Chapter 4 Montagues

They all turned to the direction of the voice. Immediately the air seemed thicker and Gosling felt her eyes watering up. A bulky man with some roundness to him lumbered his way over to the table. His hair was short and thin with a salty gray color. While the young man's eyes were dark but still bright, this man's eyes seemed duller. The young man wore an off-white button-up and an orange-brown jacket over it that was open with darker brown pants that seemed to be in softer material like the jacket. The older man wore a black button-up with flowing sleeves and tight pants to match. He also had on what seemed to be a cape...similar to what her uncle would wear but his was royal purple, appeared softer, and had no tears. 

The older man's eyes darted to the blonde as his face twisted up. "Janice!" 

"Sor-Sorry sir." She scurried over to Gosling and pulled out the chair for her. 

The older man didn't even have to pull his attention away from her to the other two, they were right behind her as Gosling sat down glancing about. 

"Sorry about the inconvenience," the hefty woman rushed as she poured some oatmeal onto the plate in front of Gosling.

"Don't apologize to me Agnes, apologize to her," he directed to Gosling and the hefty woman nodded quickly before turning to her.

"I'm sincerely sorry about this. We will do better next time, I swear it." She crossed her heart which earned her a narrowed look from the older man. Her attention turned to him after she placed some eggs and bacon on Gosling's plate. "Are you hungry sir?"

He broke out into a laugh that sounded more like barking. "I have already eaten, you're far too slow for me." his gaze went to her "twin" now. "I want you at my side immediately when you're done here." And with that, he strode out the room the same way he had come in. 

His stench was no longer choking Gosling up and she finally let herself cough out loud. Agnes patted her back with a frown.

"I apologize for my father," the young man sighed, settling back down in his chair. "Mercy, please get us some tea to bring this morning back to the peaceful setting it had before." 

The "twin" nodded before scurrying out of the room, the opposite way they had come from. Gosling started to eat but felt more cautious than usual. While eating she tried to chew quietly and always found herself checking to see if the servants or who appeared to be the prince, was paying any attention to her. She didn't have to worry about this before since she had rarely eaten with or around anyone else.

"So-"

Gosling jumped from the sudden voice echo from the price, dropping her fork on the plate. The prince winced at the clanging that went through the room before his lip curved up a little into an awkward smile.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." He glanced over at the two servants. "Can you please leave us, by the time Mercy comes back you can come back to clean up or rest." 

The two nodded and glanced back at us before leaving. Gosling's shoulders tensed as she sat up straighter. Her eyes kept going back and forth between him and the food, unsure what to do. 

"I hope you're enjoying your food...the trip here I know your trip here must have been long. But don't worry, I haven't told anyone you're a Nightlan."

Gosling's eyes shot up from her plate and focused on the prince.  "So what if I am? You are too, and so is the king."

He squinted his eyes before frowning. "My father and I are not of your exact race, we're Montagues." 

She had always heard of other Nightlans but never met any. She wasn't even sure how many different ones there were, all she knew was that if you showed up on their land….you were most likely dead. Tortured, killed on the spot, and if you weren't even held captured you were going to die anyway. 

She shot up from her chair but he was already out of his chair as well. "Please, you're safe here," she heard him with her back turned. "I swear!" 

She spun around to face him, her eyes glinting over at him. "I guess it wouldn't make sense, you could have killed me beforehand. Unless this is your way of my last meal-"

"Nonsense, I don't know what you have heard about us but here we accept all Nightlans and others, as long as you don't harm another." Her eyes still lingered on the door as he spoke. "Well, of course, that depends on the circumstances." He made his way over to her in confident but careful strides. 

"What circumstances?" She stepped back once he was almost near.

"Self-defense and I'd hate to say it but war. There's probably more but those are the main two that come to mind." His eyes shot down to her feet then back into her eyes. "If you want I can get you a ticket to get back home?"

Her mouth opened to say yes but then she recalled that she was probably going to be killed if she went back. And if she wasn't, wouldn't she just be looked down on? Staying here she could also lose her life, but so far it didn't seem that way. There's a possibility she even had a better chance staying here than leaving.

He stood up straighter, tugging at the front of his jacket. "I can even ride there with you- well if that's what you want that is."

She opened her mouth, trying to form the words she wanted to say. But she had failed, she didn't know what she exactly wanted based on what he said. She just knew she didn't want to die...despite that being the only reason she was even born and lived. 

Thankfully she was saved by Mercy coming back with a tray. On it were two teacups that had little saucer plates underneath and a big teapot in between them. 

"Sorry for the wait sir." Mercy bowed a little his way then Gosling's, before placing the tray down on the table. "I apologize to you too madam." 

"No need." The prince gave Mercy a smile that resembled sunshine, only less aggravating to Gosling. 

With a nod, Mercy poured the steaming red liquid into both cups. After placing the teapot back down on the tray she handed the prince and Gosling their cups.

"You don't want to sit?"

"No, " the prince responded right as Gosling was about to take a seat but stopped with a mutter.

Mercy pressed her lips together for a moment to not laugh. "Well, anything else?" 

"No thank you. Now be on your way, you don't want to upset my father."

Her face fell before nodding quickly and scurried out as the other two servants were coming in. 

Gosling peered down at her cup of tea, letting it warm her hands rather than drinking it. The ruby-red shade kept her eye and perhaps caused her hesitation to drink. From the corner of her eye, she saw the prince sipping it just fine. She hadn't seen Mercy do anything to his or hers either.

"Let's take this somewhere else." 

She jumped just from the brief touch on her shoulder. Thankfully she had not spilled her tea.

He grimaced. "Sorry, you spaced out and weren't responding."

"It's perfectly fine." She muttered as he finished his tea and placed the cup down on the tray. 

"Want to place yours on the tray as well? I'll carry it as we walk to where we're going."

Her eyes flickered down to the tea in her cup that she still hadn't drank from, though, there was still a little steam and it was difficult to hold the same way for too long.

"Thank you, but I got it."