Ending the Stalking

[Lady Alexandreania (Andrea)]

~Andrea had been shocked to see Lucien start to enter the hall while she had been speaking with the King, for she had expected that Olaf would come and tell her he had awakened and she would go to him. But here he came, dressed in the robe she had had brought from his seldom used chambers for him. And aiding himself with a staff to lean upon.~

~She had rushed to his side to give more support to him and had just told him that his cousin would have both their heads if she found him out of his cot, when the subject of her words appeared quite co-incidentally before them. Stina proceeded to ring a peal over his head for leaving his cot and walking the distance from infirmary to the Hall as Andrea helped him to the seat near the fires as suggested by His Majesty.~

He had sat for a short while allowing himself to be chastened by Lady Laurestina, but his pallor grew more wan and all present could see that he still needed to rest more. But first he placed kisses to both Stina and Andrea's cheeks for their aid in nursing and dressing his wounds when he had returned to the Castle and then allowed Lady Laurestina to take him back to the infirmary.~

~Andrea had joined him a few moments later after he had downed the evil tasting potion of Willow bark tea and fever few leaves given him by his cousin and sat with him talking softly until he had drifted to sleep~

[LucienMoonmist]

*Waking at some point near dawn, he could feel the new day calling to him. In the time he had slept, Nature had shifted it's gentle hand. Now, it called to him stronger than any wound might hurt. Rising softly, slowly from the cot to his good foot, he saw Olaf asleep in the corner chair, fire well tended. Shaking his head softly with a grin, he grabbed the walking staff and moved towards the main hall.

The scent of a new day wafted into the hall. With unsteady feet he moved to a window which would face the day break. Throwing it wide, a dash of cool air entered the empty hall. His hair ruffled in the onslaught of the wind, his eyes closed, face tilted to recieve it's gentle caress. There he stood, well past the sun's rising, basking in the radiance of Spring. His wounds were nae healed yet, for the most part, they still inflicted great pain on him. Here, now, in the face of the rising sun and the caress of the Life's breath, he didn't notice.*

[Lady Alexandreania (Andrea)]

Andrea woke early as she was always wont to do, dressing quickly she quietly desends the stairs and turns toward the Infirmary as she has done religiously since Lucien had returned home. She nodded to Corporal Allen as he took up a post outside the door while she opened it abit and looking thru to where she knew Lucien's cot was and with a gasp saw it was empty.~

~Opening the door wider she began looking around and saw that he was not inside the infirmary. She quickly left the infirmary and began searching for him, knowing he could not have gotten far still being badly wounded. She started to go to the Kitchens thinking maybe he needed nurishment after having been sleeping so long with out eating but then halted in her tracks as her mind calmed and began thinking logically.~

~The Last time he had awoken he had not looked for sustinance but for company so instead of the kitchen she retraced her steps and made for the Great Hall almost at a run. And there she found him at the Window that faced east. The Light of the new day breaking over his face as it tipped back, supported by a staff. She came to a sudden stop not making a sound not daring to breath hard for fear of interupting this communing with nature. Instead she gestured to Corporal Allen to back away quietly as she did the same on tip toe toward the entry of the Great hall.~

[Dream Loxley]

*Word reached her as she sat within the busy kitchens.....breakfast smelled delicious and yet she was uncertain as to eat more than simple toast. She had listened to millie speaking of him walking, all be it with a cane and smiled then, knowing he had a long way to go along the road to recovery, and yet those steps may be a tad easier with one so eager to assist him. Indeed, M'Lord Moonmist would heal, given time and the care from his family and friends.

She settled back to read through the many lists of spring orders and inventories....bidding the servants to stay out of the Hall for a while this morning......*

[Lady Andrea]

~Entering the Kitchen directly after having left the Great Hall looking for something to break her fast, Whispering to Corporal Allen to get Himself something as well as she be well surrounded in here, sees Lady Dream smile as she is told by Millie that Lucien is up and getting about with a cane.~

~Andrea caught her attention as she gestured by putting her hands together in prayer to best sybolize what He is doing tho in actuallity it be different and nods to Lady Dream as she tells the servants to stay away from the Great Hall for a while this morning.~

[Halethala]

She'd blundered down the stairs, less noisily than usual, but still without great thought to her steps, the aromas from the kitchen beckoning mercilessly at her appetite. . . But upon noticing the man at the open window, she froze, watching him with curiosity for a time, then moving as silently as she were able to leave him in peace.

Upon gaining the kitchens, she smiled to Lady Dream and Lady Andrea as well as the servants that seemed to be tiptoeing a bit more than normal. Deciding it nae be her business to question what be happening in the Hall, she moves to heap a plate with fortification for the day, settling on a nearby stool near them.

[Lady Alexandreania (Andrea)]

Smiling brightly as she sees her friend, seeing the questioning look on her face, as she sits down beside her.~

"Ye saw Lord Moonmist in the Great Hall, Da?" ~Seeing her nod, ~ "Well I nae quite understand 't, but 't be something he be needing in him, a kind of joining with nature I think. Not as fully as he needs, but a beginning. But I be going along with anything that helps him to recover his strength." ~smiles softly~ "I t'will leave him be a bit longer then will take him food to break his fast."

~Then stopping a servant asks to prepare a tray of herbal tea and easily digestable foods, nothing harsh on the stomach to be ready shortly for her to take to Lucien in a short while.~

[LadyLaurestina]

After spening an hour in the infirmary with her cousin, she took his hand in hers and walked him about a bit more. trying her best to be of comofrt ot him.

She serached his eyes for any kind of repose, regarding his pain, but nothing seemed to be sparking his desire to get dressed in the new leather tunic and pants she had made for him.

Several times she tried to speak to him, and ask him what else she could do, and still no responce. After a short walk about the room, she drew him closer to the window and there she did see him lean in to the sun while his eyes darted about. If there was one thing she knew well, it was that he needed to be out in nature.

After taking him back tohis freshly made up cot, and covering him, she sat by his side and asked:

Good cousin, would thee wish to go out into the garden this day, perhaps some god fresh air would do thee good. If thee do nae feel thee are up to it, oalf and I can carry thee out there on thy cot or make up a specially padded chair. * smiles as she looks to her cousins face*

GRateful she was, for lady Andreas, letha's and Dream's aide during this most difficult recovery. She would have to make sure they knew of her graditude in some way, somehow.

[Lady Alexandreania (Andrea)]

~Andrea chatted and broke her fast with Letha and Lady Dream discussing the events of the day to come when Millie came up to her saying that the tray was ready when ever she wished for it to be taken out to Lord Moonmist. Upon hearing that, she wishes the two dear Ladys adieu for a time and went to gather up the tray.~

~Looking it over to be sure there was nothing harsh for the recovering patient's diet found, only natures bounty upon the tray, thinly sliced toast, some preserves made with its own juices with no added sugars, as well as an assortment of fruits but she took away the freshly churned butter because his stomach would not be ready for that yet. She checked the pot of herbal tea, and with a light sniff found it to be well brewed. Lilfting the tray she carried it into the Great Hall, humming a light jolly tune to give warning he was no longer alone~

~With a bright smile on her face, sea blue eyes sparkling in the morning light, and a cloud of sable tresses trailing behind her, she looks toward where she last saw him, saying.~ "Well, the Dreamer awakens finally. I thought mayhap ye might be hungry after all this time Milord...."

[LucienMoonmist]

*He heard the movements of everyone moving through the hall that morn. For the most, should he have cared to, he could havetold each person by their footfalls. He appreciated their silencing of steps, though there was no need of it. His hearing was sharp, even with whispered breaths he could hear hints of their conversations in the kitchen.

Hearing Andrea's footfalls, then her soft voice, he grins again, turning his head towards her, eyes still closed* Awakens? Nae good Andrea, I merely ascend to a different level of dream. *turning slowly, leaning heavily on the staff, he opens his blue eyes lightly, meetings hers softly, then passing to the tray* Oh? Hmm, I should suppose that a bit of a meal would nae hurt to greatly, aye?

[Lady Alexandreania (Andrea)]

~Chuckling as she sets the tray down upon a table near the hearth and then walks over to Him as he leans up on the staff.~ " Ye have stood too long now and should rest"

~Speaking in a no nonsense will be taken into account manner as she ducks under his uninjured armed~ "Ye will come over by the hearth and break ye long fast, but slowly to be sure it will stay down, with more tea than anything else, Da?

~Helping him to get settled and placing a blanket over him from waist to floor and taking the staff away from his hands and placing against the wall near the hearth. pouring out a cup of herb tea and handing it to him.~ "Get used to this Lucien, it shall be ye diet for a while until Stina says ye can have something more substantial.."~chuckles~ "Or would ye be preferring, willowbark and fever few tea??" ~smiles sweetly~

[LucienMoonmist]

*chucklnig as he is lead to a seat and covered with a blanket, taking the tea he sips it lightly as he looks to her softly* Good lady, This more closely resembles that which I did eat regularly than most meals served within this hall. *grinning lightly, he leaned back in the chair, wincing slgihtly as his stomach rested* Looking to Andrea, he grinned as he spoke, his features still bearing markers of weakness which came with the severity of his injuries* Tell me good Andrea, what is this I have heard whispered about the castle of good Sir Sinold and good lady Letha? What is this of a chest for her wedding?

[Lady Alexandreania (Andrea)]

~Andrea's brows rise in surprise. ~ Ye have heard about that all ready Milord?? ~chuckles~ Things are coming to a head betwix Sinold and Lady Halethala ever since the small skirmish down on the beach with Captain Remard's men." ~Her tiny nose wrinkles up distastefully as she mentions the name then her features clear again as she continues on about her friends.~ "Ye hae only to see them together to know the way of things. And the Chest ye heard spoken of be called a Hopechest."

"It be something that every young lass fills during her life full of things that she will bring to her husband's home. Things such as linens, christening gown for their chyldren, special items that make a house a home. Even her wedding gown. Not only are the items special but the making of them is special in itself. For they are usually made by mothers and sisters and dear close friends and given to the one who's chest it will go into."

[LucienMoonmist]

*He looked to her again, nodding* A skirmish with a Captain Remard ye say? I have heard the name, but in nae more than a spiteful whisper. Who is he good Andrea? *his eyes looknig about the hall, thoughful for a moment as he pondered the hope chest. If he had heard as he thought he had. Looknig back to Andrea* Tell me, does not good lady Letha have none here? I should think from what I have heard, there is little enough to fill that chest at current.

[Lady Alexandreania (Andrea)]

~Andrea wondered how Lucien could have heard so much while having been in his healing slumber, but then again knowing what she knew about him it did not surprise her either.~ "Nyet with Him," ~bites off the word~ "but with his men, Lucien."

~Andrea goes on to explain.~ "Ye see He came here when Sinold brought in one of His men for having near beat a lady friend of Sinold's almost to death. He demanded the return of his man back to him as it seems this man be a navagator of remarkable ability according to the Captain. Well the Captain nae did himself any good turn with his attitude or insults to any here. He t'was most arrogant and insulting to the Ladies." ~Not elaborating on this point and only slightly glancing to Corporal Allen~

"And quite insulting as to his comments of the King. Needless to say, he won no friends here. Well, after the attack on Sinold on the beach by members of his crew which I assume was to capture Sinold and to hold him for hostage for the release of the Captain's man in the dungeons failed, the Captain and the rest of his crew were put back on their ship and place under guard while the ship remains in port."

"And as for Letha's hopechest," ~chuckles~ "by the time comes for the wedding, there will be enough for her to start her home with Sinold as if she had been gathering it together from the day she twas born. For the Ladies of Windstorm will nae allow her to go empty handed to her husband. Lady Edfeil will see to that."

~Seeing the sign of fatigue grow ever more on his features, saying to him.~ "Now ye hae taxed ye strength more than enough this day, it be back off to the imfimary for ye." ~Andrea helped him to rise and moveeds away the blanket that had been covering him and with the aid of the staff walks with him back to the infirmary, helping him to lower down to his cot and plumping up the pillows behind him so that he might lean back on them in an upright position. Andrea sat next to his cot and waits for more questions from Him catching up on all the things that have been happening as he slept.~