Capítulo 26: Help No One Wants

3 June, 1358. Magdaline Castle, Islia

Camilla nervously wiped her palms on the skirt of her new riding gown as she watched the activity around her in the castle stables. A hunt had been planned in the forests to the south of the castle and she had been talked into taking part. Her ladies-in-waiting were accompanying her and the queen herself had loaned her a horse. But she still couldn't shake her sense of unease.

She knew she was very much an outsider amongst the young people of the court. Apart from her ladies, the only other person present who had showed her genuine kindness was Sir Francis Lowell. The rest of them ranged from treating her with polite indifference to outright hostility. And the prince…

William refused to so much as glance in her direction these days. When they were forced to interact, he kept his words to a bare minimum. She wasn't sure what she had done to make him treat her so coldly. He probably hadn't even noticed her presence in the hunting party.

And yet she was expected to venture into the dense unfamiliar forests around Magdaline Castle to hunt with these people and enjoy herself? While she appreciated the king and queen's intentions as they pushed her to mingle with the courtiers and become a part of daily court life, she didn't want to be around those who didn't want her.

She hesitantly led her horse by the reins out to the main courtyard. The horse was a dappled grey mare who Queen Celia had chosen for her sweet temperament. Camilla gently patted the horse as it nuzzled her shoulder, trying to calm her own nerves.

Everyone was nearly ready to set off. She watched as Meg Vere was helped onto the saddle by Sir Robin Sainsbury, who she rewarded with a flirtatious smile. Camilla shook her head. Meg was incorrigible. A deep voice startled her from behind.

"Need a lift to your saddle, Princess?" She turned around and saw Sir Richard Bentworth towering over her.

Camilla nodded slowly. She was going to need someone's help, but did it really have to be him that offered? She would've far preferred Sir Francis or even the prince himself, but both of the were at the other end of the courtyard and it would be rude to decline aid from someone who was right in front of her. Perhaps Sir Richard was genuinely trying to be helpful and she should stop treating him with mistrust?

Her mistrust grew tenfold as Sir Richard tossed her onto the saddle. He ran his hands down her back and cupped her rear just before he lifted her. She looked down at him from her horse in disbelief and he was smirking at her. She steered the mare away from him, feeling shaken and disgusted. She had never had any man helping her onto a horse touch her like that. Luckily, no one around her seemed to have noticed what happened.

She saw William closest to the main castle entry gates, upon a chestnut coloured stallion that showed off his golden blonde beauty to perfection. He looked smiling and carefree as he led the party of courtiers out, while she felt like an unwanted burden. He blew some kind of horn to signal the start of the hunt.

The group departed through the castle gates and over the drawbridge, then cantered towards the woods. Camilla decided she'd stick as close as she could to her ladies and she'd refuse Sir Richard if her offered to help her again. She'd rather fall face first in the dirt trying to dismount her horse than feel his hands squeezing her body again.

The wind was cold against Camilla's face despite it being a late spring day. At least her horse seemed docile and obedient, seemingly unruffled by the loud voices of the other excited hunters. As they reached the edge of forest, she shivered in anticipation. She had no choice but to follow.

- - -

At the front of the hunting party, William urged his favourite hunting stallion on as they entered under the thick tree canopy. Hunting near Magdaline had been something he'd always loved. The forest itself was bounded on one side by jagged stone faces which marked the edge of the nearby Vestun highlands. He remembered on the odd occasion when King Edward had taken him hunting as a boy along with his other sons. William had gazed at the sheer cliffs of brown rock in amazement, thinking they must reach the heavens.

The unseasonably cold wind was somewhat less than out in the open. He could see glimpses of the partly cloudy skies through the trees. Glancing behind him, he could see his companions scattering through the trees, calling out and laughing among themselves.

William felt his jaw clench when he saw Camilla a short distance away, talking with Francis Lowell while on her horse and laughing at something he was saying. Her mere presence annoyed him. Why was she even here and why did she have to look so desirable all the time? Couldn't he just be left alone to hunt in peace?

In an act of pettiness, William blew the horn and gestured in the direction where he'd spotted what looked like a deer in the distance. "That way!" he yelled, glad to see Francis was one of those who urged his horse to surge forward in the direction of William's pointed arm.

"At least they're not together any more." He muttered to himself. Looking up, he found himself making direct eye contact with the princess. He knew he should look away and try to ignore her but his eyes refused to obey. After a few moments, she raised an eyebrow at him.

Was she challenging him? Feeling his temper simmer, he steered his horse in her direction. He was done with being constantly tormented.

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