The Contessa's Secret

Celine couldn't have thought of anything worse than a wild moose chase through the forest! Clinging tight to Skylar as if death were on their heels, she was absolutely terrified that one more jump would send her flying off the moose and in to the teeth of oblivion. Upon stealing a quick glance behind her, she thought she might have seen one of the furry balls of teeth.

Though it was only moments, it felt like a lifetime of fleeing! Celine's face was still buried at Skylar's back, even when the moose Birger slowed and came to a side within the half circle of the castle grounds. The forest was well behind the, and the beasts that chased them wouldn't leave it's cover. Nor would they come close to the castle due to it's protective inhabitants.

Several of which were approaching them now. A couple of the guardsmen out to walk the grounds, and ever worse, an angry looking Angus who clearly wasn't at all pleased with the sleigh came back without it's driver. "Celine...! Where is your SENSE."

Celine peeked up, relieved to see home, but casting Angus a weary and sheepish expression. Drat. She was going to be lectured! "...it was an accident?"

The grey haired man didn't even seem to be able to come up with a reply. He was so flustered, that only grumblings and growlings seeped out of his mouth. Once Celine was helped to the ground her was turning her around and pushing her forward by the shoulders. "Take care of yourself boy, your Captain will have a word with you."
 
"Y-yessir..." Skylar panted, still calming down from the adrenaline and the ride; and a bit intimidated by the angry elder. Then he looked to the other guards and found Edward. "I guess you'd be in more trouble than I..." he smirked sheepishly.

Edward nodded ruefully. "Boy was my face red when I caught up to the sleigh and found it empty! We just finished putting away the sleigh and reindeer and were about to come out and get the two of you. I already told Captain about your ankle..."

Skylar sighed. "Yeah..." as he carefully slid off Birger one last time. "Birger's exhausted. Would you bed him down for me?" he asked his friend. "We got chased by wolves near the edge of the forest. I wasn't sure if the big guy would hold out. He was just as scared as us, but carrying two..."

Edward nodded with a grin. "Don't worry, friend, I'll give him the best meal and rubdown he's ever known. You go report to Captain and rest your ankle."

One of the other guards stepped forward so Skylar could lean on him and take the weight off his ankle. Together they headed in to see the captain. Skylar sighed with relief at the end of the long, eventful day. He felt just as tired as his mount.

"Sir," was all he said when they arrived at the Captain's quarters. Skylar straightened himself up as best he could, and saluted his superior.
 
The Captain looked up from his desk, a simple table littered with maps and other official castle business, casting Skylar a wry grin. "Welcome home. Getting injured probably is not the best homecoming, but now you are well-versed in the difficulties of watching over Contessa Celine Devareux." The older gentleman sighed as he stood.

"I have a special request. You have lived here and have been acquainted with the Contessa. You managed to bring her home immediately, where several guards have confessed they have not been so successful. When you are well, use this sway to prevent her from trouble. There are rumors... well. It isn't safe to go roaming in the forests the way she does."

He cleared his throat. "Take yourself to the healers and your foot properly wrapped. We can't have a useful man down."

---

Meanwhile, Celine was holding her hands over her ears while Angus shouted a million different things she had already heard a dozen times just this week alone! Recklessness, bullheaded, dangerous, selfish, unkind.... she took a bit of offense at the last two words. Celine didn't mean for anyone to get hurt. She never did anything that would put them in danger! Skylar's accident was just that! An unexpected accident! She really did feel very bad about it.

Once Angus was through bellowing, he then launched in to the long list of things she wasn't allowed to do. She was essentially grounded. Not allowed to leave the castle. Not even to take a peek outside or play in the snow. Castle grounded! He was going to tell every guard that if they saw her even attempting to leave the walls, to throw her in the nearest room and throw away the key. Celine wasn't too concerned about this. After a week, Angus tended to forget how mad he was and the guards rarely ever were able to tell her No.

Finally when he stormed off to do just as he threatened, Celine was free to go about her new plans. She really did feel AWFUL about Skylar! His first day home, and now his foot was broken. It had to be painful and the guards were actually expected to still do their jobs that way? She couldn't stand it! Thus, Celine decided she would make it up to him in the best way possible. The same way she cared for the creatures that took refuge in her care, she would take care of Skylar too!

So, there she was, taking a basket full of goodies down to the halls where the Healer kept a few rooms for the sick and the injured. She just hoped Skylar's foot wasn't being cut off!
 
"Yes sir, thank you sir," Skylar said dutifully with his own tired sigh. He was exhausted, and was looking forward to seeing the healer more for the fact that he could finally lay down and rest than for the reprieve from pain. Besides, he was sure the foot was only sprained badly and bruised.

Too bad that wasn't the case, however.

"It's broken. This bone on the side, here," the healer said as Skylar bit his lip against the pain of the examination. "You'll need to be restricted to sentry duty for a week or so. No patrolling, by foot or mount, unless you want to become crippled before your time."

Skylar groaned. "Please don't tell the Contessa. She would die of guilt, and I'll never hear the end of it."

"Well, she's going to know something happened when she sees your foot, Guard Skylar," the healer debated, not sure if he had the heart to lie to Celine.

"Well, tell her about the sprain and the bruising, but just leave out the part about the broken bone. Then you won't really need to lie..." he reasoned hopefully.

"Well, I suppose that won't hurt anyone..." he mused, tugging at his long, thin beard. "Alright. I won't tell her about the break."

Once that was agreed upon, the healer set him up in one of the recovery rooms so his foot could be cared for. It was a flurry of activity, and quite painful, so Skylar was given a draught to dull the pain and help him to sleep.

By the time Celine came to see him, he was dozing in the bed, his uniform replaced with some off-duty clothing; rough but comfortable material. His foot was tightly bandaged to keep the bones in place, and propped up on a pillow filled with buckwheat to draw out the heat and help reduce the swelling.
 
Having the Contessa in the Healer's wing was a joy... for most of the patients! The girl was a philanthropist for the needy. Bringing treats, blankets, books, or toys and always with the patient in mind. Some even claimed that she had the hands of a healer herself. If she focused her attentions more directly, she might have been a great healer. Of course, there were those last few... the ones that only wanted to sit and quietly get well. Those that wanted nothing more than rest and relaxation who found Celine's over attentiveness more than a little exasperating.

Here she was again in their wing. Some giving hopeful waves that she was there to visit, while others hiding under covers praying that she passed them by. It was their luck and misfortune that Celine's target for the evening was Skylar.

"There you are! Which room is Skylar in? How bad off is his foot? You didn't have to amputate it, did you?" she asked when passing the healer.

He coughed, directing her down the hall where Skylar's door was slightly ajar. "Of course no, Contessa. He is doing quite well and will make a full recovery so long as he gets only bed rest for the week." Leaving out little details wasn't lying, he reminded himself.

"Oh good, thank you!" Bouncing down the hall with her basket, she reigned in all that energy once she approached Skylar's door.

Celine peered inside, pushing the door just a fraction wider without making so much as a peep. There he was looking drowsy and tired... She hesitated for a moment, not wanting to bother him if he needed the rest. ...but... she really couldn't resist nor neglect him after she caused his accident in the first place.

Without announcing herself, Celine blew in to the room. She kept quiet, at least, going directly to the beside and setting down her basket. If he was asleep, she wouldn't wake him. But at least she could give his room some homey ambiance with a few candles and some pretty flowers!
 
As much as the draught had dulled his senses, his training as a guard was just great enough for him to feel a presence in the room. Skylar quietly grunted and forced his heavy lids up enough to see what was going on. Celine was there. No big surprise to him, and certainly not a threat! But what was she doing? He forced his sleepy mind to focus, and quietly deduce the situation.

There was a basket. Was she taking things out or putting them in? Taking things out, definitely. What were they? He caught a whiff of something. Flowers, and something burning. She couldn't be burning the flowers, so what does one burn with flowers there? Candles.

Ah, now it made sense. She was decorating his stark room with flowers and candles. A slow, lazy half smile formed at the edges of his mouth. Celine would be Celine. He never cared much for frilly things, but he knew she was still feeling guilty for his foot, so she had come to try and make him more comfortable. Oh well.

Finally, Skylar closed his eyes again with a sigh, allowing himself to drift off to sleep, the draught giving him a sense of weightlessness upon his bed, but also a sense of heaviness in his limbs, so he felt the bed seemed to be adrift. And with such a sense, he quickly began to dream.

He and Celine were back in the woods, riding, although her position with him kept switching. Sometimes she was behind him on Birger, sometimes she was on her own mount, and sometimes she was even in her sleigh. At one point, he was even driving the sleigh for her, but all that was alright. Such was the way of dreams, he reasoned.

But danger was around them. He couldn't figure where it was, but he could feel it. It didn't seem to be animal, though. It seemed to be...waiting for them. As long as they stayed close, they seemed to be in a bubble of safety, but how long could it last? He had to see what it was, so he could fight against it and protect the Contessa. HIS Contessa.

Standing up, he suddenly found himself looking out over the parapet, as if on sentry duty. Edward was with him. But something still didn't seem right as they watched the Contessa approaching the castle on her sleigh...
 
Celine made herself comfortable in the room. She wanted to be there when he woke, but not be the cause of him awakening. The doctor insisted he needed the sleep. Her curiosity about his life would simply have to wait. Ever so often she would wander off to say hello to the others in the ward, but she would always return. Leaning over Skylar's bed and peering at him with an impatient interest.

By now it was several hours later. Possibly even after midnight. The Healer dropped by to let her know Angus was still furious at her and that it was too late to be staying up. Celine as casually as always, brushed it off and remained where she was.

When the halls were quiet, she found herself sitting on the edge of Skylar's bed leaning over him to take a peek once again. He really did look so different! With him still asleep, and now the others well in to bed, Celine didn't see any harm in poking at Skylar. ...well, not enough to wake him! She merely grazed her fingers at his jaw, and curiously flicked them through his hair. It was all too easy to remember when they were young and his voice was even higher pitched than hers! Now he was a soldier and likely to spend all his time complaining at her too.
 
Skylar finally grunted and stirred, wincing slightly as the draught wore off and the pain returned to his foot. He was aware of something touching his face and hair and caught it. A petite hand, soft and cool. He held on to it, threatening to doze off again, still keeping it captive, but now he was thirsty. His mouth and throat felt very dry.

Finally waking up fully, he rolled onto his side and looked at the hand, following the path up the arm to its owner's face. He blinked, making sure he wasn't still dreaming. Celine. She was still there.

"What time is it? How long was I asleep? Were you here this whole time?" he rambled in a husky, low voice. It sounded dry and heavy with sleep. He kept blinking to make sure he really was awake. His dreams had been so full of her, it was a bit strange to wake up and find her in his waking as well.

"Gods, I'm thirsty..." he grunted and yawned, looking around hopefully for a pitcher of something to drink, unaware that he was still holding her hand.
 
Oh, how cute! Celine's free hand rose to cover her mouth and hide a wide grin. Her face was probably turning red, she could feel the heat in her cheeks. Thankfully Skylar was more concerned with water than how strange it was for her to be sitting there, or the fact he had capture her hand.

"I've been here a while, yes. I was worried about you." She could easily poor him a glass of water, but that would require disentangling her hand from his. It was very silly of her, and she felt like a twelve year old girl getting giddy over a crush. This was Skylar! There was no sense in being ridiculous like this!

Celine finally slipped her hand away and rose from the bed. She moved across the room to the table where a pitcher sat and poured him a glass. When she returned, she sat easily on the edge of the mattress again, and offered him the glass.

"Here! If you're hungry I managed to sneak some of those tiny sandwiches out of the kitchen before Cook saw me."
 
It wasn't until she'd pulled her hand away that it occurred to Skylar what he'd been holding on to. His mind sharpened up instantly, and he spotted her smile and red face as well. His own ruddy cheeks darkened considerably as well. When she returned with the cup, he took it with a mumbled thanks and buried his nose in it, trying to hide behind it with embarrassment. He almost missed What she'd said after, but the word 'sandwiches' caught his ear. Yes, he was hungry, he realized, now that his thirst had been slaked.

Managing to scoot himself and his pillows up to a sitting position so he didn't have to lean on his elbow anymore, he finally nodded, handing back the empty glass. "Yes please..." he answered more clearly this time, still feeling a bit too shy to look her in the eye and mentally kicking himself over it. Him, a trained guard commissioned by the King, acting like a schoolboy in front of a girl. Well, it's not like there had been much opportunity to mingle with girls at the College. But that wasn't entirely true, though. A lot of the boys spent their weekend leave out on the town, chasing the girls at parties and pubs, and coming back with tales of their exploits. Even Edward, his best friend, had his share of stories. The girls in the capital had a tendency to be very, accommodating, to the King's guards.

But that was against Skylar's nature altogether. He hated the press of people, and the idea of being on display. He preferred a quiet space, sharing time with someone. On weekends he would stay on grounds, reveling in the silence, taking time to study more, and thinking of home. Home. Now he was back home, and his thoughts brought him full circle to where he was now, and who was with him.

He watched her as she moved, just like he used to when they were little. But she wasn't so little anymore, and neither was he. She was probably as innocent as ever, but he'd become more wise to the world. Still, he still felt his heart beating harder when he thought about her, and when he watched her now. She was beautiful, he admitted to himself, but in the end that all meant nothing. She was the Contessa, and he was a guard. But he still couldn't stop his heart from its old argument. She wasn't just THE Contessa, she was HIS Contessa. His friend, his saviour when he'd needed one most. When she grabbed his hand and pulled him down the halls to find some fun or mischief, he always allowed himself a shy smile as he followed behind her.

Skylar suddenly realized he'd loved her before he even knew what love was. But would it ever be possible or even acceptable to speak of it? Did he dare proclaim his love for his Contessa? He rubbed his face in frustration, under the pretense of still trying to wake up. Coming back home was turning out to be a lot more complicated than he'd imagined.
 
"You look so gravely serious." she responded, lowering her voice to that 'serious business' tone she liked to use when she was mocking Angus. Celine was spying at him from over her shoulder. Pulling things from her basket to arrange neatly on a plate. Whatever he was pondering, it must have been troubling. Celine remembered that expression so well. ...and how much she always wanted to make it go away! Others always said she was a precocious child for knowing how much Skylar needed a friend since he lost his family. But all Celine recalled was wanting to erase those scowls so he wouldn't be so sad.

Celine returned to his bedside a second time, setting the plate in his lap as she took a seat again. Her shoes were kicked off on to the floor and she pulled them under her to get comfortable. She plucked one of the little triangles off the plate, then motioned her hand for him to eat.

"What was the College like? And the Capital City? Were there lots of different kinds of people there?" The best way to heal was to not think about the pain. But it also gave Celine the chance to ask all sorts of questions about his time away. The only time she had ever left her family's land was when she was too little to remember. And even then it wasn't farther than a few villages surrounding it. The Capital City where the King lived may as well been a fairy-tale place as far as she was concerned. At least... if she weren't hearing so many terrible rumors about it from the people trying to flee the country.
 
Skylar smirked a bit for her benefit as she copied Angus' tone. "I was just thinking..." he admitted as he picked up a sandwich and took the opportunity to swallow a few bites as she peppered him with questions.

"The College is an odd place, because there are boys of so many different ages. If you're old enough for schooling, you're old enough to be in the College, so most of my classmates had been there for years by the time I arrived," he explained. "And it's huge, which is why it's at the edge of the city. Everything is training, exercising, drilling, studying. Even the sporting games and social events are meant to train you to be better. It's meant to weed out those who don't have what it takes. Less than half of the boys who enter the College actually graduate to be commissioned guards, so it's a great honor..." he answered, ending with a spiel he'd been told all his life there. How honorable it was and how fortunate he was and grateful he should be.

"The city's too busy, and too bright. Everything's carved up just to be pretty, not practical at all. Everyone's loud and boisterous and trying to impress everyone. I never went into the city much if I could help it. But sometimes I had to go there for patrol training and things like that," he went on with some distaste. He never cared much for the city. When he was young, it was scary. As he got older, he much preferred his own space and quiet ways, everything the city was not. He would always be a country boy at heart.

"Then there were the balls and Court..." Just the thought of those made him sigh wearily. He was always the most stern-looking guard, and for some reason it would make all the silly girls flock around him even more. Only a weary look to Edward could save him sometimes. He always had a skill in turning the simple girls' minds away from him and onto a more welcoming guard. Despite all this, though, the College had somehow managed to teach him to dance and be a competent escort at a ball, skills required of all guards. He endured all this just for the chance to escape that place one day.
 
"It sounds amazing..." Despite Skylar's grumblings about it, Celine was sure she would have a completely different opinion about the City. Skylar never did enjoy swarms of people, or big fancy parties. She wasn't surprised at all to hear he preferred spending his time on his own. Even while at the castle, it was always Celine pulling him away to try new things despite his pouting reluctance.

Celine could easily imagine how great a ball in the city would be. All of the colorful decorations, beautiful silky gowns and dancing people. There could be glitter masks for a costume party, or big fluffy skirts for something frou-frou and ridiculous. Great music and shimmery jewelry and all sorts of neat things to see.

She shook her head when she realized her daydreaming was getting the better of her. "You make it sound like it was the most terrible experience in your whole life! I'd love to go there for a visit though. Angus has been adamant about me being more mature and taking my responsibilities seriously, but there are a lot of things I don't really like..." Celine hesitated a moment, not sure how to explain it. There were so many things that happened while Skylar was away. For all she knew, his opinions about life in general could be so wildly different than what they used to be. Not to mention they were children at the time... they barely even had opinions about political affairs!

"Hum... I am curious... What do you think of the Kingdom's newest laws? The King changed many the past few years..."
 
Skylar hesitated, feeling torn in how to answer. He feared these new laws the king had handed down, and in principle opposed them, but as a guard he was sworn to uphold every law of the king, and make sure his charges did the same. They were not so much guards to protect, but to control. That was a part of the job he simply preferred not to think about.

"The laws have changed, yes, but so has the king..." he finally answered in reluctance, his voice low in case anyone was lurking around. "When the family was ill, it was his daughter who died so tragically, and the king, in the throes of fever himself, could do nothing to save her. The rumor is that in his fevered hallucinations, he became convinced that it was the mythos, the mythical and magical races, that caused it. He recovered eventually, but he was never the same. He could not be swayed from his new belief, and actually became very violent towards those who dared to disagree. Also, there are many who agree with him, who always feared the mythos. They've begun to report on and turn in those they suspect to go against the king's decrees. A current of fear runs through the land now, even for the guards, for we know we are being used as tools in this new dangerous game..."

He finally met her eyes, imploring, searching for evidence of what he hoped was not true.

"Celine," he added in a whisper. "Celine, you know there are rumors, even in the capital, about you. And not all of the guards will be as loyal to you as I am. There are those who are more loyal to the king and won't hesitate to look for a reason to report you. Celine, please, you must be very careful!" Skylar took her hand again, deliberately this time, holding it in both of his as he pleaded with her.
 
It was true then. The things Angus warned her of. That the entire kingdom was completely upside down. Terrible things were happening to innocent people, whole races of innocent people! Worse yet, knowing the King did it all because he lost his daughter and was mad with grief made her heart hurt. Every bit of it was a tragedy.

She glanced down at her hand, curling her fingers around his. Celine cast a soft smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. She shrugged her shoulders trying to give off that air of casual indifference. "Rumors are rumors aren't they? People will always talk about ones they don't know. Though..."

Celine paused, his worries giving her a thought. "The King couldn't possibly know how much grief he's causing for others like this. If someone spoke to him and told him, tried to explain... I think maybe he would listen. No one in the city knows what it's like for people fleeing the country. And I'm sure there are all kinds of people giving him bad information. I was thinking of going to the Capital to speak to him myself." Angus would have a fit if he knew. But with Skylar's explanation, how could she not?
 
"Celine you can't!" he begged her. "This isn't just bad information he's being given. This isn't rational thought! If the king won't hesitate to imprison and even execute those in his own court he believes are against him, do you think he'll grant more favour to you?".

Skylar was starting to panic. He hoped she wouldn't be so rash and naive as to actually believe such a simple act would persuade a mad king. He couldn't bear to think of her getting hurt. She'd saved him, and now it was his turn to protect her.

"Celine, please..." he begged again, tears actually welling up in his eyes at the thought of losing her. "You can do other things, but please, going there would only be sacrificing yourself needlessly. Do you know just how big this kingdom is, just how many lords and subjects the king has? Your family's land, where your father is buried, would simply be given to someone else without another thought. I've seen it happen! You can't do this..."
 
"Skylar..!" He responded so fervently that Celine was taken aback by his sudden distress. "I won't! I won't..." she said immediately, just to still his panic and prevent him from getting any more worked up about it. His injury wasn't fatal, and not at all terrible, but she hated to imagine that he'd get so upset over something she was doing and then injured himself further by accident. There was enough accidents for one day!

"I'll stay here. How can I leave when you just returned home? You don't have to worry about me..." For the time being, at least, she would stay at the castle. He needed the time to heal, and Angus wasn't even going to let her leave the walls, let alone plan a trip to the Capital. Perhaps once Skylar was feeling better, she could explain with a little more detail why she thought it was so important to try and speak to the King. Someone had to do something, or surely it would all grow gradually worse...

"I probably shouldn't be in here keeping you awake all night. You'll probably have nightmares of me now." she offered him a teasing grin. Squeezing his hand in earnest to help ease that worried looked off his face.
 
Skylar rubbed his face, trying to calm down as he took a few ragged breaths.

"I-I'm sorry, it's just..." he swallowed, collecting himself. "I don't want to see you hurt. Somebody will do something, not everyone is simply going along with him. Most of the court know he's mad, so someone has to do something, just...they have to be careful too..." He returned the squeeze of her hand and smiled weakly. "I'll try not to have nightmares."

He reluctantly released her hand and picked up another sandwich from the forgotten tray, biting it half-heartedly at first before he realized he was truly hungry. He didn't know whether the hunger was from worry, but either way it was mainly due to the fact that he hadn't eaten since the contingent had stopped for noon meal, and it was now well after midnight. He chose not to talk any more about the uncomfortable subject, or he may never sleep again, and spend all his time watching her to make sure she didn't do anything rash.

"The Healer says I'll be abed for a week, and then I'm not to do any patrolling for another week at least. Sentry duty only, so the muscle can heal more quickly," he finally offered as an alternative subject. "So a lot of standing around instead of walking around. Wouldn't look very good for a guard to be patrolling on a crutch now, would it," he added as a weak attempt at humor. He was never much good at it except for making jabs at himself.
 
"That sounds really boring... standing around staring at things." Celine was sure it was. A favorite pass time for her was making the guards' lives a little less boring. ...Though the might not always appreciate the sentiment.

Now that he was eating and the worrisome expression faded, Celine shifted to climb up further on the bed and sit next to him. There was barely enough room for the two of them, but Celine was rarely ever worried about someone's personal space. She was particularly careful not to jostle his leg as she made herself comfortable and leaned against the headboard. Moments later she had one of the sandwich triangles in hand, taking thoughtful bites as she gestured with her other hand.

"We can get a wheelchair for you and I can push you around the castle! Though I guess you have to work sometimes too, hmm..." That was something that never occurred to her before. Skylar was no longer a child and neither was she. He was going to have to work for a living, and that meant no more romping around the castle with her on wild escapades. The thought was dreary, causing a malcontent pout to form across her face.
 
Skylar made a face at the suggestion of a wheelchair, but he felt bad when she pouted. "Well, I don't have to work all the time. Don't you have to work too sometimes? I mean, I remember your father always seemed to be busy, with paperwork and meetings and things," he wondered, talking around a cheek of food. He somehow couldn't quite wrap his head around the playful, social and fun-loving Celine having to do anything like that.

He shifted over a bit to make space for her, grimacing a bit at the movement as he felt a bit stiff and had to shift his foot as well. He covered up the discomfort by busying himself chewing. He didn't want her to get overly worried. And besides, the sandwiches were very good.

"Besides, I don't mind sentry duty. We're usually in pairs, and Edward and I are almost always together. He's a lot of fun, you'd like him. He reminded me a lot of you when we were at the college. He likes to tell jokes and stories, and he can sing pretty well..." he went on. "The only time we really have to look serious is if someone's around," he explained confidentially with an actually genuine smirk. "As a sentry, you take turns watching. One of us scans while the other rests, then we switch. While he's resting, that's when Ed usually talks my ear off, trying to get me to laugh."