Alliar

I looked up over the last hill, it's green pastors were glistening from the morning frost and reflecting the sun light like bright beams. I frowned and squinted as I tried to peek out over the glare.

The Convent's walls were one story high and made of a weak stone that had already began to crumble in many places, their gates were made of rooted wood and remained open to all who passed by. The only part of the rooting house that looked even remotely kempt was the perfectly carved statues of the gods towering over the small building. Three white stoned figures stood tall as they towered over the people traveling beneath them.

There were five gods that were worshiped across the kingdoms although not everyone is fond of all five.

Standing tall with a kind smile carved through the stone was the god Chision. He represented Hope and Trust. A god that I was always told to pray to every night before I went to sleep, but, I didn't see what good Hope and Trust was going to do for me.

Next to him was his brother Balavan, representing power. The god that all the selfish miscreants pray to for good fortune, so naturally, my family payed tribute to Balavan every year to pro-long our reign.

The last god, standing at the Convent was Edina, the goddess of Wealth. I was always taught that Edina wasn't just the goddess of 'coin' - as I had graciously put it when I was a child - but wealth in all things, such as health and good fortune.

There were two gods missing from this convent. The god of Death and Misfourtune - Thanatos - and his twin Midissia, the goddess of life. The two weren't often worshiped on a regular bases.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes not wanting the sun to cause my eyes any more pain. This is where I would spend the rest of my days. A bloody Convent. Spending the day on my knees, with my hands in my lap and muttering nonsense at a statue.

My horse jolted forward making me yelp as my eyes opened at the sudden movement. Jonathan had clearly grown bored of my moment of pause and reflection. He held onto my reins and pulled my horse forward once more, the steps slowly sealing my doom.

Once you enter a Convent there is no leaving without disgrace. I shuddered at Sister Clairea's words as I remembered them.

"You've gone pale." Jonathan's words pulled me back to the unwanted reality. He had sent off the army to follow after Demetri to a small castle for supplies and rest while the two of us made the small journey here.

"Are you sure it's no trouble leaving me at a small town?" I attempted to plea with him. "Anyone will do."

"Any?" He turned his head slightly towards me, showing me he was giving me some sort of attention. "Well, then I chose the Convent. We're already here anyway."

I bit down on my lip to stop myself from speaking again. He has already threatened the welfare of my tongue another two times this morning throughout the short journey and since he would no longer be 'benefiting' from my tongue, he was more inclined to do it.

We rode through the gates and were faced with a few women going about their chores before their evening session of praying.

The women were all dressed in long sleeved dresses with high neck lines while their hair was all styled the same; down with more dirt and dust than actual hair. The colour of their clothes however was different, determining their roles here at the convent. The young girls who were still learning their trade; mindless worshipers, wore white. The older sisters wore purple, and those of superior teachings wore blue just as Sister Clairea had at home.

We dismounted our horses and Jonathan quickly tied the two up to an empty post in the ground.

"Your Grace." A Sister in blue nodded in respect as she greeted us. "Shall I have a chamber readied for you for the night?"

"Yes. And I will be leaving this one behind." He informed the Sister as he gestured back to me.

The Sister in blue nodded as she turned to me. "What is your name Child?"

I hesitated as my eyes darted between the sister and Jonathan.

"She goes by Little Miss." He answered for me.

The sister regarded me with a cool expression that didn't at all seem welcoming in the least. "Very well, we get many mistresses dropped at our door step. You should report to Samantha, through that door and the second room on your left." The sister ordered me as she gestured towards the main building.

I opened my mouth ready to speak, to defend myself from being called a mistress and also to tell this god-worshiping wrinkle infested bug where she can shove her doorstep.

"I don't - " I started, but Jonathan pushed me forward.

"On you go."

Stumbling forward I muttered a curse as I turned my head back to see the arrogant Reaper King shooing me away. "I also whish to speak to someone." He began to lower his voice as spoke softly with the sister. "A girl in your care, we have some unfinished business."

I shook my head and continued forward, into the building, following the directions I was given. Through the door and two rooms to my left. I faced the wooden door filled with knots and burn marks.

I knocked twice before calling out. "I'm looking for Samantha."

The door creaked open only seconds later revealing a tall slim girl with long straight brown hair and light brown eyes that looked down at me with bright curiosity. "I'm Samantha, How may I assist you?"

Oh my Lord, these girls are far too nice for my liking.

"I'm Little Miss, I'm new here." I smiled a little nervously as I looked up at her. She's almost as tall as Jonathan and Demetri - and that's bare footed.

"Oh," Her eyes brightened even more making me flinch back a little. "Welcome to North Convent, we should get you settled in." She grabbed my hand and pulled me back out into the hallway.

"Which North Convent?" I queried as I let her pull me along. "If I may ask." I knew of two convents in the North, one was on the Northern boarders and the other was within the Kingdoms walls.

Samantha slowed as she turned to me puzzled. "There is only one Convent in the North, the other is not a place of worship, it is a temple."

"Oh," I blinked in surprise. "Sorry, I'm from further south."

"Not to worry, you'll learn soon enough. The temple is for the Royal family only; they worship the twin gods of Death and Life while we served the other gods." She explained.

"Thank you for the clarification."

"Not to worry." We stopped at the front of another door. Samantha opened the door revealing a small room with a small tattered bed in the corner and set of draws in the corner. You could barely take two steps in the room without hitting the foot of the bed or a wall.

"This will be your room. You can knit some curtains and blankets if you wish to make it your own."

Yes, because despite this building being in the North where it snows on and off for the majority of the year, they didn't have blankets on their beds.

"I'll bring you some water and a fresh dress." Samantha smiled and excused herself from the room.

I sat myself down on the bed and looked around. It was dark, the only light from a candle burning in the corner and the stray beams of sunlight that peered in from the poorly built wall and from the bottom of the door.

I let out a deep sigh as I looked down to see my necklace still hanging from my neck. It felt heavier than it first did, perhaps it's because of the growing distance between my family and I. I remembered Kya's face when she was told I might be leaving her. She was so sad, her blue eyes watering even then. I wonder how she is holding up now that I have just disappeared off the face of the earth?

My brothers. Oh how I missed them all. My mother's guidance especially and yes, maybe even sister Clairea.

The door opened revealing Samantha with what she had promised - A large pot and a tattered white dress.

"This was the best I could find that would fit you. I will find something better by tomorrow." Samantha handed me the dress while she went about filling the pot with water.

The dress although clean still had a few dirt stains on the knees and dust seemed almost imbedded in the fabric. The bottom hem was shredded a little showing more of my leg than it was meant too while the straps holding the dress up were also torn so that they fell down my arms.

"It's better than staying in these leathers all day." I smiled at Samantha and thanked her again as she left me in peace. I busied myself by washing, I still haven't had a decent bath since this entire ordeal began and I am very much beginning to regret my decision not to wash the night before the fires.

I put my hands in the water and played with the warm water, spreeding my fingers and making shapes with my hands under the surface of the water. The dirt under my nails started to wash away as my fingers started to wrinkle in the water.

Stilling my hands for a moment I watched the surface start to clear leaving nothing but an unrecognisable reflection in the water. Could it be possible not to recognise yourself after only a week?

I looked around the room hoping for a mirror but came up empty. I guess they were too humble and modest to have mirrors.

I threw my head into the water and held my breath, waiting until there was a tightening in my chest, where my lungs began to strain for the lack of oxygen they desperately desired.

Pulling back I gasped for air instinctively.

With another deep breath I pulled my hair back and tied it into a messy knot to keep it out of my face. Drying my face and changing into the dress Samantha had bought me, I decided some exploring was necessary even if it wasn't accepted.

Wondering out into the hallway I soon found a common area, where a lot of other girls - all wearing white as I was - were gathered. Some were only passing by while others looked as if they were planning to stay for a while.

I walked further into the room and started looking around. Viewing the sight from the windows and looking over the limited books on the shelf - they clearly didn't want these girls reading more than a sewer rat.

The feeling of being watched dawned on me. It was a displeasing feeling, sent shivers up your spine and built up tension in your back.

Turning around I saw I was indeed being watched by the group of girls.

"Can I help you?" I frowned at the girls as they looked at me with another stare of curiosity and confusion.

"Is that The Reaper King?" One of them quickly asked. She was a short girl with curly blond hair, but she seemed to be the most confident of the group.

Samantha elbowed her subtlety. "King Jonathan Hail of the North, she means to ask."

I had to supress a smile at the girls. "I believe so. Why should you ask?"

"Well, aren't you supposed to be dead?" The short one frowned clearly taken aback by my breathing status.

I parted my lips and searched for the right words to say. What exactly could I say? That I sold my body to a man who has left more bruises on my skin than I have clothes to cover them? That I have made myself useful with my poor bow and arrow skills and irritating questions that just managed to save some lives?

"You are his Mistress aren't you?" The girl pressed again as her eyes studied me. "That is why he called you Little Miss?"

I wet my lips and looked down, the shame of the word Mistress beginning to weigh on my pride.

"Jacqueline, you mustn't be so crude." Samantha scolded her friend. "It dose not matter how she came here, only that she is here now and ready to rid herself of sin." She nodded reassuring herself as she turned back to the rest of the girls. "We best get back to our duties."

With their heads down, the girls scattered like rats in the street - all except Jacqueline, who was still looking at me as if I grew a second head.

I smiled at her nervously not too sure what to say. Jacqueline turned and continued with her chores. Pulling the sheets off the beds and folding them.

"Why were you so surprised?" I questioned her as I followed in through the rooms.

"It's not my place." She tried to shrug me off as she picked up another sheet and carefully folded it.

"Please."

She looked at me hesitantly before she nodded her head and continued. "I'm not like these girls, I wasn't given to the convent when I was young or stumble through the doors after a tragedy." She explained. "I was sold to the convent after years of serving in The Tower along the River Rohan. The Lord of the castle is good friends with the Reaper King. I over heard many tales." She looked down, her expression almost saddened or fearfully - I couldn't quite tell.

"What did you hear that makes you question me?" I frowned, a million thoughts running through my mind. The memories of the battle I witnessed floating into my consciousness, the look in the Kings eyes as he killed effortlessly. The endless stories have heard of his curtly and destruction. The bruises my body holds as a consequence of our time together.

"Well, the Royal family in the North is famous for their legitimacy, their fidelity." Her eyes flickered a little.

I scrunched my nose as I attempted to make sense of what felt like a cryptic message. "So they don't have any Bastard born children or any Mistress', what exactly are you getting at?"

She shook her head from side to side. "No, they do father bastards and they do have Mistress', they just kill them when they're done. Babies butchered in the street because their mother bedded a royal only nine months before. Women taken into the bed of a king and never heard from again."

"That could all just be here say." I tried to rationalise with her. There was no need for a royal family to kill mistress' and bastards, every family have at least a few of these misgivings and some Bastard born sons have their uses, my own brother Arthur came to mind.

She looked down ashamed. "I've seen it done. Why do you think I'm here? I saw too much. His Lord Gabriel didn't want me killed so he sent me away here were the King wouldn't peruse me. I can't speak out at Convent and I can't leave."

I felt a fear dwell over me at the prospect. The very thought of innocent children being slaughter just because of who fathered them, the thought of a man who could so easily kill the woman who he has shared something with him made me shudder. What kind of a monster could kill their own child like that?

"Little Miss!" I jumped at the call of my name. Looking up at Jacqueline, I could see the fear was real in her eyes. Just another startled doe, awaiting death like all of those girls in the tent the night the castle burned.

Maybe that's what we all were, just some of us knew better than to graze on the greener pastures.

"Little Miss!" The King called my name again; his tone was escalating with anger and frustration.

"Little Mi - " His words died on his lips as he found me. I turned to face him, knowing the consequences of not giving him my full attention.

"Your Grace." I bowed my head, not daring to curtsey since I knew I would only fail and fall.

His eyes darted between Jacqueline and I; her head was bowed down, as she feared recognition.

"Go back to your chamber Little Miss. The Rats here like to gossip." He spoke with such cool distain, as he didn't once take his eyes off Jacqueline. I feared the recognition in his eyes.

I swallowed and quickly glanced back at the girl. Had he recognised her?

"Now Miss!" He shouted making me jump at the sudden change in volume.

I didn't want to leave her, not with him while he had that look in his eyes. His eyes blackening depths that led nowhere but to a soulless mind, a look of pure murder.

I turned back to Jonathan and bowed my head respectfully before turning around, grabbing Jacqueline's hand and walking off towards my chambers. I could feel his eyes on me, angrily burning my skin with his fury.

We turned a corner in the corridor. "Run, before he catches you." I pushed her towards the stair well.

"He'll kill you too. Come with me." Her eyes were as wide as saucers as she pleaded with me.

I shook my head, knowing there was no running for me. "Go now." I pushed her again, this time she did as she was told and ran down the stairs.

Taking a deep breath I turned back around and rounded the corner only to find Jonathan standing there, with a curious look upon his features.

"Making friends are we Little Miss?"

"Yes, well, I will be staying here so I thought it best to get to know the women." I stuttered over my words as my surprise and fear trembled through me.

He nodded and smirked knowingly. "And what exactly was your new friend telling you?"

"Just that, the meat they serve isn't always meat and I shouldn't eat it." The words slipped from my mouth before I could even think of something more intelligent to reply. The uncertainty was no doubt clear in my voice.

"That is good advice, that meat they will be serving tonight is rat. Pesky things never keep their mouths shut for long." He smiled at me before he turned around to walk away.

"Rats?" I whispered to myself.

The Rats like to gossip.

Serving rat.

Pesky things never keep their mouths shut.

"Jacqueline." I spoke as everything he said began to match up. Turning around I ran to the stair well and took the steps two at a time as I tried to catch her. Sounds began to echo in my ears as I closed the distance. Screaming.

Reaching the bottom of the stairwell, I looked around in a panic. Searching for the girl I considered calling a friend. I quickly spotted her blond hair, tangled and full of dust as she was being detained and thrown into a carriage. Her screams bought the entire convent to stand still as everyone watched. No one dared help her as she was being taken away, no doubt going to her death.

"Jacqueline!" I called out as I ran towards the carriage, but the distance was too great. The horses began to move, quickly galloping out of the Convents gates leaving nothing but dust and screams in their wake.

I gasped for air as I fell to the floor. "What have I done?" tears pricked in my eyes as I struggled under guilt. I had just sent an innocent girl to her death, all because I couldn't leave well enough alone. I had to be curious. I had to know what she had to say, and now, she was going to die because of it.

A stray tear fell to the dirt path below me as I looked over my shoulder. A window caught my eye, Jonathan stood tall, his eyes dark, his hands neatly behind his back and the look of satisfaction expressed across his face.

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I haven't read over this chapter. Please excuse the mistakes xx

So what do we think of Jonathan? Do we think he can be trusted? And more importantly, what will he do to Alliar now that she knows more than she should?

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and ate lots! Enjoy the new year!

Please vote and comment.

-Dream_big96