Chains and Ruby Collars
Prologue
Prologue
Nothing stirred in the dark forest. There was no insects, no passing animals, not even a breeze to stir the leaves of the trees. The forest gradually receded into open lawn where dew had already formed on the grass, the beads creating a cool layer across the grass. The absence of trees and shrubs had revealed a high black iron fence in the distance. The top of the fence changed from simple poles to ornate yet sharp spikes. In the darkness the fence appeared to be the spears of some medieval army. All this was dimly lit by the quarter moon overhead and the few lights shining down from the nearby mansion. The simple red brick exterior was dulled in the lack of light. A few windows, scattered across the exterior, let out a gentle glow, mostly coming from the basement windows which peeked out above the white gravel pathway that circled the mansion.This peace was damaged by a woman sprinting down the lawn. As fast as she was moving she still moved quietly and cautiously. Her hands were cradled around a large, pregnant belly, holding it to limit any jolting to the stomach. Once she reached the trees she moved with far more ease, slipping through them as if she had lived there all her life. Her breath came out in sharp pants as she continued to move. Her incredibly long hair blew out behind her in ragged strands. Occasionally she turned to look behind her but was focused on the area in front of her. Her golden eyes seemed to see every obstacle in her way and she avoided tree roots, fallen logs, low branches, with the ease of a doe.
From a distance behind her came faint shouts as lights flicked on in the hallway and some other first floor rooms. Men spilled out on to the lawn, running to the stables. Horses were saddled quickly and men leapt onto their backs, kicking them forward into a hard canter. Once they reached the lawn they sped up to a gallop. The sound of horses hooves drawing nearer caused the woman to speed up, the very edge of the forest coming into view and just beyond it the stream and the fence. Her feet splashed through the water, kicking it up into silvery droplets as ran for the fence. The horses had been slowed by the trees but were fast gaining on her, their riders shouting directions to each other as they shone torches ahead of them.
She threw herself at the fence, grabbing the bars and beginning to pull herself up. Her swollen belly hindered her progress yet she still climbed with surprising ease. As her hands grazed the spikes of the top, the first horse broke the tree line. Its rider slowed the horse but continued to bring it forward until the rider was alongside the climbing woman. As she clung to bars and desperately tried to shimmy higher, his hand darted forward and sank into her hair. Turning the horse out of the stream, he dragged her off the bars while she screamed and thrashed against the firm grip, the water showering back down on her as she kicked it into the air. Once he had both horse and woman on dry land he dismounted and pulled her up to face him.
“What have I said about trying to run away Meeya?” he demanded, waiting for a response to a question that should have been rhetorical. By now she had stopped struggling and was glaring up at him, a whole foot shorter than him. Her clothes had been soaked through from the river and her hair clung to any patch of skin it could find on her torso. Her hands had returned to cradling her belly. He shook her by the hair as he spoke again, her head jerking in his hands. “Did you really think you’d get away with stealing what is mine?” She let out a sound that sounded animalistic as she heard the question.
“She’s mine! Not your-” was all Meeya managed to spit out before the hand not maintaining a grip in her hair backhanded her across the face, splitting her lip and causing her to cry out. Her legs buckled and she would have collapsed if her captor did not hold tight to her. He pulled her back to a standing position and he grabbed her by the chin, forcing her to look him in the eye.
“That child is mine and you are not going anywhere. The sooner you realise that, the better”, his hand moved from her chin to her belly where he pushed her fingers away so that he could lay his palm just under her belly button.
“Mine” he hissed before taking her by the arm and pushing her over to a small clearing where the men who awaited their commands on horseback. She was led to the only man who showed the slightest bit of concern for her and who also had the only spare horse. As her detainer lifted her onto the horse and tied her hands to the saddle, she glanced to the guard who held the reins. He shook his head a little at her before looking away, not wanting to get in trouble.
“Stran”, Meeya’s captor and the guard’s commander called out to him.
“Yes, sir?” he replied as his eyes snapped to his commander.
“Take Wife Meeya back to her room and see that she stays there. The rest of you settle your horses and return to your duties.” The command was firm and the man who had given it was already turning back to his horse when a chorus of yes sir’s rang out through the clearing. As the others all turned and cantered away Stran took the reins of both horses and started off at a trot for home. Once they were safely deep in the forest he slowed slightly and turned to look at her.
“Really Meeya, again?” his question did not need a response and she did not give one as she attempted to pick at the ropes circling her wrists and stared sullenly up at the mansion they were approaching, determined that this failure would not stop her from trying to escape again.
[This is an attempt at a story that's been building in my head for over a year now. I just wrote the prologue tonight to see if it actually works. Any and all reviews will be appreciated and I will try to respond to them as best I can. Any questions about pronunciations will be answered with the correct pronunciation being added to the top of the page where it first appears and the question being answered at the bottom of the latest update. Again please review and thank you for reading even this far]