The King's Mistress

Chapter 13

In the morning everything had gone back to normal, well normal enough for this castle. I woke up suddenly feeling the sharp pain in my arms from where I fell. I threw back the covers and looked at my legs and arms.....bruised. Well it wasn't like anyone would say anything to drastic about the bruises.
I got up and got dressed which the dresses that were sent for me were always elegant and maybe a little to expensive.
I had gotten rid of my maids by telling them I didn't feel well.
All I wanted was to have time to myself to change instead of other people in here at the same time.

The day went on and I walked around the castle listening to any talking that went on. I heard from one guard state his opinion on Leo but it was just like the rest. Leo was an unfit king to rule and the guard made it all too clear his respect for the king had reached a new low.
I made my way to the thrown room where Leo was. I hadn't planned to see him but I decided a visit couldn't hurt.
"Mai, you came to see me?" Leo asked happily.
I looked around for one of his "onetime lovers" finding the room clear. Guards stood outside all the main door so our talk was mostly private.
"Afternoon your majesty" I said making it formal.
"Is it that hard to call me Leo?" He asked.
"I just thought formal would be better do to our distance lately" I said.
"Who's fault is that?" He asked.
"Yours" I whispered.
"Why is that?" He asked catching my whisper.
"Nothing...it's complicated" I said.
Leo stood up walking towards me. He walked slowly to me which made me uneasy.
His fingertips touched my arms as he came in for an embrace. I felt so dirty being in the same embrace as his countless lovers. I backed away trying to give myself space from him.
"Don't worry I didn't do anything last night if that's what's making you uneasy" he said.
"I don't believe it...you wouldn't last one night without a lover" I said.
"I was bored of them...I was waiting for you to come by my chamber" Leo said.
"Don't waste your time waiting on me because I'm not stopping by" I said.
Leo put a hand on his heart. "Your words are so hurtful" Leo said acting as if an arrow pierced his chest.
"Then you know my pain" I said as I tried to back further away.
"What pain?" Leo asked looking at me worriedly.
"You know exactly what pain I feel..." I said holding my temper.
Leo looked at me trying to figure out what he knew.
"I don't know why your in pain?" Leo said getting closer, his hand now touching mine.
I snatched my hand away as I turned around walking out of the throne room.
"Stop, Mai" Leo said as he caught my hand pulling me to him.
"You know....you know what you've done to me...your the one killing me...your killing me from the inside...messing with my heart.....I hate having feelings for someone who can't return them......I hate you" I said getting away and running out the room. "Mai!!" Leo yelled.
I ran to the main hall looking around to see where the guards were. I found myself running out into the court yard past the rose gardens toward the main gate. The gate was open so I bolted out without issue. I could hear Leo's yelling from afar once I made it into the wood,I bolted through the trees getting my dress caught here and there. I saw a few knights a ways in front of me so I dropped behind a large bush.
I could hear them pretty clearly as they spoke of a plan.
"Soon we get back what is ours" one knight said.
I peaked through the bush to tell their armor designs were different and their horses that were tied to the trees looked much sicklier than the horses in Leo's stable.
I started to back track as I got away from the little camp. I ran a different direction going towards town.
Something was going on and I was about to find out what it was. I'm town I became to noticeable in fine clothing so I changed to the basic attire of the town folks. I gave my dress to a nice shop lady telling her she could keep it or sell it for money for her family.
I got back out in the street and made my way through town. I noticed a tall man that I thought I recognized. He stood in the blacksmith's shop pounding the horseshoes on an anvil.
I went over to the man slowly.
"Eric?" I said.
The man turned to me. Eric, it was Eric.
"Mai!!" Eric said.
I hugged him tight.
"I'm glad your alright" Eric said.
"Eric...I need your help." I said.
He waited patiently for me to explain.
"I need a place to stay again and I was hoping you would take me back for a bit until I can sort out where I need to go." I said.
"Of course" Eric said.
"Are you still in the woods a ways?" I asked.
"No, I moved closer to town due to working here" he said looking at the workspace we were in.
"Good...I need time away from Leo...I can't stand it anymore I'm tired of his dirty ways" I said.
Eric left the blacksmith for the day to take me to his place which was only a half a mile away. It was a nice cottage but it wasn't like the first cottage we shared. This one had an upstairs to it which was nice and roomy.
Eric took me to my own room. It was a plain room with only a bed and a window. Eric apologized for the dullness but he hadn't expected to house anyone since his wife died leaving him all alone with out children to raise.
I made myself at home tending to the cleaning and cooking. Eric went back to town to buy food from the market since he would be feeding me as well.
Leo wouldn't search for me this time and I knew it. He wouldn't hold on to something that didn't pleasure him. I was far from that now. He had no use of me because I stop going to him a long time ago.
Eric came back from the market with a wagon full of food. I met him outside looking at everything he bought. Fruits and vegetables that I could fix up into meals. I carried what I could inside and began to work on the food. Eric came in with a few boxes while I was busy cooking away. I didn't know what they were but I bet they were part of his work or tools that he would use around the cottage.
I was tempted to ask Eric about the strange Knights I saw but I kept quiet.

Back at the castle Leo was trying to forget what happened today and hoped for Mai to return but his mind wondered on what she said.
"I'm the cause of her pain" Leo whispered to himself.
A knight came in requesting where to search for Mai.
"If she's not back now she's not going to come home" Leo said.
"What should we do, your majesty" the guard asks.
"She could be with the man she was with last time........I would like at least 3 men to search but do not cause a seen just find where she is and come back I'll go to her personally once you find her location" Leo said.