A knights' Return...

[Thanatos Gray]

*He awoke with bright sunshine flowing into the small stone room of the Inn, gazing around slowly, taking stock of his meager surroundings, then slowly sitting upright and swinging his legs over the side of the straw and wood frame of his bed.

Rubbing his eyes hard, he brought his mind out of the cobwebs of sleep, finally raising himself up to his full height and stretched, letting out a low moan as his muscles worked themselves up to useful state.

Walking to the bare open window, he leaned his rough and calloused hands on the cold stonework, and spoke to the raven that had perched itself on a nearby exosed beam of the house next door to the Inn, and chuckled to it.*

"Well my friend, YOU maybe in a good mood, but me, I am regretting the amount of ale I drank after leaving the Castle!"

*Naturally, the bird had nothing to add to his observations, so flew away. He watched it for a long moment, then let out one more sigh before turning to begin dressing for the day.

Once his Tunic and chainmail where securely bound about his body, he decided to leave his legs free of the heavy metal constraints and placed the leggings into his pack. Buckling the sword to his back, he looked around the room to make sure nothing valuable was in plain sight, or would easily be found.

Satisfied, he then strode from the room via the oaken door, and went down the hallway towards the main door..to walk the streets of this once very familiar hamlet that surrounded the castle of His Lord, King Stormblade. He smiled to himself as he recalled the night that had just passed.....The seeing of Lady Dream and Lady Edfeil, who both greeted him with smiles and some disbelief, as he had been gone from the Castle a very long time.

He heard that Lady Raven was doing quite well as Healer, he had always suspected she would take to the Natural Arts quite well! and of course he had seen an old friend, Dorian, but didn't get a chance to speak to the man. Thier Friendship had been short during his time at Windstorm, but he had taken a great liking to the man.

Perhaps some old friends would see him walking about today, and stop him to have pleasant speech for a time. With that in mind, he simply wandered aimlessly about the streets.*

[Lady Edfeil]

((great post. *W* I will try and react tomorrow. ))

[Lady Edfeil]

She had seen him briefly during the gathering, and her smile had widened at the sight of his face. Now word of mouth spoke of news that had her rejoyce even more. It was said that the knight was thinking of returning to the keep. That the days of wandering were over and he longed for home.
She hoped such was true. So many things had changed in the time he had been gone. So many people gone... traveling, death... too many had been taken.
She shook of the somberness of her thoughts and glanced out of the window where the autumn morn was fresh and sunny. Many had gone, but many too had come and planted roots in the rich Windstorm soil. Goodman Kyle, soon to be knight.. Lady Halethala... she wondered which of the people here he had met afore in his travels. How many he would meet anew that had a place in his memory.
It was good to see wanderers return home. Good to see the keep brimming with life again.
She glanced down at the scrolls she was working on and groaned at a blot of ink that her wayward thougts had caused. Carefully she put the parchment aside to dry so that the ink could be scraped off later. She needed to find one who could be a scribe...

[Thanatos Gray]

(ooc..Thanks for the kind words regarding my post! Was fun turning my mind back towards my knight! *G*)

*Stopping at the opening to a muddy alleyway, he paused a moment and allowed his thoughts to wander....Recalling the Gathering at the Castle Windstorm, he smiled to himself at the people he saw, most had been kinder to him than perhaps he had warranted, but he knew such were the ways of Windstorms' residents, and such treatment to one such as himself, had always brought a smile and kind thoughts in return to them.

Seeing Lady Edfeil, and Lady Dream indeed had been a special treat for him, as those two had been very kind to him, and he knew that any that tried to harm them, would have the Knight Thanatos to answer to! Even tho he knew that the two Ladies had men of thier own to stand for them..Lady Dream had Robin, Lady Edfeil had Sighehelm as well as most every man breathing within the castle walls would not hesitate to defend thier Honor should Need arise.

He also recalled the one he called 'Lady B', as well as Lady Halethala...he chuckled to himself as his memory went faulty on him, and left him blank of the so many other Ladies and men about the castle, Yet he knew in time his memory would fill in the blanks that the years had made in his brain and he looked forward with a certain sense of happiness at the prospect of reclaiming the names with the faces that he had known before.

With a light smile upon his lips, he turned out from the alley, and once more took up his wanderings..hoping to run into old friends once again!*

[Lady Edfeil]

((*waits eagerly to greet you*))

[Thanatos Gray]

*As he was wandering around the village before the castle, he paused to gaze up at the many windows at the upper reaches of the massive stone structure, and the Royal Guardsmen standing their posts on ramparts and his thoughts turned again to the Ladies within.

Altho he knew that at one time he had been Honored with a chamber of his own within those walls, events, as was the nature of a Knights' life, had called him away, so thereby surrendering his 'claim' to enter at will. His heart told him that with relative ease, he could probably gain entry into the castle, other than simple visiting, he had no call to do so.

Simply entering the Hall, unannounced and without cause, felt wrong to him now....so he would wait for the occassion to present it self, and allow him a comfortable entry and access to those he had come to hold dear.

So I wandered around the village once more, hoping to see good friends out on the streets, and possibly gain another invite to sit and empty a few tankards of ale with long lost friends.....He sighed heavily and drew hsi eyes away from the castle, and concentrated on making his way thro the crowded streets.*

[Dream Loxley]

It had taken her but a moment to recognise him.........she stood still, holding the basket with both hands in front of her, following his eyes as he gazed towards the Castle. There seemed a sadness within his body language, perhaps a slight stoop, a slump of his shoulders. She wondered at his thoughts, what had led him back, indeed what had taken him away in the first place.......but none of that seemed important, for here he was, within the village, just a few steps away from her now.

She was glad to see him, and equally glad she had decided to take the short walk to the village. It was such a beautiful morning, colder than of late, but dry under foot and so typical of the season. Colours within the trees and shrubs not seen until now and soon to be lost to winter. She had enjoyed the slow stroll and arrived early enough to pick a splendid peice of cloth from the drapers, even though she had not yet decided just what it would be turned into with some cutting, sewing and nimble fingers. All in all the day had begun well.

When he finally turned his gaze away from the Castle, she was ready and stepped forward........offering a warm smile in greeting.

"M'Lord Thanatos.......such a pleasing suprise to find ye, and upon such a bright new morn. I hope such finds ye well."

[Thanatos Gray]

*He had but just decided to begin his walkabout once more, when his way was blocked by a familiar figure and well remembered voice laid gently upon his ears, and he could not help but return the bright and sunny smile of Dream Loxley and gave her a bow that he hoped would reflect his joy at seeing the Lady once more.

"M'Lady Dream! Tis a most pleasing surprise to encounter ye as well! The morn finds me well, yes indeed m'Lady, as I hope it finds ye also! *Automatically his eyes gauged her load of cloth that she carried, and his hands reached out take the load from her, should she give her permission for him to extend the unasked question, even as he continued speaking*......."Tis indeed a very pleasant morn to allow the feet to wander about is it not?"

Shifting his stance abit so he was standing more beside her, than blocking her path which would allow him to walk in tandem with the Lady of Windstorm, and as he took in her smile an that sparkle in her eyes that as long as he had known, had never truly ever faded from her eyes, with the exceptions of some very troubling news or times...and even then, the sparkle may fade a bit, but never died...quite like the very spirit that he discovered over time, was the depth of Windstorm itself!

As he awaited her responses to his words, he stood in a relaxed manner, as much of one as a True Knight ever really did, and patienty awaited her words....*

[Dream Loxley]

It was suprising just how heavy her basket had become, and the relief when he took it from her showed immediately. She chuckled softly and stood up straighter, the burden having been taken from her arms. Her slight nod was, she hoped, sufficient to acknowledge his kind act.

"Oh indeed Sire, such days are so few and far between when winter time 'tis upon us.......mind......we must nae grumble at such aye......and a warm fire awaits within the Castle."

She turned then just briefly to show the Rangers who lingered nearby that all was well. Each nodded towards her and slipped back from view, always close enough and yet eager to give privacy when it be needed. Her smile still warm as she began to walk forward along the street, assuming Thanatos would join her....she was after all on her way home. It suddenly occured to her that perhaps he was not intending to walk that way and she felt a slight blush to her cheeks when she stopped again to look at him fully.

"But forgive me......I take such fer granted that ye be heading home also......to the Castle......mayhaps ye will honour us by staying a while......I......I do nae wish to intrude though, iffen ye have other plans M'Lord."

[Vivienne]

The town market was buzzing with activity, people of varying stations milled about, some selling wares others buying...some looking to nick a thing or two. It was all so perfect, Vivienne thought as she picked her way through the throng, basket in hand and well aware of the guards flanking her. Bedecked in red, the color made the best of her dark features and many an eye was drawn to her striking appearance. To many women it would be held as a boon, for her it was a hindrance and a curse. How she longed to be able to just disappear into the crowd, blend in with everyone else. Instead she was forced to wear the brightest color, lest she DID get lost in a crowd such as this. A wicked smile curved the corners of her lips as she thought on this day she would break from all of that if luck be on her side.

Nearing the fish mongers cart she eyes the offerings with a high and mighty quirked borrow, then looked up at the man behind the cart down her delicately shaped nose.

“I heard pray tell that your fish is rotten.”

The fish monger gasped as she picked one of the said fish up in her fingers and brought it to her nose for a sniff. That nose wrinkled and she made a sound of disgust, then her hand tossed the fish over her shoulder in flagrant dismissal. But the poor, poor woman behind her, the portly, obviously high born one, managed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and the fish landed with a slimy schlap right in her face. Screaming she batted at her face as her pudgy feet scurried backwards, taking her backside into the apple card behind her and overturning it. Apples spilled out along the cobblestones, and both children and adults alike, those not so high born took it for a free for all. A small bit of chaos ensued, though not quite big enough for Vivienne.

Reaching to her waist she plucked her purse off her belt and delved it into her basket, making sure her guards did not see. Then she gasped aloud and screamed, “Thief! There be a thief among us! A man stole my purse! There! Him! There he goes, catch him!”

More chaos erupted as her men ran off in the direction of her delicately shaped finger, along with some others who wanted to play the hero to this fair lady. A smirk painting her lips she moved to the pie man and looked over his wares, noticed his eyes were on the people scrambling about, occupied with the apples and the thief. Grabbing up one meat pie she turned and flung it towards a rather burly man who, caught unawares, took the pie full in the eye. Bellowing his outrage he looked about and when his eyes came to rest on them she nodded her head slightly toward the pie man. Bellowing once again he came rushing forwards, arms outstretched, and Vivienne neatly sidestepped just as he hurled himself in the air and dove for the poor pie man. Both men and the cart went flying backwards, pies strewing everywhere. One caught another man in the back of the head. Eyes narrowed he looked around and spotted an old arch enemy. Thinking it was he who had thrown the pie, he scooped one up himself and tossed it back intending to hit the man square on the forehead. But his aim was off and it hit another women, the wife of the local blacksmith. A full on food fight ensued, pies, fish, sweetmeats, you name it, was being flung around without due care. Women screamed, children giggled and men growled at each other in rage and some even succumbed to fisticuffs.

Finally, there was enough chaos for her to be confident enough to slip away unnoticed. Currying away several feet she ducked underneath the cloth seller’s cart, and draped with cloths as it was it almost all but hid her from view. With all undue haste she divested herself of her crimson dress, revealing that she wore boy’s breeches, and a tunic underneath. From somewhere deep in the folds of her gown she produced a hat and after jerking it onto her head proceeded to tuck up her long dark hair underneath. Her gown had hid the masculine boots she wore and that now completed her disguise. Grabbing up the gown she thrust it up to the cloth merchant, who started in surprise at the sudden offering seemingly coming from out of nowhere.

“Take this. I give ye leave ta sell it, but only after a years’ time.”

After he took up the dress in reverence, obviously thinking of the amount of coin one such dress would fetch, and her eyes went back to the fray and thought this was it. It was time for her to grasp her freedom.

[Thanatos Gray]

*He caught the slight nod that Lady Dream gave him, in recognition of his silent offer to relieve the Lady of the burden she carried in her arms, and after shifting the load to one shoulder, he smiled at her in return. As they walked along the streets, his keen eye had caught sight of a few of the Rangers as they moved in silent formation to ensure the safety of Robin's Lady, but was mildly surprised at the complete scope of the hidden entourage, then chuckled as he thought to himself that if it were up to him, the same amount of men would be doing the same thing for well loved Lady of Windstorm.

He chuckled in response to her words about nay complaining about the chill, as it was as much a part of Windstorm as the castle itself was, and the thought of that huge roaring fire within the Great Hall would indeed be a welcomed thing!

"Lady Dream, as so far as 'heading home' is concerned, I will gladly accompany you to the Castle..as for such being MY home, I fear I gave that Right up when I left before, and I do not wish to dare imagine that such it will be for me again without Royal Leave. I know I did no insult to His Majesty during my stay prior, but I would feel uncomfortable calling the Castle "home" until Leave is given, if it would be given to me once again."

He hoped she would catch his meaning in his words, as he took the Kings' Leave when he first arrived at Windstorm and was given rooms of his own within the comforting stones of the Kings' Keep....Maybe his attitude concerning this was somewhat 'old fashioned' but that was his way. Mayhap Lady Dream would speak on his behalf to Lady Edfeil to pass on to His Majesty, that he was indeed back in the Realm, and would feel greatly Honored if he could again take up his old rooms again...but time would tell on that!

So he once again adjusted the light load on his shoulder, and lightly took Lady Dreams' elbow and turned her gently back towards the castle, and spoke once more to her...

"T'would in deed be my Honor to escort you, and your Rangers (at this point he lightly chuckled at his words) back to the Castle, and with your Leave, m'Lady, carry your purchase to the Great Hall..If that be ye destination!" giving Lady Dream a warm, friendly smile he indicated that they should walk back towards the castle, as it seemed a commotion was beginning, as he caught sight of Repsol beinning to move.*

[Vivienne]

From her place underneath the cart she watched the chaos around her. It was hard to believe, even though she was the one responsible, that she caused this much mayhem with hardly any effort. Her heart sank in her chest and she regretted it immediately. But…in all her years she’d been afforded so few times wherein she could find an escape from her “life” and she knew that in the end she had only done what she had to do.

With a deep steadying breath she steeled herself, knowing that she had to take her leave from this place now or never. Crawling out from underneath the wooden cart she stood and brushed herself of, then had to dodge a flying fish that had been thrown in the melee. Ensuring that her pouch of coins was securely fastened at her side she moved through the crowd, dodging people as she went, even her own guard who had their head turning this way and that in their attempts to spot her in the frenzied crowd.

Concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other she picked her way through the throng, no particular destination in mind. In fact she had no idea where she would go, not how she would live, but was happy in her heart that she was finally truly free.

[Repsol]

As the patrol rounded the bend and onto the main street of the village by the Tavern, the lead rider brought his mount to a sudden halt, as the riders behind him pulled their mounts up to a stop the sight which unfolded in front of them was one of sheer chaos, fruit and vegetables flew through the air from one side of the street to the other, stalls where upended and people where fighting, fresh fish and meat lay strewn across the ground, the horses became unsettled and began to move from side to side causing their riders to tighten the reignes to settle them again, the noise caused by women arguing, as the Lord turned to give orders a mackeral followed closely by a cod hit him on the side of his head almost unseating him , he raised his right hand and removed the mackeral from his collar and the cod from his saddle then scanned the area to seek the perpatrator.
No one looked out of place, everyone seemed to be confronting someone, he gave the order to disperse the crowds, riders where sent to the far end of the street and other riders where ordered to move onto the street from between buildings, this would constrict the movement of the people carrying out the assaults with dead animals, chickens flew into the air, bouncing off the Lords mount as they attempted to steer a path over his mounts neck but not quiet making the height needed to clear it, dropping into his lap, he was brushing them aside when he was struck by a turnip, it unseated him and he fell into a crowd of men arguing over who had stolen the others wifes bag of nuts.
He could hardly believe his luck as he stood and was immediately struck by the agrieved womans bag, he was certain she had stone lining in it.
As he stood getting his bearings his pants dripped with ale which had been spilled and vegetables stuck to his tunic, he pulled the bits from his hair and shook them onto the floor from his gloves, he stunk of ale and fish with a tint of earth from the veg, he was not impressed to say the least and would dearly love to lay a glove on the one who started this affray.
He whistled his mount though nothing happened, he whistled once more and looked around, he could see the mount but its head was buried in a basket of veg, he shook his head in disbeleif.

[Dream Loxley]

((Chuckles at Repsol and all those flying fish! The ones that got away indeed *S*))

She was very relieved to have the basket taken from her, perhaps a lesson learned not to purchase such heavy fabrics if one was intending to walk home. She knew the Ranger's would have carried it if she had asked, but tended to be more independent of late, a bad habit she was becoming aware of. She smiled as she watched the Rangers slip away into the crowds, but was slightly concerned at the noise coming from a few streets away. She looked at Thanatos and then behind her but continued to walk as he guided them towards the path that would eventually take them up the hill and to the Castle gates.

"Sire...ye may nae be aware...the King, Augustin, he be lost to us fer a long while now with nae a word." She realised her words painted a very grim picture and he may of course be upset by them, she continued in a gentle voice hoping to allay any fears he may have of returning home. "His Daughter now be our Queen....Edfeil ye have met I am sure, 'twas decided we needed a ruler and with Agustin far from home Edfeil agreed to take his place. So many came ye would have been proud, the Coronation 'twas a wonderful affair. I know she will welcome ye Sire, how could she nae."

Once again she turned her head back towards the streets, simply because she felt something was amiss. The question was within her eyes as she stopped walking and looked once again between the Knight carrying her basket and the fast approaching young lad who looked as though he had been running for his life.

((Thought to give Vivienne a way forward.....take her where you wish *S*))

[Thanatos Gray]

*He too had turned to gaze at the scene that now befell the area..Flying fish, and the hail of produce made the whole scene total chaos! He watched as the Rangers tried to move, and winced when the two large fish globbered poor Repsol, he knew the Ranger would not take this abuse for long, and he lightly chuckled as his mind showed him what the Ranger would do to bring control back to this chaos!

Then his head turned sharply as he heard the words that Lady Dream was uttering to him..the King lost somehow, Lady Edfiel now Queen...much had changed indeed in his long absence! Then once Dream had finished speaking, he gained total control over his reactions to the news regarding the King, and his voice did not betray the turmoil he felt inside....*

"Believe me when I say to ye, Lady Dream, that I do so hope that the King will find his way back to His beloved Realm, and that I believe the choice of Lady Edfiel as Queen, was the best choice for the Realm! I know her to be kind and just, but yet firm when need be, so the Land is in excellent hands!" ...*Here he allowed a small smile to cross his features, in an attempt to give a little more hope to the Lady at his side...From the corner of his eye, his sharp reactions caught sight of the fleeing lad, and he debated whether or not to engage himself in the catching of this fleet footed young spirit, but then, as always happened when he weighed one responsibility against another...meaning the self appointed Charge of getting Lady Dream home safely, he decided that Repsol would have to be on his own during this outburst, and was certain that the Ranger could handle this crowd with ease, so he returned his attentions to Lady Dream.*

"I'm sorry I missed the Crowning, I'm sure it was a very Regal affair indeed!..Now m'Lady, shall we continue our journey towards the castle? Or do you wish to take up arms, by way of a large fish, and join in the fray?" *chuckling a bit as he envision the Lady swinging a huge cod around like a two handed bastard sword, and her stance of defiance to all comers!*