Between Wolves & Doves

Chapter 11 Reveal

Another week in the life of a soon-to-be-wedded young woman perched delicately upon the dizzying precipices of matrimonial bliss; for she had to suffer yet another outing with her intended huffy Sergeant.

They were bid to the local theatre three towns over, this eve, to take a the comedic operatic of a show. A paltry pastime perhaps, Hux was not keen, where Iris entered the evening determined to have some share of joy in it.

She'd often found a healthier outlook far more substantially bearable, than that of a venomous one. A better application of her energy as far as she's concerned; her determination to enjoy such things outweighs the scope of misery she could place upon her evening.

She'd be sat down upon a comfy seat. In the dark. Not conversing. That sounds like some sheer brazen luck to her; she won't have to interact with Hux or his overbearing unctuous mother. But then her mind callously interjects that she'd have to spend the rest of her life married to the man. So one night's reprieve was almost sadly tragic. A happenstance to be mourned.

Pitied. If she had anyone who could so pity her in that manner.

They could certainly pity her now. Sat in a dark coach. Travelling and clunking along to the theatre house.

Hux sit's opposite inspecting the quality of the shine of his boots. Besmirching his valet's hand no doubt.

She sits opposite. All wrapped up in her velvet cloak and another silk dress he didn't compliment her on looking so becoming in.

A better man might've atleast called her pretty. Might've atleast made her feel just the tiniest bit flattered that he has her on his arm. No such luck with the loveless Armitage Hux.

Moody silence sits with them. Almost as if a completely intrusive third passenger. Heralding the frosty silence that's colder than the light of the icy moon outside tonight. Catching on all the snow. Shining over brown-frosted hills and dead winter trees.

They come to the gaiety of the theatre. Even as the coach pulls up, Iris can see numerous men and women flocking there. Driven in by the chill and the desire for the show. The name of which is emblazoned above the door. And in peeling posters all along the torch lit front of the stony theatre building.

A creamy edifice of domineering cotswold stone. The sleeting snow, like mush and rain and ice, patters and melts into the roof and seeps soggy into the dirty pavements. Spitting gloopy down from the heavens.

The weather is a foul as Hux's somber mood. He barely looks at her just as he barely offers her a hand down from his coach. She had wounded his ego most sorely the other night. With the carriage and the wolf debacle.

Iris has never known such frailty or scorned derision greater than that of a man's bruised ego. Softer than eggshell.

She would be more incensed at his sullen mood. If she wasn't already suffering in other ways. A persistent headache had taken up residence in her temples. It pinched and hurt and her tolerance for annoyance had furiously lessened.

They cross the steps up the foyer, and cut through the bustling crowds to come to the gathering of their family who await them. Their carriage preceded their own by mere minutes. Maratella rewards herself being so sly and forward thinking in sending Hux to fetch Iris in their second coach whilst the rest of her family rode on with her and Brendol.

She fancied she was giving the budding lovebirds a moment alone; probably imagines they'd steal a kiss or gabble excitedly about their wedding plans. Hopes for the loving future ahead. She wasn't to know they were barely on speaking terms.