Funeral for a Traitor

[Dream Loxley]

*She had worked diligently and quietly, mostly alone save for the servants who had washed the body and wrapped it. The Dungeon Guards had tied the sacking and seen to a coffin. She had paid all who needed such from her own purse, for she knew some would look down on her actions, seeing her unfit perhaps to continue in her role within the Castle. The man was, after all, a traitor to both her beloved and the King in truth. This was simply something she felt the need to do.

After the tearful moments spent with Edfeil, she had gone to the Dungeons, heard all from the Guards and taken over the arrangements. They had seemed suprised, and yet somewhat grateful and had done all she asked. Messages were sent to the village Priest and also to Gerrad, although she knew mayhaps he would not wish to be present to honour one who had betrayed his Captain. Her hands had trembled as she wrote...wishing her beloved home, but also hoping that the whole business may be done and dusted afore he returned. Perhaps he might find it easier to forgive her when he saw the grave.....perhaps his own memories would be set to rest then. She did not have the answers to her own questions, but continued with the arrangements.

A final message had been sent with perran to Lady Edfeil as promised by the guards, and as the small party made their way though the Castle Gates and down the track towards the cemetary, she swallowed hard several times....still wondering if she was doing the right thing.

Daddy had taught her though his beliefs that all men were equal in the eyes of his God, all would be forgiven of their sins....Smithy was just a man.....and were we not all guilty of betrayal at some times...did we not all sin against one another, even iffn we nae did know at the time. She still tried to justify her actions and still had such torn loyalties within her as they reached the graveyard.

She moved forward and opened the small gate.....it creaked as it always did, as if to bid her welcome. Her eyes found Aelrick and she smiled to the wooden cross...he would have understood..she was sure of such...and her Robin would....in time....aye...he would too.

Ned was leaning on his shovel along with three other servants..they all stood upright and made room for the coffin to be placed down upon the ground. She looked about for the Priest and decided to wait just a short while.....after all....Smithy was no longer there...just his bones...the body he dwelled in...she liked to think he had already gone to the place people go, although at times, she found such beliefs hard.

She fumbled with the small posy of daffodils and stood quietly whilst the guards assembled and made ready for whatever ceremony would take place. If the Priest did nae arrive, she would speak a few words perhaps.....she took a deep breath in and waited.*

[Admin]

*quietly watches on from the background. nae wishing to interfear. *

[Sinold Bragasson]

He was just returning to the castle from the stables when he saw the small procession of guards bearing a coffin, and Lady Dream following close behind them. Sinold had heard rumors about the one already in the dungeon before he had brought in Darek. he also recalled briefly the time when he was still new here in Windstorm and had tried to find out about that man, ending up in the ranger’s camp, then being knocked out by one of them and bodily carried back to the castle to mind his own affairs. Unless he was mistaken, the body must be the one of that traitor they had chased so long ago.

But why he had died and what he had done... Sinold didn’t know. Nonetheless, he decided to follow discretely, watching a bit hidden as the coffin was lowered into the dark earth. He pitied the man who likely had died in the dungeon... not in battle, and not from the wound of an enemy. He would go where people like him always went – to Hel, the dark and foreboding underworld of Norse believe. or maybe the Christians had a similar place.

[Lady Alexandreania (Andrea)]

~Andrea's sea blue eyes followed the procession out of the courtyard from her place inside the stables. She saw Sinold discreetly follow behind from a distance and walked out from the stables to join up with him.~

~Her mind wondered who it t'was that be the occupant of the wooden box they followed. But seeing as there were so few mourners, Andrea felt that no one, no matter what they had done in life should ever be put to rest with out having someone to pray over their grave. She hoped someone had done the same for her family.~

~As they approached the cemetary, she stayed back from the grave, not wanting to intrude upon the scene, watching quietly until the Priest had arrived and began to say the mass for the dead, twas then Andrea stepped and let her presence be know to Lady Edfeil and Lady Dream.~

[Lady Edfeil]

*At the gates of the cemetary, she had waited, garbed in her black gown of mourning. Her hair braided away and wound round her head as iffen 't were a crown. When the gate opened, creaking, she saw the Lady Dream... her gaze going to the simple wooden cross where another one, dear to their hearts, rested.

Then her own eyes sought those of her friend, and a smile of gratitude curved her lips. When the priest arrived, in haste, and nae quite sure of the words he should say about the man who now had surely already faced trial by his Maker, she gathers around the pit.

Her hand sought that of the Lady Dream as she heard the priest finally find his words, of salvation and rest.. of mercy and encouragement. And while he spoke... the Lady Andrea added herself to the group. Three woman, standing around the grave of one they had barely known. A quiet testimony, for even after the harshest of crimes, he nae was alone in death.

After the coffin had been lowered, a small hand reached out, and a white flower, the first of the years lilly of the valley... rained 'pon the grave.*

May God bless ye... and take ye up into His mercy... *she whispered*

[Admin]

Out of simpthy and respect to a falling warrior, even iffn he was a traitor to both the crown and to Sir Robin and the rest of the rangers, has all the flags of Windstorm lowered to half mast.

[Dream Loxley]

*She exchanged simple greetings between the village Priest, and then the coffin was lowered into the ground. His words seemed to offer comfort, but still there seemed something wrong.....she was torn within her heart, knowing if all had gone another way.....a deep sigh escaped her and it was then that her hand felt the presence of Lady Edfeil...she squeezed it gently in reassurance. As she lifted her eyes for a moment, she caught sight of Lady Andrea and smiled softly to her also.

Words had left her for this time, perhaps the solemnity of the place....too many memories, she could not tell why, but she placed the small posy of daffodils down, silently bidding Smithy a safe journey to wherever he might go. To have faith in any God....that would give comfort, she knew that, but so much had happened...so many things came to pass, and she did not have that faith anymore. Her features were dark emotionless as she turned from the grave.

A polite nod to all who had been present.....no eye contact....she felt embarrassed perhaps as she opened the gate and quietly slipped out of the graveyard. It was as she passed Aelrick's grave that she allowed the tears to fall...who they were for, she did not know....for him...for herself, what might have been, what may come....her beloved, her daughter, Father, friends. The tears fell freely as she closed the gate and moved away...seeking solitude at the duck pond to gather her thoughts, to find some dignity and composure.

It was over now.....it was done.....a funeral for a traitor who was also a man of courage and honour....and so was the way of things.*

[Halethala]

She'd stepped outside into the day’s breezes, tipping her head skywards to drink in the light and freshness . . then noticed the castle flags at an odd height, only halfways acsending their poles. "How very odd . . a signal of mourning? Had someone di . . " Then she recalled. There had been one in the dungeons that had breathed his last . . perhaps that be who the flags honored? Stepping quietly, she found the others assembled, uncalled, yet something had drawn them together thus. Arriving late, she saw the solemnity of the occasion, the tears shed, and hung back out of their vision, obscured by the hedge that rimmed the graves.

It came to her mind then, why it was important to share the landmarks in one’s life .. not only the joys, as when newfound wee lungs gasped their first taste of life in a lusty wail, the shudder of hope that sparked within the hearts of a people that realize the crown be set upon a wise head, the pride of accomplishment that swelled within the breast of a man upon Knighting, the steps that once alone, now walk in tandem with another when two agree to pledge their lives and loves as one . . . such happy times stir hope and strength to those who witness them, encouraging and coloring lives with freshness and renewal . .

But equally as needful were the farewells, such as this day . . when soberness and reflection brought a leveling reality to bear upon one’s ways. The headlong plodding must halt, and often a new direction considered. So brief was life, really . . so very brief. Though one all to often still thought oneself as a child within, the outward belied any fantasy that time would not scar all in it’s wake. It reminded each soul assembled, if they would hear the whisperings of the dead, that the days were precious, to be treated as such, and not squandered. Lived fully, without regret or waste . .

Letha watched the face of Lady Loxley carefully, close to alarmed at the vacant look that had flitted across it briefly. Her tears seemed to spring from a depth Letha had not realized . . . there seemed to be many here at Windstorm with wellsprings of sorrow buried deeply inside . . She stood looking at a branch she’d absently plucked and held, stroking the soft blossoms carefully so none would loosen and fall . . it would die, apart from it’s roots, she’d sentenced it thus without e’en thinking. She waited until everyone had left, then slowly walked back to the castle as well . .

[Dream Loxley]

(( That was a most beautiful and touching post Halethala ))