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| Vale of the White Horse | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 5 Jan 2010, 13:03 (19,398 Views) | |
| Sonja | 13 Jan 2010, 23:40 Post #181 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'I don't know; he never told me.' It was perhaps a bit of a lie, but Eiluned firmly believed that a weddingday should be a happy day, not one clouded with situations long in the past. And if Braegne's draughts would keep working as they had for the past days - well, perhaps this wedding would mark the beginning of a new, happier period. |
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| Marieke | 13 Jan 2010, 23:41 Post #182 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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She nodded. 'Thank you Eiluned. Just one more thing. Far less difficult to answer,' she added, managing a smile. This was just the anxiety of a young bride. 'Is he as nervous as I am right now?' |
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| Sonja | 13 Jan 2010, 23:43 Post #183 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'Quite,' Eiluned said with a soft laugh. 'I haven't seen him this nervous since he was a little boy. He often talks about you, and he is very anxious to make you a good husband.' |
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| Marieke | 13 Jan 2010, 23:45 Post #184 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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'He does?' This sounded like better conversation just before her wedding, and Briallen smiled wider, sitting down on the bed once more. 'What does he say about me, then?' |
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| Sonja | 13 Jan 2010, 23:50 Post #185 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'He considers you very pretty, and he likes your conversation. He cannot stop talking about your plans of renovating the tapestries, either, and he's been bothering me with ideas for all sorts of small attentions I'm not supposed to tell you about, yet.' Tudwrig did indeed seem a whole different man now that he wasn't constantly battling the curse. It was almost too good to be true and Eiluned was, even though glad for him, still on her guard. |
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| Marieke | 13 Jan 2010, 23:52 Post #186 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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There was a strange feeling in her belly, but it wasn't unpleasant. Not at all, Briallen thought. 'That's most flattering,' she managed. 'Well, I'm sure he needs you more than I, I think Braegne will be here any moment. I will see you at the ceremony, I think.' |
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| Sonja | 15 Jan 2010, 19:35 Post #187 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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Braegne arrived just as Eiluned walked out of Briallen's room. She nodded at the elderly lady and stepped inside. 'I made you something against the nerves,' she said and put the cup she was carrying down by the bedside. After perhaps a quarter of an hour, the pain started subsiding. It wasn't gone completely, and Gwenllian knew it could come back at any moment. It made her cranky to think about it, because they were losing valuable time and there wasn't much she could do but wait for Rhywallon's return. When she heard a twig snap behind her, she thought he had and turned her head to see. But it wasn't Rhywallon, and the next moment a hand closed over her mouth and she was lifted off the ground. Gwenllian tried to scream, but the hand muffled the sound. Without knowing what she was aiming for, she stabbed the little dagger backwards. It met resistance, the man behind her cursed heavily and, more importantly, released the grip on her face somewhat. She pulled the hand away and screamed. |
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| Marieke | 15 Jan 2010, 19:51 Post #188 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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‘Thanks, Braegne.’ She took the cup from her maid and drowned the liquid with one gulp. ‘I need it.’ The shrill sound pierced the still forest air. Rhywallon’s head snapped the other way. It was the girl’s voice, he knew that at once. Already his legs had started to move, running back to the natural shelter of the slope. There he saw five or more men. One was attempting to restrain Gwenllian, who was holding a dirty dagger. Another man had staggered back, clutching his belly. He halted, forcing his breath to come out in controlled, silent gasps. He had to think. If he dashed forward now, the element of surprise would be on his side, that was sure enough…Rhywallon calculated the possibilities. Five of them, including the injured man. He was capable enough, not to mention bearing enough weapons, but chances were they would simply grab the girl and leave the others to hold him back. But he should not underestimate Gwenllian. She had a dagger. |
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| Sonja | 15 Jan 2010, 20:07 Post #189 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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Tudwrig kept running his hands through his hair until Eiluned told him to stop fussing about. Even though he felt fine otherwise, he was extremely worried that something might happen to ruin the ceremony - he wasn't used to having things go the way he wanted them to before. 'Everything is ready now, my lord,' Eiluned said. He nodded, feeling as though his throat was as dry as sand. 'All right. No reason to wait any longer, then.' Pulling his shoulders backwards, he walked outside. 'Let me go, you miserable -' Gwenllian couldn't finish telling the man who had recaptured her exactly what she thought of him, because he grabbed her face with so much force she thought he was going to snap her neck. She kicked and trashed her legs, and tried to stab this one with the dagger also, but he was staying well out of her way. What kept Rhywallon? She'd screamed hard enough to make herself heard, she thought. Already the other brigands were untying her and Rhywallon's horses, searching through the saddlebags to see what loot they had. |
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| Marieke | 15 Jan 2010, 20:19 Post #190 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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She had made sure her dress was immaculate. Her hair was dressed so it was partly a high, thick braided crown, partly spilling over her shoulders and over her back in long tresses. She knew she looked as perfect as she could possibly hope for on her wedding day. It was just that she didn’t feel better. Briallen wanted today to be over. Marrying was the most terrifying thing she had ever done. Now her knees almost buckled as she made her way through the corridor from her room to the hall of ceremony. Braegne was right behind her. Her maid wouldn’t be far apart all this time, but it was not she who would pledge livelong loyalty to a man she barely knew, and that small reassurance of her presence would end once the wedding night would commence. He had retrieved a thick piece of rope from his side, usually meant as an extra tie for a bag on one of the horses. Making it into a nose, he slipped from behind his tree and slid it over one man’s head before he had time to look back. Pulling the string hard, he barely watched as the robber choked, clawed at the rope and sank to his knees. With his dagger in one hand, he slipped to the man holding Gwenllian, stabbing him resolutely in the rear. It didn’t kill him and now the others had circled him. |
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| Sonja | 15 Jan 2010, 20:40 Post #191 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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When he arrived in the hall, Briallen and her maid and pretty much everyone else in the castle was there. If he hadn't been anxious already, he most definitely would be now. Even though he'd already done this twice before, it was truly havoc on his nerves - especially because this could be the day everything started being different. He made a low bow to greet his bride and smiled. She really looked pretty today, with that dress and her hair done like that. Before he could speak, the Wise Man proclaimed that they could move outside when they were ready. Tudwrig took a deep breath and offered Briallen his arm. She rolled away from the man squirming on the ground and looked around for something to help Rhywallon with. Even though she had a dagger and he had told her not to be afraid to use it, she couldn't imagine killing someone off when he was already down. So instead, she grabbed a sturdy branch from the ground and whacked the robber on the head. He immediately ceased his squirming and lay quite still indeed. The others had surrounded Rhywallon, attacking him at the same time, which was hardly fair. But then, Gwenllian thought, brigands were never fair. She jumped forward and swung the branch again, taking one of the men in the back of the head. |
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| Marieke | 15 Jan 2010, 21:03 Post #192 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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She could only manage a tight smile and a nod when he reached for her arm. Together, they walked outside after the Wise Man. Briallen glanced sideways. Eiluned had removed herself more to the background. Braegne was just behind her. Family should take up her maid’s place, Briallen thought. Her father should be on front, and her mother. Or else her uncle, aunt and then their own children, her cousins. They had not been able to come see her to her wedding. Not her mother, at least. And uncle – well, he had a lot on his mind. Especially now he had two chieftaincies under his command. She forced her thoughts away from her absent relatives and focused on Tudwrig. He looked even paler in daylight. There were still sags under his eyes, though she did think him a little more rested than the day before. ‘Are you well?’ she asked quietly, so that only he could hear it. A branch? The girl had dismissed the perfectly fine blade to hit the attackers with a branch? Rhywallon had no breath to shout out, or he would have. Now he just whirled around like a gust of wind, stabbing and ducking where he had to. These men were outnumbering him. But he was better. Or so he hoped. For now, he seemed to be keeping up. |
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| Sonja | 15 Jan 2010, 21:24 Post #193 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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He could only manage a nod as an answer to her question. The light outside was bright, brighter than he was used to. But it wasn't bad at all, he thought as he inhaled the fresh air. He should get out more. He and Briallen kneeled down on the low bench covered in soft rugs as the Wise Man began the ceremony. Tudwrig didn't hear much of it, he knew what was expected of him and he preferred listening to the sounds of the outside world; birds chirruping, wind rushing through the grass and Briallen's dress. He hoped he could make her feel at ease; especially this night. Gwenllian soon regretted hitting the man like that, because she hadn't really incapacitated him and now he turned on her with a low growl. She quickly dropped the branch and reached for the dagger again. She wasn't as fast he was though, and before she had a good grip on the dagger he had grabbed her wrist and tried to pry the weapon from her fingers. Panicking, she lifted her foot and hit him squarely between the legs - but though it did seem to hurt him, he didn't let go of her entirely. Before he'd restored himself completely, she switched the dagger to her other hand. Her aim with left was poor though, and she only gave the man a superficial cut before he managed to lift her off her feet and throw her over his shoulder, wrenching the dagger from her in the process. |
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| Marieke | 15 Jan 2010, 21:33 Post #194 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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‘And you promise to honour your husband in all respects, as you honour your own body and soul,’ the Wise Man said, taking her hand, that was into Tudwrig’s own hand. ‘To heed him as is his due, as he will heed you to what is your own.’ ‘I shall,’ Briallen answered, wondering what kind of husband the chieftain of the Vale of the White Horse would make. Not a stern one, she thought. At least she had seen no trace of violence in him. ‘And Tudwrig?’ the Wise Man ventured on. ‘You will honour her as your own body and soul; heed her as is her due, as she will heed you to what is your own.’ ‘A pox on this!’ Rhywallon yanked his arm free from restraint by digging the blade into an the size of a small tree trunk. The arm withdrew with a howl of pain and he did not wait to see the expression of the man before he sunk the weapon deep into his belly. He had a little space now, and used it to reach one of the horses, heaving himself up. It was easier to reach Gwenllian now, and easier still to knock her capture out, giving him a hard blow on the head. He reached down, roughly slipping an arm underneath her and pulled her up. When she was only barely before him, he kicked his heels into the horse and went off. |
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| Sonja | 15 Jan 2010, 21:46 Post #195 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'I will,' he said without skipping a beat. The Wise Man twisted the silk rope around their wrists, speaking as he made the knots. 'Then henceforth you shall be as one together,' he proclaimed and took a step back. Tudwrig stared at the knots, and then at Briallen - his wife, he corrected himself. There really wasn't anything else he could think of but smile at her. She banged into Rhywallon as the horse took off at break-neck speed. Her abdomen had started hurting again, and she was trembling. There was blood on her hands, but apart from wanting to wash them as soon as possible, she didn't mind as much as she thought she should. No, all she could really think of was the provisions and the horse they'd left behind for grabs. |
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| Marieke | 15 Jan 2010, 21:55 Post #196 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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It was easy, really, getting married. All that happened was a ribbon around their hands. She didn’t feel different. He smiled at her and she had to return it, not quite sure if she was being genuinely happy or just courteous. The ceremony grew into a celebration. There was music. At least the tiny household did have that. A bard sang happy songs, about destined love and knights and perils; about a couple who loved each other through a potion but only got to be together in death. That was a beautiful song, Briallen thought as she sat next to Tudwrig on the supper table, but not quite as happy as the others. It gave her goose bumps. He halted only when he knew that the robbers would not attempt to track them. They had their bounty; perhaps not as much as they had liked without Gwenllian, but enough to keep them happy. Rhywallon made the sweating horse halt. The girl had sagged somewhat during this wild hunt. Now he heaved her straight, looking down on her. ‘Are you okay?’ |
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| Sonja | 15 Jan 2010, 22:05 Post #197 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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All the twirling and dancing other people were engaged in made him faintly dizzy. He wished they would cease that soon and stared at his plate, laden with food though he hardly had an appetite. A headache was coming up and he fervently wished for another cup of the herbal drink. He should talk to Briallen. But what could he say? 'Shall I fill your cup?' he finally asked and held up the jug of wine. Pressing both her hands to her stomach, Gwenllian managed a nod. 'Perfectly all right,' she said softly. As far as beatings went, she'd had much worse than this anyway. But what if they came after them? She shivered and looked away from Rhywallon. He looked more fearsome than ever, but the gods knew she preferred his face over anyone else's at this time. |
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| Deleted User | 15 Jan 2010, 22:19 Post #198 |
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Deleted User
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Aeronwy lifted her head from the ground and looked up. She couldn't hear them anymore. Whatever had caused that riot, it was either gone or dead. She shrugged and got back on her feet. If it had anything to do with the two people she was following, the goddess would have saved them. Because otherwise, Aeronwy would have arrived in time to save them from any harm that could have been done, she was sure of that. She sent a quick prayer to the goddess, thanking her for her help, and started walking. Perhaps she would catch up with them tonight, if she could keep up this pace. |
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| Marieke | 15 Jan 2010, 22:24 Post #199 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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‘Oh, no...I’ve had enough. Thanks,’ she added, looking at him. ‘Are you sure you are well? Maybe you could…I mean, I know it’s not appropriate to suggest this, now we are married and people expect our first night to… but if you needed to retreat early…’ ‘Right,’ he said, sliding off the mount and helping her down. ‘We lost the horse and the provisions. That is a setback.’ |
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| Sonja | 15 Jan 2010, 22:32 Post #200 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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He put his hand over hers. 'That's thoughtful of you,' he said quietly, wishing words could express how grateful he was for it, 'but for the moment, I am quite fine.' Tudwrig glanced at the dancing and pulled a face. 'I do hope you'll excuse me if I don't dance... You are free to join in if you like.' 'They didn't take the money,' Gwenllian said after checking her belt. That was at least a small comfort. 'Is there a settlement closeby?' Apparently, they'd had a setback. Cuhelyn looked at the little scene from his spot in the bushes, where he had been keeping watch. Hm. Somehow he didn't think his comrades would take kindly to it that he hadn't warned them as he should - not that he had actually seen that big bloke until it was too late, but still. Well, his path was clear: it lay in the completely opposite direction. He retreated from the bushes and made his way to his new career - whatever that was going to be. |
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| Deleted User | 15 Jan 2010, 23:00 Post #201 |
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Deleted User
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Aeronwy approached the spot where clearly the riot she'd heard, or rather, felt, earlier had taken place. The earth was heavily shaken up, there were footprints all over the place and she could still smell the blood that had been spilled. It didn't seem like anyone was still around, though. Aeronwy decided not to wait untill they actually did, because she didn't get the idea it had been a nice group of travellers. |
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| Marieke | 15 Jan 2010, 23:01 Post #202 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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‘It is suiting that a bride dances on her own wedding,’ she smiled, slipping off the seat. ‘Nor mine,’ he said. He didn’t have to check. He kept his money close to his body. ‘There is not for three days’ ride. With one horse, it will take a little longer.’ |
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| Sonja | 15 Jan 2010, 23:11 Post #203 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'Enjoy yourself,' he muttered after her as she walked away. He kept watching her, one elbow resting on the table. There was a dull thudding in his ears - his heartbeat? Had to be. Tudwrig looked around for Eiluned, or Braegne, to ask either one of them for the herbal drink. Gwenllian nodded and straightened herself. It hurt, but she tried to ignore it as best as she could. She felt like shouting at someone or something. At least Rhywallon didn't seem to be wounded. 'Yes,' she said. 'Well, let's go on. I should like to be out of this forest as soon as possible.' He decided against whistling a tune, because in these forests any sound out of the ordinary carried a long way. It was because of that exact same reason he heard the footsteps quite clearly. Didn't sound like any of his former brothers, though. Curiously, Cuhelyn followed the sound to see who made it. |
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| Deleted User | 15 Jan 2010, 23:16 Post #204 |
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Strangely, as Aeronwy kept on walking, she found herself tracing only the footprints of one horse. All the time there had been two, and she wondered if the girl or her companion had lost a horse or if it had been killed in the fight. Though, there would have been a carcas if the animal had been killed, and she had seen no such thing. Also, the goddess would have warned her if such an event had occurred. Either way, it would be easier to catch up with them now. They would be twice as slow with only one horse. |
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| Marieke | 15 Jan 2010, 23:21 Post #205 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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Briallen had a few dances. It brought some more colour to her cheeks, this she could tell without her bronze mirror. But Tudwrig looked more tired by the minute. Finally, she slipped out of the dance, almost feeling guilty. A bride and groom should be dancing together. She was sorry for him, very sorry. It was not right for her to disappear, but she muttered something to Braegne and soon her maid returned with a cup. Briallen took it from her and returned to her newly wed husband. ‘Tudwrig?’ He should ask her if she managed without resting. He didn’t. With lips pressed together, he inspected the insides of the only saddle bag left. It held a little provisions and one blanket. It had been her horse, not his. ‘Get on, then,’ he said curtly. ‘I will walk for now.’ |
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| Sonja | 15 Jan 2010, 23:30 Post #206 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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He started from his reverie and looked up. 'Yes, Briallen?' The dull thudding had become a sort of constant murmur in his ears, now. Gwenllian got on and hesitated for a moment. It was unseemly, but she suggested it nonetheless: 'We could both ride? I mean - at least until we are out of this place.' Her horse was strong enough to carry the both of them for a while. She didn't weigh an awful lot in any case. What was a girl doing alone in this forest? Cuhelyn was intrigued and decided to follow her. He didn't have anything better to do anyway, and tracking lonely girls was better than having to decide for himself where he was headed. Besides, after his first capture-a-virgin-and-rape-her-mission, he'd quite enough of that game. All the screaming didn't do it for him; he preferred a woman who'd been around the block a few times. |
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| Deleted User | 15 Jan 2010, 23:38 Post #207 |
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As she kept on walking, Aeronwy got the faint idea that it might not have been a good idea to follow those two. They seemed to attract quite the problems. Still, she could not disobey her goddess and she wondered what more there had been planned in her future. Maybe they had something to do with the task she had to fullfill in the Vale of the White Horse, but she didn't dare to assume anything. Like she had assumed that the goddess would've saved her from angry villagers... |
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| Marieke | 15 Jan 2010, 23:38 Post #208 |
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Lief! <3 (and powerful!)
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‘You look really tired,’ she said, thinking to put it delicately. ‘I’ve brought you this. It’s more of the draught…But I think you should retreat and rest. You can’t…these draughts are harmless, but I’ve never used them too long at a time, I don’t know if the effects will wear off, or…’ She handed him the cup, then hesitated, blushing. ‘I could help you. To get to your chambers. You don’t need to call Eiluned.’ He laughed a short, barking laugh. ‘I prefer to avoid close body contact with a woman such as yourself.’ |
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| Sonja | 15 Jan 2010, 23:50 Post #209 |
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Red & dangerous! Rawr!
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'That - I would like that,' Tudwrig said and got up. He took the cup from her and drank the contents before smiling. With a bit of an effort, he offered her his arm again. Despite the fact that the suggestion had come from her own mouth, Gwenllian had to admit that she was slightly relieved. But he could've been a bit more courteous about it, instead of tossing it off like that. 'It was only a suggestion,' she said a little snappily before pressing her heels in the flanks of her horse. Looked like this girl was following the big bloke and his girlfriend, he thought as he saw the tracks. Not much to worry about, the guy had never seen his face, which was just as well because he had kept his ground quite professionally. Cuhelyn scratched his beard and wondered how long he should follow the girl without her knowing it. |
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| Deleted User | 15 Jan 2010, 23:54 Post #210 |
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Deleted User
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While walking, Aeronwy tried to orientate where they were actually going. Five seconds later, she realised that even if she did know, it would be of no use since she did not know the exact location of the Vale of the White Horse. It seemed like tracking them was her only way to the Vale now. Perhaps that was what the goddess had intended, because she knew the capability of Aeronwy's sense of direction. None whatsofriggin ever. |
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