Aidan walks over to the statue warily in shock, as he advances near the statue, the moving statue raises it's sword to attack Aidan.
Aidan steps back in defence and grabs his sword. He swiftly attacks the statue which proves abortive and futile because it's made of stone, not just the basic stones.
The statue made some noise, grabs Aidan and throws him across to the wall. Aidan sits unable to move as the statue approaches me in his usual 'one step at a time'.
"Griselda run!" Aidan screams from across the room unable to move.
I stand dazed as I can't fully comprehend the situation at hand. I gasp as the statue approaches me, it keeps walking till I'm within it's arm's reach. I hold my breath expecting the worst but the opposite happens as it kneels making scrapping sounds. It kneels with a bowed head, holding his sword with it's tilt on the floor.
"MISTRESS!" It says through grunts. I hold my breath as I take slow steps towards it. With my heart thumping, I gently place my hand on it's shoulder, suddenly it becomes still and immobile and everything blackouts.
******
AIDAN'S POV
I sit beside her on the bed watching her in her steady rhythm of breathing with her long blonde hair sprawled on the pillow. A strand of her hair falls on her face, I reach out, twirl it within my fingers and take in every delicate feature of hers.
Gently trailing my fingers on her soft cheek and her pale pink lips, I linger my eyes on her lips as my fangs sharpen and out of instinct I lower and brush my lips against hers grazing it lightly with my fangs, still in the same position I look at her face and notice how beautiful she is upfront. Unsatisfied and craving for more, I lower my face again, gently pry her lips open and kiss her lightly.
Suddenly her eyes flutter, knowing she's going to be awake soon, I place my lips on hers not moving. Her eyes flutter for a moment and they open.
She has a dazed look for a while when suddenly her eyes bulges. I stare deeply at her dreamy and seductive dark grey eyes and she returns the stare. Our breath entwine with my lips still on hers. The moment is delightful and pleasurable, until a knock is heard.
She places her palm under my chest to push me up but I don't bulge. After a few moments I get up and make my way to the door. A young girl pushes a cart in and drops the content on a table setting it.
Zelda rushes to the bathroom, after a few minutes she lazily walks in, glances at the food and maid when suddenly she screams, "Aine!"
Zelda's POV
Still shocked from what happened, I rush to the bathroom to splash some water on my face.
'What was he thinking?'
We aren't in that type of romantic relationship. Although most mornings, I wake up to find myself in his arms and his usual sly gazes but it's nothing past that.
'Does he intend taking me as a mistress now?'
My heart drops at the thought, what other explanation is there for his actions this morning?
After few minutes, I walk out to see the dishes on the table, 'porridge!' Typical Aidan. I shift my gaze to the petite figure who's about to pull the cart away when suddenly I realize it's her. It's been a month since we last saw and spoke to each other.
"Aine!" I say.
She turns around, and immediately engulfs me in a hug. Suddenly, she pulls away, turning to Aidan with a bowed head apologizes for her misconduct.
Aidan with a stoic expression gestures to the door and pulling the cart she leaves. He stares at me intently and walks closer.
He makes me sit on the bed and sits beside me.Taking the bowl of porridge, he scoops a spoonful and directs it to my mouth. I turn swiftly to look at him.
"I can feed myself." I murmur
He takes a long look at me and replies, "who said you couldn't?"
"Then let me do it." I say as I stretch my hand to grab the spoon but stops midway when he he narrows his eyes to slits.
I drop my hands to my lap and comply with him. He just has this intimidating aura and looks that makes one comply to what he wants without him speaking.
"How did you meet her, Aine?" He asks while giving me another spoonful.
I swallow tepidly and reply, "She was my first companion here that I shared my story with, when I was the Queen's personal maid. She was also instructed to guide me on the Queen's schedule."
He furrows his eyebrows and asks, "what story?"
Swallowing again, I reply, "The one about my dad selling me off."
He nods and scoops another spoonful.
"Ermmm, about the incident yesterday..." I begin to ask but he cuts me off.
"We'll talk about that when I get back from the court, there'll be a proceeding today. When I get back we'll discuss."
When the contents of the bowl is finished, he drops it on the tray. Shortly afterwards, another servant comes in and take away the tray.
He walks to the closet, takes a red coat with the insignia of the Royal family, puts it on and walks to the bed.
He sits beside me, "Have some rest, a servant will be coming here to serve you some fruits and snacks. The proceeding might be long, so stay in here and don't think much about the incident yesterday, also say no word about it to anyone." He says with a light peck on my forehead.
I walk to bathroom and have a bath, after which I change into a new set of clothes. I walk around the room, remembering the incident yesterday, I look around for the statue but couldn't find it nor any other statues anymore. I'm glad at the discovery because I don't wish to have any haunting experience again.
It's two hours now and I'm tired from resting and doing nothing. Suddenly, a knock is heard. I rush to open it hoping it would be Aine but I'm disappointed when I see it's another female servant.
She walks in and drops a plate of fruit on the table and walks to the door.
Shutting it, I look at the plate on the table and suddenly an idea pops in. I open the door and swiftly follow the maid behind.
I keep following her at a safe distance until she walks into the kitchen, I groan wondering how I'm going to find my way to the servant quarters to see Aine.
I walk through series of hallways and stairs and approach a door at the end of the hallway located far from the main Royal quarters, turning the door knob I'm glad as I find out that it's the servant quarters.
I walk in and go through a long dimly lit passage with series of doors located on each side, I walk further, randomly open a door and gasp at the sight before me. Maverick and another female servant both lay on the bed entwined.
They stop in their actions as they notice my presence. Grabbing his pants, he hurriedly puts them on leaving his upper half bare and walks closer to me chuckling.
"What are you doing here, our dainty mistress?" he asks while smiling cunningly.
"Aha! The knight is here!" He says sarcastically as suddenly Aidan appears there wrapping his hands around me. I shudder in fear.
"You sure took a worthy one Brother." Maverick says smiling with crossed arms.
With eyes like slits, Aidan gives him a death glare, while glancing at the servant on the bed, who in pretense of scurrying to get her clothes, knowingly reveals her curves while putting on a shy expression. Adrian rarely spares her a glance before tightening his hold on me and drags me out of the servant quarters.