The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the castle grounds, the sky a clear blue with a few wispy clouds. The air was thick with the scent of hay and horse manure, as Rhiannon made her way toward the stables. The sound of clanging metal and the occasional whinny of a horse filled her ears, creating a symphony of rustic sounds.
As she approached the stables, Rhiannon could see the wooden doors propped open, allowing the fresh air to circulate through the building. Inside, the stable was dimly lit, with shafts of sunlight piercing through the small cracks in the wooden walls. Rows of wooden stalls lined the walls, each containing a horse of various sizes and colors. The ground was covered in a layer of straw, which cushioned the horses' hooves as they moved about.
Rhiannon's attention was quickly drawn to the two young men playing in the corner of the stable. One was dressed in simple, brown tunics and breeches, and the other was barechested with a trouser, with dirt smudged on their faces and hands. One was tall and broad-shouldered, with a mop of curly brown hair, while the other was shorter and leaner, with a shock of jet-black hair.
The two young men were playing a game of "duck," which involved one person trying to catch the other by putting them in a headlock. Rhiannon couldn't help but smile at the sight of the two young men playing like children, their laughter ringing out through the stable.
As she watched from a distance, the younger one of the two-spotted Rhiannon froze, his eyes widening with fear. Rhiannon let out an exasperated sigh at the sight, wishing that the servants wouldn't be so intimidated by her presence. After all, she was just another person like them, albeit with a higher status.
As Rhiannon watched the younger boy hurry away, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. She hated that her position made others feel so intimidated around her, especially when she just wanted to be treated like any other person. She turned back to the older one, who was now pulling on a shirt over his muscular chest. His chest was broad and defined, covered in a thin sheen of sweat from his work in the stables.
His hair was a deep brown, with a few stray strands falling across his forehead. His eyes were a bright blue, sparkling in the afternoon light.
"You look like shit," Rhiannon said with a small smile, trying to lighten the mood.
The man chuckled, his deep voice reverberating through the stable. "And you look as lovely as ever, Your Highness," he replied, giving her a small bow.
Rhiannon rolled her eyes at the man's flattery but couldn't deny the blush that crept up her cheeks. She took a seat on the bench next to him, the worn wood creaking beneath her. As she sat, she noticed the tears in the fabric of the man's clothing, and couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness.
"Is everything alright?" she asked, nodding towards the tears in his clothes.
The man shrugged, a slight frown marring his handsome features. "It's nothing, Your Highness. Just a few rips and tears from my work in the stables."
Rhiannon stood in front of Rowan with her arms crossed, her expression skeptical. "I still don't believe you," she said firmly.
Rowan let out a small chuckle, thinking of a way to convince her. Suddenly, Rhiannon punched him in the chest, causing him to let out a fake hurtful groan and expression.
Rhiannon just rolled her eyes, unimpressed.
"I warned you to stop using a title on me," Rhiannon said, her tone stern. "Just call me Rhiannon."
Rowan smiled mischievously, staring at Rhiannon intensely. Rhiannon could feel her cheeks turning red as she looked away, suddenly shy, and then sat back.
With a frown, Rowan pushed the strands of hair on Rhiannon's face, tucking it gently behind her ears. Rhiannon's heart raced as she felt his touch, and her face grew hot. Suddenly, Rowan's expression turned menacing, and he pointed to the scratch on her face.
"Who did that to you?" he asked, his voice filled with anger. He stroked her cheek roughly, inspecting the wound.
Rhiannon hesitated for a moment before answering, "My uncle did it to show his dominance."
Rowan sighed and brought his hands down, looking at Rhiannon with a sympathetic expression. "What are you going to do?" he asked.
Rhiannon stared at the man who had spoken and wondered why he was still single all these years and had not married, although he was a rich, strong, and handsome man.
She thought back to her childhood memories with Rowan. He had always been her loyal friend, even though he was older. His father was one of the strongest generals in the kingdom, and he had trained Rowan to take over his position. Rhiannon's parents would often tease them, calling them a couple, and she would blush at the thought.
When Rowan's father died in battle, Rowan mourned and then took over as the next general. Rhiannon had watched with pride as he led his troops into battle, always with honor and bravery.
Now, with her uncle's actions, Rhiannon couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness and disappointment. It seemed that no one was safe from her uncle's cruelty, not even her childhood friend who had grown into a strong and respected leader. He had reduced him to a stableboy!
Rowan waved a hand in her face. "You good?"
Rhiannon closed her eyes, trying to keep the tears from falling. "Yes. Roderick got me another man to entangle with," she said, her voice filled with resignation.
She thought she saw anger flash across his face. However, when she looked back, there was no expression on his face. Rowan shrugged and urged her to chase the man off with her venomous words, as she always did. "Come on, Rhiannon, you know you're good at that," he said, with a small smirk.
Rhiannon shook her head. "It's not possible this time," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's the Devil King they're trying to set me up with."
Rowan's eyes widened in shock. "The Devil King? Are you serious?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
Rhiannon nodded, her eyes downcast. "I'm sorry, Rowan. I wish it was just another one of Roderick's pawns."
Rowan was silent for a moment, processing the information. Then he asked, "Are you going to escape?"
Rhiannon shook her head. "No. I want to gather evidence against my uncle, to prove his involvement in the deaths of my parents and the theft of their possessions."
Rowan's eyes flashed with determination. "I can help you with that," he said firmly. "I can sneak into the palace, search his secret chambers, and bring everything out for you."
Rhiannon's eyes filled with tears as she reached out to take his hands. "No, Rowan. You can't do that. He'll kill you without a second thought."
But Rowan's annoyance showed on his face as he stood up, his voice raised. "I'm tired of waiting for the right time to strike. I want revenge, for you, for me, for your dead brother, and for your parents. I'll serve him his poison!"
Rhiannon flinched at his words, her heart breaking at the thought of losing Rowan. "Please, Rowan, don't do anything reckless," she pleaded, her voice trembling.
But Rowan's expression hardened, and he shook his head. "I won't stand by and watch him hurt you anymore. I'll do whatever it takes to protect you.". Then he crouched in front of her. "I swore my life to protect yours in the court, before your father. Please let me do it".
Rhiannon sighed and shook her head. "I appreciate your loyalty, Rowan. But you, my nanny, and my handmaid are the only family I have left. I have to keep you all safe."
Rowan growled. "At what cost, Rhiannon? Are you willing to sacrifice your happiness for the sake of our safety?"
Rhiannon's face fell. "I'm not getting married, Rowan. I promise you that."
Rowan's eyes softened as he looked at her. After a few moments, he sighed and sat back beside her. With a mischievous grin, he asked for a hug.
Rhiannon returned his request with a weak smile, and Rowan quickly engulfed her into a hug so tightly, inhaling her scent. It calmed his nerves, but he was alarmed when Rhiannon groaned in pain.
"Rhiannon, what's wrong?" he asked, searching her face for any sign of distress.
Rhiannon giggled and shook her head. "Nothing". Her eyes twinkled with mischief.
Rowan groaned and ruffled her hair like an older brother. "You scared me for a minute there."
As Rhiannon stopped laughing, her eyes were glued to his. Rowan leaned in towards her, and her eyes slightly widened, and her heart raced.
"What are you doing?" Rhiannon asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Shhh," Rowan hushed, his voice low and husky.
Instead of a kiss as Rhiannon had expected, Rhiannon felt something in her hair. She reached up and found a pin. "What's this?" she asked, examining it.
Rowan smiled. "It's the pin I gave you on your eighteenth birthday," he said.
Rhiannon's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you find it?" she asked.
"I found it on the day we snuck into the forest," Rowan said. "I forgot to return it to you after that day."
Rhiannon rolled her eyes, then playfully swatted Rowan's arm. "You're such a moron," she said, grinning.
Rowan chuckled. "I know, I know," he said. "But at least I found it in the end, right?"
Rhiannon laughed. "Yeah, I guess you're not a complete moron," she said, teasingly. "A part moron who returns a lost gift after three years". She grinned.
Rowan grinned, then produced a piece of paper. Rhiannon's expression changed to one of confusion and curiosity. "What's this?" she asked, leaning in closer to get a better look.
"It's a map," Rowan said. "A map that shows where your father kept his treasures and other important things, alongside your mother. It's inside a small building."
Rhiannon's eyes widened in shock. "How did you get this?" she asked.
"That's a secret," Rowan said with a chuckle.
Rhiannon groaned in frustration, then laughed along with Rowan. "You're such a tease," she said, shaking her head.
Silence then ensued. Then Rhiannon spoke up again. "I don't know what to say to you".
Rowan looked intently at her. "I want you to tell me, that you'd want me to protect you. I want you to tell me to keep you safe, Rhiannon... Please".
Rhiannon felt her eyes sting and She nodded, which made Rowan grin. "Alright stop being a bully". She poked a hand at him.
Rowan chuckled and then began to explain the map in more detail, describing the location, where her late father the king, and her mother had kept lots of their treasures and other kinds of stuff that lay inside in the small building. Rhiannon listened intently, her eyes shining with excitement.
Just as Rhiannon and Rowan were lost in their world, they failed to notice Ariadne lurking in the shadows with an evil grin on her face.
Trouble was indeed brewing. With a sly smile, she whispered to herself, "Looks like it's time to stir the pot."