Chapter 4 - Your name.
Chapter 4 - Your name.
As the door had slowly creaked open, I quickly hid behind the covers. Hearing soft footsteps approach me I slowly peeked out from behind the covers.
I could now see the knights face much more clearly. His face was very handsome and chiseled and he had tanned skin. He had sharp eyes that were a shade of silver just like his hair, which resembled mine very much now that I notice, they were cut short but thick and fluffy, I wanted to run my hands through them but there was no way I could so I shook away the thought.
The knight who claimed to be my farther slowly approached and I clutched the blanket but didn't move away. He sat down on the floor at the side of my bed maintaining enough distance as to not cause me any discomfort. He was now in front of me at eye level which helped make him seem less intimidating. He spoke gently, his voice was very heavy and deep but he spoke as slowly and gently as he could. "How are you feeling?" I felt hesitant to reply but mustered the courage to speak "O-Okay…" he smiled gently "That's good. Is it okay if I ask you for your name?" I thought about it carefully and opened my mouth to reply in a small voice. "I-..." I stuttered as I spoke but he waited patiently and surprisingly didn't seem annoyed by it unlike the others at the Inn.
I took a deep breath and said my name out loud for the first time. "I-Iridesa…" He looked at me and smiled as he repeated it. "Iridesa..." The way he said it was so warm and caring, just like mother had when she told me my name for the first time.
The knight then handed me something and I looked at it hesitant. He waited for me patiently to take it. It was a small envelope. I timidly held it and he let go. I pondered whether to open it or not. My curiosity finally got to me and opened it and slid out the piece of paper and was speechless at what I saw. "M-Mother…" It was an image of Mother in a wedding dress, next to her was the knight before me. "We took this on our wedding day. She's beautiful isn't she. You look just like her except you have my hair." He added fondly as I stroked the picture with tears in my eyes. This meant he really was my father. I didn't know much about him but I knew that my father was the only man that she loved and she had married him. There was no other in her life and in this picture I could see that the wedding dress looks exactly as the way she had once described it to me.
I hold back my tears as I looked at the photo fondly one last time before I slowly held it out to my father so he could take it back. He looks at it for a moment, and then gently pushes my hand back towards me "You can keep it.'' I looked at him surprised. "C-can I...?" He nods his head and I smile, I gently clutch the photo of my mother to my chest as though she is here right now, wanting to feel her warm embrace once more.
Just then the door opens, startled I pulled the covers tight. Father looks at the door and glares at the person. (Is he mad?!) he signed and spoke to the person at the door "I told you not to come over yet." I was worried my father might get angry at having someone disobey him like the other rich people at the inn and was afraid he might lash out at the man or worse punish him, I clutch my wounded arm as I thought this but in comparison to my worry the man wasn't bothered in the slightest, and walked over with Miss Delphine following behind him, she smiled at me and stood next to me on the other side of my bed.. "Oh, Please. You should be grateful I'm here before you scare the poor child with your horrible social skills." I was stunned to see the man answering back to someone as scary looking and huge as my father I couldn't help but feel a bit afraid that it might trigger his temper but Father just glared at him and replied, "Just do the checkup, and make sure to get a healer here soon."
The man who walked in looked a few years younger than my father and much less intimidating as he had a leaner and slim body frame but was almost as tall as father. His facial features were sharp and slim, his skin tone, eyes and hair were the same color as my fathers, except his hair is more long and silky. He pushed up his glasses as he came closer to me. I hid behind the blanket peeking out just a little.
My father noticed my uneasiness and explained who he was. "Don't worry, this is my brother Arthur. He's the one who's been tending to you these past 4 days as there are no healers at the moment in the castle." My father stood up and moved back and stood at the foot of my bed and his brother Arthur came and sat in his place and smiled. "You gave us quite the scare you know, we have all been waiting impatiently to meet you. How do you feel now?" He seemed a lot less serious and more relaxed than father so I lowered my blanket and spoke. "I-I feel fine, sir…" I bit my tongue not knowing what else to call him, he smiled gently. "You can just call me uncle Arthur." I nodded slightly "U-Uncle Arthur..." Father behind seemed to frown a little, I wonder if he would like me to call him father but I didn't feel ready fro something like that at the moment, calling someone uncle was still a common thing to do so I didn't mind it.
Once I had relaxed a bit more. He asked if he could examine my body. I looked at Miss Delphine who smiled at me reassuringly. "I'm right here, it will be okay." I hesitated to answer but eventually agreed. Miss Delphine helped open my gown and lower it as Uncle Arthur sat next to me on the bed. Underneath I still a wore a small chemise, but that didn't do much to hide my unsightly scars, from belts, canes , hot iron rods and whatever else they had felt like torturing me with. Fathers expression went Grimm and his eyes looked frightening. I trembled as my trauma instantly came back to haunt me. Uncle Arthur sighed "Brother, please compose yourself." Father seemed to notice this and lowered his face trying to hide his anger.
Uncle Arthur began examining my wounds and removing my old bandages.I felt scared at first but everyone was so gentle and patient that I didn't feel as uncomfortable anymore. Once he was done examining me Miss Delphine helped dress me. "Everything seems better and your wounds are healing just fine. I will have a proper healer here to see you soon and to give you a much thorough examination, as I'm not really a healer. I am a mage." I was instantly intrigued by his words, I had never met a real mage before. He noticed my reaction and laughed. He stroked my head "I'm happy to see you like mages." Behind him my father looked a bit upset at the way I easily warmed up to him and felt a bit bad, I was going to call out to him when suddenly the door bursts open, out of fear I clung to Miss Delphine who holds me gently.
Father and uncle Arthur both glared at the person stood over at the door, "I know exactly which brainless oaf is stupid enough to do this…" Uncle Arthur says, his eye, twitching. I turned my head to see a man who is slightly smaller than father in height but had the same large body frame like him. He walked over excitedly with a bright smile plastered across his face, he spoke with a beaming voice. "Father! Uncle! I hear she's awake! How is she!?" The man who burst in looks to be about a few years older than me regardless of his size he doesn't look very old.
He has short jet black hair and black eyes, his features were very defined and he had porcelain skin that was very different to mine and mothers rosy complex and father and uncle Arthur's tanned skin tone. He looked very different to us all. He walked over smiling and peered at my face smiling brightly, but I was not prepared for this and I buried my face in Miss Delphine's apron and hid clutching her tighter. Miss Delphine holds me in her arms as I tremble, she then looks over sternly at the young man and tells him off.
"Young master Tybalt, you really need to learn to be more calm, you're scaring her." I slowly look back to see him pouting at her, "But I was just so excited to finally meet her and she looks like a cute little bunny hiding like this. It's so adorable!" He reaches over to pick me up. I begin to panic but before he can reach me he's pulled back. I looked up to see Father holding him up by the collar, I was astounded at his strength and went pale. Father glared at the young man named Tybalt "Your really are all brawl and no brains aren't ya!" He glares at him and I start to panic at the sight of the two huge men fighting. Uncle Arthur sighed "That's it. Out. both of you." They both pouted at his words but he pushed them both out of the door and shut it. He pushed up his glasses as he walked over and sighed. I could finally relax a little and Miss Delphine looked at me and smiled. "It's okay, Love." I let go of her apron and uncle Arthur speaks. "Don't worry they are both completely harmless, they're just being silly, now let's get you washed up and fed." My stomach rumbled at his words and I blushed bright red. He smiled kindly and looked at Miss Delphine. "Could you prepare her a bath please and help her wash up." Miss Delphine nodded and helped me out of bed.
Uncle Arthur left the room. Miss Delphine gently helped me remove my clothes, as to be careful of my wounds. "I just realized I don't know your name yet," she said as she folded my clothes. This time I answered straight away, wanting to tell someone my name, it felt nice to finally say it. "M-my name is Iridesa." She smiled at me, her rosy cheeks glowing. "It's beautiful." I felt happy at her words."Now let's get you washed up. Lady Iridesa." I followed Miss Delphine as she led me into the bathroom.