The Kingdoms Arrangement [H.S]

XXI

***** Artemis's POV *****

  Louise woke me up and told me there was an emergency, and I immediately thought of Harry. Once I got outside of the castle I noticed Harry carrying a young woman and a lot of girls following Hyacinthus into the castle. "W-what is going on?" I stumble across my words, shocked at how many women I see.

"We got them out of the basement, these are just the girls from one brothel." Harry shakes his head walking up to me, still carrying the young girl, she can't be more than ten years old. Harry hands the girl to a guard and engulfs me into a hug. "I never want to do that again." Harry mutters into my shoulder, and I hug him back tighter.

"We'll give the guards the information from now on Haz, you don't have to do anything you don't want to." I kiss his cheek softly and don't ask him any questions about the journey, by the looks of it the girls are pretty roughed up.

    I bring tea and sandwiches to the girls and they all seem very scared and most won't even accept the food even though it looks like they haven't eaten in weeks. I cannot imagine what they have gone through. I go to the youngest girl Harry carried in last, she hasn't left Harry's side since we got into the room to wait for my father, she is awake now and sipping on water.

"Hi I am Art. Do you think you could eat this sandwich and drink some tea? It should help you feel a little better." I hold the tea and sandwich out with a smile and she slowly takes the sandwich but doesn't speak. "Do you want the tea too?" I ask, and she shakes her head cringing at the thought making me giggle. "Okay, no tea then. " I look at Harry who is holding her so gently and he can't take his eyes off of her. What is he thinking? I'll have to ask him later. Hyacinthus has been making sure the women have been taken care of since we arrived, I am assuming it's keeping his mind off of Kit's passing.

    Harry walks up to me a couple hours after the women arrive, and wraps his arms around my waist. "Her name is Aurora." He whispers into my shoulder, and I look at him over my shoulder confused.

"Who?" I question, he looks so tired but he smiles gently.

"The little girl, her name is Aurora. She is an orphan, no Mom or Dad." Harry says gently, and I see his eyes close as he hugs me from behind. I find a mat on the ground and gently place Harry on it. He grumbles that he's 'fine' but he is obviously exhausted, I find a blanket and lay it on top of him. So that's what he is thinking, he wants to adopt her. I look over and see Aurora asleep on her own mat and I feel my heart melt a little. We just got married but I can't help but think about adopting her as well. I lay down next to Harry and wrap myself around him.

"How old is she?" I ask him, kissing his nose softly and he scrunches it.

"Nine." He answers, then sighs. "And no she had not been touched yet. She told me they were saving her until she was twelve." Harry's face contorts in disgust and my stomach feels queasy.

"Did she say anything about your father? Or who was keeping her there?" I look at him, feeling tears in my eyes. Who could be helping Heinrich do these disgusting things?

"When I mentioned him she started shaking uncontrollably and just kept saying 'bad man'. I do not want to push her." He looks down nervously, he has had a long night.

"I understand, I assume once they get some rest and food the older women will be willing to talk." I start running my fingers through his hair, trying to calm him down. "You don't have to do that ever again, but I want to tell you how proud I am of you."

Tears gleam in his eyes at the sentiment and he chokes out, "Thank you." Then we closed our eyes and tried to sleep.