Maiden of Moonlight | Tedros Pendragon

Chapter 2.7

" My heart has grown cold from being open for so long. "

S. Stepp

___________________

" Where's Marya? "

It seemed to be the question of the week amongst the girls as they noticed her tardiness or absence from certain lessons or even meals. She would always run into the classroom mere seconds before the teacher would, her eyes dull and features tired as she sunk into her seat.

It was no different than any other day that week as the Montague girl scurried into the room, slipping into the empty spot next to an excited Beatrix as the Dean sauntered through the double doors a few seconds later.

" Ladies, ladies, settle down." She ordered before beginning the lesson. " In addition to attacking our team, the boys will no doubt lace the Blue Forest with deadly traps-as will we," Heels echoing against the pristine stone and hips swishing up the aisle to the wooden lectern. " But a boy's mind is perhaps the deadliest trap, girls. When their dignity is on the line, they will resort to desperate tactics, perverse and unimaginable. You must be prepared."

Sader pulled out a large textbook from the lectern shelf, causing a large thump as it landed on the wooden surface, " Turn to Chapter 26: The Rise and Fall of King Arthur."

Marya tensed yet did as instructed, allowing her blank eyes to survey the page before her. It was a sketch of the late king. He stood tall with Excalibur in hand. Tedros looked so much like him.

The brunette quickly shook her head, ridding the thoughts that muddled her brain. He didn't believe her. He broke her heart. Tedros was nobody to her now. Evelyn Sader had made it very clear that the boy was just using her, and she trusted the older woman who took the Montague under her wing. The Dean seemed to be the only one telling her the truth nowadays as Agatha was becoming more secretive, always being found by Sophie's side.

Marya hadn't really conceived an opinion on the blonde from Gavaldon, but she certainly found her to be extremely self-centered. Sophie was constantly talking, seemingly content at the sound of her voice as she babbled on about absurdities, as if she hadn't plunged the Woods in utter chaos.

" Marya." Beatrix mumbled, gently elbowing her to pay attention as a ghostly three-dimensional scene melted into view atop the book page from upon the lectern, a silent diorama of King Arthur as he stalked through the once-polished halls of Camelot castle.

The Montague unclutched her hands from the desk, not realising her knuckles had turned white from her furious hold as angry thoughts consumed her. Why was she so angry? She had never felt such a negative emotion so strongly before.

" Arthur met Guinevere at the School for Good and Evil before he became king, " The Dean's voice narrated. " From the day they met, he knew she despised him. Still he forced her into marriage, for boys are brutal, ruthless creatures-and none more than Arthur."

Beatrix aggressively nodded from beside the Montague, taking in everything the woman was saying as Agatha disagreed from the back of the room. Was any of this the truth? Or just another of the Dean's twisted tales? Her stomach twisted as she observed Marya slowly nod in agreement. If the purest of Good was beginning to believe Sader, they were practically doomed.

" Guinevere had one condition, however: that each night, she and the king sleep in separate chambers," The Dean continued, her gaze falling upon her favourite student with her next sentence. " Arthur could not deny the request, for Guinevere behaved the perfect wife and birthed him the wretched son he'd always wanted. Yet still the king couldn't sleep. Night after night, Arthur tried to see inside his queen's room, but her door was always locked. Until one night..."