Sitting in the Great Hall...

[SirThanatos]

He sat apparently alone in the Hall, smoking his pipe and qwenching his thirst with a tankard of ale....His thoughts went over what little he knew of the particular "flock of seagulls" that now assembled outside the Castle walls. That flaming gull, Remard de Sinnes, was one that he certainly wished to see after all was said and done, "carry his hide on his ship" indeed! Long cold day in hell when THAT happened!!

Also wandering thro his mind was the fact that as of yet, none in Authority had given him specific "duites" or assignments in this seemingly up coming battle with the Francs...in part he knew that Sir Hawkmoon was apparently absent from the Castle on some mission...and the other "authority" one Robin of Loxley, he had yet to meet...He knew, of course, of Robin's Lady...Dream Loxley, yet the man himself he had not seen....Oh well, he imagined in time he would...if they all survived this ordeal that is!

Puffing hard on his pipe, and taking long, deep, pulls of his ale, he muttered aloud....

This waiting is the hard part....the fight will be "easy" by comparison!! I just hope that for now, my pipe weed lasts!

*closing his eyes a moment, nodding to himself*

[Dream Loxley]

*She hesitated a moment within the doorway...the man did indeed seem to be speaking to another.....but, as she peered around the door frame.....she found him to be alone. Unsure still as to disturb him or nae....she moved forward slowly, absently brushing down her skirts.

He had seemed a nice enough man, one quick to show respect and honour, and yet she knew nothing of him....only that perhaps she could place her trust in him.

She moved further into the great Hall and watched him..... a warm smile upon her tired features.*

"M'Lord Thanatos........I hope I nae disturb ye ponderings."

[SirThanatos]

He opened his eyes as he heard a voice addressing him, chuckling a bit to himself as he realized that he had been startled...Rising from his seat, he bowed to Lady Loxley and returned her smile.

Greetings m'Lady! Nay, you do not disturb anything, I am merely musing and enjoying a good smoke and drink! Pray thee join me if you wish! *indicates a chair opposite himself* Tell me if you can Lady Loxley, any new word regarding the seag...er..Francs I mean?

And how is the Lady Edfiel doing? Are her fevers broken, I hope?

He awaited the Lady's pleasure as to whether or not she would join him, and remained standing as he spoke his questions to her.

[Admin]

~as commanded, as the Ranger horn is blown... young Marcus seeks out those that the missives in his be fore.. The one be the man called Sir Thanatos, he finds sitting in the hall.
" M'lord.. I have a missive for thee from his Majisty Agustin Stormblade. * He offers the scroll to the tall man, bows and seeks off the rest of those he seeks*

The missive reads..


" M'lord Thanatos,

As promice, I would be calling on thee duties in the time iffn they be needed. If this missve has been delivered, then that time has come. I would like thee to dress in thee armor, iffn thee have nae.. select some from the armory. Thee shall be riding out to the village of summersville, where thee shall meet the Captain of me armies. His name be Captain Richards, and he shall meet thee at the tavern. Please do as he says and stand proud with me men of me armies M'lord..f or thee have a verra important task to do with them.

Gratefully yours

Agustin Stormblade

King of Windstorm Castle.

[Dream Loxley]

*Almost a chuckle as she looked upon him... had he indeed been sleeping..or simply resting his weary eyes. She nodded and smiled warmly to his second question.*

"Indeed..... I do believe she does show much improvement...mayhaps even to grace us here within the Hall with her presence in a day or so."

*She was uncertain how to answer his first question and pondered a moment before young Marcus arrived in quite a hurry. She stepped back to allow the young man to speak to Sir Thanatos.....of course curious as to the missive he was given.*

[SirThanatos]

He looked a bit sheepish as he saw in Lady Dreams]' eyes that indeed she had caught him "napping", then nodded as he heard the news regarding Lady Edfiel...It was then that the young man burst in with a Notice for him...

Begging Dream's pardon as he broke thier conversation to read the missive, he then instructed the young man to take a Reply back to His Majesty...it read:

M'Lord,
I Hear your Words, and am now fitting myself to ride to Sommersville and will attend Capt. Richards upon my arrival.
Thank you King Stormblade for accepting my offer of my arm and sword...I shall not fail you!

Signed,
Sir Thanatos Gray


He then looked to Lady Loxley and bowing deeply spoke to her...

Lady Loxley, if you will excuse my abrupt departure, for your Lord has Commanded me away this very moment! Give all here my deepest Regards, should I not return!!!

With that he went to his room to don his Armor and strap about his waist his Ancestoral Blade.....called "The Caldessa Blade" and would soon make his way to the stables and saddle his steed, Mortis.

[Rayven]

At times it seemed as if Windstorm was at the world’s end where time and space did not entered and there was no such things as marauding Franks or threats of war.

Yet when I saw him leave upon Mortis I knew that the world was very real indeed. The time had come for the men to take up arms.

It was the fairest part of the summer, but storm clouds were gathering in the distance and the winds of war were blowing towards us.

I buried my face in my hands and wept behind them, silently, and no longer cared who was watching.

[Siren Song]

~She had decided to take a little nap to escape the heat of day. Suddenly she was awakened by the distinct noise of metal clanking. crawling out from where she hid, she made her way back to the edge of the path. As she brushed away the leaves that had tangled within her hair, she saw a man walking out from the castle. He was fully clad in battle armour.
She stayed hidden behind the large tree she had chosen as a shield, as she watch a lad bring the man a horse.
The man placed a foot in a stirup and was astride the horse in a flash. He dug a heel into the horses flank and they were off. She cough a little when they passed, the heavy hoofs digging deep into the earth and stiring dust on the path.
She frowned, knowing this meant the battle had begun. A sad day this could end up to be. She closed her eyes and said a prayer. She wished to see no harm befall these good people.
Ducking low, she made her way back into hiding. She said indian style on the ground holding the amulet around her neck. Closing her eyes...she began to pray~

[Dream Loxley]

((Takes a chance on where Rayven is )

*She had nodded her head in respect to him... her heart suddenly missing a beat...her features showing no emotion lest he would see the fear there within her eyes. It was obvious the note contained information she was not to know.....nor indeed wished to know. She had those here within her home to placate and care for. Mayhaps the time had come to bring the sick and elderly within the safety of the Castle.

All these thoughts and more besides filled her mind as she smiled to him and found the words within her dry throat*

"M'Lord...ye will return to us.... I have faith in ye....in all of ye. Be well and safe now.....and I am sure we shall see one another in the days that follow this one."

*As he left the Hall.....her mind was in turmoil....so much still to be done.....so many now shall leave the Castle. She found herself wandering the corridors..her arms wrapped about her body, her head slightly lowered. Aware now that she was nearing the courtyard....she stopped and slipped quietly outside, mayhaps she would see him off.

She heard the faint sounds of sobbing and looked quickly around......her eyes finally falling on the Lady Rayven, almost hidden from view. Her own heart reached out and she placed a hand gently upon the woman's shoulders....she was unsure of her words...but her heart spoke more.*

"M'Lady..... nae fret now..... he shall return....they all will.... iffn we have faith aye."

[Rayven]

((You guessed right. ))

I was still gazing out that huge lead paned window, at the all-covering sky, the wide hills of Windstorm. The knot of panic pulling tighter and tighter in my stomach as all round me sounds of horses and men gathering in the courtyard as they prepare to ride out meet my ears.

I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder just then, a simple gesture of caring and concern and it seemed to calm the choking feeling I felt rising in my throat, I turned and met the eyes of Lady Loxley.

Her words touched my ears and my heart as silent tears continued to roll down my cheeks.

I took her hand into mine giving it a gentle squeeze to let her know how much her words and gesture of comfort meant to me managing a small smile in return.