Terms- Part 1

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Calhoun had taken a step back, letting Madeline walk ahead so that he could admire the girl which he didn't often get to do as she was either upset or glaring at him. Instead of using his wings to get back to the castle, he had decided to walk with her. Forcing her to spend time with him like this as Madeline was stubborn enough not to ask him to get back quickly by making use of his wings.

He wanted her to make a move as he was waiting for her to open up, but that didn't mean he would be waiting forever, because he would close the distance himself. He noticed how her blonde hair cascaded down her back to stop right above her waist. She had two braids that had been made at the sides of the back of her head.

Madeline was busy looking at the forest since the time she had left the rabbits behind, walking in front of the King, while she tried to see for a possible escape from here. She never knew when she would need them. Her brown eyes kept moving until she finally realised that the King had fallen one step behind, who had told her to walk beside him.

When she turned around, she noticed how the King's eyes were on her, and she quickly turned back, looking ahead of her while her face turned red. Since how long had he been staring at her? Asked Madeline to herself.

"Are your feet tired?" asked the King from behind.

She was tired, but she could walk until the castle. She was used to walking long distance when she had to help her father carry the logs of woods from the forest, "I am fine," she answered.

"Let me know if you are unable to walk, it would be a pity if something happened to your feet," Calhoun said and Madeline slowed down her footsteps for once, taking the initiative to walk next to the King.

"I am not made of sticks to break," she answered him, and he stared at her. The colour of the sky was changing quickly from the multicolour to move towards a dark blue. A sign that the night was arriving quickly, and Madeline didn't realise how fast the time passed.

"No, you are not," agreed Calhoun, "You are like butter that heats up quick," Madeline blinked turning her face away, "I was only saying how soft you were, what are you thinking, Maddie, to turn red?" he asked her.

What kind of remark was that? Asked Madeline to herself. Who referred someone as a butter?

"You don't like my compliment," the King continued, a hum at the end of his words.

"I don't think anyone has ever addressed or called someone as a butter," the King was an odd person, and she had already come in terms with it. Though he had killed two maids today for her sake, at the same time, he had shown another side of him that there were some things that he cared about like the rabbits.

Was there no way she could negotiate with him for her freedom? Or was this the freedom he was talking about? Inside the castle, near him where she would be safe...He had also spoken about speaking to Mr. Danvers for her sister's sake, and it made her look at him in a better light. At least a little.

"You can write a letter to your sister today," said Calhoun and Madeline turned to him. Her footsteps gradually came to a stop. She was happy. Her heart soaring only until she heard him say, "You will be writing the letter in my presence, and it will be handed to Theodore so that you are assured that the letter has indeed left the castle."

She stared into Calhoun's eyes that looked dark because of the lack of light around them, the shadows of the trees turning darker along with the sky, "Okay," she agreed. Right now, Madeline would accept anything she could, so that she could still feel she was connected to her family. So that she wouldn't lose her sanity while feeling alone even though Calhoun was there around her. She then asked, "Can I write it today?"

Calhoun only smiled at her, "Of course," and Madeline knew there was some hidden meaning in that smile of his.

Once they reached the castle after walking in each other's company, Calhoun had led Madeline to his room, opening the door for her to step in. Madeline stepped inside the room, and when she took two steps forward, she heard the door click behind her, and she had to wipe her palms against her skirt.

Calhoun walked to the desk that was present in the room, pulling out the chair before looking at her, "Sit here," the smile on his lips had toned down.

Padding her feet across the room, she took a seat on the chair before he had pushed the chair towards the desk, "Comfortable?" he asked.

There was no one in the King's bedroom except for the King and herself. Madeline wondered how many other women he had brought to this room. The candles were already lit and the fireplace crackled with logs that would be suffiencent enough to burn until the time of midnight.

She didn't turn to look at him but continued to sit like a statue.

His hands were yet to move away from the sides of her armrest which he had used it to push the chair she was sitting on. When he finally moved them, she finally let out an internal sigh of relief. She noticed how he went to pull the drawers, picking up parchment with an ink bottle with a quill to be placed in front of her.

"What am I allowed to write?" asked Madeline, not knowing if there would be something Calhoun would not like that would end up with another argument between them, only for her to lose.

Calhoun pulled the next chair to place it next to Madeline and sat down, "Things that would please me," came his words. He brought one hand of his forward to support his chin as he looked at her,

"You can write whatever you want, but if it doesn't sit well with me, it will join the fireplace," he offered her a smile, "Don't disappoint me, Maddie," stated Calhoun. With the candle stand in front of them, she could see his red eyes flickering like the flame.

Madeline had to tell herself that the letter was for her sister Beth. So that she could have a better life, something she would like, with that thought, she decided to not argue with him and took the quill in her hand-dipping it in the ink.

She started to write the letter under Calhoun's supervision, who had a grin on his face, staring at her continuously while she tried to concentrate on it.

"Why did you stop writing?" he inquired.

Madeline pursed her lips, staring at the parchment that was in front of her, "Can you please do something else than stare at me?" her eyes shifted from the parchment to look at Calhoun. His gaze was too intense for her to handle, and she felt like he was trying to dissect her soul.

"No."

Her toes curled inside her shoes as she stared at him, "I cannot concentrate on writing the letter." Her hands had started to shake at the awareness that he was looking at her.

"Try again," he said, his eyes didn't move away from her. She went back to writing. Her words had started to turn messy. Breathing softly, Madeline looked down at what she had written.

'Dear Sister Beth,

I hope this letter finds you well. The King and I shared a few words and during that time, you happened to come up. He said he would help by speaking to Mr. Danvers about you so that you could rebuild the connection you shared with him. I thought it was only right to ask you if you are still willing to consider the man for a possible alliance. Tell mama and papa that I am sending them my love. If you do, please do write back.

Lots of love, Your sister Madeline'

When Calhoun finally stood up from his seat, Madeline exhaled, but her relief was short-lived as Calhoun had come to stand behind her back and he leaned forward.

"Why are you nervous?" Calhoun breathed the words next to the side of her head.

Madeline had expected him to walk around the room instead of staring at her, but the King was someone who did what pleased him, "I think it's because of the lack of a-air," she stuttered at the end.

For a second, Calhoun didn't say anything, letting her sink in with the silence, "Is it because of your corset? I can help with it, if you need me to. Much better as we are in the room now," his words were low, and Madeline felt a shiver run down her spine.

The remaining air that was in her body slipped away because of Calhoun's words and actions, "No, it's not the corset," she whispered. Why was she whispering?! Asked Madeline to herself, feeling too aware of Calhoun's presence behind her.

He allowed the smile to return to his lips, one which was cunning as he baited her in stepping into his room, with the thought of allowing her write a letter to her dear sister.

Calhoun leaned forward, picking up the parchment whilst standing behind Madeline, his eyes taking in what was written to place it back on the table to say, "You did well. Your sister will be very grateful to have a younger sister like you who thinks about her well being even after you have left home."

"I haven't left home," replied Madeline to hear Calhoun chuckle.

"What is it then?" he asked, his words at the shell of her ear and he blew the air deliberately slow to see how she struggled to stay unaffected, "Are you going to say I kidnapped you, right in front of your parents? Carrying you on my shoulder. If that was so, it would be a completely different scenario now. Wouldn't it?" he asked her.