At Mercy's Will

Part 5

As the days passed Eileen found herself sitting most of the time. Edward was floating around which brought her pleasure and boredom. it seemed that when ever she was with him, there was something wrong that fired her up. sometimes she wished he would come and start nagging her. 

she closed her book with a heavy sigh and stood walking out of the library, supposedly this was meant to be their new home but she found it more and more different than she had expected. in her fantasies there were always people to catch or fight, but here there was the occasional scandal talk of some lady cheating on her husband. 

Eileen walked down the corridors and found herself wandering to the stables. the horses neighed as she walked by, she went to her own horse and patted his neck. her original horse had been changed to a retired War horse. Ace was a beautiful horse, with spots all over his body he was a true Appaloosa.  she supposed that since there was no war going on there was no need for these war horses. 

she looked around to find herself alone, she smiled and quickly saddled Ace. pulling him out of the stall and leading him into a place where she could mount him with no difficulty. she rode out of the castle and decided to look around the fields.

"Where are you heading off to?" a voice said behind her.

she looked behind her to see Edward staring at her, leaning against a pole with his arms crossed. he gave her a smile before pushing off the pole and walking to her side. she rolled her eyes and sighed in protest.

"I thought i would have a look around, after all i am to stay here unless directed otherwise." she said.

"in these parts it is unusual to see a woman riding with out a chaperone." he said with a smirk.

she huffed already knowing that there was no way she was going alone. she nodded and he grinned walking to another stall and pulling out a white mare. he saddled her quickly and hopped on.  he started off down the stable before stopping at the entrance.

"You coming?" he asked.

she sent him a glare, but urged her horse to continue on. they circled the castle a few times before she looked up into a window. walking by was Cinaed, he had scowl and followed someone. she stopped her horse and watched Cinaed disappear. 

"What is wrong?" Edward asked joining her.

"Nothing, shall we head back?" she asked.

he nodded, still glancing at her suspiciously, she led him into the stable where she handed the reins to the stable boy. without looking back she walked quickly back to the castle wanting to find Cinaed. Edward ran to catch up with her and she started to run.

"Eileen where are you going?" he asked running next to her. 

"No where." she snapped back, did he always need to know her every move?

she ran to the stairs of the tower and climbed them opening the door leading to the open hall over the bridge. Edward followed close at her heels and she led him to the place where she had seen Cinaed moments before. before they continue on a maid walked up to them.

"Excuse me, My Prince, my lady, they are calling for dinner." the maid said with a bow.

"yes, thank you we will be down just now. Eileen." he said taking her hand and dragging her out of the hall. 

she watched as the passage way disappeared. she followed behind him and pulled her hand away, they walked into the hall following some other lord. King Angus watched them, arching his brow. Eileen scowled at him and walked to Cinaed and sat next to him.

"Where were you?" she asked him

"i will tell you later, King Angus wants to speak with us both later." he answered

she nodded slowly, making eye contact with king Angus. he nodded and gave her a smile raising his goblet before drinking out of it. when the dinner ended Cinaed led her to the King's private study. 

they opened the door and found the king sitting and waiting. he finished signing the papers, he handed it to a servant who took them and walked away. they were left alone in the room. 

"Well i hope you two are coming to like the castle ways." king Angus asked.

"Why are we here?" Eileen answered.

"Right to the point, my you are so much like Amanda. well now that you asked i have a small test of faith for you two to play out for me. Duke Gibson has been annoying me lately, i need you to kill his daughter. and for you Cinaed i need you to drink this entire vile." Angus said holding up a small vile containing white liquid.

"Why do you need the daughter dead?" Eileen asked.

"to put him in his place." Angus replied.

"When?" 

"Tonight, it is the only way i know to trust you." Angus said seriously. 

Eileen's heart beat harder, Murder a young innocent girl! she couldn't do it, she hadn't even tried and she already knew that she couldn't. 

"Do not think she is innocent, her father has killed many." Angus said. 

"Just for her father's sins, she must carry the same?"Eileen snapped.

"You will kill the girl tonight!" Angus roared stabbing a dagger in to a map. 

Eileen didn't flinch, hate flashing through her eyes. he was the real villain, the real murderer. she stood straighter, scowling, the king's eyes held a cold humor. 

"Her room is next to her sister's in the west wing." the king said sitting back down.

Eileen glared at him and turned. she stormed out of the library to her own room. she knew that she needed to kill the child, she threw the furs aside and pulled the floor board out and pulled out a dagger, she hid it her in her arm sheath and set everything back in order. changing into her Black gown to blend into the dark, she laced up her boots and put her hood over her head.

the halls were dark and cold in the silent of night, she walked softly like a ghost to the west wing.  she took a deep breath and blended into the darkness. she passed other guest rooms and found herself quickly in the room the king had said was the girls. she tried to open the door softly but found it locked. 

with a huff of annoyance she walked to the widow and silently opened it, she slipped out onto the tight ledge. she jumped to the girl's balcony and climbed in. the room was dark but she could make out the out line of the bed and furniture. she made her way to the bed and looked down at the young girl fast asleep. she pulled the knife from her sleeve and held it over her head. 

she froze not being able to stab the young girl. she slowly let her hand drop to her side. with a sigh she pulled one of her earrings  and opened the vile. she held it tight before letting the liquid flow down to the girl's open mouth. she knew that it wouldn't be long before the girl died but to any doctor the girl would have died by some kind of heart attack. 

"Forgive me?" she asked as she felt tears streaming down her face.

she hadn't wanted her first kill to be an innocent child, she wanted it to be in war where everyone was dying, where she could quickly die but no. she walked out of the girl's room locking the balcony and jumping back to the ledge climbing in and locking the window like she had found it. 

she made it back to her room before she let her self cry. she yelled and punched the glass of the mirror. looking at her reflection through the broken pieces she cried harder.

"I truly am the monster they all say i am." she cried out.