Easter in Lune

[Onlooker from WS]

(Oouuuhhh, outch, Charly will quarter a certain someone for not letting him know about this .... groom! heh )

[Lady Beren]

((he may be very surprised indeed ..... *evil grin * ))

[Lady Beren]

* The waves crashed relentlessly against the barge, tossing the vessel to and fro on the dark waters of the Channel. Lady Beren sat in a corner, huddled in her cloak, Ranger Richard protectively by her side. "I pray , tell me again, Richard ....why are we here ..." her voice almost a moan. Richard looked down at her, a hint of a smile on his face, compassion in his eyes. His Lady was pale and positively green around the nose ...as always when she crossed the Channel. "We are on our way back to Windstorm, M'Lady. " he replied gently. She nodded her acknowledgement. Back to Windstorm...back home, coming from home as well. She wondered when she had started seeing both places as home. She shook her fuzzy head and wished there wasn't a stretch of dark, stormy water between the two. She must have muttered that aloud , because she caught Richard almost smiling again. "Ye seem very cheerful.." she remarked, a bit tarty. His face took on its ususal neutral mask, although his eyes stayed warm. "If I may suggest, M'Lady, Ye try to sleep a bit ... it could make the time seem shorter." She nodded again, feeling weaker by the moment. In a rare moment of physical contact, she shifted a little so that she could lean against his chest, one of his arms loosely around her shoulders. Before long he felt her breathing get deeper and knew that, even if she would nae sleep, she would at least rest.

The waves indeed lull the Lady half to sleep ... her mind wanders to the many events of the last days. All involved appear before her eyes as actors in a play...Gerald, her faithful steward, who now understands her so much better and had started to discover his own creativity; her people, so full of trust that she did the right thing and pulled yet another prank on the Franks; Ghaele, a quiet, yet noble presence in her Halls and an unexpectedly great support; and of course John of Hainault...

The thought of the Frank provokes a soft sigh. Richard feels her warm breath caress his hand and looks down on the black hair of his Lady...her eyes be closed, a small frown on her face and he can guess who she be thinking about. He remembers the words Lady Beren spoke to him when they left "Take me away, far away from Sir John, Richard...for he still troubles my mind" He recalls every second of that dinner where Sir John met Ghaele...Lady Beren and Ghaele had both played their roles so well...She being radiant in her happiness, he being attentive and courteous and , in a very subtle way, throwing his weight around. Richard had almost pitied the Frank, who, to his credit, had remained courteous as well. Sir John had understood the message and even accepted to despatch Lady Beren's letter to King Charles. However, it had nae escaped Richard's watchful eye that the Lady had blushed more than usual and when Sir John had left, she had stared into her goblet for a while. When Ghaele had retired as well, she had sighed and smiled "I almost failed, Richard...Sir John does have a most strange effect on me" .

It does nae matter now. She is safely on the barge, back to Windstorm... and he, Richard, is there to protect her. He is certain, though, that they might be going back to Lune soon. All they did was buy time ...time for Lady Beren to be able to fulfill her promise. He looked up at the full moon. She would be 'late' as it was. However, all was settled in Lune for the moment and Ghaele would remain as a presence and a reminder to the camping Franks nae to try anything silly. And of course, they did nae know at all Lady Beren had left. The Ranger looked down again on the small form that rested in the curve of his arm. Since it was dark, he allowed himself a full smile. She had done it again, she had outwitted King Charles.

And she would again, and again, for many years to come. And he would be there , in the shadows, by her side.

[Charles III]

(One day, my dear child, I will be getting the better of you and then .... MUWAHAHAHAH....*smiles*)

Well done!

[Rainald de Sennis]

He sighs and rubs his head. Why had she left for Lune? What mystery was there about in that tiny land? Rainald wouldn't put it past his King to have another try at obtaining rights to Lady Beren's lands, by means only he would understand. Alas, right now Rainald was a bit in the dark, and eagerly awaited the answer from his friend Lamont Duchesne. he had written to the noble at the Frankian court, right now his only reliable connection to the King. Lately, an atmosphere of chilliness had setteled between Lord Rainald and King Charles of Frankia, for reasons Rainald was only too aware of.

He was now pacing the great hall, as word had reached him that Lady Beren would be arriving back in Windstorm soon. he needed to know more about her sojour in Lune, and he knew a lady like Beren would not give up any important news easily.

[Lady Beren]

((Yer Majesty be most kind ... ;-) I be certain we will cross minds again, before long. And thank ye, I am glad ye liked out little story ))

[Lady Beren]

((just to make this part of the story complete ... :-) ))

is somewhere on Windstorm lands, and says to ALL: *finally ....the well known landscape of the Windstorm lands was all around her and Ranger Richard . The Lady smiled, and looked at her companion *That would be home, then ...
*Richard anwered her gaze with one of his half-smiles* Home indeed, M'Lady ....but still quite a while to go ...would ye like a rest , before we continue?

: Aye ... let us ... *she sat down on a treetrunk , more tired than she would care to confess...the seavoyage always took a lot out of her, Due to their disguise, they had counted on willing people to give them a ride. They had been lucky most of the way, however, they also had done a lot of walking. She unfastened the veil that covered her head and shook her long black hair . Before long the guards would spot them and she wished to be recognisable ... although ...they would of course nae be fooled by Richard's stature for long. Even in his attire of a simple traveller, he was recognisable to those who knew him *

[Lady Beren]

: It indeed was nae long before a small patrol on foot spotted them. Beren rose to greet them, still elegant and in her gentle way commanding, even in her rather dishevelled state. " Good day..." she smiled brightly . "The men of the patrol bowed . "'t Be good to see Ye, M'Lady .We had word Ye would be on yer way and Sir Kyle and the Prince of Friesland asked all of us to keep an eye out for Ye. Iffen Ye would like to follow, we can bring Ye to some horses. " Such spoke the leader of the small group. Grateful for the thought of being home soon and in an internal hurry to get to the hot baths as fast as she could, Lady Beren followed the group, chatting away as they walked ... *

*on their way to the horses , she learned all that happened during her absence. She breathed deeply ...the air was full of scents there had nae yet been when she left ..it really smelled of spring now, all around her. A merry laugh bubbled up from deep inside. She sensed the unease of the men at this sudden outburst of joy and chuckled, almost impishly " it is good to be home ..." she explained . Next to her, Richard kept a straight face and met the surprise of the guards with a steady gaze. At the outpost, at the border of the forest, the guards gave two of their horses to Beren and Richard , so they could finish their journey in a comfortable way. *

is in the Forests, and says to ALL: *the ride through the forest was most agreeable ... they rode in a pleasant silence...the regular trot almost lulling Lady Beren asleep ... " Better to stay awake in the saddle, M'lady " she heard Richard's voice next to her. She smiled and turned to face him. "Thank ye...I must confess I be rather tired ." That was an understatement, Richard thought. Underneath the few streaks of travel dirt on her face, she was pale. He knew how a sea voyage could knock her out for a day or two. But she was eager to get back, to see her dearest friend Edfeil and all the others . So they rode on , the Castle coming closer and closer *

is in the Courtyard, and says to ALL: *at last the horses clatter over the drawbridge and into the courtyard, where they are greeted by a beaming Horatio and an also beaming Perran. Horatio helps Beren from the horse before Richard can even move. He feels how her knees buckle for a moment and , totally inapropriately, wraps his arms around her to keep her steady. Lady Beren chuckles softly *now there, Horatio... if Ye offer me yer arm, I think I can still just about walk. " She winks at Richard. Horatio has the decency to blush and resleases her, offering her his arm. "Glad to have ye back, M'Lady " he says. Putting one hand on Horatio's arm, Lady Beren ruffles the hair of Perran and asks after Bayard. "she be doing well , M'Lady ... a bit restless, though" the boy reports. "Very well...I will visit her later. Let's get ourselves inside, for I long for a chair and a nice mug of tea. " She turns to Richard. "And Ye be coming along to the kitchen...ye must be starving." she adds in a mock-stern voice. And so the little company sets off ...Perran back to the stables to tell Bayard the good news and Horatio, Beren and Richard to the kitchens ...*

[Rainald de Sennis]

So she had retruned, good! Rainald had heard about Lady Beren's return, he would not let lose until he would have found out her reasons for visiting her homeland. If Charles had attempted another take-over of Lune ... it was possible, even likely as Lune's ruler was not often residing in her homeland, and thus exposing the tiny domain to the greedy eyes of its neighbors.

Lady Beren .... Rainald bore no ill-will towards her, rather he felt quite the contrary towards this cunning and intelligent woman. In fact, he had trusted her in the past with his thoughts on certain matters. He now hoped she would return the favour, and trust him. Given Charles' appetite for land, she might as well obtain his council should another threat endager her country's freedom!