Lady Rosalina stepped into the black, box carriage with tears streaming down her face. Lady Lucia followed and sat next to her mistress. As the carriage started to move, Lady Rosalina collapsed into Lady Lucia's lap and sobbed. Lady Lucia just held the young woman and let her cry it out. She knew that Lady Rosalina was hurting and there was nothing that could changed what fate had handed her. The journey to the port passed with nothing more than the sounds of the horse hoofs clopping on the cobblestones, and the soft sobs of Lady Rosalina in Lady Lucia's lap. About an hour of travel and they arrived at the port. General Fenris awaited his daughter to ferry her to her future.
The carriage stopped and a page opened the door. Lady Lucia stepped out and helped her mistress exit the carriage. Lady Rosalina stepped onto the dock and approached her father. Her head was down, eyes staring at the cobble stones of the road and the wooden slats of the dock. Fenris help a broad smile and made to hug his daughter. She shrugged him off and walked around him. "Be happy, Little Flower, you are about to marry a great man." he stated. "I could have married a great man here and stayed with my family." she grumbled and walked towards the ship. "You will be safe in Jutland." Fenris said as he jogged to walk at her side. She briefly looked at him and glared but did not say a word as she boarded the ship. She was led to her state room and that is where she would remain for the journey.
Lucia stayed with her mistress and wiped her tears as the young woman cried. "It may be better than you think." Lady Lucia tried to sooth her mistress. Nothing but sleep would calm her down. She knew that this was not a good situation for her. She could feel that this was not going to the great marriage her father claims it could be. She remembered what he had said about her needing to learn her place. This told her that her new husband would not give her the life that she wanted and would not support her eagerness to learn and make changes. She would just be used to keep him happy and raise babies. This was not the life her father had promised her.
Her anger grew as the journey continued. When they reached the port of Jutland, Rosalina was so angry with her father that she would not say a word to or even look at him. No matter what he tried she stayed silent. Finally he got angry and dropped her off at her husbands home and left. Once at the castle, Lady Rosalina was taken to her chambers to rest and ready for her wedding.
The next morning Rosalina was led to the chapel. There the Duke, Tor Arneson, stood waiting for her. The chapel was small, few pews, and one window at the far end shaped like a cross behind the alter. Rosalina could clearly see the face of the man she had been sold to. He was tall, much older than she was, his face was stern and scarred. It was obvious he had been in many battles. Rosalina shuttered and started to cry and didn't want to walk towards this man. Fenris walked up beside her and forced her down the aisle. Tor took her arms and turned her to the priest. He held onto her arm. When the priest asked her if she agreed to the marriage she didn't speak until Tor roughly squeezed her arm. Through her tears she whispered that she agreed. The wedding concluded and instead of a banquet, Rosalina was taken straight to the marital bed.
She stood beside the bed not moving and not letting anyone take her gown off of her. Tor was readied and he waited his bride to do the same. He grew irritated with her reluctance and walked over to her. He ripped the fabric and when she was bare he pushed her to the bed. Rosalina kicked and screamed but he was much large and stronger than she was. When she would cry out he would hit her. When he was finished he left the bed. Rosalina curled up and cried.
Later that that night, when she was finally allowed in, Lady Lucia rushed to her mistress. She saw the bruises on the young woman's face and the shredded fabric on the ground. She climbed into the bed and just held the crying woman. "You still think this will be better than I had feared?" Lady Rosalina questioned. "I am sorry, Rosi. I really hoped that your bad feeling was just a fear of change." Lucia apologized. "I don't want to stay here. I cannot survive a year with this man." Lady Rosalina complained. "I know but we have all been told that any letters that leave this castle will be monitored and if we tried and take you from here then we will be killed." Lucia informed. "So, he means to imprison me here." Lady Rosalina stated. "It appears that way. Do not worry, we will think of something. It wont be long before your Aunt and Uncle will want you home and demand that you be taken to Mercia. Once there we will find a way to keep you there." Lucia promised. "I hope so." Lady Rosalina said and then fell silent. She cried softly for a while before she fell asleep.
Lady Lucia got up and started gently cleaning her mistress us. She then took the shredded fabric and threw it out. She wanted Rosalina to wake up and have as few reminders of her wedding night as possible. Then as Rosalina slept she tried to work out a plan to inform the King and Queen of what happened to Rosalina, and how to get her home. She wrote out ideas and burned everyone of them. She did not want Tor to find out what she was planning. She would be no good to Rosalina if she was dead. Finally she came up with what would be brilliant. She would write to Edric and tell him that he needed to come see Jutland. See how beautiful it was. She decided to write it as if she were his lover. Something that she was sure would not alert Tor.