Without a moment's hesitation, I popped back up and ran away from the couple to head deeper into the woods. My mind felt cloudy and my breathing became labored as I ran as quickly as I could towards the boundaries of Cromerth, so I could ignore what I just saw. I heard some rustling behind me and with the last of my strength, I pushed my weak legs forward, hoping to lose the person behind me. Without even realizing it, I made it to the boundary and not even a moment before I could stop, Aaron Gerard was right by my side, heaving alongside me, staring at me with a face I couldn't read.
When we both stopped our panting and was able to stand up straight, Aaron Gerard faced me with a stony face, one that I never saw on him before.
"So, Lisbeth. This is not the way I wanted to introduce myself to you" he whispered softly, almost like he was talking to a skittish rabbit.
"Not the way I wanted to meet you either" I announced, trying to calm my thumping heart. He eyed me up and down, and I knew I looked like a mess. I just hoped he didn't focus on that but on what I just witnessed.
"So, you know…" he scratched his head, buying himself from time. I waited patiently for him to speak, not sure where he was going with this. "I hope you aren't offended by what you just saw, I was just getting bachelorhood out of my system, you know, er, before we become committed together, for the rest of our days."
"So, you choose Lucille Anderson, a married woman with a newborn, to get bachelorhood out of your system" I scoffed, not afraid to hide what I thought of his declaration. My dream of finding companionship within my betrothed flitted away as quickly as it did when I dreamed it up. I felt truly angry at the predicament I was in.
"Well…yes" he started out, trying to take a step closer to me. I jumped back, not wanting to be anywhere near the man. "Might as well get with someone who is already committed and won't be sniffing around me when we are married, you know." I scoffed again at his words. He tried taking another step towards me, and I jumped back, this time hitting the barrier that held us inside for the many centuries that we came to know Cromerth.
Seeing my predicament, he rushed up and stood in front of me, making me feel like Mrs. Anderson pinned up against the tree. I felt my mouth drop open, my instinct to scream but Aaron Gerard covered it with his sweaty hand. I felt trapped and only prayed that this man, my betrothed, will go easy on me.
"Here is what we are going to do, my future wife" he whispered, not hiding any uncertainty anymore. "You will not tell a soul what you saw today. When the month hits, you will be a blushing bride, and I will be your dashing groom. We will live in civility and peace, but you will be understanding when I want to do things on my own and you will get the same respect when you are keeping our house. Do you understand?" Numbed by his statements, I nodded, and he slowly let go of my mouth, but still had me pinned to the barrier. I took a deep breath of fresh air and turned to look up at his face to better understand what he was hinting at. He obviously wanted Mrs. Anderson to be his companion, but we all know the rules if he gets caught, especially if you are already married. I also know that he does not really want me to be his wife, but that led me to wonder why put his name in for me in the first place. I knew it was a risk, but I had to ask, even if it led to abuse the way I believe this man is capable of.
"I understand." I whispered, feeling sweat on my brow. "I think though, I at least deserve some explanations before we have our fairy-tale ending." He looked at me, seeing if I was being mocking him before taking a step back. I pushed myself off the barrier, relieved I can stand on my own two feet again.
"Fire away" he decided, crossing his arms to prepare my inquiry. I nodded and gathered my thoughts. Before I began he spoke up once more "Just three questions for now, Lucille is probably wondering where I am, and I don't want to leave her too long." I cringed at the words but gathered my three most important questions and fired away at him.
"When you say civility and peace, what are you implying?" I asked first. I knew what he meant, but I wanted to make sure that next month, we are clear on each other's roles from the beginning.
"Easy, we will live together but not see each other. Unless my blasted mother tells us to have kids, I only need you to do your wifely duties of cleaning and cooking and I will do my husband duties for appearances sake, but that's it. I don't need you for anything else."
"So, I will basically be your servant." I said, just to clarify his meaning.
"Precisely" he said, not looking at me when he said it. "It's just a show. We will both get a good deal out of it though – a perfect match."
"So, my second question then is what will happen when you and Mrs. Anderson are caught?"
He chuckled at my question and brought his eyes back to mine. "We won't get caught. We have been at it for quite a few years now, it hasn't happened yet."
"Except today" I whispered, not afraid to show my courage. I knew the rules are that if caught, the spouse that was cheated on gets to decide the fate of the spouse responsible for the disloyalty of the marriage. Mostly, they forgive, wives not able to live on their own without any trades to satisfy them, but the husbands usually could force them to do laborious work, or worse, Mr. Hiddleton had his wife killed by stoning. The only difficult issue with doing that is, you will be unable to take another spouse if you kill them – you are only allowed one unless your spouse dies within five years of your marriage. You can only take a new spouse as well if you don't have any children in your house. Looking at Aaron Gerard, he seemed not worried in the slightest about me announcing his infidelity to the town. It could be leverage but I decided to keep that to myself for now.
"You know what would happen if you told," he announced, a smile wide on his face. "My mother would never forgive you if you told." I sighed internally, knowing he was right. My life would forever be ruined if I did announce to the world about Aaron Gerard's secret.
"My last question then." I took a deep breath, afraid to ask this one since it was more emotional than the last two questions I previously asked. "Why choose me then as your wife?"
Aaron Gerard didn't even hesitate to give me his answer. "My mother recommended I needed a wife. We looked at the possibilities that were coming this year and you were the only one that we had any leverage on. Your father wanted a new wife and you aren't bad to look at. We also know that you will be obedient and not be upset by the arrangement. I believe my mother is hoping we will become attached and I will forget Lucille, but just in case, she knows we can scare you into silence. Or, so she told me. I trust my mother's judgement so, here we are, dearly beloved" He scoffed at the last two words, but my beating heart froze at his declaration of his choice over me.
"Thank you for your explanations," I coughed, hoping my next words will come out louder. "I appreciate your time. Your secret is safe with me. Return to her and I will see you at the ceremony." Without much more than a nod goodbye, Aaron Gerard turned around and started running back the way he came, to his one true love that waited for him in the woods.
My walk back into the woods became a blur. I faced so many obstacles with the outcome of my new adult life, I wasn't sure if there was a way to save it anymore. All relationships seemed to have abandoned me because of the fate of the ritual and I was furious that I couldn't move forward now without accepting that it was out of my hands now. Not realizing where my feet were going, the barrier wall was my guide and I never strayed from it. In anger, I ran up and started pounding on it, wishing for an escape. After a solid kick which I instantly regretted, a tear escaped me once again.
"I hate being like this" I screamed at the barrier. "I have never felt such anger or confusion and it is all because of you!" I wiped my face again and looked beyond the barrier, the trees no different than ours. I pressed my face against it, the coldness calming me. "Please" I whispered, taking a deep breath. "Free me from this place. I'll do anything for freedom if it's to myself. I need an escape. Please. Please. Please."
I let the last of my tears fall, letting the words please keep leaving my lips. Once I felt emotionally prepared to leave, I pressed a hand to the barrier like a friend and turned to walk home.
I hate sharing this moment, when my life was so hard that I was willing to give up. No one wants to see that in a story but it is essential for you to see how my story really started, which actually begins now.