Alina

Alina was still muttering as she walked back to the kitchen, holding the empty tray carelessly by her side. Of all the creatures she had to serve breakfast that morning was a damn dog! All because of her terrible luck, being the first one to return to the kitchen early in the noon and have Abby cheerfully ask her to deliver that tray to Lord Tristan's chamber.

She only took one look at the bloody raw meat and wrinkled her nose, but she didn't dare ask any questions. Or more likely, she didn't care to ask. But for once, she wished she had asked. Then she would have never agreed to go near that chamber knowing there was a dog inside, let alone that she would be serving one!

"My poor girl!" Abby gasped as Alina entered the kitchen with a bloodstained dress. "What in the heavens happened to you?"

The kitchen was now full, as most of the girls had apparently returned for a midday snack, and Alina found herself surrounded by wide eyed stares.

"Did you just kill someone?" Maggie teased and plain blonde Lizzy giggled. "You know, here in the West, they hang killers from their necks until they die, so you won't get a swift beheading like they do in the North."

"Maggie, darling, this is not a joking matter," Abby said before she turned to Alina again, concern all over face. "Alina, sugar, are you hurt?"

"No Miss Abby, I'm totally fine," Alina smiled confidently as she tossed the empty tray unto the table. "Just a warm greeting from Lord Tristan's dog."

Alina didn't think the girls' eyes would get any wider. A long moment of stunned silence followed.

"Lord Tristan... is here?" one girl finally asked.

"Apparently." Alina shrugged as she reached out and grabbed a piece of cookie. But she turned in alarm at the outburst of squeals and cheers that suddenly filled the kitchen.

"Lord Tristan is back!" Maggie hopped excitedly and Lizzy hopped along.

"Did you see him?" A girl hurried at Alina's side, grabbing her arm.

"Did you talk to him?" Another girl appeared at her other side, and soon Alina was surrounded by a flock of desperate girls who ogled at her with awestruck eyes.

"I didn't! He wasn't even in the room," Alina said as she pulled her arms away from the ridiculous girls. "I only met his dog man though."

"His dog what?" Maggie asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I don't know what you call him, the man who looks after his dog." Alina said carelessly as she took a bite off her cookie.

"The only one who looks after Lord Tristan's dog, is Lord Tristan," Maggie said.

"Are you sure it wasn't Lord Tristan himself?" Kat asked calmly.

"No way, that was no Lord! He looked dirtier than the dog itself," Alina said, taking another bite.

"Maybe it was just one of his guards then..." Mira pondered.

The girls were still arguing who could have been in Lord Tristan's chamber, when a missing maid suddenly returned, storming breathlessly into the kitchen.

"I just... I just saw... Lord Tristan!" Pipa said as she caught her breath and held her chest. "He's... He's coming down to the hall... now!"

There was a brief moment of shrill squeals, followed by a sudden outburst of chaotic scurrying, and in an instant, no girl was left in the kitchen. Even Abby had rushed behind the girls out to the great hall. Alina stood alone in the deserted kitchen for a moment, trying to comprehend what was happening. What could be so great about that Lord of theirs?

She sighed and walked out of the kitchen, heading towards the great hall. She didn't really care. She was just curious though, to see what kind of Lord owned the house where she served, that was all.

The girls were lined up before the stairs, their heads craned up high as they watched a wingless man slowly descend the stairs with Lady Merina in his arms. Alina found her way up to Mira's side and stood to watch along with the girls. But then she frowned in confusion. That was the dog man!

Alina narrowed her eyes curiously as she noticed he was dressed more properly than she had met him earlier. Far more properly. His ivory shirt was flawlessly clean and neatly tucked into tight fitting pants. Midnight blue velvet closely hugged his long legs, tracing his perfect muscles and his... she quickly moved her eyes to his face before she saw more than necessary. Surprisingly, his face didn't look too bad either. She hadn't really looked at him properly earlier, but now she could see the beauty of his high cheekbones and sharp jawline.

"Why is the dog man dressed up so nicely?" Alina whispered, and Mira turned to look at her with horrified eyes.

"The dog man?" Mira almost choked.

"Yes? And why the hell is he carrying Lady Merina like that?" Alina continued, and for a brief moment a horrible thought flashed across her mind. No way!

Merina was clinging to the man's chest, her little arms all wrapped around his neck as if she was holding to dear life, and he was smothering her little face with kisses in a way that only a father would. A sharp gasp almost escaped Alina before she quickly slapped her hand against her mouth, shutting herself up. That was not the dog man, that was –

"Lord Tristan!" Klara said in greeting as she stepped before him, completing the terrible discovery that Alina had just made.

Alina watched with horrified eyes as Tristan reached the foot of the stairs and acknowledged Klara. She wanted to disappear. He would probably kill her now for the way she spoke to him earlier. Shit. She was dead. And there was no way to run as she stood trapped between the squeaking girls. All she could do was pray that he wouldn't spot her among the crowd. Well, he was too busy kissing his little girl anyway.

"Lord Tristan!" Maggie cried out, literally throwing herself at his feet in a quite uncomely curtsey. Her dress seemed to have magically unbuttoned itself half the way down to her chest, revealing most of her ample breasts. She flipped her long black hair behind her back, probably to make sure he saw her treasures. "It is a great pleasure to finally have you back home, my Lord!" She said, her voice a bit too shrill with excitement. Lord Tristan looked down at her with raised eyebrows, apparently alarmed.

"The pleasure... is mine?" he said, his eyebrows still raised in confusion. And the next moment Maggie was snatched away by a seething Klara.

Tristan walked before the girls who all greeted him with more modest efforts, merely shy giggles and blushing cheeks. And he acknowledged them with a faint smile while his main focus was still on Merina. Until his eyes met Alina's. His subtle smile turned into a smirk and he winked at her.

Alina's heart leapt to her throat. And in an instant all the girls had forgotten all about Tristan and turned around, boring their eyes into Alina's living soul, whether staring in awe or glaring with contempt.

The girls were literally chasing Alina as she hurried back to the kitchen, bombarding her with chaotic questions and she couldn't even hear what they said. The only words she could make out were Lord Tristan. And how she hated that name now!

"What's between you and Lord Tristan?" the nearest girl asked as soon as Alina entered the kitchen.

"Nothing," she muttered.

"What the hell was that?" Maggie, the last one to enter the kitchen, shot at Alina with a murderous glare. "You said you haven't seen Lord Tristan!"

"Well, I haven't."

"Then why was he winking at you?"

"And why are you so upset about it?" Alina said coldly. "It's not my fault that he happened to show more interest in me, despite your generous display."

"Oh, you really believe he would be interested in you? Viki?" Maggie sneered. Alina clenched her fists, doing all she could not to punch Maggie in the face.

"You dare call me Viki one more time –"

"Enough with the nonsense." Klara appeared at the kitchen door, putting an end to the nonstop fighting between Alina and Maggie. "Lord Tristan is back, and that means you've got work to do. Nora, Mira, and Lizzy, go clean the Lord's chamber. The rest of you help out with Abby. We are expecting guests for dinner this evening."

Alina rolled her eyes after Klara left. So, Tristan coming back home meant more work. What was so great about him again?

***

It was early in the evening when Tristan's guests arrived, and for the first time since Alina had come to this house, it felt like a home. The huge chandelier in the great hall was fully lit, revealing the vibrant red and sparkling gold of the tapestries hanging around the walls. A long red runner stretched over the large banquet table, where overfilled plates and trays and cups spread before the chattering guests.

Lord Tristan sat at the middle of the table, engaged in a conversation with a decent looking young man on his left. Cylia sat to his right, guffawing without the least bit of grace as the elderly man who sat next to her said something amusing.

Alina took in a deep breath and closed her hands firmly around the large tray she held, before she walked towards the table. It wasn't overcrowded, and the atmosphere was quite informal as the small number of human guests seemed to be just some close friends of Tristan. And yet, as much as she hated to admit it, Alina was nervous.

She tried to keep her back straight and her head lowered, focusing her eyes solely on the table, fearing she would stumble if she caught Tristan's eyes. She wouldn't dare face him after what she had said and done earlier in his room that morning.

Thankfully, Tristan was too engrossed in conversation to notice her anyway, and she prayed she could sneakily serve the meals and scurry back to the kitchen before he had a chance to spot her. But when had things ever gone the way she planned? She had barely reached his side, when she accidently caught part of the conversation he was having with the young man sitting next to him. And she froze in her place.

"No Edward, if we don't get word within this week I'm leading our forces back to Grytia," Tristan said. "I'm not waiting any longer to have my city back!"

Tristan's words rang within Alina's mind for a moment. Grytia... My city...

And all the blood rushed from her face as it dawned on her. 

Of all the houses in the entirety of the Western Kingdom, Alina was sold to the very house of the infamous human Lord, Lord Tristan. The very same human Lord who had taken Grytia. The very same human Lord whom Bernard and Mikal had marched to fight.

And the very same human Lord whom Julian had admired so much... 

Alina still stood frozen behind Tristan's chair, doing all she could not to collapse. But she didn't realize that her trembling fingers had already grown limp, until the crash of the tray she held rang terribly within the hall as it dropped along with all the cups and plates on top of it, clattering all over the stone floor.

A deadly silence followed, and Alina's heart pounded hard as every single person had turned to stare at her. Even Tristan. And all she could see were his black eyes, not winking at her this time, but boring into her with a deep scowl.

"What in the heavens is the matter with you?" he snapped, and Alina flinched. Yet she did nothing to move from her place. She didn't even know what to do.

"Will you keep standing here all night? Clean up this mess!" He was angry. And it scared her.

"Right away my Lord." It was Mira who rushed up to Alina's rescue with a horrified face, instantly kneeling to the ground and picking up the scattered pieces of broken tableware.

Alina still looking blankly at Tristan, took one step backwards before she turned and fled, running as far away from the hall as she could...

***************

So, Alina finally finds out about Tristan. How did you feel about her reaction?

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