by the arms and pulled her up.
"Charmaine, I don't want it ok!! Believe me!" He shook her while he spoke.
"Stop it rune. You're hurting me!" Charmaine tours out of rune's hold. "What is wrong with you." She turned to walk away. She didn't want to look at his face.
Rune runs in front of her. "Please, don't go. Just listen to me!"
Tears were running down charmaine's checks. She grabbed at her hair and started to pace back and forth.
"Charmaine, never would I hurt you. You know that." He tried to grab her again.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!!" Charmaine yelling. She clawed at his hands.
"It's my fault! All of it is my fault! I'm sorry rune. I'm so sorry" Charmaine was balling. Everything, all her emotions started to come up.
"What are you talking about? You didn't do anything." Rune didn't understand what charmaine was going on about, he know he just had to calm her down. He lowered his voice.
"Charmaine. Charmaine. I'm sorry. Just breathe for me." She was breathing hard as if she had just gone for a run. Rune gently spoke to her. After a minute, she started to listen. Her breath evened out and she could breathe normally again.
"I just can't handle the thought of you leaving me," Charmaine whispered to him, but rune heard.
"Look at me." Rune put his hand under her chin and gently raised it, so she was looking him right in the eye.
"You will never, ever, lose me. I swear to the gods charmaine." The look in his eyes told charmaine that he was serious.
"You have to trust me."
"I do trust your rune. It's other people I don't trust."
"Don't care about other people. Trust me."
"I will." Charmaine nodded at him. Together there put their heads.
"Do you want to watch the stars with me?" Charmaine asked gently encase he said no.
He smiled. "Of course, I will."
The pair walked back to the end of the dock and sat down. They spend the rest of the night there. Just talking and enjoying each other company.
For the door of the main hall, Maddox stood and watched his daughter with the young man. Maddox trusted rune with his daughter's life but if he hurt her again he would feed him to the twins for supper. He smiled as he watched his daughter laugh with her friend. Over the years he had seen the love his daughter had, grown for the young warrior.
He approved it. He saw how happy he made her.
"Father, stop watching them and come join our game," Alec yelled for his father from one of the tables.
"Mhm, I am coming." Maddox gave one last look at charmaine and rune, then turned on his heel to go join his son.
