A Heart Full of Stars {A Medieval Story} Chapter 70 *Finale* now! 5/28/21

Anwyn was gone for about an hour, and Lara tried to pass the time. She approached the nearest book case and pulled a title from it, opening the pages but finding that she couldn’t pay attention to what the words were saying. The king had wanted to see her little sister in the garden, what were his intentions? Anwyn had stayed up late last night, and she had helped the lord and king in their activity, whatever it had been. Was Annie in some sort of trouble? Did she need her sister’s help?

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“But Anwyn is old enough to take care of herself. She wouldn’t get in over her head, and she would surely back herself out of anything she did get involved in…” Lara muttered to herself.

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She heard footsteps in the hall and found Anwyn standing in the doorway, looking ashamed. “Lara, you can go home now. I will be staying at the invitation of the king.”

Lara could tell when her sister was hiding something, always could. Ever since she was a small child hiding a pastry under her pillow, or if she had broken a plate while washing it. Anwyn’s face was expressive, she could barely hide what she was thinking at any one point. She rarely had to, she spoke what was on her mind most times, but what her mouth didn’t say her face surely did.

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“Annie, what’s wrong? Why are you staying?” Lara asked with concern.

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“The king has requested I stay, but I urge you to return home. It is part of the deal. I stay, but you get to leave. You-” Anwyn looked around and then walked over to the corner of the room with her sister in tow. “Sir Rhayde has bad intentions for you, and he won’t rest until he is satiated. If I stay, you get to leave. Otherwise we are both stuck here. You have so much more to live for than I have to sacrifice…” she looked like she was about to start sobbing.

“Annie, no… You can’t stay either. Come home with me. He can’t make you stay.” Lara urged.

“But he can do much worse things. You didn’t tell me that the king was the reason I have this scar. You said you remembered and didn’t tell me. If the nobility can do this to a small child, they aren’t against burning a house to the ground, or defiling a peasant. This is the easiest way. You’ll be alright this way, Mother and Father and Sophie and Joseph will all be fine. I’ll come home when I can, but I need to do this for you. Please, you-”

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“Anywn, you never stop talking!” Lara interrupted. “There has to be another way. I can’t let this happen, you’re my little sister, you’re my responsibility.”

“If you stay and Sir Rhayde takes you, William won’t want you. No man will take you as his wife. Your reputation would be ruined. I am the middle child, destined to stay with Mother and Father until I am old and grey.” Anwyn had a small smile. “Do this for me, as I am doing this for you. Go home, Lara. The king won’t harm me, I will be healthy and taken care of.” the words felt wrong in her mouth as she said them, as if she were already a puppet of the king, saying the words he said.

“How could I possibly leave…” Lara pleaded.

“I’ll ask someone to take you home. There is a kind knight I met last night and he will walk you home. I will go and find him.” Anwyn started to turn her back, only to be pulled into a tight embrace by her sister.

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“I feel as though I am breaking into a thousand pieces.” she said. “And that I will never be whole again.”

“I will be at your wedding, if I am not home by then. This is not goodbye, this until next time. You were going to leave me and live on a farm once you married William, but now I am the one leaving you. Sooner than we thought, yes, but it will be alright. We will survive. We will be victorious.”

~*~

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“Miss, your garments are here. The king requests that when he sees you tonight, you wear them. He will see you after dinner.” Sir Romeo said as he put the stack of new clothes on the dresser.

“Sir Romeo, has the other knight returned, the one who escorted my sister home?”

“I’m afraid not, Miss. Why do you ask?” he questioned.

Anwyn smiled smally. “I simply found his company to be calming. He seems… simple. As though he has no ulterior motives to his actions.”

“Sir Reed is a quiet man, to be sure. If you’ll forgive me, I have rounds to do and dinner to attend.” with that he backed out of the dingy room that the women were housed in. The curtains were moth eaten, the beds all smelled like old smoke, the windows never received enough light in them, and the empty bed next to hers reminded her that she was very much alone now. No one to watch her back.

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“So, another woman in the grasp of the king. I’m sorry to see it.” the woman with black hair said. She was one of the queen’s ladies, dressed in red, as was the queen’s’ colors. “I’m so sorry that the king has chosen you to be his company. But, at least I have someone new to talk to. Oh no, I’m not one of the king’s…” she thought of the correct word. “Modes of entertainment. I’m one of the queen’s ladies. I help her do things, like fix tears in her dresses, keep her company, things of that nature. And as one of her ladies, I would highly advise to stay away from her. It’s no secret that the king is unfaithful to his wife, but she doesn't like any woman getting in the way of him falling in love with her again. So, stay away from her if you can.”

This woman was very chatty, and Anwyn liked that. “I’m Anwyn, I don’t believe we’ve actually met.” she introduced.

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“I’m Ameila. Pleasure- though, not the best circumstances to have done so- meet you. I have to go and assist the queen in getting ready for dinner, I hope you have a pleasant evening.”

The young woman stood up and walked out of the room. “I highly doubt it…” Anwyn muttered, dwelling on her thoughts again.

The garments that Sir Romeo had brought weren’t very substantial. There was no corset, no petticoat. It looked more like the robe her father wore around the house when the store wasn’t open than a dress, but she had to try it on. Maybe it wouldn’t fit…

~*~

The knight from before came to get her from the room after dinner had finished.

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Anwyn followed Sir Romeo out of her room and down the stairs and outside of the King’s room. Her legs were shaking, and she wanted to cover herself more, but the robe she wore wouldn’t allow for it. She was the sacrificial lamb, going to the slaughter, only she would have to live with her shame. The lamb at least got to die.

“I don’t know what to expect, miss. Once you enter, I have no advice for you.” Sir Romeo said.

“That’s not very comforting,” she responded.

The knight knocked on the door twice, and the king’s voice rang from inside. “Enter!”

Sir Romeo opened the door for Anwyn, and she could barely make her feet move to enter. The only feeling she had was pounding in her chest.

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She quietly shuffled into the room. It was beautifully decorated with rich blues and detailed tapestries. The king’s back was turned as she entered and he didn’t turn around for a time, so Anwyn thought perhaps she had to bow, or kneel, or something, before he was ready to proceed.

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Anwyn bent her knees and put her hands on the floor. The king still didn’t turn around, though she heard his clothing rustle. Creator, protect me. Keep me from harm, look over my family, and may my actions not be in vain.

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She bowed her head closer to the floor, praying for strength, her heart racing in her chest, wishing it to both be over and to never begin. The king stood that way for about seven seconds, then he breathed out, sighing. “I didn’t peg you to be the type to bow. If you ever want to see what someone is thinking, just do nothing. They may dig themselves into a hole admitting all the things they do wrong, or they may muster the courage to fight back violently. I suspected you had enough sense to not fight me, but I didn’t expect you to bow, begging. It doesn’t suit you. Please, get up.”

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He crossed over to the globe in the corner and opened it, bringing out a red bottle and a set of glasses. “I also don’t expect you to do this sober. Would you like a drink? Don’t be worried about it being poisoned, I would like a drink myself.”

Anwyn straightened her elbows and tried to pick her dignity off of the floor. The king crossed to the opposite corner of the room and sat in one of two chairs.

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“So tell me, Would you say your family is fertile? Healthy?” the king asked.

“Why would you need that information?” Anwyn asked. “I am apart from my family now.” she said as she sat down.

“You may be apart from your family, but they are still a part of you. From what I hear, your family has five children, and one on the way. Your mother is expecting, if my source is correct.”

Anwyn tried to hide her surprise. “I hadn’t heard. That is good news.”

Anwyn finished her drink quickly, and the king finished his shortly after. “Well, it’s best not to linger. I’m sure you’re anxious to proceed. Go and sit on the bed.” he ordered.

Anwyn stood from her chair and walked to the bed, a sudden rush of shame coming back over her.

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“You don’t need to be so afraid of me, Anwyn. Annie-” Anwyn flinched. That name was for her family and close friends only, he had no right to it. “You’ve really blossomed.”

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He took a step closer to her, touching her face. “If I had known that you would turn out so beautifully, I would never have had you harmed so. It is a true tragedy. But you are still desirable.”

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It was uncomfortable, but it was over faster than she had expected, nothing like what she had heard from her parent’s room. He hadn’t even fully removed his pants.

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“You may leave now. I won’t keep you any longer. I’ll see you tomorrow night.” the king said, turning his back on her.

Anwyn was a bit dazed, but she didn’t have to be told twice.

~*~

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Liam found the young woman in the maids’ wing, looking like she was on the brink of tears. He recognized the dress worn by the king’s entertainment, and his heart fell. “Oh, oh no. Miss Cupshire, if I had known that this was happening tonight I would have returned much sooner. I didn’t put two and two together, I should have been there for you.”

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“And done what? Been there to experience my humiliation for yourself? Stood outside the door while it happened? No, there was nothing you could have done. This is my burden to bear.”

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Liam moved over to sit besides her. “I thought he would wait longer before he did this. Are you alright?” he asked.

“I, I don’t know anymore. I don’t know…” she started to cry. Liam reflexively took her into his arms and did his best to comfort her.

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“You are not alone, Miss Cupshire.” he reassured quietly.