Broken (closed to lordluck)

[Virgininneed]

"Fucking bitch!" she heard as a fist collided with her jaw. It was her wedding night. She cowered in a corner as King John raged. She had done nothing. There was to much wine at the reception and he was drunk. He accused her of being a whore, though he knew she was a virgin. He hit her everywhere and raped her. He left her in the bed crying from pain.

It happened every night for three years. Everyone knew from the bruises and occasional broken fingers, but none would help her. He was a cruel man who enjoyed having innocents tortured while he and his wife watched. She hated him, but he had broken her spirit. She no longer seemed to care.

Then the knight came. Jane watched him as he entered the court covered in fresh bruises. She showed no emotion. She curtseyed and her husband slapped her. "Get out you slut! I know you want to fuck him. Ill punish you later."

Never once had she betrayed him, but arguing would infuriate hi. She lowered her eyes and left. She went to the library and read. The stories were her only escape

 

[LordLuck]

He was simply outstanded.

The young man had heard that King John could suffer from severe outbursts of rage, but he never hoped he would direct them on that lovely flower that he only understood late on... that was his Queen. His very Queen, and the man had taken his hand up to deliver an audible, harsh slap across her face.

There had been trouble down in the city that sprouted around the King's Castle, the large Keep dominanting the whole view from the dale up to the far mountains, ever-shrouded in myst. The King used to beat his wife, a fragile, docile-looking woman. Why? Well, it was evident that feared she was... adulterous, but he had never thought a woman such as that one did it.

Well, considering the harsh treatment from her husband, now he could understand if she did cheated on him. But he did not know that yet, she did not.

"My Lord... King John?", he presented himself.

"Yes, boy?"

He blushed for a moment in annoyance. He had seen that outrageous display of unchivarous manners, and now this man that was barely ten years his senior treated him like that? "I am Marhaus, firstborn of Count Olivier the Marcherlord. There was... a riot on the streets, my Lord."

"Those pesky bastards again? I'll have the very Palatial Guard come down and beat them to pulp!", the King roared violently. "What do you want from me, boy?"

"I... come to pledge my sword to your service, my Lord.", he told the man, although he was already regreting his decision. He had awaited a more... civilized man running the Kingdom.

"Later... Later... for the time being, ask for a quarter from the paiges. They'll show you around. I have to deal with this... nuisance."

As the King left the Throne Room towards the Barracks, he thought on what to do. Probably he should offer the Queen apologies for being the one that triggered that violent outcome. Wandering through the corridor in which she had dissapeared, he might yet find her...

 

[Virgininneed]

Jane heard footsteps in the corridor and snapped the book shut. She walked to the door cautiously, a frightened look on her face. It was that knight.

She stepped back nervously, and spoke. "Id advise you to stay away from me. I dont want to give him a reason to be angry," she spoke quietly. She was worried that he too was aviolent man, and walked to the other side of the room. Glancing back at him, she walked through another set of doors and went to the kking's chambers.

Johm entered and lifted her by the throat and threw her to the ground. She curled into a bal as he kicked her repestefly. The room was filled with her sobs and screams. He tore off her clothes and fucked her. Once he calllmed down, he picked her up and cliimbed in bed.

The next day she went to the healer and sat in silence. She glanced up as rhe knight came in and avoided his eyes

 

[LordLuck]

He never got the chance to approach. To offer his apology - she knew and feared she would suffer that fate she dreaded already. And she did, for Marhaus had heard the grunts and moans coming from behind the thick, wooden door that blocked his path.

The young man had decided it was for the best for him, a newblood in the Court, to remain away from the Royal Couple, given their... troublesome relationship and his complete inability to do anything. Heading towards the Healer, the Apothecary a maid had pointed him to, he remained there for the day while he was treated in the wounds he had taken to the head during the fight. He had heard about men falling from blows to the head weeks after receiving them.

"My Queen...", he started nervously as he saw the abused woman enter the room. The old woman that had been treating him started to ministed the Queen's own bruises gently. "...I am sorry..."

What he should say? What he could say, after all? He reflected quietly as he expected for any sign of acknowledgement.

 

[Virgininneed]

"Its not your fault," she said quietly. "This happens all the time. You didnt do anything wrong." She stared at the floor avoiding his eyes. "Be careful though. I'd hateto see you get killed. He doesnt need a reasson. Do everything he tells you and you'll be fine."

She stood and left as a tear slid down her cheek. She wasntt sure if he'd seen it, but he probably had. She noticed she was trembling and went outside. John was there with some captured rebels and sshe turned to leave. "Jane," she turned nervously and walked to him. Her eyes widened as he placed a whip in her hands and pointed at a man kneeling on the ground.

"No," she spoke angrily. She would not help him hurt anyone. He could beat her but she would never do that to her people. She closed her eyes as he threw her down and took the whip. She screamed in pain crying

 

[Virgininneed]

bump.

 

[LordLuck]

That had done it.

He could not stand it anymore. Marhaus could not stand to see a woman crying, why should anyone else do it for this monster of a man? No. There should have retribution. He had been breaking his poor wife, the woman's life becoming more than miserable due to the bastard's almost constant outbreaks of fury. His moods were as foul as his words and acts.

Standing tall and ignoring the warnings of the healer and it's helping hands, the young knight went outside striding fast in long steps as he saw the Queen on her fours and trying to get to her knees, the King lifting his whip that should be used against the rebels against the frail woman that was meant to be his wife.

It was foolish. It was stupid. It was soundly imbecile, but still Marhaus strode, closing into them before King John could acknowledge what was that figure approaching him. That was until the gauntled fist of Marhaus collided fiercely against the King's cheek, sending the thin man rolling on his axis before falling down on his back.

 

[Virgininneed]

zshe closed her eyes waiting for the sound of another lash on her back, but it never came. Instead, she saw the king fall to the ground beside her. Oh no. She looked up and saw the knight. Hadn't she told him to be careful?

She struggled to her feet and pulled a horse to the knight. "I don't know what you were thinking but you need to get out of here now!" The king was unconcious and everyone was staring at him shocked. She knew she would pay for this but she set the rebels free, and no one tried to stop her.

They all hated him, even the guards, and many of them were glad to see the king being puched. But she knew as soon as the king got up, they'd become the loyal soldiers the king believed them to be. She saw that the knight hadn't left and went to him. "You need to go. What are you waiting for?"

 

[LordLuck]

"I cannot let you stay with this monster.", he approached the king and spat upon his face, the gruesome ichor landing on King John's forehead. "He'll blame you and ease himself on you, and that I cannot allow either. I'd rather beat him dead than let you here."

Marhaus knew, thought, that most of those words were merely bravado. Heck, what he was thinking he would do once the King was awake and giving orders around? He had to go. The city was not safe anymore. "Come. Come with me. Let us flee togheter. "

"Let me be your paladin.", he told her as he got upon the horse's back, and offered her a hand. The soldiers looked upon the scene without any action, noticing this would be something grand - a tale to tell their wives and children one day. "Come, quick. We must be speedy as you say."

 

[Virgininneed]

Realizing he might not leave if she stayed, she got on the horse and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you," she said closing her eyes. She'd dreamed that someone would take her away from her, but she couldn't believe it was actually happening. He was doing something that might get himself killed, and she regretted being the reason he risked his life.

 

[LordLuck]

More than quickly, the young Lord Marhaus lead his way through the Castle's Yard, the freedmen coming along and running towards the gates in order to open it wide. Albeit there were many armed soldiers and guard in position, nobody moved an inch to prevent their daring escape and kidnapping - for King John was sure to blame them as sequesters to his wife the Queen. He could feel her warm embrace as she struggled to keep in place, holding against his body just like the damsel in distress saved from the evil dragon.

And in more than one sense, she was. Marhaus had just delivered her from King John, but still they had much to do. The rebels had been unleashed upon the streets where many fled and dissapeared between the townsfolk, many hearing of the comotion back into the Keep. For Marhaus, however... He had to safekeep Queen Jane. Riding freely with the stallion and stopping by the Inn he had been staying for the days in the Capital, Marhaus fled. Taking his equipment and keeping himself close to Jane, he had riden hard and far from the city, crossing the Gates with the guards seeming to ignore that the woman that rode with him was their Queen.