Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Arin looked around once more before he wanted to ride off. Eberhart's face turned red and his fists were shaking. Florence grabbed the girl's arm and before anyone could react, she punched the girl.

The spot on her face immediately turned red and her eyes shimmered with anger. But before she could do anything, she got the next one.

"Arin..." Syman whispered pitifully next to him. "It's not her fault."

As if he knew nothing himself. But what should he do?

The girl's face was already quite red when Florence grabbed her chin with pointed fingers and hissed something at her with clenched teeth.

Only now did the tears run down the girl's cheeks. All anger seemed gone. She looked so heartbreakingly sad that he couldn't contain himself. It broke Arin's heart.

He dismounted from Pocket and stomped over to the two women. Syman followed him closely. Arin grabbed Florence's hand, which was still gripping the girl's chin. Her fingernails dug into the girl's skin.

"Stop it now!" he yelled angrily and threw Florence's hand away. The girl immediately turned and tried to run away, but Syman grabbed her hand.

"Wait a moment, please!" but she struggled, not really seeming to notice the little one. Arin grabbed her wrist so she couldn't really disappear, but didn't look at her. He would want it that way if he were her terribly embarrassed.

Florence tried to regain her composure. Because Eberhart came rushing. "What are you doing?! Let go of my wife at once!"

"What does it look like!?" Arin got angry. What should he do now? He couldn't leave the girl here. They were horrible to her. Arincouldn't forget the look on her offended face! What would they do to her? what if he were gone?” The thought wouldn't let him go.

On the other hand, he had no right to show off here. He had no rights over her. Who was he anyway?

A thought struck him that he almost hated himself for. Because he would do exactly what they wanted him to do all along.

Arin hissed through clenched teeth. "Where's the goddamn church?"

I couldn't believe what I had heard. The church? No! I would never do that.

"This way!" Florence sang enthusiastically and led the uneven group. As if nothing had happened. As if it were a normal walk.

I deliberately braced myself against the knight as he tried to pull me behind him.

"Stop struggling." He murmured quietly, but he still didn't turn to me. He didn't have much trouble leading me to the chapel against my will.

Florence barked to the priest that it was time. She had probably said a long time before that it had to come down to this. Eberhart, too, strutted up to the parish priest with a swollen chest and proclaimed his own kindness to me. As if that could save him from hell...

Meanwhile, the knight - I hadn't even caught his name - pulled me out of the chapel and stood with me behind a pillar.

I was very uncomfortable. His whole presence made me jittery and nervous.

Without saying a word, he wiped my still wet cheeks. Without looking into my eyes

"You're getting married now, Arin?" Syman stared at us wide-eyed. Aha, so Arin. Arin cursed under his breath.

"What do you want here?"

"I don't believe it... will I stay with you then?"

A tad softer, Arin murmured, "Of course. Why should I send you away? Now go in, I have something to clear up here."

It was quiet for a moment, then I heard the creaking of the door. Arin's hands released me, but he still didn't look at me properly. "I'm not doing it because they want it that way. But because I want it."

When he finally looks up and our eyes had barely met, Florenz grabbed me and dragged me inside. She pulled me with her so abruptly I almost tripped over my skirts.

It all happened so fast that I hardly noticed it. The pastor trickled down a long sermon about how important God was in a marriage and how sinful we humans are. And most of all how much hell we would all go.

I didn't know the vicar well, but whenever I happened to meet him he was always in such a dark mood. One sip of water too many and you'd be accused of lust and put on your black list.

I stood there quite often...

Suddenly Arin put his hand on my back and kissed me on the lips. So... soft? ... I hardly felt him. Still, I felt like my corset and some things had tightened because I suddenly couldn't breathe anymore.

His hand lingered on my back as we turned and left the chapel. Eberhart and Florenz had disappeared. Syman was faster than us to the door to get their horses. But just as he stepped outside, he came right back in.

"Arin! Arin!" His eyes were as big as carriage wheels. "The two old ones informed half a village what happened here! They cheer Eberhart and you!"

Naturally. Why should the two also be interested in the wedding? Understandable that someone had to spread the news. Eberhart's reputation finally had to be polished up.

Arin's eyebrows rose. "Why doesn't this surprise me?"

"I don't want to ride through it... Is there another way?" Syman leaned against the door.

To my surprise, Arin actually considered. I thought he would scold the little one again. "Bring the horses here to the chapel, we're going to ride across the fields."

Syman nodded in relief and started walking. Arin seemed to want to wait in the chapel until he got back. So we stood alone next to each other. Involuntarily married.

He took his hand off my back and sat down on one of the benches. I was afraid my dress might split if I tried to sit down. That would really be a disgrace. So I clasped my hands and let them lie on my skirts, which weighed tons. My skirts!

They would still cause me problems. I took a breath to bring this to Arin's attention, but let it go. How should I address him? Could I just call him Arin? If not, he would correct me and I didn't need that today... Herr Ritter? Mister Family Killer? Lord known for his violence? My goodness, did I belong to this man now?

no I didn't belong to him. No!

"Arin! Are you coming!?"

Arin got up immediately and pulled me behind her to the horses. Now I had to do something.

"Stop. wait!"

He stopped hesitantly. "Yes?"

"My skirts, my lord. I can't ride like that."

He pursed his lips and thought for a moment. Then crouched down in front of me and tugged some skirts down my hips with one powerful tug. I cried out in shock, but then had to be careful not to fall.

"My lord!"

With only two petticoats left, he pulled me back outside with him.

So. Now I seemed to be calling him my lord. One of many questions answered once.