Hi lovelies! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the likes and all the feedback! So incredible! Chapter Five is below, and thank you for your patience!
Chapter Five"I . . . I don't know what to say," said Geet, plucking the vial from the table. She looked up at Maan, who was staring intently at her. "Thank you."
"I shouldn't have, ah, caused you to drop it in the first place," admitted Maan, rubbing his neck.
Geet remained silent, turning the vial over in her hands.
"I also wanted to extend my gratitude for your help with Pinky's delivery," said Maan. "I confess that I don't know what we would have done without your assistance. Where did you learn about midwifery?"
Geet stood up abruptly from her desk. "Thank you again for the cream," she said, holding up the vial and shaking it between her fingers. "I ask that you please now leave my bedchamber."
"I ask that you please remember that, technically, this is my bedchamber and not yours."
To Maan's wonderment, Geet actually let out a small chuckle. "Well, I suppose I cannot argue with the king on that point."
Maan crossed his arms. "Ah, so the girl finally acknowledges me as her king?"
Geet immediately shifted her gaze to the floor and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Without thinking, Maan lifted her chin up with his index finger. "You are a mystery that I will soon unravel, Geet," he murmured. "Try as you may to resist, but everyone -- everyone -- ends up submitting to my will. Are you listening?"
Geet swallowed, staring at Maan in an almost hypnotic state, the loose strand of hair behind her ear falling again by her cheek.
"Get some rest," said Maan quietly, smoothing her errant tresses back into position. "You have had a long day, and tomorrow is yet to come."
"What is happening tomorrow?" Geet whispered.
"Meet me in the library at eight o'clock tomorrow morning, sharp."
"But I --"
"Do not talk back to me," ordered Maan, his eyes flashing. "As I have mentioned to you before, you are lucky to have a roof over your head. Come to the library in the morning. Do I make myself clear?"
Geet nodded wordlessly.
Maan smirked. "Good girl," he said. "We appear to be making progress."
---
"Sire?" A staff member rapped his knuckles against the open door to the library the next morning, where Maan was going through the morning's files.
"Yes?"
"Miss Geet is here to see you."
Maan glanced at the clock. A few minutes before eight o'clock. He resisted the urge to smile. Finally, the trespasser was learning to follow directions. "Bring her in."
A few moments later, Geet entered the library, clad in simple light pink dress and her hair falling down her back. For just a moment, Maan lost his breath. Even in her common attire, she was obviously quite beautiful.
Maan cleared his throat. "Please sit," he directed, motioning toward a plush seat before him on the other side of the wide desk.
Geet took a seat, eyeing him warily. "Why have you called me here?" she asked simply.
Maan shuffled his files and scrawled his signature on another document before replying. "Unsurprisingly," he began, "Pinky is now quite busy with the new baby and is currently unable to attend to her palace duties."
"What did she do before?"
"She helped keep the library organized and attended to administrative matters, and also assisted in the playroom for the staff's children."
"Mmm-hmm," said Geet, chewing on her lower lip. "Are you . . . are you saying that I take over Pinky's duties while she focuses on the new baby?"
Maan nodded. "Exactly. It's only fair, since you are staying here without charge."
Geet stood up so quickly that she almost knocked over the chair in which she had been seated. "No."
It took a moment for Maan to register her refusal. "Excuse me?"
"No," she said, backing away from his desk.
Maan furrowed his brow and stood up from his seat. "Where are you going?"
She turned to run.
His eyes widening, Maan outpaced her easily, slamming the door to the library shut before she could escape.
"What is wrong with you?" he demanded, gripping her by the arms.
"I will not serve you or your palace," said Geet, her eyes beginning to fill with tears.
"You are unbelievable," said Maan through gritted teeth. "You break into my abode from enemy land, you refuse to tell me a thing about yourself, and when -- and when I try to give you a way to earn your keep here, you refuse me? Do you realize what a dangerous game you are playing with the most powerful ruler in the world?"
"It is not a game."
"What is it, then?" Maan barked, releasing her abruptly. "Who are you? Do you even care if you live or die? You do realize that decision in my power, correct?"
"You keep threatening to take my life," said Geet, swiping angrily at the tears now falling down her face. "If you wish to kill me, then do it! What's stopping you?"
Maan swallowed and the atmosphere around them swelled into an uncomfortable silence. Geet pushed past him, swung open the door to the library, and darted into the hall.
Closing his eyes, Maan rubbed his temple and let out a sigh.
---
Maan listened to the chime of the grandfather clock as he lay in bed that night. He had refused all courtesans for the evening. Ever since this morning, he had only been able to think about Geet. This was despite the fact that he hadn't seen her all day. He imagined that she had shut herself in her bedchamber again, scribbling in that journal of hers. He had thought his suggestion -- allowing Geet to stay in the palace while taking over Pinky's duties -- had been quite a good one, and was still smarting over Geet's irate reaction. How long was he going to allow this to go on? When would she finally open up about who she was? Winning the war against the girl's country had been easier than trying to get information out of her.
When Maan could bear his thoughts no longer, he pulled on his robe. Maybe a walk in one of his gardens would do him some good. At this late hour, no one would be outside. He quickly exited the palace and made his way to the tea garden closest to the staff quarters. It was one of the largest gardens on palace grounds, and would surely afford him some peace. He could tell that the fresh air was already working, and --
A shriek sounded from behind one of the bushes. Maan turned his head sharply toward the noise and heard another scream. Furrowing his brow, he quickly made his way to the scene.
Maan had participated in several wars, in countless battles, and in contentious negotiations across the table. He had seen red more times than he could remember, had been as angry and hotheaded as any person could be. But he couldn't recall being as enraged as he was at that moment -- the moment where he saw a guard, one of the guards who had brought Geet to him in chains on the first night Maan and Geet had met -- trying to pull off Geet's pale pink dress right in the middle of the tea garden.
Maan couldn't recall thinking anything in particular; he simply reacted. He pulled the burly guard off of Geet, who was at this time sobbing, and pummeled him into the dirt. At some point, one of the lights in the staff quarters went on, and a staff member ran toward the three. "Your Majesty!" the staff member exclaimed, working to pull Maan's heavy frame off the guard, who was now bruised and bloody.
Breathing heavily, Maan stood up and shook the staff member away. "Take this guard and make sure he gets the most severe punishment for putting his hands on a woman. You know exactly what that is."
The guard raised his hands in supplication, blood trickling down his face. "No, Sire, please! Please, I --"
"Go, before I take your last breath right here in the garden," Maan hissed.
As the guard was dragged away, screaming in terror, Maan swiveled around to face Geet. Her dress was torn at the shoulders and she was crumpled into a ball, sobbing, a small satchel at her feet.
Maan sank to his knees and pulled Geet into his arms without a second thought. "Are you all right? Did he --"
"No," said Geet, shaking violently. "But he -- he almost did."
Maan clenched his jaw. Had he not been holding Geet at that moment, he would have chased down the guard and dealt with him that instant himself.
"Why were you even out here in the middle of the night?" Maan demanded. He eyed the satchel. "Why you were you running away? Especially at this late hour?"
"You keep saying that whether I live or die is in your hands," said Geet, as if she hadn't heard him.
"I --"
"Please take my life," she requested, choking on a sob, folding her palms together. "D -- don't want to live this life anymore."
"Geet . . . ." Maan breathed. One minute, she seemed so strong and stoic, the next, so helpless . . . . He was, once again, at a loss for words. All he could do was rock her in his arms as she wept.
---
Thank you for checking out this chapter! Would love to hear your thoughts if you have a moment!
Edited by kumari3 - 10 years ago
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