Flower of Bulann

Chapter 40

Ovinna lay in Vior's arms, she could hardly believe the position she was now in.

Who would have ever believed a girl who was abandoned by her parents to die, could rise to be the second wife of a great clan leader.

She looked over the small balcony and down into the gardens where Kinna and Hinata sat drinking tea with other ladies of noble birth.

Ever since the day she came home, Kinna had kept her at a distance... she felt lonely and without allies now... though lying here with Vior she felt some solace.

"I felt it," Vior said excitedly.

Ovinna had too, after so long it would have been strange if the baby wasn't kicking.

She stole a kiss from him, for in her current situation, Vior had been the only kind presence... had it really been only a few months since she saw him as her rapist?

Vior didn't back away from her as he first had, though she knew this was further alienating her from Kinna. But surely she deserved to be loved too... she rested her head upon Vior's chest and closed her eyes, memories of that day coming unbidden to her mind.

"Ovinna was raped, by you... my husband," Kinna stated coldly, taking her hand and holding it tightly.

Vior looked shocked, his mouth opening without words escaping... Ovinna, perhaps for certain now, believed that he hadn't intended to violate her.

Vior collapsed to his knees, bowing down to Ovinna and presenting his sword to her.

"Ovinna... no words I can say will undo what can be done, but if my death will bring you some closure, then I gladly offer it to you," he said without hesitation.

She had expected him to deny it, there was no way he remembered the act. Kinna's accusation alone enough to convince him of guilt.

Kinna gently nudged her, Ovinna had to decide his fate, and her own.

She knelt down before Vior, taking the sword from him... the blade felt heavy in her hands and she placed it down beside him, his death would solve nothing... indeed, it would make matters far worse.

"Please, Lord Vior, raise your head," she said gently, waiting for him to do so before continuing. "All I wish for, is that our child is not branded a bastard."

Vior nodded, carefully taking her hand. His movements purposefully slow as to not startle her.

"Then, I ask you to become my wife... Lady Ovinna. I cannot promise you the same love I have for Lady Kinna... but I will not hurt you again, and will provide for our child... my life will be spent in repentance for this act," he said calmly, though his hands shook as he spoke.

Ovinna hesitated, afraid of what Kinna would think... "I will accept your offer, Lord Vior," she said without thinking, only ever hoping to be made an unused concubine.

Now though, now her child, of it were a boy, would inherit the title of clan head one day.

Ovinna risked a glance behind her, Kinna smiled happily, but her clenched fists betrayed her anger at this situation.

Within the hour a priest had married them and Kinna's anger was palpable, perhaps only by her vast consumption of wine did she make it through the ceremony.

Ovinna noticed that Kinna continued to take comfort in wine, despite Vior favouring her over herself at all times.

At night the two of them would have sex, which Ovinna had found uncomfortable for weeks... before realising Kinna was doing it to assert some kind of unnecessary dominance between them.

But after a while, Ovinna simply watched them, she had remembered Vior being rougher with her. She had been sore for days afterwards... but he was always so gentle with Kinna.

Ovinna put up with Kinna's antics, her friend would soon get depressed when she wasn't pregnant and resort to drinking once more.

Ovinna had tried to interject several times about this increasingly bad habit... but Kinna had taken it badly, slapping away a helping hand and snubbing her concern wholeheartedly.

Ovinna woke up at the sound of an opening door, Kinna entered and pretended not to see her, taking a seat at their table and ordering Hinata to fetch wine.

Vior hadn't failed to notice Kinna's attitude and his disapproving look went unheeded by her.

Ovinna was worried for her friend, she shouldn't be jealous of her. Vior had eyes only for Kinna... but Ovinna could feel a deep wedge in their relationship forming now.

Ovinna reluctantly stood up, releasing herself from Vior's embrace, making an excuse that she needed the bathroom... perhaps she could make Hinata see reason, at least one of her friends would hear her out, surely?

She found her fellow handmaiden in the upper floor kitchen, slowly pouring a cup of wine whilst shaking her head.

"Hinata?" Ovinna asked quietly so as not to startle her. "Can we talk for a minute?"

Hinata stopped pouring the wine and placed it carefully on the wooden table beside her.

"Lady Kinna has told me not to speak to you," she said bluntly, looking down the corridor before speaking again. "But she is not here."

Hinata hugged her softly, placing a hand upon her belly.

"You are so large now, the baby must be due soon, surely?" Hinata said giddily, lightly pulling on Ovinna's sleeves.

"Yes, I will be nearly nine months soon... I must confess, I am nervous," Ovinna replied, her friend's giddiness spreading.

"Now Ovi... I mean Lady Ovinna, what do you need?" Hinata asked, having finally regained her composure.

"Could you do something to convince Kinna that I am no threat to her? I have tried so many times, but everything I say makes her angrier," Ovinna lamented, feeling hopeless once more.

"I have had the same misfortune I fear," Hinata replied immediately. "I have watered down her wine for weeks now, but she drinks so much for such a small woman."

Ovinna sighed, "how I miss the days when we were so close... before all, this, happened."

Hinata nodded, "I must go back now, Kinna gets angry if I take too long."

Ovinna understood that their friendship must remain secret for now... but perhaps when Kinna was with child she would calm down.

But as the days and weeks passed by, still Kinna was without child. Ovinna could hear her crying at night... but after her earlier attempts to comfort her were rejected, she felt loathe to worsen their relationship more.

Then came the fated day, and after four hours of labour, she gave birth... to a healthy baby boy and the heir to the Faden clan... and the open resentment of Kinna.