Chastity's Abduction

~by Laura~

It all seemed so long ago to Gemile on days like this where she was sitting at the pub, laughing and feeling Daniel's adoring eyes on her. But later, as she stayed to help him clean up while the last patrons straggled back to their homes, it all came rushing back.

Her troupe had been celebrating her engagement. It had been a heady day. The brilliant high noon sun during their rest where she and Ian had promptly sneaked off, their pockets loaded with bread and cheese. Somehow, Ian had managed a flask of sweet red wine. It was after she'd taken her first delicate sip that he confessed his intentions as well as her brother's approval.

"Gemile," he mumbled, eyes breaking from hers and staring to his knees. "I have something I need to ask you… or tell your, or no… ask you."

Gemile swallowed her drink carefully and set down the drink carefully. "What is it, Ian? What has robbed you of your eloquence?" She was smiling at him, completely unaware of what was to come and simply finding him sweetly amusing.

"We have known each other our whole lives, have we not?" he asked, looking to meet her eyes again.

"Yes, of course."

"And over the years, we have grown together. And you are my best friend, Gem. You know this."

She nodded and smiled, setting down the food from her other hand. His nervousness was beginning to infect her, and Gemile clasped her hands together.

"Gemile, just as of late… since this past winter, I have begun to see you in a new light. You are a beautiful, young woman, and any man would be a fool not to let his eyes linger on you longer than is proper." He took a deep breath and tucked his hair behind his ear. He looked off past her in the distance for a long while, his tanned skin beginning to glisten in the direct sunlight. He took several more deep breaths then turned to look at her directly. "But it is not your beauty that draws me to you. For though I find your hair as striking as the midnight sky and your eyes as dazzling as a fresh spring and your skin as flawless as a newborn doe, it is not what I cherish. It is seeing you with Chastity, caring for her as though she were your own. It is the way you smile while stirring hot pots of food you will barely get to touch before the troupe devours it all. It is the sweetness in your voice when you sit beside your brother and tend his blisters."

At this, Ian moved from where he sat across from her to sit beside her. He took her hand in his, looking at how gentle her olive colored fingers were against his own. "I love you, Gemile." At this he pressed his lips chastely to hers. It was the first time a boy had dared break the sanctity of her mouth, but Gemile neither could nor would fight the sensation that flooded her. He loved her. For years she had dreamed of Ian speaking these words to her--seeing her as more than the little girl who clung to her mother's skirt and chased after her brother when he was all she had left. And now… he was confessing his love. The pair pulled apart, breath soft on each other's cheeks.

She remembered his face. It had been so endearing the way he'd stumbled over his words and yet stared unwaveringly into her eyes. They entire clan had groomed the pair for each other all through the years. But the fact that he was so determined to win her favor stirred in her heart something she had never felt for another. And the sight of his gray eyes and his perfect pink tongue flicking out to wet his lips when he finally said it: "Be my wife," would be forever burned in her memory.

When they emerged from their secret place, fifty pairs of eyes were staring at them. "She said yes," Ian announced with a broad smile on a pair of swollen lips then held up Gemile's hand.

And then the instruments began, plucking out lively joyous melodies while the couple was congratulated. Someone suggested the troupe break travel for the day. They must celebrate! And as the evening sun decorated the sky on its descent, a delicious meal was nearly ready for consumption. The wine had been flowing generously, and everyone was dancing and laughing merrily.

And Chastity clung to the pair the whole while equally pleased and distressed at the news. Would Gemile still take care of her? Would Gemile and Ian have children and start their own troupe? Would she be allowed to join it if they did?

Gemile smiled at Ian then looked to the ten-year-old chatterbox. She stood and reached for the little girl's hand. "Let's comb you hair and braid it again," she suggested.

Anxious for the familiar acts, Chastity followed easily.

But chaos stopped them on their way to their belongings. Gemile barely had time to notice what was happening before something hard bashed against the back of her head. She fell to the ground, listening to Chastity's scream. But her limbs were heavy. In moments all was growing fuzzy, and she fought the unconsciousness.

The troupe pled for their lives attempting to flee while a good five or more of their men fell dead in the same instant. She watched as they were surrounded by what seemed like scores of evil looking men in dark armor.

"What is all this racket?" asked a clear, deep voice when all had finally quieted. "A party in my kingdom and yet no one bothered to invite me?" he sneered. Gemile could hear his footsteps moving through their now-quiet camp.

Gemile struggled to find the speaker, but was wholly unable to move her head.

"Your kingdom?" one of the troupe asked.

The footsteps she heard stopped. "Do you not know me?" No one answered, and the footsteps continued with a little "Hrrumph." The voice began again. "That alone is punishable by death in Arcadia."

His face came into view as a collective gasp followed by pleas for mercy. "Anything we have. Please, your lordship."

Gemile stared until she could make out the long black hair bushing around a ghostly complexion. Set in this cool marblesque face were kohl-lined eyes with what appeared to be emeralds in the center. A long straight nose pointed down to pale pink lips. A very handsome visage he would have made with his ethereal face and lithe body wrapped in expensive, well-tailored fabrics was he not the man terrorizing them.

Tears welled up in her eyes when she watched the man's gaze rake over Chastity. He spoke again, eyes locked on the ten-year old. "And what could your beggarly troupe have to even tempt Nikolai Rhodan?"

"Gold and precious stones. Everything we have, my Lord," her brother's voice begged.

Nikolai grabbed Chastity's arm with lightening quick reflexes. "Perhaps you do have something I want."

Chastity screamed and begged, kicking and clawing in an attempt to escape.

"NO!" Ian yelled. "Chastity!"

Gemile was not sure what happened next. She saw Nikolai begin to laugh as he lifted his free hand. There was a grunt, and then she watched her lover's gray leather coat flutter around him as he met the ground. She was nose to nose with Ian, his unruly brown hair falling over his face while blood issued from his nose, eyes, and mouth.

Gemile tried to scream but couldn't.

Nikolai laughed, wrenching Chastity's arm and dragging her away from the troupe. She fought for consciousness and the hope of calling out to her dear child while the others scrambled amidst Nikolai's troupes in an effort to depart before the warlock changed his mind about allowing them passage through his village.

Twenty minutes of unconsciousness and semi-consciousness passed before Nikolai returned. He was dragging Chastity by one arm. She stumbled a bit, face dirty and streaked with tears. Gemile couldn't believe Chastity was still alive. But there was her little body being dragged out behind the cruel man. Her dress barely covered her anymore, and there were streaks of blood on her knees.

Nikolai lifted a hand. "She's nice. I think I'll keep her." He dragged the girl away till Gemile could no longer see him, but his next words rang in her ears. "Kill them all."

And so she had watched as one by one her friends and brother fell. Heads rolled and blood spilled all around. When the hot liquid and bodies began to fall on her, Gemile lost her battle with consciousness, and all was black.

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