The Stable Boy

Only Cuts and Bruises

CHAPTER 4

Edmund walks in and storms over to me " WHO WAS IN HERE?" he roars at me grabbing me at my shoulders and gripping them tightly. I look him right in the eye "no-one i was talking to myself" i say clearly with my most convincing look "liar" he whispers and throws me to the ground. He walks around me and just looks at me i stand back up and he then speaks with a stern tone "tell me who was in here" i smirk at him "no" i respond he strikes me across my face my lip bleeds. Edmund pins me to the wall and holds my arms above my head he then collides his lips with mine i want to be sick i struggle to free myslef so i knee him in the chest winding him. I run across the room Edmund spins round the look on his face sends fear rushing through me "you will pay for that" he says with an evil grin on his face his strides over grabs me and beats me until i fall to the ground in pain. I cry in the floor my face swollen my arms aching "you will do as your told Diana because you are weak and helpless" he snarls at me i wish i could fight back but i cant my legs are like jelly but i know i am not weak he kicks me once more and leaves. I lay on the floor in pain and cry i hear the door re-open and then my face is met with kates "oh my goodness miss are you alright?!" she excalims in shock i decide to lie "yes im fine i fell down the stairwell and made it back here". Kate helps me up and puts me in bed "rest miss you need it" she smiles and leaves i drift of into a deep sleep.

I wake up the next day my lip has stopped bleeding but my body still aches but i could walk now without aid i get into my dress that has been laid out for me and make my way to the dining hall for breakfast. I walk in and sit down "what happened to your face?" mother asks with no emotion i her voice i look at Edmund he just raises his eyebrows in anticipation of what i am going to say "i fell down the stairwell" i respond not taking my eye of Edmund he shakes his head and continues eating. I pick up an apple and begin to knibble on it "eat properly" mother demands i ignore her and continue to knibble on the apple "DIANA!" mother bellows "i will not take orders from you" i say looking my mother staright in the eye.

I see that look once again of utter shock "i have lost my appetite " i say standing up and walking out the room. I head for the stables in search of Blake i see the stable master Mr Savage "where is Blake?" i ask Mr Savage looks at me "up by the lake m'lady" i nod and make my way to the lake. I finally make it to the lake and see Blake sat on the edge of the old wooden pier. I sneak up behinde him and cover his eyes "guess who?" i giggle he laughs "hmmmmm trouble" i crouch down and whisper in his ear "correct the best kind of trouble". He laughs and turns around and his smile ammediatly dissapears "what? is there something in my hair?" i ask confused he shakes his head "who did this to you?" he points at my lip "oh that" i say looking down. I go and sit at the end of the pier and look out across the water Blake joins me "Diana please what happened?" i wait for a while then say "Edmund abused me last night for not telling him who i was talking to" i look down at my hands. Blake says nothing he just hugs me i begin to cry we hold each other tight i cry onto his shoulder. Once i have stopped crying i let go of Blake "it's only cuts and bruises" i sniffle he cups my face "no its a crime" he says his blue eyes stern and dark in anger.

He holds me in this embrace and for a minute i think he is going to kiss me but he just puts his forhead to mine and whispers "never again will i let him hurt you like this" he kisses my forhead then pulls away. I swivel back round so im looking out across the water again and sigh a long depressing sigh and close my eyes. I keep my eyes closed and begin to lose myslef and feel myself falling i black out...... When i open my eyes i am underwater sinking and in that moment i smile and let decide i wont fight death and let it take me i start to close my eyes i am almost gone when i am dragged back up then i breath a massive breath as i reach the surface. I re-open my eyes and i am looking at the sky "am i dead?" i croak "no but you were damn close" says Blake "what happened you just gave up and let yourself go?" i smile and just say "i was ready to go" he just glares at me. He continues this look of pain and dissapointment "what?" i ask "you cant just make yourself matter to me and then give up that is selfish and cruel" i sit up and just stare at him "okay i am sorry" i say "don't bother" he says i felt those words sting me. Blake gets up and walks away i sit there and cry i dont want to lose him i cant he is all i have then guilt just takes over and i cry on the pier with nothing left to give but my tears.