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The maid led Gillian towards a pair of wooden doors, an etching of a great dragon etched into the panels. Gillian knew that the doors were old, but knew not how they stood as if time held n o bearing to them, but at closer inspection the doors seemed to pulse and hum with an energy that felt familiar yet dangerous. 

Gillian could not help but gulp as the sensation of such power radiated off the doors, prickling at her skin. keeping Gillian steady the woman held tight onto the girl as her knees began to buckle beneath herself. As the doors opened she kept her eyes laid low to the floor, something within her whispered to flee, to run far from that room, yet another voice beckoned her forward to gleefully walk in, yearning for whomever presided in that room. 

  

With each cautious step, Gillian felt her heart tremor, a man she often had heard in passing being called a monster, yet a man that books taught her was the other half of her soul.

  

Gillian's eyes lifted up, taking in all around her, a long rectangular table stretched to the far end of the room, candles lit along the centre of the dinning table. To the left of the room, glass paned windows lined the walls, the pitter patter of snow pounded on glass as the storm raged on. A man sat at the head end of the table, his red eyes glowed within the dimly lit room. From where Gillian stood it was hard to make out his expression, but his displeasure was felt in waves. 

  

The maid pulled Gillian along, though her legs seemed to not want to move, plastered onto the floor. She felt as though the maid was dragging her to her executioner. Helping Gillian to her seat, the maid quickly scurried away, leaving Gillian alone with the sorcerer. 

  

The sorcerer's eyes seemed set on Gillian, his glowing red irises glowered, searing through her body, Gillian dared not look up from her lap. She tried to halt the trembling of her shoulders, waiting for the moment the sorcerer would finally address her, to tell her how disgusted he was that she was his soulmate. 

  

To her side two servants appeared through a door, Gillian's watched up through her eyelashes as a slender hand reached in front of her placing porcelain plates of food, steaming hot, as another pair of hands poured tea beside her.

“Milk, m’lady?” One of the servants asked, lifting a milk saucer to the tea cup besides her. 

Gillian quickly shook her head, she did not want cause trouble where it was not needed. 

the servant quickly followed up asking if she wanted sugar, yet again Gillian shook her head, after a few minutes Gillian head the two servants make their way out the room. a deafening silence fell over the room. 

griping tightly onto the arms of her chair, her nails clutching onto the velvet padding. she steeled herself, allowing her head to rise only a few inches up. swallowing down the nervous lump growing in her throat, she spoke with a tremor in her voice. 

"i-i-i want to thank you," she paused swallowing once more, feeling sweat gathering atop her brow. "i-i owe you a life debt, i would be dead if you h-hadn't found me." Gillian dared a glance his way, instantly being welcomed by his cold glare. "i-i would be glad if you could tell me how to get to the nearest road," she snapped her head back down to her lap, shutting her eyes, she heaved in a breath. "I'm grateful for your hospitality, but i must leave, my-my-family will be worrying and i don't wish to encroach on your kindness any longer."

Gillian shut her lips, waiting for the sorcerer to answer her. 

"no," 

Gillian lifted her head, staring with bewilderment, "s-sorry?" she stuttered, 

"no," he said again, "you are forbidden from leaving the castle grounds,"

Gillian's eyes widened, "if it is p-p-payment you want, i promise as soon as i am home i will give you all the money you want,"

"i have no need for money," he grumbled, leaning back onto his chair, 

"if it's labour-"

"you will not leave," he grounded, his tone halting any augment Gillian wished to speak.

Gillian tried to hold back her tears, as she heard the sorcerer sigh, the screech of a chair being pulled back, echoed in the room, as foot steps travelled down the room, till stopping beside Gillian. 

Gillian felt the gentlest touch beneath her chin, a finger guided her to face the sorcerer, his thumb creased wet cheeks streaming with tears, wiping away the droplets as if they were as precious as drops of rain during a draught. his piercing red eyes softened as the sight of her gleaning purple ones. 

"whilst you are here, you will be treated as the lady of the castle."

"l-lady of the castle? no i can not possible-"

he frowned staring down "will you insult me by denying that my soulmate is not worth such a title?"

Gillian violently shook her head, "no one has to know, i can leave." she nearly shouted, urgently twisting her body to face the sorcerer.

the sorcerer pulled his hand away from her face, Gillian immediately felt the loses of his warm fingers. "do i disgust you that much?" he sneered, he titled his head, studying Gillian, "what is your name?" he grumbled, 

"name?" Gillian squeaked, 

he smirked, which caused Gillian to remark how utterly handsome he was, "yes, your name"

muttering she answered, "Gillian"

"Gillian," he breathed quietly, it was as if he was savouring the name. "i am lord high sorcerer, Duke Ragtor Woodbane, of house Woodbane, protector of the ancient woods and dragon master." he paused his face soften slightly looking at Gillian with what she thought to be affection. "but you can call me Tor,"