22. Chapter Twenty Two Rhowyn
Chapter Twenty Two: Rhowyn
I knew they weren't telling me everything. The tension in Arryn's body was a dead giveaway. If it wasn't that big of a deal or something they had been expecting, then he wouldn't have tried to put on the brave face.
After I changed my shirt, I stared at my reflection in the mirror, trying to prepare myself for whatever it was we'd face next. The only problem was, I couldn't even begin to guess at what that might be. At least when I was preparing for a match, I had a chance to study my opponent. I knew the rules. I knew what to expect. But with this, I hadn't the slightest clue on how to proceed. That was the scariest part of it all. Not knowing.
Sighing at my reflection, I jumped when Juniper entered the room with a soft knock, not waiting for me to invite her in. “Good. You're at least dressed.” She stood behind me, meeting my eyes in the mirror. “Sit. Let me do something with this hair.”
I did as she said, not saying anything as she began plaiting my hair into a French braid that wrapped around with the tail hanging over my shoulder in the front. She then applied some eyeliner and rouge. “No reason you can't look good, even while kicking some ass. Plus, people won't be able to sense your nervousness.”
When I gazed at her with a puzzled look, she explained, “When someone looks put together, dressed to impress with a strong image, you don't question their capabilities. Your first thought is to assume that they are just as well prepared on the inside as the outside.”
Tilting my head to the side, I couldn't say that she didn't have a point there. I mean, that was usually my assumption when I saw a woman in a well-tailored suit or dressed to the nines in a stunning ball gown.
She came to the front, picking something up off the vanity as she faced me. Holding out a hand, she showed me the necklace the Queen had given me last night. I started to protest, but she cut me off. “If you don't wear it, it will be seen as an affront, disrespectful of our ways and customs. The necklace from our Queen is an honor that many will not approve of if you dismiss it so lightly.”
Sighing, knowing she had a point, I let her put it on me. The charm fell to rest directly over my skin, only peeking through and noticeable if you were looking for it. Finally ready, I stood. She stopped me from leaving with a hand on my arm. “I saw you compete in the first trials. You are more than capable of handling anything this trial can throw at you. You've already accomplished so much in your short time here, more than the other competitors. It wasn't a fluke, your coming in first during the maze. Trust in yourself, your instincts, and your men. Avalonia will take care of the rest.”
“Thank you, Juniper. I don't know what I'd do without you,” I told her, hugging her tightly to me in gratitude. We lingered there for a moment before Lennox interrupted.
“We need to go, Princess.” His tone lacked its usual joviality and teasing. They were definitely not telling me everything, which only managed to piss me off.
I looked to Juniper again. “Thanks.” She nodded at me, and I turned to march past Lennox, ready to face down whatever was waiting for me and to get some answers from my men.
I followed Arryn as he led us to the same spot we had gathered before the first trial, the same crumbling walls as before indicating we were near. None of us said anything, which only fueled my anger with them. Once we were in the trials, we would be watched. Any dissension or disagreements between us would cause us to lose support.
Not willing to enter this trial blindly, I stopped, Baer and Lennox almost running me over due to my sudden decision to demand answers. “I want to know whatever it is that y'all aren't telling me. And don't bother telling me that you're not hiding something, I'm not that stupid.”
Callum sighed when the guys didn't say anything. “You want the truth?” he asked, but then answered without waiting for my response. “The truth is, we don't know. What we do know is that this trial shouldn't be happening so soon. We should have had more time to train and to rest, just like all the other trials before this. But not this time. We can only assume the reason for the change is not good. Most likely it's because of something that none of us will like.”
His tone was brusque and agitated, but I was starting to realize that it wasn’t always because of me. Yeah, sometimes I was to blame, but mostly, usually, he was just upset with the situation. And I couldn't say that I blamed him for that.
“Now, was that so hard? I thought we agreed that y'all would tell me things, that you wouldn't leave me in the dark. And yet at the first bad news, you're shutting me out. You're not protecting me by keeping me out of the loop. If anything, you're putting me at a greater risk,” I chastised them, my hands on my hips. For the first time, I was mad at everyone but Callum.
“You're right,” Baer said. “I just wish you didn't have to face any of this. That we could keep you safe from it all.” He shuffled up to me, head hanging low in shame, wearing down my resistance and anger like a puppy that knew they’d done wrong. Anyone else would feel my wrath, but not Baer. I couldn't seem to stay mad at him.
I sighed. “I know. Me too,” I said, placing a hand on his cheek, leaning up to give him a peck on the lips, effectively forgiving him. “But we're in this together, right?”
“Right,” Baer said.
“Then trust me. Trust that I won't break so easily. Trust that I can handle myself. Last night won't happen again. In order to be successful, I need to know what y'all know,” I pleaded with them all, even though I was looking at Baer.
“We do trust you; it's just that we're not used to fae females being as strong as you. While we love it, it's taking us some time to adjust to that. Old habits are hard to break,” he told me. I could understand that.
“Well, hopefully you old dogs can learn some new tricks quickly because the mark is starting to burn like a bitch again.” I grimaced, rolling my shoulder to try and alleviate the pain.
“We should get moving. Once we get to the meeting location, the burning should stop,” Arryn said, starting his pace up again. Appeased, I followed him with Baer's hand laced in mine. Whatever it was that we were about to face, we would surely face it together.