Slowly recouperating

[Dream Loxley]

((Ahhh... I waited a while before posting here.. I assumed you had left....reading that he had dismissed you and that you had not posted in a few days. Yes I enjoyed our brief play in the Hall and thought to continue it here. I can delete my post and wait a while longer *S*))

[Vinzelles de Sennis]

The knock on the door came unexpected, about half an hour after Lamont Duchesne had left his chambers. Could he be back so soon? No…. following immediately was the voice of a woman …. Which one though? In his youth he prided himself with the talent to be able to hear a voice once and never forget which face and person it represented. But now? Vinzelles wouldn’t chance anything, he set the still open bible onto the bed and reached for his dagger which lay on the side table, fastening it onto his belt. When surrounded by the enemy, all could strike against one, not only the men. Besides, he wouldn’t be so foolish as to disregard Lamont’s warning.

“Non, Je ne dors pas. Entré … I mean, come in. I am awake!"

He stood up from the bed, curious as to who would wish entrance now.

[Dream Loxley]

*She waited but a heartbeat, almost hoping for no reply...then she could have simply left the linens......his voice caught her by suprise...the foreign language seeming so strange. When she heard the word spoken in her native tongue.....only then did she step forward. The Guard placed outside the door lifted the latch and held the door with one long arm.....his look was one of distain, but she stepped into the room and nodded to the Guard. He then closed the door behind her, mumbling something she did not catch.

Her eyes took in the surroundings.....she noticed the room was still quite tidy....perhaps these men were not so barbaric and appreciated a well kept household. His bed had been slept in...she could see the covers pulled idly up and over the mattress.....a book ...opened...as if he had been reading. He seemed quite normal...none the worse for his strange illness. Nothing about him gave the impression of being a devil......she pondered such a bizzare notion.....it was as remote a possibilty as herself being a Witch.

Her eyes finally found him....an unconcious act.....she swallowed and breathed slightly harder, clutching the linens to her breast.*

"M'Lord....." She started to speak... but her words caught in her throat....she coughed and began again.*....."M'Lord Sennis.....I....have ye fresh linens.....are ye.....do ye......feel better now?"

[Vinzelles de Sennis]

Vinzelles was relieved it wasn’t that incompetent maid named merry or Mollie or somesuch that had brought the linen this time. But the woman standing before him, almost timid and shy, was no maid. He had seen her, if he recalled correctly she was the castle’s chatelaine. Why was she, a woman of noble bearing – that much was obvious – doing here bringing in the linens?

Immediately the Frank took a step forward and sketched a bow … it was then that his nose caught her scent. The one he remembered … her scent. Straightening with a slow elegant move, Vinzelles caught the lady’s eyes….then instinctively reached for her hand, placing a trace of a kiss upon its back. This one showed fear, but not the blatantly displayed loathing the other one who had helped tend to him had displayed. Fear Vinzelles could understand, he used it frequently to gain results favourable to his causes. But with this one… he didn’t wish her to fear him. Not only because her scent reminded him so much of his beloved Yvette.

In a gentle voice he addressed her, still holding her hand in his. “You are a creature of light within these walls that seem to fear me like the devil. I’m … I’m glad you came… let me take these linen, that is not work for you!”

Determinedly Vinzelles took the linen from the Lady, then piled them carefully onto the bed, in the process closing the bible he had read in, placing it back onto the nightstand. He then turned back towards her, his hand indicating the chair where Lamont had sat in so recently.

“I thank you for your concern about my health. You were there, weren’t you? I recognize your perfume…”

Vinzelles fell silent, just looking at the woman in his room. She may not have the beauty that had lured Charles so much, but this one had grace and a tender heart which was so much more valuable than mere outer beauty.

[Dream Loxley]

((May not have the beauty?? ))

*His stature took her by suprise.....an elegance about him...and yet...something else. His eyes seemed to bore deep into her...almost searching for her soul...she swallowed again but her mouth was so dry, why now.....why with him she wondered. He reached for her hand in an instance and lifted it.....normally the gesture would have brought a smile to her features.....with this man she felt a shudder run through her as his lips brushed over her skin......his grasp holding her hand slighty longer as he spoke.

The words were complimentary and with the heavy accent would surely have melted other women.....broken through any barriers......but she felt strange....and she did not understand why.

He showed such nobility......obviously a man of breeding.....it seemed an obvious gesture as he then took the linens from her.....for a moment she felt an impulse to clutch them tighter to her breast, as if for protection. Standing now....nothing to hold onto....she breathed deeply......feeling vunerable, almost naked in his presence.

When he spoke again.....she nodded......she had been there....she wanted to converse with him......but she should have turned then and left. She glanced to the door momentarily and then to the chair he gestured towards. Stay away from the French M'love.....the last words her beloved had spoken to her upon leaving......but she needed to know more of him, felt compelled now.

Her hands reached down...absently brushing her skirts...taking the moment to moisten her lips and regain composure. She lowered her eyes from him and sat upon the chair, resting her hands within her lap...clenched tightly together.*

"I ......I was there Sire.......ye fell......I was concerned.......I made a tea from herbs ye friend did give to me."

*She looked up and watched him still..........almost mesmerised by him.*

[Vinzelles de Sennis]

Vinzelles returned the woman’s gaze, smiled warmly at her. He needed an ally within these walls, and why not her? She looked intelligent, was kind of heart, and he felt drawn to her. No doubt because she reminded him so much of his Yvette. His voice wavered almost imperceptively, emotions welling up inside him he had thought long gone or at least safely delegated to a dark corner of his heart. He swallowed, then spoke.

“You did well, milady! Those herbs, they usually help my condition and prevent and long after effects from an attack. Alas, this time I fear they were less useful. Maybe I need to have Lamont collect fresher ones.” He rubbed his temples, then reached for the bible again, opening it at the passage he had been reading, but then he closed the book again, holding it in his lap, and again fixing the woman opposite him with his dark brown eyes.

“Do you believe what they say about this falling disease? That it is a sign of the person exhibiting it being possessed by the devil? It seems your servants believe such …. I wonder what your Viking friends would say to this? Maybe that their Thor has struck me down with his hammer? … You read the bible, don’t you? It tells us all of the glory of the one God, our Lord, and that he will smite those who stand against him. Hmm, would you not agree that God has the right to defend his children with all the might he has, from evil and from those opposing him and them?”

He suspected this woman was able to read, although it was not an important skill to master, at least not for a woman. There were priests who could read to these creatures, but somehow Vinzelles had the feeling that the lady who had so carefully tended to him had mastered the skill. And he also suspected this woman had a mind of her own, and could think for herself.

It would be interesting to see what she would answer to his proposition.

[Dream Loxley]

*She should have left.....she should not have even entered.....but now she sat here...alone in a strange man's room whilst he preached from the Bible. She tilted her head slightly as she listened to his words....his accent made some of them sound a tad strange, but all in all he spoke well for a foreigner. He did not look so well though....his features still quite drained. He rubbed his temples and spoke of the herbs.....she nodded appropriately and tried to make sense of everything.

Her body was stiff.....she felt uncomfortable...she could not speak the truth...if she denounced his God.....the God.....no...that surely would give more credibility to the witch accusations from his comrade.

She found a smile......although it was not a warm one....she did not believe he was the Devil....but he was not such a kindly man she thought then.....perhaps one who would use words to trick her and others. Something kept her sitting there......some intriguing notion stayed her legs from standing. Was this his ploy...to get her to befriend him and speak up against those who had helped her home.....did he already know how she had hated and despised the Vikings before she came to know how good and honest some really can be.

Her head shook...involuntarily she was disagreeing with him...she spoke quietly...lest her fears gave way.*

"Nae Sire......my Servants are nae so well learned mayhaps ...and as such they believe easily gossip and heresay. I nae believe ye be the Devil. Those Vikings that be dear to me have another they do worship...'tis their right to do such...'tis nae another's right to tell them otherwise. Iffn one does gain comfort and enlightenment from one's belief then.....'tis a goodly thing aye. The men who fight....they fight one another to protect their homes and families...they do nae fight a God methinks...do they M'Lord?"

*She looked intently at him then....curious as to why he would speak so much of his God and such when he had come here to do harm and mayhaps kill us.*

[Vinzelles de Sennis]

So many questions from this woman, her thoughts were sharp as Vinzelles had expected them to be from her. But when he looked at her, he could see… feel her discomfort. Her fear, even if she had just said she didn’t believe him to be of the devil.

He studied her a bit more closely…. Her eyes, her lips, the way she wore her hair and how she held her hands in her lap … it all, in a strange way, seemed to invoke another picture to him, that of a woman long gone, one he had loved dearly. He looked down at his own hands, and sighed. How could he chase that fear from her mind?

Standing, then choosing slow and careful steps towards the woman sitting in that chair, Vinzelles finally came to stand in front of the Lady. He towered over her, one of his favourite positions when he was facing a stubborn prisoner and needed information, or during negotiations with a foreign dignitary who needed to be persuaded of a certain point.

However, here Vinzelles didn’t want to do any of that. He crouch in front of her, again reaching for her hands, taking them very gently into his, his eyes now level with the Lady’s.

“I’m glad you do not think I am possessed!” He smiled, his thumbs running over Lady Dream’s hands. “What you say, about the Vikings having the right to worship their own Gods… you are right! I agree with And your men have the right to defend their home … I am doing no less, Milady!” He could smell her perfume intensely now. “You held my hand like this, when I lay unconscious. Like I am doing now… I held another’s hand, saw her life ebb from her eyes, felt her hand and grasp on mine grow weaker and weaker. Have you seen women derived of their husbands, of their sons and daughters, their lives destroyed and their honor and pureness plundered? Have you seen children cry amongst the flaming ruins of their village because their mothers, grandparents and fathers had been slain? And do you know who brought such misery to them?” Vinzelles paused, his hands shaking and he automatically grasped Lady Dream’s hands a bit tighter. “The men who your king calls his friend! The men who have beaten one of my own kinsmen almost to death.” He let go of her hands now, for if he held on any longer he was sure he’d crush them. “I saw them bring death to the woman who was my betrothed, I AM defending my home now, milady!”

Vinzelles stood up from his crouching position in front of Lady Dream, and took a seat in the chair next to hers. His hands covered his face now, as if he was ashamed of his emotions that washed through him like a wild water torrent. “You remind me of her, so much, Milady! Yvette was a strong woman, to the end…”

Again his face was shielded by his hands, elbows resting on his thighs, willing the pictured of his death lost love back to the darkest corners of his mind.

[Dream Loxley]

*Yvette......that had been her name...the one he had loved.....the one who was gone from him now....taken by those who took her own Mother and dearest Aelrick. How she had despised those men, hated them with a passion.....how he must hate them also.....enough to kill them...rid the earth of them. She understood now.....he was not as strong as he would have them all see...he was weak...he had been broken and felt pain. She drew in her breath....she was afraid....but not of him....more of herself now and her own memories.

He had stood so near...towering above her for what seemed eternity forboding...dark and masterful. Her lips were so dry they would not part....she could not even swallow properly as her throat felt constricted. Then his hands were holding hers...he was crouching low.....her eyes searched his as he spoke....calm at first, then with anger and sorrow. They had taken so much from her when she was too young.....as he asked of her...had she seen children cry...she nodded then as her own eyes became moist....but the words did not come forth. He could have been describing her own life but he was speaking of his love.....her perfume....and his hands.....they still held hers ...so tightly now.

Everything made sense to her.....but she had to push those thoughts aside...she had to return to that place she created in her heart for the Viking men she now trusted and called family. Oh it was so hard...because he spoke the truth and she knew...she remembered....she saw it all when only a child herself.

Now he was seated beside her.....calmer....quiet except for his breathing....hard....laboured, and still filled with that anger. She turned in her own chair to face him....lifted a hand towards his back as he leaned forward.....almost she placed it there, suddenly realising what she was doing and where she was. Her hand flew back to her lap in an instance and she clasped them together again.*

"M'Lord......there be good and bad men in all walks of life......one can nae judge all by the actions of some. I do know of what ye speak.....but I have found a goodness in several of the Vikings....ye could also....iffn ye did look past ye grief. The people of Windstorm, we nae did ye any harm M'Lord.......and......and the one in the dungeon...he did a bad thing and as such 'twas beaten. 'tis nae right...but 'tis as life happens."

*Her words were soft....gentle....she wanted so much to comfort him but her own beloved's words kept whispering within her ear. Stay away from the French M'Love

"I am so sorry Sire...fer ye loss....so very sorry."

*She should stand now....move to the door.....leave him....flee even... but she could not find her legs.....and he looked so vunerable now. She felt such pity for him, much the same as when he had fallen down. He just sat there, his head within his hands.....and she watched him....waited.*

[LadyLaurestina]

((Excellent writing .... Smiles with admiration to both of thee softly* )

[Dream Loxley]

(( *S* Thankyou......I admire your healing skills also...and could never write of such things! Quite amazing indeed ))

[Vinzelles de Sennis]

(Thank you, Laurestina! Your posts, as Dream already said, are quite delightful themselves. We have some great talents here on these boards!)


His hands sank to his thighs once more, revealing a face full of anger, disgust, incomprehension. The words of the lady next to him had struck Vinzelles to the core. “You say you know what I speak of, and I can see you speak the truth. Yet you tolerate these men in your home? How can you? A Christian woman? I cannot…I ... my conscience will not let me accept that, Milady! They murder, they rape, all in the name of their misguided heathen Gods which you say you accept?”

Vinzelles shook his head, starring in front of him for a long moment. He would never be able to forgive these barbarians their slaughter of the one who had his heart. The pain, the fear of a resumption of just such an act consumed him almost.

“You speak of the people here not having done any harm to my kin. I know you haven’t, you, in particular, have been kind and a caring soul,” Vinzelles looked at Lady Dream now, “but your king shelters the barbarians who bring death to my shores! Who bring grieve and tears to my people! If we let them stay here, without protest, how long do you think, will it take before they come for us again? How long before even more women, children and men will be killed by those you call friends? No… there must be an end, and if your king cannot see the reasons … can you see them, milady?” Almost pleadingly the Frank looked at the woman so close to him. “Can you tell the orphans that now roam the streets of my homeland that their fathers and mothers died because your land sheltered their murderers?”

He needed to stand now, his emotions warring within him. “That man in your dungeon, he is nothing, I don’t need him and if my useless nephew gave you trouble because of him, it is I who must and will pay retribution. But on this other matter….”

Again he looked at the woman, so timid, so composed in her fear – it pained Vinzelles to see her like that because of his presence here. “I don’t want to see any harm come to you, Milady. Or to those good Christians of your house. But those butchers who have ships in your harbour… what shall I do, milady? I cannot let them be there, I could not bear to see another die like my…Yvette! Tell me, what should I do?”

Vinzelles turned to the window now, his hands resting on the cold stone framing the small inlet for sun and air. He knew then that should there commence hostilities between his men and theirs, he would do his utmost to try and spare this courageous woman any harm and pain possible!

[Dream Loxley]

*She could only watch him and look upon him with pity....he was filled with anger and hate still...it seemed to consume him, perhaps every waking moment. Was this why he fell down....does hate and revenge do this she wondered....does it take over your body and soul to such great extent that the peson you were.....simply vanishes. Her mind was in turmoil....she did not understand so much, but she knew hate....she knew vengence and the wrath of both God and Barbarians...but also she knew love and all that comes with such an emotion.

He continued to speak... to question her...or was he questioning himself.....either way he was disturbed and she searched her memories now for the right words in the hopes of giving some comfort to this stranger. Perhaps to allow him a moments respite from the hatred that looked ready to engulf him completely.*

"Nae Sire... I nae do except the killing and the maiming...nae ever would I accept the taking of life from another, but these men who live here now...they are part of our home and our family. They work and give their lives to a better cause...that be peace M'Lord."

*She tried hard to remember the words her Father would preach.....and she gestured then to his book.....his Bible.*

"Does it nae read there in ye Bible Sire.....that one should forgive another of thier trespass against ye...and that ye should treat others as they would do unto ye.....surely iffn ye show goodness it shall return forthwith to ye. Nae every fight be won with the sword Sire...surely there be those that would speak and others that listen...and a way forward shall be found."

*Gathering her strength and finding composure...she stood now....brushing down her skirts before moving towards him....her steps were slow and measured...she knew she should turn and go....but mayhaps there was a way to end the bloodshed...she had to try. Her hand that faltered before...now reached out and was placed gently upon his arm...her fingers trembled to be so near to him, she breathed harder and her heart pounded within her chest.*

"There be those here that pray daily Sire...they pray fer peace and fer the lives of both ye men and their own. The King's own daughter holds vigil within the Chapel along with others whom would nae take up the sword. Mayhaps ye would come...when ye feel able....speak with them....another from Kent...he 'tis a kindly man whom holds peace closer to his heart than war."

*She sighed deeply...unable to refrain from such now as she continued...hoping to break through his pain and sorrow.*

"This hatred ye carry Sire...'tis nae healthy and shall consume ye forever iffn ye nae find forgiveness within ye heart. Eyvette would nae wish for ye to be so troubled...I am sure of such. The past 'tis done...we can nae change such... but we may be able to change the days yet to be....iffn we try...and iffn we forgive. The road to peace be a long one....the journey hard and filled with many a battle yet... but the first step always shall be the hardest aye."

*She squeezed his arm gently beneath her hand and smiled softly at him....hoping her jumble of words made some sense.*

[Vinzelles de Sennis]

How could this be? Her words reverberated inside his head, it was as if …. As if she was speaking to him. How often had he sat with Yvette, listened to her advise while Lamont had played Devil’s advocate to her arguments. She had been a bright woman, a quick thinker, intelligent, she could read and write, a rarity amongst the women of his realm. Even noble women were seldom taught letters or numbers as it was not necessary for them to know such to produce a child, an heir – a future for a house.

Now he stood here, four years after she was taken from him and yet it felt as if she was still here. Now. That woman had the same qualities, the same spirit. Any lesser woman would have fled his presence, would have displayed her dislike for him openly. Not this one, however.

He thought back to his own king who lusted after another of these women; if that one was like this lady before him, Vinzelles could understand Charles desire to conquer her and if not her, then at least her land and home. But was that really why he was here? He shook his head – Charles’ base desire revolted Vinzelles. He was here for another reason. And when he looked at Lady Dream, that reason was oh so clear.

Taking the woman’s hand into his, his voice quieter now, but still firm.“Yvette would have wanted her home safe, Milady! Like you crave freedom and the laughter of children, she did as well. The good book tells us that bad deeds must be avenged, and even though I could forgive one of the barbarians… it is not one that threatens my home! It is them and them I cannot forgive! Yvette would still be here without them … as you are now here with me.”

The last words were only whispered, Vinzelles looked deeper into the lady’s eyes… what if he would let himself go and drown in this fantasy, that his Yvette was still here with him, now? No, that couldn’t happen, and slowly the Frank let go of the woman’s hand again.

“I do not wish any deaths, I came here to save lives!... You spoke of a man from Kent. I met him before in your halls. …How would he be able to give me what your king isn’t willing to, milady?”

Again he looked deep into her eyes, the fantasy returning for ay brief moment. He had never been able to deny his Yvette a thing – how could he do so with this woman?

“Show me where I can find him. I will speak to him … I will come with you!”

Vinzelles looked over to where his sword was laying…Lamont’s warning rang in his ear. He still had his dagger by his side, that would need to suffice. He would trust this woman, this once.

[Dream Loxley]

*She took her hand from his arm only to find he was grasping it once more. His words were softer....he seemed more at ease with her. His eyes looked so deeply into hers she felt he was invading her.....compelling her almost but her hand stayed limp within his. If he took comfort from such....then so be it.. but she did not wish to encourage him further.*

"My Mother would still be here M'Lord......but....the past 'tis gone now...I can nae stay there... I can nae bring her back. Iffn ye did kill every man in the world....ye dear Eyvette...she would nae come back. Tis the way of things M'Lord....and ye must forgive them...as ye God wishes and move on. Always there shall be those whom wish to kill and take such which is nae theirs...always we shall come against those who nae know the value of a home and a family, but ye can nae stop them all."

*She swallowed hard.....he let go of her hand....was she making sense....did he understand....she could not tell......and then he spoke of the man from Kent......she nodded....she smiled warmly.*

"Ye are a good man...I can see such in ye....surely ye are above the killing.....ye are stronger...ye can speak to Lord Sighehelm...and mayhaps others who believe in peace. There must be a better way Sire......to find the peace we all do need.....killing those of Viking blood within my home...'tis nae to serve ye interests.....'tis only to bring forth death to yeself and ye men. Ye would fail Eyvette iffn ye died and nae brought peace to ye heart."

*Her hand then reached out to his.....with the other she lifted her skirts slightly and prepared to leave the room.*

"Trust in me M'Lord..... trust in yeself and come with me now to the Hall. Ye will save more lives iffn ye do battle with ye words than ye sword."