| Welcome to Kuwa- ...thingy! This site is purely here for our own enjoyment, which means it's not open to the public. Well, I guess you can read our ramblings if you want... Beware, though. They are known to cause severe mental damage when we've been nightsick. |
| Vale of the White Horse | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: 5 Jan 2010, 13:03 (19,382 Views) | |
| Marieke | 13 Apr 2010, 16:04 Post #661 |
|
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
|
'Yes.' Which mean leaving this girl behind in the hands of whoever lived there. He did not know the chieftain, despite rumors, and hoped that he was capable of protecting her. By the looks of the settlement, it was not a place he'd leave anyone behind. Caer March was as far as their deal - and his payment - went, though. There were other matters demanding his attention. He glanced sideways at the girl's face. He was glad to be rid of her, before she would form too big a distraction. He had kept his gazes and hands carefully away from her since the night of her nightmare. |
![]() |
|
| Sonja | 13 Apr 2010, 16:11 Post #662 |
|
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
|
She wriggled around in the saddle, still not used to horsebackriding for an extended period of time in a skirt. It was true she was relieved to be at Caer March, but she wasn't quite sure whether or not she was glad to be. Rhywallon hadn't been a very talkative bodyguard, or even a very pleasurable sort of company, but she had gotten used to his presence and would be sorry to see him go. Besides, her curiosity as to what drove him wasn't satisfied at all. 'Do you..., ah, when would you like to have your payment?' Gwenllian asked lamely. Silly, that. She'd never been unwilling to discuss business-matters before. |
![]() |
|
| Marieke | 13 Apr 2010, 16:13 Post #663 |
|
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
|
'When I have seen you safe into the caer,' he replied, pushing his heels into his horse to make her go on. 'I don't intend to stay long.' Just long enough to take a peek into that settlement. |
![]() |
|
| Sonja | 13 Apr 2010, 16:19 Post #664 |
|
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
|
'All right.' Gwenllian spurred her horse - or pony, rather - to follow his. It didn't take them very long to crest the last hill and ride up to the caer. When they passed the settlement, she couldn't help but cast curious glances over her shoulder at it. It was nowhere near completed yet, but judging from the speed with which the men were working, it wasn't going to take them much longer. She dismounted in front of the large, ornate doors. There was a nervous ball located in the vicinity of her stomach. They wouldn't tell her to go away, would they? She pressed her lips together and looked at Rhywallon before knocking on the wood. |
![]() |
|
| Marieke | 13 Apr 2010, 16:23 Post #665 |
|
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
|
He watched her face as they waited for the small gate to open. This would never hold if Romans chose to invade it. A memory of flames and frightened faced through a haze of smoke flashed through him, but he shook it off. Someone opened the entrance. He heard a voice asking questions. 'We've come to seek refuge,' he said, automatically. |
![]() |
|
| Sonja | 13 Apr 2010, 16:27 Post #666 |
|
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
|
Eiluned pressed her thin lips together. If it had been her choice, she would have told them they were in no position to provide a safe refuge, but as it was, Briallen was head of the household now. And Eiluned had no reason to complain on that score: she was managing perfectly. With a small sigh, she opened the door and motioned the pair to come in. They were an odd couple, she thought. The girl was young and frightened-looking, the man positively fearsome with his scarred face. Eiluned wondered what they were seeking refuge off. 'Wait here,' she said curtly and bustled off to find Briallen. Gwenllian looked after the elderly woman and licked her lips nervously. She didn't seem all that eager to let them in, and she conveyed her worrying to Rhywallon. |
![]() |
|
| Marieke | 13 Apr 2010, 17:20 Post #667 |
|
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
|
He shrugged and waited, dismounting his horse and grabbing the reigns of Gwenllian's pony. |
![]() |
|
| Sonja | 13 Apr 2010, 17:30 Post #668 |
|
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
|
Eiluned found Briallen within a matter of minutes. 'My lady, there are two travellers at the gates,' she started, 'they wish to enjoy our hospitality.' |
![]() |
|
| Marieke | 13 Apr 2010, 17:33 Post #669 |
|
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
|
She had been trying to shut out the presence of the Roman higher soldiers all day. They had arrived early one morning and settled themselves in the part of the castle she had appointed them. Tudwrig had kept his word: none other than the high ranked men were allowed lodging. Marcus Iulius himself was not often around; a small blessing. She found that his hawk's stare and foxy smile drove her to the point of desperation. 'Who?' she asked, turning on her heels. 'More Romans?' |
![]() |
|
| Sonja | 13 Apr 2010, 17:37 Post #670 |
|
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
|
'No, they are of our own people,' Eiluned said, and added with a small smile: 'Romans I would have told to wait until the settlement is built.' She searched Briallen's face for a moment. The young woman looked a little tired. |
![]() |
|
| Marieke | 13 Apr 2010, 17:41 Post #671 |
|
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
|
'Oh,' she amended, brushing her hair back. 'Thank you, Eiluned.' The woman might no longer be the chief of the household, Briallen thought, but she'd be desperate without her help. The the people she had let through the gate of Caer March looked tired. Briallen nearly started upon looking at the face of the man, for it seemed like a raw wound. The girl had an ashen face and mud on her clothes. 'I bid you welcome in our caer,' she said, questioning. |
![]() |
|
| Sonja | 13 Apr 2010, 17:48 Post #672 |
|
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
|
Gwenllian made a bow and smiled, trying her best not to show how tired she really was. 'Many thanks,' she said softly. 'I hope our arrival isn't inconvenient, we didn't know there was a settlement being built.' She chewed on her cheek and threw a glance at Rhywallon, at a loss as to what she should say. |
![]() |
|
| Marieke | 13 Apr 2010, 17:54 Post #673 |
|
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
|
'We do our best to reserve Caer March for those of our own,' Briallen could not help to remark, just as a Roman soldier passed. Perhaps he could hear; it hardly mattered if he had and she hoped he looked to the ground in shame. Rhywallon cleared his voice. 'My lady, this is Gwenllian. She is looking for sanctuary and hopes your husband and you will offer her such protection. It is a lot to ask.' He gently inclined his head. Briallen blinked. 'Sancuary? Are you two in danger?' Rhywallon smiled. 'My role is only that of hired guard, my lady. I would not bother your household with my presence after I have seen her off.' |
![]() |
|
| Sonja | 13 Apr 2010, 18:00 Post #674 |
|
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
|
'I fled from my husband, a violent man,' Gwenllian explained. 'He sent men after me who are every bit as violent as he is. I've been on the run ever since, and Rhywallon here has protected me thus far. I only wish to stay until the men have ceased looking for me, until it's safe for me to find a settlement on my own where I can live in peace.' |
![]() |
|
| Marieke | 13 Apr 2010, 18:03 Post #675 |
|
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
|
'I...that's sorry to hear.' Her eyes went from Gwenllian to the man by her side. 'You are welcome to stay tonight and as long as you think you may need. We'll discuss this further after dinner. I hope my husband shall be present then.' She hesitated, but decided not to elaborate. 'You look weary. I'll have a bath prepared for you and I think Eiluned will be able to scoop up some clean clothes about your size. We don't have many grown women around here as it is now, I'm afraid.' |
![]() |
|
| Sonja | 13 Apr 2010, 18:08 Post #676 |
|
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
|
Gwenllian bowed deeply in gratitude. She had been half afraid she'd be told to go away. Ridiculous, but she couldn't really help it. 'That'll be just fine,' she said. 'Beggars can't be choosers, after all.' She found some of her good spirits returning and studied the young woman. She looked about her age, but prettier, with lovely dark hair and clear-cut features. |
![]() |
|
| Marieke | 13 Apr 2010, 18:13 Post #677 |
|
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
|
Rhywallon showed his weary smile. 'Thank you, my lady. Neither of us are from around here. May we know your and your husband's name?' Briallen, half turned to call Eiluned, nodded. 'I'm Briallen of Shadow Well. My husband is the chieftain Tudwrig of Caer March. Ah,' she added, seeing Eiluned hurrying their way. 'Please make sure that these people get rested, cleaned up and fed,' she told the woman. 'They both are our guests for now...' 'I shan't be staying long,' Rhywallon said again. 'But I shall welcome a short rest.' |
![]() |
|
| Sonja | 13 Apr 2010, 18:20 Post #678 |
|
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
|
'Of course, my lady. Please follow me,' she told the pair in her curt, crisp manner. Gwenllian followed the older woman, curiously looking around as they were led through the hallways. It was rather alike Higueid's place, but bigger. There weren't many servants around, she noticed. Perhaps they were busy in other parts of the caer. But where the place lacked servants, there seemed to be an awful lot of Romans. Every now and then one would pass them in the hallways, scarcely glancing at them, simply walking by as if they owned Caer March. Gwenllian glanced at Rhywallon, wondering what he thought about it. |
![]() |
|
| Marieke | 13 Apr 2010, 19:27 Post #679 |
|
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
|
He allowed Gwenllian to be seperatef from his. His need to wash and change clothes wasn't so big. A man at arms guided him to the kitchen, where he could get something to eat. He did not expect to wait for dinner, so he'd try and tell Gwenllian goodbye when she was done bathing. From the kitchens he found his own way back to the stone yard, where Romans were hassling about as if they were not guests in a chieftain's household. He stayed in the shadow of the walls, studying them with narrowed eyes. |
![]() |
|
| Sonja | 13 Apr 2010, 19:33 Post #680 |
|
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
|
The woman, Eiluned, showed Gwenllian where the bathtub was and then went to find her some clean clothes. At the first opportunity she had, she decided, she would acquire some fabric and sew a new dress. For now, she contented herself with submerging herself to her ears into the hot, fragrant water and relax for the first time in many days. - He didn't like this particular job, what with all the waiting that accompanied it. Morcant was a man of action, a warrior, not a spy or a sneak-thief. This was like burgling: he had to keep a low profile and not attract attention; something he wasn't very good at. But as it was, he was the only man they could put on this particular assignment and it was all for a good cause. To bring the Romans down, Morcant was willing to go through a number of unpleasant things. So he watched the chieftain's household from his vantagepoint in the forest on the hill, and waited. |
![]() |
|
| Marieke | 13 Apr 2010, 19:45 Post #681 |
|
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
|
The earth was moist from last night's rain. Essylt pulled up her skirt to step over a shimmering rock. Her left arm felt heavy from carrying the basket. The forest grew out of the hills further up. She had no need to venture in there, not even now that her father's entire territory had been secured by the Romans. They had been good to them, Essylt supposed. Roads were hard and now even in winters the traders could come to their house. It had always been moderately safe, but the bordering chieftaincy sometimes sent men to claim livestock on the edges of their lands. It was a dispute that never ceased. The Romans had put a certain stop to that as well, dividing lands as neatly as one would fold a blanket. The only tendrils of worry were for her mother, who at eldery age would bear a new child within moons. If she survived it. |
![]() |
|
| Sonja | 13 Apr 2010, 19:52 Post #682 |
|
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
|
His head shot up when he heard a twig snap, followed by footsteps like those of a woman. Morcant quietly pushed the leaves of the tree he was sitting in aside and looked around. After a while, a girl appeared, carrying a basket filled with he-didn't-know-what. Looked like flowers. Girls seemed to do that a lot: gather flowers. It took him a lot not to snort at this typical female-behavior. It was probably a maid in the chieftain's household. Perhaps an opportunity to get information on the man? Morcant scratched his short beard and leaned his head against the trunk, trying to decide whether or not he felt up to jumping down and wheedling information out of that girl. |
![]() |
|
| Marieke | 13 Apr 2010, 19:59 Post #683 |
|
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
|
She halted, putting down the basket to rub her arm. The herbs were growing sparser now and it would only lessen now that fall drew out it's long dreary afternoons. Her little baby brother would be a winter child, she thought. It worried her more: how would her mother recover from the difficult labour without the sun and the warm weather that she so loved? All the walls would be moist from the draught. She tried to imagine how the household would feel without her mother to govern it. It made her shiver, despite the golden hues of the low sun. |
![]() |
|
| Sonja | 13 Apr 2010, 20:05 Post #684 |
|
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
|
As it turned out, Morcant didn't really feel up to it. However, orders where orders and he just had to find a way to get rid of the filthy Roman influence in these parts. He let himself down from the tree, jumping the last few feet and narrowly missing the girl. 'Woops,' he said easily, 'didn't see you there. Sorry.' |
![]() |
|
| Marieke | 13 Apr 2010, 20:08 Post #685 |
|
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
|
She nearly fell over from the start. For a few wild moments she thought that one of the sidhe had appeared upon her. Her heart beat wildly in her chest, wanting to run in front of her feet, back to the castle. Essylt blinked, and saw that it was just a man, clad in the sturdy clothes of a traveller. Breath returned to me and she clenched the basket tightly under her arm. 'You ought to be careful, sir.' |
![]() |
|
| Sonja | 13 Apr 2010, 20:13 Post #686 |
|
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
|
'Just hadn't expected someone to walk around here, what with the darkness nearly upon us,' he said and flashed the girl a grin. 'My apologies, miss.' Morcant made an extravagant bow. |
![]() |
|
| Marieke | 13 Apr 2010, 20:17 Post #687 |
|
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
|
Who in his right mind climbed a tree at twilight? She took a step back. 'It is not so dark yet. The caer is closeby.' Essylt let her eyes dwell over his appearance. He did not have a face she had seen before. 'Excuse me, I believe I had better return.' |
![]() |
|
| Sonja | 13 Apr 2010, 20:21 Post #688 |
|
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
|
'I'll walk you there.' It wasn't a question. Morcant didn't really do questions, because he thought they were a waste of time - specifically, his time. A shame he wasn't going to escape them now, though. |
![]() |
|
| Marieke | 13 Apr 2010, 20:29 Post #689 |
|
Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
|
She gave him a rather impolite stare before she managed to change her face back into a more civil composure. She turned and began to edge away from the forest's egde. He was silent. She felt uneasy. 'Do you intend to stay at my father's caer for the night, sir?' she tried. Her voice broke the silence. |
![]() |
|
| Sonja | 13 Apr 2010, 20:36 Post #690 |
|
Red & dangerous! Rawr!
|
'I -' Morcant stopped in mid-sentence, his mind racing. Her father's caer? He was walking the chieftain's daughter back home? 'I was hoping for that hospitality, yeah,' he continued. 'I noticed a lot of Romans here, your father must hate that.' |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Vale of the White Horse · Next Topic » |
| Track Topic · E-mail Topic |
3:21 PM Jul 11
|







3:21 PM Jul 11