Thread: The Wolf, the Forge, and Love Forbidden - Raivh & Abovetheroses

Alice's brow furrowed as she looked from the pitiful woman to her brother and back. She didn't understand. There was much she didn't understand and she knew that. All her books and teachings came from her own library, so she knew they were one sided but in a few of them she had found tales and stories of things one of her ancestors did. Things her father seemed to have forgotten, or didn't know. She had often wondered if they were true or just that, stories. Her soft lips fell open but she knew not what to say. Then the woman stood on her own, bearing her own dirty naked flesh for all to see despite Alice trying to help her cover herself and she made her decree. Delicate hands covered her mouth as Alice whipped around and glared at her father. Now he was murdering unborn children? Was he really sinking that low? When she changed Alice couldn't help the gasp that escaped her. She stumbled back a few steps, eyes wide as she watched the miraculous sight. It was terrifying, but in a magnificent way. Watching such a beautiful woman turn into such a large and powerful beast was breathtaking. Part of her wanted to reach out and stroke the creature, to still try and comfort the woman inside. But she seemed to show more strength then Alice did so she resisted the impulse. The deep voice of the smith snapped her from her thoughts and her head jerked in his direction. Small hands grabbed the newly fashioned sword from her brother's belt and pulled it from it's sheath. You! Do not touch me! You are just as responsible for this as they are! Then Alice looked at her brother. You will not be using this on her or any other creature! She pointed the blade at him before turning on her heel and walking towards the door. Her two guards started after her but when she turned and pointed the blade at them the whole crowd gasped. And you two will come no where near me! Her arms were trembling holding a blade of that size and weight, but the anger on her face would not let her drop in until her point was clear. Walking out the main door the woman sighed, dragging the sword with her. Can she really do that? Marco leaned over and asked his brother. Peter sighed and got to his feet. Luca was screaming at her flinging curses at the woman for stealing his new sword and at the beast trapped in the cage before him for starting Alice's little temper tantrum. If you wish to keep him happy smith, you best go keep Alice out of his hair for this hunt since we are down that lovely sword you just crafted. He then went over to his brother and put a hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. Come now, you should be even more excited. You get to use an older sword and this kill will most certainly count as two so you will become even more famous than the ancestors. That calmed Luca down and put a grin back on his face. Outside, Alice had made her way to a private garden her father had made for her. Most were trees and shrubs, hardy plants that could withstand the harsh winters here. It was simply a nice secluded place the woman liked to go to be alone when she couldn't escape the noble house completely. It was also the place she would come to bury things that needed to be hidden. When she was a girl that meant her completed diary, the toys and trinkets she stole that belonged to her brothers, her mother's wedding ring... now it was where she buried all the things she didn't want her family to use for violence. There were numerous swords and daggers, some compasses, a few axes, maps to places Alice had never heard of. All of them buried under trees and bushes, some even had new stone pathways laid over them. The intent was to never have them found again. So there she was on her hands and knees in the dark in one of her most expensive gowns, digging in the dirt with her brother's own sword under a young tree planted just two springs ago. She wiped at a drop of sweat on her forehead and smeared soil across her fair skin but she continued to dig. She wouldn't stop until it was deep enough it wouldn't be found. So ignoring the biting cold, Alice dug until her hands and arms ached. But her mind couldn't stop thinking about the woman in the cage, the wolf. That sadness in her eyes. Tears started to gather on her own eyelashes. I'm sorry. She mumbled to herself. I'm so sorry... She wanted so desperately to help but felt so helpless despite her status.