Dusk the next day…
Standing at the bottom of the stone stairs that led up to the Earl's castle stood Gabrielle. In her now cut up hands, she held a light brown cloth bag (with the items the Earl commanded her to get in it). Chunks of her hair hung down on her face, partially covering the fresh bruises she had received from being slapped by the guard. She dusted her dress off with her free hand, her attempts to clean her dress failing only making dirt smudge all over her once clean skirt. She looked up, clenching her jaw as she tried to fight back her tears.
'I'm home… Now I have to face what I've been avoiding.'
She took a deep breath, trying to blow out her nerves, she walked up the stairs. Each one of her steps feeling heavier and heavier.
'No matter what happens the Earl can't take away the fact that I made it all the way to Florian. I saw the outskirts of the Kingdom… That victory will never be stripped from me… No matter what anyone says or does to me… I made it out of Kingdom Holden alive…'
She continued walking, hearing only the sounds of her feet tapping against the stone stairs as she made her way to the castle's front door, she looked back, seeing the forest in the distance.
'I will never forget you King Ansel and I hope that you'll never forget me either.'
She entered the castle, feeling as if she sunk through the floor.
WHAM
The sounds of a slap hit the air.
Gabrielle fell to the floor, dropping the bag. Items from inside the bag scattered across the floor.
She held her face, trembling from shock, she stared at the floor.
"Look at me now," The Earl snarled, rubbing his hand off with a napkin he kept in his pocket.
She slowly looked up at him, using all her strength to hold back her tears. She stared at his face, seeing him grinning at her with fire in his eyes.
He threw the napkin at her, "You're 5 minutes late," He snickered, "I gave you enough time and you disrespected me by showing up late, looking like a disgusting pig. So disgusting I had to clean off my hands."
"I was not late," She lashed out slamming her fist onto the floor, "I'm on time, and I will not accept you lying on me ever again."
He grabbed her by the collar pulling her off of the ground. "You've gotten bold all of a sudden," He seethed, staring fiercely into her teary eyes, "So tell me how you can leave so meek and come back with an attitude as if you were my king."
"I won't accept anymore of your abuse," She snapped, fighting out of his grip.
"You won't accept," He mocked, "I own you! You are my property! I will do as I wish, whenever I wish and nobody will stop me," He threw her to the ground, smiling at her.
Fear shook her body as she backed away, watching as he walked towards her, backing her against a wall, towering over her.
She looked up at him, watching as he licked his lips from enjoyment.
"You've gotten so bold now, I think I've taken it way too easy on you," He raged, veins popping out of the sides of his temple, "My mistake was putting in that decree for you. I'll have his Majesty change the decree."
"What does it matter if there's a decree or not," She fumed, pointing to the bruise the guard left on her face, "Just look at what a guard did despite your decree. You think you have power but you don't! Nobody listens to your decrees and you know why? Because nobody respects you. Your decree means nothing, you mean nothing."
He slapped her across the face, tightening his jaw.
"Nobody respects me? I'm a nobody? I have no power," He chuckled, "Such a shift in attitude I wonder what changed."
He crouched down, tightly grabbing onto her face, "Tell me what has emboldened you so," He asked, demanding an answer.
"What does it matter," She screamed, tears rolling down her cheeks, "I'm tired of getting hurt no matter what I do."
He tightened his grip around her cheeks, feeling her squirm, "What has gotten into you? You haven't acted this way since…" He paused, his eyes filling with excitement, "You're in love aren't you…"
Fear filled her eyes, 'He knows,' She thought, feeling her heart stop.
"I was right," He smirked, "When you first came here you were so bold from the love you had for Kenton and now I see that boldness is back, you're in love again! Such a foolish mistake you have chosen to make, have you not learned your lesson the first time?"
"I'm not," She denied, looking away from him.
"Oh but you are," He laughed, licking his lips in desire, "You deny it because you know the penalty is great. You know that I will find out who that man is and have him killed for trying to seduce my servant."
"I do not love anyone," She cried, "I haven't had love for anyone in my heart since Kenton betrayed me."
"You think I believe you? You've always been a sneak who itches for the attention of men," He snarked, grabbing onto her chin, forcing her to look at him, "And since you like the attention of men so much I will give you your request. For tomorrow night you will not just know a man but you will know men."
"Please," She begged, horror filling her eyes, "I'm saving myself for marriage. Please don't do this. I will obey you, I won't make trouble anymore."
"Forget marriage. You think too highly of yourself, so I will take what you find value in," He taunted, grabbing on to both of her arms, "You are my property and you will know me first before anyone else. This will truly be the greatest spoil… I will send out the decree for a one for all extended to all men in the Kingdom… Tomorrow night you will truly see my power and you will know never to disobey me ever again."
He dragged her to a room by her arm as she tried resisting. He stood her in front of a dark brown door that had a black metal handle.
He opened the door revealing a badly lit room that had a dark brown wardrobe, a small singular window that had metal bars, and a singular blanket that rested on top of some hay. The floors of the room were stone and had trash and empty bottles scattered throughout it. The walls were dark wood.
"Get ready my sweet, for tomorrow you will finally know what true power is," He snarled, throwing her into the room onto the cold stone floor.
He closed the door, locking her inside, as she beat on the door, begging for him to let her out.
8 hours later
Deep in the forest Ansel sat on a horse. His dark blue cape that had white speckled fur along the trim draping over half of the horse's body.
A Guard Master dressed in dark blue and silver armor rode his horse up to Ansel, stopping beside him.
"The forest has been cleared out of all Kingdom Holden's guards, Your Majesty," The Guard Master informed, "All of the guards on the borders of Holden have been taken care of as well."
"And the two guards I've been looking for," Ansel asked.
"Have been captured by us. We are just waiting for your command as to what to do with them," The Guard Master answered.
"Great, let's have them…" Ansel paused, being interrupted by the sounds of shouting.
"Your Majesty," A knight dressed in peasant clothing shouted, holding on to a tanish newsletter. The knight rode his horse up to Ansel, stopping in front of him and the Guard Master.
"What is the meaning of this interruption," The Guard Master asked.
"We've been searching all over the kingdom for the location of Gabrielle, we finally found it through this newsletter," The knight answered, "It seems to be an invitation from the Earl backed by the King of Holden."
Ansel grabbed the note, his eyes widening as he read to himself, 'Come one come all for a night of fun with a rare beauty. All Kingdom Holden men invited.'
He shook from anger, seeing her picture that was painted onto the invitation and a red stamp of approval from the King of Holden.
He touched her picture, thinking, 'They won't get a chance.'
Ansel looked at the knight, veins popping out of his neck, "Gather 80 of the knights, capture the king, and burn the castle to the ground. When you're done, bring the king to the Earl's castle, alive," He commanded, shifting his eyes towards the Guard Master, "You gather 50 more knights, dress them in peasant clothing, hide your weapons. We've been invited to the Earl's castle and I wouldn't want to miss it."
The Knight and the Guard Master nodded following Ansel's command.
'I'm coming Gabrielle, please wait for me,' Ansel thought, rage filling his heart.
7 hours later
Gabrielle laid on the floor in the dark room. Looking up at the window, the moonbeams shining down on her face through the bars.
'Please God… Please save me…' She Prayed.
EEEEEEEREEEEEE
The door to the room squeaked open and a woman dressed in a dark gray maid outfit (similar to Gabrielle's) walked into the room, holding a pastel pink, silk dress in her hands.
"The Earl wants you to wear this to the party tonight," The maid hummed.
"Party? How can you call this a party," Gabrielle shouted, stumbling to her feet.
"Well it's a party for you," The Maid insulted, tossing the dress at her, "Seeing that you like all the attention from men, this should be exciting for you."
"How can you say that when I have not even known a man before," Gabrielle cried.
"Oh please, the whole Kingdom knows how you tried to steal Lady Cecila's man a year ago," The Maid mocked, "So what if you haven't known a man before it's not like you haven't been begging to know one. You're even seducing the Earl because you want to know him first. You're nothing more than a floozy and we all know it."
"I will not put on that dress," Gabrielle protested, "I don't care what you or anyone thinks of me. I won't."
"Do whatever you want," The Maid snickered, "But I think you really should get changed. There's at least 40 men waiting… And there's more coming."
The Maid smiled watching pure horror fill Gabrielle's eyes. She left the room, locking Gabrielle inside.
Gabrielle stood firm on the ground, looking around the room. She picked up a glass bottle.
'I won't allow myself to be taken advantage of anymore… They'll have to kill me first…' She thought as she tightened her grip around the bottle.
Outside, at the bottom of the stone steps to the Earl's castle, stood Ansel, the Guard Master who was dressed in peasant style clothing, and 5o more of Ansel's knights who were also dressed in peasant style clothing.
"Go in first and blend in with the other men from Holden. Find Lady Gabrielle and protect her at all costs. Nobody lays a finger on her, I want her unharmed. Kill anyone who tries to get in your way. Do not allow her to be defiled by those men… I will handle the Earl," Ansel commanded.
The Guard Master and the knights nodded following Ansel's commands.
Back in the room Gabrielle stood. She stared at the door, waiting for someone to enter.
The sound of shouting men creeped under the door making Gabrielle back away. Unable to make out what anyone was saying, she tightened her grip around the bottle she had in her hands.
'I can't be scared now,' She thought, walking over to the door, 'Now is the time I have to fight.
She stood next to the door, waiting for someone to enter.
Creeeeek
The door to the room opened, hiding Gabrielle.
"Gabrielle," A knight from Florian called out looking for her.
Unable to see her, he entered the room, calling out to her once more.
"Come out please," The Knight said, "I promise I won't hurt you."
Crash
She hit the Knight in the back of the head with the glass bottle. Shards of glass scattered across the floor.
The Knight held the back of his head, holding pressure on the cut he received.
"Get out," Gabrielle screamed, pushing the knight out of the room, "I'll kill anyone who tries to harm me."
She slammed the door, feeling adrenaline fill her body, she picked up another bottle.
Another knight (from Florian) opened the door. "Please Gabrielle we just…" She chucked the bottle at the Knight's head barely missing it. She picked up another bottle with haste, screaming, "I'll kill you, I'll kill all of you before I let any of you touch me."
She threw the bottle she had in her hands at the knight, but before it could hit him, he closed the door.
The bottle hit the door, shattering instantly. Shards of glass flew across the room, scattering around the ground.
She picked up another bottle, thinking, 'They're going to get smart, I have to hide somewhere.'
She ran over to the wardrobe, hiding behind it. Her dress peeking out from behind the bottom of the wardrobe.
Half an hour flew by and the knights were unable to enter the room.
Ansel walked up to the door, dragging the Earl by his collar. The Earl's face and body, covered in bruises. Ansel tossed the Earl to the ground.
"We've been trying for half an hour but she won't let us enter the room, she just keeps throwing bottles at us," A knight informed.
Ansel looked into the Earl's eyes,"You see what you did? You have her terrified," Ansel growled, throwing the Earl to the ground.
"You'll pay for this," The Earl groaned, "When His Majesty finds out what you did, you'll be beheaded."
"His Majesty," Ansel chuckled, "His Majesty already knows."
Ansel snapped his fingers, and 2 of his knights dragged the King of Holden's unconscious body inside, laying him next to the Earl.
The Earl's eyes widened as he gazed upon the dark bruises that covered the King's face making him unrecognizable.
"You'll pay," The Earl shouted, "We have one of the best armies in the world. You and your Kingdom are doomed."
"Not better than mine," Ansel snarked crouching down to the Earl's level, "All your guards, your knights, everyone in your armies have been killed in less than a day by only a fraction of my men… All but two of your guards now stand and you all were to foolish to see our ambush coming."
"I'll kill you," The Earl threatened, "I'll have you killed in the most painful way I can think of."
Ansel stood up, ignoring the Earl.
"Tie them up," Ansel commanded, walking up to the dark brown door, "And bring the last two guards here."
The knights did as Ansel commanded as Ansel opened the door to the room Gabrielle was in and closed the door behind him.
Silence hit the room as Ansel stood by the door, scanning the room with his eyes. He looked at the wardrobe seeing Gabrielle's dress peeking from behind it.
He sighed, walking towards the wardrobe. The sound of glass crunching underneath his feet filled the room.
Gabrielle trembled, thinking, 'You have to protect yourself… Don't let anyone defile you.'
Her heart began to race, as she heard the footsteps stop. She took the bottle in her hand, getting ready to swing but before she could Ansel grabbed her wrist stopping her from hitting him with the bottle, and held her tightly in his arms.
"Ansel," She marvel, looking at him with widened eyes.
"You know if you're going to hit someone you might want to be quicker than that," He said, his voice sounding like a lullaby.
She ripped her hand out of his grip, beating him on the chest.
"Ansel what are you doing here you idiot," She wailed, continuing to hit him, "Do you have a death wish. The Earl will kill you if he finds you here. How could you be so selfish?"
He sighed, gently grabbing on to her face. "The Earl can't hurt me. Just as the Earl will never be able to hurt you ever again," He comforted, wiping her tears away.
"How can you be so sure," She sniffled, grabbing onto his shirt, "He promised he'd kill you. He said he would. You have to protect yourself… I'll be okay, I'll…"
He scooped her up, carrying her in his arms. "They will never be able to hurt you ever again. Not the Earl, not the guards, not even the King of Holden… I will protect you from now on," He assured her, carrying her out of the room.
She looked around her, seeing Ansel's knights dressed in peasant clothing. She began shaking.
"Don't worry," Ansel consoled her, "They're knights from Kingdom Florian."
She marveled, seeing the large number of knights, she looked up at Ansel seeing him looking down at her, "It's only a fraction of my army and all of them will protect you," He hummed.
She looked at the knights once more, watching them bow to her and Ansel as Ansel began walking past them.
"So this is the man," the Earl barked.
She looked down, seeing the Earl sitting next to the King of Holden and the two guards from the forest. All of them tied up and bruised.
"So that's the man that has your heart," The Earl growled, "You think you're special Gabrielle… You think he can save you… Well he can't… I'll kill him, I'll kill him in front of you, and take joy in your tears. You will be mine until the day you die."
Ansel stopped in his tracks, looked down at Gabrielle, and said, "Shield your eyes."
She buried her face in Ansel's chest, as he snapped his fingers, and a knight punched the Earl in the mouth.
"Please Gabrielle, please spare us," One of the guards from the forest begged.
The other guard from the forest cried, "Please Gabrielle, please don't let us die."
Ansel snapped his head, staring at the Holden guards with ice in his eyes. "Don't you dare beg for her after what you did to her."
Ansel looked at his knights, "Kill all of them, and then burn the castle and the kingdom to the ground," He commanded walking out of the castle with Gabrielle in his arms as the knights followed his command.
Down the stone stairs Ansel walked making his way down to a redwood carriage that waited for him and Gabrielle.
He loaded Gabrielle inside, getting inside behind her, and the carriage took off heading to Kingdom Florian.