4: Siege!

I spent the early hours of the next day locked up in my room. Aisling and the other servants stood sentry outside the room as they tried to persuade me to open up the door but I sat by the small round table in my room ignoring their pleas to be let in and continued studying the map of the Brockbank realm that I had taken from my father’s library when I left the dining hall.

When I exited the hall the previous night, I had fled the room, intending to go to my bedroom to get away from the noise and sulk about my fate but as I walked down the hallway, I caught a glimpse of the library door, slightly open, and snuck in. The room was dimly lit and I walked through the rows of shelves slowly, studying each book before moving to the next.

This large chamber was my family’s library. While change is said to be a constant phenomenon, I liked to make jokes about this room being the only thing I knew that wasn't subject to modification. It held information about the realms, historical pieces, information about the other realms, and classified information on how our family’s business is run and it left me wondering why anyone would leave the door open given that visitors from the other realm were in our home.

I felt the hair on my hand tense as the atmosphere became charged. I turned around and peered in between the shelves to see if I could catch any sudden movements or anyone lurking in the shadows but, none of that happened. Instead, I heard a loud rustling of papers behind me and as I turned around, I saw a black hole close up immediately.

Startled, I took steady steps toward the direction of the hole which had now disappeared. I turned around to make sense of what had happened; something or someone had been there, it was either that or there was something in the food or wine that had been served earlier which was making me hallucinate.

I pinched myself and felt my arm throb as I rubbed my fingers against my eyes in a bid to clear them. “What was that?” I muttered and stared into space, confusion evident in my expression.

I twirled around in the room which suddenly felt warmer. I arched my eyes at the temperature, that was my cue that something was amiss. The Blackwell realm was a predominantly cold one, being that the area was predominantly occupied by vampires. Our ancestors knew that we did not fare well in the sun and did their best to lay claims to the coldest point of the planet.

Growing up close to mountain peaks had taught our bodies to acclimate to the atmosphere and geography. These factors made it easy for me to instantly realize the current difference in the atmosphere, I knew the room was currently empty but the drop in temperature set off alarm bells in my head as it proved that there was cause for panic. I turned my neck from side to side once more, in a bid to catch a glimpse of anyone lurking in the shadows but the only thing out of place were the papers that had been rustled when the black hole closed. That was my first inclination that I wasn't daydreaming.

There was a black hole here a second ago and it had disappeared in an instant. I had never seen anything like that in all my years. There were rumors of its existence within the realms but it was often considered as something that only existed in folklore, it was going to be hard to convince anyone that I had seen one. I lowered my gaze to the papers strewn on the floor and realized they were maps written in Blachurn. An ancient Blackwell language. Sitting on top of this stack was a map of the Brockbank realm which I snatched off the ground, peered at intently then rushed out of the library to my bedroom.

When I arrived at my door, I hurried in and shut the door behind me with bolts. I needed to be alone for the time being. I struggled with taking off my clothes but persisted till I had successfully taken everything off. I lay in bed naked and shut my eyes as I tried to fall asleep but the sound of the crowd getting drunk in the dining hall and my curiosity regarding the map I had taken out of the library into the room with me, kept me up till morning.

By dawn, I realized that I had been up all night spending hours poring over the darn thing. I was going to end up as a puffy-eyed bride but I had no regrets. If I was going to be sent off with Sweeny, I might as well study the realm that was going to be my new home. I knew from the minute I realized what was happening that there was no use trying to debate anything with my father. Nobody asks for my permission in these things.

I simply had to suck it up because, hate it or love it, I had a duty to my people and no matter how I reacted to it, that was my new reality. I hoped that I would find something interesting in that realm. Their settlements seemed to be arranged distinctly. The Brockbanks; being the ruling class had more land and more control over resources.

I knew that the smaller houses were put under some sort of tax system which was a bone of contention in that realm. I felt a fresh wave of rage course through my body at the realization that it wasn't enough to be asked to leave my home where we dwelt peacefully with the Banshees, no one batted an eyelid at the sheer ridiculousness of everything.

I was stepping into a realm with an atmosphere where the tension between the clansmen was almost palpable. I presumed that the pressure I would encounter living there would be almost discernable and all my father did was remind me to keep my identity a secret from the Laffertys and accomplish my duty to my people. Why did he feel like he could trust the Brockbanks?

This entire scenario started to feel like a weighty political move and the realization that I was simply a pawn in the grand scheme of things was as intriguing as it was irking. Perhaps there was more to it than meets the eye but I still couldn't wrap my head around the readiness to send me into the enemy’s camp.

“At what point would any of this start to make sense?” I said and listened as my voice echoed throughout the room.

I wondered how the people would feel to have a stranger be their queen, a descendant of the Blackwell House. Would they silently bear the burden my arrival would cause till they learn to accept or tolerate my presence or would I experience deep-rooted bias? To be fair, I didn't care much for their acceptance but it would make it easier living with them for as long as I had to.

“…once the king is dead, you will be brought back home.” My father had said earlier.

I wasn't sure those were his exact words cause I was too annoyed to say a word and rage clouded my thoughts at the mere fact that everyone in this realm thought I was a pawn on the chessboard. My life is a willing experiment. At that moment, I was reminded of how lonely I felt growing up without my Mam.

Perhaps, if she was here, things would've been a lot different… I think. I would never know. “Best not to think about the things one cannot control,” I muttered and sighed in resignation.

“Milady, please open the door. We have to get ready for the ceremony.” Aisling’s muffled voice wafted into the room, disrupting my thoughts and pulling me out of my reverie.

I tore my gaze away from the map I had been staring at and shifted my gaze to the hourglass on my table. I rolled my eyes, folded up the piece of parchment, and tucked it underneath my sheets. I inhaled and exhaled slowly to steady my nerves before taking quick strides to the door.

“Only you. I don't want to see anyone else.” I said loudly as I leaned against the door and waited for a reply.

A hush had fallen over everyone on the other side of the door, a few seconds later, I heard the shuffling of feet as footsteps receded down the hall. A short silence ensued then Aisling cleared her throat.

“I'm alone Milady.” She announced and waited for a response.

“Stop calling me that.” I retorted and held the door open.

“Get dressed, we're going to be late.” She said as soon as she stepped into the room, closed the door behind her, and saw my naked body. Her eyes lingered on my torso lustfully, then she shifted her attention to my face.

“Get naked. Come lie in bed with me.” I answered and she struggled to keep a straight face as we locked gazes.

“Your eyes. They're puffy. That's not good.” She replied, ignoring my utterance.

“Yeah. I guess, perhaps I could catch some sleep before we leave. Hopefully, we never leave.” I responded, walked towards the bed, and lay on it.

“You don't have a choice.” She began and walked towards the window, she pushed the curtains apart and opened the window. This let the cold air find its way into the room and I stared at the mountains in the distance that I would never see for a while.

“Who's to say that I can't decide not to leave this realm? This is my home.” I retorted.

“Maeve, you know, as well as I do that you can't turn your back on the realm now. The wedding has been conducted, Sweeney is right here, in this house. Your house. The minute anything starts to feel different, his men would swoop in upon us and I cannot tell you in appropriate words, what it feels like to watch your home be taken away from you. Now is not the time for rash decisions.” She said as calmly as possible.

“You speak as though the Blackwells are weak beings. We are one of the great houses in all the realms, we would not be wiped out by Leprechauns, Goblins, and whoever follows the mad king.” I retorted hotly, visibly annoyed.

“Anger would do nothing but cause more problems. You know this, your father knows this. He could've decided to feel insulted by the audacity of the Brockbanks to threaten the realm with war but he knew that would mean him playing right into the hands of his enemies. He's trying to dictate the tune.”

“Can he pay the piper?” I asked dryly. She shrugged in response.

“We'll have to find out. But, you have to play your part in all of this. It is your…”

“If you say duty, I'll lose my mind. I've heard that word over and over again, I just want everyone to shut up about what I should or shouldn't be doing.” I interjected and she smiled wistfully.

“You have to get dressed.” She said instead of completing the sentence she had begun initially.

“Promise you'll be with me every step of the way.” The words left my mouth before I could think about it.

“I pledged my life to you, Maeve Blackwell, you own me. Where you go, I'll go. Where you die, there will I be buried.” She answered back as she walked towards me, cupped my cheeks in her hands, and planted a kiss on my forehead.

“Let's get you ready before your father or your new husband sends people to come get us.” She muttered and I nodded in response.