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phoenix_rising
@phoenix_rising
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"M'lady, it's the Master's wish that you have your bath."

"I'll thank you to leave me alone and at once. He's having me bathed as if I'm a little girl. 'Master'. I'm of the mind to dash right down those stairs and tell him just exactly what I think of him!"

The portly woman stood with her back to the now half-naked Lady Abigail.

"I wouldn't, M'lady."

At this, Abigail abruptly ceased her undressing, and narrowed her eyes at Killian's chambermaid.

"What was that, maid?"

Hesitating, Renata spoke in a small, cracked voice...

"I...wouldn't, M'lady...if I were you."

"And why shouldn't I? Why shouldn't I tell him right now that I plan to escape and go back to the island of Iona and inform Lord Balentine of just what terrors his poor Lady has been through this day?"

Renata, sheepishly turning toward Lady Abigail stood to face her and with a tense sigh, spoke quietly and firmly.

"M'lady. He needs you. For what I cannot say. For the answer you can search the heavens. He will not tell you. At least, not yet. When you've done what he brought you here to do, you will be free to go back to Iona. Master will likely take you back to your Lord, himself."

Lady Abigail pondered all of this, confused and, now, fearful.

"Let me alone for my bath, Renata."

The chambermaid held Abigail's gaze for a moment, and to Abigail the look in the woman's eyes was one of gentle warning. Renata turned and shuffled out the doorway into the hall. As Abigail listened to the schursh, scursh of the maid's shoes on the stone floor, she was reminded of the sound the leaves made on the forest floor as her rescuer's horse pounded his hooves against them in their effort to bring her to safetly.

Finally Lady Abigail stepped out of what was left of her clothing. "I should have asked the chambermaid for a clean dress, just look at the rips in this one. And it's so dirty! That brute; whipping me through the forest that way...". Carefully, she stepped into the steaming bath and instantly shrieked in pain when the water touched her raw ankles. When the initial pain subsided she allowed the rest of her body to follow and slide into the water. From her reclined position, she could see the arched window on the opposite wall. Abigail admired the scene; it was a female figure reclining on the greenest hill she'd ever seen, laying under the moon. Next to the female was a male figure, with his arm extended toward the female, and if Lady Abigail squinted slightly she could just make out the details - his hand was entwined in his lover's golden hair.

Abigail began to cry, silently.

Suddenly, a voice outside the washroom.

"Lady Abigail." It was a statement; a declaration. The voice was calmly stern.

Shaken, Abigail searched for something to cover herself with, should the voice who intruded on her thoughts decide to burst into the room. Nothing! All that she had was her tattered dress, and that certainly wouldn't cover much.

"YES!" She exclaimed, frozen and feeling very much like prey in the wilderness.

"It seems my chambermaid has suddenly become ill, and can not make the trip upstairs to give you your gown."

"That's very unfortunate, sir. With whom am I speaking?" asked Lady Abigail, half-knowing the answer.

"I would think you would know my voice by now."

"Not at all."

"It is Lord Balentine, My Lady."

"Lord Balentine is in Iona. I am in the castle of a brute who has stolen me from my land. I've been taken from my home and taken away from everyone who means anything to me."

Saying this, again Lady Abigail began to cry, knowing that everything she was saying to Killian was a lie.

"My Lady, why do I suspect that you cry because you want me to return you to what is old and familiar, and
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phoenix_rising
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Chapter IV.

*

It was mid-afternoon, and the grayish glow of the sunlight filtering through the trees, through the two small windows and into Lady Abigail's bedroom reminded her of the moonlight. "Perhaps it is the light of the moon", she wondered. Strange, she thought, that since her arrival at Killian's castle all sense she'd previously had of time had left her.

"Where is Renata? How am I to lace my corset by myself?" Abigail hissed. "Ill, he said. But, so suddenly...it doesn't make sense. She seemed a bit pale and shaken when I spoke with her, but ill?"

Lady Abigail walked toward the window nearest her, trying to gather her thoughts. For all the hatred she had for this place and for the man who had put her here, she found comfort in her ability to look out the windows and see the surrounding forest. It was almost as if she was somehow familiar with this castle; this land.

"He needs you. For what I cannot say. For the answer you can search the heavens..."...What was Renata trying to tell her?

"The heavens...I can search the heavens...". Drawing a blank, she pulled back the draperies a bit further. Peering down at the moss-covered forest floor from her second-story window, Abigail saw a flash of movement. Straining to see, she paused, holding her breath for a few moments, then let out a sigh of despair when she saw that it wasn't Lord Balentine coming to save her and take her home, but Killian. "What is he doing now?" Killian again disappeared, only to return a few seconds later carring several swords of various sizes and lengths, and curiously, he was burying them underground.

"I knew better than to begin to trust him. I knew he was going to kill me, or collect a ransom and kill me anyway, the animal; what was I thinking, imagining the things I imagined?" Lady Abigail tried to forget her sinful bathtime thoughts and resolved to regard Killian as she should have from the start: a man with a motive, not to be trusted, and a man with no compassion for her at all. She decided that as soon as possible, she would try to escape on his steed and visit the nearest Apothecary.

But, as she watched Killian digging in the ground from above, she took note of the breadth of his back, and his defined, muscular shoulders. Her mouth opened slightly at the sight of him and she found herself struggling a bit for air. She wondered, if Killian had ever wondered...about her. Angry at herself for entertaining such thoughts, she tried to banish them by closing her eyes and questioning Killian's sword burial in her mind. Sitting in the silk-upholstered boudoir chair, she leaned back, and began to drift off to sleep.

In a lucid state, Lady Abigail thought she heard a knock at the door, but being so tired all she could muster was a muffled, "Come in Renata, I've been waiting". Renata said nothing but Abigail heard the creak of the mahogany door opening slowly. Still unable to open her eyes, Abigail managed, "Renata, I've yet to put my corset on; we really must hurry as I'm sure your Master's servants will have dinner ready very soon."

"In fact my Lady, dinner will be delayed tonight..." Killian's voice, nearly a whisper, trailed off just as Abigail leapt from the boudoir chair and scrambled toward the bed, tearing the bedsheet from it and concealing as much as possible as quickly as possible. Before she could scream, Killian confessed, "my Lady, you were only in view for a moment."

"You should have identified yourself. I thought you were the chambermaid!" exclaimed Lady Abigail, venomously.

"If I had identified myself, you wouldn't have allowed me to enter."

"You are the Master of your castle, you may enter and exit at your pleasure."

"It seems I have been."

"So it seems." Abigail seethed. She considered telling him she saw him with his weapons,
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james tate
@james tate
20 Years10,000+ PostsCapricorn

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As he pulled the the corset tight the whale bone broke and punchered her heart. Alas poor Abigail lie dead on the cold stone floor, In horror Killian jumped from the tower window into the moat and drown. They were bured together in the rose gardan Killians people were pissed, Abigails people weree also sore, so the house of york and the house of lancaster started the war of the roses. which will be the next 102 chapters.
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phoenix_rising
@phoenix_rising
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Chapter 6.

Renata let out a shriek when Lady Abigail flew into the foyer, nearly knocking her over.

"My Lady!"

"There is much to be done, Renata", Abigail explained to the stunned chambermaid, in a most serious tone. "Come in to the parlor with me."

Frowning, Renata's expression quickly changed from wide-eyed suprise to suspicious and questioning, but she followed just the same.

"Master Kil....er, your Master Killian made many things clear to me during our walk about the grounds."

Renata turned slightly away from Abigail so as to hide her worried look.

"My Lady, might I be so bold as to say that you believe you know the story of this place and my Master, but there is still much to know?"

Lady Abigail walked a semi-circle around Renata, and looked into the nervous woman's eyes. Renata couldn't, or wouldn't, hold her gaze.

"I will kindly ask you to look at me."

The chambermaid honored the lady's request.

"Thank you. And, now...tell me everything you know. Please."

"Oh, indeed I will not, respectfully, my Lady. These things are not for me to tell you."

"How, exactly, am I to find out then?" Lady Abigail's temper began to simmer.

"My Lady, you must go to Killian with your questions."

"And he will answer them? All of them?"

"No one can be sure. Not even the Master himself. I'm not sure that this, your incessant curiosity, was part of the plan..." Renata caught herself and stopped short. The chambermaid's cryptic half-statement took the breath from Lady Abigail's lungs. A full minute passed before another word was spoken. Both women knew there was no turning back, now.

"What....plan? Renata! Tell me that this man who I love isn't the selfish animal I first thought him to be. Tell me he hasn't captured me and is holding me for his own benefit!! Oh Renata, what are you saying??" Lady Abigail's frantic wailing echoed throughout the parlor.

"No, no, my Lady, I hope I didn't mislead you. Oh, dear. Certainly Master Killian's intentions are nothing but good and chivalrous. I can assure you of that. Oh, I should have kept myself quiet..."

"Renata, please continue. Your quietude will be of no help to me now, except when it comes to your Master. He mustn't know that I love him. Speak to him not a single word of our conversation here." Lady Abigail was once again calm when Renata lowered her head to signify her agreement.

"Alright, my Lady. I will try to explain what I can."

Abigail nodded her encouragement. But before Renata could begin, Killian appeared in the doorway of the parlor.

"My L....Master Killian - " Lady Abigail quickly curtsied, along with the chambermaid, flustered and panicked, wondering how much he'd heard - "I...I'm not yet in my dancing dress!"

Killian smiled; whether it was a knowing smile or not, Abigail could not determine. But in his smile, in the brightness of his eyes, she was certain that he knew many things.

I will fight this war with him., she thought.

I would sooner be called a traitor by Balentine than lose my rescuer; my love.

"Come, Lady Abigail", Killian spoke. "Accompany me down to the greenest hill you've ever seen. The moon is particularly beautiful tonight. We shall speak of mysteries and magic."

Lady Abigail smiled at this, knowing he must have heard some of her conversation with Renata.

Lady Abigail placed her hand inside of his, and out into the moonbathed night they walked, toward the only green hill on the grounds....










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phoenix_rising
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*Edited, because a certain someone forgot to close her tags....* 🙂


Chapter 6.

Renata let out a shriek when Lady Abigail flew into the foyer, nearly knocking her over.

"My Lady!"

"There is much to be done, Renata", Abigail explained to the stunned chambermaid, in a most serious tone. "Come in to the parlor with me."

Frowning, Renata's expression quickly changed from wide-eyed suprise to suspicious and questioning, but she followed just the same.

"Master Kil....er, your Master Killian made many things clear to me during our walk about the grounds."

Renata turned slightly away from Abigail so as to hide her worried look.

"My Lady, might I be so bold as to say that you believe you know the story of this place and my Master, but there is still much to know?"

Lady Abigail walked a semi-circle around Renata, and looked into the nervous woman's eyes. Renata couldn't, or wouldn't, hold her gaze.

"I will kindly ask you to look at me."

The chambermaid honored the lady's request.

"Thank you. And, now...tell me everything you know. Please."

"Oh, indeed I will not, respectfully, my Lady. These things are not for me to tell you."

"How, exactly, am I to find out then?" Lady Abigail's temper began to simmer.

"My Lady, you must go to Killian with your questions."

"And he will answer them? All of them?"

"No one can be sure. Not even the Master himself. I'm not sure that this, your incessant curiosity, was part of the plan..." Renata caught herself and stopped short. The chambermaid's cryptic half-statement took the breath from Lady Abigail's lungs. A full minute passed before another word was spoken. Both women knew there was no turning back, now.

"What....plan? Renata! Tell me that this man who I love isn't the selfish animal I first thought him to be. Tell me he hasn't captured me and is holding me for his own benefit!! Oh Renata, what are you saying??" Lady Abigail's frantic wailing echoed throughout the parlor.

"No, no, my Lady, I hope I didn't mislead you. Oh, dear. Certainly Master Killian's intentions are nothing but good and chivalrous. I can assure you of that. Oh, I should have kept myself quiet..."

"Renata, please continue. Your quietude will be of no help to me now, except when it comes to your Master. He mustn't know that I love him. Speak to him not a single word of our conversation here." Lady Abigail was once again calm when Renata lowered her head to signify her agreement.

"Alright, my Lady. I will try to explain what I can."

Abigail nodded her encouragement. But before Renata could begin, Killian appeared in the doorway of the parlor.

"My L....Master Killian - " Lady Abigail quickly curtsied, along with the chambermaid, flustered and panicked, wondering how much he'd heard - "I...I'm not yet in my dancing dress!"

Killian smiled; whether it was a knowing smile or not, Abigail could not determine. But in his smile, in the brightness of his eyes, she was certain that he knew many things.

I will fight this war with him., she thought.

I would sooner be called a traitor by Balentine than lose my rescuer; my love.

"Come, Lady Abigail", Killian spoke. "Accompany me down to the greenest hill you've ever seen. The moon is particularly beautiful tonight. We shall speak of mysteries and magic."

Lady Abigail smiled at this, knowing he must have heard some of her conversation with Renata.

Lady Abigail placed her hand inside of his, and out into the moonbathed night they walked, toward the only green hill on the grounds....
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phoenix_rising
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Having no desire to explain where she?d been ? or where she?d imagined she?d been ? Lady Abigail all but shoved Renata in the direction of Killians castle, barely able to speak the words fast enough.

?Rope, thrusting and swordbreaker daggers, Killian?s spiked helmet, his shields - both iron and brass ? bring them all! Greymore shall help you with the heavier items. We shall also take the flail and battleaxe. Quickly, we haven?t any time at all!? she exclaimed, breathlessly.

?Yes Milady!?

?Wait! Killian?wore his suit of armor during the battle?did he not??

?Milady, the Master is a hero of the highest caliber. I know not whether Killian chose to don his armor, as I did not see him directly before the war. I do know that Killian?s might is as much in his head as it is in his strength. Worry not, Lady Abigail. I quite expect that we shall find him well and intact.?

Lady Abigail stifled the tears that had welled moments before, and laid rest to her worry, for the moment. Time for emotion could only be taken later.

?Thank you, Renata. Oh, do hasten though! Summon Greymore at once and relay to him all that I have told you.?

?Yes milady, immediately it shall be done.?

The castle grounds was a flurry of activity, weaponry was being loaded onto the wagon; servants were being advised by Lady Abigail to arm themselves with any remaining protection, hide, and prepare for straying enemies to exact their final acts of revenge on Killian?s castle and its inhabitants.

All in a moment, Abigail?s memory pushed itself to the forefront of her mind, as her current surroundings faded like a watercolor painting, slowly disappearing into the mist of her peripheral vision, until the most vivid recollection came to her. She looked down at the spot where she stood on the forest floor. She noticed a stone sitting very near her foot. An unusually smooth stone with a greenish hue.

Furiously she began digging in the dampened dirt, wildly pitching clumps of mud and clay and rock out of her way, digging as deep as she could and finally?she found them.

?He knew! He knew he would need me to save him! My Killian? - her voice broke - ?I am coming for you.?

Greymore, having heard Abigail?s voice but unable to make out the words, approached her from above where she kneeled near the gleaming arsenal.

?Milady?Milady!! Killian?s flail!!?

?Yes Greymore, and his battleaxe, shields, spiked helmet, thrusting and swordbreaking daggers ? it?s all here! Killian left this for us.?

An expression of calmness washed over Greymore?s face, along with a small grin. It was the first time Lady Abigail had ever seen the man calm. ?Milady, shall I fetch the malt and barley to take with us??

?Yes Greymore, please ? and the wine, oats, cheese and all the salted meats you can find. We must all have enough to eat and drink for the journey ? we will need our strength.?

It seemed to Lady Abigail that only seconds had passed between this exchange with Greymore and the moment when she was being whisked up and into the wagon, being accompanied by droves of servants, guardsmen, minstrels and messengers. Many of the castle residents had to stay behind, to protect Killian?s castle in case there was a siege and for lack of space in the wagons.

There were twelve wagons altogether. Lady Abigail rode with Renata, Greymore, Macrory the laundress, Wallace the Castle Guard, and Ian the blacksmith. Inside the lushly appointed wagon with its burgundy crushed velvet interior and jacquard-woven tasseled pillows, Lady Abigail prepared to take what she knew would be her final hours of rest. She stared out under heavy eyelids at the unkempt castle grounds, thinking about everything Killian had shared with her. Part of her still did not want to accept all that he had said. But she knew that her Love would never