A Confrontation

 We finally arrived at the castle and I had to draw in a deep breath when I saw the whole family waiting for us. This was it, home sweet home! I thought wryly to myself just as the coach man opened the door. Reagan was the first to get down from the carriage, he then held out his hand so he could help me down. I grabbed it and I had assumed he was going to let go of my hand but Reagan held on to me tightly.

When I turned to look back at the rest of the family, I noticed their whole gaze rested on Reagan's and I entwined fingers. I drew courage from Reagan's hand in mine and approached the family. Marina cleared her throat when we stopped in front of them.

"You need a bath!" She said particularly to me.

"Good morning to you too mother." Reagan said as he went ahead to hug his mom.

Marina gave him a hug, before she eased away and began inspecting him. "Are you okay? Hope you are not hurt? You look a little bit lean?"

We had just spent three days outside which I'm sure is nothing compared to the months he spends in the enemy's camp. I feel like someone needs to remind her what her son does because she seems to have forgotten.

I cleared my throat and her eyes turned to look at mine, offering me a strained smile, she nodded her head. "Good to see you are doing okay too."

"Thank you." I mumbled.

Marina grunted at me in response before she turned to look at dearest son, "You must come with me." She said already leading him away, "There are matters that need to be discussed."

Reagan turned to look at me, "I'll see you later?" He said.

I frowned but nodded my head at him. He was actually addressing me in front of his family members? Guess things were changing after all! I muse as I watched Reagan and Marina walk away, after a while Miguel turned to leave but not before narrowing his gaze at me.

I do not know what he did that for and I couldn't care less, but Marina was right about one thing, I actually did need a proper bath!

Turning away, I made a move to go to head to the castle when all of a sudden my path was blocked. I looked up only to find Adrianna and Celeste standing with crossed arms, a look of indignation on their faces as they stared at me. I eyed them warily wondering what they intended to do.

Was this a confrontation of some sort?

"What did you do?" Adrianna asked me.

"Do?" I echoed my voice filled with confusion, "I'm sorry but I do not understand what you mean?"

Adrianna rolled her eyes at me even though she was two years younger than I was. She doesn't give me the respect I deserve, she never did. "I'm asking you what you did to my brother?" She asked.

Ah, so this was what this was about! I thought to myself dryly. "Oh." Came my reply.

"Oh?" Celeste asked before scoffing in disbelief, "Is that really all you have to say? Just oh?"

My gaze cut to her and I glared at her, "You will do well to remember your place." I said my tone cold as ice, "I may answer to her but I do not answer to you and you will do well to remember it?"

Celeste swallowed no doubt surprised at what I said but she masked it with a look of arrogance, "Well we are just curious, you seem different is all."

"Well if I seem different, I suppose I have my husband to thank for that." I said causing the smirk to drop away from Celeste's face. "And next time you are curious about something, why don't you try asking my husband himself instead of dragging me into it."

Adrianna stepped forward, "You actually have a lot nerve…"

"Yeah, I do which is why I'm going to walk away now and go and have a proper bath. Now get out of my way!" Without giving them the chance to move, I walked between them, my shoulders hitting their as I headed back inside the manor.

The nerve of those two? What were they trying to do? Try to intimidate me? Well they've got another thing coming. I don't have to answer to anyone anymore, even Marina will come to accept things the way they are as time goes! I muse a smirk playing on my lips as I pushed the door of my bedroom open but I suddenly became ambushed with a hug.

"Oh thank the heavens, you are safe bow my lady!"

"Heather?' I asked with a frown as I pulled away to stare at her, "What are you doing here?" I asked because I expected her to have gone into hiding with her family since Finch was probably looking for her. That was why I had given her my pearls to sell which I'm sure would last her family for the year!

Heather looked at me with an abashed smile. "Well, when I heard you were missing, I became so worried and I just thought a lot of things had happened."

"Oh Heather! You should have left, what if Finch comes looking?"

Heather brushed me off, "I already have that taken care off." She said, "Sent my family to go and stay with my mom and dad in the country side, Finch would never find them there."

That must have been difficult, because now she was truly going to be alone. "That must not have been easy."

"No." Heather answered so softly, "It's not, but knowing they are away from any trouble that may arise keeps me going." She said firmly, though I noticed the way her bottom lip quivered as she spoke.

I wished I could help her in times like this, but unfortunately there was nothing more I could so, except say, "I'm sorry. I wish there was something I could do."

Heather shook her head at me, her brown curls moving as she did so. "Oh nonsense, you have nothing to apologize for my lady. You've done everything for me and besides, I feel like I owe you now. Staying here to take care of you is the least I could do for the woman who saved my life or should I say_" She paused staring straight at me, her lips curling at the ends as she spoke the next words that changed everything about the next few minutes of my life, "The black knight?"

WHAT?