Thicker than Water

[Nayr]

He strode out of the main hall with dignity, letting none of his fatigue and irritation show in his manner as he left and strode down the corridor. Only when he was certain he wasn't observed did his mask slip. He was very annoyed, but the target of his ire was someone that couldn't just be eliminated. Like so many in the kingdom, he was a necessary, if repugnant, man. Even so, though, the man was slime, and such men made Alimar Marion, Duke of Veryn, want to either bathe or hurt something. Generally he opted for the former, as the mess created by the latter was wholly unbecoming a gentleman of his stature. He wasn't so close to the throne that he was under the kind of scrutiny some were, but not so distant in the line of succession that he could do whatever he pleased. Regardless, it would be beneath him to go after such a man, even if he was careful. A duke, his father would always say, was a man of dignity and respect, whom people should look to for example in how to serve one's liege. He dared not grumble about the man, for as anyone knew, walls had ears. There were any number of people out of sight but not out of listening range at any given moment, so a noble was always careful in what he said, even in his own keep.

As he neared the wing of the castle that held his room, he heard a sound that made him stop in his tracks. It was a sound that didn't belong, as all the people in this area should have been merely servants, and no servant would dare do anything that would create the sound he heard. It was a sound of distress, made by someone whom another person was attempting to keep quiet. He heard no other sounds, but the scream that had escaped was clear enough, and coming from the direction of his room. His eyes narrowed, his face taking on an even more enraged cast. All he'd wanted was to retire to his rooms for a bit of repose. A little rest before his duties pulled him once again into the company of that vile creature who styled itself a gentleman. Alas, no rest for the wicked. He moved down the hall with seemly haste to see the source of this disturbance.

I swear, if a pair of servants are using my bed...

[Mini]

The day had started out so good. It made Abigail O'Leary's head spin as she tried to figure what, exactly, had went so wrong.

Yesterday had been the last straw. She had taken a maid's job in Burrel, working for the Viscount Eldon. Her previous employer had passed away of sickness, leaving her rather hard-pressed for money. It hadn't been her first choice of a position, but being a single, unmarried young woman from a poor Irish family of farmer's, she didn't really have too many options.

For several weeks, she had been the subject of lewd jokes and gestures from much of the male staff. Twice, now, one of them had tried to convince to come and spend the night with one (or several) of them, and only a great manner of luck and perhaps a guardian angel had saved her from their vile clutches. She was given more work to do than a single person could possibly accomplish in a week, the other women seemed to hate her for her good looks and her youth, and yesterday one of the kitchen boys had somehow managed to spill an entire tray of steaming hot tea all over her. She suspected it had been no accident.

Last weekend, she had taken a few days off to travel home. After talking with her parents, she had decided that she was going to quit. Any longer in this position would surely be the death of her... or worse.

And so, with those thoughts in mind, she had found some higher-up important figure and told them that she was quitting because of family problems that were calling her home. On the way back towards her room, though, one of the men who had previously come onto her grabbed her by the hand and pushed her back against the wall. Before she even got a scream out, his disgusting lips were pressed up against hers, and his vile tongue was trying to force its way into her mouth. It smelled as if he had bathed in alcohol. One hand groped her bottom as the rest of him pinned her back against the wall.

Her muffled screams only seemed to make him want her even more. She managed to get one of her arms free and raked her nails across his face. This startled him enough that he momentarily pulled away from her. Abigail took the opportunity to scream as loud as she possibly could. To scream that loud actually hurt, but she was terrified of what was going to happen to her if she couldn't get away. Her scream was abruptly cut short as the man backhanded her so hard she saw stars.

"Shut up, wench!" the man growled, clamping a hand over her mouth before she was able to get another scream out.

Abigail tried to bite the man's hand, but his hands were so big and his hand was pressed so tightly against her mouth that she couldn't manage it. She squealed anyway, though her voice was so muffled she doubted anyone could here it.

The man slammed her head back against the wall and pressed his body up against her, pinning her back against the wall again. Laughing sadistically, he used his free hand to start pulling the buttons apart from her top. "You got away from me last time, missie, but this time, yer mine, and there ain't nothin' you's can do about it!" he cackled, moving his hand away so he could kiss her some more.

Abigail tore one of her arms free and shoved her fist into his face. "Let GO of me, you-- Aah!" she cried out as the man backhanded her again.

"I said SHUT UP!" he growled, grabbing her around the neck and shaking her. He slammed her whole body back against the wall for a third time, then finally let go of her throat when he noticed her lips were turning blue. He cackled wildly and pressed his lips up against hers again, smothering her just as she was trying to catch her breath.

After a few moments, the man pulled away and clamped his hand back over Abigail's mouth before she had a chance to scream again. Tears were streaming down her face as she fought against him, but her petite frame was absolutely no match for his muscle. He dragged her down the hallway to the first open door he came across. Yanking the door open, he threw her inside and then slammed the door behind him. Abigail hit the floor hard. She didn't even have a chance to gather her wits before she felt him lay down on top of her, crushing her against the floor. It was dark, but she could see that he had stripped off his shirt.

"Please, don't--" was all Abigail got out before he clamped a hand over her mouth again and practically ripped her blouse off with his other. Her corset seemed a bit more challenging for him to peel off, but he made decent progress at prying it apart with one hand. She tried to scream again, but it was pointless.

[Nayr]

Fate, it seemed, had decreed irritation for Duke Marion, for when he arrived at his room and opened the door, there were two people on the floor, one shirtless atop the other. He was about to upbraid them both for using his room for their tryst when he noted that the shirtless one had his hand over the mouth of the other, and that she appeared to be the source of the distressed noises he'd heard earlier, especially if the tears streaming down her face and the hopeful, yet insistent noises from behind the fellow's mouth were any indication. The man had turned to look, but Alimar had him by the throat before he could get a word out either way.

"Correct me where I'm wrong, but I'm fairly certain that forcing your odious self upon a serving maid in the quarters of a visiting duke is still considered bad form in this kingdom, is it not? That is, of course, setting aside for the moment that rape is frowned upon regardless of where you do it. Now, if you've a particular desire to continue breathing, you will remove your hands from the lady's person at once. I'm very tired, and I've had a long day at court. I don't know who you are, but I'm sure I could explain your unfortunate death fairly easily. Do you comprehend?"

[Mini]

The man in question had made several frenzied guttural noises as Duke Marion had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and grabbed him by the throat. His lips turned blue and in between his frantic gasps for air he managed to choke out words that sounded like "Yessir" and "Please don't kill me" and "It won't happen again." Of course, it was hard to tell exactly what he said, since it really sounded more like "Yehhhsh," "Leeefs ohn kmmphmm," and "Eeh wurn henghnn hurrnghin."

Abigail, meanwhile, was trying very hard to not faint right there on the spot. When the door had burst open and someone (it didn't even matter who it was) had stepped in to help her, she could have died and gone to heaven. The shock of what had almost happened was causing her to shake and tremble uncontrollably, but she still managed to jerk free of her would-be rapist's grasp and give him a good kick in his privates. Satisfied with the very painful groan he gave, followed by a very long and painful gasp for air, she managed to pull herself close to a desk. She sat up and tried to make her shaking hands button up her blouse. She was an emotional wreck, but she refused to let this man see her cry any more tears.

[Nayr]

The vile man's immediate cooperation was predictable in the abject conciliation he demonstrated.

Ugh, Alimar thought to himself, What fools these mortals be.

"Now," he said, still sounding quite irritated, "You will remove yourself from this room and never touch a woman again unless expressly invited to do so. If I even think you might be violating that command, you'll wake up that very night in time to see my face before you die. I have very little patience for men like you, and I can spare the time to remove you from this world any time I please. Don't ever let me see your face again."

With that, he tossed the man towards the door. He was careful not to exhibit greater than human werewithal on the matter, but he definitely exerted enough to drive home the point that he was not to be trifled with. Once the other man was gone, Alimar grabbed a cloak from nearby and offered it to the girl.

"Are you injured?" he said, not entirely able to excise the irritation from his tones, but at least managing to sound sympathetic regardless.

All he desired was a rest after a long day. He wasn't even hungry, so fatigued was he. Even so, the girl smelled good. Were he less exhausted, he might consider his options. As it was, he just wanted her out in as expedient a manner as was seemly.

[Mini]

Abigail glanced up at her rescuer. He must have been someone of a very high status just based on looks and his manner of speaking, but she didn't recognize him. She stared blankly at the cloak being held out in front of her, as if she couldn't quite understand why he was offering it to her. As her fingers fumbled with the buttons on her blouse, she realized that the other man had ripped several of them off. There was a great deal of flesh visible through her ripped blouse, which wasn't at all decent for any proper woman, but thankfully nothing too personal was flashing about.

Embarrassed to death, she gratefully took the cloak and wrapped it around herself. The poor girl just sat there and shivered. She looked to be in a state of shock. She hadn't even realized that she was bleeding from a small cut above her eye from where the man had backhanded her. When Alimar asked if she was injured, she seemed to come back to life just a little bit. Her eyes brimmed with tears, she glanced up at him and gave him a slight nod. A moment later, she hastily started shaking her head.

"Y-Yes. I-I mean, n-no, I th-think I'm all right," she said, her voice cracking slightly as she spoke. "Oh, today started out s-so well. I f-finally worked up the nerves to quit, b-because that man has been ha... harassing me for w-weeks now. I thought I would never have to see him again, and then he just... h-he grabbed me, and I screamed, but he hit me. It hurt, and I was so scared, and he wouldn't--"

Abigail suddenly realized what she was doing. She, a lowly serving girl - an unemployed serving girl, at that - was sitting here talking to this noble man like he was some sort of equal. Like he cared. Surely he could care less about her poor, miserable life, and the only reason he saved her was because they had likely stumbled into his room. She made an effort to stand up, but her legs wobbled beneath her. Clutching the cloak around her with one hand, she used the other to stabilize herself against the wall. Hastily, she bowed her head to him.

"P-Please forgive me, s-sir. It's not my place to talk to you about such things. I'm terribly sorry to have d-disturbed you. I'll be out of your way in just a-- whoa!" she yelped as her legs gave out from beneath her and she toppled to the ground.

[Nayr]

He kept his features schooled very carefully, but Alimar was finding it very difficult to keep up with what this girl was saying. Not because she was speaking quickly, mind you, but because she was taking so spirits-be-poxed long at it. Still, he presented her the very image of a gentleman coming to a lady's aid: strong and sympathetic. The essence of her situation was that the man who had just left so hastily was about to ravish her. The clinical observation belied the reality, however, and Alimar knew that. Spirits knew he'd had enough experience with girls like this. Suddenly, though, her demeanor changed. She'd somehow in spite of her circumstances remembered his station. Ah, yes, that ever troublesome rank of his. It was useful sometimes, but others less so. She tried to make her deference and leave, and instead began to collapse. Her experience had taken a lot out of her, and it wasn't all that surprising that her body didn't really want to do much of anything at the moment.

Alimar moved quickly. Gravity was a cruel mistress when it came to such situations, and if he was too slow, his catch would be awkward. Any woman who'd been in such a situation as this would need to be handled carefully, lest she recoil from his touch. She would anyway, but care should be taken to minimize it. He caught her very carefully, keeping his hands well away from the parts she'd be most keen to protect, and making simultaneously sure that they didn't end up in any position that might give someone the wrong idea. He ended up in the pose of a storybook prince who'd taken his princess into his arms, holding her carefully but firmly.

"Do us both a favor, miss. Let's just forget for a moment that I'm a duke and you're a serving girl. Right now, you're someone who was almost the victim of a horrid crime, and I'm the man who prevented it."

It was at about that time that he realized that he was holding her in a position that made it rather impossible for her to stand or really move all that much except to fall the short distance to the floor. He lifted her back up to her feet, but didn't let go yet. Instead he kept himself in position to support her until her body remembered how to stay standing, or until she asked to lie down.

"Are you all right?" he asked gently.

He could already tell that his chances of finding the repose he sought were likely nil, but there was yet hope. Maybe she'd be fine, or she'd have a relative who could take care of her from here. Likely not, but there was a chance yet.

[Mini]

The ground came rushing up to meet her body, but Alimar grabbed her before she had a chance to crash into it. He did it in such a dashing fashion that it was practically a scene out of a storybook. His arms were wrapped firmly around her middle, holding her in such a way that he was supporting her entire body and making it look like child's play. Part of her was pinned somewhat against the wall. The rest of her found itself caught between the wall, the ground, and the duke.

Abigail stared wordlessly up at Alimar as he held her there and spoke to her. He had such a gentle, soothing voice. And he spoke to her not as a superior, but almost as an equal. From one person to another. Did her ears hear him right? Did he really just tell her to forget that she was a humiliated serving girl and he was as noble and grand as the King himself?

It seemed he finally realized how awkward a position Abigail was standing/leaning. He pulled her upright without any effort whatsoever, but he didn't let go of her. He continued holding her close, just in case her legs decided they weren't going to work. It was probably a good thing he kept hold of her, because she honestly wasn't too sure if she would be able to stand on her own.

Finally, he asked a very crucial question. Abigail remained silent as she mulled over what, exactly, to say to the man who had just saved her life.

"No, sir," she finally whispered. There were tears in her eyes when she finally lifted her head to look up at him. "No, I'm not all right. I am far from all right. I've just quit the only job I could find in the entire kingdom. I quit because of the very man you just saved me from. He's been... He's been after me ever since he laid eyes on me. Not just him. There are others. I can take the words, the whistles, the lewd comments, and most everything else, but it's been getting worse and worse. Tonight makes the second time he's tried this. Thank the stars you found us," she said, pausing to wipe her eyes with the back of her hand.

"I... I only put up with it because it's either this or the streets. I've been looking for other work, but there's nothing out there. There's no honest work for an unmarried farm girl who knows very little about the Kingdom. And now here I stand before you, a dishonored, jobless, homeless, and practically penniless woman. I am unmarried, friendless, and all alone in the Kingdom. Home is a very small and poor farm several days travel away from the Kingdom, and if I return home, I'm afraid I shall never have the courage to leave again," she whispered, fighting back sobs.

[Nayr]

Well blast it all.

Alimar listened to the girl's reply, keeping his irritation tightly in check as she continued. Not a single soul in the kingdom willing to take her in or give her work. Blast it all to the pit. His duty as a gentleman and a duke was clear, although he didn't much like it. If he were hungry, the situation would look much different, and having her around would complicate his endeavours greatly.

"Well, then it appears fortune has at last favored you. I imagine by your uniform that you've some experience keeping house? One of the maids at my manor just recently left my employ. Found a husband, as I understand it, and went to go live with him somewhere. I wished them many children, but it leaves me with an opening in my staff. You shall be my personal housekeeper during my stay here, and you shall travel with me to my manor where we may find you a more permanent station. Would that suffice?"

Part of him, and not a small part, hoped that there would be some problem with his proposed solution proper enough that he could wash his hands of her fate. The varied complications of his life left finding staff a challenge at best, and he somehow doubted that this girl was a suitable housekeeper for someone like him. She seemed the type to let curiosity take her places she ought not be.

[Mini]

Abigail stood there gaping up at Alimar like a fish out of water. She could scarce believe what he had said. Had her ears heard correctly? Did the very man who just saved her life, the Duke of Marion, just offer her a job? Her hands flew up to her mouth.

"Céad míle fáilte romhat! Yes, yes it will!! Oh, I can't believe this! Go raibh míle maith agat!" the young girl replied, so excited she was that she broke off twice into her native tongue. She seemed to realize this almost instantly, as she squeaked in embarrassment.

"Oh, oh, I'm so sorry! I-I'm not sure if you speak Irish? 'Tis my native tongue, and it sort of just slips out when I get excited. In any case, yes, I've been working as a maid ever since I left home. I may not be the best there is, but I'm quite efficient at what I do, I promise you. Oh, sir, I can't tell you how much this means to me, and how grateful I am, and, and... good heavens, I don't even think I know your name, nor do you know mine, and here you are offering me a job right after you've saved my life!"

She stood up as best she could and tried to make herself look as presentable as possible. Given the present situation, it wasn't as presentable as she wished, but it would have to do. She gave him a cute and rather bashful smile. "My name is Abigail O'Leary, sir, and I would be most honored if you would take me on into your household as a maid and housekeeper."

[Nayr]

The girl broke twice into Irish, then apologized for doing so. He held up a hand in a gesture of dismissal.

"Is fearr liom Béarla, ach tuigim duit."

She continued babbling happily, then properly introduced herself. Alimar bowed.

"As you likely already know, I am Alimar Marion, Duke of Veryn."

He looked her in the eye for what was likely to be the last time in a good long while. The servant class was always so studious about never meeting a duke's eye.

"Get your things, then. For the remainder of my stay here, you'll sleep in the adjoining room where I can be sure of your safety. No other servants will be allowed in either room, and they will be your responsibility."

After the inevitable curtsy and rushed exit, Alimar took a moment to brood. Thrice cursed gentleman's duty. Having to duck this Abigail O'Leary at every turn would make life so very tiresome until he could either get rid of her or get her settled somehow so she wouldn't pry into his life at all. This line of reasoning led him to a good question: Why hadn't he just feasted upon her? He could have drained her and left her dead somewhere and no one would have known. As it was, he might yet have to go hunt down that filth he'd pried off of her. So why hadn't he just gotten rid of them both right there? No one misses servants. His more practical side won out, however. He hadn't survived this long by being impulsive or incautious. Those he drank from were always and ever carefully maneuvered first. Not that no one missed them, but rather that they'd left in such circumstances that no one had ever even thought to suspect the presence of the Duke of Veryn, much less his involvement. If she happened to be traveling out to the country at the time, that was more his cup of tea. The roads were never universally safe, after all. This Abigail, though, was too conspicuous to take. If he wanted to drink her, he'd have to be much more careful about it. Thus, she was to be his maid. He would bring her back to Veryn and find lodging and employment for her, and hopefully that would be the end of it.

[Mini]

Abigail gasped in delight as the duke spoke in her own native tongue. Oh, what a pleasure it was to hear someone else speak it! It had been far too long since she had heard her language being spoke by another. She was giddy with excitement as he bowed to her and introduced himself. So giddy was she that she broke out into Irish one last time.

"Ní raibh a fhios agam gur labhair tú Gaeilge. Labhairt leat go han-mhaith, mo thighearna!" she said brightly, smiling at him.

"Ooh, sorry! It slipped out!" she quickly said, giggling a little. Good heavens, he was going to think she was just some silly school girl or something like that if she kept this attitude up. She cleared her throat and attempted to take on a more business-like manner. This was her new employer, after all, and he was a duke.

"Go get my... oh, you really want me to stay down here? And not with the other servants? Oh, yes, sir, thank you, sir!! Yes, I can do that! And the rooms... oh, oh, I see. Yes, yes of course I can take care of them. Just leave them to me! I'll see to it that these are the nicest, most well taken care of guest rooms you've ever had the pleasure of staying in, m'lord!"

[Nayr]

Alimar nodded, forcing himself to smile. The girl was still overcome by her ordeal, likely, and so wasn't incredibly in control of herself. She babbled about making him proud and doing well, and somewhere in the middle there was something about her not quite believing that he wanted to keep her close.

"Firstly, it is only proper for a nobleman's personal servants to be close at hand to attend him. Secondly, I'm not about to allow you to stay anywhere but where I can keep my eye on you, given what's happened to you today. Thirdly, if I didn't have faith in your abilities, I wouldn't have hired you. Now off with you. I want you moved into your new room within the hour."

He'd seen this kind of thing before, and the most likely scenario was that she would be just fine if given something to do so that she could bleed off some of the nervous energy that built up after a near miss with some horrible circumstance. Time would tell, of course, but giving her a task was the best idea for the time being.

[Mini]

Abigail smiled brightly and bowed to Alimar as he explained why he was having her move. It made perfect sense after he put it in those terms. She must really be mentally exhausted to not have figured that out for herself earlier. She hoped that he wouldn't think she was stupid.

"Oh, thank you, sir. So much. I don't have very many things, actually, so it shouldn't take me any more than an hour," she said, smiling and bowing again. "I'll be back as soon, and as soon as I'm back, please, sir, if you need anything, anything at all, don't hesitate to ask!" she said, turning towards the door. "I mean it! Anything at all!"

[Nayr]

Alimar paid attention as she left, still babbling, but wasn't really particularly invested in her words. Something about not hesitating to ask if he needed anything, as if that wasn't the whole point of her being a servant in the first place. He was instead reading her body language and the subtle tones of her voice. She was clearly not doing well, but that was to be expected. Such things were common among those who'd been through what had nearly happened to her. Odds were even though she said it would be an hour, it would likely take her several once she calmed down, because odds were she'd want to hide, cry, or perhaps both. He briefly pondered trying to rest, but dismissed the idea as foolish at this point. He'd rather avoid having a page wake him, because he'd likely wake hungry. The girl had proven to be quite a bit of trouble, but what else could he have done? A gentleman's duty was clear, and it would have stained his reputation to have been so near and done nothing. Eventually he settled on the small stack of paperwork that awaited him. Being a duke was convenient as a cover, but it came with downsides like this stack of papers. So many things that all required his attention and that he didn't want to delegate to someone else. While he had time, might as well. If anything happened in this part of the castle he'd hear it, but his attention was fixed almost entirely on his work. If he could get these done and sent out, it would set him ahead for when he got back.