Conquered, Part VI
...A throat clear by the tall doorway, and she saw Geren there,”
he said, “Lindone, that slave is mine, and I don’t like to share.”
The warrior growled and said,“Your hall is cold of late.”
Said Geren,“There’s brothels in town where men like you can stay.”
The warrior snapped off a curse, and stormed from the kitchen,
she thought Geren would sweep her up into strong arms again.
Instead, he stood and looked at her with a sadness profound,
then tore his face away from her, his eyes locked on the ground,
then raced away with franticness she’d never seen before,
she followed him through the castle, right through the bedroom door.
She closed it right behind them and looked on his woeful gaze,
he managed, between heavy breaths,“There’s something I must say:
I felt it stirring deep for years, but kept it to myself,
but seeing how he treated you, the truth I have to tell.
You must know that I love you, it’s not something I can hide,
but I know it’s illusion, that these years have been a lie.
How can I claim that I love you when you’re something I own,
I cannot be a partner when I took you from your home.
I cannot be a lover if our first time was a rape,
but I’ve fallen so deeply that I dread you might escape.
Thinking that if I kept you at least I would have you near,
now I hate myself for that, for trying to keep you here.
I didn’t feel this that first night, I didn’t care at all,
my people think you animals…I reveled in your fall.
I didn’t care if I hurt you,I thought it was my right,
it wasn’t until afterwards I looked with greater sight.
I saw the fear in your eyes,also the intelligence,
hadn’t thought of my people’s foes all that much before then,
where the first pity came from I,to this day, do not know,
just felt a strong and sudden urge, I could not let you go.
If I did they would sell you off,auctioned at the market,
to any person who’d offer the most that they could get.
Maybe to some other noble, who’d use you until bored,
then sell you to some common pimp to be a brothel whore,
used constantly a year or two,until you were diseased,
I saw this all, that’s why I went and claimed you all for me.
That’s why I killed that challenger, and brought you to my keep,
and over time my sentiments got stronger, and more deep.
I thought you were my conquest,but time has proved that a lie,
because since then you’ve conquered me and didn’t even try!
And I can’t keep doing this to one who means all to me,
I cannot undo all I’ve done,but I can set you free.”
CONTINUES
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