24 Savarine Ward

Warning: Triggering subject matters. Viewer discretion is advised. 

_Savarine Ward_

Savarine's face had finally healed enough that she could attend the court balls without attracting attention to herself. Her face looked fine on the outside but it was still tender to touch in some areas- and this was the same for the reset of her body. It was likely that she would have to skip more balls soon now that she was recovered. Because that meant her father would give her a real challenge once more.

Not that she was complaining, scanning the busy room around her showed that she still was not missing much. She was standing off in a corner, drinking a little wine. She was allowed to drink some at formal events- and the court seemed to have some sort of event going every week. It was all very tiresome, and she was hardly ever involved. Savarine could only imagine how tedious it was for prince Devrish who was near the center of attention at all the events.

Speaking of Devrish, it seemed their eyes had met from across the busy ball room. She paled, and shook her head. She absolutely did not wish to go converse with an entire group of nobles, and she knew the prince was aware. He smiled a knowing smile and beckoned her over. On reluctant shaky legs she maneuvered her way across the room, steering clear of those who were dancing about. 

She did not think it was appropriate for the prince to speak to her in such a formal setting. The people of the court loved to gossip and if word got out of some conflicting suspicions, they would be in a bit of trouble. Perhaps Devrish would be fine because he was royalty and a man, but she was of a lower status and she was a woman. If it was thought that she was sleeping with the prince, her entire name would be slandered. And this was a scary thought.

Once she reached the group that Devrish was talking to, she curtsied and gave a nod to them all. "My prince, my lords,"

"My lords, this is Savarine Ward, daughter of the great swordsman Jaque Ward- the man who is helping me refine my swordsmanship skills." Devrish introduced. 

The men gave her fake smiled and nodded to her as Devrish continued. "My lady, this is Count Vismark of Ategeir, Wade Kennedith of..." The names of these men were lost to her as she did not care who they were. She would never again have to deal with these people so she did not pay attention.

The only thing that was prominent in her mind was that she should not be around the prince at an event like this. It could reflect badly on the both of them. Normally, Savarine could have not cared any less what it was that people said and thought of her, but here in court it could make or break her. It could reflect onto her family which was an even bigger issue itself.

She continued to smile and nod to the men she was introduced to, wishing her hair was not up and pulled as tight as it was. She preferred it loose and flowing- and short. Court preferred it long and held up in odd hair styles they dared to call fashion. She was no show horse.

The men began asking her questions about her family and most specifically her father. She answered what she deemed appropriate but was still careful as to what she said. Court was a surprisingly dangerous place. If someone deemed her or her family a danger or a nuisance, they would try to snuff her family out.

"And what of you dear, are you being courted by anyone presently?" One of the men asked her.

Savarine had to keep her brows from raising at the question, forcing herself to stay calm and straight faced. "No, not at the moment." She answered curtly. 

Devrish seemed to stiffen at her side when the man who's name she could not remember spoke up again. "Less competition then." He said, seeming pleased. "Would you care to join me on the dance floor?"

Savarine battled with herself to keep from answering with an immediate 'no'. This man was much older than her, and he was fat with a large beakish nose. "I would l-"

"I'm afraid Lady Savarine has already agreed to dance with me, my deepest apologies my lord," Devrish cut in with a charming smile, seemingly far from apologetic.

He took her hand and led her to the dance floor before the fat lord could object. Savarine found herself a conflicting amount of relief and fear as the prince pulled her along. One one hand he had saved her from a man she had not wanted to court her, and on the other, they caught many glances from the court. It would have been better if Devrish was anyone else, or if he had simply let Savarine deal with the lord herself. 

As soon as the two came to the floor, the music changed to a slower tempo that allowed them to dance slowly, but not too much so. It was hard to focus on the sounds as her mind was frantic and wandering.

"Relax," Devrish told her.

"We should not be dancing together in court," She said as her eyes wandered the room.

"It will be alright. It is only one dance,"

"I do not know how to dance," She said suddenly.

"You do not?"

"No!" She was whispering now.

"Then we will do a simple one. Do as I say and you should be fine." He told her now. Savarine gave him an unsure look but nodded anyway. "Hold your left hand behind your back and keep it closed. Hold your right hand up at a ninety degree angle and bring it to mine." He instructed her, and she did as she was asked.

He did the same but when their hands touched he gave her a serious look. "Our hands should not touch, and you should stand as straight as you can," He informed her, and she completed. "Now we slowly walk in sequence, almost in a circle motion." he was smiling once more as they followed his instructions.

"Then, once you have come full circle, switch hands and go the other way," He informed, and again they followed his words.

It seemed as if her worry had faded, but it still lingered in the back of her mind- but to leave the floor so soon would only warrant more attention from onlookers. "This is a silly dance," She mumbled now. 

Devrish only continued to smile. "Aye, most dancing might seem silly," he said as they came full circle and switched again. "But it can be fun if you know the steps."

"I do not think I could ever like it," She said now.

"Is sword work not dance? Do you not practice some ideal steps? It is like that- only set to music and often times with a partner." He reasoned.

Savarine blushed and refused to keep eye contact with him. "You have seen me,"

He chuckled. "Aye. I also saw you the day you beat your brother. You practice neatly but when you put it to work, you are messy and not at all graceful."

Savarine resisted the urge to hit him in the arm. "I am not graceful? Where is the grace in fighting for your life?" She said with a light laugh.

"Then I suppose I have been mistaken. I was under the impression you practiced for the skill- for the joy of it. I did not think it was for such a primal matter."

"It is both, I suppose." She said now, thinking aloud. "I enjoy what I do, I even have fun with it, but at the end of it all, the most practical use is all I can think of. If I do everything by the rules, someone without honor can still sweep me off my feet with the right blow. Besides, fighting without a rhythm is fun in itself. No one knows what to expect when you are a wild fighter."

"I wonder..." The prince hummed out now. "What it is that you think will come after you. Do you feel threatened? You speak of fighting for your life, but you have never been safer here at court- well besides the idle gossip."

Her breath caught in her throat for a moment at his words. What was it that compelled her to speak of fighting for her life, when her life was not in danger and likely never would be? She did not have as much to worry about as nobility did. There were no wars at the moment either, so it was not if the place was going to be invaded any time soon... Her eyes landed on the princes now. 

"I suppose I do not know..."

"If you do not know what you are fighting for, then how do you speak of fighting for your life?"

"I do not know," She repeated, feeling agitated. She wanted to defend herself in some way but the words would not come to her. Suddenly she felt very exposed.

"Are you alright? You look pale," Devrish pointed out.

"I am fine," She assured. "I suppose I fight for fun, but I keep the basic principles for survival with me. I cannot help it." She reasoned now.

The prince chuckled at her as he took her hand in his now, spinning her, a bit awkwardly, out of the blue. She squeaked at the suddenness of it before looking back at him with flushed cheeks. "Why would you do that?" She questioned him. 

"It was the end of the song," He said with a chuckle. He bowed to her and she quickly did the same. "You are a strange girl, lady Savarine. I- well... I should like to ask you if you would accompany me in my bedchambers tonight-"

"Absolutely not, how could you ask such a thing?" She whispered to him, so that no one about could hear.

"Not for that reason!" He defended himself. "You think so low of me," He said defensively, but he soon chuckled. "You thought-"

"Oh shut up, what is it you want in your chambers? I hope you know I am not going there."

"I have something for you," He admitted to her.

"What is it that you have there that you could not show me here, or somewhere more appropriate?" She asked him suspiciously.

"I cannot say, you would have to see for yourself."

"Then I refuse." Being caught going to his chambers in the middle of the night would mean the end for her. Not only that, but it did not seem morally right.

"Then shall I come to yours?"

She wrinkled her nose. "Absolutely not,"

Devrish took her hand and lead her off the dance floor, eyes following them as they left the ballroom. She felt her heart quicken. Neither of them had snuck away- the court would make all kinds of assumptions. What would her father think? Her brothers?

"Devrish we must go back!"

"In a moment, I wish to speak with out out of earshot of the others,"

"A bit late for that," She muttered and he gave her an apologetic smile.

"I merely have something to show you, and I would wish to do it somewhere private.

"Why?" She asked him with narrowed eyes.

"Well I-" He cut himself off, looking conflicted.

"Well what? Spit it out, we haven't got all day," Her attitude was slipping, she realized but at the moment she could not find it in her to care. The prince was acting a peculiar way... she was not sure what to make of this.

"I fancy you!" He blurted in a loud whisper.

"You what?"

"Oh do not make me repeat myself,"

Savarines eyes narrowed and she pulled her hand from his that had been still holding it. "You jest," She said now.

"No! It is the truth,"

"Since when?" She had feared this, but she had not wanted to deny his requests at befriending her. 

"I do not know! Since you had come to court- since I had seen you practicing one afternoon- or in the bathing room-" His eyes widened at the last part.

Savarine stepped away from Devrish now, her hands coming up to her chest, keeping them close, as if she was afraid of hitting the prince here and now. "I do hope that last part was a cruel joke." She said shortly.

Devrish swallowed.

"So you lied to me. You had been watching me hadn't you?"

Devrish moved his head to shake it but it merely froze in a conflicted way as if he was afraid of lying now. "You do not understand- you were new to me! You were- you are so much different than the other girls!"

She shook her head angrily. "I am just like every other girl, I merely play with swords and embarrass myself on occasion." She said to him, trying so very hard to keep herself from yelling at him. "How long had you watched me? How often? Where? When?"

"I- I.. I could not say so easily where and when..."

 "You had done it a lot then?" Silence. She wrinkled her nose. "I understood that you sometimes did not know how to keep from saying rude things because no one had told you not to say them," She told him now. "But this is not words. These are actions not befitting to any person- not even a royal."

"You do not understand!" He pleaded with her.

Her dark eyes narrowed at him. "What is it that I do not understand? Your childish feelings towards me? You liked me before you knew me- this is only infatuation. You simply want what you cannot have, because you already have everything!"

"That is not it!" He told her, coming to grip her by the shoulders.

She moved to push against his chest. "Unhand me Devrish,"

"Not till you understand!"

"Then explain!"

One of his hands came to the back of her neck and pulled her into him for a kiss. Her eyes only widened as she immediately tried to push away from him. She did not kiss him back even as he forcefully held her there. After a moment, he let her go.

"Do you not feel the same?"

"No!" She said breathlessly, wiping at her mouth.

He looked offended now, but she did not fear it. "Why?"

"Do I need a reason why? I just do not, and i certainly wont now that I know you are a lurker!"

"A lurker?" He asked incredulously.

"What else would you call yourself after what you have done"

"I do not know," He said in an exasperatedly distressed tone.

"What is it you thought would happen between us? We would never marry, my status is far below yours and even if you were to force it, would the people really stand behind a peasant queen?"

"You are from a wealthy family-"

"A wealthy peasant family!" She pressed. "The council would never allow it, your king father would never allow it, and I do not want it anyway!"

"Why not?" He almost yelled at her now.

"Because I feel nothing for you! How many ways must it be said, Devrish? I just do not fancy you," She said now, breathing heavily.

"But- but I was so good to you!"

"Aye! You were a good friend- I had fun with you,"

"I do not just want your friendship!"

"You have made that very clear. And now I am afraid we cannot be friends."

"We cannot?"

"No!"

"Why?!" He asked, looking panicked.

Savarine ran a hand down her face, sighing heavily. "You do not know why? You do not?!" Her eyes came to glare into his. "You think about what you have been doing. And you think hard. Perhaps you will get your answer then. We are no longer friends. We cannot after this. Do not speak to me again." She ordered him, moving to go back to the ballroom. 

Devrish caught her arm. "Savarine, do not walk away from me!"

She gave him a smoldering, angry look. "Is Devrish asking, or is the prince commanding?" She asked with a venomous tone. He was taken aback before he answered.

"As the prince, and your friend, I order you to stay here!"

She ripped her arm from his grasp. "Friends do not order things of each other." She said simply before walking angrily back to the ballroom. 

"Come back!" He yelled at her, but she ignored him.

Once back in the ballroom she angrily poured herself a rather generous amount of wine. Gripping her goblet tightly, she chugged half of it before slowing herself and allowing herself to keep up some form of etiquette. Eric's eyes met her from across the room. He knew her well, and to see her so agitated he knew something must of happened.

Savarine watched him excuse himself from the conversation he was in so he could approach her.

"Are you alright? I saw you leave with the prince,"

"The whole damn court saw him lead me by my hand out of here," She muttered. "They must think me a whore,"

"You had not been gone long, I'm sure not all is lost," He said hopefully.

"People talk," She said and he gave a conflicted sort of nod.

"Aye that is true. Perhaps they will forget- or perhaps I should give them something else to talk about," he offered her. 

Savarine quickly shook her head. "No no, do not embarrass yourself for my sake," She pleaded him.

"Tell me what happened then- before I go ask the king to a duel and beat him in front of the entire court-"

"Eric!" She scolded with a smile creeping onto her face now.

"Tell me," He pressed.

"Devrish invited me to his chambers," She admitted.

"He invited you? Had he been trying to force you there?"

"No no- it was not like that," She sighed, running a hand down her face before taking a sip of her wine. "I believe he had something to show me- or perhaps he was merely aiming to tell me he fancied me there- but he ended up confessing out in the hallway.."

"Anyone could have heard in the hallway!"

"I know! But he was quiet- and I do not think anyone heard..." She closed her eyes for a moment frustrated, then they opened and scanned the ballroom for anyone who might be eavesdropping on their conversation. "I simply told him I did not feel the same- and I asked when it was that he started fancying me and..." She furrowed her brows and looked at her brother.

"And what?" Eric pressed.

"You cannot go and do anything. Promise me you will not act on any of this information."

"You make it sound as if it is grave- I cannot promise you anything." He told her in all seriousness.

She shook her head. "Then I cannot say,"

"Fine I promise, just tell me!" 

Savarine kept her voice quiet, but tried to keep from looking suspicious as she talked to him. "He- he accidentally admitted he had been watching me- but not in a courtly fashion... he had seen me in the bath and did not deny seeing me on many other occasions."

Eric said nothing now, looking at her with brows that were pulled down pointing at lips that were drawn in a fine line. Savarine continued. "He could not understand why I did not fancy him and he-... well, he kissed me. I did not kiss him back- I ended our friendship. It is all over but he was not himself when we parted- he was different."

"I don't suppose he has ever been rejected before," Eric pointed out now, his arms crossed.

"I had not been very kind to him in doing so," She tried to reason.

"He had watched you in places you should not have been seen." Eric said through gritted teeth.

Her grip on the goblet tightened again. "Aye."

Eric sighed. "What are you going to do? You do not need me feeding your anger."

Savarine frowned and took another sip before speaking. "I do not know. For now, I am not speaking to him. I do not think there is much I can do... no one would believe my word over his."

"I suppose that is true. Tch. I should teach him a lesson."

"As much as I would enjoy a nice arse beating, do not bring trouble unto yourself, brother. Not for my sake at least. He looked like a kicked puppy when I told him we would no longer be friends. I think perhaps he has learned his lesson in that way."

"Has he? A lesser girl would have fallen at his feet the very moment he confessed to them, long forgetting the creeping he had done."

"There is nothing to do. A lesser girl would learn the hard way that affiliations with a prince meant danger for their namesake." She sipped the last of her wine and frowned when there was no more in her cup. "I think I will go to bed early... I have had enough for one night."

Eric nodded. "The prince has not returned, let me walk you back to your chambers so that court does not think you are running off to be with him."

Savarine smiled now, though it was faint. "That is a good idea, thank you."

_____

Eric had escorted her to her room, and there he bid her good night before leaving. Fenir was not there, and she had not seen him at the ball, so she assumed he once again had snuck off with a woman. Good riddance. She was glad he was not here- unsure if she could withhold her temper from him after holding it all night.

She was not as close with Fenir as she was with Eric, that much was obvious. She did joke around with Fenir a lot more than with her eldest brother, but with that she often fought more with him than she did the other. Sharing a room did not help- which brought her back to the thought of those doors... two wings- perhaps more- of the castle were blocked off...

She had been meaning to ask the prince why this was, but she was no longer on speaking terms with him. Instead, she would have to ask around if she got the chance- or perhaps see if it was written in a book somewhere. She had heard mentions of history books in the castle library. 

However, for now Savarine was trying to sleep, glad to be out of that terrible squeezing contraption they called a dress. Her night dress was light and flowy- really the only acceptable dress there was. She found that with today's tiresome events, the wine, and her comfortable bed and dress, that drifting off to sleep was rather easy.

She hardly stirred when the door of her chamber opened later that night. Fenir often stumbled in late after his fun with whatever women he managed to convince to let into their chambers. And with tonight's event, she was sure he was rather drunk.

When she felt a dip in the bed she merely groaned out, her back to him. "Fenir," She said, her voice muffled by the pillow. "Wrong bed you drunken idiot." When he did not leave she groaned again. "Get out of my bed you rat bastard,"

She sat up groggily and wiped the sleep from her eyes, turning to face her brother. "I'm going to kick you in your bits if you do not get out of my bed, Fenir." She said to the shadow of her brother. Reaching over she went to push him from her bed.

His hand caught hers. "You mistake me for someone else," he said with partially slurred words. Savarine's eyes widened in the dark, reaching up to hit the intruder, but a hand came to her mouth and he pushed her back into the bed, muffling her cry. "Shh shh shh,"

She made to kick the man, but he was too quick, climbing on top of her. "I've come to explain myself," He sounded like Devrish, she thought. 

She tried to scream, but not much could be heard through his hand. He had swiftly caught both of her arms and held them above her head so that she could not hit him. "Just hear me out, Savarine,"

She narrowed her eyes, though he could not see. She shook his head, so that he could feel with his hand still on her mouth. Next, he heard him sigh, in near defeat.

"See, that will not work here- I am in a rather conflict situation being here... holding you like this." She could have scoffed at him. "This was not how I intended to first hold you..." He admitted.

Savarine did not want to be held at all- by anyone. The girl writhed in his grip, kicking and yelling muffled profounities from his fingers. He had the audacity to chuckle.

"You tickle my hand when you do that,"

She made a move to bite him but he pressed down in a way where she could not manage it. "Don't bite me, you are not an animal," He scolded too casually. "I just want to talk with you... I just want to be with you... to be near you... to..." His voice trailed off. "My, now I sound mad, don't I?"

"Savarine," He whispered to her, his face lowering to hers as she felt his breath hit her features. "You don't understand, you just aren't like other girls. I do admit that you were right... I am infatuated. I am wholeheartedly captured... and you shattered me. I have handed you my heart on a silver platter- no a gold one. And you threw it back at me." He paused to kiss the hand that covered her mouth. She knew this because she heard it, and his nose touched hers.

"You have been so cruel to me..." He whispered to her. "You were right though... we could never marry. But I would take you as a mistress, no one would bat an eye if I did. My real wife would be some whore of a noble lady, a disposable girl from some loathsome highborn family. But my real love- my real passion... it would be you Savarine."

She felt sick in hearing this all. Perhaps she would have been better able to fend him off if she had not drank so much wine at the ball, or if she had not gone to sleep so soon- anything really. She had wished then that she had stayed at the ball a while longer- that she had stayed in Eric's company. Her only hope now was that Fenir would come back soon.

"Agree to be my mistress, Savarine. Agree to it and be mine, let me have you. Let me have you tonight even, marriage matters naught if you are to be my mistress,"

Her breathing quickened at his words, her head shaking quickly. She did not want this. She did not want him anywhere near her. She cried silently for her brothers from behind his hand, tears coming from her tired eyes now awake with fear.

"No, no no no," He drawled. "Don't cry my love... You make it seem as if this is all a bad thing. If you cry you'll only hurt me again. Ahh... you're shaking," He pointed out the last bit, disappointment in his tone. His nails dug into her arms as she struggled in his grasp. "If you would only calm down- I just do not feel as though you've really listened..."

"I'll let you go if you agree to listen..." He told her now. "You can't scream or hit me," he tacked on.

Savarine hesitated before she slowly nodded, and his hands slowly let go of her. She took a short amount of time to catch her breath, and calm her nerves.

"See? You're fine,"

"Leave." She told him flatly. "Leave and we can both pretend you have not lost your sanity."

"You are so harsh to me," He murmured, stroking her cheek.

"Do not touch me- get off of me," She snapped at him, batting his hand away from her. He in turn, caught her wrist and squeezed tightly. "Devrish, I will scream." She warned.

"Go ahead," He told her in a sickly sweet voice. "I told the guards I placed outside the room that things might get wild..."

"Get out!" She raised her voice to him now, trying to shove him off of her. His hands came to her wrists and pulled them away forcefully.

"Not until you understand how I feel!"

"Oh I understand!" She spat. "I understand you are crazy!"

"Do not speak to me like this! I am the prince!" He snapped.

"Oh do I offend you, my dear prince? Get out of my room!" She yelled at him. 

He growled and hit her upside the head. In turn she did not hesitate to hit him back, and the two struggled for a moment, hitting each other before he finally had both of her hands pinned above her head again. "I did not think you would fight me this much," He admitted, sniffing as blood dripped down from his nose and landed on her cheek, making her cringe though she could not see this.

"You did not think I wouldn't be pleased to have you come assault me in my own bed?" She spat at him, breathing heavily.

"I did not plan on hitting you!" He defended.

"You are surly unsound!"

"Listen to me Savarine, really listen!"

"Fenir!" She yelled loudly. "Eric!"

"Shut up! The guards wont let anyone in anyway! Are you daft?"

"Just leave me! Why are you even doing this? You are making it worse!"

"I am making things better! I have come to convince you!" He told her now.

"The only convincing you have done is proven to me that you are not right in your head!" She yelled at him, thrashing under him.

"Let me show you then!"

"Show me?"

"How I feel." He said simply as one of his hands sunk lower, pushing up her nightdress.

"You would not," She said now, feeling her face pale. "You would not do such a thing- you are better than that-"

"Shut up! You don't understand!" He hit her across the face rather unexpectedly in the dark. She blinked, her head spinning. 

"Stop!" She yelled at him, and he hit her thrice more. She sputtered what she thought was blood, still struggling and kicking under him.

She had not realized when she began to sob uncontrollably, but he had not liked the sound of it, and had cursed at her for it. Her head hurt greatly- her surroundings no longer making sense. The words that came from his mouth no longer meant anything to him as things faded in and out. She could no longer tell if he was hitting her or not or if he was having his way or not.

She could not even tell how long her daze lasted before she found her hands were free. She reached slowly, stretching as well as she was able to in this moment before she grabbed something off of her nightstand. It was the candle holder she realized. None of the candles had been lit because of her sleep, but the steel was still hard. She brought it down with as much force as her arms would allow, hearing him cry out.

She was able to then, in that moment, push him off of her and fling herself from the bed. She stumbled, her head spinning but she could make out the shadow coming after her, In her daze she hit him again, but he ripped the makeshift weapon from her and let out a terrible yell that echoed across the room.

 She fled to the door as fast as her foggy head would allow, fear driving her in this moment. Crying, Savarine flung it open and stumbled into the hallway, falling to the floor in the process. She realized now, that there was no guards- he had lied to her. "Eric!" She shouted now, the singular torch that lit up the hallway showed the figure of the angry prince looming in the doorway, blood dripping down the side of his face, and one of his eyes closed and bloodied.

"You bitch!" He hollered at her, but all she heard was the roar of a beast.

She scrambled to her feet and ran some until her world tilted and she fell to the floor again. "Eric! Fenir!" She cried desperately, looking back to see the prince walking after her, holding the bleeding side of his face.

"You've taken my eye!" He shrieked. "I'll kill you for this, you whore!"

"Stay away from me!" She yelled, looking back at the maddened prince, trying to crawl away from him. She bumped into someone's legs and nearly screamed, only her breath caught in her throat when she saw it was Eric.

He looked worried now, eyes wide on the scene before him. She wept then, crying hard as she clung to her brother's legs. "Eric," She cried. "Eric please,"

He crouched down and pet her head. "Savarine," He said to her, pulling her into him, eyes now glaring up at the prince who loomed in the hallway. "I'll kill you, you son of a bitch," He threatened, growling it out. 

But there would be no killing, as the heavy footsteps of guards soon flooded the hallway.