Donkeyskin - ON HOLD

Of Unease

*Of Unease*

Trigger warning: This chapter contains a scene of sexual assault, so please read at your own risk!

The day after Midwinter dawned cold and stormy. Mattelaine and Elodie had returned early from the festivities–immediately after Elodie's dance. Both had caught the prince watching Elodie, and Mattelaine was worried that if he found Elodie, he'd find her. Elodie had worried because he'd seen her in her donkey-skin cloak, and later had seen her dance. He'd been the one to give her that cloak, she remembered, and it was a well-known fact that the Princess Elodie was an accomplished dancer.

Both girls agreed that it would be wise to avoid the village center for a few days, at least until the prince and his companion were gone. They'd also agreed, before the Midwinter performance, the Mattelaine would go by the name of Mattie, and, for reality's sake, would pose as Donkeyskin's cousin from South Avalon. That was as far as reality stretched for her persona, though. They decided she would pass as an orphan who was trying to earn enough to go to the capital and establish herself in some career.

And yet, as a new day dawned, Elodie found it more difficult than ever to keep herself from worrying. Every sound was the prince, coming to denounce her and turn her over to her father's men. Every shadow was a group of soldiers come to assassinate her.

As a consequence, she kept mainly to the cottage, carefully avoiding going outside, where men might be lurking to seize and kill her. Paranoia had set in, and, with it, Elodie sank into a dreary mindset, which her cousin's attempts to alleviate failed miserably. Whenever she was not tending some patient, be they animal or human, Elodie took to sitting at the window, hardly daring to blink, watching for the slightest hint that someone was coming for her.

On the fourth day after midwinter, word came from the village that the blacksmith's little daughter had fallen and broken her wrist, and so Elodie, reluctant to leave her sanctuary, and slightly panicked that she might come face to face with the prince once more, gathered up everything she'd need to make the little girl comfortable, swung on her donkey-skin cloak, and gave Mattelaine instructions for that evening's chores.

She hesitated in the doorway, casting a nervous, wistful glance at the hearth, where Mattelaine heated water for that week's laundry. Normally, she hated laundry, but her fear urged her to seize any excuse to stay inside, to stay safe. She shook it off. There was an injured girl who needed her attention; that came first.

One of the villagers, whom Elodie did not yet know by name, given her reclusive tendencies, waited in his cart to bring her into the village. She clambered up beside him, and they drove off.

In the village, she found that a group of villagers, led by Juliet and Ninon, had already made the girl comfortable in the little apartment above the blacksmith's shop. Elodie thanked them and went to work, splinting up the girl's arm, and then instructing her father on how to brew various tinctures that would ease the pain and speed along the healing.

She finished quickly, and left the poor girl asleep in her father's arms, worn out from the pain. As the blacksmith promised to shoe her mare as payment, the villagers who'd gathered to help went their separate ways. Ninon hung back, waiting for Elodie.

Elodie packed her things, gave the blacksmith a few final instructions, and slipped her arms through Ninon's. Together, they stepped out into the village square. The sun had set already, although it was hard to tell, with the sky clouded over as it was. The two girls paused beside the well, hesitating before going their separate ways.

"Is the prince still here?" Elodie asked, her eyes on her feet. She was sure that, if she looked up, she would find Ninon's eyes upon her, questioning her curiosity.