Betrayal (Shadow Hunters Trilogy #1) *COMPLETE*

Interlude: Isaac

Due to a request of sorts from a reader, I decided to make a chapter to sort of show Isaac’s back story. There will most likely be more than one of these throughout the story but here ya go! :)

Seriously, one of the saddest chapters I’ve ever had to write I was crying. You’ll see why. Enjoy!

Elvedon – 10 years ago

May Day

“Emma, my love. Wake up!” Emma rolls over on her side but hears her name once again. “Emma!” She feels her husband roll her onto her back and say her name between kisses pressed to her cheeks. “Isaac!” She giggles. She opens her eyes to look up him. His boyish face is brightened by his excitement. “What is it?”

Grinning from ear to ear, he leans forward. “Today is May Day! No work in the field today. Only fun and merriment.” He leans down to give her a peck on the lips. “Get dressed in your finest and we’ll break our fast and then find some flowers and decorate our house.”

“That sounds perfect, my love.” She smiles, placing a hand on his cheek. He beams at her and placing his hand on hers, kisses her palm before rising. He leaves her to get the food ready until she calls his name. He hastens to their bedroom where she is standing in a simple brown linen dress with the back still untied. “Would you please help me, my dear husband?” She asks with a smile. “The bigger I become, the more difficult it is to do this.” She lays a hand on her growing belly and he smiles.

“Of course.” He walks over to her and grabbing the laces, he gently tugs at them and laces up the back, asking every so often if it’s too tight. Afterwards he takes the hanging pieces of the band that goes right beneath her breast and ties it into a bow in the back. As soon as he finished, she turns to face him and leans forward and gives him a peck on the lips. “Thank you.”

Following her into their little kitchen, he helps her with the pottage and sets up the few dishes they have on the table. He sits down and idly plays with the edge of one of the plates when he hears his wife let out a shocked cry. Jumping up, he joins her near the fire where she’s sucking on her finger. “What’s the matter?” He asks. “Are you hurt?”

“I was being stupid and burnt myself.” She says. “I was stirring the stew and my finger touched the side of the pot.”

Isaac chuckles earning a glare from his wife. “It’s not funny! It hurts!” Grabbing her free hand, he turns her to face him and puts a hand on either side of her face. “You, my lovely wife, are not stupid.” He kisses her forehead. “Young but not stupid.”

“I’m not young.” She says defensively. “I’m a grown woman of sixteen.”

“Of course.” He smiles and leads her over to the table. “Sit down and rest. I’ll serve the food.”

She frowns. ”Are you sure? I can do it.”

“Yes. Sit down and rest a while.” He says walking back over to fire. Spooning out some stew into bowls, he set them down on the table. They ate in silence and then Emma went outside to wash her face with the early morning dew as this was a tradition on May Day. All women would wash their faces with the early morning dew for it was believed that this would make them very beautiful for the following year. Once she comes back inside the hut, she combs out her long light brown hair before putting it into plaits. Once she finishes, the two of them head out to join the other villagers in picking flowers off in the meadow nearby.

The day was filled with laughter and merriment as Isaac and Emma danced watched the archery contests. Maidens gave out ribbons to the winners and people could be seen showing off their strength. With much urging from Emma, Isaac joined in and came in second, winning a ribbon from the May Queen’s hair. Winning this, he gave it to Emma, tying it at the end her braid. They walked around and laughed at the pranks that were pulled and saw the pile of cabbages stacked before the house of a woman known for her fondness for the young men in the village. Using a coin to buy a cabbage, Emma places it on the pile and shakes her head before Isaac leads her away to enjoy more of the May Day festivities. Close to dark, Emma starts to feel tired so Isaac walks her to their little hut. While she rests, he starts to cook some food and make an ointment from Emma’s finger from some marigold petals that he picked and added them to a small pot of fat and simmered them for a while before straining it and letting it cool.