Forced To Love: Pierced By A Thorne

Chapter 6 - A Tainted Blade

The majestic body of "The Golden Empress" drew closer over the soft waves of the Southampton horizon. In view of Arthur, his spirit lifted along with the morning sun; for soon he knew he would be in France,hidden in a small part of the world awaiting his invite to return to Elizabeth's side on the throne of England. This thought had stuck in the forefront of his mind for several hours and it brought him great happiness. Arthur closed his eyes picturing Elizabeth in his mind. He deliberately remembered the contours of her face, the small details and the marks not even she knew she had. Every tiny freckle that appeared when the sunlight soaked her face, the dimples in her cheeks when she smiled, even that small glint of hope he sometimes spotted in her eyes; he remembered it all. All of her.

A swift gust of mild wind from the sea brought him back from his vision as "The Golden Empress" approached the docking bay. The great size of the ship cast a shadow over the port and Arthur was once again stood in the shadows. As the Empress finally came to a halt, bobbing on the gentle motion of the sea, ropes secured the giant to the shore. Crew members upon her deck lowered a jetty to the cobbles feet below and a stream of passengers began to stride down it, many muttering in French as they walked past Arthur. A small boy, a crew hand no older than thirteen, began checking the ropes that tied the ship to the bollards. "How long will she be, young man? Before the passage back to France?" Arthur questioned, curious of how long his wait would be. The boy seemed timid and afraid to answer at first, the bruises and friction marks on his arms suggesting that the crew he sailed with were hardly endearing. Arthur gave a look of reassurance, a gesture to signal the boy to speak. "I-I- They..." the young teen stuttered and paused before gaining the confidence to reply to the gentle stranger. "They found a tear in the main sail, sir" said the boy eventually, his voice surprisingly strong compared to the small build of his frame. When Arthur looked displeased the child backed away, apparently afraid of being beaten or attacked in the plight of his misfortune. Quickly he continued, now further away: "The journey to France is delayed, but it should be fixed in a short while" the boy finished.

Arthur's whole body sank. A delayed voyage to France meant he was a sitting duck. Arthur knew that undoubtedly (though he and Elizabeth had been as secretive as possible) someone, somewhere, would know about them and their affairs. As if the skies mirrored Arthur's inner turmoil, the weather began to turn and an intertwined pall of mixed grey clouds blackened the once glistening, bright day. The wind had picked up into a temporary violent gust and the bitter nip of the cold bit at Arthur's skin. Spots of rain began to speckle on the dry, grey cobbles and the once promising summer morning was beginning to turn. Swiftly turning on his heels, Arthur pulled his jacket above his head and took a swift walk to the back streets searching for the nearest open bar or public house. Peering, like a rat trying to emerge from the gutter, Robert followed Arthur with his beady eyes, calculating each move before he would make it. Before he could lose sight of the Duke, Robert followed in close pursuit: his footsteps masked by the splashing of the rain and the light tread of his boot. The heavens had opened and unleashed a fall of rain, so heavy and wet it was worthy of a biblical title; no rainfall of this calibre had been seen in England in decades. It was as if Robert's prayers to God to forgive him for the sins of his thoughts and actions had been answered, that the rainfall had been sent from the Lord above to wash away the sins he had committed, and the one he was about to commit. Like a serpent sliding through the grass, undetected, Robert closed in on his prey.

Arthur's efforts to search for close shelter were to no avail, this early in the morning no tavern, pub or boarding rooms were anywhere near opening. Angry grey clouds continued to coat the sky in a perpetual dullness. Everywhere Arthur went, Robert followed. The malevolence of his hooded figure trailing close behind, to the unaware pedestrian that would tremble at the sight; it was the living embodiment of the angel of death. Arthur's pace was beginning to slow, obviously tiring of searching in the wet and cold and Robert... he was ready to pounce. Like a lion on the vast plains of the savannah watching its prey, he was eyeing Arthur; monitoring his movements and planning to attack. The rain was now pounding heavily  and cracks of lightning tore open the sky. Arthur, seemingly giving up at his endeavour turned around... and there he was. The dark outline of Robert Brody, lit only by the brief whips of lightning. "Who are you sir?" Arthur bellowed over the turbulent weather. Brody stood, letting himself soak in the rain. "Sir! I shan't ask again! Who are you and what is your business?!"

"Arthur Vale. Duke of Westminster" Robert seemingly stated.

"Yes. I shall ask again, sir. Who are you and how do you know me?" A level of worry began to rise within Arthur's voice. Someone knew of his indiscretions with Elizabeth. Someone was after him, and someone would have his head. The devilish figure stood silent, no reply coming from its ungodly presence.

"I demand you answer me or I shall call my men"

"Arthur Vale. Duke of Westminster. High ranking General in the English Army. Forbidden lover of Elizabeth of York. How touching to think that one day she would be Queen and you her King. It really is a hard burden to bare knowing that I have to betray my family" Robert moved in closer towards Arthur.

"Betray your family? Surely.... it can't be... Robert. I was warned you were an honourless urchin but to sell out your family, your niece... your Queen"

"She is not my Queen!" Robert spat as he fully emerged to reveal himself to Arthur. "She is a weak woman who dares to challenge the true, rightful King of England! I am loyal to what I believe and I do not believe in her!"

"You would turn your back on your house, your name, everyone who trusts you for a cowardly usurper who dares challenge Elizabeth! I pity you. What tragedy must behold such a weak willed man who would betray his true family!" Arthur grasped the hilt of his sword unsheathing it slightly, cracks of lightning creating silver glares. Robert now stood opposing Arthur, his robe falling to the ground allowing the bitter rain to soak him completely - adding to his menace. "Put that stick away boy... your heart blinds you and your mind defies you. This is bigger than anything you could possibly imagine" Robert began to step closer to Arthur. Arthur unsheathed his sword completely, the fresh forged metal baptised in the summer rain.
"You dare to tell me of blindness and deception of the mind when you are so treacherous, so callous to your own blood?! I shall not let you pervert the path which God has set". Immediately Robert ran towards Arthur with his small blade. Arthur defended himself with his sword. To no avail...