Aine of Diarmada

Chapter 4

Hey guys I'm trying to have a pic for every chapter so let's just say this👆👆👆is Roise!! (Without those eyebrows 😬😂) Happy reading and please vote or comment I would love some feedback 💚🍀

As I was getting ready for supper Roise came by my chambers. She wore a beautiful black dress and had her fair hair in a plait that reached down to her waist.
"Aine I just wanted to ask you something," she said.
"Everything alright?" I asked as we both sat down on the bed.
"No everything's fine. I was just thinking..." she smiled.
"Yes?" I prodded.
"Aine do you love Chulann?" she asked, looking at me closely.
I paused," well, Roise I don't know the man and I don't believe in an arranged marriage."
"I know that. It's just, I'm next," she frowned.
"And you don't want to?"
"No it's not that exactly. Aine...I'm not ready," she whispered, her big eyes welling up. I leaned forward to hug her.
"Of course you're not. You're just nineteen. It's normal to feel that way."
"Then how come every other woman gets married and are perfectly happy?" she questioned.
"I'm sure they were just as scared as you were. But I'll bet it will be different for you. You're going to meet someone who treats you well, who respects you. Someone who makes you laugh and makes you blush with every touch."
She broke the hug to look at me,"do you have that?"
A bundle of thoughts raced around my head and ended up crashing into each other. "I'm getting there," I told her.
"With Chulann?" she said, wiping her eyes dry.
I paused once again,"with Chulann," I smiled. But I knew I was lying to myself.

* * * * *

Supper was uneventful apart from father getting a little drunk and dancing with Roise for the whole night. Eoin was unusually quite and glanced at me from time to time. I suspected my father's presence was the reason, not to mention Chulann sitting right beside me. As supper came to an end and father finally stopped dancing I went over to bid him goodnight.
"Aine! So soon?" he asked, his words slightly slurred.
"Yes I'm feeling a bit tired," I told him, "goodnight father."
"Goodnight dear," he said, kissing me lightly on the cheek. I turned around to return to bed and Chulann was suddenly there. "I'll walk you to your chambers," he said. When we arrived I thanked him. "I'll see you tomorrow," I told him.
"It's not that late," he smiled, slowly coming towards me.
I held my ground. "I'm not feeling well actually."
"You seemed fine at supper," he said coming even closer.
"It must have been the drink," I said, backing into the wall.
"Poor Aine," he cooed, stroking his finger across my cheek and planting a kiss in its trace.
"Goodnight Chulann," I said, standing up straighter against the wall. He led his fingers down my neck to where my cross lay on my chest sending a tingle down my spine. "Beautiful," he said,"just like you." He flashed a grin.
"Goodnight Chulann," I said more sternly, looking into his cold blue eyes.
"What's the matter Aine?" He said. Just as I opened my mouth to respond Eileen burst in. With a sigh of relief I came away from the wall, no longer trapped.
"Eileen!" I exclaimed.
"Anything we can help you with?" Chulann asked, with a hint of tension and annoyance in his voice.
"Rosie's chambers. I heard a smash and a scream so I ran over to see what had happened. The mirror was shattered and the bed was over-turned," she rambled.
"Where's Roise?" I felt my voice rising.
"She's gone," Eileen whispered.