The Black Wolf

Why Ellen not Eden?

Ellen found herself laughing to the joke Tyler said. But meeting Eden's anger and everyone's silence she started to think again,"It wasn't a joke?"
Jacob ran to her and massaged her shoulders,"Remember, don't interrupt. Hear him till the end."
She wanted to refuse, but she wanted to listen till the end too. So she sat back hoping that Tyler would end his speech with a big fat laugh. She enjoyed the little comfort Jacob's hands were offering.
"So around 13 years ago, my brother here," he pointed to Alaric who smirked looking at Ellen and avoiding everyone's look,"Loved someone else's wife. And since the woman didn't accept cheating on her husband, he chose to take what he wants by power. Here, in these woods we live in groups like kingdoms. And ours was more powerful than the woman's. The woman was a queen of the other group. And to avoid war, my parents, the king and queen, chose to sign a treaty. They could have won it, but it would have caused a huge and un needed loss, especially that the kings were friends. The treaty was the kind of one that says that the second son, me, would rule next and would marry the daughter of that woman," he looked at Ellen,"You, Ellen." Tyler felt hurt. He didn't knew what was the thing that pulled him to her, but she was the one that pushed him away from Eden. He had that blame in his eyes,"I fell in love with Eden. I was destined to be with Eden. But because my Brother chose to make that awful mistake, I am to let go of my love and marry you."
Ellen looked at the silent group around her,"supposing what you are saying is true, Since I refuse to marry you and you refuse to marry me.. Why do we have to follow a stupid treaty?!"
"Because your father is one truly jealous man and mine is one truly cruel one. Mine wants to punish Alaric, so he choses to reward me by giving me the thrown with a condition to marry you. Because he wants to make it up for your father, keep his reputation, gain more land and avoid war. Yours wanted to gain a more power ally and make sure his daughter is married after his wife's scandal."
Ellen laughed lightly,"Do you know why I don't believe you? Because my father died years ago and I've never been into woods unless for camping and my mother never mentioned it."
"You were living with your Nanny. Your mother died later. And your father is the one that'll be here in few minutes." Tyler answered as he sat down.
Ellen jumped up,"None sense. I'm leaving with Jimmy. I am a successful 28 years old writer that has a beautiful life and came here to follow up he work with a client that happened to be her boss. And that's it. Stop messing around like you're writing some freaking comic book." Ellen walked to her room as fast as she could. She entered her room and started packing. Was she in a dream? She pinched her hand and waited. She pinched it again and waited. But she was still by her bag and never woke up with sweaty forehead. A knock took her attention, the maid she called was there.
"You called me, Ma'am?" The maid bowed a little.
"Yes", Ellen swallowed down her saliva and walked toward her,"I need your help."
The maid looked up worried into Ellen's eyes,"Are you ok, ma'am?"
Ellen nodded,"yes, yes. I just need you to pack Jimmy's stuff, order a cap and get Jimmy ready. I'm leaving."
The maid looked nervous,"I have something to tell you, ma'am."
Ellen didn't want to think of the worst, but she felt it deep inside.
The maid looked at her feet as she blurted,"Jimmy was taken an hour ago by the personal guards according to Sir Tyler's orders. I was ordered to keep my silence until you ask."
Ellen pushed the maid away as she ran toward the salon where Tyler was still sitting. She knew then why he didn't stop her from packing. He had Jimmy. He knew she wouldn't leave without him.
She walked to him as angry as ever,"You call your father cruel?! Have you looked at your actions?! How could you?! No, how dare you take my child!!" Ellen shouted.
Tyler kept his eyes straight forward as he stood up,"This is Ellen."
Why did she feel that he was introducing her to someone? She turned and looked to where Tyler was looking: Eden, Alaric, Jacob and .. 2 men and a woman. They looked old enough to be the parents Tyler talked about. She heard one of the men talk,"You've got a calm girl."
The woman added,"Just like her mother."
Concluding, Ellen looked at the left man, the one that was supposed to be her father according to Tyler's story. A tall man with dark hair who wore black and gold suit. He looked.. Serious. The man stood and walked toward her,"Daughter."
He looked at her from her toe to her neck. He concentrated on her eyes,"Talking to your future husband like that is offending"
Unexpectedly, she felt the pain raising on her cheek as his palm smacked it. Her eyes went wide open, and she raised her palm to touch her red cheek.
No one spoke. Not even the one that was supposed to be her future husband. Not even the one that she felt safe with. No one.
"I guess you are mistaken, sir. I am not your daughter. My father is dead. I am but a guest here." Ellen found her voice.
The man was about to smack her again but she stopped him by taking a step away from his grip,"I beg your pardon, sir. But let me revise what happened here. I shouted at a man that I work with and that I've been living with for the past 3 days and I have my reasons. You smacked me in front of these people while we don't know each other and never met and you have no reasons. And you call my acts offending? Isn't yours,  compared to mine, much offending?" 
She didn't knew how could she say that. But she could. Yet she didn't expect that the man would lower his hand and say,"You lost your memory after a tragic accident. And you were sent with your Nanny to the city to live with you as your mother until you grow up and reach the right age to fulfill your duty. From what Tyler said, you know already about your role in this treaty. And now you will be fulfilling it."
He turned to walk away. But then he turned back and slapped her twice one on each side of her face that made her fall to her knees, tears reflex to the pain she felt formed,"one for talking back at me. And the other for hiding the fact that you have a child. Now, for the safety of that child, go unpack and get some rest. We'll be having dinner together tonight." He walked away with Tyler's parents as he added,"And remember, your child is safe as long as you stick to your part."
"Are you happy that you're marrying a rich and beautiful prince as Tyler?" Eden stood behind Ellen once the parents left. she talked,"I've dreamt for years of marrying him. And then, This stupid treaty comes and ruins everything!"
Eden left leaving her space for Alaric,"I was counting on your child to break down the pact. Apparently, they are using him to keep it."
Ellen maintained her posture looking at the necklace that fell upon the next hit. She wanted to scream. Everyone was blaming her while she had nothing to do with the whole story.
Someone stepped behind her,"I guess you should have accepted your fate and saved us all that drama." Tyler said before she heard his steps as he exited the salon.
Everyone stood and looked down at her. Everyone blamed her. Everyone didn't offer her help to stand up. Everyone didn't ask her if she's ok. Everyone left.
At that moment she felt all her power shields crack and her tears start to invade the dryness of her cheeks. For the first time that day, a hand touched her back that peacefully, she didn't have to turn to know who was there, she already knew the owner. She was surprised that she forgot about Jacob. Her safe source was Jacob. She was not afraid of him, and she was not ashamed of crying in front of him. She barely knew him, but she trusted him to the extent that she'd stay in that awkward place with all those hating people as long as she got him. She relaxed her muscles that her back pressed back on his hand.
Tyler forgot his jacket. He wanted to ask the maid to get it. But then he remembered how he left Ellen there. The beautiful Ellen was on the floor after her father hit her. He was starting to feel ashamed of himself for accepting a woman to be hit in front of himself. But he didn't want to. He decided it was not bad to go back there and check her up. He would have his jacket there as an excuse. He stopped once he saw Jacob. Jacob was always there!
Jacob wrapped his hand around Ellen and the other went under her knees and he lifted her up. He was thinking of how cruel everyone was. How could they blame a woman who lost her memory when she was a girl and was sent to live a fake life. Tyler was at the door. He didn't see him, but he could smell pretty well. Jacob felt an urge to put Ellen down and have a serious talk with him. But no, Ellen was not ok.