Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Arin dragged his new bride out of the chapel to Syman and the horses. He just couldn't believe it. My bride I never want, he laughed to himself.

He had nothing against her personally, hardly knowing her - which was one of the main problems - but he did exactly what the duke and his wife wanted him to do. His stubborn pride was hurt.

He vowed never to blame his wife. He had urged her to follow him. Arin could only hope he would think of something to make them both happy. Because until now his wife - Elain - had said little more than five words. Did she blame him for all that? He postponed that kind of reasoning. Get out of this village, that was his plan.

Arin stopped with me in front of his black stallion and casually patted the horse's flank.

"Can you ride?" I thought I saw his eyes dart to my skirts, but it was way too fast to really tell.

Then I looked at his horse. It was pocket. A wild horse. His young wildness flashed in his eyes.

Actually, I could ride. Jacob had taught me before I learned to eat with a spoon and fork. But I strongly doubted that my father's workhorses could be compared to the wild mustang.

"Elaine." I looked at Arin again. "You won't ride him alone, I'll sit behind you."

Arin climbed into the saddle and held out his hand to me. So he pulled me between his legs and urged Pocket.

When Duke Eberhart's castle lay behind us, I felt everything rushing over me. Not only was I just getting married now, I was being fooled! Florence called me here knowing she would never let me go back home, but didn't tell me anything! She randomly picked someone who would get her the most attention and gave me away to a knight without any dowry. To theblackknight!

I got so angry that I cursed everything around me. Damn fields! Damn bird! Damn horse snorting! Damn knight! I wanted to go home...

To my mother and father who were never informed. My room and my bed. My life. I could never see her again... I was terribly homesick. I wanted so badly to go home...

Arin felt Elain's shaky shoulders quiver.

He knew that she might cry soon, but he didn't know what to do then. It was best to run far away, that was his first thought. But that wasn't how it worked, Arin knew.

Somehow he wanted to comfort her, just let her know that she wasn't alone. But firstly he didn't know how, and secondly he didn't know if she wanted it. And he was a bit too proud to be dismissed.

Arin was sure that he would soon be able to understand Elain better. Maybe it was normal for a bride to feel sad at first. Not even he could believe that thought.

They rode until dawn. They were deep in the woods now, on their way to Eberworry. A merchant town. Arin wanted to get there the next morning. But now he needed something to eat. Or rather Syman. His stomach rumbled so loudly that he would lure all sorts of animals.

Elain disappeared into a bush a little way down when his squire came up to him and sulked in an offended manner.

"What is?" Arin couldn't suppress a smile. Syman always tried to appear like a man. Every now and then Arin forgot how small he could be sometimes.

"You know exactly what's going on! I'm starving, Arin!"

"What you do not say."

"Don't make fun of me! You didn't let me eat anything from the castle!"

"I can't believe you're still offended by that."

Syman crossed his arms and bit his cheek in a pout. "I'm not..."

When I came out of the forest to our little camp, Syman was already gathering some branches. Arin was gone with Pocket.

"Do you need help?" Syman looked up grimly and silently shook his head. Oops! But there was nothing left to see from the sweet dimples.

With practiced hands he stacked the wood and kindled a fire. Then he dug up a bed for himself. With his cloak and a saddlebag. A bed... oh my...

I quickly pushed the thought away from me and sat down next to Syman by the fire. "How long have you been traveling?"

"Overall or just this week?"

"Both, I think." The boy scratched his black-haired skull and seemed to calculate.

"We're on the road for the fourth day this week. And it's almost a year since I've been with Arin. If you don't count the days for a reason. Like holidays or rest periods."

"You've been on the road a lot since then."

"Indeed. Mostly because of assignments or because Arin's fingers were itching again. Sometimes we just stay on his land and fish or sleep... rest periods."

"Does Arin often travel far?"

"Probably not so often now that he's got a wife."

Syman smiled encouragingly at me. I hadn't thought of myself yet. I haven't been married that long. A little while later Arin came back with some rabbits and a little wild boar. I didn't want to hit my head on it first, so I took a rabbit and proceeded with it as Ulrike had shown me.

It annoyed me that Arin almost ignored it. As if it were my duty anyway. However, I didn't know what to expect. After all, he had hunted and Syman had set up camp.

Camp - beds - sleeping - consummation of marriage - STRESSING

Even if Florence wanted to proclaim it everywhere, I wasn't naive - in her world that means stupid. I knew exactly what man and woman were doing, I was working with men back then who told stories that often made me blush. Even though I was nervous, I wasn't afraid of it.

But if we consummate the marriage, there would be no turning back for me. At least I clung to the hope of returning if that didn't happen.

The pig took a lot out of me, but Syman's smile and dimples after the meal made it worth the effort. He fell asleep immediately.

Arin sat across from me by the fire. He should be tired, but his shoulders were still straight. How much do you think he dubbed, all day?

The silence made me uncomfortable. I wanted to talk to him.

"Where are we riding, my lord?"

Arin's eyes met mine. A rarity. "Eberworry."

And now? Don't wait too long or it would get even worse! "Is there your reason?"

His voice deepened. "My reason?"

"Syman mentioned it."

"It's not there." It got quiet again. Damned. But Arin was still looking at me.