Chapter Seven
At the break of dawn, everything seemed different.
Snow blanketed the surrounding courtyards and fields of the castle, and the trees stood as sentinels, branches bare to the withering elements. Winter had truly arrived at your homestead, and with it, a break in the peace you had come to expect from it. You bathed and dressed early in the morning, before the sun had risen, pale and wan over the hills, and retrieved the key to your uncle’s quarters.
The plans to the castle were something he kept close to him at all times - that way, only he knew of the many concealed doors, passageways and avenues, and all the hidden entrances. At least, that’s what he thought.
A small smile stretched your lips, as you picked the lock of his safe cabinet, where you knew he kept all his treasured documents. This wasn’t the first time you’d invaded his personal quarters - you preferred to think of it as clever thinking, but it wasn’t going to change the fact that you’d been doing it since you were small. Golden hairpin in hand, you leafed through his papers, finding the scrolls that held the illustrations of the castle.
You unravelled it carefully, trying to figure out which plan it was, when a sudden voice from the doorway startled you.
"I'm not sure what the Lord Pym would think of you in his personal quarters, but I assure you it's not anything good."
You swivelled, dagger in hand, only for the woman to raise her hand in a sign of peace. She was dressed in hunting clothes, light silver armour that covered her chest and upper arms, a gauntlet shot with gold on the knuckles on one hand and a plain black leather glove on the other. Where there were normally skirts, her upper thighs were protected by what were known as cuisses, and her knees by poleyns - guards for the sensitive joints of the knee. Her curious smile stole your focus.
"Lady Y/N. I have been waiting to meet you."
You fixed her with a steady gaze, befitting of someone of your station. Little did you know, you were one and the same.
"Who are you?"
"Lady Natalia Romanova, of the Barton household."
Your brow creased; Lord Barton did not have a wife any longer, and this woman was much too young and his grief still too great for her to be his new companion - and Sir Barton, his son, was betrothed to your cousin.
"I do not underst-" Footsteps coming up the spiral staircase took the words out of your mouth, and all of a sudden he was there - a grin on his handsome face, shining eyes flickering between you and the woman.
"Ah, Natasha. I see you have met Lady Y/N."
Natasha. That is not how she introduced herself.
"We were just becoming acquainted."
Steve nodded. "Natasha is the half sister of Sir Barton, your cousin's betrothed. She is one of shield, one of my worthy comrades.” This sentence he finished with a fond smile in her direction.
The woman made a mock bow. "I am sworn to protect you and your family."
"I see." You lifted your chin, turned to Steve. “The plans are here.”
“Thank you, my lady. My knights and I will see to it that the entrances are examined for any vulnerabilities.”
You left your eyes devoid of emotion, and you weren’t sure why. Something in his gaze stirred a feeling deep inside your chest, making it hard to breathe.
“Good.” Without another word, you swept from the room.
**
You didn’t know why you were being like this. Perhaps it was something in the way Steve regarded Natasha - so familiarly, as if he knew her well. Perhaps it was the way he called her by what you only presumed to be a nickname. Perhaps it was her enigmatic way of speaking, the way she leaned effortlessly against the side of the doorway, as if being in your halls was nothing to her. Her feminine, mysterious appearance would certainly lure many men and women, no matter their station. It irked you, built a frustrated anger that you weren’t used to.
You longed to be outside, to walk the grounds of the castle, through the empty courtyards and terraces, through the snow-covered gardens, to feel the silence of winter around you. But after the previous night’s escapades into your parent’s old quarters, and what had happened there, you somehow couldn’t see Steve and the others allowing you anywhere far. It was what you hated - confinement. Though Lord Pym didn’t approve of it, you went out walking a lot, sometimes with Bruce or Wanda, or through the forest on your horse, or just alone, along the banks of the river.
It would be frozen by now, solid to the touch. You imagined the watery sun rising to shine pale light onto the surface, pulling the hood of your cloak from your head to feel the cold wind on your face. You imagined Steve beside you, staring off into the distance, and before you could stop yourself, you pictured his laugh as you slipped together on the ice, the sound coming deep from within his chest, that you clung to as your feet slid this way and that -
“Y/N.”
You looked up, knowing only one person in the castle who would address you so informally like that.
Scott stared back at you, his face blanched white.
“Did you know she was here?”
“No.” You said, and carried on walking. Scott tripped over himself to keep up with you.
“I didn’t even know he had a half sister. How could he have a half sister?” He rambled. “She’s going to marry into a family we barely know anything about.”
“It’s probably not something they want people to know.”
Scott fell silent, but you were still searching her face in your mind. Power was written into some people’s features, you could sense it as soon as you saw her, but there was something else. Something hidden, that you couldn’t quite trust, no matter how she had sworn her protection.
“Do they know each other, Sir Rogers and Lady Natalia?” He asked you.
“Yes. They are familiar.” You replied, not bothering to disguise the scorn in your voice. That was when you felt Scott’s eyes on you. You knew what was coming.
“Are you jealous, Y/N?”
You had already readied your answer, and it hovered on the tip of your tongue, ready to spit itself out in a whirl of haste and incredulity. You didn’t say anything, at first, because you knew there was some truth to his accusation. But your silence would only confirm his doubts.
“You think me capable of such a childish notion?”
“Yes.” Scott was laughing at you, and you knew you’d lost. “Yes, I do, when it comes to someone like Sir Rogers.”
You rolled your eyes. “Maybe I am. What does that signify?” '
“Nothing, nothing at all.” Scott was still smiling to himself as you turned your back, going to your chambers.
**
Steve sifted through the plans on a desk in the main hall, pretending to examine the charts and sketches of the castle. He wanted to go to you, ask you why you were so cold around him. He wanted to know what made you spurn him when he tried to get close to you. Initially, he had thought that being your protector would be a simple matter of guarding your chambers and fighting the mercenaries. But you were hot-headed, and impatient - your rendezvous to the uninhabited part of the castle had shown that perhaps he didn’t need to protect you from the mercenaries. Perhaps he needed to protect you from yourself.
Suddenly, Peter burst into the room. It seemed that was the only way he knew how to enter places.
“Sir Rogers,” He began, already panting-
Steve waved his hand, not looking up. “I’m busy at the moment. Perhaps we could talk later.”
“No, Sir,” Peter was shaking his head when Steve looked up in surprise. “I have received a missive.”
“A missive?”
“Yes. From the Lord Stark.”
Steve’s jaw tightened. It had been a long time since he had heard that name spoken so openly. “I see. What was it about?”
“He said that the Baron’s son has doubled his forces, and more mercenaries are to be sent here and to Lord Barton’s household.”
He felt a shiver course through him. “When?”
“Tonight. At dusk.” Peter said, somehow looking apologetic. After a moment of silence, Steve nodded and walked towards the young apprentice.
“Thank you, Peter.” He began to walk towards the door.
Peter frowned at him. “Where are you going?”
“To meet these forces in the flesh.” Steve felt the boy’s eyes on him, the incredulous expression on his face.
“You’re going alone?” Steve turned to him, shrugged.
“Unless there are any willing to come with me, then yes. This is something I will face alone.”
“But we’ll come with you.” Peter professed. “We all will.”
“But what about the lady Y/N?” Steve countered, his eyes softening slightly. He couldn’t imagine you here, all alone, with your servants for company. “Someone must stay here. I won’t have this castle unprotected. Not after what we swore, not after-”
“I’ll go with you.” Peter’s abrupt answer surprised him.
“I didn’t know that you were so eager.” He paused. “But with all due respect, Peter, I must have someone with greater experience.”
“I can fight!” Peter protested. “And who would you rather have protecting Lady Y/N? Me, or Sir Wilson?”
Sometimes, the boy was infuriatingly right.
**
You were just about to try and negotiate with Steve about going on a walk - the lack of fresh air was plaguing you, and so far, no more mercenaries had threatened your grounds. It appeared that they balked at the first image of daylight, and you were thankful.
Fixing the sleeves of your dress, you walked into the great hall, only to encounter Dr Rhodes. He stood next to the table, holding a crystal glass vial up to the daylight streaming in from the stained glass windows.
“Doctor,” you stopped in surprise.
He inclined his head. “Lady Y/N. What can I do for you? I hope that you are faring well, after your ordeal last night.”
You felt a flush stain your face. “I’m looking for Sir Rogers, actually. Where can I find him?”
Dr Rhodes frowned. “You haven’t heard?”
You gritted your teeth, sensing that this wasn’t going to be anything good.
“Tell me.” Dr Rhodes put down the vial he had been examining. It was filled with a clear, transparent liquid, which swirled thickly in the glass like honey.
“He and the boy, I forget his name, are departing for the outer reaches of the area. They have received a missive that the mercenaries are doubled in size, and that they prepare to strike tonight on the surrounding villages.”
You could have scoffed, but held your tongue. Dr Rhodes looked perfectly serious, and as far as everyone else was concerned, the creatures held a great threat to your lands, and you were one of the main targets. But you were no longer afraid. Instead, you chose your words carefully.
“Are they departed?” He shook his head, and that was all you needed in the way of an answer.
You turned on your heel and hastened to the stables, ignoring the fact that you were now obviously outdoors and unarmed, having left your dagger in your chambers. Rounding the corner, you spotted Steve and Peter preparing their horses and weapons, conversing about something. Steve hadn’t seen you coming, but Peter turned before you even made it into their stall.
You leaned against the side, ignoring the straw and grain that crunched beneath your feet. “Leaving so soon?”
Steve jumped; his hand instantly going to the hilt of his sword.
“Y/N. I didn’t know you were here.” He looked you up and down, eyes hardening. “What are you doing outside?”
“That’s Lady Y/N to you.” You snapped. “I would appreciate it if you would explain yourself.”
“We’re going to scout the outer villages. There is help needed there, I expected you would understand.” Steve said, sternly.
“Not about that.” You shook your head. “You told Dr Rhodes about what happened, last night. I had thought I had your secrecy."
There was a quick, almost imperceptible crease in his brow, before he realised what you were talking about.
“I felt that he needed to know, in case you took a turn for the worse.” He spoke softly. Your eyebrows shot up.
“A turn for the worse? Perhaps I am nothing but a delicate fairy to you, then, who needs to be looked after all the time?”
“That’s not what I-”
“I suppose you thought that coming here would be easy for you. That I would be some swooning maiden, ready to accept your terms.” You glared at him, feeling Peter’s head whip between you.
Steve took a step towards you.
“I didn’t just come here for you. There are others that need my help, our help. They don’t have the luxury of living in castles, or being accompanied by friends.” His voice was low, sombre. “They have nobody. And here you are, believing that other people exist purely for your service. That you can find all the answers you want for free.”
He stepped closer, eyes locked on yours. “Everything in this world comes at a price, Y/N, which some people can’t afford to pay. I would not think you to be so selfish, to not understand that.”
You moved backwards, your face stung red. Without another word, or even so much a glance in your direction, he turned to Peter and they mounted their horses. A beat of hooves against the earth, and they were vanishing into the distance, before you could say a word.