Alina

There were no Kings in Nordenland for a reason. Unlike the tolerant winged ones in the West, or the pagans in the East, the arrogant Northmen would never accept to kneel before another. Just as they would not accept to kneel before God, ever since they were cast out of heaven. They had created their own heaven here in Engeldom, and they became their own gods, their own kings.

There was a time when there had been Kings in the North, but that had only resulted in years and decades of massacres and bloodshed, turning Nordenland into a large battlefield stretching from the Black Demon Sea in the East to the Red River in the West, as everyone fought for the throne. And when the lands and the rivers had turned red with spilt blood, and no more men were left to fight, they finally realized that they were better off without Kings.

Instead of answering to a single King, all the Lords across the North ruled together through a high ruling council, and when necessary they would unite for a common cause. Like they did when they agreed to close the Northern ports against all foreigners two hundred years ago. Like they did when they reopened the ports and signed the treaty with the Kassarathi three years ago. And now like they gathered to aid Frederik against the Vausterians' attack. And because there was no King and no obligations, anyone had the freedom to leave, and so did half of them today...

"To Grytia!" Bernard shouted out as he raised his cup of wine. The remaining Lords stood and cheered back.

To Grytia!

To Grytia!

And soon the earlier tension had disappeared as more drinks were offered. The men stood effortlessly chatting and drinking together as the serious high council had come to an end.

Alina found herself sitting alone while Bernard stood talking with Frederik and Mikal in the middle of the hall. She sat watching Mikal in silence, studying each graceful movement and each confident smile. She lost herself in the beauty of the deep black velvet that traced his tall and lean figure, the charm of his sensuous lips that pouted slightly as he spoke, the radiance of his shimmering silver hair... until he suddenly turned around and looked in her direction. Her heart fluttered, and she looked away quickly.

"You have been staring for quite too long."

Alina was startled as she heard a woman's voice next to her. It was Hilda. Although she had been staying in the castle for the past week or so, Alina had never spoken with her, until now.

"What?" Alina asked dumbly. And she watched with wide eyes as Hilda boldly seated herself next to Alina, on Bernard's chair!

"You were staring at Mikal," Hilda said as she sat back comfortably and crossed her legs in the most unladylike manner. "I really don't get why all the women are crazy about him."

"First of all I was not staring!" Alina lied, blushing deeply. "Besides you are the last one to speak. With all your attempts to get him into marrying you."

"My attempts?" Hilda asked in confusion, before she broke out into a sudden hysterical laugh. Several people turned to look at her in disapproval. And so did Mikal. Alina felt embarrassed. Why did she have to be sitting with this fool of a woman of all people?

"Where in the heavens did you hear that?" Hilda was still laughing. "As a matter of fact, I would rather be married to a frog than be married to that arrogant, self-conceited, pretty face."

Alina looked at Hilda curiously. She was such an unusual character. What kind of woman did not dream of marrying Mikal? Or was she only hiding her failure to impress him behind this façade of indifference. Hilda had finally stopped laughing and she gestured to one of the slave girls who were offering wine.

"Here, little doll," she said as she offered Alina a cup of wine while she held another for herself.

"I am not a little doll," Alina muttered before she drained her whole cup of wine in one shot.

"Of course not, my bad. You're a big doll!" Hilda teased, and Alina only scowled at her. "Oh, why is everyone in this place so hostile?" Hilda sighed before she sipped some of her wine. "The only nice person I found here so far is Lord Bernard."

Alina almost choked at Hilda's words, and the next moment, she found herself giggling unstoppably, and she was the one grabbing attention now. It seemed that the effect of the wine mixed with Hilda's absurd words were too much for her.

"Oh it's good to know that you can smile at least," Hilda teased while Alina was still trying to catch her breath. She had not laughed from her heart that way for a very long time.

"You are so sweet little doll, do you know that?" Hilda's tone took a rather gentle turn. "I find it hard to accept that someone so innocent looking like you could be bold enough to wear a black dress on such an occasion," Hilda said as she studied Alina's dress, and Alina's laughs stopped at once. What?

"What do you mean?" Alina asked with caution. "What's wrong with wearing a black dress?"

"You don't know what's wrong?" Hilda raised her eyebrows and Alina only shook her head timidly while her heart started to race. "Heavens! How long have you been living here?" Hilda asked.

"Just... a few months... But my friend advised me to wear this dress today... She said it's alright..."

"Your friend? Friend! Well let me tell you little doll, that friend of yours is none but a jealous bitch who probably wants nothing more than to see your head on a stake!"

"But..." Alina could barely speak as she felt all the blood drain from her face. "But don't all young people here wear black?"

"It's not a matter of young or old. Little doll, you are a married woman. Have you ever seen a married woman wearing black?"

Alina had not thought about it before. But now as she did, she realized that indeed she had never seen a married woman wearing black.

"Don't tell me you didn't know that it is forbidden for married women to wear black in Nordenvania!"

"Forbidden?" Alina could barely whisper.

"Oh little doll, of course it is!" Hilda sighed in exasperation. "Black is the color of seduction. If you wear black, it means you are either a prostitute, or you are a shameless young maiden openly declaring your availability for courting! So imagine what everyone must be thinking now. A married young woman wearing a black dress in the most important gathering of the year, in the presence of every Lord in the North! I wouldn't have thought of a better way to insult my husband if I wanted to. Just add a bit of red rouge on your lips as well and you're asking for certain death!"

Alina's heart sank in horror as she realized what she had done. Now she knew why everyone was glaring at her when she first entered the hall. And now she wanted to sink beneath her chair. She had actually slid down in her seat that only her shoulders were barely showing above the table. Bernard would never let her live through the night. Fortunately she was at least inspired to wipe off the red rouge. That bitch Kaya! She was just contemplating leaving the hall when she was startled at the sudden call of her name.

"Alina!" It was the familiar unpleasant voice that she loathed the most, none but Bernard's.

She turned towards him where he stood drinking heavily with the other lords. Her heart stopped as she found his ice blue eyes fixed at her, and he silently gestured for her to come to his side. She had no option but to obey. Her legs shook as she walked to him, wondering what he would want now. As soon as she reached his side, he had grabbed her with his large arm and she suddenly found herself in his embrace. She gasped, and several whistles followed.

"Shouldn't a lady be standing at her husband's side?" he asked, but she didn't answer. All she did was try to free herself from his embrace. But his grasp tightened. It was painful. Her heart raced madly. Bernard only grabbed her closer, sticking her body against his. And before she knew it, his mouth fell on hers in a smothering and nauseating kiss.

Alina froze and her heart stopped in horror. The whistles grew loud and the cheers rose as he kissed her hungrily in the middle of the hall. He smelled of wine and sweat, and his rough beard grazed her delicate skin. He was drunk. She grimaced as she tried to push against him, and she only managed to turn her face away, but his kisses continued to trail down her jaw and her neck.

She opened her eyes and found everyone standing around them, leering at them and cheering drunkenly. She had never felt more embarrassed or disgusted in her life. Her eyes met Mikal's. He stood looking back at her with a slight frown. She was going to cry.

The kiss suddenly stopped and she tripped as Bernard let go of her, setting her free. But everyone's attention was already drawn, and they still stood leering and whispering and laughing. She only managed to move two steps away, when Bernard suddenly grabbed her arm again, and she gasped out in pain.

"But I am afraid my dear that this color does not suit you," he said, then he paused for a long moment, while her heart hammered in fear. She did not wonder for long. His smile turned into a dark stare that sent shivers down her spine. "Take it off," he ordered.

"Alright..." she said as calmly as she could manage, trying to restore any fraction of confidence she had left. "I will go change." She barely took a step forward, before Bernard grabbed her arm again. 

"No. Take it off now. Here." She looked at him with horror and she breathed heavily as she took a quick look around her. The hall was full to the door. And now everyone stood staring at her with curious, rather anticipating eyes.

"Do it!" Bernard shouted. "Or I will."

Alina froze in her place and she only stared up at him blankly. Without warning, Bernard caught her at the neckline and with one swift movement, he tore the dress off her body. She screamed. Loud gasps and whispers filled the hall as she stood dressed in nothing but sheer undergarments. Alina sank to the ground in shame, crying and hugging herself to conceal what she could. But another swift movement and Bernard had torn off her wing cloak too, revealing her chained wings. More gasps rose within the hall.

Alina continued to cry as she knelt to the ground, consumed by humiliation. And despite looking away from the crowd, she could sense the gaping eyes of every lord in the North, boring into her. She struggled to spread her wings to protect her exposed body, but the restricting chains only kept cutting painfully into them.

She thought it couldn't get any worse, when a sudden smack assaulted her back as Bernard's cane fell against her, the impact pushing the chains to dig further into her wings. Raw pain shot through her whole body, and she screamed. Bernard flogged her again, and again. And each time, the chains dug deeper into her skin, cutting into her wings. Her cries grew louder as the strikes grew stronger, travelling further down, until a brutal blow assaulted her backside.

That was when sudden warmth engulfed her, where a dark cloak was draped around her shaking body, putting an end to Bernard's beatings and shielding her from the leering spectators. She looked up and found Mikal at her side, securing his own cloak around her, before he rose up to meet Bernard.

"Stop making a fool of yourself," Mikal hissed at him.

Alina could clearly hear the dangerous tone in Mikal's voice. She thought Bernard would beat him too, but of course he would not dare.

"My lord, may I take Lady Alina up to her chambers?" It was Hilda who interfered, her voice full of both confidence and concern.

"Aye you better take her out of my sight!" Bernard hissed.

Hilda turned to Alina at once, gently holding her shoulders and helping her up to her feet. But Alina was crying and shaking terribly that she could not even stand up. Stronger hands came to her aid. Sweet gentle Vilfred. He held her at one side, while Hilda held her at the other side. But Alina's knees still trembled as they tried to steady her, and she only kept sinking back to the ground.

Mikal stepped forward, and without a word, he swept her up into his arms, before he took flying off, leaving the great hall behind.

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