Chapter 21: The Royal Helper

Astrid sat down on the edge of the bed and placed her hand upon the side of her face, shielding her view from the strangers that had greeted her. Confusion blurred in her mind as she tried desperately to remember the days after she left Lundur, but no memories came to her.

"Please, sire, won't you tell me how I got here?" Astrid asked, dropping her hands to her lap and straightening her posture.

Deman stared at Astrid with a dull expression, then he focused his eyes upon a candle behind her while he polished a juicy red apple on his white, spotless tunic.

"Two fishermen found you unconscious in a boat upon the seas and brought you here." He answered, making his way to the large bed, where he sat down on the opposite side. "We have some questions that an answer would be much appreciated, but if you do not wish to answer you do not have to."

Astrid scrunched her face up in a confused manner as she looked at him.

"Why did they bring me here? I was finally leaving."

Deman intriguingly raised his brows.

"What was you leaving?" He asked in a kind manner, crunching into the apple. "And another question is why were you bleeding in such a manner? The bottom of your boat was stained with blood and your dress--your dress was drenched. What happened to you?" He wiped is lip slightly off with his sleeve before leaning closer towards Astrid. "We are just as confused as you are, dear. Tell us what we need to know so we can help you get where you were going."

Astrid's memory flashed back to Lundur, being raped and beaten, and how she despised Bard with all her heart. She felt her face begin to grow hot with anger and shame. Warm tears dripped from her cheek onto her wringing hands. She let a long painful wail as the tears freely flowed from her eyes in hot streams down her face.

Deman watched her from the other side of the bed for several minutes before placing his hand lightly on her back.

"I do not wish for you to cry." Deman whispered softly, patting her shoulder. "You are safe here from whomever, or whatever, it is you are running from." He stood up and strolled leisurely back Lorna, who was waiting by the door. "We are going to leave you alone for now. You can talk whenever you are more at ease." Lorna swung the door open and stepped out first. "I will send the maids to check on you to see that you are well. Rest now. It will help you." Deman said, following behind Lorna, shutting the door quietly behind him.

Astrid watched carefully as the sturdy door shut, shutting her out once again from the world. She flopped over on her side, burying her face into the silk sheets while the tears eased from her eyes. Her heart was heavy as her eyes, that were fluttering shut into a sleep.

Astrid jumped awake when a loud bang came from the door. She inched her way towards the door, fearing the worst in her mind as she swung it open.

"My uncle and I would like you to come to dinner with us." Lorna stated in a chipper tone, holding a purple dress in her arms. "The maids have sent you a dress so you will look like royalty." She reached the shimmery material to Astrid with a smile. "We can talk everything over the table while we dine. What do you say?"

"I-I am very flattered but I do not need to eat at your table." Astrid shook her head. "I am not worthy."

Lorna stepped inside the room with her, shutting the door behind her.

"You are a person, are you not?" Lorna asked, taking Astrid by the hand. "My uncle and I do not care, for you are our guest, and tonight you shall be treated as a guest, even if you high-tail and run away in the morning. Tonight you are one of us."

Astrid looked down reluctantly at the dress before nodding.

"I will be down soon." Astrid mumbled, tracing her fingertips along the embroidery at the neckline of the dress. "Thank you."

Lorna smiled gracefully, giving Astrid's hand a slight squeeze before exiting the room. Astrid covered her face with her hands and let out a sigh. She quickly straightened herself up and slipped the silky dress over her body, only to have it hang baggy around her small build. Her wild brown hair stuck out from all sides of her braids as she hurriedly took them all out, leaving her oily hair down in thick waves with one small braid near her face to keep the hair from falling into her eyes.

Once she was completely dressed she slipped out of the room into the castles brightly lit hall. She wondered down a flight of spiral stairs which led her to a grand staircase, covered in a burgundy colored runner, which led to a large, fancy ballroom. Her soft-soled leather shoes pattered along the white, shiny marble floor as her rich, purple dress swept the ground where she walked. Off to the side of the wall hung a black curtain, where the kitchen presided behind. The smell of fresh bread filled the ballroom. Astrid gasped in awe as she looked around at the room of riches. Golden scroll work patterns hung up the high beige walls that stopped abruptly at the grey and white swirl painted ceiling, interrupted in sections by oblong windows for light to shine through. On each wall was six windows, where in between them hung golden candle holders which held ten white candles. She wondered around the perimeter of the extravagant room examining everything carefully until she reached a light-colored rectangular door leading into the dining room. Her sweaty palms ran down her sides nervously before pushing the door open.

A square table was placed in the center of the room upon the dark stone floor. Lorna and Deman sat across from each other, dining over a fowl and fresh fruit and vegetables. Astrid approached them slowly while her breathing began to heavily increase. A humongous chandelier with many candles burning hung directly above the table. Colorful tapestries were draped along the dull gray walls. Looking upward, Astrid noticed the balcony overlooking the dining area from above.

"Astrid, do sit." Deman stated, sipping from the silver goblet filled with sweet red wine. "The food is excellent today."

Astrid smiled, pulling the large, square-backed chair outward and eased down.

"I want to tell you how great full I am to be here." Astrid shared, melting into a grateful expression. "You do not know what I have been through and how much it means to have kindness like this shown upon me. Thank you."

Deman nodded his head with a cheeky smile, exposing the dimples in his cheeks.

"It is not a problem here." He replied, pushing the plate holding the bird towards Astrid. "Stay here as long as you need, there is plenty of room. No one needs to know you are here."

"I cannot ask of anything more of you." Astrid glanced away from Deman's gaze.

"What happened to you?" Lorna piped up and asked bluntly.

Astrid smiled meekly, staring back at Lorna. "I was beaten by a man in Lundur."

"Why?" Lorna questioned, slightly bobbing her head.

Astrid swallowed forcefully.

"Because he was a cruel man." Astrid mumbled, feeling the emotions rising in her mind. "I managed to escape with the help of a friend who saved my life."

Silence fell over the table as Deman and Lorna watched Astrid in bewilderment. Astrid kept her head down as she took slow bites of her food. She saw from the corner of her eye Deman motioning for Lorna to leave the room.

"I am sorry for Lorna asking those questions. She is young and does not-"

"It is alright. I understand the curiosity of a young girl, especially if a stranger like myself comes into her home."

Deman poured water into the golden cup that once held wine.

"How old is she?" Astrid asked, staring at Deman.

"Fifteen, almost sixteen." He replied with a sigh. "Her mother and father were killed when she was young. I was here with her tending the castle while they were away. A few days later a farmer brought their bodies back on a wagon. I had to take my brother's place as the ruler of his kingdom and the father-figure of his only child." Deman shook his head. "My brother made a bargain with a neighboring kingdom that she would marry one of the noblemen when she reached the age of sixteen so their forces would come together. I cannot do that to her though, she does not want marriage at all."

"She will do what is right when the time comes."

Deman raised a brow, intrigued. "Perhaps you could stay and help Lorna. She needs a woman figure in her life, you are the first woman to appear in her life like this."

"I-I do not believe I am the one for the job." Astrid disagreed, shaking her head. "I do not understand you. You do not even know me but yet-yet you trust me like you have known me for years. Why?"

Deman stood up from the table and scooted his chair under. "If I show you that I trust you and I believe in the things you have to say, you might find it somewhere in your mind or heart to trust in me." He stepped away from the table with his back turned toward Astrid. "I build my life on trust. However, once it is lost it will not be given back."

"Sire?"

Deman glanced over his shoulder. "You must do what is tugging on your heartstrings. But remember, you can stay here as long as you desire. I have business to attend in the main hall, please excuse me."

Astrid observed him carefully as he strolled gracefully from the room into the dark hall. She finished eating what food was on her plate before exploring the castle. She wondered down the halls which were glowing with what light came through the few square windows in the wall that overlooked the vast amounts of rich green flat lands. Directly below the castle was a visual of the wide arrayed flower gardens, popping with the many different colored petals. At the end of the hall was a spiral, stone stairwell embedded into the wall. Beside the stairs was wide door lined with golden scrollwork. To the right of the door was another hall that looped back around to the main entrance of the castle. The faint sound of men's argumentative chatter could be heard beyond the closed door. Astrid placed her ear curiously beside the cool door hoping to hear something that could help her understand more about her situation. Instead, she was informed of a dispute that was arising with the neighboring kingdoms. The sound of soft footsteps echoed from the hallway, startling Astrid away from the door.

"No, uncle, I do not wish to marry him. I am only sixteen, too young for marriage." She heard Lorna's soft voice speaking. "Why can I not be like the other girls in the village? They do not have to worry with responsibilities like this. Instead they are milking cows and learning how to be a housewife for when the time comes. Please, see me out."

"Lorna?" Astrid asked, stepping out into the dark hall once more. "Who are you speaking to?"

"What are you doing here!?" Lorna cried out frightened.

Astrid rushed towards Lorna to calm her tense nerves.

"I was only learning my way around the castle. I did not mean to frighten you like that."

Lorna laid a hand upon her heavily breathing chest.

"Well, you did frighten me." She chuckled slightly. "I was trying to think of something to tell my uncle to postpone my marriage." Lorna sighed. "That is what the discussion is about. I am pretty much voiceless from here on out. That is why I must make this speech worthwhile now, it will be the last one I have."

Astrid felt a strain of anger boiling inside her.

"I will see to it that you get your voice." Astrid assured, squeezing Lorna's hand. "I know what is like to be voiceless in a world. I could not imagine putting someone else through it." She hung her head. "I have nothing more to lose and if one talk means resting your mind, I will do what it takes."

Lorna stared at Astrid amazed. "You would do that for me? I am a stranger."

Astrid nodded.

"And I am a stranger also. But sometimes all it takes is one stranger to change the life of someone." Astrid boldly stated, taking off in a dedicated walk towards the door before Lorna could reply, swinging it open widely. "I have come to talk to you about your niece."

Deman glared at Astrid coldly from a his throne. "Men, this is Astrid. The mystery woman I told you about." He said, stepping down from the raised platform where he sat. "What is it that you need?"

Astrid focused her beady eyes upon his, never breaking the dead stare.

"I am here to talk to you about your niece." Astrid answered, pointing at Lorna who came in trembling behind Astrid. "Can you not see she does not want to be wed just yet. It is causing her to be distressed in ways you will never understand." she proclaimed as surveyed the faces of the silenced crowd. "You said yourself that you do not wish to force her into something she does not want. Why are you talking about going through with it?"

"Because lady," an older nobleman said arising in the crowd. "her father made a promise to me that when she turned sixteen she would be my wife. Deman only has to approve for it to happen now and I shall be damned if he listens to a girl who came out of no where."

"Look at you thinking you know what is best for a young girl." Astrid snapped back, making her way towards the man. "You are probably old enough to be her father. What inspires a man of your wealth to want a young girl?" She shrugged, pooching her bottom lip outward. "Is it because you have had so many whores in your day that you just want someone who has not been used yet? Or is it because you cannot get anyone else to marry you willingly?" Astrid rolled her head towards him, smiling a smug smile. "Either way I find you extremely repulsive."

Astrid noticed the man's tense face was changing from a pale color into blistering red.

"Come with me!" Deman shouted said agressively, clenching his teeth tightly while storming through the crowd towards them.

Astrid nodded slyly, following him out into the hallway. Deman paced back and forth chewing on his thumbnail.

"What are you doing?" He asked calmly, intently starting at Astrid.

"What you will not do." Astrid replied sharply.

Deman clinched his hands into fists and began pounding himself angrily in the forehead.

"Who are you!?" He shouted, echoing throughout the hall.

"I am Astrid Egger from Hamburg." Astrid quickly answered, stepping closer to the distraught Deman.

"No!" Deman stood in her face. "Who are you!?"

"You want to know the real me!? Fine!" Astrid yelled back. "I was the slave of an Earl in Oliefsborg first, then I was sold to a man in Lundur. I watched my family and friends die before my eyes at the age of fifteen. I was drug to an unknown pagan world without anyone to care for me but myself. I had one friend, who I thought was true, but she quickly betrayed me! I was beaten and raped but somehow managed to live through it all, unfortunately. That is who I am." Astrid replied. "Would you like to hear more? I can tell you even more if you so desperately desire."

Deman faced the door in silence, breathing heavily in astonishment. Astrid watched him for several seconds before turning to leave.

"You are not going anywhere." Deman blurted, halting Astrid from walking away. "You have to go back in there."

Astrid stared at him confused, shaking her head slightly.

"I do not have to do anything."

"I am appointing you to be the decision maker of the court." Deman announced with a nod. "You must go back in there and call the decision."

"I cannot do-"

"You can if you are appointed by me. I have chosen you to help me. Now go in there and tell them."

At that remark, Deman took Astrid by the arm and led her back into the high-ceiling room.

"This is Astrid Egger." Deman spoke mannerly as he led Astrid down the red-rugged walkway. "We have had a discussion and she has something to say." He plopped down onto his chair. "Is that clear with everyone?"

The crowd responded in agreement as their eyes beaded heavily upon Astrid, who was now sweating out of nerves.

"The decision has been made covering the bargain of marriage between this man and Lorna." Astrid called, glancing upon Lorna who was in the corner about to cry. "She will not be entitled to marry unless she so desires."

"Now I would like to introduce Astrid Egger as my court decision maker." Deman said, flashing a smile at Astrid, taking her by the hand and holding it up. "She is to have the same respect as the men in this court, whether you want her to or not." He looked around the crowd sternly. "And if I see that Astrid has been treated differently, you shall be punished. Are we clear?"

The crowd motioned in agreement and soon filed out of the room, leaving Astrid and Deman standing on the platform.

"I hope you do not mind being my helper. I feel that you will do a very good job at it." Deman smiled kindly at Astrid, causing her to blush. "I would, however, like to get to know you better. Perhaps another day."

Astrid nodded. "Perhaps."

Thanks a mighty million for reading! Sorry for this not-so-good chapter, it needs some major editing but bear with me. Remember to vote and comment.

Also, I would like to know what you think is going to happen in the upcoming chapters!

Have a great day and God bless.

-Sarah Jane