She watched has large kettles of hot water was brought in to prepare her bath. She just nodded to the maids as they greeted her, uninterested. They need to leave. Preparation of her supposed wedding with lord LeSabre was in full swing.
She waved all of her personal maids away saying she would summon them when needed. She stepped into the bath and washed her body thoroughly. She was tense, she was not sure whether to proceed with the plan or not. She had a lot to lose if her plan did not work out.
She dressed in day clothes and took a small sack and put some things there. Her chambers were on the top of the castle. Her father once showed her a tunnel to escape through if anything should ever happen. Guilt consumed her but she was determined to go through with this.
She set out through her back door and entered the dark tunnel. She waited for a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. She crawled farther into the dark tunnel, tears blurring her vision.
After a while, she saw light and breathed out in relief. She quickly wiped her tears away and hastened her movements. When she got out, she stretched a little and started running, clutching her small sack, ran into the forests without looking back.
Free, she thought, I am free. Although soot covered her face and hands, she did not mind.
"Tristan?" Eric called softly.
"Aye," he was not smiling or angry. His face was just void of emotions.
"Well, Athena..she...." He stuttered. How in hell was he supposed to break it to him that his bride fled?
"She did what?" He said askance. He wore his tunic like an expert and brushed his hair back. He was not about to confess undying love to the lady, the least he could was at least present himself like a gentleman. Showing the lady how much of a brute he really was sounded like a bad idea today of all days.
"She is nowhere to be found." Eric said and stepped back, Tristan would go for his neck should he turn around.
He whirled in haste and searched Eric's eyes. He was surprisingly calm and collected about this. "She did what?" He asked again, his icy eyes darkening into two menacing orbs. He reached for the hilt of his sword and slowly drew the weapon.
"She ran.." He said again. "They were.." He didn't let her finish, he charged for the door with his sword gripped tightly in his hand. Eric and Jamie who has been silent all along quickly followed after him. He was in a rage.
"Aidan," Tristan yelled in the great hallway. His eyes briefly scanned the large space. He saw lady Annabelle dab her eyes with a handkerchief.
Aidan made his presence known in the room and kept his eyes leveled with Tristan's.
"Is what I'm hearing true?"
"It is with great displeasure that I tell you that it's true." Aidan muttered, ashamed of his words and his sister's actions.
Tristan was livid with anger, his icy eyes darkened and it was evident he struggled to control his anger.
"This is a conspiracy," he growled.
"Nay, this is no conspiracy. None of us knew that Athena would run away. She was ready to get married to you, we don't know what changed."
"Jamie," Tristan yelled, ignoring the Earl's and Aidan's pleas. "Ready the horses, we leave for Pembroke now." Jamie's eyes widened but he dared not challenged him, not when he was this angry. He just nodded and left the great hall.
"Lord LeSabre, I'm sure we can talk this out." Aidan said carefully.
"Lord Dracmore, have it in mind that I'll never forget what happened here today." He promised and "I swear I'm going to make you pay for humiliating me this much." And with that he was gone.
The ride home was tiresome. But Jamie and Eric dared not to complain. They were angry too and they all felt betrayed. The lady should have said no when the proposal was brought to her, but instead she ran on her wedding day, not to mention the uncultured way she was when they met, cutting her hair and speaking rudely.
He was determined to make her pay even if it was the last thing he did. Hell hath no fury like him right now.
Running was not as easy as she had thought. Most days she felt like she was going to die from fatigue. The nights were also bad enough. She had not the slightest idea about surviving the wild. She was determined to live through, no matter what happens now, she was certain she will survive.
Several days later, she found a small house. Relief slacked her shoulder muscles making them slump in some kind of way.
Entering the small house, she looked around for any sign of anybody who might be the owner. The warmth of the cabin enveloped her and she closed her eyes.
"Who are you?" A deep voice asked behind her. She turned briskly to face the man who looked rather young.
"I am lady..." Lady what will I say I am? She questioned herself. "My name is Athena." She said nervously.
"Athena?" The man repeated, "may I ask what you're doing in my cabin?"
"I.." She stammered, then she started crying. "I was running from some brute men, they are after me and now I'm lost." She wailed and watched the man discreetly, what she said was not a lie but it wasn't the full truth either.
"Do not cry Athena, you can stay here for the night." She couldn't be more grateful for the offer, she did not even think about it.
"Oh thank you my good sire," she said.
"My name is Thomas, Athena." He offered. "And I have a wife."
"Oh that's great." She said sheepishly.
"You look like lady Annabelle of Langley." Thomas said innocently. Of course, he knew her for her beauty was widely known across the lands. But not many have seen her personally. He must have seen her mother before.
Her heart picked up and she quickly shook her head. "No relations." She whispered after some time.
"Let me call my wife." And he was gone. He came back in with a young woman who looked about Athena's age.
Athena, meet Isabella. He then turned to his wife, this is Athena. She will stay here for at least two nights. The declaration made her shoulders sag in more relief, she would run to London after hiding here for two whole days.
"Isabella, 'tis a pleasure to meet you."
"Thank you Athena, it is my pleasure too."
Athena watched as Thomas recounted how they met to his wife and what happened. She was grateful that she was safe. But something kept telling her at the back of her mind that she shouldn't have ran.
What condition must her mother be in? She did not know. Maybe running was not a good idea after all.