InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Firebrand ❯ Chapter One - Where It All Began ( Chapter 1 )

~*~Firebrand~*~

Chapter One-Where It All Began

It was a perfect day for riding. The early spring morning dawned brightly and the refreshing wind accompanying it made it more tempting. From a distance, loud hoofbeats could be heard as horses come crashing through the thick foliage.

The Lady Winters and His Majesty watch in some amusement at their companions leaving them behind. They both reined in their horses, both resigned to the fact that they are forgotten for the moment.

They make a beautiful couple; the Lady Winters having a frail beauty that lures almost all men from all ages. The perfectly arced brows over big, chocolate brown eyes that always seem to generate calm and serenity, her alabaster skin flawless. She had straight raven hair falling almost to her waist. At the moment, she's wearing a lavender riding habit, her hair piled atop her head encased in her matching hat. She sat daintily on her sidesaddle, her modesty apparent.

The king is also a handsome figure. He had silver-strewn hair and flashing gold eyes. His physique boasts of years of hard training and even harder work. He was not a man of idle, but a man of action. He is tall, almost towering over every man and woman that he meets. His every move and bearing exudes `royalty' and `elegance'.

But they are not a couple. The king already had his queen, and happened to love her dearly. The Lady Winters, though she does not have a king of her own, already had a duke. And she adores him to nigh distraction.

"Those two are ever setting out competing against each other. I wonder for how long they would do that,"

The king gave her a mischievous smile.

"Ah but my lady, I have to admit that their small `competition' holds much amusement for me. This is the first time that I have ever seen the duke on his toes with anybody,"

The Lady Winters laughed, her melodious voice tinkling.

"Yes, you are right, Your Majesty. The duke does seem to be a tad competitive than ordinary. But can you really blame him? When a woman sets out to prove her talents more accomplished than his? I think it amusing, yes. But I also think it foolish and will prove to be hurtful when the Lord Grey puts her in her place,"

His Majesty looked at her in surprise, his golden eyes twinkling with something.

"Why, I do believe the Lady Winters is jealous! And of my own ward, no less," The sovereign said with light teasing.

"Of course not, your Highness. I am secure where Lord Grey's affection is. It is only that I worry about your ward. She is young, and very beautiful. She is unusually skilled of men's sports, and I would say that is part of her charm. But with all of her claims of experience, Miss Woodbine is still so innocent and naïve. I seek only to protect her from harm,"

"Yes, the girl is certainly spirited. You have her grandfather to blame for that. She's his only pride and joy, and after her parents died, he only wanted what is best for her, what made her happy. And you have to take in consideration that she comes from America. Society is very different there, from what I gather. It must be why she had free rein over her own life,"

The `girl' they are talking about is none other than the Mistress Kagome Rose Woodbine, the granddaughter of one of the wealthiest and most prominent aristocrats who had migrated over to the States. Her grandfather owned a very large estate and plantation, not to mention his vast shipping business. Even though the old man left for England a long time ago and had raised his own family there, he still remained loyal to his motherland, often using his own business to make sure England also profits.

And that is why the king graciously accepted the old man's anxious request for his granddaughter to be presented in the English court. Though not having noble blood and is without title, the girl will not lack for suitors, what with her beauty and wealth. And she had the king's approval and affection, of course.

The sovereign lord turned to the Lady Winters.

"What say we have a bet of our own, my lady? Lord Grey against my ward. Let's see who wins this competition first,"

The Lady Winters smiled her assent, and followed the king out of the forest, towards their companions. But there was a niggling of doubt behind her eyes.

The king's words speak of the current competition going on; but she cannot refute the hidden meaning she senses behind it.

The battle for dominance is on.

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The wind swept up through her long, black tresses; and her delicate fingers automatically rose to tame hair gone wild. One hand reined in her lathered horse to a stop, just before the stables.

Her russet orbs were blazing with indignant fury.

The duke managed to best her again.

`Damn him!'

Mistress Kagome Rose Woodbine managed to keep the thought to herself, though just barely. There, in the center of the courtyard lies the bane of her existence.

Inuyasha Pierce de Monteforte, Lord Grey, Duke of Windshire.

And the most despicable bug to Kagome's eyes.

The duke reached the square where the stables are stationed a scant minute right before she burst through the trees in his wake. And managed to win the unspoken challenge of a race between them.

`What is it about him that drives me to prove and defend myself? It's not as though he offends me intentionally,'

With the irritating questions (of which she had no answers) going on inside her head, Kagome nudged her horse once again to a trot, this time onto the stables. When she reached the stall where Tempest is placed upon, she swung her other leg into a perfect sidesaddle and readied to slide her slim figure from the horse.

Two hands magically appeared to rest upon her waist and help her down from the saddle.

A small gasp escaped Kagome's lips as she raised astonished eyes to her aid's countenance.

Golden eyes met hers.

"Pardon me, Mistress, but it would seem as though you're in need of assistance,"

Lord Grey effortlessly lifted her out of the saddle and laid her on her feet on the ground, his hands tightening for a moment before releasing her.

Kagome managed to calmly step back away from him.

"Thank you for your assistance, my lord,"

Lord Grey inclined his head in acknowledgment.

She almost gritted her teeth then and there. Almost.

"Please extend my excuses to His Majesty, but I found our ride to be a bit tiring. If you may, I wish to now go back to the castle to rest,"

The duke regarded her for an instant.

"I give you my word that I will, Mistress. But to my knowledge, the king would want your company for dinner this evening. I trust you will be feeling refreshed enough to attend?"

Kagome wanted to wipe that arrogant smirk from Lord Grey's face, but decided against it.

"Of course, my lord. You can assure the king that I will be joining him and the queen for dinner. How kind of you to remind me. And I will be feeling up to it, I'm sure. After all, this ride is nothing but a little tedious exercise, isn't it?"

She delivered her barb with an amazingly innocent guise and her voice void of all deceit.

She's already walking away and congratulating herself, when she heard the duke's reply.

"Not for a man, dear mistress. Riding requires a certain technique and talent to perfect. And even more skill to enjoy it. But what am I saying? A gentle lady like you would find it tedious, since it is a man's sport. Ladies are all wilting lilies when it comes to these activities, as you have found out,"

The barb hit its' mark.

`That does it! To imply that I lack the proper skills-`

She stomped back to the duke's spot and promptly jabbed at his chest with her finger.

"Why you pompous ass!"

Kagome managed to control herself enough not to shout it out for all to hear. Her insult came out on a low, menacing whisper.

Before she could hit him again, Lord Grey caught her hand.

"What language, mistress! Are you sure you're a dignitary's granddaughter and not merely pretending to be one?"

A black brow arched back in accordance to the indecent question.

Composing herself, she wrenched her hand back free from his grip and clenched it at her side. Heat flooded her cheeks at the thought of her embarrassment.

`Oh, how grandpa would be ashamed of me!'

An apology was warranted in this situation, and she's the one to give it.

"Forgive my impertinence, Your Grace. I forget myself. It will not happen again,"

"See that it does not, Mistress. Your grandfather would undoubtedly be shamed by your actions. A woman's impertinence is not allowed in this continent, as I'm sure you've noticed. You would only be hurt by such actions,"

She forced herself to swallow the retort rising up her throat. But she refused to back down from his gaze.

"Learn to know your place, Miss Woodbine. That is all the advice I could give you,"

`As if I'm asking for one!'

But she only gave him a very proper curtsy before turning on her heels and storming off.

Without permission.

And she vowed to herself she would get even.

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The sound of hoofbeats reached Inuyasha's ears and he shook his head to clear his mind.

He had been standing like an idiot staring at the girl's retreating back at the center of the courtyard!

"Damn it!"

He cursed in a whisper, while leading his horse away to the stables.

`What is it about the girl that rubs me the wrong way? She is spirited for sure, but not at all that brazen and impertinent. What made me say those things anyway? Ah gads,'

He stopped his musings as he saw the king and his lady arrive. He turned the task of unsaddling Thor to his groom and went outside.

He went to the Lady Winters' side and lifted her down from her horse, giving her a subtle embrace on the process.

`Or not so subtle,'

Inuyasha thought with a smile as he saw the gleam on the king's eyes and the grin that spelled, "I-saw-that"

Lady Winters is now blushing profusely as she saw the look that passed between both men. Although she loved the duke with all her heart, she is not quite comfortable of displaying affection with so many people around, least of all with the king!

She tried to dislodge the arm around her shoulders, but they only laughed out loud.

"Ah my Lady Winters! Ever the most shy and refined lady. No need to be that way around me, Kikyou. I do know what's going on,"

The king's reassurance only made her blush all the more.

"Stop teasing her, Your Highness. I think she'll be burning with fever after this conversation,"

Inuyasha added to her discomfort.

"Stop it, Pierce. And what's with Miss Woodbine, being so determined and in a hurry to get away from you? What did you do to that poor girl?"

Kikyou interjected, in an attempt to put the subject away from her.

She succeeded.

First she saw her lover color a little, and then the king raise an eyebrow over such behavior.

"I did not do anything!"

Both eyebrows of the sovereign lord lifted up at the defensive reply.

"Is that so? Tell me, Inuyasha. What is it about the girl you so dislike?"

The straightforward question only made the duke want to give in to squirming inside his clothes.

"Nothing, Your Highness. It's just that I merely sought to straighten out Miss Woodbine's perception on how real ladies should behave. I hope to aid her in avoiding being hurt by other men who would be callous of their treatment of her, if they knew what ideas Miss Woodbine is brewing inside her head,"

The smooth rejoinder had the king's eyes sparking with mischief and inquisitiveness.

"You know the girl is under my protection, and that she has won both the Queen and my affection,"

The droll tone of the king reminded in an ingenious form of censure.

"Of course, Your Majesty. And I would not wish for any harm to befall the girl, I assure you. I am merely helping her to see the consequences of such foolish acts. It is not my plan to displease you, nor Her Highness,"

Lady Winters is looking back and forth between the two men who looked too alike to be mistaken as brothers. When she heard the last reply of the duke, she decided to intervene.

"Do not worry about Lord Grey's intentions, My Lord. I am sure he means no harm to Miss Woodbine, and it would indeed benefit the young lady if she were to learn the rules of this kingdom as fast and as quickly as possible. And besides, I think you just owe me something,"

The last statement was said with a bit of her tinkling laughter, just enough to reassure the king that she is indeed jesting. He is not a man to be trifled with.

The king gave her a slight smile, but a smile nonetheless.

"How could I forget, my lady. Here,"

The king fished inside the pocket of his riding coat and produced a gold coin. He pressed it into the Lady Winter's hand.

"And before the Queen would have my head for being late, I must be off. We will talk later. You are coming to the dinner party, are you not?"

When a question is phrased in such a commanding manner, both lord and lady must agree.

"But of course, Your Highness. We thank you for inviting the both of us,"

Lady Kikyou curtsied demurely for the king's benefit. The king nodded and went to his way inside the castle.

The two lovers were left alone to their devices.

Lady Winters picked up her skirts and attempted to follow in the king's footsteps, when strong but gentle hands captured her wrist to stop her.

"I have missed you,"

Lord Grey's amber eyes looked back at her with longing, love and desire.

She decided to tease him a little.

"But we are together just this morning, my lord. Or have you forgotten?"

"How could I forget, my lady. Every moment spent with you will last in my memory for eternity. It is just that there are other things that need constant reminding of,"

Lord Grey said suavely while raising her hand to his lips and kissing it.

She gasped in surprise and desire flickered in her eyes at the feel of his tongue raking the back of her hand discreetly.

The duke smiled warmly, and said:

"I take that as a yes,"

Before escorting his lady back to their quarters, both side by side for convenience…