Unremembered Dreams and Special Thoughts

[Lady Alexandreania (Andrea)]

~Takes a sip from her cup, the wine rolling over her tongue but it has nae taste to her mind. The liquid hits her system quickly not having eaten since breaking fast this very early morn. With a few more swallows she finishes the wine, and comes to her feet. Grabbing for the table beside her as the room swirls about her. She looks out the entry of the Great hall to the stairs they blur before her, knowing that she will not be able to navigate the climb unassisted.~

~Instead she moves closer to the hearth taking the blanket that hangs over the back of one of the seats and wraps it about her. lowering down to the floor she sits watching the ballet of flames before her. The dancing fires acts hypnotically keeping her vision upon them. The myriad of scarlets, oranges, yellows and blues draws her gaze to the center, the heart of the flames. Andrea wraps up snuggly in the blanket then curls into a ball upon the warm stones before the hearth, her slender arm, her pillow. Sable strands drift and cover her cheek as eyelids heavy, fall over sea blue orbs and she drifts off to sleep.~

~For a while she drifts along in dreamless sleep, until a deep furrow creases her sleeping brow. Through full pink lips slight wimpers can be heard. Behind closed lids, rapid movement of her eyes can be seen and her hands at first gently curled clasp into white knuckled fists. These are the same dreams that haunt her each night while she sleeps. Never enough to waken her but always enough to lay behind her every waking motivation. She, not having witnessed the last moments of freedom for her family, yet her imagination painting a clear enough picture. The brave front put on by her Father and Brothers as they went to the Executioner. The quiet stolic refinement of her Mother and sisters in law. But the thing that hurt the worst was the fear she could not help but imagine in the eyes of her brother's children as their young lives were snuffed out like a candle in the night wind.~

~Another figure joins the shadows of loved ones. This one of Pavel, beloved cousin tho more like another brother, hair slicked down by water and entangled with seaweed. He who had fought valantly to stave off the pirate raiders only to lose his life and his body be tossed unceremoniously into the cold deep sea with out benefit of prayer over him. One by one they lined up before her eyes in her sleep, and as she gazes at each of them with their dark hollow eyes staring back at her the more guilt she feels for still being alive. From beneath closed sable lashes silent tears did fall and course from the corner of her eyes.~

~In her dream, she begs them to forgive her for not being with them. To forgive her for wanting to live and survive. Every night the same thing happened in her dream. She gives a solomn vow to some how make right the wrong that had been done to them all. Promising them upon her very soul that she would find a way to put their souls to rest. But upon her waking, the dream has been forgotten disappearing like the mists from the ground when chased by the rising sun. Perhaps as a way to allow her to function on an everyday level, or more a blessing from God above, letting her know that none of this was her fault and that there was nothing she could have done to prevent what had occured.~#nosmileys

[Lady Alexandreania (Andrea)]

~skips happily down the stairs, the soon to be rising sun will bring a fortelling of a bright new day and all being right with the world. Moving on to the kitchen in hopes of avoiding her usual banter with Millie about missed meals and her intake of a bird's diet. ~chuckling~ Tho in truth Andrea looked forward to the battle of wits with the girl. Taking a bowl she spoons some porridge in to it from the kettle upon the hearth adding a drizzle of honey over it and a pouring of cream. Grabbing a spoon and a napkin she sits at the far end of the table chatting softly with those about as she eats. As she ate, Millie came thru the door and Andrea gave her a big grin as if to say. "too late try again next time" as Millie stood there with her hands on her hips laughing~

~After a comfortable time about the table, finishing her meal Andrea, wiped her soft lips with the cloth folded it, gathered up her now empty bowl and spoon placing them near the tubs to be washed and dropped the used napkin in the basket to be taken to the laundry. then departed the kitchen to get out of the way so that the servants could get on with their work undisturbed~

~Coming into the Great Hall Andrea pondered why she no longer slept as soundly as she used to before leaving her native land. It was almost as tho sleep had begun to elude her here tho she felt safe and comfortable. Giving a mental shake of her emotional shoulders she put those thoughts out of her mind and began thinking about how to present the roan mount to His Majesty as the gift he had asked her to procure. In the end she just decided to leave a message for him telling him the mount was ready to be given and to include the receipt from the Stable Master she had gotten the day the roan had been delivered to the stables. Thinking to herself the rest would be left up to his Majesty as it was to be his gift, perhaps she would have Perran take the animal to the forge and have him fitted for new shoes, as it was getting time for such. It would be a good excuse anyway. chuckling to herself.


~She still couldn't believe that the King himself was the smith to the castle. Shaking her head as laughter came over her lips remembering how she had found the coin and the message that she had given the young boy to deliver to the village smithy asking about a seal under the blotter on her writing desk. When having sought the boy out she found out his reluctance in taking the tip and the message when there was no need but he didn't want to anger her so had set the message and the coin where she had found them. He had looked so touching in his honesty she gave him double of what she had given him earlier for being honest and finding out his name was Marcus, told him that he need not have been worried about angering her at all, for the error was hers.~


~It also explained why she had received no reply from it as well. ~shrugging~ oh well live and learn. A smile on her elf-like features, She had told Marcus that if ever again she made such an error she would be very appreciative if he would set her to rights as it will save much time for all involved. What she couldn't understand was why young Marcus would think she woud be angry over something like that. She didn't believe that she had shown in anyway an ill temper or ill manner to any of the servants, and it bothered her that the young lad had reacted in this manner to her. Perhaps it was because she was foreign and different to what he had always known. But she had done her best to set his mind at rest that he had nothing to fear from her.~


~Or at least hope she had. There was still so much about this culture she did not understand. Instead she merely stood back and watched what went on hoping not to make a fool of herself. Lately she had not been feeling too self assured and could not understand why that was. It was almost as if a cloud was hanging over her. The one person she had been able to confide in was not present, but out off on his own dangerous pursuits seeking out the one that threatened his way of life. Not a day passed when she did not think about him and wonder if he was well. One thing his absence did do was strengthen her resolve to not let anyone become close. This danger to his kin had shown her that not only did her own danger threaten to take away any peace she may find, but that there were other things that could destroy anyone at anytime.~


~Again she gave a mental shake and rid her thoughts of these dark images as today she wished no shadows to come over the glory of the day. Spring was certainly coming on quickly, even tho with still cold days trying to hold sway, they were soon chased away by warmer winds and the bright greening of newborn leaves bursting into view upon the trees. Getting up from her chair at the hearth, she walked to the window and peered out. The sun now risen fully, shedding it's golden light over the land adding it's promise to the dawn. Yes, it was going to be a magnificent day indeed.~#nosmileys#nosmileys

[Lady Alexandreania (Andrea)]

~Seeing there is no one else around she turns and climbs the stairs to her new chambers smiling softly as she thinks how nice it is to be permenently ensconsed in a room that is truely hers and not a guest room. As she walks down the corridors of the third level she pushes open the door to her chambers after unlocking it with her golden key. ~


~Sliding the bolt home she thinks she will have to speak to the king about having her casket of the remaining bags of gold and the one of gems moved to the treasury for safe keeping. Until then it will be safe in the locking alcove of her wardrobe. Having lit a candle she then goes about lighting the torches in her room so that she may see as she wanders about putting away the last items that have been unpacked she thinks about the cloth in the storeage room she has there and begins designing how she will decorate her personal chambers.~


~Pale and soft colors she thinks. the drapings around the large heavy oaken four poster canopy bed to be soft and wispy as tho a delicate mist in a dream, in shades of white lavender and grey. wondering if she will be able to find a large white fur overcover to spread over the cool soft white linen sheets that lay over the down ticking mattress, perhaps with matching pillow covers that would be removed at night.~


~Pulling back the tapestry that covers her window she looks up to the star tossed sky trying to find the one that had blessed her with such good fortune to have been able to make her way here to Windstorm and help to find a new family that would take a new place in her heart, while leaving her able to remember and love the one taken from her.~


~Searching for and finding the pattern scrolls for her special riding habit, petticoats and for the ballgown she wishes for the spring festival she lays them on the much larger desk compared to the one she had had in the Guest room comfortable as it was, to be packed in the black leather saddles bags for the trip to the seamstress. She then thinks about all the little things that can make a place a part of the person that lives in it That she can now aquire and set about. Yes it is going to be enjoyable making this room her little corner of home.~

[Lady Alexandreania (Andrea)]

~As Andrea readied for slumber, brushing out her long hair before the fire, her mind drifted back to this morning and the lovely surprise she had recieved. Having spent the day out in the stables with Goodman Paul getting settled in the office he and the lads had created for her. She had been stunned when she had walked back into the back of the Stables after checking on Kadalyk and the rest of the animals that inhabit the sturdy structure, entering His office that she had been sharing with him for a since taking the postion offered her by His Majesty. To have the responsibility of managing the day to day operations of the breeding farms, the ranges as well as working out a breeding schedule to create a new breed. On that would be worthy to carry the Windstorm name and all the paperwork that goes with it. She had been organizing things to her own way creating a record of what animals had foaled and who the Sire and Dame of each of the foals were. It was foaling season and she had been helping along in some of the more difficult cases, and the foaling barn had been where she had been at mostly the last few weeks when she wasn't training with Perran. ~


~But this morning was different, smiling as ever as she entered His office and GoodMan Paul stood there in the middle of it beaming, his weather worn cheeks crinkled up in a huge grin as Andrea came to a sudden stand still. The room had completely changed. It was all neat and clean as a pin. His old scarred up desk and lopsided chair had been replaced with a delicately carved desk and comfortable chair. The flagstones of the floor had been cleaned and scrubbed there were a few chests, two guest chairs, and two armoires added to hold scrolls and supplies as Andrea slowly spun around taking in the change she stopped, a look of surprise and shock on her face as she looked into Goodman Pauls smiling one.~ "Goodman what happened to your office???" ~The grizzled haired portly man laughed at her bewildered look and spread out his arms gesturing all about him.~ "Office?? I nae hae an Office, Milady. This office be fer the Master o' the Horse, well.. In dis case, "Lady" actually." ~Andrea didn't think his grin could grow any larger but she was wrong, Now it threatened to crack his face in two.~


~For a moment Andrea became alarmed.~ "Ohh Goodman I nae intended ye to give this up. 'T be ye office." ~Hearing a sound she looked behind her and was surprised to see a large group of stable lads had gathered to see her reaction to the new office, Perran right in front, a huge grin on his young face. Looking back to Goodman Paul as he said,~ "The lads di' most o' the work last eve Milady. The white washin' of the walls and scrubbin' the stones. They be plannin' 't ever since we heared word dat ye t'were be thinkin of stayin' on at Windstorm and t'would be takin' up the position." ~Andrea walked over to the doorway looking out over the eagar faces that stood there greeting her. Her heart warming to each and every one.~ "Lads, I wish to thank ye all for such a generous gift to me. Ye nae will know what 't means for me to hae such a lovely thing to walk into. I can see all the hard work and effort ye all put in to this and I shant e'er forget any of ye for 't. Now ye best be getting back to ye duties afore that mean, "Lady of the Horse" shall be getting on all of ye." ~chuckling~ "Again Spaciba Lads, Spaciba."


~Watching as they all scattered in mock horror, except Perran, he just threw a bright smile to her over his shoulder as he went on to his work. As she turned back to Goodman Paul and the Desk her eyes going to the work of the cabinetmakers art. The burled wood and delicate carving telling her it was new. The dark stained wood shone with a rich beeswaxed beauty. Goodman Paul went on~ "Perran picked oot the shape of da desk from the cabinetmaker and told him what it should hae on 't." ~Andrea examined the details of the carving closer. The design was of a herd of carved horses running along in an open field on the front of the desk across the modesty panel lowering down to the flagstones her tapered fingers drifted over the the smooth finish, the carving superb.~ "Ohh Goodman, it be wonderful. I nae t'would hae thought of this for myself." ~Rising up she walks round the desk to behind it examining the chair. Made of the same wood and stained the same dark color, the arms ended in carved horses heads, and the legs ended in the shape of horses hooves.~ "And the Chair to match as well?" "Then a thought came to her,~ "Goodman Paul where came the money for this????" ~Worried that it had come from sources that could ill afford it. She looked to the Stable Master as he had burst out laughing~


"Ye paid for it Milady. the coins ye gave me for Sienna, ye said to put the rest toward Kadalyk's feed bill but unless ye wished for buying a full years worth of feed and grain over this years amount I thought the money better spent on this." ~Andrea blushed at this remembering that she hadn't even looked at the reciept for Sienna, not even when she had sent it on to the King in one of her missives to him.~ "Ye now know more than ye did what the cost be of things here at Windstorm. That shows in the learnin' ye did helping out in the stables all this time. Ye now can bargaining with the feed tradesmen better than I can and ye hae saved the stables money. Now I will leave ye to ye work and I will get to mine." ~With that the Stable Master left glad to be giving up the paperwork and the dull parts of the job he had carried for so long and could get back to the job he liked, working with the animals. Andrea nodded to him and came took her seat taking another look around her new office before settling herself down to work.~

[Halethala]

Her eyes had sparkled with such warmth when she'd shared with Letha about her new office! What a lovely surprise that must have been, to have Goodman Paul and the others secretly preparing it without her knowing! And what a task that must have been to get it done before she discovered them at it! Keeping anything secret from Andrea could NOT have been easy. She seemed to know a little bit of all that went on at Windstorm . . amazing, considering the short time since she'd arrived. What a wonderful testimony to the land that had birthed her!

She would simply have to poke her head in on her next trip out to the stables . .

((*thumbs up* Congratulations, Andrea! *hugs*))

[LucienMoonmist]

((and huzzah?))