Emerald's Rogue (Part 5)

Alice came in a few minutes later, but by then Emerald had cried all she would allow herself to.

"Your husband asked me to come to you and see if you needed anything?" Emerald played those words over in her mind.

Yes I need something, I need love, passion and freedom, she thought to herself, but aloud she said, "Thank you Alice but I am fine. I was about to retire. Please leave me to sleep late tomorrow. All this has worn me." Alice nodded then left Emerald alone.

"Please Bo-vina, let there be peace again and soon. Let all my kinsmen and friends come home safely." Emerald prayed aloud to the goddess of Peace and Harmony. She undressed then crawled into bed. She felt truly alone now.

She would lie there and watch Rogue sleep. It was peaceful for her and she felt safe. Now she felt alone and very frightened. She prayed he would be safe and return to her. She was use to him, she told herself. She wanted him to return for the sake of his family not for herself.

Don’t lie to yourself a voice scolded her inside before she felt asleep into troubled dreams.

If Rogue had known that Justin had joined up with the Shadow Knights, he would have never left Emerald. The group that Rogue and the other’s were after was a distraction. Justin and a hundred knights were waiting for them to leave so they could attack Whitington and so Justin could steal Emerald away and do as he pleased with her. Once she was with his bastard, he would return but not before he marked her also with a brand. The brand of the Shadow Knights, so even if she lost or destroyed the child in her belly all would know that she was a whore of the Shadow Knights and none, not her family or Rogue would want her and his revenge would be that closer to being complete.

He had learned from a friend of the wedding and how Emerald had melted into Rogue’s arms when they kissed and how she worked so hard to be a good wife.

Justin was actually beginning to fancy himself in love with the girl but after all he had heard he knew that she was just another whore. She was no better that the horse dung on his boots. The only woman that had ever truly loved him was his own mother. She was right no one would love you like family, but Justin was going to destroy even that for Emerald and Rogue.

It was two hours to dawn when Emerald jolted awake to the sounds of screams. She hurried out of bed, wrapping Rogue’s robe around herself as she hurried out into the hall. The servants where running about screaming. The few dozen men-at-arms left to defend the castle where trying to keep order and get everyone inside.

Alice suddenly grabbed emerald. "Sweet Bo-vina child get back to your room." They hurried back to her room and bolted the door.

"What is going on?" Emerald asked as Alice tore open the wardrobe.

"Shadow Knights are outside. We must get you dressed and down to the cellar. Everyone is there but you and me." Emerald quickly pulled on the cotton underdress and then the satin over dress, both in different shades of green. She pulled on her sturdy riding boots then blindly grabbed a cloak and ran to her door. They stopped dead as they heard pounding on the door.

"Too late." Alice breathed. Emerald spotted the dagger that she used on Rogue on their wedding night and tucked it into her boot quickly. Suddenly the door burst open and four men rushed in.