𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄.
chapter thirty-six; Together Again
" But entering a man's chambers without so much as a knock. . . "

CATHERINE DID, IN fact, have Elspeth's new chambers ready by the time she would sleep that night. Briefly, Elspeth had wondered if it was an exaggeration, but the moment servants swarmed to move her things, she knew it had been the truth.

  So, that night, Elspeth stared at an empty room that had held the beginning of her life in France, before departing deeper into the castle to a residence far less temporary.

  Demetre was waiting for her, standing in front of a grandiose double door.

  "This is an intimidating sight," Elspeth breathed out as she approached.

  "More space," Demetre shrugged, "Why would that be intimidating?"

  Elspeth wrung her hands as Demetre turned the handle, pushing the door open for her.

  "This is why."

  Elspeth's words rang out in the room at least twice the size of the one she previously resided in.

  The furniture looked small in here, a grand four-poster bed fit with fresh powder blue linen, a new chaise, a full-length mirror, and a vanity large enough to sit three. There was a dressing screen, an intricate rug covering half of the floor-- there was a full-sized fireplace in front of a sitting area.

  Elspeth walked deeper into the room, spotting two floor-to-ceiling bookcases on either side of the fireplace, along with two other doorways.

  One led to an extravagant bathing chamber, the tub big enough to fit four people, the other led to a smaller room, filled to the brim with more gowns, jewelry, and shoes than anyone could ever possibly need.

  "Demetre. . ."

  "It was sitting vacantly," He eased as Elspeth returned to the main chamber, "Begging to be inhabited."

  "What. . . why is this not your room?" Elspeth breathed out, "Why was this empty? Mary's chambers aren't even nearly this. . ."

  "Mary's chambers were only ever temporary until she and Francis were wed," Demetre sighed, "Even so, this is not a room to be handed off to anyone who comes to French Court."

  He picked a small piece of lint from the chaise before taking a seat, resting his arm on the back of it.

  "This area of the castle belongs to House Langlois," He informed.

  "How does that happen?" Elspeth questioned, taking a step toward the man.

  "Make enough history," Demetre breathed out a laugh, his posture relaxing for the first time in days, "Being at the right place at the right time. . . We used to have land right at the edge of the castle grounds. A. . . vast expanse of it. Not a Duchy or a town. . . just land. Just for us."

  Elspeth furrowed her brows as Demetre looked down, a sort of sadness lacing his town.

  "What happened to it?"

  Demetre breathed in a deep breath, looking up at Elspeth as she too a careful seat on one of the chairs.

  "Uh, there was a fire," Demetre finally said, "Burned the whole estate down in a single night. It's not all ash, of course. Fire can burn hot, but some things remain. . . Regardless, this wing had been gifted to my family generations ago. So, when the estate. . . burned. The House of Langlois turned here."

  "Nobody re-built?" Elspeth questioned.

  "There was no point," Demetre shrugged, standing.

  "I can't imagine not wanting to raise a family in the peace of your own home," Elspeth admitted.

  Demetre said nothing, only smiling tightly in agreement.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say-- I didn't know if the fire was long ago or--"

  "No need for apologies, Petal," Demetre said, "It was a long time ago."

  Elspeth nodded, pursing her lips together to not say something else possibly offensive.

  "Get some rest," Demetre spoke, standing, "Guards will be stationed outside, and you'll receive a new servant."

  "This is too much affair for a simple noblewoman, Demetre."

  "I'd sleep better knowing those attending you are ones employed by Langlois house, not the crown," Demetre admitted, "Let me fuss."

  Elspeth smiled, nodding.

  "Thank you," Demetre said with a smile, "Goodnight, Petal."

  "Goodnight, Demetre."

↬

  Elspeth knew the world outside of her own was unraveling. She knew things had gone grim with a mad king on the throne, but her first glimpse of it was a note that arrived from Kenna herself.

  Elspeth stared at it on her vanity for a day before she dared to open it.

  My dearest Ellie,

  This is far too formal for us, isn't it? It felt rude to write anything less, but it feels strange.

I know you are hurt. I know you don't wish for an annulment, that much has been made clear. But please, Ellie. . . please do not make me lose you. I can hardly imagine it.

We don't have to speak of anything serious, or anything at all. I just miss you.

From your dearest Kenna.

  Elspeth only realized she was crying when a tear fell, blurring the fine ink on the page. The girl stood quickly, calling for the servant who had handed her the letter that morning.

  "Please invite Lady Kenna here," Elspeth said, wiping her tears quickly, "There will be a party this evening, won't there?"

  "Yes, my lady," The girl nodded, "I've heard there have been many Scots invited."

  Elspeth furrowed her brows but nodded.

  "Ask Lady Kenna to join me in getting ready for it," Elspeth nodded, "I'll notify Lord Langlois of our plan to attend."

  The girl nodded, curtseying before scurrying off. Elspeth herself started down the hall, a short walk to the door she knew as Demetre's.

  There was nobody stationed outside his door, but Elspeth could still feel her own guards watching her from outside of her own.

  There was no one to announce her. Elspeth was unsure of what to do-- she could knock, but she wasn't even truly sure if Demetre was inside. He had duties, hunts, and things to do aside from doting on her, he could be out doing something far more important than preparing for a simple party.

  But Elspeth had jumped into attending without thinking it out fully, and now that she was worried, new things sprung up.

  Would Kenna attend with Sebastian? Would Sebastian try to speak to her-- this had been a poor idea.

  But the servant was already gone, already gone with an invitation for Kenna, and Elspeth couldn't take it back.

  So she opened the door.

  "Demetre, I have decided to attend the party tonight, I invited Kenna to get ready with me, I'm not quite sure if I'm in my sound mind--"

  Elspeth's voice dimmed out at the sight she'd barged into. Demetre Langlois, a shirt in his hands instead of on his torso. She blushed at the sight, beginning to stumble over apologies until her eyes latched onto something.

  Well, somethings.

  "Elle--"

  "Your scars," She noted in shock, unable to tear her eyes away from the skin that bubbled from his stomach to his collarbone. "How did you survive that?"

  "Elle," Demetre sighed, tugging on the shirt but not yet tying it, "I was in the Blood Wood, that's   how."

  "But--"

  "The Grim nearly killed me," Demetre informed, admitting deafest as he sat in an elegant armchair, "They. . . healed me. Simply because I'd killed it."

  "A large sacrifice, I'm sure."

  "And I was repaid," Demetre noted, shifting to adjust the loose strings, "They refuse to be indebted to anyone."

  Elspeth approached the man, her eyes softening as she knelt to his eye level.

  "Is that why you couldn't help? When I had been marked?"

  Demetre stared. Silent. His longing to reach out to the girl clawed hungrily upwards— only growing as she watched patiently.

  Not angrily. Not disgusted. She was not upset or disappointed or the slightest bit frustrated.

  Elspeth Liens looked at him, all of him, scars included, and refused to flinch at any of it, and all Demetre wondered was how he was supposed to do anything but fall in love with her.

  "Yes," He whispered, "Even now, what I speak of. . . toes the line of our agreement."

  "Then we don't have to speak of it," She responded, equally quiet, "I apologize for barging in."

  "Never apologize for your presence, Petal. It will always be welcome in my world."

   Elspeth smiled weakly.

  "But entering a man's chambers without so much as a knock. . ."

  "You have no one outside to announce me!" Elspeth said quickly, her face heating as she stood quickly, "How am I meant to know what to do!"

  Demetre smiled lazily, leaning back on his hands as Elspeth turned bright red, crossing her arms over herself.

  "So, a party?"

  "Yes, just--" She mumbled, "Just be ready to collect us in an hour."

  Demetre's grin grew as she turned and hurried out of the room, shutting the door behind herself.

  Kenna arrived shortly after Elspeth had returned to her room.

  She was nervous, wringing her hands as Elspeth's servant announced her arrival before holding the door open for her.

  "My, God."

  Kenna covered her mouth quickly, regretting the words that slipped out. She was in shock of the room, but her gaze focused on Elspeth herself, perched perfectly on the chaise lounge in a simple underdress covered with a loose flowing robe.

Elspeth snickered, allowing Kenna to breathe a sigh of relief, before standing to greet the girl.

  "This was not my doing, but I assume you know that," Elspeth said, "I suppose it is a perk of becoming a member of the House of Langlois."

  Kenna nodded, gazing around the room slowly.

  "Come, I had an extra seat brought in," Elspeth said, beckoning Kenna to the large vanity.

  Kenna obeyed, taking a seat in front of the mirror as Elspeth did.

  "How does one become a member of the House of Langlois?" Kenna joked lightly, gazing at the large assortment of makeup and perfumes.

  "Befriend the scariest man in France," Elspeth said lightly, "That's it, really."

  Kenna laughed.

  The girls began getting themselves ready, a ritual they had completed many times. Despite the servants that could do it, every now and then they would wave it all off and choose the time together instead.

  Kenna was better at applying coal and rogue, and Elspeth excelled with pinning their hair, so they helped each other when needed.

  It was light conversation, about the Scots that would be joining, the new makeup provided, the expensive hair pins and jewelry.

  When Elspeth entered her closet in search of dresses, though, she noticed something was off.

  "What's wrong, Kenna?"

  "I told you I wouldn't speak of anything serious," Kenna joked lightly, joining Elspeth.

  "I know," Elspeth frowned, "But who else do we talk to about these things?"

  Kenna breathed in deeply.

  "There was a secret clause in the marriage contract between Mary and Francis," She blurted, "Mary asked me to go into Henry's chambers to find the contract, as I'm the only person she trusts that would be able to enter--"

  "She should not have asked that of you--"

  "Scotland is in peril because of the clause," Kenna said quickly, "So I went, and I got it to her but--"

  Kenna rolled her lips, looking away for a moment.

  "But Henry returned while I was still there," Kenna admitted, "And I. . . had to. . . so that he wouldn't know what I was truly there for--"

  Kenna froze as Elspeth wrapped her up in a warm embrace.

  "Ellie, I've been married to your love for mere days and I've already--"

  "No," Elspeth said quietly, "No, Kenna. Henry has taken so much from me, but he has taken more from you. And if Sebastian will not stop him, then--"

  "God, I haven't told him," Kenna breathed out, "We're already arguing every day, I think if he finds out we'll be at each other's throats."

  Elspeth pulled away only enough to see her face, gently fixing the few hairs that had fallen out of place.

  "If you let him in, Sebastian will keep you safe," Elspeth said quietly, "He will make you happy. He will be a wonderful husband if you want him to be."

  Kenna shook her head, a lump forming in her throat.

  "If I'm the reason you're saying no, please rethink it."

  "I could never," Kenna managed.

  "I love him," Elspeth admitted, "I think I might always. But I. . . I cannot be with him. Even if the two of you were to get an annulment. The bond between him and I has been spoiled. It was beautiful once, and I will never forget that. But it is no longer strong enough to hold us up."

  Kenna chewed the inside of her cheek, attempting to keep her tears at bay.

  "One day, soon I hope," Elspeth continued, her own tears welling, "My heart will be mended. As will his, and yours. All I ask, truly, is for you to give it a chance. At least now; an annulment while Henry is still on the throne would enrage him. We must all remain as we are until Francis rules. When that happens, we will revisit it. Rediscuss. If you truly have no feelings for Sebastian by then, get an annulment, and find a man you do love."

  "Will we still be friends?"

  "Kenna, we will be friends for the rest of our lives. No man could change that."

Kenna smiled, her eyes crinkling and releasing the tears that had welled. Elspeth wiped it gently, offering her own warm smile.

"Now pick out a dress with me; Demetre's stocked far too many for the choice to be easy."

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
I adore kenna and elle's
friendship so much