Trials and tribulations

[LucienMoonmist]

*Maknig his way to the parapets, the storm greeted him roughly as he made his way outside. Turning his face into the rain and wind, he nodded to the thunder. Moving alnog the parapet until he found the spot, his limp increased greatly, he climbed slowly atop the wall of the castle, then to a palce nestled between the eves(sp). Here, where he had often sit to watch the sunrise, he pulled a bottle of wine from his shoulder pack and began to drink.

As the liquid slipped down his throat, he thought of the words spoken that eve. He thought of the feeling his heart felt as it was suddenly shunted upon an icicle during this near summer month. Her words had hurt him in a way that only Veldarin had hoped to be able to. Now, she was Betrothed to Roland, new found ruler of some place or another. He never bothered to keep track of the baronies or kingdoms as they were. What did it matter? Ones with new power exert it, and so was the case here as far as Lucien was concerned. Forced into a decision of war, Andrea chose the only route able of her, one that would save her conscience, but slay her heart.

As he downed the bottle, he thoguht indeed of how few arrows it would take ot end his existance. Regardless of his place within the world of mortals, he knew he had no right to do such. It was not his palce to force the will of another. Mortals did that to themselves readily enough.

Sitting through the storm, he opened a second bottle and started upon it, waiting for the sun to rise. Thoguh it would not cleanse the hatred from him, the Light always gave him hope for a new day. Often, that little hope was all that aided him over the last hundreds of years.

With these pleasant thoughts, he drank.

[Lady Edfeil]

It was but the first light of dawn that had found her awake with thoughts and worries of her own. The remark of two of the guards had drawn her attention to the parapets. She had but nodded softly to their worries. But now, as the sun started to cast it's first rays over hills and fields, Edfeil found herself climbing the steep stone stairs.

On her arm a basket in which the makings of a simple breakfast: the last of the winterapples. Some bread and cheese and smoked meat. A leather flacon with milk and two cups completed the basket's contents.

She looked upon the enigmatic man. Her footstep had been light as always, yet stealth was something she nae had learned. Without a word, Edfeil sat beside him, pushing the basket in between, and settled u pon the cold stone to look at the sunrise.

She filled a cup with milk for herself, held up a second for him with a question in her eyes, and only then she spoke, her eyes gazing into the far east sky.*

Day's breaking....

[LucienMoonmist]

*without word he finished off the bottle in his hand, placing it with the others beside him. Five lined the wall as he turned to regard her. His eyes held no sign of mirth or sparkle, merely a dullness which seemed to even dim the sharpness of the blue within them. REaching out, he took the glass, sniffing, then sipping it lgihtly as he turned back ot face the Sunrise, letting his head fall sideways against the stone on which he leaned. His voice was dull. Removed of the melody and sparkle it normally carried, it was bland now* Aye. As it has for over eight hundred years that I know of good lady. *there was no spite or malice in his voice, merely a reply*

[Lady Edfeil]

Over ninehundred since our Savior was born...

*she replied, looking at the cloud dotted sky, and sipping her cup. She would nae press. She knew better. To press for answers would nae just be ineffective, 't would also be unkind. She nae wished to hurt the man beside her. She nae understood him, but cared for him in her own, simple way.*

Some days... 't seems the sun be to glorious to greet the day that will become, aye? As iffen 't be indifferent to our worries and toil.

I savour these moments. Quiet and peace, before the days tasks. Good thinking time.

*she sipped again, then passed him an apple. She nae liked the line of bottles. Men who had inbibed spirits were... unpredictable. Yet he seemed more numb then angered, as iffen feverish from some great blow, but too filled with pain to let weariness overtake him.*

[Lady Alexandreania (Andrea)]

~She too had awoken early the next morn after the heart sore scene between Lucien and herself. she had watched him fill his russack last eve with bottles of wine from the side board, then had climbed the stairs and disappeard. It had taken a long while for her to find sleep afterwards as the scene had played over and over in her mind before the sands of sleep could find her, and then only lightly did she rest, until finally did she arise and dress, to haunt the hall from her place near the hearth with Cpl Allen having taken his place in the shadows.~

~The Guards returning from the ramparts after their watch had spoken among themselves as they took morning meal, not realizing that she was there as they spoke of the Fae Archer that had settled himself in the eaves during the thunderstorm that raged all night, not speaking to any but just drinking bottled wine and and looking out over the land.~

~Andrea had not spoken up but with each word she had taken in had her heart fallen farther and farther into the depths of dispair until finally she had heard the stern clearing of a throat. This coming from Robert Allen alerting the men at the tables to her presence by his nod in her direction. The guards immediately ceased their talk hemming and hawing in discomfort. Realizing now that her now known presence in the Hall was making them uncomfortable she rose from her seat and began walking toward the outer doors.~

~Cpl Allen fell into step behind her as he followed out thru the courtyard to the stables where Andrea had stayed only long enough to order two new girth straps to replace the ones that had been cut in two. Then looking toward the North wall from the back door of the stables she departed heading toward that same wall and leaving thru the seldom used Northern gate walking toward the North woods.~

[LucienMoonmist]

*his reply was as before, an answer, devoid of emotion so suually akin to him* All times are those to think.... *takes the apple with a slight nod* It is merely... what.. prevails amidst thy thoughts.... *His eyes stared towards the sun, unblinknig, unsquinting. He felt the burn of it course through him. Finally closing his eyes, a line of tears ran down from each corner, his voice light* Nature moves onwards as it best sees fit. We decide whether to hold within it's path.... follow beside... or to fall behind.... *he lifted the cup of milk, sipping it lightly*

[Lady Edfeil]

*She nodded slow and sipped of the milk once more.*

Nature.. fate... the Lords will... many a name there is for what we nae can decide for ourselves. We have but the choice what to do with 't.
When 't is denied to us what most we wish... we have the choice to forgo everything, even what whe ourselves be rightfully due to others. Or we have the choice to accept what the Lord does send to us, and in nae having what we wish or need, still giving to others what they desire.

*She saw tears streaming his face now, as the harsh sunlight cast it's unmerciful light*
Mayhap ye nae wish to follow the path that was set out for ye, but some roads we must travel, nae for ourselves, but despite ourselves....

*She sinks into silence again, nae knowing how to speak on.*

[LucienMoonmist]

*he closes his eyes, opening them again the the rising sun. Taknig another drink of the milk, he replied calmly* Aye, it is the path which must be travelled true. Despite what must be followed and felt, time is needed to.... quell the severings majesty of pain. *leaning his head against the roof, he sighed softly* Within the pain we may find the strngth to exist. Within the pain, we may find the strngth to forget. Without the time to decide, we find but the pain within the pain.

[Lady Alexandreania (Andrea)]

~Andrea, had spoken to Roland earlier that eve and together they both came to a resolution of the situation. But it was all dependent upon one thing. One thing that Andrea was not sure was even a possibility. Now she awaited the appearance of the one who could tell her as she paced the Hall floor debating on whether going up to the ramparts or not. If he did not come down she would brave the heights in search of him.~

~Slowly, he limped his way down to the hall from the parapet. Regardless of the warmth of the day, his clothing still held the tones of wetness. It was apparent that it had nae been changed through the night nor day. His hair hung loosely, ear wild as it had been wind blown dried during his sit upon the roof through the dark night. Slowly, his pale countenance moved down the stairway into the hall. her back to the entry she suddenly stopped her pacing. That tingle at the back of her neck had started and she knew he was there. Slowly she turned and looked at him usually placid sea blue eyes gone gray in her agitation, taking in his appearance. Her heart dropping as her eyes looked him over. The wind blown hair, the pale features and the hollow eyes. If she lived to be a hundred just the sight of them would haunt her forever but then she had not even taken care to look in the polished metal mirror in her chambers this day so could not even say what her own appearance was like. Dipping a low curtsy to him~ "Good greetings Lucien..."

~At the sound of her soft accented voice, He paused on the last step, he raised his dull gaze to her, bowing his head softly as he replied, his voice dull, lacking all melody and life. "Good eve... good lady..." ~He finished his step, limping slowly across the hall. The hesitation at his greeting and the deliberate non use of her name brought her heart into her throat, almost bringing her stubborness to the fore but she fought it back telling herself he had every reason to hate her.~ "I must speak with ye a moment .............. Lucien." ~He paused, raising his gaze to her~ "Aye?" He moved toward he slowly, nodding as he did~ "Then we shall speak aye?"

~Nodding to him as she gestured to his usual spot near the hearth. Her eyes took in his limp as it seems the night on the ramparts was not a healthy thought. Her hand reached out toward his form, then dropped knowing it was not her right.~ "How I do I begin this......I be at a loss of words." ~Sighing after she said this. Having sat himself in the chair he usually did take, he looked to her, nodding softly.~ "Ye begin as all things do, good Lady, at the beginning." ~Once he was settled she sat beside him, gray cloud colored orbs looking up to him as tho she could not get enough before they lowered to her folded hands, in embarrassment. Turning the words over in her mind seeking the right ones to say but his words to her come thru most and so she just asked bluntly in a very soft voice.~ "I must ask this of ye. If I t'were free to give ye my heart and soul after all that I hae done to ye, would ye take them again into your hands? T'would ye allow me to do the same for ye? Could ye e'er forgive me for the pain I caused ye?"

~He had closed his eyes at these words, his mind running the thoughts through them. The sting of the wine he had drunk the night before still clung to the edge of his senses, forcing him to focus beyond that which he was able. He had come prepared for news of a betrothing, not of relinquished love.~ "Ye begin with quite a thing to ask good Andrea. Ye ask me to undo the severing which has been caused. Ye ask me to trust again yer words when the first to me were severed with blades of ice." ~She swallowed hard and fought herself holding the tears at bay. Willing them not to come to the fore and be seen for fear of him taking her words out of pity.~ "Ye haeing to hear those words hurt ye nae more than my haeing to say them, Lucien. But how could I in all honor be able to accept another mans court and hae ye learn of it from a servant's lips or from any other." ~Her words barely heard for the timbre in her voice was so lowly spoken~

~With his eyes closed still, he brought a hand up unerringly, lightly pressing it to her cheek as he spoke, his voice low, a tiny hint of life stirring within it. "Ye ask me to accept and give an oath good Andrea. Ye ask me to reconnect that which was severed. Ye ask me to trust ye that nae again shall the vow be severed." ~ Having closed her eyes as his hand came up to her cheek, she tilted her head and pressed it momentarily into his palm, as a sigh whispered from her lips before she spoke again~ "I t'would do anything, pay anything to hae those words taken back from ye. But they can n'er be taken back. There be one thing I hae told ye over and over again while ye slept ye healing sleep and then again last eve I spoke the words to ye tho ye nae knew what they meant. I will tell ye now the meaning. Ya tyebya lyublayu," ~Then leaning foward she whispered softly the meaning in his ear, so that only he would ever know.~ She then leaned back from his ear and touch.~

~He spoke again, his eyes closed still,~ "Be this choice yers again good Andrea? Be this a mere question for some time which may never come to pass?" ~As she gazed upon her word rang with truth to answer.~ "It be my choice again Lucien. I spoke with Lord Roland this day and he hae said if ye t'would accept my regretful apology and take back my heart, he twould release me of my agreement. For in truth ye never truely lost it." ~He paused for a moment that seemed to stretch for many upon many. Finally, he leaned foreward in his chair, his breath rasping out from the sharp pain of his wine filled gullett, to press his lips to hers lightly, the softest of touch from rain puffed lips. His voice soft, a hint of melody within it as he spoke them soflty. "Only if ye shall be mine for an eternity's passing Andrea." ~His lips met hers in the soft brush of a chaste salute. She drew back a bit blushing furiously crimson as he whispered the soft words to her. Her words to him spoke volumes.~ "I nae hae the means nor wherewith all to promise ye eternity Lucien, but know this. My heart will always be yours. From now until the day of judgement."

~He nodded softly, his voice a whisper as he spoke,~ "Then I accept and give freely Andrea. his voice light as he speaks. The heart of my blood be within the property of Nature. The expression of mine blood comes from the property of the giving of the heart, Andrea." ~Andrea sent up prayers of thanks for his having so forgiving a heart and with her prayers she sent a vow to never hurt him ever again.~