Enid slipped through the tunnel she’d had dug to the church. It was reinforced with stone. She came out into the crypts. They were an undercroft to the church above. The crypt was silent. She looked over the stone tombs, knights and ladies carved into their surfaces. The fire that ravaged the church above hadn’t touched them. She touched the smooth polished surfaces of the most recent one. A crusader who had died only a few short decades ago. Beside it leaned the leather sack containing her dress. Mary had prepared her hair before Enid had left her keep. She likely could have walked across the distance between her estate and the church and been fine, but the sun hurt her eyes. And she would have risked a burn. She pulled off her tunic and pants. Then retrieved her wedding dress from the sack. She looked it over. It was white with elaborate silver embroidery. The dress itself was a simple thing, not as grandiose as her usual silk dresses. It had more in common with something she would have worn in Rome then King Edward the 2nd’s England. She pulled it over her head and pulled her veil and white silk slippers from the sack. She pulled the shadows about herself and made her way to the antechamber she was expected to wait in as bride. She pulled on her slippers and placed her veil over her face. And for the first time in centuries was startled by a familiar voice behind her.

“Daughter.”

Enid spun and hugged Sextus burying her face in his chest.

“Father. Why are you here?”

“I felt the echo of a tear in the fabric of reality. It worried me. For you to call on such power I thought you may be in danger.”

“I’m sorry father. I was so angry.”

He put his hand under her chin.

“You are twelve hundred years old, and you still let your emotions rule you.”

“No father, it was just that once.”

“And when you left Lucius? Swearing you would never speak to him again?”

“He betrayed Mariana.”

“No, she betrayed us.”

“She was trying to save us, but you wouldn’t listen, and he wouldn’t explain.”

“This imaginary necromancer you ranted about that evening. There was no evidence, nor did I sense him, it would be impossible to hide himself from me if he still existed. I killed him long ago.”

“Father I saw him myself!”

“You think you saw him, because Mariana told you that’s who he was. She was obsessed.”

Enid shoved Sextus away with a strength he didn’t seem to realize she possessed.

“You’ve grown stronger over the years with my gifts.”

“You’ve grown conceited and cold. She was your daughter. She was my sister. I’ll never forgive any of you.”

“If you feel so strongly why do you still heed my wishes, and the councils?”

“Because someone has to do what you and the rest of the politicians won’t.”

“I think it’s because you know in your heart our actions were just, you just refuse to listen to it.”

“Did you come to lecture me? Bring up old wounds? Is that why I’m stuck in this shit pile?”

“No, I came because my only daughter is getting married, again, and I thought she was in danger. And I kept you here so you could rest, center yourself, get some perspective. You were becoming cold, treating humans like food.”

“It’s what they are isn’t it? Food?”

“No, they are people child, they are short lived but each one is a miracle. Like your own children.”

“Yet you set me to killing any who find out about us.”

“For our protection, and their protection. Open war between our kind would kill so many more.”

Enid held up her hand shaking her head.

“Leave, I need to put on my I’m happy to be marrying a blood sack face.”

Enid frowned, sometimes her gift was a curse, she sensed the hurt she had just caused the only man that deserved to be called her father. She turned to say something more, but he had left as silently as he had entered.

Why do I do that? Hurt them before they can hurt me more.

Enid wiped the blood tears from her face. She closed her eyes and composed herself, pulling veil back down. When she exited the antechamber, her father stood there waiting for her. He offered his hand she looked up meeting his gaze through the veil. He nodded to her and patted her hand. They could speak volumes with just a look. Enid smiled under her veil.

“You have always been like my blood daughter Enid. In both anger and love. Know that I appreciate all you do for our kind, even this small sacrifice. When I go to my final rest you will succeed me as Empress. Lucius isn’t the man I would have wished.”

Enid nodded and straightened her posture. The pair made their way into the church and down the aisle. It was packed with nobles and members of the royal family. Henry was the nephew of the king after all. Enid kept her head high, even the Archbishop had come from Canterbury. Yesterday he had consecrated the new altar. And today he would Mary the nephew of the king. Sextus kept a steady pace beside Enid and once they’d reached the altar, he gave her a kiss on the forehead and stood in streaming sunlight of a stained-glass window.

Enid looked up at Henry who had a wide smile. The archbishop looked to the couple and then back to Henry. The archbishop led the pair through the ceremony and began to bless the rings near the end when the twang of a bow echoed through the silence of the cavernous church. Without thinking Enid snatched the arrow out of the air the tip just barely touching the Archbishops vestments. With more strength then either Henry or the Archbishop thought possible she pushed them to the ground. Her hand reaching for a non-existent sword at her hip. Scanning the church, she spotted the would-be assassin being pushed to the ground. He was shouting something that was muffled by the guards who had tackled him to the ground. Enid tossed the arrow aside and offered her hands to the men she had just shoved to the ground.

“My apologies your grace. I thought there might be more than one.”

The Archbishop stood dusting off his vestments. Then looked down at Enid.

“Child you are surely a gift from God to have saved me.”

He made the sign of the cross looking up. Henry dusted off his clothing as well then straightened up. He gave a small half smile.

“What is a wedding without an assassination attempt?”

The archbishop gave Henry a scolding glance.

“This is a sacramental rite you should treat it with more seriousness.”

To his credit the archbishop continued where he left off and blessed the rings. The rest of the ceremony finished without incident. Later, at the reception in the main hall of the keep the archbishop approached Enid.

“Lady Sarah, I wanted to thank you again for your quick actions today.”

“I am sorry that your grace was involved in that. I believe the assassin had poor aim and was trying to shoot me.”

“Who would want to do such a thing, from what I’ve been told you are a fair and just noblewoman, and charitable. The church, and soon to be cathedral owes most of its funding to you.”

“Some of the men who made accusations against a woman, and some of the loyalists of my uncle thought me unfair, and worse a usurper so decided to improve their station by trying to kill myself and my husband. I dealt with the bulk of them, but it seems one managed to avoid my wrath. I apologize that you almost became a casualty of the minor uprising. I assure you that any remaining conspirators will be dealt with come tomorrow. But today is my wedding day, a day of celebration.”

“Indeed, milady, Lord Henry is truly a lucky man.”

Enid curtsied to the Archbishop and moved away. She looked over the assembled guests. She noticed her father speaking to the King, and Lord Henry’s father. She moved closer and smiled nodding to other guests along the way, finally moving to stand by her husband. She focused her hearing on the spot where her father was, the king was speaking first.

“I heard the twang of the bow string and I surely thought it was meant for me. The archbishop is a blow hard but hardly worth assassinating. Then quick as could be she snatches it out of the air like magic.”

“Hardly magic, your majesty, my daughter has always had quick reflexes. Had a terrible time trying to teach her swordplay, it was like she knew where my blade was going to be before I swung it.”

“And how she pushed the archbishop and my son down. Strong woman, with no fear. My son is in good hands. Speaking of swordplay, why did you teach her the ways of war, her being a woman?”

“Clan warfare is a constant in the Highlands, everyone needs to know how to protect themselves, women included. Besides with her mother gone, I had no way of teaching her womanly ways.”

“Yet I here she knows the ways of a mid-wife and herbs.”

“Sarah is a sharp one, learned to read young, on her own. My wife left a lot of books on those subjects and Sarah read every one of them. Incredible ear for languages too.”

The king laughed.

“To hear tell of her exploits I almost wished I’d held out to marry her instead!”

The three men chuckled. Enid missed the rest of the conversation because Henry was shaking her shoulder.

“Sarah? Are you alright?”

“Oh sorry, yes was just thinking.”

“I’m so glad your father made it, I see why you are who you are, he seems to know everything, and he’s very charming.”

“He is a know-it-all, and he could sell pig shit to a pig farmer, no doubt about it. Sometimes he’s terrible judge of character.”

Enid sighed.

“It sounds like there is bad blood.”

“He made a poor choice and my sister died. It is an old wound but it is still fresh to me.”

“People make mistakes, he’s your father, you should forgive him.”

“I already have, but it doesn’t make me any less angry that my sister is dead, and my brother survives.”

“You have a brother?”

“Yes, he’s a vile backstabbing asshole and if he ever shows his face in front of me again I’m liable to kill him.”

Enid’s voice dripped with venom.

“I hope you never feel that way about me. Just hearing you say it sent a chill down my spine.”

Enid looked up at Henry, her eyes deadly serious.

“Depends on whether you betray me or not. I don’t take it well.”

“I pray we are never enemies.”

Enid wrapped her arm around Henry, tugging him close and laying her head against his chest.

“You don’t have it in you to be my enemy Henry, that’s why I married you. But you will be unfaithful, and that is alright. She is worth your time.”

Henry quirked his head to the side and looked down to Enid eyes wide.

“Why would you say that?”

Enid tugged on his tunic and pulled him down for a kiss. Then whispered into his ear.

“Because I can see the future. She is beautiful, more beautiful than me, and she’s a good heart, she will be good for you and I’m glad you’ll have her when I’m gone.”

Henry tugged Enid to the side and looked at her.

“What do you mean gone?”

“Other assassins will come, and they will succeed where the one failed today, we can’t change it, we can only enjoy the time we have. Trust me, I’ll make it worth your while.”

Enid kissed him again. Then put her hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes.

“You will forget what I’ve said, and remember that we discussed our wedding night, and how we are both glad my father is here. When I am gone you will remember. You will also remember that I love you and will always remember our time together.”

Enid kissed him again more deeply and Henry pulled her close matching her passion.

“Its too bad we have to sit through this Sarah.”

“I know my love, but we have a duty, I promise it will be worth the wait. I have read a lot of books on the subject and I will make you very happy tonight.”

Henry’s eyes went wide, and he hurried to follow Sarah back to the reception proper. The pair sat through the pomp and circumstance, the gifts, the speeches. The food and the wine until they could retire to their room, which used to be Sarah’s alone. She began to pull off her dress. Henry rushed to get out of his clothes, and they collapsed together on the bed entwinned and lips locked.

Only this one time, then the marriage is consummated and he’s the new lord of the land and I can get out of here. Besides, it’d be a waste not to enjoy myself.

Enid pushed Henry away, and then straddled him. He looked up at her naked form and smiled.

“I didn’t think you could look more beautiful, and then I see you like this.”

“You, flatterer.”

Enid leaned down and kissed him deeply. He tried to roll her over but she pinned him with her hands not letting him move.

“Oh you thought you got to be on top?”

Henry laughed and struggled more.

“Don’t exhaust yourself, I need you to keep your energy up.”

She slid back and teased him.

“You are a cruel woman.”

“Some even say I’m evil.”

“Could you not let me have even this?”

“Oh fine.”

Enid released her hold on Henry and leaned down and kissed him. He spun her over and was on top. She felt him press against her, and she gasped. It had been centuries and as much as she tried to tell herself she was above such things it felt tingled like it used to, the warmth. Henry had stamina and the pair made love long into the night. Things ended with Enid astride Henry’s hips pressing herself against him and her leaning down and biting into his neck. He arched his back thrusting harder and until he finished then passed out. Enid healed the wound and sat up.

Shit, I didn’t mean to do that.

Enid got off of Henry and checked his heart, it still beating. She sighed contentedly and wrapped her arm around his sleeping form, laying her head against him.

I wish I could just sleep like this.