Huntress 2 - NaNoWriMo 2014

Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

The next day we got going pretty early and traveled the same way we had the day before. We stopped around noon for lunch by a river and I almost wanted to jump in there and take a bath. I didn't care that the water was freezing. Its been a week and a half since I have had any form of washing my body other than brushing my teeth which I do every morning and night still.

I decided on just washing my face and ended up being splashed by someone. It got all over my shirt and I started to shiver. The air was warm, but the water was freezing cold. "What. The. Hell." I yelled rather loudly.

Hayes immediately went over to the culprit, who was a small boy and questioned him. "Why did you do that?"

The boy looked fairly scared and I ran over to Hayes, "just leave it, he's just a child."

"A child who needs to learn a lesson!" 

"Hayes, cut it out. Its fine." I pushed him away from the child and shivered a little bit more. "I have more shirts anyways."

He nodded and I couldn't take the cold water on my shirt anymore so I pulled it off. Everyone froze and I crumpled it into a ball as I walked back over to the my bag that was next to the horse. Hayes followed me unsurely and I quickly put on another t-shirt.

"I don't want to intrude ma'am, but what is on your body? Do you need to see a medicine man or a healer about it? We can rush you to Lord Raymond's home if you would like."

I rolled my eyes, "they are tattoos Hayes. Someone put them there for me. Perfectly normal."

He seemed a little hesitant, "and, well, everyone seemed very uncomfortable when you removed your shirt. Please could you keep it on when you are around... us, people I mean."

I sighed and leaned a little onto my right side. "Hayes, I'm wearing what is called a bra. It keeps my boobs in place and you cannot see them. Everything is covered up, so its fine. I don't see why anyone would be uncomfortable when you still can't see everything. Its just a stomach, nothing new. Everyone has one."

He seemed really awkward about this subject and it looked like he was struggling to talk about it so I waved my hand, "whatever."

I walked back to the horse we had been riding and waiting until everyone was ready to move on. For the rest of the day, no one said anything to me. No one wanted me to sing at dinner and no one wanted to sleep anywhere near me. No one but Hayes but thats becuase he's been ordered to.

The next day around dinner time we found ourselves at to bottom of a large hill. The hill had steps going up it and at the top was a massive castel. "Wow, that's one bug castle," I commented.

Hayes tried to correct me, "this is one of the smaller houses of those in the circle, and it is no castle."

I shook my head, "no its a castle."

He tried to correct me again and I held up my hand, "I will believe what I want to believe."

He seemed to be getting more and more angry with me, but he tried really hard to hide it from me. I still noticed. After all, I wasn't much of a lady compared to the rest of the women we had been travelling with. The horses were able to get up the steps so a few men took them around the long way and the rest of us went up the steps. Hayes wouldn't let me carry my own suitcase so I insisted on showing him how the wheels worked. Otherwise he would have died by the time we got to the top.

Inisde the massive wodden doors we were welcomed by too many people. All apparently staff. But Lord Eric was there as well. He was Raymond father, and oddly enoguh, waiting for us to arrive. "Welcome everyone! I will have each of you assigned a maid so she can watch over you and show you around while you stay here. I hope all of you enjoy your stay and if you have any concerns, please come to me directly."

He looked at me and smiled, it freaked me out a lot. "Ah, our new addition, plase come with me. We need to have a chat."

I felt the colour drain from my face, crap. I'm going to be burned at the steak. Or beheaded. What did I do? I followed him at a safe distance and Hayes followed me. We ended up in an office and he told us to sit. He sat on the other side of the desk from us and smiled, "you're not in trouble."

I let out a breath of air, thank god. I get to keep my head.

"Raymond talks fodnly of you, you have told him much about where you are from," he began. "You are also quite the musician. We plan on keeping you around for a while longer."

I laughed lightly, "thanks? I think."

He laughed too, "we would also like to ask you if you wouldn't mind teaching our band a couple new songs of yours. They play the same three songs over and over again and we want to have a wonderful celebration in a week to welcome my niece back. Would you be up for the challenge?"

"Would I have to play too?" I asked. I wanted to know if I had to work all night playing music or if I got the chance to party too. Parting is my thing.

He shook his head, "we would introduce you and the band and you would only have to play a few songs with them, then you would be free to do whatever you would like."

"I'll do it," I smiled at him.

"Also, Raymond has told me you are not yet married and since neither of your parents are present, you might have a few complications at the celebration."

I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion, "what kind of complications?"

"Well," he paused. I really wanted to know. I was almost old enough to be an adult, I could take care of myself. "Some men might want to ask your father for your hand."

I looked at him a little confused for a minute. "You mena like my hand in marriage?"

He nodded, "I can have a friend play as a part in a parental figure if you would like. Or I would even be willing to do it -"

I cut him off by standing up abruptly. He looked a little startled, "I can speak on behaf of myself. I'm not a child and I don't plan on marrying anyone any time soon."

He sighed, "yes I understand, but the men at this dance don't understand women like you and Lucilla. You are both very independant and we know that you ca take care of yourself, but they don't know that. Lucilla understood that she had to hide that side of her in our society. You must understand that too to be able to live here comfortably."

I stood there gaping at him, "sorry if I come from a place where women have rights. Where women can voice their opinions and have the courage to ignore the comments that are thrown at them. Where women can choose who they wish to spend the rest of their life with. Where women don't have to get married at such a stupidly young age and don't have to marry if they don't want to."

He looked at me a little amazed by what I was saying, "that is true?"

I nodded, "also people of the same gender who love each other can marry and live happily ever after, or whatever. There are laws, but most people don't put up with shit like this."

He smiled sadly at me, "just send the men to me and I'll tell them no."

I let out a frustrated sigh, "whatever." Then I turned to leave, but he stopped me.

"Wait, there is one more thing." I didn't turn around to look at him. "The elven clan of the north is coming to stay with us. They wish to meet you before the celebration."

I shrugged, "I don't care."