The Crown's Obsession (WN)

"What is wrong in saying that I want to save people whom I care about?" she asked him. Wouldn't people say that in general?

"I never said it was wrong. I just want to show you what your words actually mean," he replied as they continued to walk away from the carriage and into the forest, deeper and deeper where the trees looked similar. If Madeline were to be left alone here, she was sure she would find it hard to get back towards the road again.

When they finally reached towards an open space, which was out of the forest, Madeline caught sight of the sun, which was up and high. She noticed how there was another set of the forest below them, but that was not what got her attention. There was a cliff ahead of them, and Calhoun stopped only when they reached to stand near the edge.

Madeline automatically took a step back from Calhoun when he let go of her hand. The scenery in front of her was breathtaking as it was covered in greenery and some parts that were colourful because of the coloured leaves in the trees. She looked at Calhoun, who was watching her. She doubted he had brought her here to admire the scenery.

Gulping down the anxiousness in her throat, she asked, "What do you want?"

"You." Madeline should have known that would have been the answer, and she saw the smile that radiated from his face, "You can ask silly questions, sweet girl."

"Why did you bring me here?" she asked him another question, and the smile on his lips finally lowered down.

Calhoun walked towards the steep of the cliff closer and closer until there was no space between his feet and the edge of the cliff.

"When I was young, I used to come here often when I needed to sort my thoughts out," said Calhoun to her and she quietly listened to him, "This is my favourite spot. You know why?" he asked her.

"Because it is quiet?" she asked him back.

"Just because there's no one here, except us doesn't mean it is quiet," and when he moved, Madeline felt her heart jerk with the little stones that fell off the cliff. She wished he could stand away from the cliff because even though she wasn't fond of him, she wasn't comfortable with the thought of him falling off the cliff, "When you are in a quiet place, the noise only increases," he raised his hand to place his finger on the side of his temple, "You hear things which you like and don't like. But then that is not what I was going for," he chuckled.

Calhoun took two steps forward impossibly close to the edge of the cliff, and he could hear Madeline's heart beating loudly that made him smile.

It was evident that Madeline was brought up with love, tenderly, where she didn't want anything bad to happen to anyone. The foolish little thing believed everyone was good around her, but the world was not a place as she imagined it to be. She cared for everyone. The kind of person who cared about everyone, wishing them happiness and luck, but not everyone could have that. She cared for the tailorman like the next thing.

And somewhere it gave him joy that Madeline didn't hold the same feelings towards him as she held for the rest of them. There was a fragile line between hate and love, and it could be changed with one snap at any point in time.

"This is a good place to throw things," said Calhoun and Madeline's face turned pale, "Sometimes people don't listen, so it's good to throw them from here too."

Madeline's brown eyes widened, and she took another step back to only stop when his eyes moved to look down at her feet.

"A-aren't there trials and execution for that?" asked Madeline and she saw Calhoun finally leave the side of the cliff to make his way to where she stood.

"There are some of them who don't deserve the execution. Sometimes you wish they are just gone," came the reply from him, "It is good to hear them scream until you hear the body finally fall straight on the ground because of the gravity. The bones are broken, the other body parts smashed into the forest floor with blood where the person turns to food for the little and big animals."

His description was on point that she had imagined the gory image he had painted in her mind. But Calhoun was not done speaking.

"Sometimes the body doesn't land on the ground," and he paused letting her question his words before continuing to say, "Because of the heavy rains or the strike of the lightning, the trees break from the top to leave only the lower half with a sharp edge."

Madeline who was unable to contain the bubbling nervousness that was growing in her body with his every word, asked him, "Are you planning to kill me like that too?"

Calhoun sighed, "Where did you get the idea about that?" He was seriously asking her the question when he had brought her to a place where he killed people! "I told you...I have other things I would love to do to you but killing you is not on the list right now."

Was that a yet kind of statement? She asked herself.

"Let's assume what if the tailorman's life is in grave danger. The big bad wolf wants to tear him apart so that the wolf can have a happily ever after with his red riding hood. Now you can save him only if you jump off the cliff," and Madeline waited for him to go on but that was all he had to say.

"I am not a bird!" Madeline reminded him.

"I know that sweetheart," replied Calhoun with a calm voice, "Don't worry, you won't fall. I will make sure of it, but if you want to save the man's life, the only opportunity you have is to jump from the cliff. What are you going to do?" he asked, his red eyes looking at her with intrigue in it.

Madeline pursed her lips as she stared into Calhoun's red eyes. As they were no more in the castle which had shadows, she could see him much more clearly and she realised he was either the devil himself or the devil had made him.

"What did you mean I won't fall?" she asked him, fretting internally at the thought that she was going to be pushed down. Was this her last day? She was no bird to fly!

"It is what it means," was his short reply and Madeline was not satisfied with it.

She knew she was not supposed to favour James Heathcliff in front of the King, but every time she tried to resist the urge of saying anything, Calhoun would make sure to stir and anger her, trying to push her to the edge. But now he wanted to do it literally. And somewhere she did it to provoke the King but every time that had only ended up in her disadvantage, but she liked pushing his buttons which she noticed the reaction for a second before it disappeared to be replaced by something sinister.

He said he didn't plan to kill her and she didn't know how she would come back.

"Go on," he said, putting both his hands in his pocket and Madeline could feel the heat of sweat forming on her forehead as well as her back now, "You have claimed James to be the one for you and how unfair you feel that I took you away before the non-existent relationship would grow. It is time for you to prove."

"This is not how you court the woman you love," Madeline reminded him and he smiled at her words.

"Stop favouring other men," he rolled his eyes, "You are holding on to something that does not exist, but is barely an idea. Have you ever considered the possibility that maybe there would some habits of his that you wouldn't like about him?"

"No one thinks about those things."

Calhoun stared at her, "I knew you would be stubborn, but I am willing to accept it," he said with a solemn look, "We can stand here all day. The sooner you jump, the sooner we leave."