Chapter 4

Sexual assault trigger warning. 

This chapter was transferred as-is without any additional editing.

~*~

“My king, my queen! Greetings from our humble home! We hope that you have a good stay while here. I hope to have the staff get you comfortable in short order.” The lord quaked in a shaky voice.



The king looked at the staff lined to greet the king and his party. “This is all of your staff?” he asked dryly. “I brought as many people with me as you have in your house. Why don’t you have more staff, Lord Ludovico?”





“I- I have unwilling townsfolk. They won’t work for me.” The lord lied. Anwynn flinched at the blame he was placing on them.

“We’ll talk about this later. We’ve been traveling for some time and I wish to get clean and eat something.” the king said in a dry tone. He didn’t seem pleased.

“Yes, my king.” The lord bowed. The king walked first in line, then the queen, who looked equally displeased. Their staff followed, the two ladies of the queen and then three guards assigned to protect the king. Anwyn noticed that one of them wore the armour of a templar, but the others seemed normal. And handsome.



I am going home tomorrow, don’t get involved. Anwyn thought. Father said to stay away from the king, just keep your head down, and it’ll be fine.

~*~



“I need more help in the kitchen!” demanded the cook. “I wasn’t expecting to have to cook for so many people this soon. We normally have five people living here, now we have fifteen! Not even I can cook for that many and keep them all fed.”



“I’ve never seen you ask for help before, Mrs. Frogwater. Don’t mind me while I soak this in for a minute.” the page said in a condescending way.



“The longer you take to get me an aid, the more you’ll be explaining to the king that his food is late!” snapped the cook.

“Fine. I’ll send down Melinda-”

“Oh, not Melinda. She looks at her nails the minute my back is turned.” refused Mrs. Frogwater.

“Then I’ll fetch the other red haired woman.” the page rolled his eyes, turning away.

“No! Red hair is too easy to spot in food, should any get in there. Send me the girl from before. She’s at least a good worker and takes direction well enough.”



“Are you sure about that, after what happened a few nights ago? The forgetting only goes so far, putting her in that environment with you could remind her of what happened. You don’t want to be exposed, do you?”

The cook stood in thought for a minute, then came out of it. “Oh, what’s it to you!? Go and get her, and make sure she washes her hands.”

~*~



“And this is your room. As you can see, it’s nicely decorated and the bed is nearly new.” the lord tried to please the king with the presentation.



“Ludovico, relax. You’re making me suspicious by your jitteriness. I won’t look under the rugs just yet, there’s nothing to worry about. Where is my wife staying?” he asked.



“She has the room just down the hall, sire. Unfortunately, we hadn’t planned on her having separate rooms from you, so her room is not quite as nice as yours…” trailed the lord.



“I’m sure that’s fine. She’s always been one for more spartan accommodations anyway.” he said as he observed the room. The lord wasn’t sure if that was entirely true, based on the lavish outfit the queen had worn when she arrived.

“Feel free to look around. The floor above us is the servants quarters, though your guards may also stay up there. We have a room prepared. The queen’s ladies as well. I will see you at dinner.”

And with that, the lord exited the room.

~*~

The women on the maid staff we gorgeous. At least, Xavier thought so. When he saw the maids he thought he had drifted off to one of his dreams. The things he would do with them, ooo, he could hardly contain his imagination. Besides the queen’s ladies to look at just within the last two weeks, he only had one other woman to think about and she was another knight in the Templar, and would have handed him his behind if he tried anything on her.



There were four women here, and one of them would surely lie with him, wouldn’t they? He was handsome after all. His mother wouldn’t have lied to him. Yes, it had to be the time to have a lady’s affection.



He peaked at two maids doing work in the small garden, already thinking about what a good time he would have.

~*~



“My king, my queen, I welcome you to my table. It has been a long time since I have had company of such prestige here.” The lord thanked as the king sat down to eat.



“Yes, I’m sure it has been.” he said, eyeing his plate. “Tell me, in this quaint little place, what is there to do here? Is the hunting good? How extensive are your lands?”



“Our forests are full of healthy deer, and our personal library has many good books.” The lord boasted. “But, between you and me, if you want a good time, come and see me after dinner in the front west room. I have something I enjoy doing very much.” he turned to the queen who was stoic and unsmiling. “Unfortunately, my queen, it is a gentleman’s affair. I can have a maid tour you around the grounds if you like. We use fairy light to illuminate them so they are accessible any time of the day.”



“I’m sure that my ladies and I will not get lost. Your guide is not needed.” she assured, still not smiling.

“Very well. Tell me, Sir Romeo, how are you soldiers doing? I haven’t seen you since you were a mere guard!” laughed the lord, trying to lighten the mood.



“Oh, they are doing fine, though it has been a journey getting used to the presence of the Templar. I find them to be very strict with their exercises, something we haven’t stressed before.” he said carefully. The words he wanted to say were better kept to himself, so as to not anger Sir Rhayde.



Sir Rhayde took no time jumping in to win back the favor of the conversation. “I’m afraid the Templar are very rigid in their training, and every slight has its own punishment. If a soldier is late getting to roll call, he must be punished or he will do it again. Thus, the punishment should be severe enough that he does not stray again.

“As for our practices, we are simply following the Church. We have opened the Templar to a select few women, but they must be truly extraordinary to be recruited. The general arm hasn’t let women into its ranks, unless I’m mistaken?” he shot back at Romeo.



“Unfortunately we value the lives of women above the hardships that come with the military and battle. There is little for a woman to do in the military besides being a distraction. Women belong-”



“You are not cadets!” shouted the king. “Can we eat our meal in peace?! Sir Rhayde, I had hoped you would join us after the meal in whatever activity the lord had planned, but if I hear you squabbling about another topic again, I will excuse you from it. Am I clear? Sir Romeo, if I hear you talking bad about another government matter while on the trip, you will be demoted to guard for the rest of the visit and you will eat with your inferiors upstairs in the servant’s quarters.” The king had fire in his normally tired eyes.

“Aye, sir.” he complied. Rhayde said nothing.



Anwyn was the dinner maid, standing in the corner with her eyes forward, not speaking. She wished she was with the other servants upstairs, eating at the table with friends, where there were no guarded words and aggression badly hidden.

She noticed the king look at her once or twice, his gaze wasn’t very lingering, and he simply looked at her as if she were a piece of furniture; not very interested, but noted.

The king looked at his plate, now mostly empty, but he seemed to no longer have an appetite. “I’m done here. Come, let us partake in the activity you spoke of, Ludovico. I feel that I don’t have the correct heart to eat right now.”



“Yes- yes my king. I would have you come through here, if you may. I’ll lead the way.” he scrambled out of his seat. “Miss Cupshire, please go and fetch Melinda. Her services are required, but return as well. We have guests, and we don’t want them to be neglected.”

“Yes, my lord.” Anwyn answered, confused. Melinda often returned to the sleeping quarters later than everyone else, could this be why?



As Anwyn came up the stairs to the third floor, she noticed that the two queen’s ladies and a guard had joined the three other women at the table. It was odd to see only one man among so many women, but then it was also odd to see a man up here.

Catching her breath, Anwyn asked for Melinda. “Ludovico has asked for us to aid him downstairs. Would you come with me please?”



Melinda’s face tightened, looking hesitant to go with her. “Of course. I wouldn’t want you to go by yourself and to disappoint the king and lord, well that just couldn’t be.” she tried to smile.

Anwyn caught the guard’s eye, then looked away, not wanting to draw anymore attention to herself.

The two girls walked down the stairs, and Anwyn noticed that Melida wasn’t walking to quickly. She normally walked like she had a personal fire in her belly, keeping her going even when she was tired. Now she took the stairs slowly.

Anwyn followed her to the room they had first been told not to enter without an invitation. They stood outside of the curtain, waiting to be summoned.



“Ah, here are the darlings. Please, enter.” Ludovico beckoned. Melinda took the first step into the room, and Anwyn followed her a breath later. The room hadn’t been properly ventilated and it heavily smelled of mildew. There were watermarks on the walls where condensation had done damage. The king and the lord were standing in the middle of the room; the lord looked rather anxious and the king looked bored but interested in what was unfolding before him.



“Melinda, would you start the sauna? It’s to be the main attraction.” he said with a shy smile. “One of my towns folk has invented a most curious thing. It steams up like a boiling pot of water, and it feels amazing to relax in. You really must try it. But first, while it gets set up, I thought that we may try a massage first. I’m sure you’re tired from your journey and could use a good rub down.”



The king raised his eyebrow. “And am I to assume these girls are going to be the ones massaging us?” he asked.

“Of course. Only the best for our king.” smiled the lord. “The tables for the massage are over here, if you’ll follow me. We can disrobe in privacy over here.” the pair walked into the tower. Anwyn silently panicked. She didn’t know the first thing about massaging, much less massaging nobility. What was she supposed to do? She decided to just follow Melinda’s movements, and hope that it worked.

Melinda returned from the basement where the steam was coming from just as the lord called them in. “Girls, please come in now. We don’t want to catch a cold, laying here in our skins.”

It was unlikely they would catch a cold since it was the middle of summer outside and the heat from the fire downstairs was already starting to warm the room they were in. Anwyn would be sweat through by the time she went to sleep for sure.



It was only then that she noticed Sir Rhayde standing in the corner, staring. He unerved her, but there was little she could do about it. His gaze wasn’t hurting her, just making her uncomfortable.

Melinda lead the way again, walking into the small room, standing beside the king as if she knew Anwyn’s silent prayer of not blowing her cover.

“No, I want her.” the king said gruffly. He gave no explanation. After a quick shared glance, Anwyn and Melinda switched places. The king and the lord laid down on the table.





Anwyn followed Melinda’s hands to the best she could, but she didn’t know how hard to push, she could only hope she was doing a good job. The king groaned once and a while, but Anwyn didn’t know if it was relief or annoyance.

When Melinda straightened her back and put down her hands, Anwyn followed suit.

“Done already?” the king asked. “I’m sure I’m good practice for you, you could certainly use some. Perhaps another time.” he said, adjusting his shoulders.



“Sire, I believe that the sauna ought to be ready now, let us go there. This is one of my favorite parts.” he said, and Melinda winced.



“You see,” he continued, walking out to the main room, “I like a bit of company while I sit and relax. Melinda here-” he pulled her in by the waist- “Is very good company.” he kissed Melinda then, though she acted like a limp fish as he did so. Coming up for air, he finished: “the steam is quite the aphrodisiac. Anwyn here is available, if you’re interested.”



Anwyn’s eyes grew large at the lord. He was her lord, he could make any decision he chose, but this was too far. She would not be defiled my a man she didn’t love.





Sire Rhayde opened his mouth to speak from where he stood, but the king raised a hand, looking over Anwyn. “I’ll- consider it. Perhaps if I become in the mood for some company. First, I would like to see what sort of massage she can give me for my aching feet. The three of you may enjoy the steam.”

Sir Rhayde looked disappointed, but then he looked more than hopeful. “What about that lovely lady out in the hall? Is she available?”



Anwyn and the rest of the company in the room looked out of the sheer curtain to see who he was talking about, and Anwyn’s heart sank. Lara was walking by, not a care in the world. Probably to get more water from the barrel.

“No!” interjected Anwyn, feeling like she had been silent for days. “She is betrothed to be married. She is not available.”

The king, lord, and the knight seemed surprised that she had spoken with such certainty, but it quickly faded. Sire Rhayde didn’t look put out. “Surely that simply means that she is a challenge to catch. As a knight of the Templar, I could order her to do anything I-”

“Enough, Sir Rhayde! If you are having such a hard time keeping your ambitions in your pants, I will have you resigned to the guard’s quarters for the remainder of the visit. Disobey me and you will not like the consequences!” The king ordered with hushed anger. “I swear, you jump at anything that moves.”

“Aye sir.” he said, this time finally losing the spark of hope woohoo in his eyes.

The three other people went into the sauna and the king sat down in the chair with Anwyn at his feet. He sighed, closed his eyes, and leaned his head back, putting out one foot. Anwyn took hold of the foot and this time she knew what to do. She had helped her mother’s feet several times while she was pregnant with her siblings, or when she had a particularly hard day in the bakery.



The king smiled and groaned in a pleasant way as she did her work, and she tried to think of other things besides what the lord was probably doing to Melinda. Poor Melinda…



As she finished the work, the king looked down on her with a smile on his face. “I knew you were good with your hands. I could just tell. Tell me, you look familiar. What is your family name?” he asked.

“Cupshire, my king.” she answered.

“Cupshire… yes, I think I remember now. Ah, but that was a long time ago. Hardly remember it.”

Anwyn’s mind was whirling. The king of all people remembered her family? Why would he do that?

“I feel that I’ll be seeing more of you around here. Get some rest, I’ll be seeing you tomorrow.” he finished, as he stood from the chair.