"Let go of me, Flora." Gawain warned.
"Are ye rejecting me because of that servant girl?" Her words made Gawain stop, turning back to meet Flora's mischievous smile. "Her sister would rather see her with Hector, ye ken. I think she’s correct. One servant for another servant."
"Davinia is nae a servant. I suggest ye watch what ye say about her." This seemed to dampen Flora's mood as her smile fell, her lips pressed into a straight line.
"I also ken her sister would never approve of ye, Gawain. Ye remember how ye toyed with her, forcing her to do yer evil work." Gawain tensed, letting out a shaky breath as Flora continued behind him, the sole of her shoe tapping against the stone floor. "She talks to me a lot since her sister has prioritized her servant work over her. I ken how much she cannae stand ye, basically forcing herself to smile around ye."
"And why should I believe ye? All ye’ve ever said to me in the past were lies. Emer is nae like that. She’s nothing like that. She might nae approve if me, but she can put up with me fer the sake of her sister."
"I do nae remember ye to be this optimistic. Snap out of it! Ye want the sister of the woman ye once made into a puppet, forcing her into almost betraying her clan. Need I remind ye of the things ye made her do? Ye made her spy on her husband, fed her lies in order to overthrow yer brother and take the position as Laird fer yerself. Ye were always the intelligent one, ye were quick to come to accurate conclusions, quick to devise plans that rarely ever failed. Gawain, ye could predict the day someone would die, and I would believe ye because even if they do nae die peacefully, ye would be there to stab them in the chest.”
She continued, “Ye never wanted yer plans to fail, and that is why I’ll always say that yer father made the worst mistake when he let yer brother be the laird. Ye used the one thing he was weak against him. Ye used the bonnie lass he was in love with against him, and look where it got ye. On probation and head over heels in love with the sister other bonnie lass yer brother ended up marrying. Oh Gawain, how could ye’ve roped yerself into such a mess?"
"Ye got everything right except the part where I had planned that we would end up together, but instead ye ended up with the man who sees ye as hunter's game. He treats ye badly, and with all you just said, I do nae blame him. It is hard to stick up fer ye." Flora frowned, surprised at Gawain's quick recovery from her verbal attack. "Ye thought I would cry on yer shoulders and end up accepting the shameless offer ye’ve out fer me? Ye see, Flora, I ken I’m intelligent. Ye do too but ye still continue to underestimate me. All I did before me exile was partially because I wanted to be the Laird and because I wanted to be with ye. Me pride fooled me into thinking I could move mountains if I could come up with a proper way to do it and ye along with yer forsaken father led me on! Me father pushed me to the wall, and ye fooled me into thinking I had finally found a place where I could rest easy only fer ye to stab me in the back. I ken I’ve done wrong, and nae matter how hard I work to show that I’ve changed, there are still people who will nae believe me, and I’m fine with that. That is me punishment. But have ye ever stopped to think that perhaps this," Gawain snatched her hand earning a surprise cry from her as her sleeves fell back down to expose her bruised wrists. "This might be yer punishment, and look how fitting it is fer a woman such as yerself. Ye offered me false love, tricked me into doing her bidding, and ye ended up with a man who doesnae respect ye enough nae to beat ye. I still have a chance, Flora but ye. Ye are doomed."
Flora snatched her hand back, bottom lip trembling as she swallowed the lump in her throat. Gawain had bested her, and he owned his victory.
They both continued to glare at each other until the sound of a clap tore Gawain from her. At the end of the hall was none other than Scott approaching them, a wide smile on his lips, but his eyes told a different story. Neither moved until the other man was in front of them, and it was then that Flora bolted, but unfortunately, Scott brought down a foot on the back of her dress, successfully tripping her when she fell flat on her chest. "Ye shameless whore. Ye found nae other person to frolic around with while we were here other than yer previous lover?"
"Nae!" Gawain almost flinched at the shriek that left her mouth as she turned over to point at him. "It was him! I promise ye, Scott, it was he who approached me, and I told him nae, but he refused. He cornered me here, I swear, it was all him!"
Gawain stood speechless as Scott's gaze fell on him. Olive green eyes staring back at him, malicious intent radiating off the man in waves caused Gawain to take a step back. "She said ye forced her. Now I ken she’s quite two faces but with how diligent ye’ve portrayed yerself ever since yer arrival, I—"
"She’s lying." Gawain was surprisingly calm, his voice unwavering despite the dangerous situation he found himself in. Behind them, the sun had started to set rather quickly. "If ye ken about our past relationship, then ye should ken I would nae do such a thing with her."
"Aye." Scott replied, leaning down to grab Flora roughly by the arm. "Which is why I’m surprised to find ye fighting yer way between her legs. It is nae anything special, ye ken? At times, I feel like I was tricked by her father."
"I’ve nae interest in yer woman. I’ve mine, and she can back me up when I say I’ve never touched Flora since me arrival."
"The servant girl? A plain choice." Gawain clenched his hands into fists at Scott's description of Davinia. "If that is who ye choose, then that doesnae give me any proof that ye did nae actually force yerself on me wife."
"Davinia is nae a servant."
"Pray tell what I should call her then?"
"She’s the housekeep and the sister-in-law of the laird. She deserves that much respect." Gawain shot at Scott, who nodded at the reply.
"She’s still a servant, Sir Gawain. She has only been elevated in ranks. She’s nae a noble. Although Flora has continued to drag herself in the mud, she’s still a lady. Now, why would anyone choose a servant girl over a lady?" Flora clawed at her husband's hand on her arm as a small group of servants walked past, quickly lighting the torches in the corridor. It was nearing supper as the sun had completely set, the moon barely visible behind the clouds.
The shadows of the flame danced against the golden glow that illuminated the corridor. Scott shook his wife harshly, which got her to stop her clawing. "I do nae ken about ye, but with the way yer wife acts around other men, I would rather choose that servant girl over such a lady." Gawain's response was rewarded with a booming laugh from Scott who finally met his wife got, but Flora stood by his side, her head downcast as she rubbed on the spot where her husband's hand had been.
"Can ye hear that, Flora? Ye have been recognized as shameless even by yer previous lover. He would rather be with a servant. I would return ye to her father, but with the disgrace ye’ve brought me, would it nae be better to just lock ye up until ye wither up?" Scott stepped away from Gawain, his grin wider than when he had shown up.
"Nae, ye’re nae listening to me and—" Flora was cut off by Scott raising his hand. She cowered away just as Gawain stepped between the couple to avoid Scott hitting Flora, but the hand descended gently on Gawain's shoulder before it squeezed not as gently as it had landed.
"Sir Gawain or Gawain. Aye, I shall call ye Gawain. Call me Scott How did it feel fer ye when ye loved this woman? She took ye fer granted the same way she does fer me, but unlike ye, I’m stuck with her. Ye ken, I went to her father meself. I told the old bastard that I loved his daughter, and I would give her the world if she were to marry me. If I had kent I would be diving straight into hot water, I would have taken me men and left the moment I saw her. The first year of our marriage, I wanted to kill her. She frustrated me so much, I wanted to kill her in her sleep, deal with the heartache fer a few years at most and move on. Ye would ask why I didnae do it, I ask meself that question a lot, Gawain." Scott reached to Flora, and she flinched. "This woman is about to drive me insane, Gawain, and do ye ken why?"
"Nae, but ye’re going to tell me still," Gawain replied, still alert in case he needed to stop Scott again.
"She doesn't nae love me. Nae, she doesnae love anyone but ye. She’s obsessed with ye. Seeing ye here made me wife so eager to please. She forgot she was married and followed ye about like a dog."
"Nar, Flora doesnae feel that way fer me. This is Flora we are talking about. The woman is tricky to understand."
"Nay, she wants ye. There is nae need to deny it, but can ye imagine if yer woman loved another man no matter how much love and attention and wealth ye give to her? Can ye imagine the pain I’m going through because of this ungrateful woman?"
"Scott—"
"This is yer fault as well! Ye caused this as much as she did." Scott let go of Gawain enough to step back a few feet, his hand going to his sword. Gawain's eyes widened as Scott unsheathed his sword, his hand immediately going to his dagger. "Draw her blade, Gawain. ‘Tis a pretty blade, it should be able to do enough damage. We will fight, here and now with Flora as our witness. The victor wins her heart."
