The Sacrifices for Peace.

 

Chapter 2



Dawn made itself known with the sun peeking through the gaps of the curtain and the sounds of birds singing in the gardens trees. Branwen snuggled deeper into the blankets before reality hit her like a punch in the gut. 



She didn’t dare move; she did not dare to wake the sleeping man behind her. His arm kept her clutched to his chest possessively; his soft breaths tickled her neck. She smoothed the soft fur comforter, she didn’t remember that being there but she realised he must have put it around her. 



Branwen felt him shift and took this opportunity to escape his grasp and slip from the bed. She stretched and immediately pulled on a bath robe. She scratched the inside of her arm as she crossed the room to order the maids to prepare her a bath and breakfast for two. 



She knew her place, she had been trained for this since she was a child, she was there merely for his pleasure, to ensure his happiness but Branwen had a strong spirit and despite the teachings and the customs she often wondered ‘what if?’. Her hunger for knowledge often brought her under the father’s belt. Women were only there to please their husbands not to read or write.



Slipping into the hot bath she thought of her husband, she let her mind wander. What was he was like? Would they be happy? Would he make a good husband and father? Would he treat her as a slave? Would he have affairs with maids like her father? She shoved the questions away for they caused a raging tide of emotions inside of her and made her hands shake and tears sting her eyes. She let herself sink beneath the water washing away the shameful tears allowing her to empty her mind and be free.



Jared woke alone and felt a stab of fear, had he been to rough? What if she had decided she can’t do this and has run away or tried to take her life? His guilt was still weight upon him, like molten lead around his heart. 



Panic forced its icy grip around his heart. He couldn’t bear the thought of her killing herself because of him. It was a burden he could not bear. The soft splash of water caught his attention and as calmly as the situation allowed he entered the bathroom, he watched her, the tear that rolled down her face and into the water and watched her as she submerged herself. 



The seconds stretched into what felt like hours to Jared he rushed to the bath tub and grabbing her arm he pulled her to the surface. She let out a choked cry of surprise she went to struggle but when she saw her attacker she went wide eyed.



“My my my lord?” she stammered wide eyed and trembling as he lifted her from the bath. He said nothing even as he wrapped her in a towel. She was trembling in fear now. “My lord please, what have I done that upset you so?”



Jared stopped in his tracks when he realised his mistake. Those were not the words of a woman who was trying to kill herself. He ran his hands over his face and through his hair. 

“I woke up alone. I saw you crying and then you went under and I thought…” Jared stopped taking a deep breath.



“You thought I would kill myself?” She asked softly. He nodded defeated. She threw herself to her knees “I am so sorry my lord; It was not my wish to worry you or upset you so… I just wanted a bath, please don’t punish me”



“P... p… punish you?” the words did not make sense in his head. “Why would I punish you?”



“Because I displeased you” she sobbed at his feet. He gently touched her arms and pulled her to her feet.



“You did not displease me, I feared I had hurt you” he whispered holding her wet body to him and smoothing her hair until she calmed but he could not help the stab of anger at her and her nation’s traditions. He knew he could never love such a timid creature. “I promised I would never hurt you” 



When she was calm he told her to finish her bath and he went into his room where he washed and dressed. The maids brought the breakfast in just as Branwen walked into the bed room. She was holding her dress up with her hand looking around the room



“Where is my ladies maid?” she asked softly



“I sent them out so we could eat in peace” He looked at her and realised his folly but beckoned her to him. She cautiously approached “turn around” 



She obeyed the instruction wordlessly but still held herself a little tensely, too tensely for his liking but he did not blame her. He took the laces of her dress and tugged them. He laced her dress up for her. To him it seemed a strangely intimate thing to do but he decided he like it. 



She took her seat and they began to eat in silence. Jared watched her thinking over the incident in the bathroom, her words on punishment got to him more than anything and he realised how little he knew of her culture let alone her but he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to learn.



“So what would you like to do today Branwen?” He asked sipping the cold freshly squeezed orange juice. 



“Whatever pleases you my lord” She replied softly. 



“Please call me Jared, I was thinking we’d go down the stables and pick out your engagement present” He said evenly, he didn’t miss the way her eyes sparkled with a contained excitement and sadness. 



“But as I told you last night My… Jared, I cannot ride.”

“That is easily remedied.” 



“It’s illegal for a woman in my country to ride a horse, we must always ride in a chariot”



“Then isn’t it a good thing we aren’t in your country” Jared challenged cheekily. She blushed and nodded “unless you don’t wish to learn”



“I do” she said almost too fast. 



“That’s settled. So tell me of your land, of your childhood and your culture.” He said as she finished eating. 



“My country is a lot warmer and when the wind blows the smell of flowers and spices fills the air. Women stay at home, cooking, cleaning and raising the family. While the men work. The boys go to the local schools and girls learn family traditions from their mothers and grandmothers. My mother, she was not royalty, she was a gypsy and my parents were much in love when I was young, she would take me to the fields and speak to me of the animals and the plants used for healing but I was taught all the traditions by my grandmother.”



“So you have no education?” He asked an eye brow raised.



“No it’s forbidden for a woman to be schooled they are there for their husbands pleasure” she said. He didn’t miss the tone of sadness. 



“Are you finished?” he asked softly. She nodded and he rose and beckoned her to him she stood and took two tentative steps forward. He offered his arm, meek and obeying she took it.