The Thorn (wlw)

2 - Get Out Of My House

The morning was quiet. He wasn't even there when she woke up. When her chambermaids came knocking, they hadn't expected Leonore to be in the mood she was in.

"Do you want to talk about it?" said Terry. Frank stripped the bloody sheets without pause or comment.

"It was bizarre. He just slept," said Leonore. Teresa and Frances exchanged a look that irritated her.

"Why is the bed a mess?"

"He did that. His leg," she said, and Frank opened her mouth for a follow-up question. Leonore rushed. "I am as confused as you are. Don't ask me anything else."

They ushered her into her bath. Teresa washed her hair gently, saying, "I told you he was nice."

"Shut up, Terry," said Frank.

It was not a comfort to Leonore. She dreaded seeing him again, let alone spending the next nights of her life with him. But she didn't see Sir Gabriel all day, until her mother sent a footman to fetch her.

In the queen's drawing room, he sat in one of the armchairs and stood when she entered.

"Princess." Again that grating, forced voice. He threw a slanted glance toward the queen, and added, "You look radiant as ever."

Queen Carmilla waved a hand at the guards posted at the entryway. Wordless, they left and pulled the doors shut behind them.

"Mother. Husband." Leonore had gone with one of her more elaborate gowns today, and the metal petticoat made it difficult to sit, so she stood. Gabriel decided to remain standing up as well, though he made no move to step closer.

"Don't be curt, Leonore." Queen Carmilla came forward and held her hands, suddenly. She murmured. "I'm proud of you, daughter."

"For what," hissed hitherto daughter, who did not appreciate those words right now.

"For going through with it. I half expected you to run. I had thought you'd sooner make your own way into the world than go through with an arranged marriage."

Leonore up until now had not even considered that option and kicked herself for it, under the petticoat. Sir Gabriel cleared his throat; his averted eyes made it clear he heard.

"You arranged this marriage. Your words mean nothing to me," said Leonore, knowing she had the righteous upper hand and was now wringing it with all her might.

"It was to protect you. Sir Gabriel agreed," said the queen. Leonore turned her searing eyes toward the knight, who flinched and ever so subtly moved backward, in a seeming effort to blend in with the armor display.

Leonore bit her tongue; her mother's eyes grew impatient and while she wanted to keep poking at the dragon, her stick was getting shorter.

"Now. I called you both here to impart that you will be leaving in three days. Take only what you cannot part with. You will travel lightly and without fuss."

"First you marry me off and now you're getting rid of me? I really should have run. Saved you the time," said Leonore, temper flaring again. She got that from her mother.

Queen Carmilla's lip curled in anger, but her words were calm. "You're wedded now. I have granted you a fair plot of land for you both to live in. Down south. near a town. It will be good for you. You need a place where your union can become a home."

"And where's the home you made out of your union, mother?"

Silence. Even Sir Gabriel's armor stopped creaking. Immediately Leonore regretted what she said. Independently, she knew she went too far.