Look Beyond What You See

Honey and Arsenic

 They had the servants packing all my belongings during dinner. As soon as we finished dessert, my family bid me their insincere goodbyes and Grandmother and Grandfather personally escorted me out of the house behind the Berkeleys. Grandmother had a face like a thundercloud, and Grandfather kept glancing at me sideways in a manner that could only be described as lecherous.

"Are you not pleased to be married, Aerys?" Grandmother questioned, her tone laced with honey and arsenic. I know what the correct answer is, but I cannot help my need to be honest with her. I will be leaving her power shortly.

"I am pleased to be leaving," I replied coolly, betraying no emotion. Grandmother's whole body tightened. This was not what she was expecting. I suspected (and still do) that she tried to enchant my necklace and it failed, or that the enchantment was somehow still not working as she wished it to work. "I have no doubt that this match has always been intended for me. It is not as if my opinion actually matters. Who am I to question what you and Fate have ordained?" She didn't like that. I think she forgot that I have been her favourite all my life and that she has encouraged my reading, encouraged my intelligence, and ensured my education. Amazing what memories a little insubordination can erase. Fortunately, Dmitri came up to us then with a strange look on his face. He bowed to Grandmother, but his eyes remained on me, until he was forced to look at the sorceress to address her.

"I apologise for the interruption, but my parents should like that we be on our way. It is a long journey home," he told her respectfully before returning his eyes to mine. I have never seen eyes like his, so vibrantly amber that they almost look to be on fire. Grandmother glanced between us with narrow, calculating eyes.

"Very well. We have no further business with you, anyway," she muttered sourly. Dmitri wrapped an arm, surprisingly strong and comforting, around my waist and led me to the automobile in which his parents were waiting.

They tried to make small talk with me for a while. They found that I preferred not to speak. Dmitri's eyes never wavered from me. I finally squirmed into a somewhat comfortable position against the leather seats and fell asleep. Although I was fascinated by the scenery outside my window--imagine, the whole world I was kept from all my life flying by beyond a single pane of glass!--I wanted to be alone, and it soon became clear that I was to have no respite from attempts to start a conversation unless I fell asleep.

Now, as I stand in the horseshoe driveway of an elegant mansion ablaze with electric lights, for night has quite fallen since I fell asleep, I wish I had paid more attention to our journey here. Since I have not, I have no concept of which direction we came from and therefore where I should best go if I wish to escape. Butlers open the doors of the automobile, pick up my baggage, and lead the way into the mansion. Dmitri himself helps me out of the automobile and takes my arm to escort me into what I presume is his home.

"Welcome to our estate, Aerys. I hope you will find it pleasant and soon learn to love it as your home," Wesley says simply with a kind smile.

"Thank you," I answer politely, as I must. Indeed, I have no idea what else to say. A million questions have swirled in my mind since the news was broken at dinner, but I haven't the foggiest idea how to go about asking any of them. How did you come to choose me for your son? What had my grandparents to do with this arrangement? Are we already married, or will there be a ceremony? If there is to be a ceremony, when will it be? Where will it be? What will I wear? What are the rules here? What do the servants do, and what must I do for myself? Will I continue my lessons, or am I expected simply to please my husband and bear children? Must I manage a household? Why have they not told me anything about this? Know you anything of my necklace and whether or not it is enchanted? How came you to know my family at all?