The dull and heavy sound of a club against a skull is not one I'm likely to ever forget. Nor is this night.

It was four sword-wielding bandits that had overset us, taking the carriage horses and whatever valuables they could find. After taunting Gavriel about the loss of his 'fairest treasure,' I was bound by rope and placed with the largest man.

Gavriel begged, pleaded, and tried to fight, but they soon threatened the base of my neck with a shiny blade, and so we left him, fuming and helpless by a horseless cart.

We rode east to a hillside dotted with exposed rocky crags. Rugged outcroppings that I quickly learned were home to a series of caves; one of which, small and dark, became my makeshift prison. At least one guard stood outside the entrance.

Although I could not see the rest of the men to know their total number, I heard whoops and hollars about the division of spoils from what sounded like more than one raid that day.

For some time, I had the same presence of mind a corpse would and I sat as stiff as one as well. I have never fainted, but I was horrifically close. My cloak was far too thin to ward off the chill and the sinking sun mirrored my heart's plummeting hope at release. I huddled and shook violently, worrying of my fate.

Perhaps an hour later I heard voices—voices laden with copious amounts of ale, voices getting closer. One of them had agreed to keep watch over the cave and I heard the telltale click of other boots retreating.

"Well, it's been a long time, little miss Charis."

A red head poked through the entrance. I started, scooting myself further back into the cave.

"Farmer Benru!"

It was the man who claimed Gavriel had something to do with the death of his wife!

"Your huthband took my kids, you know." His words slurred, his steps unsure.

No, I did not know. Fright robbed me of any ability to reply.

Oh! The kids!

"He wath going to put me in prison too, but I ethcaped his men. Funny thing this is, you 'ere tonight. I wath justh wonderin' how I could get back at Vane." He spat the last word, stumbling precariously over uneven ground.

I would not fool myself any longer on the character of my husband. If Lord Vane went to such great lengths with this man, then he most certainly had a reason.

The cave was not big enough to run very far away, but I fled on knees as far as I could go, failing at keeping my rapid and frantic breathing in check. Hiding while heaving desperately for air was impossible.

It was midnight black in the back of the cave, and as I climbed around, one hand connected with something rigid and moveable. I felt the length of it and took it into my hands, heart pumping madly with relief once I knew it for what it was.

"I suppose if I touch you, he won't want you no more." Benru's voice was quiet, calculating, and just above me.

I stood then and stepped away from the wall enough to swing with all my strength. He fell hard and flat like a tossed sack of flour.

And so here I am now, fleeing the cave, club in hand, willing far away the memory of the reverberating sound of board on bone. There is no one else around that I can see. I scramble up the hill until I find some trees to weave through, dropping back down some ways away from the mess of caves. A road passes here and I am not sure if it is the one we came in on.

I follow it, desperate to aim for home, but dip often into the edge of the forest for camouflage. The road turns into narrow trail then back to road, folding back on itself occasionally. I feel frustrated that I have likely not moved very far from the thieves.

It was foolish of me to think they wouldn't come for me. Here, the path is coddled in thick and heavy foliage, which buffers sound, and it curves like a basking snake. I do not hear the horses hooves until I see the riders.

He dismounts before his horse has time to fully stop and runs to me.

"Charis..." Gavriel whispers and I am enveloped in his large warm arms.

I am not sure which of us is shaking more. I pull back enough to point, wordlessly, in the direction I came from, wanting to get across that we are not out of danger.

It's then that I see there must be twenty-five men coming up behind him. Those in the front look relieved to see me, but they are still staunchly poised for confrontation.

Gavriel signals them down the path and swiftly hoists me in front of him on his horse. He exchanges a word with Sir Giles: an order to continue on and fight while he returns me safely home. We separate from his men and ride furiously westward. When the road becomes hard to see, he slows.

Dusk is gone and night has taken over.  The moon and stars are so vivid and luminous but I wonder if they are enough for a fight.

"The...the men. Will they be okay?" I ask, still struggling for command of my voice.

"They will make quick work of it. The full moon is on our side. There is said to be a band of nine men there, and I doubt they expect we knew of their hide-out, but people talk and the bandits could not stay concealed forever. Surprise and numbers are on our side as well. Can you explain to me how you got away?" My lord's dulcet tone is a balm to my upended nerves.

Hours of dread ebbs slowly and I feel myself relax some. I note with thankfulness the sword swinging at his side. I explain the cave, Benru, and the board I was carrying.

His arm that circles me clenches tighter and I hear pain etched in his plea. "Charis, I am so sorry that you would have to face these things just because you are married to me. I promise, if you will let me, I will make up for every unpleasant moment you've had to endure and will have to endure. I will love you like no other person alive can. Please."

I feel his forehead rest on my back for a moment and I struggle with an answer.

This morning, I doubted him. As I have almost every day since I married him.

This evening, there wasn't anyone else I hoped to see as much as Gavriel.

This is my answer, is it not?

We arrive then to the manor and Gavriel cries orders for attendance on me. Before I can dismount, I realize by the comments to his stablehand that he intends on riding back. He wishes me a good night and tells me not to worry.

"You are going back?! No!"

My vehemence startles even myself, but panic bubbles up within me and I cannot tamper it down.

So much can go wrong! I want him here, safe with me. I cling to his arms and I am sure I must look the part of a wide-eyed owl.

Shock mars his face. "Is this anxiousness for my sake? Charis...do you worry for me?"

"Of course I do! Please, reconsider, Gavriel!" I know what I beg for is selfish.

He needs to help his men. I know by the pitying look in his eye that he will not heed me. My shoulders sag in defeat.

"Be careful. Come home to me, please." I plead, quietly staring into his stormy grey eyes, hoping my own succeed in relaying everything I feel.

Far from placating him, his eyes only grow more tumultuous and his hold grows tighter. "That is all I wanted to hear."

~ The End ~

Epilogue: 100 years Later

Dozens of eyes blinked back at her, watching, waiting expectantly. The young of the village were gathered closer to the warmth of the common fire and the soft, shifting glow of flames illuminated their eagerness.

They had asked for a tale of Lady Charis and Lord Gavriel.

Midwife Nora knew some nursed the hope to hear their love story, while others longed for adventure. They would get both, she decided.

Her eyes came to rest on Harwin, a sandy haired lad of the age eleven. What was it his folks had told her? Ah, he was venturing toward the eastern caves. A place still dangerous, and oft home to thieves and general troublemakers.

Better make it a lesson as well, and she knew right then the tale she'd tell.

"There once was a beautiful, kind village girl who captured the heart of the mysterious and dark Lord Gavriel Vane. Lady Charis she came to be, his bride and most valued treasure.

You have heard the Vane household can shift their shape at will. Of all possible shapes, Lord Gavriel favored the form of a sleek black mountain lion." Here Nora paused to make sure Harwin was at full attention. It was hard to tell, but she continued:

"There was, and if rumor is true there still is, a wicked wicked sorceress living in the eastern caves. Pale and white haired, with blood red lips and eyes, and fingernails as long as knives.

One stuffy, sleepless night, Lord Vane prowled the woods and the great witch saw him, leaping lithely from tree to tree. She transformed into a captivating snowy cat to steal the heart of the dark lion Gavriel, but it could not be done. He did not look her way. Her rage was absolute.

She would take away his beloved Charis.

And so she snatched the young lady, directly under the nose of the lord, from a carriage ride one afternoon. Lady Charis was taken to a particularly horrid cave where vengeful spirits of the witch's previous victims roamed.

Oh, but Charis was fashioned of brave makings, she was. For she soon escaped the clutches of her evil captor--"

"How?! How did she escape?!" Harwin's golden eyes dilated as wide as dinner plates. A ghost of a smile played with the corners of his mouth.

So he was listening, but not fearing. She'd have to twist the tale into a grisly one.

"Ah. And so the legend of Lady Charis says..."

The End of the End

*Thank you SO MUCH for following this story!*
I hope you enjoyed it!
If you did like Lord Vane, please comment or vote on the book! It'd make my day!

My original piece of art that inspired me to write this story:

Lord Vane was intended to be a scary guy. As most of you know, characters sometimes take on a life of their own apart from original plans!

*Odd fact: I have no clue why I chose the name Vane! I decided to Google it yesterday and a peerage of the house of Vane really existed in medieval history. One of these gentlemen was verified as a selfish landowner, ignoring the plight of his subjects during a famine while spending lavish monies on his estate. I now imagine this to be Gavriel's great-uncle. 😉
For the fun of it, if you'd like to see their actual castle and history: http://www.rabycastle.com/history/the-vanes