The Unforeseen [EDITING]

Chapter Eight

It had been a full week since Timena had left her chambers. She felt as though there was no need to leave when she had a bed, privy, and Eurina pleading for her to leave her room, but still giving her proper sustenance so that she wouldn't starve. 
     Timena let out a loud screech at the sudden feeling of her comforter being yanked from her body.
"What the-"
     "Enough is enough, get up this instance." She was shocked to see that it was not Eurina, but instead her mother standing before her with her hands placed on her hips.
     "Please go away." Timena turned back around to rest her head against her pillow but again, it was yanked away before her head could reach it.
     "Let's go, a bath and then breakfast. It isn't the end of the world my dear." Adelia said knowingly.
     Timena groaned, eventually getting out of bed. She glared back at her mother's smiling face. "You're a traitor." She said simply before walking away.

      The sunlight was blinding as she finally stepped onto the court. Timena had apparently forgotten what the outside world had looked and felt like. Through her squinting, she could see Samuel coming towards her.
     "Timena, what the fuck has been going on? I've been hearing something new every day." He spoke eagerly.
     "What is everyone saying?"
     "That you ran away to avoid Silas and gave Dela a near death beating when you returned." He replied as they continued onto the grass.
     Well, they weren't wrong, but the last bit was an exaggeration.
     "What happened Mena?" He asked with sincerity. She sighed.
     "My father traded me for the greater good of the island, so I may have no choice but to marry Silas." She groaned inwardly.
     "Is it true, that Delacroix helped him?"
     "Yes, she let him know that I was going to escape." She answered bitterly.
     Samuel's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Why would she do that?"
     Timena sighed heavily. "Your guess would be as good as mine Sam."
     "So, where did you go?"
     "I stayed with a friend of Norman's, his name is Makar, the most skilled swordsmith I've ever met Sam. You would really like him." She said fondly at the thought of Makar.
     He smiled. "How did Silas find you exactly?"
     Timena's face fell. "He'd made it to Vitabesk, and someone must have told him of my whereabouts after."
     "So, what does this mean for you and Silas?"
     Timena didn't have a definitive answer herself. "I haven't a clue, but I suppose escaping again is out of the question." Looking around, there stood multiple guards surrounding the open area and she sighed defeatedly.
     "Delacroix feels bad, I hear she won't stop sulking and crying," Samuel said, breaking Timena's reverie.
     Good. "It's what she deserves." She replied angrily. 

    "You do not fight fair; you know I'm not in my best state after sparring with Silas," Samuel whined,
massaging the back of his head to alleviate some of his pain as they went inside.
     Timena looked to him in disbelief. "Yes, I'm certain that's exactly what's preventing you from beating me." Her laughter echoed throughout the hallway as she reached the staircase.
     Entering her room, Timena was shocked to find a pile of dresses laying on top of her bed. Her mother and Ida, the seamstress stood in the center of the room, going through the materials.
     "Timena, wonderful you are here. We thought it would be best if you got all dressed up to have a little feast tonight." She clasped her hands excitedly.
     "Best for who? Timena asked wearily. "And in case you've forgotten, I don't, do dresses," Timena replied, pointedly.
     Adelia huffed lightly. "Well, tonight you do. You're having dinner with Silas."
     "It would be nice for you to have the opportunity to spend some time with him, before..." She trailed off.
     "How could you go along with it?" Timena asked suddenly, feeling bold. "Why?" 
     "Now dear, you need to do this. It means a great deal to your father to have this alliance with Calyx and it means a great deal for our island and its' people. I know it isn't ideal but-"
     "Isn't ideal?" Timena asked incredulously. "Y-You agreed to, let him have me-"
     "You don't think I fought for you?" Adelia shouted. "I tried to convince Silas to choose your sister, but he was adamant, what else could I do?"
     Timena remained silent as her mother began to smoothen out her dress, composing herself.
     "It should have been your sister, but since it wasn't, you have to do this. This is important and you mustn't be selfish Timena." Adelia moved towards her.
     She moved away from her mother's reach. "How can you call me selfish? You know I never wanted that life. That isn't fair for you to say to me." 
     "Whether you want it or not is out of the question Timena. You must do this, if not for us then for our people. So, you will have a meal with Silas and that is final." She strode back over to the dresses, clearly dismissing her. Timena was seething with anger as the seamstress came over to give her a gown to fit, offering a sympathetic smile.
     "I don't think I will." Sidestepping Ida, she left the room suddenly.

     Running through the halls of the castle, Timena chuckled as she caught the attention of the staff and it wasn't too long before the guards were following her. The guards who stood outside were immediately on high alert at her sudden approach; her lip twitched in amusement as they awaited her next move.
     As Timena was acting on impulse, she surprised everyone, including herself as she ran to the right side of the court before leaping over the edge. She flipped forward, landing on the grass lightly on both hands and knees, it took a moment before the guards began to move and with a smirk, Timena got up before running down the hill.
     Moving stealthily along the steep and rocky downslope, the sounds of the city nearby grew louder as Timena continued onward.
     Every single guard as well as King Silas, King Vassar, Aldus, and Miro had become aware of her movements and began moving into the city. They moved with a quickness, determined not to lose her again. It had become a game of cat and mouse as she went from building to building; each time the guards noticed her face, it was already too late as she had disappeared into the crowd of civilians or into a narrow alleyway.
     Timena laughed hysterically as a few of the guards yelling trailed behind her, she ran across the top of the low brick wall before jumping down and onto the cobbled stone path that overlooked the sea. Aldus and Miro stood idly against the brick wall, watching in amusement as they let her pass by. As the others began to close in on her, she ran onto the sand as they continued to chase her.
     "There's nowhere to go Timena," Vassar spoke loudly over the sound of crashing waves.
     "Don't you think I know that." She slowed her pace to a jog, spinning around a few times. "It was fun though wasn't it, a little chase?"
     The people of Gabaden had stopped, eagerly peering over the wall to see what the cause of all the commotion was.
     Vassar's face fell slightly at the realization. "Do you think this is a game?" He asked, sounding irritated.
     Timena's footsteps stopped in their tracks. "Well, isn't it?" She feigned sincerity. 
     Silas stood with an impassive expression on his face as the guards began to close in around her, but Vassar parted the crowd of men before pulling her by her forearm, then leading her to his horse.  

     "What would cause you to run off like that?" Adelia paced back and forth around the throne room. "Into the city, for everyone to see!" She yelled, throwing her arms up into the air.
     Timena swayed back and forth idly as her mother went off on another tangent about her senseless behavior. She'd known there was nowhere to go, but her anger had caused her to act out, and she felt no remorse for it.
     "Are you listening to me?" Her mother stood before her angrily.
     Timena's brows furrowed insincerely. "No, I missed it, could you repeat that?"
     Adelia's jaw twitched momentarily and with a parting glance, she promptly left the room. Timena snorted, now anticipating a lecture from her father.
     "What happened today won't happen again," King Vassar said sadly. "Someone will be watching your movements at all times from now on."
     She had expected that. "Was that your order or his?"
     "We both decided it would be the wisest decision." He answered with a sigh.
     She flashed him an insincere smile, "How sweet, you two working together." She turned to leave the room.