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| Vale of the White Horse | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 5 Jan 2010, 13:03 (19,403 Views) | |
| Sonja | 5 Jan 2010, 18:25 Post #31 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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This was a good sign, or so she thought. Gwenllian sat down and folded her hands in her lap. 'I'm traveling, but I find myself in need of a bodyguard, and I was told that you might be willing to take up the job,' she said. |
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| Marieke | 5 Jan 2010, 18:29 Post #32 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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His eyes flicked to the tavern keeper. That man should learn to keep his nose out of other’s business. ‘That you were travelling, I can see. You don’t look like you need a bodyguard.’ Rhywallon eyed her torn dress and determined face. |
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| Sonja | 5 Jan 2010, 18:34 Post #33 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'I do, or I wouldn't be sitting here.' To tell him, or not to tell him? She decided against it - at least not all of it; it wasn't a smart idea to tell her life's story to complete strangers. 'Well, are you interested?' |
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| Marieke | 5 Jan 2010, 18:36 Post #34 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'No.' |
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| Sonja | 5 Jan 2010, 18:38 Post #35 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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Gwenllian pressed her lips together. This wasn't exactly how she'd imagined a conversation of this kind to go. She was used to getting her way without all too much trouble, back home. 'Are you so well off you can refuse a generous reward for your services?' she asked. |
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| Marieke | 5 Jan 2010, 18:43 Post #36 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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Now he smiled. The bad half of his face would never allow a straight smile; the burned skin strechted painfully. 'At the moment I am in the middle of a commission,' he said. 'Once I finish this...Yes, I will be quite well off.' |
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| Sonja | 5 Jan 2010, 18:49 Post #37 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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That was that, then. Gwenllian's face fell. She had hardly enough experience to know the best way to handle this situation, let alone to avoid Higueid's men forever. The only thing she could think of was to overbid his current contractors. 'How well off, exactly?' she inquired. |
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| Marieke | 5 Jan 2010, 18:52 Post #38 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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The girl seemed to realize her position at last. He watched as her face fell. ‘What are you running from?’ he asked, ignoring her own question. |
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| Sonja | 5 Jan 2010, 18:54 Post #39 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'..My husband's men,' she said after some hesitation. Had she been that see-through? Well, no matter now. It was probably for the best to be honest with him. He did seem like the type that would simply walk away if he caught her lying. |
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| Marieke | 5 Jan 2010, 19:00 Post #40 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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He didn't comment on this. If she was desperate enough to flee from her husband, she might indeed be willing to pay up. He wondered how high he could set the price. 'You are frightened enough to choose seeking me out,' he said. 'Where are you going?' |
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| Sonja | 5 Jan 2010, 19:03 Post #41 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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She wasn't frightened! Well, maybe a little... It wasn't exactly fun to be chased, she had to admit, but as long as she didn't get caught she thought she would be fine. Gwenllian moistened her lips and made a little gesture to the east. 'The Vale of the White Horse,' she answered. 'Perhaps further, but for the moment that is my goal.' |
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| Marieke | 5 Jan 2010, 19:05 Post #42 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'Hm.' He moved his chair back, getting up. 'I hope you have family there. The area is not well-protected.' |
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| Sonja | 5 Jan 2010, 19:11 Post #43 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'Which is why I'm here, asking for your services,' she said, looking up at him. Would it be in her favour to start pleading now, or would he just laugh at it and walk away all the quicker? Gwenllian got up as well. 'I don't know what else to do.' |
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| Marieke | 5 Jan 2010, 19:18 Post #44 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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‘It is not my job to save ladies out of goodness,’ he pointed out, looking down on her. For all her tough stance, she had the wit to admit the dangers of the area. ‘I have conditions. You will have to prove you can follow orders.’ |
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| Sonja | 5 Jan 2010, 19:22 Post #45 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'I will pay you, of course,' she repeated. Following orders - it didn't sound all that different from her marriage so far. She thought she could manage and nodded. 'What are those conditions?' |
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| Marieke | 5 Jan 2010, 19:26 Post #46 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'Let's discuss those payments first,' he said with his crooked smile. 'I believe you will have little objections to whatever conditions I set you. Such is your need for protection, that you cling to me out of all your options.' - A knock on her door. 'My lady?' Briallen opened the door herself. It was the woman. 'My lady, supper is ready for you if you wish.' 'Yes,' she said, relieved to have something to do. 'Thank you, I am quite hungry. Is Braegne here?' |
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| Sonja | 5 Jan 2010, 19:29 Post #47 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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Desperate times called for desperate measures, didn't they? 'Payments, then. May I offer you a drink?' she asked. - 'I've shown her the kitchen, she should be still there,' Eiluned answered and looked appraisingly at Briallen's clothing. A smile appeared on her face. 'Shall I send her to you, my lady?' |
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| Marieke | 5 Jan 2010, 19:33 Post #48 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'Very well.' He sank down on the chair again. If she was prepared to offer him enough, he might consider it. - 'That would be appropriate,' she said softly. 'Will my - will lord Tudwrig be at supper?' |
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| Sonja | 5 Jan 2010, 19:39 Post #49 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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Gwenllian gestured for the maid and ordered drinks for the both of them. Thank the gods he had seated himself again, it made her nervous to talk while standing. 'I - you'll excuse me if I don't have a lot of experience in these things,' she said. 'If my offer isn't up to par, please tell me. Twohundred silver coins, all other expenses covered.' It was a lot of money, but she'd give nearly everything she owned to stay away from Higueid's fists. - 'He was feeling a little better,' Eiluned answered tentatively, 'so perhaps he will come down. I cannot promise it, though.' She sent a servant for the girl Braegne and led Briallen towards the dining hall. |
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| Marieke | 5 Jan 2010, 19:45 Post #50 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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Two hundred? Where did she keep that money? Perhaps she was bluffing. He narrowed his eyes at her; the good one narrowed a bit further than the scarred eye. 'If that is what you can give me, you will hire me and my services.' - Briallen seated herself at the table. She felt lonely this high up, without others. The rest of the dining household would have a good view of her, she thought. She could already feel their eyes on her, assessing their new mistress. She hoped Braegne would be here soon, to sit silently behind her. |
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| Sonja | 5 Jan 2010, 19:55 Post #51 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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The relief probably showed clearly on her face. 'That is what I can offer you,' she said, feeling a little triumphant that she was using her husband's money to protect herself from him. There wasn't an awful lot left of it after this, but she took that for granted. 'Would you like to be paid in advance, or otherwise?' - Braegne appeared a little while later and hurried over to the highest table, where Briallen was seated. She made a little bow and took her place behind her lady. Supper. Supper was ready, there was supper... He looked down on his shaking hands - the nails were short, normal - thank the gods and goddesses. But for how long? Tudwrig took a deep breath. His new wife had arrived. He had to go down to show himself, or the treaty would be in danger. Gods, he was hungry. He ran a hand through his hair. Should he comb it? There was no mirror here to see himself in, which was just as well. After quickly dressing himself, he grabbed a comb with a few broken teeth and pulled it through the matted mass that was his hair. No time to wash, it might be back soon. It was best to show himself while he could. He granted himself a minute to collect his wits. He hated those first few moments after transformations, where he couldn't think straight nor seperate right from left and up from down. There was a knock on the door and he gave a start. 'My lord?' He recognized Eiluned's voice. 'The lady Briallen has seated herself.' 'Yes,' he answered. His voice was hoarse. 'Yes, I'm coming.' He straightened his shoulders and opened the door. The older woman's kind eyes framed a silent question. 'I don't know how long. Make sure everything is ready.' She nodded curtly and walked away, leaving him to his own devices. Bah, he could find his way. It was his own damn castle. Tudwrig set off for the dining hall, taking long steps and focussing on his breathing. When he arrived at the door, he shook his hair back and stepped inside. |
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| Marieke | 5 Jan 2010, 20:06 Post #52 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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‘First half you pay me before we leave. The other, I recommend you give me when our ways part.’ He drank from the cup. ‘Where in the Vale do you want me to take you?’ - Braegne whispered something in her ear, but she had already seen it. That man, walking into the hall – was that him? Yes, he moved up the tables, people greeting him, their eyes following him strangely. It must be him. Briallen found it hard to breathe and forced the air out of her lungs, taking a new gulp. Gods, he looked every bit as ill as they’d said. There was hardly a trace of red on his cheeks. He looked like he was made out of wax. She would be marrying a sickly man, Briallen thought. What if their children would inherit this? As he approached, she squeezed her hands together under the table. It was better to say something, to greet him perhaps – but she couldn’t utter a thing. |
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| Sonja | 5 Jan 2010, 20:17 Post #53 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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Gwenllian nodded in agreement. 'The Blowing Stone,' she said then, 'and the settlement there.' She played with the cup in her hands. - The first thing he noticed was that she looked pretty and utterly nervous. Tudwrig couldn't blame her - he'd be nervous too if he was to marry himself. 'Lady Briallen,' he greeted her, sweeping into a bow and taking a hold of her hand, lifting it to his forehead. It took him every bit of strength he could muster, but her fingers were warm and her skin was soft. He took his seat and managed a faint half-smile. 'I apologize that I could not come for you, as is proper, and I hope you will forgive me for my late appearance.' |
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| Marieke | 5 Jan 2010, 20:23 Post #54 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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‘The Blowing Stone. There is no settlement close to that, only Caer March.’ - Thank gods he wasn’t old or terribly ugly, she found herself thinking. As he sat himself next to her, she took him in: his eyes matched the brown of his hair. He was not a long man, such as her father had been, but built much like her cousins. ‘I’ve heard that you suffer from severe headaches,’ she said softly. ‘I am sorry. It must be hard.’ |
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| Sonja | 5 Jan 2010, 20:30 Post #55 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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Caer March, Castle of the Horse. Gwenllian had heard of that from her uncle. The chieftain of the Vale - she couldn't remember his name - was rumoured to be a rather lax man, not quite suited for chieftancy, and hardly left the castle. 'My knowledge of geography isn't that good,' she admitted. Would she be able to appeal for sanctuary at Caer March? It was her best bet, she thought. 'Caer March then, I think.' - His jaw set. 'I manage.' Tudwrig offered her the first food from the plates. 'Did you have a good trip,' he inquired after drinking from his wine, 'and did my people treat you well?' |
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| Marieke | 5 Jan 2010, 20:35 Post #56 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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He nodded. ‘You may have noticed I am not in a condition to travel right now. You will have to exercise patience for two days. Then you can give me my first share of money and we go off. Unless you wish protection here in the settlement as well.’ He eyed her taxingly. ‘Then I will ask for my payment now.’ - Briallen accepted the food with a tense nod. How was she going to make conversation with this man she barely knew, but was to be her husband all too soon? ‘Oh, yes. Yes, there were hardly any problems and your people have been generous. It was tiresome,’ she added, feeling the need to excuse her pale face. ‘Shadow Well is a long way from the Vale.’ |
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| Sonja | 5 Jan 2010, 20:42 Post #57 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to answer. 'I think it'll be fine here,' she said after a while. A couple of days rest sounded appealing, and if she kept to her room mostly there wouldn't be much chance of Higueid's men finding her. 'What happened to your leg - if I can ask?' - 'That it is,' he agreed and poured her wine. He felt the need to be as solicitous to her as he could in his current condition, even though every breath was a labour and every heartbeat a fight for control. 'Tonight you can rest properly. Tomorrow Eiluned will start to show you around the castle and explain how things are run here.' |
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| Marieke | 5 Jan 2010, 20:48 Post #58 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'Romans,' he said lightly, putting down his cup. He could say the word without flinching, but he had worked on that for a while. 'Those dogs thought they could have a bite of me.' - 'Yes, my lord,' she answered. She was not sure what to think of him yet. He seemed to be in pain, even now. Or would it just be the exhaustion after the attack? 'And the...the ceremony.' She carefully looked at her plate of food when she asked it. 'When will it be held?' |
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| Sonja | 5 Jan 2010, 20:54 Post #59 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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Gwenllian admired his bravery; there were probably very few men who could toss it off that easily. 'And they choked on it?' she asked with a smile. 'Do you want another drink?' - 'Please, call me Tudwrig,' he said, never having been much of a fan of titles - it was all empty words, really. When she asked about their wedding, he fell silent for a while. 'Soon,' he told her then. 'When I feel better.' |
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| Marieke | 5 Jan 2010, 20:59 Post #60 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'No,' he said, getting up once again. 'There are other things I need to take care of if you wish my service in two days.' He walked out of the tavern without a greeting. - 'Oh. Of course.' She didn't know what else to say and silently finished her plate. |
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