1 | master of arms [gisborne]

Nineteen

The first thing that Linda did as soon as she got to the castle was run to her room, lock the door, go on the bed, and sob like crazy. It was unfair, all of it. Prince John, the patronage, her father, life, everything.

A knock on the door made her look up from the pillows. "Linda, open up!" It was her father.

"No!" she screamed. "No, go away! I don't want to see you!" She threw a pillow the door, it pathetically bouncing off and plopping on the floor. "I hate you!" Then she buried her head in the pillows again, sobbing harder now.

Voices spoke outside her room. "See? She won't open up. Honestly, she is upset over a man. Hell, she is upset over my Master-at-Arms, for the love of God!"

"Give her time alone." The voice was familiar, but Linda could not put her finger on it.

Vaisey started to sputter. "Give her—?! Seriously, you cannot be for real."

"Let her grieve. It is unwise to interfere when one is mourning," said the person.

Vaisey started to sputter again, but then sighed. Grumbling, he left. Linda heard keys jingle, and her door opened. The person knocked and stepped inside. Linda didn't pick her head up from the pillows.

"Can I come in?" It was Thornton.

Linda sniffed. "What do you want?"

Thornton closed the door behind him. He walked over to the side if the bed and sat down, looking down at Linda sadly. "To talk," was his answer.

Linda sighed shakily and rolled over so her back was turned to Thornton. "I don't need your condolences. I don't want them," she said coolly. "I just want Guy. I need Guy." She struggled to hold back another sob. "Go away. It's not wise to interfere when one is mourning."

Thornton chuckled a bit. "Just fifteen minutes ago you were screaming at him, says your father. Now, you want him here. Seems strange, don't you think?"

"I wasn't thinking then," Linda said sharply. With a sad sigh, she closed her eyes and shook her head. "Oh, Thornton, I was not thinking at all. I never meant anything I said, yet I said them anyway." She rolled over to meet his eyes. "And now... now he's gone. I will never be able to tell him what I wanted to."

"And that is?" Thornton put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

She looked at the wall. "That I...I... I loved him." She smiled at the wall and nodded. "I love him, Thornton. I always have." She looked up and her smile faded. "Now, I can't tell him. He's gone from me..."

Thornton shook his head. "Oh, come one. Surely, he will survive."

Linda raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Of course!" Thornton pat her shoulder. "Thought very quick to anger, he can communicate."

"When he wants to." Linda chuckled at the thought of Guy communicating with someone.

Thornton returned the laugh. "When he wants to, yes."

Linda smiled. "How is she?"

"Izzy?" Thornton scoffed. "Do you know how hard it is to please that woman?"

Linda frowned. "Have you been nice to her? Have you treated her well?"

Thornton nodded. "I offer her protection, and my love, everything! She is hopeless."

"Easy, Thornton," advised Linda. "Try giving her space."

"Much like you suggested, hypocrite."

Thornton turned to see Vaisey leaning on the doorway, his expression not very please. He gave Thornton a look, and he sighed. Looking back to Linda, he gave her a pained smile.