Verbal Abuse

Harlyn

Thorin has gone to dance with my mother, and now Lotta is dancing with me. The atmosphere is alive with joy and celebration. I’m even more delighted because my father and Stefan are nowhere near me. They haven’t been present at any part of the wedding since after the ceremony.

“Harlyn.” I turn, hearing Samuel’s voice, and my arms instinctively wrap around him in a tight embrace. I’m so glad I got to watch him marry.

“I’m guessing Thorin told you about the plan?” He asks, waiting for my reply.

“He did. We’re going to the palace for the night?” I ask, seeking confirmation.

Samuel nods. “Yes, but not tonight. Things are still going well at the wall. The rogues aren’t getting through, so we’re not leaving until tomorrow.”

I relax at his words; it gives me time to prepare for everyone’s inevitable questions when they realise the pups are mine. Right now, amidst the festivities, no one seems to suspect.

“So tomorrow?” I inquire.

“Yes, it just felt wrong to leave tonight, even if the threat is small,” he explains, pulling me into a comforting hug. “Did you hurt your foot?” he asks, his gaze drifting downward.

“It’s fine, really. It’s your wedding day. Please, stop worrying about me,” I insist.

“How did you hurt your foot?” His concern is evident in his tone.

“When I tripped, forget about it. It isn’t that bad. Go and enjoy your time with your wife. I know they will need you soon to discuss plans for tomorrow,” I urge. Reluctantly, he nods before making his way back to Lucy.

I watch as everyone gets lost in the celebration. The pups now dance with my mother, adding to the joyous atmosphere. A short while later, she approaches me.

“It’s getting late,” she remarks, and I nod, puzzled by her sudden announcement. “Let the pups stay with me tonight,” she suggests, stirring a sense of fear within me.

“I can’t do that,” I respond, hesitant at the thought of my father being close to her, which means he will be close to them.

“I know you worry, but he isn’t going to be here; he will be planning for tomorrow. I promise they will be safe. Let them stay with me,” she pleads, her eyes showing her plea.

“Of course, Mother,” I give in, hugging her quickly before she walks back to the pups. I follow suit and explain that they will be staying in her quarters. After kissing them goodnight, I make my way to my room, grateful to finally be off my hurt foot.

As I am about to take off my shoes, a knock has me standing. Walking to the door, a servant smiles at me.

“You’re required in your father’s office.” She bows slightly and walks away. Fear cripples me immediately, and I have avoided any confrontation with my father. He wouldn’t abuse me in front of anyone who wasn’t family.

Mustering up my courage, I walked through the manor and entered his office to see him standing with my brothers.

“You called for me, Father,” I say as soon as I enter, my head raised high.

“I did.” He turns from me to Samuel. “I called you in here because I wanted to point out how foolish this whole thing was.” His words are loud, and I stand confused.

“What was foolish?” Samuel asks.

“Inviting that to your wedding.” Father points at me, his anger already igniting everything on fire in my body.

“Father, it wasn’t foolish,” Samuel says.

“Really? She trapped the Princess’s dress, fell into the king, and could have hurt him. Her returning was a mistake!”

I laugh internally, me hurt the king? Is he crazy? How could I possibly hurt the king

“Father, how can you still think her return is a mistake?” Samuel asks, looking at him in complete horror.

“How can I not? Sure, your mother may have finally forgotten her foolish quest to starve herself, but the minute she showed up, new attacks and the dress got caught, she knocked the king. Not to mention, she is limping.” His words growl and I step back, hurt by them.

“I had nothing to do with the dress getting caught. If you want someone to blame, look at others who set up the room for the Princess to walk down and missed the splinter on the wooden floor.” I snap back.

Samuel stares at me, shocked. My father steps closer to me, and I try to retreat. I won’t take this, though.

“I didn’t bump into the king either, father,” I reply. As I moved to sort the dress, he moved after me and slammed into me.

“Are you really saying that the king, who has never had issues staying on two feet, is to blame?” He looks at me even more angrily than before. “Don’t be so ridiculous; the king is composed and elegant, unlike you, who is ditzy, slutty and foolish.” His words hit me hard.

I stand shocked. Slutty?

“Father, that is highly inappropriate. Maybe the King knocked into her?” Samuel defends me again.

"It's a fact! I told you all not to let her come back. You didn't listen to me; instead, you listened to the stupid princess, and look at how that ended," the father shouts.

"Do not speak of her in that way!" Samuel steps up to my father. "Princess Lucy is not stupid; how dare you say that!" Samuel's anger begins to flood the room, and I grip his hand to try and calm him. My father looked shocked and sickened, realising what he had said. "It was clear the king had knocked into Harlyn, not the other way round!" Samuel shouts.

“Don’t. Every time she returns, there is nothing but issues. Nothing but drama; in every good and happy event, something happens. This time the dress got caught, and last time, she apparently got raped. Which we know is a cover for her unladylike ways and slutty attitude.” His words slammed into me.

“Father, you can’t use that language with her. She has explained that night. She wasn’t at fault and didn’t willingly sleep with anyone.” Colton interrupts.

“Then how did no one hear her?” he looks at us. How did no one notice a strange man taking her into a room?” I want to argue that maybe no one was around to see, but I doubt he would listen.

“She was raped, mothers birthday celebration may have been busy, but not many travelled through the halls to see or hear father.” Samuel insists.

I don’t feel like he should defend me. I’m making everything worse, not me intentionally, but Father is because I am here.