A Cold Night To Remember

[7] Settling In

Arovis was nodding off by the time she was lead by two female servants to what would be her new rooms. She was relieved to find a fire burning in the heart, warming the room and providing some light for her feet. The room was not ornate, but there was a frosted window from which the moonlight shone through onto a plush sheepskin rug. Next to the rug and in the center of the room was a large fourposter bed that appeared to have been hand hewn from pine logs further down the mountain. At the base of the bed was a large wooden chest. The servants went to the chest and opened it, revealing a stack of woolen blankets and thick animal furs. Arovis crawled onto the bed, it sunk down blissfully, it's contents warm feathers beneath her. Far better than the wooden cage she had been transported in the past few weeks...or had it been months?

The servants pulled off her shoes and soiled trousers, then helped her out of her baggy linen shirt. She had long since stopped being able to smell her own stench, though she knew she likely did stink terribly since she had not been afforded a bath their whole journey. Arovis noticed her mind was muddled with sleep, she hardly cared what happened to her now. The two servant girls whispered to each other in a language Arovis wasn't familiar with. 

"This way, my lady," The taller one said, guiding her to a low tub in the corner of the room near the fire. The other servant put on another log as the taller girl urged Arovis to stand in the tub. Then the girl's thin, pale fingers reached up to Arovis' sullied corset and began to untie the undergarment. Arovis stiffened, while she had been used to allowing servants to dress her, those had been her close friends, the people she trusted the most. Allowing strangers to touch her in such a way was unnerving. Soon she was completely bare, her skin prickled at the chill in the air. A moment later, delightfully hot water was poured over her head and down her body. The two girls used a block of soap to scrub at her body, removing the layers of dirt and sweat from her tan skin. They rinsed her, then patted her dry with a cotton towel before placing a linen shift over her head. The two girls then spent another hour combing out the knots from Arovis' hair, although she dosed while they did so, exhausted and finally warm. Finally, she slept, a bit of happiness creeping into her despite the situation in which she found herself. 

That night she dreamed of a tall, darkly cloaked man holding her close. His clothes smelled of pine needles and his stubble grazed her cheek as he whispered into her ear, "I've got you." Snow swirled about and his hood was blown back to reveal a face she was unfamiliar with, but her unconscious state told her it was Tristian...His icy blue eyes looked into her dark ones, causing her heart to flutter as they shared the same brisk air.

The next morning she found herself sprawled out on the bed, loaded with furs and her back finally not aching. She had slept pleasurably for the first time in so long... then her heart sank into her stomach as she was reminded of all that was. She was far from home, at the mercy of her captors, and Lyla was likely lost for eternity. Then she remembered dreaming, though it was fading already, but she certainly remember who she had dreamed of.

A knock came at the door and her two maidservants entered. One pushed back the thick curtains from her window, allowing the cool light to fill the room; while the other stoked the fire back to a blaze. 

"Good morning, my lady," They both said in unison, their accents thick with the northern tongue. 

Arovis sat up and wiped the sleep from her eyes, "Good morning."

A few moments later Arovis was stepping into a short woolen smock dress, her linen gown still worn beneath. They plaited her hair and pinned in behind her head, then wrapped her feet in woolen strips of cloth before slipping her feet into leather slippers. A hand woven belt of a common northern style was wrapped around the small of her waist before the two ladies curtsied and exited the room, leaving Arovis wondering what she was to do next.  Yet it wasn't but a moment later that two guards opened her door and beckoned her out. With one armored man before her and one after, they guided her back through the chilly halls into the main room. She took note of the turns and possible escape routes for future attempts. Now the main hall was mostly empty with a handful of servants still cleaning up from the celebrations the night before. A few men were passed out on the floor here and there, and a wolfish looking dog was licking a plate on the floor. 

"Ah, my desert flower," boomed the voice of the King. He looked fresh and pleased to see her. "You look even better now that you have rested. Come, eat with me." He gestured with his hand for her to sit at one of the central tables, the King sat across from her. Plates of some kind of hot, thick stew of oats was placed before them. 

"Eat, it will restore your strength," He said with a spoon in the air, then guzzled the porridge with gusto. Arvis discreetly slipped a small knife into her sleeve as she sat down. Then she complied, taking slow bites and finding it tolerable. She even recognized a bit of cinnamon in the meal. 

"I'm sure you are wondering why you are here," he began, sitting up from his meal. Arovis continued to eat, not meeting his eyes. "You see, when I heart the Thieves Guild was preparing to capture and loot a particular wedding convoy, I decided I wanted to know more. When I heard whose caravan was being attacked, I ordered my men to assist with the plan, provided I receive payment...That payment was you."

Arovis looked up, meeting the giant man's grey eyes. Her heart began to pound harder than she wanted. 

"You see," he continued, "My wife died some years ago, she was from the desert too, you see. I have a particular fondness for women of your...appearance. I have sent word to your father's house of my intention to wed you, and have included a bride price. I'm sure your betrothed with be unhappy about the exchange but I doubt he will march his army up our mountain to fight for you. You two have not even met, isn't that the custom?" 

"My father agreed to this- this arrangement?" Arovis chest filled with fire, a hate burning within her. 

"Oh indeed! We have made all the arrangements...Now, you may be wondering why I have gone through all the trouble of bringing you here and causing such a calamity for my neighbors. But you see, I am not only in need of a wife, but also an heir. I have no sons or daughters of my own to continue my line."

Arovis interrupted, "But why choose me? Wouldn't your people prefer one of their own as queen? Will not my heritage cause instability for your throne?"

The king smiled and laughed, slapping the table with his free hand, "Now *that* is exactly why I wanted you. You think like a queen ought to. You are right, my people would prefer someone of my same heritage. However, by marrying you, I will create a trade route between our homelands. Your father and oldest brother have both signed an agreement to keep the peace and trade flowing between us as long as your blood runs in the veins of our rulers. When my people taste your desert spices and eat off your silver platters, they will come to honor you as well." 

Arovis set her jaw, "I want proof. Show my the copies of your documents, if what you say is true...then...then I will submit to the demands of my king." 

The man before her smiled, then waved for a servant to come fourth. The man approached, his clothes dyed a deep blue. Arovis was surprised to see it was Tristian, hood gone she could see his face clean shaven and hair freshly washed. The scent of pine wafted over to her as he bent down to the king, handing him three scrolls of parchment. Tristian gathered the bowls and spoons from the table exited. The king laid down the documents outlining the agreement between him and her father. Her heart sank at the sight of her royal seal at the bottom. It was true, she had been sold to someone new. 

"May I know the name of my betrothed?" She asked with the least amount of emotion she could muster.

"Sedrig Ringsvaldir. And you are Arovis Su'babid..."

"When is the ceremony?" She asked, hoping there was in fact a ceremony and these barbarians didn't just consummate the union as their beasts did. 

"I suppose that depends on how long it takes for me to trust you," he reached his hand out to her, his head nodding toward her left hand and his eyes never leaving hers. As she lifted to her arm, he grabbed her wrist and pulled the knife from her sleeve. "I don't intend to be killed in my sleep, so we must get to know each other first."