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Vale of the White Horse
Topic Started: 5 Jan 2010, 13:03 (19,277 Views)
Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'Anything better than that,' she agreed. She hadn't dared hope for anything better when she'd run away, but despite what had happened in the Roman camp, Gwenllian didn't think she could've gotten anything better than Rhywallon. Gods willing, things would only improve from now on. She gave a sigh and hid her face in the folds of his clothes while his fingers ran through her hair.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
She looked around the chamber. There was not much she could take, and everything else was neatly cleared away. Essylt’s hands were trembling. Would they manage to find their way to Two Lakes in this weather? Or survive the way back? Had she been a fool to refuse Rufus’ offer? She wasn’t even sure what they’d find there, and it scared her deeply. Perhaps nothing at all was wrong. Perhaps everyone was dead. She didn’t think the wanted to find out either; this was the perfect excuse to go home, even if it was just for a while. But if was only lifeless destruction she would find, how could she ever go on?
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
Morcant slung the handles of the bag over his shoulders and looked at Essylt. There was a nervous expression on her face. Where they doing the right thing by going back? If they turned out to be too late to stop the events her dream had foretold... He didn't want to think of that. 'Are you ready?'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
Ready? No. She didn’t think she was up to another long journey, exactly. But she inhaled deeply, raising her chin and pulling her shoulders back. As if that would help her steady in the cold winter nights. ‘Yes.’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
They went outside, and he carefully closed the door with a cross beam he'd fabricated after finishing the chest. It was a simple thing, and he'd sacrificed another few hours of sleep for it, but it would keep what little possessions they had safe. 'I forgot to tell you, but I spoke to the chieftain last night,' he said as they walked down the paved streets to the gate.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘You did…the chieftain. You’ve met him. Of course.’ Goodness, had she been so preoccupied with everything going on on her side of their life that she had forgotten about his work? ‘And?’
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Sonja
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'It was unexpected,' he said. 'The man just showed up in my workshop. He looked terribly wan, but told me he appreciated my work and that I didn't have to worry about losing it.'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘That’s good,’ she said. The hill was stretching out before them; the forest was behind that. She saw the figures of dark trees. Essylt slid her arms around his arm before she could change her mind. ‘I’m not looking forward to this.'
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
If he was honest, neither did he. Morcant had had quite enough of travelling by now. He reached around with his free arm, touching her fingers. 'It doesn't look like it's going to rain or snow today, so we can cover a lot of ground before nightfall. We'll be at Two Lakes before you know it.'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
At Two Lakes, or worse. Essylt looked to her feet as they walked. She nodded.
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
Today was one of his good days. He'd actually gotten some decent sleep last night, even if it had been only a few hours. He even felt good enough to eat, and the bread and meat in front of him disappeared rapidly. Perhaps he'd show his face in the settlement today. The sky was clear outside, so he couldn't use the weather as an exuse not to. If he'd walk into the Roman - well, he could deal with the man today. And Tudwrig had stopped viewing turning in front of the man as a bad thing. After all, he wouldn't be able to tell the tale should it happen. He got up and called for Eiluned. He'd rather be accompanied by Briallen, but that was probably too much to wish for.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
She briefly paused when they stared at the outlines of Caer March. Briallen breathed in the cold late morning air. It was just like her first arrival, and yet all of this was unspeakably different. First, there was the settlement that now crept up the hillside, towards the caer. There was a lonely white flag billowing from Tuwdrig’s far window. She wondered what it meant. The greatest difference was her own heart. It felt swollen with longing to see him again. I suppose I’m home, then.
They rode unto the courtyard with a clatter of hooves. ‘The lady Briallen is back!’ she heard one of the staff call to another, while he hastened towards their small party. Next to her, Braegne dismounted with a pained face. She felt hardly better, but was too relieved to have made it back to care. The encounter with the Fair Folk, or Earth Kin as they had named themselves, had been on her mind all the time. There was no thought in her mind to abandon Tudwrig. She’d prove them.
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
He heard a clatter in the courtyard, and then someone calling about Briallen returning. His heart suddenly skipped a couple of beats. Had she really returned? Tudwrig ignored Eiluned's disproving expression as he rushed past her to the entrance. The party in the courtyard was definitely Briallen's and relief washed over him like a tidal wave. He did his best to control himself and briskly walked towards her instead of running. If the stable boys were surprised to see him up and about, they didn't show. He should perhaps formally greet her, but he really didn't care for decorum right now so he just wrapped his arms around her and pressed her against him. 'Thanks the gods you made it back safe,' he breathed in her hair.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘Tud- ow.’ She had no breath left to say his name; his arms pressed all of the words out of her. She smelled him. He did smell a bit sweaty, but it was nothing compared to the sweet surprise to see him so soon. She raised her arms and briefly hugged him back before peeling his grasp from her with a smile. ‘I told you I would.’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
He looked at her face for a long time before answering. 'Yes. Yes, you did. Come inside, you must be cold, and tired. Eiluned!' he called out, something he rarely did, 'tell the kitchens to prepare food for the lady, and everyone in her party.' Then Tudwrig turned back to her. Oh, her face was the sweetest sight he could imagine. But then he remembered the reason of her leaving, and he stopped smiling. 'Is your mother...?'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘Dead. Yes. She was before I arrived.’ Briallen passed a hand over her face and noticed how dusty she was. ‘But my eldest cousin, Caradog, sends his regards.’
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Sonja
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It hadn't been unexpected, but it must have hurt her nonetheless. 'I'm sorry,' he said quietly, taking her hand and squeezing it. 'I hope that I'll be able to return his regards in person one day.' Tudwrig led Briallen inside.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘I hope that too. Very much. It would mean a lot to me…having the whole family together. With you.’ It was pleasantly warm inside. The great hall had changed nothing. She glanced over at the walls. The tapestries were not there, of course.
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Sonja
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'I would like that.' But it probably wasn't possible. Tudwrig made very sure Briallen was comfortable before sitting down himself. 'How did the rest of the trip go?'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘Ah, we had no problems…’ Should she tell him about the Fair Folk? Her party had barely noticed her missing. She decided to wait a little, to make up her mind. ‘But it was a bit uncomfortable. Next trip will not be due till springtime, at the very least. How have things been here? With you? With Marcus Lentulus?’
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Sonja
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His face fell. 'Not so well. I think he's decided to stop being charming and just lord his power all over the place. His latest antic was refusing to feed our own people in the settlement, so rations have reached a new low.' He shook his head.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘Lady Epona.’ Her hand pressed to her mouth. That the man who called himself Rufus held danger, she had realized. But it was yet another problem. ‘Then I must go into the settlement and check on our own people there. We cannot have him degrading them. I will not have it!’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'I couldn't think of what to do about it,' Tudwrig admitted and shook his head. 'I was planning to go in the settlement today, though. But you must rest first.' A servant came in with food and drink and put it down in front of Briallen.
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘And wash,’ she tried to add lightly, but most of her good mood was gone. ‘Let’s not talk about this now. How have you been? I was surprised to see you were up.’
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Sonja
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'First time in a week - I think. I'm feeling better than I've done since you left. Other than that, things are pretty much the same as they've always been.'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘Hm.’ She looked up when a maid came their way, carrying a plate with drink and food. She was hungry indeed. ‘Nothing unusual? New people maybe?’
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Sonja
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
'Well, I hired another carpenter, but he's on a leave right now. And Rufus mentioned something about men lurking in the woods, but I think he was trying to get me to say something he could use against me. I've sent men on patrol in the forest nonetheless, on the off-chance he was speaking the truth.'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘I see then.’ Nothing that sounded like this odd girl that the Earth Kin had spoken of. She took three gulps from the goblet and started to eat. ‘My cousin is moving his family over to Shadow Well.’
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Sonja
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'Oh, right.' It must be strange for her to have others inhabit her home, though they were of her own kin. 'Will he make a good chieftain, you think?'
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Marieke
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
‘Oh, I believe he will. He and I have always been close, really.’
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