Long May She Reign

Pain (Ep 1)

Finnegan was wrapped in a blanket in complete shock, tears stuck to his face as his friends gathered around him.

Water sat down in his left, "Why did the guards not stop him? Where were they? How did this happen?" She held Finnegan's hand gently.

"If the guards did not stop him then I hope Owen did. This court is a place of judgement and they will question her innocence and virtue. If Owen is not pure then she cannot be the Queen of France and all of our chances will be over here!" Gabriel tapped his foot anxiously.

"Please stop, none of you know anything about what happened!" Finnegan's voice was broken, like he'd been crying.

"Then please tell me."

Finnegan looked up to meet Owen's eyes, the servant held resentment in his heart, "I bribed a guard and spoke to him, he's being held in the dungeon. I swear to you that Colin is a good man, a boy Owen, he meant no harm!"

"How did he justify what he did to you? How could he possibly justify this Finnegan?" Owen was not angry, he couldn't be angry at his friend, but she wanted an explanation.

"He said there were people forcing him, he could not bring himself to say who as it terrified him but there are people with power giving him no other choice," Finnegan was more hurt by the fact that Vanessa had warmed up to Colin and seemed so close to giving a blessing to their union.

"What people could want to hurt Owen?" Martyn questioned from his place in an armchair close to Finnegan.

"People here at French Court. He could not risk any other information but you must believe him," Finnegan begged.

"Do you Owen? Believe him, I mean?" Water squeezed Finnegan's hand in support.

"What puzzles me most is how shocked he was when I fought back, let alone the fact I woke up at all, he was truly shocked," Owen relived the moment over and over and yet the look of shock on Colin's face never failed to confuse her.

Martyn stood and approached Owen, "He attacked you, why was he shocked you woke up?" He questioned.

Owen thought for a moment then looked quickly at her paper walls and back, "I was warned not to drink the wine and Colin handed me a glass," he breathed out.

"Who warned you?" Finnegan asked.

"That matters not, what matters is that I believe both you and Colin," Owen nodded, taking a hold of Finnegan's free hand, "And I will help him, for you, my dear friend."

"Thank you, Owen," Finnegan closed his eyes and let out a sigh of relief.