The Cruel Prince's Wrath

Chapter 13

Tolanda quickly pulled out the key she had for the clinic door and opened it up after running ahead of Iefyr to do so. She quickly directed him to a bed she knew was fresh and Iefyr laid Senni on top of it gently. Tolanda hurried to get the ointment to clean Senni's wounds and she filled a bowl of water adding the ointment to it and fetched clean rags. Senni began crying again but that was a good sign that she was conscious. Tolanda gently dabbled her wounds then held a cloth to them.

“She has lost blood but... I think she will be alright, “ Tolanda said.

“I just wanted to see him again, “ Senni cried.

“I know,” Tolanda whispered gently, “I cannot imagine the pain you have been in,” she looked to Iefyr feeling a pang inside of her chest at the prospect of losing him.

“Tirrad would not have wanted this, he loved you, he would be saddened to see you this way and to see you have given up your daughter, “ Iefyr said as Tolanda dressed Senni's wounds. “Who did you leave your baby with Senni?”

“My... parents,” she muttered and told him where they lived. “Please... get her back for me,” she cried, and he nodded determinedly before he left. Tolanda finished dressing Senni’s wounds and then held her hand smiling softly.

“You are strong and your heart loved him so fiercely do not feel bad for this, it is hard to know what to do when grieving, “ she said.

“I thought... my daughter would be better off without me... I was not doing well with her... I could not even feed her. She would not take my milk.”

“I have not had children but perhaps we can try different methods for feeding her, I will help you Senni, you are not alone in this, you have us, you have friends.”

“You have your own worries, but you would help me?” she asked.

“Of course, we are friends, you and I have both suffered in different ways, perhaps we can be there for each other?” Tolanda asked.

“Of course,” Senni was still sobbing a little but it was subsiding. “However, I will not support you through your grief over Ievos leaving, he betrayed us all by joining that woman. That woman who killed my love, I will never forgive that, not ever and your affection for him should have waned because of it,” Senni suddenly sounded stronger; her sorrow replaced by anger.

“I... Senni, you do not know the full story of that so you cannot demand that of me,” Tolanda replied.

“I demand nothing, I know it is impossible to ask you to relinquish your love for a man you were bonded to, I know that I only say that you should not feel so strongly towards him any longer. He betrayed you,”

“I betrayed him first and yes, I do not feel as strongly towards him as I did before. Somehow the bond seems like it was... not a usual bond but my bond with Iefyr and my love for him is absolute. I have no doubts in my mind or in my soul this time.” She said and Senni smiled.

“Thank you so much for helping me and helping me see sense,” as Senni said that Iefyr returned with the baby wrapped in a light linen bundle, he held her like he had been a father for years already and his face had somewhat softened as he looked down at her then he met Tolanda’s eyes and they both shared a smile of affection. One day that smile might be over their own children.

                                                                                    ~~

Prince Moray sat slouched at the dinner table glugging another goblet of wine. He scolded over at his father as he finished it. His new bride sat to his side and Zia served up the wine at his demand. King Lyall sat holding eye contact with his son a smug grin on his face that his son had been forced to submit and marry for the solidity of the new kingdom. Prince Moray took Zia, the elven servant he had fallen in love with and plonked her onto his lap in front of everyone. She tried to squirm away uncomfortable at the upset of his forced wife and the scowling eyes of the king.

“I have forbidden you from touching her,” Lyall said.

“You learned nothing from the dragons did you, father?” Moray hissed. “I will take two wives, one for necessity, that’s you my dear,” he looked to his human bride Gilda “and one for love and everything else that goes with,” he went to kiss Zia.

“Please Moray,” Zia said pulling away from him.

“You will address him properly!” king Lyall slammed his hand down onto the table and she jumped. “And you, my son, are looking for some serious punishment, “ the king threatened and Moray raised his eyebrows intrigued.

“Oh? And what might that be?” he asked.

“I will... put you in the stocks!” king Lyall hissed, and the prince laughed obnoxiously.

“I will kill any man, any guard you set on me, so try it,”

“Theobald, “ the king said and the guardsman stepped forward. “will you kill your favourite? A man who saved your life?” he asked.

“If I have to,”

“You are drunk, son, go to bed,” Lyall ordered, and he did so but with one last glare at his father and a sway as he stood to his feet before disappearing to his chambers. His bride remained and looked across the table at the king.

“Are you alright, Gilda?” he asked, and she nodded but it was unconvincing. “Is he kind to you?” he asked, and she bowed her head even more.

“He... treats me like a nuisance, like I disgust him,” she said fighting back tears.

“Right, I will need to have a talk with him but that... elven woman is a distraction. I suppose he still has not bed you yet?” he asked, and Gilda shook her head.

“Hmmm, I see, he always was difficult,” he said with a darkened look in his eyes but then he stood and walked towards Gilda and perched on the table beside her. “You are beautiful, Gilda, my son is a fool but we must have heirs, you need to bed him. Have you not tried to seduce him?”

“Have you not seen the state he is in?” Gilda reiterated and the king reached an unwelcome hand to her cheek but she endured it.

“So beautiful, but… clearly lacking in feminine charm. I order you to bed my son, climb on top of him whilst he is passed out drunk if you must and try to force it,” he said and she scrunched her face in disgust now moving away from the king and standing from her seat.

“May I be excused my lord?” She asked, her tone stern, he smiled but the cold dark look in his eyes left Gilda with a chill and she hurried to her husband’s chambers knocking on the door.

“Zia?” he asked as he pulled open the door, but disappointment spoiled his hopeful expression, “oh,” he muttered just to emphasise it.

“Please may I come in?” she asked, and he reluctantly allowed. He was already half undressed for bed, he mostly ate and drank and slept since their forced marriage and it had begun to show on his once perfect and muscular stomach, a little podginess had begun to show.

“Moray-" she began but he cut her off.

“I hope you do not think I will bed you, you disgust me, horrible little wench! I hate you!” he growled.

“I know, I came to you about Zia,” she said, and he raged towards her grabbing her jaw with his hand and forcing her against the wall. She cried out but fought the urge to cry tears but she could not fight her body trembling.

“One word, Gilda, just one about me and Zia, I dare you. Utter one word and I will tear your jaw from your face!” he hissed before he released her.

“They said you had a nasty viscous side,” she boldly said looking up into his angry brown eyes determined not to let her fear take hold.

“And they said you were pretty,” he spat back.

“I am pretty but compared to that elven woman you claim to love and now treat little better than a w***e I cannot compete. You are drunk almost all of the time, you have gotten soft around the edges these past months it is clear that she is now disgusted by you and I do not blame her even you behave like a lecherous drunk, grabbing at her with your... greasy hands!” Gilda found strength and courage but then he turned and slapped her. She gasped. “If my father knew you had just struck me, he would demand that you are hung, drawn and quartered and I would not spare you one word for mercy,” she said with narrowed eyes. “I actually came here to you as I fear your father might be plotting something against Zia, I wanted to warn you,”

“Why?” he asked.

“Because I once loved someone too but my love... it would not bear us children, it was impossible and it was forbidden,” she muttered now looking away from his eyes.

“Y-you loved a woman?” he asked, and she nodded. “I had no idea,”

“Your treatment of me, I know it is not personal and born from a sense of frustration and resentment but towards your father. He keeps asking if we have laid together and I keep having to be honest with him, I can assure you the prospect of lying with you fills me with no excitement either,” she said, and he took a seat as though defeated.

“You are pretty, I do say that you aren’t just to... be cruel,”

“I know,” she replied.

“So, you... think my father might... try and hurt Zia?” he asked, and she nodded.

“I have an idea though, if I request that she... become my handmaid then she will be at my side almost at all times and I know your father would not dare put me at risk, my own father is too powerful to risk angering when he hopes to hold a kingdom,” she said.

“Yes, that is true…” Moray trailed off. “All your words spoken are true… I owe Zia an apology. I hope she can forgive me,” he muttered and then put his face in his hands.

“I do not do this without an agenda,” Gilda said and he removed his hands to meet her eyes waiting for the catch. “We must conceive an heir, I will not live with the shame of a husband who refuses to lie with me,” she said and he sat back in his chair simply looking at her.