𝒪𝒻 𝐻𝑒𝓇 𝒯𝒾𝓂𝑒 ║ Calum Hood

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒪𝓃𝑒

𝓙𝓸𝓼𝓮𝓹𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓡𝓸𝔂 𝓣𝓮𝓪𝓰𝓪𝓷

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It was, about, a fortnight into the new month, October. Leaves had been falling briskly off the trees and soon created a small pathway behind the crate I had been impelled into. I watched as the small town I once Lived in, became smaller and smaller behind us.

The wheel of the mount I was seated on let out a squeak every time we hit a pebble, which was often. I looked around at the dark oak I was trapped inside, maybe there was a loose board and I could climb out of here.

My dark soulful eyes looked over at the left side, it had green moss growing on it, maybe that would make it weaker? My hand lifted from my skirt, I pushed the board with all my strength until it broke in half and fell onto the dirt trail we were riding on.

I sat still for a while, just to make sure those boorish guards couldn't hear me. I scooted myself so I was right next to the hole, it was thin, but from my lack of nourishment, I could get through it.

I jolted my body out of the crate and rolled onto the ground, where the dust and mud of the worlds floor crept into my mouth and eyes. But that was the least of my worries. Picking up my once white, but now quite dirty skirt, I stood and began running as fast as I could back to the village.

The sound of the wooden mount got quieter as I ran, I needed to stay with my parents, my father us not ill but he is quite weak. Lack of food for his age was dangerous, he's 67 in a few months. My parents are 13 years apart, might seem odd at first, but when you were raise with it, it doesn't bother you.

I was growing tired and stopped for a rest, not looking behind me. My lungs felt as if they were erupting with fire, probably from the dust that was collecting in them. Before my legs could pick up their pace again, two hands grasped my arms with so much force it sent me flying onto the dirty ground, "Got you now you little weasel." The familiar voice rung into my ears.

"Get off me you bastards!" I huffed, and coughed. "Sure is a foul mouth on this one." The second guard chuckled dryly, "Maybe she wont be having as much fun as we thought." They both carried me, with their hands tightly wound around me.

Taking a thick rope, they tied my legs and hands together, uncomfortable is an understatement I reckon, drops of sweat were forming on my back as we got nearer and nearer to the castle, The skin on my wrists were fragile, which caused them to easily tear under the pressure of the rope.

Arriving at the castle, there was a bridge over a small river that passed along the green grassy field, the ground was no longer dirt but now it was a white brick, The scottish man grabbed me from the crate and pushed me along the walk, "You don't need to push me like a mule." I grumbled.

The castle was massive, from the outside. The steps were white brick, along with the rest of the building. I looked over the side of the steps at the entrance, the grass was bright green, like someone had turned up the saturation all the way. Rose bushes covered the side next to the river, I noticed there were no walls on the far side, so anyone could fall in.

the water was crystal clear, showing the orange and red fishes that swam with freedom, well, not exactly, Prince Calum probably took them away from their families too.

We entered the castle through a large door that was made of Birch. A massive chandelier was present in my view along with marble floors and white brick walls, "This is gorgeous." I addressed quietly, "Well don't get used to it Lassie, for all we know, you might be going in the dungeon for a couple weeks now." The man whispered close in my ear

sending chills down my spine, a dungeon? how cliche can you be. With their hands still wrapped onto my arms, they took me into a room that was still quite spacious, but was decorated with a large marble table, about 6 chairs were seated on each side, and one on each end. The farthest chair on the end was occupied by a man.

I brushed the dark bown curl that fell in front of my face away, "Prince Calum." Both the guards saluted, before Calum waved his hand, "I see we have ourselves a beauty here." Calum spoke, his voice was slow and deep. An elbow came crashing into my hip, "Introduce yourself." The guard on my left, whispered. 

"I am Josephine." I spoke, straight to the point, but not bluntly. "I see, Josephine, what is your last name?" Calum was now standing directly in front of me, his feet pointed towards mine, and his gaze dancing on my deep-set eyes.

"Teagan." I lifted my chin up a little, so I could get a full view of his face. His nose was rounded, not pointy, his eyes were dark brown, never had I seen a pair of eyes as dark and cold as his. It gave me butterflies thinking about his face so close to mine.

"Not a talker, her pretty face will make up for it though." His hand crept onto my hip, sinking down on my skirt, as if it was burning a hoel through my clothes. As quickly as it rested, I pushed his hand off of my body, "I'm sorry, shall I talk like this?" I projected, "And I do not remember inviting you to touch me in such a way, Prince." I fluffed my skirt and looked up to see a baffled man staring right back at me.

"Have you no manners?" The guard seethed, Calum only scoffed at my actions and looked at me with a rather blank look, "Find a new hobby other than pick on women you bastard." 

with that everyone who was in earshot of us gasped as if all the oxygen in the world were to disapear, "I don't have time for this, get her out of my sight, show her the maid quarters." Calum walked back to his seat and briskly sat down, "You're not throwing her in the dungeon?" The guard  intently.

"Get out of my sight." Calum repeated, I was taken away from the room and rushed down the hall, where many sculptures and art pieces were displayed. We walked down a large, wooden staircase, it led to a big cobblestone room that was filled with women, cooking, cleaning, even sewing. 

When the guards stepped onto the floor, it became so silent you could hear a mouse singing, "This is where you'll be staying, try not to call anyone bastard again, and you might keep it as your home." The man untied the rope that had been digging into my skin for the past hour,

 once it was off I looked down at my tender wrist, it has a ring of blood around it, luckily it was dried and all I would have to do is wash up. The two men walked right back up the stairs, all the women in front of me stared blanky, "Hello" I greeted with a smile, some began to whisper, others just left the room, and some laughed.

"Are you the girl that called his Majesty, a bastard?"

She gives me "Yup and I'd DO IT AGAIN" vibes y'feel me?

thanks for reading this chapter! I'm literally SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK I love period pieces so this is quite exciting to write. Let me know of any feedback or something fun you noticed, happy day!