As Maria was led through the pack house she eyes the luxurious estate with careful consideration, taking each and every observation into account. She couldn't help but notice the seaming lack of security at the start, yet felt comforted when she noticed that the security measures were simply hidden by the eloquent designs. All of the glass in the building seemed at first glance to be old, as old as the original structure, but at closer glance she could see that it wasn't glass, but rather a tempered glass like substance. It was thick as well. This gave her much relief.
At first she had believed that she would be taken immediately to the throne room. This being the place that the king would most likely meet with both threats and allies alike, but she found herself rather shocked when she was Shepard into a woman's quarter instead. She had hoped to convince one of the guards that this was the wrong way, but he simply smiled and said that she had to be presentable if she were to have an audience with the king.
They were greeted by a middle aged woman wearing a plain green maid uniform. She had a plump figure, lively violet eyes, and just a touch of silver peppering her auburn hair. She smiled brightly as she looked at Marie and said. "I'll take this one from here."
One of the gaurds stepped forward. He lowered his gaze, looking rather uncertain, but responded firmly. "Ma'am, are you certain that you should be the one to attend to this matter?" He questioned.
She looked at him as if she were eyeing a disobedient child and said. "The alpha wants her to bathe before he sees her, and I think that we can all agree that bathing a little girl is a job best left to a woman. "
The guard looked at her as if he was about to say something, but she raised an eye brow as if daring him to speak. After this he backed off, dropped his head, and said. "Fine, if that's what the alpha wants." As soon as he did this the guards turned on their heels and left, leaving young Marie alone and confused. Seeing the uncertain look on her face the woman offered her hand, and with a gentle smile said. "Pay them no mind. Those pups can be a bit over zealous, but they're good people."
This didn't settle Marie's mind at all, as it only heightened her confusion. Who was this woman that they so easily listened to her? Moreover, they had already told her that she needed to be presentable for her audience of the
Even as she undressed and slipped into the water she could feel the burning eyes of the women in the room. This was not because she was a rogue, however, but rather because large portions of her body were littered with scares of varying age. Even knowing the reason for their staring Marie couldn't help but find the pitiful looks from the other women uncomfortable. It's not like she asked for the scars. She gulped back a deep breath and tried to remind herself that she had nothing to be ashamed of. It seemed to be working until one young lady with light brown hair and large, round green eyes touched a very distinct scar on her arm and gasped from the sight.
Marie quickly pulled her arm away. "It's nothing." She said, the pain evident in her voice as it trembled from the memory of how she received that particular scar. It was a claw mark that she received shortly before her mother died at her own mate's hand. Marie wasn't eager to talk about it, but when the middle aged woman from earlier addressed her she suddenly found the words pouring out. "It would seem some of your wounds dig much deeper than mere flesh little alpha." She said, using a coaxing yet somehow nurturing tone.
Before she knew it Marie was answering the question that no one had even asked. "It was my mother." She said, fighting back the tears that stung her eyes. "When her mate started locking me up she blamed me. He paid more attention to how I was wrong than how she was right." She hugged her knees burying her face down as if hiding from the memory. "She gave me this as a reminder of the kind of worthless whore steals the attention of another's mate." She choked back a sob as she added, "I was eleven." Without another word she sunk down into the water as if it's warmth could wash away the reality of the memory she had just recalled.
The middle aged woman glanced at the others around her harshly as it warning them not to do anything else that could make the girl uncomfortable. Still when Marie came up the young brunette from before looked at her sorrowfully and said "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to cause you pain."
Marie smiled bitterly and replied, "No need. You didn't cause this pain. I'm Marie, what's your name?" She didn't really have any need to ask, but from experience dealing with the other rogue children knew that her opening up in such a simple way would make her feel more at ease.
As soon as she heard the question the girl's face lit up. "I'm Sandra" she said merrily, glad that she had not offended the girl. "If you don't mind me saying, you must be a very strong person to go through that and make it out to where you are."
Marie took no offense to the girls gesture of admiration, but couldn't help but frown at the thought that survival was a sign of strength. "You're wrong l." She replied simply. "Survival, doesn't grant strength. It's how you use the life you have left that determines your character. In that sense, I'm no stronger than you are, as I have simply done the best with what I have."
Sandra was confused at her words, but said nothing more. It wasn't that she didn't want to say more, but rather that she didn't quite know what to say.
They quickly bathed her in silence after that, but as the dirt and grime was washed clear from her body something else became extremely apparent. The middle aged woman from earlier was the first to notice. She had already known that the girl was considered an alpha by the rouges, yet the reality of her alpha scent was a shock to even her senses. All wolves of alpha lineage carried a particular scent that shows their origin, but as they matured and came into their own the scent would change based off of the choices they made and the hardships they had endured. This girl's scent in that regard was very distinct, to distinct to simply be the leader of a makeshift group of rogues. She was certainly and alpha by birth, moreover the strength of her scent and the notes of her scent spoke to an alpha who was greatly respected, loved by the goddess, and carried burdens well beyond her years. She couldn't help it as the overwhelming scent brought tears to her eyes.
Before she knew it the women present were practically kneeling before Marie. "Don't" she said, half muttering out of frustration as she added. "This is why I didn't want the bath. My scent used to make him sick too. Too much like my father's."
The middle aged woman smiled brightly, even as tears still filled her eyes. "If your father smelled anything like you do now then you should only feel pride in the legacy he left in you." She looked her straight in the eyes as she spoke to emphasize her resolute truth.
This made Marie laugh merrily as she said, "Thank you, miss?"
"Rose, young alpha, you may call me Rose." She answered.
Marie simply smiled. And gestured to get out of the bath. After exiting the bath Marie insisted on Rose and Sandra helping her dress. She wouldn't need help if it weren't for her being rather weak from hunger, but she felt that she could trust these two in particular. They didn't object, but quickly finished their work before leading her to the King's chamber at last. Marie didn't fail to notice the fact that Rose was mind linking someone on the way, but also knew that being in foreign territory she had no room to speak. Instead she busted herself by taking mark of the landscape and the easiest ways out if things went wrong. Because of her hunger she wasn't able to communicate with her wolf at the moment, but still hoped she was making the right choice.