PG Love Fest Part 2

You guys are awesome! I really appreciate all of the comments from my PG Love Fest Post and because SO many of you seemed determined to find out what happens next for doomed lovers Roselyn and Christian and horrible Raoul...I decided I'd just keep writing and see.

So in keeping with the theme here of this being a challenge, I'm pantsing this (writing without an outline). I honestly have no clue what's going to happen, if Christian's banishment will mean leaving the country or going to the block. I'm a hardcore outliner, so the pantsing is part of the fun. Let me know what you think:-)

It was the sound of a scream that woke me. My eyes fluttering open, I was first aware of an arm resting on my stomach. Christian's. And then I saw the white sheet, stained with my blood. It was in the hands of my mother, her face grim, and her knuckles white where she clenched the material. The shriek had come from Jocelyn upon seeing my disgrace. And then the events of the night returned.

"Up," my mother said. Her voice was icier than I'd ever heard before. A shiver of terror ran through me.

I rose to my feet, feeling Christain stir beside me. Jocelyn moved to bring my robe, but my mother slapped me hard across the face with such a force I fell to the ground.

"You insolant fool! How could you do this!" She slapped me again, and followed her assault by stuffing my  bloodied sheet in my mouth. I coughed and sputtered, gasping for breath and trying not wretch from the taste of my filth. I clawed at my mother's hands but she only pushed the sheets further in. Faintly I was aware of Jocelyn crying and then Christian yelling at her to stop.

"I forced her," he cried. "It was my fault. She said no. Arrest me and leave her be."

She pulled the sheets away and strong arms encircled my waist pulling me to my feet. I glanced once at my mother, her face cold and hard, her eyes black. And I buried my face in Christian's chest as he wrapped his arms around me. How could a woman who'd birthed me look upon me with such hate?

"I see the effects of your forced entry. I never knew it was quite so common for victims to seek comfort in the arms of their assailant." She slapped Jocelyn hard across the face this time, unwilling to attack me when held by a man far stronger than she.

"I didn't want to marry Raoul," I sobbed. "It was the only way I could think to stop it. How could you have sold me to man like that?"

"He's a prince," my mother snarled. "And you're a princess. Have you forgotten your station? You're the first servant to the king and this was his decree, you wanton child. Raoul will secure our alliance with France. You know war is brewing. Your father cannot leave our territory unguarded. You had no choice"

"He'll have no choice," I said, stepping away from Christian. I clutched at my stomach, feeling a mixture of soreness in my belly and nausea. What I'd done was truly sinking in.

"Clean her up, Jocelyn," my mother ordered. "We're keeping this indiscretion between us. I'll keep Raoul's cup full so he doesn't know the difference when he goes to take your maidenhead tonight. Jocelyn you'll produce these sheets in the morning. And you boy." She turned on Christian. "I will personally escort you from the palace myself."

"Mother, no!"

This time she did slap me. Christian moved forward but I pulled on his arms. If he attacked the queen it would mean the block. He'd be laid in a grave the moment I lay down in bed.

A moment passed, all four of us standing tense and not knowing what to do. My only comfort came from knowing that at least thus far, Christian's life did not seem to be in danger. She could not order his execution without approval from the king, and my father would not kill the son of a councilman without just cause. My mother could not reveal the cause without stopping the marriage. And so he was safe.

But I wasn't. I'd given Christian everything in the hopes that it would save me but it was not enough. I was still to marry Raoul. What more could be done? What power did one have when as high as their station was, they were the most likely pawn of the king?

I closed my eyes, remembering a moment of tenderness with Christian, a soft kiss on my cheek, a brush of his hand, a willingness to be gentle. A willingness to lose his life. If Christian walked out of this alive, then it was more than I could hope for.

The door opened.

"How now my bride and my wife?"

Raoul's stench assaulted my nose as his eyes flickered from me to Christian, to my mother, to Jocelyn, to the sight of my ruined sheets, and back to Christian. The look on his face reminded me of one thing. A viper.