She couldn't believe that the King wanted to test her if she was able to chop the log of wood in front of everyone. There were more than ten people in the courtroom, and she could feel the gaze of the men who were looking down upon her as she was a woman. The men couldn't help but chuckle that the King was humouring a village girl who had no stature either looks. It seemed that the girl didn't understand her place, but Madeline stood looking at the King in his eye.
"She looks like a pitiful girl who doesn't even know not to look at the King in his eyes and speak," a man to her right spoke, and it was then she realized what she was doing, and she quickly looked away from him. Coming from a humble household, a person like her didn't have the right to challenge him, but it seemed like he had taken upon the challenge, to only challenge her back.
"I believe it is her first time in the castle and meeting the King, which is why she shows such courage, not knowing how to respect," said another.
"People from the villages don't know things and are bumpkins who only know how to look after the house and warm the bed," other men hearing this started to laugh along with him.
"You are right, Benedict. Her speech is to be direct to the King, where is the respect?" asked the first man who had started the conversation, "My King," he turned to look at Calhoun, bowing his head low to say, "We must have more interaction with the villagers."
Calhoun smiled, his eyes still on Madeline who noticed how she clutched her skirt in worry and anxiety as she was in a new place. When the wood was brought into the room, Madeline could feel the palms of her hand, turning sweaty out of nervousness.
She had been brave, and she had bluffed, which now resulted in two logs of wood being brought into the courtroom and an axe that was carried by another servant. It was alright, said Madeline to herself. It wasn't anything complicated. She had done it two to three times for enjoyment; all she would need to do was exert enough pressure and strength to break the log of wood.
One servant placed a full trunk of a tree on the floor, and on that placed the log of wood. The servant who was carrying the axe didn't place it down but waited along with it for Madeline to pick it up in her hand.
Calhoun, who was listening and enjoying the words spoken in the room, said, "I would like to see how skilled a daughter of a person who deals with wood is. Please," he said to Madeline with a smile.
Exhaling the air, she turned and went to the servant who was carrying the axe. Taking it, her feet gingerly moved towards the wood that was placed upright, ready to be cut into a half. A few whispers of murmurs went around the room which fell on her ears as she readied herself,
"This will teach her not to speak back to the King again."
"It is why they say, girls are good only to pull up their skirts." This came from the same man who spoke about warming the bed. "I should probably take her to my room to teach her a thing or two."
Everyone in the room looked at her mockingly, ready to feast on their amusement.
Madeline could tell that most of the men in the court where nothing but lowly scum who didn't know how to behave and were instead pointing their fingers on her that she didn't know how to respect. But she was in no position to speak, already stuck here, she didn't want to catch more attention than what she already had.
Clutching her hands tightly around the handle of the axe, she raised her hand, feeling his eyes on her before she moved it down for the axe to get stuck in the side of the wood. A small sigh of relief escaped her mouth, glad that she didn't hit the air and that the blade had gone through the wood.
When her eyes met Calhoun's, he didn't comment and only continued to look at the log of wood before saying,
"Benedict, why don't you try chopping the next one."
The man named Benedict bowed his head to Calhoun before going to take the axe from Madeline with a smirk. When the wood was replaced, Benedict raised his hands to strike at the wood with the axe into perfect two halves. The people around them clapped for the man who was able to cut the wood without breaking a sweat.
"Excellent! Nothing less to expect from Benedict," praised one of the men in the room.
"He has the best aim, no wonder he handles the affairs in catching the bandits," said another.
Benedict enjoyed the praise and then took two steps towards Madeline, "A woman should know where her place is. Talking about cutting logs when you barely cut a full piece," he smirked, "My quarters is not so far, you can always find me," he looked at her lips, smiling at her.
Calhoun who saw Benedict step close to Madeline and speak to her, he stood up, clapping his hands that had Benedict step back with pride of him being able to cut the log of wood, "Bravo to the ones who took part in it," he then walked down, stepping down from the raised platform, "It had been a while since I used the axe myself."
The men stepped away, giving him the way to walk when he stood to look at the pieces of broken woods that laid on the ground. Calhoun raised his hand and Benedict, who was holding the axe, gave it to him not knowing what ill omen had knocked at his door after speaking to the girl.
"Milord, we are out of logs," said a man bowing his head. Only two logs had been brought into the court.
"That won't be necessary," remarked Calhoun, bringing the axe to look at it carefully he rolled the handle in his hand with a smile on his face, "Benedict," called the King and the man was quick to attention.
"Yes, my King!" he answered ready to be rewarded until he heard Calhoun say,
"Place one side of your face on the surface of the trunk."
"Milord?" Benedict was surprised with the King's request, "But..."
Calhoun sighed, his eyes moving from the axe to look at the man, "I don't like to be kept waiting," the smile on his face fell, and when the people in the room noticed this, their smiling faces fell in a blink of an eye. No words coming out from anyone and silence filling up the court room.
Benedict genuinely didn't know what had happened in a split minute. Was the King not happy with the way he cut the wood? He wouldn't mind doing it all over again. Seeing the man wait, Benedict unwillingly gulped and got down on his knees.
The man was a night creature who now slowly placed his head on the cut surface of the tree trunk. His eyes were wide, his blood rushing as the King held the axe and took his position. Everyone, including Madeline, looked at them holding their breath of what was going on.
Calhoun then moved his hand to hit the edge of the trunk of the tree, cutting the backside hair of Benedict who laid there frozen. The playful atmosphere in the court, which was there earlier was gone.
Benedict let an internal sigh, but it was short-lived as the glint in Calhoun's eyes changed to something malevolent, and he raised his hand along with the axe before running it down right on the man's neck. The head rolled down on the ground, blood spurting everywhere, leaving everyone stunned and shocked.
Blood was sprayed on Calhoun's clothes and face. He threw the axe which clattered on the ground, before walking back up to the platform and turned to look at the people.
"Speak to her using such a tone once more, and you will receive the same fate. Madeline shall not be touched nor spoken to," Calhoun warned to have everyone bow at him right away, "Now if that's clear get the head and body out of this court. He looks hideous even after death."
Madeline had raised her hand to cover her mouth from the apparent horror she had got to witness right now. What had started as a pleasant day where she was looking forward to her sister Beth meeting and allying with him, it had ended with a man dead on the floor whose head was separated from the body.
Blood continued to flow out of the body, staining the white marble floor.
She had been upset with the way she was treated right now, a powerless girl who was looked down because of how she looked and where she had come from.
Not a word was spoken in the room after the King had uttered the words about her. Had he killed a living breathing person for her sake? Her eyes moved away from the blood to the man who had ascended the throne. Like Madeline, his men looked shocked but had covered it immediately who couldn't help but want to look at the girl who the King had commanded not to see or touch but they couldn't. Nobody wanted to be the next in line to be beheaded by the King!
"Why did the room turn quiet?" she heard the King ask as if he had not beheaded a man a few seconds ago, "Welby," he called a man who was lean and of average height, making the man's heart leap out in worry that the King had chosen him to be the next piece of wood to be cut. After all, Welby was the one who had started the conversation.
"Milord?" Welby gulped softly before going to stand in front of Calhoun, who leaned back and crossed his leg.
Calhoun glared at the man, "Stop acting like a drunk duck and speak what you came here for."
"Yes!" answered Welby, picking up the parchments in his hands, he shuffled it as quick as he could, "There's a complaint that is going on about the taxation in the village where farmers and other men who have been profiting have not paid their assigned taxes. Some went as far as to riot and chased the Shire Reeve. It has been nearly a month, but they have been trying to chase the ones who go to collect that has been causing us problem, my King."
"Where are the guards for the village?" asked Calhoun.
"This village is located in the outskirts of Lakeshire," answered the man.
"That is a little problematic," replied Calhoun with a hum before saying, "Jeurel will assist you in collecting the tax," a man who stood far away with a stoic expression bowed his head. Calhoun turned to look at another servant who was short in stature, and used his hand in a come hither motion and whispered something before saying loudly, "Take the lady to her assigned room."
Madeline would have gone against him if he hadn't killed a person in front of her eyes. She was still in shock that she had temporarily lost speech. She looked at Calhoun who gave her a smile,
"See to it that she is well attended in the attention of the maids," when Madeline left the room, Calhoun said, "Welby, if the men don't listen and don't give the tax, you need to know to get things done by force. Jeurel will make sure that the people will not revolt in the future."
Madeline, who had stepped out of the courtroom, followed the man without a word and the man didn't try to converse with her. Only a man who had a death wish would try speaking to her.
She stepped into the parts of the castle she had never been or seen before. She hadn't ventured too far during the night of Hallow, and somewhere she wished she didn't venture at all. If she hadn't, she wouldn't be here like this.
"Nicola," the man called a maid who was walking past the corridor carrying clothes in her hand, "Take the lady to the West Wing of the castle."
"Which room would you like me to take her to?" asked the maid, her eyes falling on the girl who stood behind him who was looking at the walls and creepers that crept up the walls.
"The one where one can view the Atticus garden. The bed chamber that falls at the right," the man informed the maid who gave another look at the girl. It was always left unavailable as it came in the same quarters as the King's chamber, "Lead the way to Lady Madeline," said the man who bowed his head and left.
By the quick glance of the girl's clothes, the maid could tell she was a village girl. What was she doing here? With pitiful clothes and look on her face, she wondered if she was the King's new conquest because in no sense did she look like a lady.
"Please follow me," said the maid, turning around and starting to walk.
Madeline felt out of place when she started to follow the maid. Even though the castle was huge and spacious, she felt as if this place had already begun to suffocate her. This was a place where her parents and her sister could not be reached. She had no family here, and she was left all alone.
She had to keep up with the maid's footsteps as they were quick on the floor. They took many turns before Madeline was led to the quarters where she could see a decent size of a garden and fountains of water built in the middle of the castle. There were beautiful flowers and plants that decorated the garden. The room was unlocked, and the maid pushed the doors for Madeline to step into the luxurious room that contained a bed that could fit in more than four people in it. There was a fireplace in the room, the logs of woods waiting to be lit and burnt. A table with chairs around and another room which was to be used for the bath as it contained a bathtub.
"Is there anything else I would be of service to you?" asked the maid.
Madeline gave some thought before she asked, "Do you deliver letters?"
Taking the ink and the parchment that was available at the desk, Madeline used it to write something before folding it and handing it to the maid who had been waiting at the door, "You can deliver it to this address," said Madeline. The maid bowed her head and left.
"How do I get out of here?" asked Madeline to herself.
Remembering the scene of Calhoun cutting the man's head, made her blood freeze and her breath short. She had been a free bird which was now caged. It was ironic how she had ended up here when in truth, it was Beth who wanted to live life in the castle, with the King. She didn't have to step outside the room as she remembered well how far the gates were that surrounded the castle.
Walking towards the window, she stood there looking at the gardens and other scenery when she caught sight of a forest that was located at the back of the castle. From where she stood, it looked as if the forest touched the ends of the horizon like a never-ending scenery.
She then heard the sharp sound of shoes walking that made into the room, and she turned around to see Calhoun step inside the room, walking towards her, "I was busy in the court when I received this," he said pulling up the envelope from his pocket. It was the same envelope that she had written and sent through the maid, "You are worse than the devil to keep a person as a prisoner," he said, reading the letter before throwing it on the ground.
His lips pulled up to a smile, "You were testing to see if the letter would reach me or the assigned address. You are much smarter than I presumed you to be," and he was right. She wanted to make sure her letters wouldn't be read and would be sent to the address she had written to. Not to the King, but it seemed that letters would not reach the people she wanted to write to.
"You cannot keep me in here," said Madeline, her brown eyes looking at him stubbornly and furious for keeping her here.
"Why not?" he cocked his head to the side. He closed the large distance between them by walking and standing in front of her.
"Because I am not yours to keep! I am not a doll but a person," she gritted her teeth, and though Madeline wanted to yell and shout, she knew her limits. Especially after seeing how cruel and cold he was in the courtroom.
Madeline saw Calhoun smile, a smugness in his eyes since he had stepped into the room. He took a step further towards her, stepping as close as to be in her breathing space, "You are mine to keep, and I will keep you as long as I want. It is our little misunderstanding, wrong foot perhaps? You will come to care and love one day, Madeline," he whispered her name.
She had to hold her breath not to move as he was too close, and she said, "Over my dead body."
"Why kill when there are so many things that can be done to your body. I definitely would not want it dead," Calhoun chuckled, looking into her brown eyes which now stared back at him, "Since I have laid my eyes on you, spoken and heard you speak, I cannot help but think why I feel that way. I have had plenty of women in my arms but the need to hold you," he dropped his voice, "It drives me mad. Don't look so scared; I won't do things you don't like," he said, bringing up his hand to push a piece of hair behind her ear.
Calhoun could see the fear lingering in her eyes, the fear that was carried from the court to this room. With it was the anger of him having her confined to this castle.
"Will I ever get to see my family?" asked Madeline, "Are you going to keep me away from the things I care and love?"
"Once I know we have made some progress I will arrange for you to meet your beloved family," replied Calhoun to take a step back away from her.
"You must be delusional to think there will be progress. I am not an animal for your amusement," Madeline just wanted to go back home, and the thought of staying here alone was pushing her to a corner.
"You are far from it. Should I prove it to you by taking you to my bed of what exactly I think of you," a shiver ran down her spine as he said those words. A smile appeared on his handsome face that made Madeline question if he meant it or not, "The cupboards are filled with dresses and jewellery. The maids will help you to get ready. You won't have to lift a finger to move or do anything."
"I am perfectly capable of doing those things myself."
Calhoun's eyes twinkled, "Well, at least you are willing to use it by yourself. That's some progress!" his smile then died down on his lips to say, "In my presence, you will be treated the way I think you deserve to be treated. Don't try your trickery here like what you just did with the letter, though I must say I was very amused. I am not very patient, but you must know that already. Have some rest. I will see you at dinner."
She saw Calhoun leave the room, and her shoulder sank.
She had to do something...
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