XLV. SOMETIMES LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH

  Taryn burst through the doors of the east wing into the corridor and angrily shed her coat. She flung the garment at the maid as she stormed down the hallway. Madden hurriedly apologized on her behalf as he chased after her, seeking to mitigate any emotional outburst that likely brewed within the woman.

  “Taryn, just, stop fer one bloomin’ moment an’ listen to me will ya?” Madden pleaded as she shrugged off his hand from her shoulder.

  “Already ‘eard what ya ‘ad ta say and don’ much care fer it.” She calmly stated, though rage was evident upon her face and eyes.

  “Well, ‘ave you stopped ta ask Odell what he finks o’ it then? Seein’ as it does concern ‘im the most outta this.”

  Taryn abruptly stopped and spun around to face Madden. He raised his hands in surrender almost instinctively as she jabbed a finger at him, trying to collect her words. Madden lowered his hands and clasped her on the shoulders, looking down into her eyes as she began to recover some of her rage fueled resolve.

  “Lis’en, I know you’ve been through a lot la’ly, losin’ yer men ennall.”

  “I di’n’t lose them, they left. An’ good riddance, don’ need their ilk around ‘ere any’ow.” Taryn shakes off his giant mits and shoves him back. “An’ second, the boys only seventeen, yet ta even look upon a woman, le’ alone taste ‘er. O’ course ‘is lil’ member’s gonna be makin’ all the informed decisions fer ‘im!”

  “So, you trust his judgment…” Madden asked, a bit confused.

  “No, you bloomin’ ijeet!” Taryn snapped as she turned to continue her tirade. “Tha’ ‘arlots jus’ usin’ tha boy an’ I ain’t gonna bloody well sit by an’ le’ ‘er!”

  Madden hurried to keep in step with Taryn’s long, fast strides. “Well then, per’aps you should discuss this wit’ ‘im then.”

  “Why bother? The decisions made. All’s I gotta do is tell tha’ whore ta lay off ‘im.” Taryn hiked her skirt and drew a blade from her garter.

  “No, no, nonono!” Madden grabbed her, physically picked her up and placed her behind him as he barred her path. “Chief, no.”

  “Don’ ‘Chief’ me ya lummox.” Taryn’s eyes flashed as she menacingly jabbed the dagger in Madden's dierection for emphasis. “An’ let go o’ me arm!”

  Madden lowered her arm, and attempted to take away the dagger as he frantically looked around to make sure no one saw. “Ya can’t bloody well march in there with a dagger to The Princess’ throat luv! It jus’ don’ work out too nice like thata way.”

  “Well, I wasn’t gonna cut ‘er, jus’” Taryn averted her gaze, her rage subsiding as she was confronted with the absurdity of her plan. “… ya know, spook ‘er a bit in the ‘ead is all.”

  “By Dawn woman! Are ya daft? Yer stark ravin’ mad aren’ ya?”

  “Madden? Is something the matter?”

  Madden turned to see Aislyn along with several of her retainers standing behind them. All color drained from his face as Taryn wrenched her arm free and waved her dagger at the startled princess and her horrified staff.

  “Bitch!” Taryn screamed as a guard stepped forward, drawing his sword.

  In an unforeseen act of bravery, those retainers that had not fainted shielded Aislyn with their bodies as they shoved her towards a room. Madden held back Taryn with one hand while he fended off the advancing guard with the other. The hall was alive with commotion and yelling in both Elysian and rural Aes Sidhean. Several of the palace tenants peered from their chambers to see what the ruckus was about, fearing another invasion.

  “A’right! Everyone jus’ calm down for a minute!” Madden hollered as he effortlessly shoved the guard flat on his rump.

  “What the hell Taryn!”

  Madden and Taryn turned to see a very smartly dressed Odell standing behind them. Taryn’s jaw dropped upon being confronted with a handsome young nobleman instead of the archer protégé from the hills she knew him as. He ran forward to help Aislyn to her feet as her retainers hurriedly bombarded him with accounts of Taryn’s barbarism.

  “Get away from that witch boy! I got words fer her.”

  Odell looked up to Madden, seeking explanation or apology. His friend simply adjusted his ill fitting tunic and none to subtly jerked his head towards Taryn in hopes of absolving himself. Odell shook his head, resigned, and held out his hand for the dagger.

  “Taryn, you’ve been like a sistah and a mothah ta me, an’ I ken ask fer no more. But this is goin’ far enough. Me an’ Aislyn are to be married, b’cause I love the ‘ell outta ‘er and I’m guessin’ that she loves me the same for some dumbarse reason.”

  Aislyn blushed as Odell took her hand. “I’ve come to give you two yer invitations, as best man and guest o’ honor.”

  Taryn flushed with embarrassment and looked away, though did not surrender her blade; Madden slapped his head with his massive hand and hung his head in shame. “Listen mate, I’d be honored if you’ll still ‘ave me. Things just got a lil’ outta hand. You know she’s got yer bes’ interes’ at heart.”

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  After several moments of silence, Madden prodded Taryn, and she begrudgingly put away the dagger. “Aye. An’ I t’wasn’t gonna kill yer lass, jus’…”

  “We get it luv, jus’ shut the hell up…” Madden said through clenched teeth.

  “Well, I certainly have no idea what brought this about, but knowing the three of you I suppose it would be best if I just left it alone. However,” Aislyn dusted herself off and turned a cold gaze upon Taryn. “Do not think to threaten me in my own home again Miss Philips.”

  The guard stood and glared up at Madden as he backed away, nearly tripping in the process. Aislyn kissed Odell on the cheek before gathering up her shaken entourage, to continue past the still scowling Taryn, and thoroughly embarrassed Madden. Odell sighed as he ran his hands through his hair. Madden prodded at Taryn again, urging her to say something, but she only swore and struck him back.

  “I’m really sorry mate, di’nae mean no harm, truly…” Madden trailed off, wishing the ordeal could be over and done with.

  Odell shrugged it off and handed them their invitations. “What do I care? I’m marryin’ a princess.”

  Madden smiled and threw his bear arms around the boy, lifting him into the air. “An’ a right pretty one at that! Wait till the boys ‘ear about this one! You’ve jus’ reached legendary status lad!”

  “What’s wrong Taryn?” Odell asked, having caught a glimpse of Taryn’s sour face amidst his celebration. “She said bygones be bygones, aren’t you happy fer us?”

  “…Who said they loved who firs’?” She replied stoically.

  “Me,” Odell answered as Madden set him down. “But what does that ma’er? She said it back.”

  “…I’ll be there Odell. Forgive me.” She handed Madden her blade and left them in confused silence.

  Taryn ignored both of the men’s confused murmurs and shrugs as she jogged after Aislyn. A large part of her wanted for the feelings the two shared to be legitimate, but experience told her it was most likely a one-sided romance. She had grown too attached to the boy to watch him willingly walk into a trap such as this and say nothing. She herself had done the same at his age, though with far less at stake, it was disastrous all the same. Many warned her of her beau’s ulterior motivations, but she merely ignored them as Odell did now. Her lesson was learned the hard way, and wished to save the boy from the same fate.

  Taryn came to a halt as she rounded a corner and came face to face with Aislyn’s group of attendants. The women shied away in fear of another attack as the guard stepped forward, far more cautiously than the last encounter. She paused and tried to think of a proper way to voice her concerns as Aislyn turned to face her, ordering her guard to stand at ease, equally perplexed.

  “If you come to apologize,” Aislyn said cautiously, “the point is moot, just do not allow it to happen again.”

  “Is this a political marriage?” Taryn blurted aloud, unaware that the thought had formulated itself into a sentence until after the fact.

  Aislyn was visibly taken aback by the accusation, but quickly recovered her poise. “Ladies, Jaques, you may leave us.”

  “I am afraid I cannot leave you with this, heathen in good conscious your Highness! You are--!”

  Aislyn turned her cold stare to the man, causing him to stop mid-sentence. “I am the Princess, am I not?”

  The man struggled to form a coherent argument, upon failing to do so he bowed his head in acquiescence and ushered the women away. Taryn watched with some trepidation, she was not the woman she had met in Port Romance. This was a cold, calculating woman, who held vast wealth and power, with no qualms of using either. Aislyn took a seat on a bench upon the wall, and motioned for Taryn to join her. Taryn stood unmoving, lost in thought as she tried to figure her former subordinate out.

  “First, I do care for Odell,” Aislyn began.

  “As a novelty!” Taryn erupted, “That boy’s no plaything you can discard when you grow tired of his rural manner o’ speech and lack of courtly mannerism!”

  “If you would allow me to finish.” Aislyn spoke softly, unperturbed.

  Taryn took a breath and folded her arms across her chest. “Go on then…”

  “I do care for him, and yes, it may just be a flight-full fancy, but then again, it may not be.” Aislyn had an almost whimsical tone as she stared out the window, one could almost believe she was actually lovestruck.

  “Then why’re ya marryin’ ‘im?” Taryn’s voice cracked with emotion, irritated by Aislyn’s playful responses.

  Aislyn was silent for several moments as she regarded the busts lining the hall. “Are you aware of what goes on in this city? I am certain you have heard what the nobles that reside here have to say.”

  “I mayhaps ‘eard a rumor or two.” Taryn replied non-committedly.

  “I’m sure.” Aislyn laughed, though she lacked humor in her eyes. “The people fear me. I have a reputation of being distant. I am a woman that uses logic and leaves nothing to chance. This is not the ideal image of a princess. No, for them a princess is to be rescued from some fictitious danger, a princess is to be uneducated and shallow, her only goal to marry and produce a king’s heir. I am still a virgin, Miss Phillips, whereas most my age and status would have forsaken that long ago.”

  “So? What’s that ta do with anythin’?” Taryn threw up her hands and began to pace. “I don’ care about how the aristocracy waste their time an’ money, it ne’er has naught ta do with me,” She stopped before Aislyn and looked the heiress in the eyes, “What I do care about is that lil’ lad whose fallen ‘ead o’er ‘eels in love with you. What concerns me is whether you feel the same or seek ta use ‘im to push some agenda.”

  “Do not confuse my meaning,” Aislyn continued in a sedated tone, causing Taryn to huff in irritation. “I did not abstain from carnal pleasures for reasons of chastity, but merely felt no man was worthy of me, of using my womb to obtain power he would most certainly abuse. Does it not speak in spades that I am willing to give myself to him? A young man of the most common of ancestry?”

  “Arrogant much?” Taryn spat and paced once again.

  “I feel I have answered your questions.” Aislyn stood. “Now if you will excuse me.”

  “Is that why then?” Aislyn stopped to face Taryn, as the woman refused to drop the issue. “Marry some Hillman from Aes Sidhe to prove to the masses that you aren’t some cold bitch? Or maybe ta stick it to all yer other would be suitors?”

  “Taryn,” Aislyn sighed, having had enough of the woman’s ranting. “He will be king, and happy. Can you not share in that happiness?”

  “King? He knows nothing of leading a kingdom! What would be the point?” Taryn screamed and struck the wall, her anger having boiled over at Aislyn’s calm demeanor. “What’s yer angle?”

  “…Odell will be King and I… I shall be Queen. Good day miss Philips.”

  Taryn stood in stunned silence, the meaning of Aislyn’s words finally became clear. She sought to reclaim the throne stolen from her father. That was why she did not send out any search parties into Sorn. Odell was her patsy, an attempt at a positive public relations campaign. Odell knew he could not lead a nation, and would be more than willing to hand the reins of power to the woman he loved. However, could she really have planned this from the very beginning? They had met long before Taryn came onto the scene; could all of this just be some sort of bonus? Could she really have feelings for him as she claimed? She collapsed, sliding down the wall as she came to a rest on her haunches. For Odell’s sake, she hoped the worst-case scenario was just that, a scenario.