The Viking Alpha

Tea time

Cassi POV)

Cassi changed her clothes after Eva showed her back to the room. The clothes she had changed in that morning seemed fine to her. But she was guessing, as queen of a new land with rules and customs that she knew nothing about, she was quite sure the best way to go is to dress for a good impression. The golden gypsey skirt was elegant with layers of thin cut gauzy material. Pearl beads were strung down and around the hem of each layer. The top she chose was a simple black thin sweater. To keep it casual, just black flats seemed sensible for shoes. She asked Eva to help her with her hair.
It would appear from that simple request she had made the women's day. Smiling, she had Cassi sit at the mahogany vanity. Within ten minutes she had brushed her long hair and pulled it up in a french braid. Her shorter hair up front framed her face with little curly waves. Perfect! They then added a little bit of makeup and a dust of flowery perfume.
'Thank you, Eva.'
'You're welcome, my lady.'
This "your highness", "your majesty", and now "my lady" stuff had to go.
Smiling to Eva, she rose from the small stool and turned to her.
'Please, call me Cassi.'
Eva looked at her like she had just asked her to steal.
'Oh no. It's not proper for the servants to be so formal with royalty.'
'Well, this royal asks that you do not call her anything but her name.'
Eva still looked unsure and awkward.
'If you are worried what James might say, don't be. The way I see it, with me here there will be some changes. I can not speak for him but with me I ask if you'd treat me like a friend. I will treat you likewise.'
Eva smiled hesitantly. 'As you wish...Cassi.'
'Now. Can you please show me where one has tea here.'
Still smiling, Eva showed her out to the gardens. A stone table big enough to sit five at most was set for three. Fine china cups and assorted baked goods were on trays. A man was sitting about ten yards away playing a flute softly. She guessed he was some kind of G rated entertainer.
Natalie and Madga were already there seated at the table. The two children were playing together close to the flower beds with a ball and other toys. Two other maids that looked about in their fifties were close by, keeping watch over them.
'Thank you, Eva. Would you like to join us?'
Eva's eyes were like a deer in the headlights. 'Oh no, thank you, you...Cassi.' She whispered her name at the end. 'But I have chores to do. I'll leave you now if you no longer require my assistance.'
Nodding. Cassi released her. Sitting down Natalie and Madga looked both awkward and tense. Madga's black eye was gone but Cassi noticed the bruises in the shape of a handprint on her forearm peeking out beneath her long sleeve.
'Hi. How are you two, doing?'
'Very well, thank you, your highness.'
They both spoke in unison. As if it was scripted.
Smiling encouragingly at them, she decided to nip this in the bud now.
'Please, call me Cassi.' She held up her hand before they could protest.
'I think I understand the rules of custom with this formality. But as I've just explained to another, I want to be seen as your friend. Not just your queen. So please, indulge me.'
Natalie and Madga looked at her then at each other in shock. Obviously at a loss for words.
'Or you can see it as taking pity on another woman who is very low on friends?' Cassi advised sweetly.
Natalie and Madga laughed at the over the top puppy eyed look Cassi tried.
'Okay. I'll give it a try. But the king may not approve.' Natalie pointed out.
Cassi just scoffed. 'Leave him to me.'
With that, things became more relaxed. They enjoyed the finger sandwiches, warm pastries and tea. Natalie's little boy came scampering up to them with Dahlia's little hand in his. The little girl reached for her mother while Jeremy tugged on his mother's shirt then pointed to a muffin on the table.
'Peas?' He asked with the most adorable look on his face. Scooping Jeremy up on her lap then she broke the muffin apart for him. Dahlia was snuggled into her mothers neck and playing with her hair. Little gurgling purs could be heard coming from her.
Sparking her curiosity she just had to ask.
'Do you mind if I ask you guys something?'
'Ofcourse.'
'Sure.'
They both assured.
Cassi cleared her throat before speaking.
'When do you...how old are you when you shift? I noticed two kids yesterday in their wolf forms. Are you born like that or does it develop? No offence intended if it seems I'm prying.'
Both women laughed.
'Well, my first time, according to my mother, I was a year old. She said I was crawling then I just changed.'
Madga nodded. 'My first time I was about the same age. Maybe a little older. My aunt was watching me in her garden and then the next thing she knew I was trying to chase a squirrel up a tree.'
All the women laughed at the image.
'So it's not a full moon thing?'
Madga giggled again. 'No. But we do still honor it. Our kind used to turn on a full moon centuries ago but like all things we soon evolved.'
'Fascinating!' Cassi squealed. 'I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound rude. It's just so interesting. I'm...I mean I was…' The sadness that came in Cassi's voice didn't go unnoticed by the other women. 'I was a student at college. I was studying zoology until…'
Madga covered her hand softly.
'Until your mate discovered you and brought you to this strange land?' Madga filled in gently.
Cassi nodded. 'I just miss, my friend, Amy, and other things, you know?'
Madga sighed. 'I was living with my aunt on the edge of the forest when Elijah found me. I had no other family besides my aunt. My parents died when I was young. Elijah found me when he was hunting.' A faraway look came in Madga's eyes. Full of despair.
'He was charming and sweet. Then he convinced me after my aunt died a year later to leave with him. To come here. Then he became...difficult. Soon after I got pregnant, he became worse. I just wish…'
Realizing what she was saying Madga broke off in horror.
'Please!' Madga hugged Dahlia to her chest. Now snoring softly. 'Please, don't say anything.'
Natalie and Cassi shook their heads no, while moving closer to her. Gently touching her shoulders and her hands.
'What do you wish?' Cassi pressed.
'Nothing." Madga denied.
'You wish he was gone.' Natalie stated.
Tears spilled down Madga's face into her daughter's hair.
'I feel wrong that I think that. But he hurts me. He hit Dahlia the other night. I wanted to kill him but he'll kill me first. I can't leave Dahlia…' She broke off in sobs.
Tears formed in Natalie and Cassi's eyes. Natalie reached past Jeremy's body and grabbed a napkin to dab at her own eyes.
'What If he was? Gone I mean.' Cassi asked after she could manage to speak.
Madga sniffed. 'I don't know. He wouldn't let me work. I have nothing if my own. Dahlia needs a pack. I had one for a while before my parents died at least. So I had an idea of family and developed socially. So I can't go back to the forest. I…' she began crying again.
'What if you work for me? We'll find you a job here in the castle. You'll have a room for yourself and Dahlia.' Cassi offered.
Madga gave half a laugh and half sob as a response before attempting to speak.
'That's very nice of you. But I couldn't impose on you.'
Cassi shook her head. 'Hello? Have you seen this place?' She asked, indicating the castle. 'Too many rooms.'
Natalie smiled at Magda. 'Go for it. Room and board. I'm envious.' Natalie joked. 'If you want you can stay with me.'
'What about Elijah? He will never let us go.' Madga's voice was full of fear.
Cassi sat back. 'Don't worry about him.'
Madga looked a little hopeful. But uncertainty was still in her eyes.
'I just need time to think. Not about leaving him but I want to think what I should do for the future.'
Now a soft snore came from Jeremy. Breaking the sad mood. Now asleep against Natalie's shoulder.
Both of the maids came forward.
'May we take the children, my ladies? We can put them down for a little nap. When they wake we can take them to the kitchen to bake cookies.'
Natalie and Madga looked at one another before looking at Cassi for reassurance.
'It's okay. I've got an idea for us ladies.' Cassi said mischievously.
They surrendered the kids to the maids. Cassi got up and asked one of the guards on standby to ask one of the maids to bring alcohol.
Minutes later one of the maids brought a tray of all sorts of alcohol containers.
'We can serve ourselves, thank you.'
The maid went back inside. Cassi grabbed a crystal decanter of brown liquid. She opened and sniffed it. Bourbon. Perfect! Turning back she set it on the table.
'Now girls. I believe it's happy hour.'
'A what?' Madga now smiled a little. Cassi's playful mood affecting both women.
'Happy hour. Essentially we drink and do things we may regret tomorrow. It's a little early then when usually done but, what the hell?'
An hour later all three women found themselves at the fountain.
'Hey you!' Cassi pointed to the man with the flute. She noticed he kept staring at Magda. He looked like a boy with his first crush. It was cute. He blushed slightly at being caught. 'Play us a tune, will ya? Maybe something we can dance to?'
He smiled. All three women were soon dancing barefoot, giggling, and splashing each other with water. Cassi didn't know If it was the alcohol or that she had actually made a few friends today, but she felt invigorated. Maybe things really wouldn't be so bad here.
Suddenly the music stopped and Natalie and Madga bowed while stumbling. Laughing at the sight.
'Heeeyyyyy. You guys don't have to bow to me right now. I'd actually prefer it if you didn't.'
'Cassandra.' A tingle went down her body at his voice behind her. Turning she stumbled a bit. His arms came out to steady her. The tingle turned to electric shocks at his touch. She felt her alcohol buzz turn to elation all of a sudden. Her smile felt like it was about to break her face.
'Hi! You're here! My new friends and I are having a blast! You guys sure keep good liquor around here. It's been very good to us, that's for sure. Am I right, ladies?' Turning, she stumbled again.
They were giggling. All of them tuned out to her. The feeling of him so close overwhelmed her senses. It was all hypnotizing.
'...So,' Cas...er...H-her majesty suggested we have a...a...what was it again?' Her voice broke through.
Giggling she answered Natalie.
'A happy hour.'
More giggles but Cassi's mind kept focusing on him.
'A couple of the maids offered to take the children to bake in the kitchen with them. They are very nice ladies. They deserve something nice.' Natalie sniffed.
'We should have them join us next time! It'd be a girls night.' Cassi squealed, thinking of Eva.
'Yes!' They all agreed.
Feeling his lips on her cheek made her want more.
'Well. I'll let you ladies continue your fun. The men and I are going hunting.'
Cassandra felt suspicion sneak up on her. Didn't they do that already. Wasn't that what he was doing this whole time?
'I thought you already did that?'
'No. I got held up with politics and other boring royal duties.'
Definitely up to something, she thought.
'Know what I think?'
'No, sweets. What do you think?'
She poked him in the chest while leaning into him. His smell intoxicating her even more.
'I think you're up to something. Something you don't want me to know about.'
Smiling he kissed her on the head.
'Nothing that concerns you at the moment, love. I'm going now. Go have some more fun. I'll have one of the servants bring something for you to eat.'
What was he up to? Obviously something he didn't want her to know. Her mind was just too slow right now to put the pieces together. He kissed her one more time. It was too soft and quick. More damn it!
She grabbed him and kissed him hard. Sparks, warmth, and euphoria went through her. She pulled away to look at his face. Shock but soon turned to happiness was in his eyes. Smiling, he gave her a peck on the lips again.
She watched him turn away before hearing Madga's angry voice.
'Will you tell that no good, cheating, sadistic, abusive, bastard mate of mine that we are through?! I don't want him near or ever to touch me or my daughter again!'
Cassi went forward with Natalie to hug Madga.
'You can stay with me.' Natalie assured again. 'My mate won't mind.'
'Or me.' Having her and Eva under the same roof gave her more comfort and Madga definitely wouldn't be alone. It would be a win-win situation. 'We have plenty of room I'm sure.'
Turning back for James's confirmation, she saw his face before he turned and was retreating. His back was stiff. He looked angry! Angry enough to kill.