a new {world} ; a new {life} ~crystal~

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

James smiled tightly. "When I ask you to do something, darling, I expect it to get done immediately."

[~echo~]

Hannah frowned slightly. "I'm sorry. I got distracted by the view from my room, and then other things."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

His expression darkened. Her excuses clearly weren't helping her case. He grabbed her arm, his grip tight enough to be painful, and pulled her down the hall, back toward her current bedroom. "When I say to do something, you do it," he growled. "Do you understand?"

[~echo~]

Hannah gasped in pain and tried to resist his inescapable grasp. "Ow! Mr. Ewing! Let go!"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

James ignored her, not releasing her until they reached the door of her bedroom. "Next time you disobey me, I won't be so lenient," he said. Then he turned and walked off, just like that.

[~echo~]

Hannah watched him go, her eyes wide and full of fear and confusion. Brushing away a tear and rubbing her arm, she entered her bedroom and immediately set to sewing up the hole in his shirt.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

So now Hannah understood, at least partially, just what she was getting into. Unfortunately for her, there was no way out of it. Especially three days later, when she stood at the alter with James Ewing, about to become Mrs. Ewing.

[~echo~]

She wore a simple white dress and clenched her fists to keep from yelling out for someone to help her.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

James stood straight and stoic. His expression certainly wasn't the one of someone in love on their wedding day. This was a transaction, not a union of love. The priest droned on for awhile before giving the two a chance to say their vows. "I do," he said firmly, and then all the attention turned to Hannah.

[~echo~]

Hannah gulped and looked timidly down at the ground. Her voice barely audible, she whispered, "I do."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

About two seconds after the words left her lips, a voice yowled and the pounding of horse hooves followed. A sleek chestnut mare burst through the wooden doors and charged into the small church, a young Indian man on her back. He held a spear in his hands and a broad grin on his face.

Most of the people in the church scattered, but a few men called out and drew their pistols. The man was too fast, though. The horse galloped right down the aisle to the alter, where he swept up the bride like she was a bag of feathers. He whooped and dug his heels into his horse's sides. He gripped her mane with one hand as she turned around and flew back out of the church, leaving the ringing of gunshots and bewildered people behind.

[~echo~]

Hannah froze as soon as it happened, her eyes gaping and disbelieving. She was shook out of her reverie when he picked her up and a scream left her lips. She tried to fight against her captor, but he was too strong.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Whoo-hoo!" the man shouted as they sped away from the church. He held the girl by his side, his arm tight around her waist, not worried about dropping her or her flying off the horse.

[~echo~]

Hannah gave another scream as they sped away but eventually fell into a terrified silence.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

The man knew the townsfolk would chase him, but he was also confident he could lose them. About fifteen minutes away from the town, he clicked his tongue and the mare slowed to a trot, eventually stopping under a large tree. The Indian dropped Hannah somewhat unceremoniously to the ground and then hopped down from his mare, laughing hysterically. He said something in his native language and grinned at her.

[~echo~]

Hannah gazed at him mistrustfully, scooting so that her back was to the tree. She looked ready to defend herself.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

The man's grin faded and a looked of confusion crossed his face. "Oh... I probably scared you," he said in English. "Sorry. I didn't mean to."

[~echo~]

"You... speak English?" she asked tentatively. "What are you doing, stealing me away from Jamestown! I have to go back!"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

He rolled his eyes. "You really want to go back to that place? And marry James Ewing?" He scoffed. "That man needs to, as you whitefolk say, 'rot in hell.'"

[~echo~]

"Well, I don't want to," she said slowly. "But.... I have to. It's my indenture."