The Raven (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Reading Boar's note did have an effect on Emma. It made her sad that she had caused him pain but she was still firm in the belief that her future was at court. She let out a sigh as she faded the note and tucked it into her pocket, sucking a deep breath as she looked over the fine gown that she had made for the special occasion. She had butterflies in her belly as she walked into the Prince's chambers, wondering what kind of mood she would find him in.

 

[KieranSoares]

The Prince was standing before a long mirror, fixing his vest with a calm expression, but he saw her enter in the reflection, and he turned with a pleased smile. "Emma," he spoke her name gladly. "Welcome home, darling." He came to stand before her, taking her hand to kiss it. He still looked upon her as if she belonged to him.

 

[heartofcourage]

Emma grinned as he came towards her with what seemed like a warm welcome. The way he kissed her hand made her belly clench in the most delightful way. She wanted to throw herself into his arms, but she restrained herself.

"I was happy to get your letter. I thought that you never wanted to see me again." She said, her eyes locking onto his.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I was angry and stupid. It took a while to realize how much of a gem I'd tossed away." He stepped in closer and kissed her without warning, just like he used to surprise her all the time. He sighed softly into the kiss, and when he pulled back, he smiled. "God, I've missed that..."

Prince Henry was as cold a man as could be found, but around Emma, he softened because he enjoyed having a sweet pet to call his own and enjoy his free time with. He did like her, but she was more often than not, a possession to him.

 

[heartofcourage]

Emma melted into his kiss, whimpering as he surprised her just like he always did. She trembled as he told her that he had missed her. She wrapped her arms around his chest, holding him tight as she let out a little sigh.

"And you didn't marry the princess..." She murmured against his ear.

 

[KieranSoares]

Henry sighed and pulled back to look at her, "No... I did. I more or less had to. As much as I enjoy you, Emma... for the sake of the crown and my family's reputation, I needed to take a different wife. But that doesn't matter. Her only place here is to give me a son."

 

[heartofcourage]

Emma heard his confession and she felt as if she'd been kicked in the gut. She pulled back from him slightly, looking him in the eyes with a pout upon her lips.

"For the sake of your crown? Henry, you promised that you would marry me." She said softly, a tone of disbelief in her voice. "I'm of noble stock."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know you are, but I need an heir. Once I have one, I'll be done with her for good. I can't risk a repeat of last time. Please... you have to understand my reasoning. I didn't call you back to break your heart, but this is something I can't change. Once I'm done with her, you're all that matters. After all... didn't you once tell me you weren't the marrying type?" That was where it had all began.

 

[heartofcourage]

Couldn't have a repeat of last time...she wasn't the marrying type...

She had said all those things because of the hurt in her heart when she miscarried. She had miscarried because of him. All the stress that he had put her under, the constant worry about what might be. She had told him that she would be alright in the highlands, that it was fine he didn't want to be with her because who in their right mind would marry someone like Emma?

Boar would...

"Of course." Emma said with a smile that came with a practiced ease. "I think I'll retire to my rooms for a while. I find myself tired after the journey."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I kept them just the same," Henry nodded. Her chambers were just down the hall from his, a great wide room with several windows, the largest looking over London's high-class quarter. It had seemed so beautiful and modern when she'd first come there... but now it seemed gloomy, and not in the lovely way Loch Fae was. Everything was modern and cold, not warm and rustic like Boar's small fire-lit keep that loomed like a welcoming giant in the mist on such days.

 

[heartofcourage]

Emma entered her rooms, looking out the windows as the doors closed behind her. She felt...numb. Disappointed. Insulted. How had her decision gone so incredibly wrong so quickly? She wanted to wed her prince, to be the queen of all the surrounded her, but she knew that she had made an incredibly bad decision.

With a sigh, she turned to sit at her writing desk, sitting down to write a letter back to Boar.

My dearest Boar...

I fear that I have made a terrible mistake. Life at court is so much gloomier than the highlands are. I find myself thinking about you and the time that I spent at Inverlochly. I suppose I'm begging you...please save me...

Love, Emma.

 

[KieranSoares]

It was two weeks before Emma received a reply, a short, simple letter.

Emma,

You left me without a word. You destroyed my heart... If you really want to return to Inverlochly, you are free to do so. But you will have to save yourself this time.

-Boar

 

[heartofcourage]

Emma stood in front of her windows as she read his note for the thousandth time. The pretty green dress she wore, a gift from Henry, the pearls at her throat, her glossy black hair pulled and pinned into the most becoming style...it all seemed so cheap. She could have anything in the world that she wanted except for what she wanted most.

She let out a long sigh and turned from her windows, sitting down at her desk to write a simple message.

My dear Boar,

Come for me.

Emma

 

[KieranSoares]

Finally, after another week, Emma heard a loud commotion down in the main hall, and guards ran to stop whoever it was. They apparently failed, because soon, Emma's door swung open and there stood Boar. He looked entirely furious and out of breath, and he growled, "Well come on, if yer comin'."

 

[heartofcourage]

Emma glanced up from the book she'd been reading as the door suddenly slammed open and she was face to face with Boar Ghis. She hadn't expected him to actually come...and not that fast either. A confused look was on her face. She was made up as he'd never seen her before, like a queen in her own right. Her hair was pinned back from her face, none left the trail down her back like it had in the highlands. Jewels sparkled against her throat and ears, her red dress hugging her figure.

"Did you expect me to be waiting at the front gates?" She asked him bluntly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don' know what I was expectin', but I don' really 'ave time t'chat about it if y'want me t'get you out o' here an' not go t'prison." He turned to glance down the hall, and sighed as he saw the guards coming. "Too late, I guess."

 

[heartofcourage]

Emma smiled softly as she slipped past him and intercepted the guards.

"Don't you have better things to do than to bother my guest?" She asked them, that high and mighty tone coming out clear as day as she stared them men down. "Or do I just need to take this straight to the Prince?"

 

[KieranSoares]

The guards slid to a halt before her, breathing heavily, "But milady, he broke down the doors. Why wouldn't he say he's your guest? We would've let him in without issue."

"Emma," Henry's voice came as he appeared from another room. He raised an eyebrow at Boar. "Who is this?"

"Boar Ghis," Boar answered rigidly.

"What the hell's a Scot doing in my castle? Throw him out!" Henry growled. He, like most English nobility, hated Scots with a passion for no particular reason.

 

[heartofcourage]

Emma's back stiffened as he demanded to know why a Scot was in his castle. Her gaze turned absolutely venimous as she glared at the Prince.

"And what exactly do you think I am?" She asked him with a deathly quiet voice that made even the guards stop and take notice. "Emma Campbell...or did you forget that? It seems being married hasn't only sucked the passion from your veins, it's stolen your brain as well."

 

[KieranSoares]

Henry's expression grew dark. "You were different. But clearly you've forgotten who I am and that you owe me your respect. I brought you back to the life you loved even after you failed me. Get out."

Boar snarled, "Don' you dare talk t'her li' that!"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Failed you?" Emma said in a deathly quiet whisper as Boar growled in warning to Henry. "You failed me, Henry. When I needed you most, you turned me away. It's no wonder your childless...you heartless bastard."

Emma was ferocious as she launched herself at the man that she thought she loved, clawing at his handsome face with her sharp nails.

 

[KieranSoares]

Henry fell back with a yelp, and when the guards tried to attack Emma, Boar smashed their heads against the wall before he picked up Emma and ran out of the castle as fast as he could. Taking his horse and stealing another from a mounted guard, they got out of London as quickly as possible and rode hard northward.

Over the wind and galloping of hooves, Boar growled at her, "Are ya damn well insane, woman?! They're gonna chase us all th'way t'Carlisle, if not into Scotland!"

 

[heartofcourage]

Emma said nothing as Boar scolded her. Her hair ripped free from the pins that held it and she rode in silence beside him. She was too caught up in her own thoughts that she barely listened to a word he said. She knew what she had done and she would have done it a millions times more if she were given the chance.

 

[KieranSoares]

Boar just shook his head and they rode on in silence, reaching the Scottish border by midnight before Boar finally stopped them and set up a camp. He still hadn't said a word and his expression alone told her that coming to get her had been a long-considered decision that he didn't make lightly.

 

[heartofcourage]

Emma sat in front of the fire, a haunted look on her face much like the same look she'd had when she first came to Boar's home. She let out a long sigh and finally turned her gaze towards Boar, the gears turning in her head as she tried to think of something to say.

"I should never have left Scotland." She said softly, the first time she had spoken since the palace back in London.