Ahlva: Unbound

Chapter 2

After my morning lessons with Miss Maureen on how to socialize like a lady, Ronit helped me change into a dark green dress, that felt a bit tight around the chest area but gave me enough room to breathe so I kept it on. 

"Now remember, it's the bridge you take when journeying to the Naiein River" I nodded to Ronit as she scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. 

"But it's not at the Naiein River?" She questioned, yet again, her eyebrows scrunched together.

Since I am to be a 'lady' I have had to skip my self-appointed morning duty of delivering the bitch's food and be early for my morning lessons. After Father came to my chambers two nights ago, I realized that I might have been a little selfish. It was true that I was no longer a little girl but now a woman, and in being so, I had responsibilities. Responsibilities that include... being on time for morning lessons and actually taking notes on being a proper princess, which I have been successfully doing no matter how painful or boring it may be. So now I'm stuck trying to describe exactly where the bitch and her pups are to Ronit, who carries a small pouch with cut-up pieces of freshly baked bread I took from the kitchen this morning. 

"You know what Ronit?" I laugh in utter frustration, a smile of disbelief that she still doesn't understand where the bitch and her pups are, "I will do it! Hand me the bag and I shall go and return in a decent hour" I begin trying to snatch the bag from her but she pulls it back and hides it behind her back.

"No! You are to go to the mid-day meal and eat with the King and your brothers, I will go. You have explained where they are more than once" Ronit reassures me, nodding as she ushers me out the chamber's doors. "I promise I'll find them and feed them" She smiles before nodding one last time and walking off before I can try grabbing the bag again.

Pleased with her response and determination, I make my way to the dining room. I must admit, Ronit was surprised when I told her the reason I snuck off almost every morning was to: 1. yes, steal bread(Ronit convinced me to just take bread from the kitchen) 2. feed the stolen bread to the bitch so she could produce milk for the pups.

Something changed in her face, admiration perhaps? as I told her the tale. Maybe I'm just being arrogant. 

I finally reach the oak doors before they are opened for me, I nod my head in thanks to the guards and enter to find my brothers as usual scoffing their food down. 

"Where is Ronit?" William asks with a mouth full of spicy chicken. "Aren't you two always stuck together?" My other brothers turn to me. Cathal is slicing some chicken onto his plate while Daragh takes a bite of a cream-filled pastry. 

"I sent her on a... quest" I nod before sitting and piling food on my plate. 

"I hope it is nothing to worry about sister" Cathal lifts his cup to drink wine as he stares at me suspiciously. 

"I have given my word to Father, that I would be a lady. It's nothing to worry about" I raise my eyebrows and give a face that says 'as a matter of fact you arse-kisser'.

"You sure a lady eats that much?" William tries not to laugh. 

"Oh shut up" I throw a piece of buttered bread at him and Daragh laughs right as the doors on the other side of the dining hall open. Father and Captain Boru walk in, making us all stand in greeting.

"Captain Boru, I have not seen you for a while, how have you been?" Cathal smiles as he walks towards the Captain, before giving a strong handshake and familial hug. 

Captain Boru has been my Father's personal guard and friend for as long as I can remember. They've probably been friends longer than I've been alive actually. The Captain is one of the most trusted soldiers and guards of the keep too, seeing as he's my father's closest friend (from what I can tell). Captain Boru has a son too -Aden- who is -not surprisingly- Cathal's best friend, or at least I think they still are. Aden left for the far Northwest of Ireland after his mother died to train with the Ryleigh Men in the mountains. Supposedly those are the fiercest men you'll ever find in Ireland.