Chapter 23

Anna

Men yelling and explosions were heard outside, but the walls of this castle seemed to dime it. But not enough that I couldn't hear what was going on out there.

I faced double doors, my dress sticking to my body tightly. These doors would open and everything would change. I'd be married to another man. I'd never see Declan again. And I'd be breaking our vows to never leave the other person behind in the dirt.

But, if my heart worked and there is a God out there, none of those things would be happening.

My eyes closed as my hands turned into fists. This was my own doing, but I still felt like someone was making this happen. Like I was a puppet and Benton was controlling my words, my thoughts, and my feelings.

The only thing I knew for sure that Benton could never touch is my memories, so I took comfort in them.

One in particular.

My eyes watched the large man sit in the corner of the Ale House. I swear his chair was carved to fit his body by now. He sat in the same spot every time and ordered the same drink every night.

"Anna!" Grace yelled next to me, making me jump and look at my half-sister. "Did you even hear a word I said?" She asked?

Although I hadn't caught a single word, I nodded and waved my hand in the air. "Got it, taken care of."

Grace looked at me like I had answered correctly but she wasn't believing it. She sighed and rolled her eyes as she walked away from me and towards the back.

I returned to looking at the giant man in the corner, only finding his eyes on me. A smile played on his lips as he brought the cup up to his lips, making me blush.

The sudden feeling of a hand on my ass, smacking it made me jump and quickly whip around to see a recurring man, Trevor. He was roughly my height and okay looking but had zero respect for women. He felt they needed to stay home and take care of the house while the man goes out.

He immediately left my eyes after that. But mine apparently never left his.

"Anna, looking fine as ever," Trevor said with a smirk.

"Touch me like that again and my fine body will be kicking your ass out of here," I said, a fake smile on my face.

As I turned to walk away from this prick, my eyes rolled.

The sudden feeling of his hand gripping my arm tightly and yanking me back near him made me quickly look at him.

"Hey! Don't you ever talk to me like that again, Bitch," He said, his grip getting tighter.

My body struggled in his grip as I tried to tar my arm away. But I didn't need to worry about his grip for long because seconds after he said those words, a tall figure stepped into my side vision.

The trader from the table seemed to appear next to me, throwing one hard punch at Trevor.

Trevor's hand released me and his body toppled backwards, almost crashing to the ground. He gripped his nose tightly as he cursed. His eyes looked pissed until they met the trader's. His eyes soon went wide and he cursed once again.

"Touch her again and you won't be walking away with just a broken nose," The trader said, his voice and words making my mouth drop slightly in shock.

In seconds, Trevor was retreating back outside, away from the Ale House.

My eyes found the trader who watched the man leave before turning to me.

"You okay?" He asked, but his words were with worry, but something else. Like he asked the question but already knew the answer. Maybe he just wanted to start up a conversation?

About damn time.

"Yeah. I could have taken him, but thanks."

When the Trader laughed I felt like I could just melt right there. "Trust me, I wasn't worried about you." His smile seemed to grow as his words left his lips, causing me to blush again.

"I'm Anna, Anna Emberly," I said, holding out my hand.

His next action took me by surprise but in a good way. His hand lightly took mine, lifting it up near his lips and kissing it lightly, "I'm Declan, Declan Harp."

I didn't realize I was smiling till I opened my eyes. When I faced the double doors in front of me again though, it left me.

The sudden feeling of someone grabbing my arm made my head whip to the right of me. My brain instantly thought that I was taken back again and Trevor was grabbing my arm. Instead, I was faced with a guard.

"You must come with me."

"What? Why?" I asked confused, feeling him tugging me away from the double doors.

The guard's word rang in my ears, "The castle is under attack."

My mouth dropped slightly as I was raced up the stairs. "Declan," his name came out in a mumble.

There is a God and my heart hasn't stopped yet.

The guard took me back to my room, lightly pushing me in there before closing and locking the door. I watched the door for a second, still absorbing his words. The only reason Benton would abort mission is if Declan was in the castle. And what just happened was proof enough to me that he was.

Laying my hand on my stomach I looked down at my slightly poking out stomach. "Don't worry, daddy's coming," I said just above a whisper.

When the door opened again, I immediately looked up, my heart racing. Although I was relieved to see Lord Fisher, I wasn't as relived as I would have been if it was Declan. Hell, at this point I'll even take McTaggart.

"Madame. May I come in?" Lord Fisher asked, already seeming to be half-way into the room. I dropped my hand from my stomach and nodded for him to enter. He finishes walking in and closes the door behind him, turning his attention towards me once again.

"Are you comfortable?"

Strange question. One that I could answer with a "Hell no. I've been stuck in the presence of Lord Benton for far too long. I've gotten sea sick multiple times. I have a baby growing inside of me. And I'm in a freakin dress."

Instead I readdress his answer. "Is that why you came down here to speak with me? To see if I'm comfortable?"

Lord Fisher answered with, "I have come to ensure that you are well protected."

From who? Benton or Declan?

"I think you've come because you seek the truth," I say, raising my chin a little. I was hoping that Lord Fisher could be my way out while also taking care of Benton in the process.

Lord Fisher raised an eyebrow, "Which is?"

"Lord Benton's personal hatred of Declan Harp and myself led him to make terrible decisions. He put revenge ahead of HBC interests, and as a result, there was a decline of conditions in Fort James. There was no order, no honor."

"I cannot fault a company man for zealously pursing fugitives."

My eyes pushed together slightly, my body tensing slightly in anger. "What Benton did to my family is unforgivable and unhuman. Anyone that is faced with what my husband and I faced would change forever."

The Lord before me nodded, seeming to listen to my words. "And if I were to concede that that were true. What difference would it make?"

I lightened my tone, hoping to get my message across. "It would mean that you already know the truth. That Benton isn't just a threat to Declan Harp, or to me for that matter. That he is, in fact, a liability to the HBC itself. You'd do far more good for the Company by getting rid of him than you ever could by pursuing Declan and I."

Lord Fisher's eyes move to the ground, his head nodded slightly as if responding to my words. He pauses, seeming to stay like that for a minute before turning and readdressing the door.

When his hand takes hold of the handle, my breath hold in my chest.

Pausing, Lord Fisher said, "Anna, you claim I am a smart man. But something tells me you think you might be smarter." His head turns to look at me again, "Let's see if your right." With that, he opened the door and let it close behind him as he leaves.

My holding breathe released and I felt my body slump slightly. I walked over to the near-by chair, going to sit down only for my tight dress to rip slightly at the bottom.

I hate dresses.

Grabbing the rip part of the bottom of the dress, I yanked it, causing the dress to rip up my side. The rip stopped at mid-thigh, releasing my leg from its trap.

That's better.

The sudden opening of the door made my head whip up and my feet pull me up. Two guards came rushing in, putting me on guard. Before I could react, they grabbed my arms and yanked me out of the room, making my heart race.

Now where am I going?

This is the last chapter in Anna's POV, minus the Epilogue. I hope you enjoyed what I added to the show.

Do you wish Anna was part of Frontier? I know I do! Me personally, I think she would have made the second season a bit more interesting, but I still enjoyed it without her!

Comment and let me know what you think!