The Memory of Darkness (on hold until October)

31 - False Promises

Arianna was certain that she should be feeling some degree of regret. Instead, she lay half-awake, entwined in the bedsheets, feeling a strange and bewildering contentment. She had wondered in the past if he had placed some kind of enchantment on her. As she yawned and stretched, she concluded that yes, he had, though magic had nothing to do with it.

Lorcan was not in the bed with her, nor was he anywhere in the room, she pulled the sheets around herself, trying to force her mind into a wakeful state and failing dismally. A dull ache in her lower belly reminded her of everything that had happened, as if she could ever truly forget.

How many times had they...? She shivered a little, wondering how much this would change her situation. Would it change her?

The door opened, and Lorcan entered, distracted by something that he held in his hand. He looked up at her and smiled. "Oh good, you're awake."

"That's debateable," she replied, rubbing her eyes. "Is it morning?"

"No," he chuckled. "Early evening. You've only been asleep for an hour or so. Not that it matters." He leaned down to give her a gentle kiss. "I have something for you."

"I hope it's edible," she said, sitting up. "I'm rather hungry."

"I wouldn't recommend eating this," he said, offering her a gold ring. It was studded with diamonds and rubies which sparkled in the candlelight.

Arianna's eyes widened. "That is lovely, but it's a little... ostentatious. I don't go anywhere worthy of wearing such a thing." She added, failing to keep an acidic tone from her voice.

"Nonsense," said Lorcan. "A Princess should have the best of everything." Before she could react, he took hold of her left hand, slipping the ring onto the fourth finger. "Perfect fit," he declared, with a sly smile.

She stared in bemusement at her hand. "I think my right hand would have been more appropriate."

"I disagree," he shrugged.

"We're not married or betrothed," she said. "I don't know how things are done here in the mountains, but I'd rather-," she tugged at the ring, finding it stuck fast. By all appearances it should have been easy to remove, but it refused to cooperate. "It won't come off." She gave him an accusing glare.

"Of course it won't," said Lorcan. "It isn't supposed to. Why would you need it to come off?"

"I don't tend to wash my hands or bathe while wearing jewellery," she explained. The thought of a ring stuck on that particular finger gave her a sense of distinct uneasiness.

"You'll just have to make an exception," he replied, something about his smile making her even more uncomfortable.

"We're not married or betrothed," she repeated.

"Aren't we?" he said. "We live under the same roof, we're physically intimate, to put it delicately. We're as good as wed. Here in the mountains, vows in a church are optional."

Arianna's uneasiness had built up to become mild panic. "No," she insisted. "Church might be optional for you, but it isn't for me. You've never mentioned marriage before, you can't just declare us husband and wife now!"

"Can't I?" he asked, an unpleasant edge to his voice. "I think you'll find that I can do anything."

"Except set foot on consecrated ground," stated Arianna, hoping that she had found a flaw to his logic. If he couldn't enter a church, they couldn't possibly have what she thought of as a wedding, therefore they were not married.