The Glen

[Todd Owen Smith William]

Todd, Owen, Smith & William had travelled through the Northern woods and had come to the border of windstorms realm then passed through another realm of which their patrols had covered before.They had passed through this realm in the direction as indicated by the map and now stood at the verge of another realm.

Ranger Todd & Owen were slightly ahead of William and Smith and they stopped and dismounted from their horses. Todd pulled the map from his jacket and they studied it carefully. The symbol of an arrow pointed slightly north west and there was an image of several bird like creatures carefully scribed over an area of the map with arrows pointing to an obviously pre-planned route.

Todd, who had joined the Rangers from within Windstorms lands as had Owen, looked blankly at Owen. " It says this is the way Owen... past a Castle ...but what is this meant to mean" He pointed to the bird like creatures.

" I dunno" replied Owen "mayhaps William or Smith might knows"

They waited for the other two Rangers to join them and Todd asked the question of William.

"What do these birds mean and where are we going"

William already knew their location as he had passed through these lands with Robin in their quest for a new homeland...yet he hesitated and looked upwards instictively. He looked back to Smith who sat stiffly in the saddle looking upwards also and then looked back to Todd and Owen.

"They be nae birds Todd" he paused and worded his thoughts carefully...they be dragons .. an we dun want to be seeing none this day nor ever just in case they be bad ones"

He looked at Smith who had shifted his gaze from the sky to the landscape ahead...his eyes scouring the land looking for something...his hand on his sword..

"Forget the Dragons Will, they be nothing to worry over, it's the half man beasts that scare the shyte outa me"

Todd & Owen looked at William and Smith in disbelief, yet both mens hands slipped over the handles of their swords just in case and Todd handed the map to William....

"yer in charge from here on seeing as yer know the way. Now tell me more of this place as we ride, and Smith leave markers for the carts to follow if ye will"


((to be continued))

[Todd Owen William Smith]

William took the map from Todd and studied it carefully for a long period of time, then tucked it deep within his Rangers tunic for safe keeping. He looked at the others and spoke quietly.

“I think we should rest the horses and wait for the carts to arrive before we move on further, that way we can let the others know what mayhaps to expect as we move through this realm”

Todd nodded his head “Aye that would be sensible Will…I’ll get a small fire going..”

Todd scrounged for the makings of a fire and soon had a small blaze happening. All the while listening to William speak of a magical land where nothing ever seemed to be what it was. He handed Smith, Owen and William their mugs of steaming tea and sat back and said “So tell me more of these dragon things and half man beasts”

William loved to tell a story, even more so when he had a captive audience…even if it was of an event he didn’t really wish to remember so he launched into the tale with great gusto.

“There were all manner of these dragon creatures, they seemed to be everywhere and they ranged in various sizes and colours…there were Golden dragons, Red dragons and black Dragons but more astonishing than that was the fact that they changed forms at will. They would be dragons one moment then the next they be men, just like you an I”

He paused and watched the faces of Todd & Owen as they looked from him to Smith who just nodded his head up and down in confirmation and when they looked back to him he took a sip of tea from his mug and continued.

“After some time, some angst started showing between the Dragons, some say it had something ta do with a wizard or something….anyways the dragons started fighting between themselves but I dun know why.

When they fought in the air they made a great noise…their beating wings sounded like a mighty wind and when they collided mid air it was like the sound of thunder only much louder and the shrieking was deafening. When they were injured they would fly away, become like you and I again and heal themselves then start all over again. I dun nae understand it all but M’Lord Robin did, He knew some of them he did.”

He paused again and looked at Smith who was obviously remembering the events in his own mind as his face had gone white in colour.

“And they breathed fire too” added Smith quietly, having recovered from his memories… “Yer wouldn’t want ter be any closer than half an arrows flight iffn one of em was after yer”

William nodded “Aye but as Smith said earlier it was the half man beasts that were the worst. They stood only about chest height and their faces were deformed as were most parts of their bodies that could be seen and when they got into a rage they were almost impossible to stop. You had to kill them first try or yers was in deep shyte an even then yer couldn’t be sure that would stop em.”

“The Dragons were so busy fighting amongst themselves that they left themselves open to attack by these creatures. I dun know where they came from but they took most by surprise and wreaked havoc on the land and those within it. M’Lord Robin offered our help and battles were fought the length and breadth of the woodlands”

William paused and looked at Todd & Owen and shook his head sadly…

“We were all for helping out the Rulers of the lands here so M’Lord Robin devised a plan to which the dragons agreed and we made a stand against the creatures, but the dragons were distracted and didn’t come when they should have so we stood alone. We lost many men that day and after that M’Lord Robin would nae stay here any longer. Thus we moved on until He found Windstorm Castle and its realm and brought us there..”

As he finished the story, the four men heard the creaking of the carts approaching and they greeted the Rangers somberly. The Rangers jumped down from their carts and stretched their legs and Todd gave them each a mug of hot tea then poured the rest onto the fire and then ground out what was left of the fire and covered it over with soil.

William motioned Smith to join him and turned to Owen & Todd “We’ll just have a bit of a scout around then come back for you. You might want to fill in the others as to what they might expect”

Owen & Todd agreed and Will and Smith mounted their horses and rode off quickly but quietly. After a while Smith said to William “Do yer think the Dragons and half Beasts are still around Will?”

“Nae” replied Will as he scoured the landscape for signs “M’Lord Robin made it through alright methinks…and besides there were nae mention anywheres on ther map that they were.” He nodded confidently to Smith as they rode on silently.

After some time, they turned back having uncovered nothing…much to Smiths relief

“Mind you Smith, we dun have ter tell the others that” he said with a mischievous smile

Having said that …he lifted his legs up and sat cross legged on his steed, reaching down he pulled his shield up and held it aloft with one hand and drew his sword with his other hand and invited Smith to do the same. Smith reluctantly followed suit and it was like this that they rode back into the make shift camp.

With a straight face William rode straight up to Todd and Owen and by the looks on the faces of the other Rangers, Owen & Todd had retold the story. Owen looked at William with a mystified look on his face…

“What the damnation are yer riding like that for Will?” to which William replied seriously..

“We saw recent signs of both dragons and beasts so we need to be prepared and this is the best form of defence. Sheild up to protect from above…legs up to stop a beast bursting from the earth and pulling ye down from yer horse. Hurry we must get moving”

Both Owen and Todd sprung to their horses and lifted their shields up and lifted their legs up just as William and Smith were doing. The other Rangers jumped back on the carts and did likewise. Smith was trying to look away and not laugh but caught sight of William whose body was shaking with laughter. Smith let forth with a mighty roar of laughter quickly followed by Will who couldn’t contain himself any longer…

Todd, Owen and the other Rangers suddenly realized they had been tricked and it showed on their faces which sent Will and Smith further into a uncontrollable, hysterical laugh…and as the other Rangers followed Todd and Owens lead of lowering their shields and uncrossing their legs Will watched on as Todd’s face went red with anger and then his laughter died instantly as a look of fear crossed over Todd’s face and he started to scream at Will, drawing his sword at the same time..

In his haste to uncross his legs, lower his shield and swing his sword around to defend himself from whatever was about to attack them, Will lost his balance and fell heavily to the ground. He was winded but sprang to his feet and swung his sword around and looked but there was nothing there. At that moment he heard the laughter of the others and turned around with a grin on his face looking at Todd..

“Nice one Todd” and he swore under his breath “Very nice”

“Yer welcome William” replied Todd with a grin from ear to ear “Now that you’ve got that out of yer system…shall we be on our way?”

William looked at Todd and chuckled “Aye lets be on our way”



((to be continued))

[Dream Loxley]

(( Just had to applaud you for such a riveting storyline!! I can't wait to read more. ))

[Ranger Samuel]

Samuel never had a sense of humour, his friends always said he was last in line when humour was dished out. They also said he was given more than his fair share of gloom and doom. He was a good man, dedicated and honest as the day was long, but listening as Todd and Owen recalled the old days before Windstorm, Samuel felt sick to his stomach. He had battled with men from all parts, even some women who had decided to fight alongside their menfolk, but these creatures, half man and half something even he could not imagine. No. He could not digest that information. He was about to allow his lunch free passage from his stomach when his comrades returned to the carts.

He stood upright beside one of the carts, eager to see if they were still in one piece! Will and Smith were riding with their legs up, they had their shields placed in front of them, why ever was that. The look of fear about them was enough to distract Samuel long enough to still the nausea that threatened to ravage his body.

“We saw recent signs of both dragons and beasts so we need to be prepared and this is the best form of defence. Sheild up to protect from above…legs up to stop a beast bursting from the earth and pulling ye down from yer horse. Hurry we must get moving”


With that, some of the others mounted up and lifted their legs, others jumped quickly onto the carts and did the same. Each man desperate to stay out of reach. Samuel was slower to reach his horse, all the while his eyes darted about, he did not even know what he expected to see. Sweat slowly dripped down his face, even brave as he was normally, he felt afraid, he would be no match for a beast like creature! Each step he took was painfully exagerated, the ground felt solid enough beneath his boots, how could anything appear, surely Will and Smith could not be serious. That gloom took over again, Samuel watched each man, and saw the tell tale signs of laughter. He knew then they had been tricked, he must have known even before he saw Ranger William fall from his horse.

Bahhhh! he exclaimed beneath his breath as the others laughed. Laughing would not win the battle he assured himself as he finally mounted his horse. Clicking his tongue and pushing his heels in slighty, the horse moved off. Samuel shook his head and mumbled as he passed Will. Something about staying on the ground too long else the beasties would get him.

[Halethala]

As a gentle snowfall, the minutes began to fall around them . . to drift into soft mounds driven by the gusts of fear whenever he would stir and cry out in discomfort, however muted by his will, even in sleep . . curling quietly around her feet when the even breathing that marked deeper slumber finally settled in.

When he'd looked up into her face, she had wanted so badly to speak to him, to have him tell her . . something. Anything. To sate their curiosity with better explanations as to what had happened. Secretly even hoping he might mumbles clues in his sleep, though she would have felt terrible to hear it in such a manner. At one point she found she had even covered her mouth as if to keep herself from asking .

He needed rest more than to be prod for information. So rest he did. The quiet wrapped the camp like a very large quilt . . the mystery of sleep working a magic no healer could duplicate.

She had not meant to succumb to sleep herself, meant only to stay until she was sure there was nothing more she could do. She'd sung softly at one point, when he seemed aggitated, until it passed . . a song of the wind, rich with the moisture of the sea as it sought it's rest in the leafless trees . .

[Gerrad]

He awoke with a start….his head still laying in his beloved sisters lap. He moved and sat upright slowly and cautiously, the pain coursed through his left side but he ignored it as best he could and pushed himself upwards and off the bed.

Standing, albeit precariously, he looked down upon his sister who had fallen asleep.

A smile passed over his face and he thought how lucky he was to have someone as caring as Halethala in his life again. His thoughts wandered back to his wife who had passed away violently, just before the birth of their first child.

As he stood there watching her sleep …the feelings swept over him again…his heart seemed to leap from his chest. Yet he stilled his feelings but moved closer to her… bending down and slipping his arms beneath her he lifted her carefully, despite the instant pain, and repositioned her so that she would be more comfortable upon the bed.

His face lingered next to hers , his lips so close…her breath so warm and inviting…if only he had been quicker to voice his feelings towards her…He placed a soft kiss to her cheek...

He chastised himself… “You had yer chance Gerrad and yer just stood bye and said naught, be happy with what ye have”

He stepped back and sat on a stool next to the bed and watched her. He watched her face and noticed the glow that he had not seen before. *She is with child he thought to himself* His heart sank and he again became that which he was destined to be…. A brother and protector…it was after all, what he was good at…..sometimes

[Dream Loxley]

*The thought of knocking upon the door before entering did not even cross her mind as she expected to find the scene exactly as she had left it after tending to Gerrad's wound. The willowbark tea she had begun to prepare before sleep took her had gone cold, so she had made a fresh batch before making her way across the wooden walkway to Gerrad's quarters. It had been dark for some time and the night air much colder than when the sun had shone, she noted how still the clearing was and how quiet save for a few of the men milling about and speaking in soft whispers. She could not stop the heavy sigh that left her lips as she recalled the day past, it had been filled with pain and suffering, such as she had not seen in a while and not wished to see again.

Holding the tea with care she gently pushed open the door, but stopped immediately when she saw Gerrad. She was suprised to witness his movements and stayed back slightly, embarrassed to witness such a touching gesture. What was it she saw within his eyes as he watched Halethala, something more than a Brother should feel towards kin, no, she must be mistaken, a trick of the light as the door opened.....surely. She could not hide the question within her features as she softly cleared her throat, stepping forward with a gentle smile for Gerrad. She took a moment to look between them, almost to make sure she had imagined what she thought she had seen. Holding out the mug of willowbark tea towards him, and speaking quietly lest she awaken her friend. *

"I did nae expect to see ye awake Gerrad.......'tas been a lot for ye both to cope with....... yet....... iffn I may......iffn ye can..... I beseech ye, have ye word of my Robin......are ye up to telling me what happened. My heart......'tis aching to know....but i would have ye rest iffn ye are in need."

[Halethala]

There is, in every waking, a fluttering of altered perceptions . . a window, as it were, a portal that funnels the streams of both worlds . . that of dreams with that of reality . . immersing the dreamer with disorientingly realistic imagery. The call of the morningdove melding into a dream of flight . . and the dreamer truly has wings. The prick of a biting insect, and the tide of a victorious battle disintegrates beneath the piercing of a blade . .

A gust of the fresh morning breeze across the unguarded cheek, and one would swear against death 'twas the kiss of a prince bidding you waken . . to the half of his kingdom.

Only, it was not a prince . . it was not her husband . .

In that bewildering twilight, where the fence of decorum and duty and mores was lowest, and the impossible seemed almost reasonable, or at least, untethered . . The face of the kiss was . .

Where she found the wits to stay her hand from reflexively brushing at the touch . . to lie unmoving as the soft voice rose to engage Gerrad in a gentle pleading conversation, untangling herself from the traitorous dream. Afraid to look at him. Afraid he'd guess . . .

Trying, thus vainly, to shake the sensation that made less and less sense the more her consciousness unfolded. What could have provoked such a thing? . . but worse yet . . why had it seemed so very very pleasant . .

[Gerrad]

As the Lady Loxley cleared her throat and made her presence known…Gerrad shrank within. How could he have been so focused as to have not heard her coming.

As she stepped forward and offered both a smile and the mug of willow bark tea…he regained control of the situation and when she spoke he was ready to reply …

“I did nae expect to see ye awake Gerrad.......'tas been a lot for ye both to cope with....... yet....... iffn I may......iffn ye can..... I beseech ye, have ye word of my Robin......are ye up to telling me what happened. My heart......'tis aching to know....but i would have ye rest iffn ye are in need."

He stood and paced the room……taking a sip from the tea before he spoke. Standing to where he could see Halethala’s face he watched her intently for a moment….her eyes were closed and for a moment he thought that his indiscretion had gone unnoticed.. but then the tell tale flicker of her eyes beneath closed lids betrayed her. He nearly died with remorse…

He turned and faced Lady Loxley…and his face bore no emotion … other than that of a concerned Ranger for the woman that his leader loved dearly… for there was no other emotion left to give.

“Of course M’Lady Loxley….it is both my duty and my will to give you that which I can and I’m most sorry to have not been able to do so earlier...

tbc

[Dream Loxley]

She could have been mistaken........she so hoped she was.....and yet, would it be so wrong, of course, indeed it would be. Halethala was a married woman, highly respected and loved dearly....... no, she must be mistaken, but the look within Gerrad's eyes, she had seen it many a time in her own beloved's. Her stomach flipped as she wrestled with her thoughts and concience for even thinking such a thing could ever be.

Dream took in a deep breath and lowered her gaze from him, from them both, in the hopes that what she felt and thought she had seen would leave her mind, she had to focus now upon what Gerrad would tell her. She decided to sit upon the small stool and let her hands brush down over her skirts, placing them palms down on her knees, her eyes came to rest on her wedding ring and the beautiful emerald stone that her Robin had gifted to her when he first declared his love. She allowed her thoughts to remain there for a moment as she found composure. When she spoke it was quietly lest she would wake Halethala.

"Ye have nae a need to apologise Gerrad...... I know ye would nae shirk away from any duty, and I know yer will be strong and true, like nae other ye are held so highly by my Robin." She looked at him then and smiled warmly, whatever it was that he held within his heart for Letha, it was not her business, nor would she ever ask. Her concern now was for her Robin and what fate may have befallen him.

"When last we did speak......ye told me Robin was safe and well......but time has past.....yer men have been tended, and yer own wounds should heal. Such be that Sir Loxley waits for ye......or......mayhaps I could go to him." She asked. "Still my fears Gerrad, I beseach ye, for 'tas been so long since my eyes have rested upon him, even though I know in my heart he lives, I can nae settle my mind and my own worries."

Absently she turned the rings around her finger while she waited for his answer. He should be resting, she knew as much, and yet she yearned to hear more of her Husband and when she would see him again.

[Halethala]

The last shackles of sleep shredded away as she awoke more fully, convincing herself that her dreaming had been nothing more than that and not sommat anyone else could peer into, her thoughts rapidly turning from inwards to out as several things registered at once . . for one, why was it she lying on his bed and he upright . . and worse, why was he attempting to launch into what was surely a lengthy explanation to her Friend's impassioned queries, understandable though they be?

How long HAD she slept, that he would have healed so far along already! With embarassment and a sense of shirking in her duties, the dream nearly forgotten as she quietly untangled herself and drew herself to the edge of his bed, one hand reaching out to lay with a gentled persistence at his shoulder. Letha began to speak, nodding towards Lady Dream as she did so, "Lie back down again, Brother, 'ere you give your account . . "

The rest of the words seemed to hover and tumble away as he turned his gaze from Lady Loxley to her own . . and she found herself disoriented . . unsettled, for there in his eyes was just the faintest flicker as if he'd inexplicably peered into her dreams . .

Not consciously did she rise to stand, a flush of color spreading in her cheeks, grateful that her Friend was there to screen any chance of intimacy right then. "Do . . do not tire him o'erlong, Dream . . I'll fetch up clean dressings, and . . and . . oh, I know how ye must kiss your hus . . I mean miss your husband . . and wish to hear all ye can of him . . and I'll . . just leave ye . . tae . . "

She turned then, squaring herself with a rueful chuckle, marching off in the very wrongest direction . thankfully not tumbling right off the walkway . . Retracing her steps before getting fully lost . . But as she entered the Loxley's quarters, she was overcome with soft wonder as it seemed that all the love that had been shared in this very room distilled into a fragrance that Letha drew in deeply . .

Pressing the fresh stack of linens against her heart, she walked back slowly, allowing what she hoped was enough time for the lion's share of whatever Gerrad could relate to his Lord's lovely wife . . reminding herself of how very fortunate she was to count him as kinsman. Such a man . . a good man . . she should, would not compromise this special bond with . . silly dreams . .

[Repsol]

Finally caught up, what a read, thanx for sharing this with us it's great

[Gerrad]

Really sorry it has been so long since posting....again i apologise...........

“Of course M’Lady Loxley….it is both my duty and my will to give you that which I can and I’m most sorry to have not been able to do so earlier...

He watched as the Lady Loxley took a deep breath inwards and shifted her gaze from both himself and the Lady Halethala. She sat upon the stool he had previously occupied and brushed down her skirts. As she rested her gaze upon her hands she spoke again…

"Ye have nae a need to apologise Gerrad...... I know ye would nae shirk away from any duty, and I know yer will be strong and true, like nae other ye are held so highly by my Robin."

His thoughts were about to wander to an explanation when she spoke again…

"When last we did speak......ye told me Robin was safe and well......but time has past.....yer men have been tended, and yer own wounds should heal. Such be that Sir Loxley waits for ye......or......mayhaps I could go to him."

He started suddenly…and began to protest… “nae… nae M’Lady ye must stay here for your protection and M’Lord Robin would nae fergive me iffn yer were to leave this realm……..and aye it has been too long fer sure since ye have seen him ..but he ……”

He watched silently as she turned her rings upon her fingers and prepared to launch into a lengthy explanation when suddenly he felt a hand touch his shoulder… it rested there momentarily and seemed to tug at his being…. The hand was warm and …. He panicked … Then the words reached him….

"Lie back down again, Brother, 'ere you give your account ... "

He turned and his eyes locked with Halethala’s momentarily… he almost reached out for her… and then she was gone amidst a myriad of spoken and unspoken words… He watched as she left the room and marched the wrong way on the suspended walkway amongst the trees…then almost smiled as she turned back the right way and made her way to her destination… On an unfamiliar field of battle, one of the heart, he turned back to Lady Loxley and blushed significantly as it seemed all he could do in such circumstances…

“I believe me Sister would want me to lay down again M’Lady”

He lowered himself to the bed and eased back against the pillow suddenly clutching at a blanket when he realised his upper body was on display to all….

“M’Lady … Yer Robin is safe…and I know that this may be hard to believe…but he has many, many friends where he is at the moment. In fact there will be a great influx of people into this realm before too long…….But let me start at the beginning……”

[Dream Loxley]

How she had stopped herself from rising......made herself stay sitting upon the stool was irrevelant as she watched the scene unfold before her very eyes. Whatever she had thought she had seen before was now most definitely not within her imagination. Both Halethala and Gerrad had confirmed such to her within just a few moments without either of them actually speaking the words. There was something between them, and whatever had taken place within the confines of Gerrad's room while Dream herself had slept earlier, was their own business, she would not, could not judge.....but it was there, and she hoped beyond hope no others would see it.

Letha had almost fled the room, her emotions showed in almost every fibre of her body, her movements, her words, the way she bent her head just slightly. Gerrad......it was in his eyes, the way he watched Letha move, that tell tale way he lost himself within her as he looked upon her, and the slight flush of his face, guilt almost.....and yet, nothing could have happened, Dream had almost blushed herself as the thoughts and visions came to her. Quickly she pushed them aside and made a concious decision to return to the Castle as soon as she was able. Her children would be missing her and she ached to hold them close. Gerrad had Letha now and they needed to spent time together, whatever had transpired would need to be dealt with, and only they could do such between them. Perhaps she could see to it that those injured men returned with her, to the healers of Windstorm. There was not much more she could do here for her Robin, his fate was in the hands of his men and those loyal to him.

She sat still and listened as Gerrad spoke......forcing herself to stay there, relief cradling her within its arms to hear of her Robin being safe.......but there was more he had to tell.....so she waited and smiled softly to him, knowing the turmoil that he must surely be going through at this very moment in time. "I trust ye Gerrad.....to tell me such that would aid my fears, and I am grateful........" Her voice trailed off, the strength she had found earlier, quickly leaving her as she fought to stay composed, oh how she missed him so.......so very much.

[Gerrad]

Gerrad continued and his eyes never left the Lady Loxleys as he spoke...

"As yer know M'Lady, Sir Robin was worried for Windstorms safety, what with the possible threat of the Franks an other things. So we left here to go to Robins old homeland to see iffn we could attain some extra troops for a short period of time from the King there.

M'Lord Robin was sure that this would not be a problem as he had helped overthrow ther previous King of the Realm whom ah'm sure yer know was a tyrant of unspeakable proportions.

Anyways it came to pass that we arrived to the outskirts of the kingdom. We were welcomed with open arms and merriment by all the villagers and men at arms that we came across as we made our way towards the Kings Castle.

In fact it took us much longer to reach the Castle than it should have as each village was so thrilled to see M'Lord Robin. He is muched loved and respected there M'Lady"

Gerrad paused.... and took a sip of the now nearly cold tea that Lady Loxley had handed him earlier. His blue eyes never left hers for a moment... they searched for answers within hers and unfortunately for him, found what he was looking for.

He continued

"We eventually arrived at the Castle Gates and M'Lord Robin hailed the gates and asked for entrance. M'Lord Robin was greeted by the Kings royal gaurds and was told that he was to have an immediate audience with the King ...alone. Me self and the Rangers were told that we were to make camp outside the Castle walls and that food and drink would be forthcoming.

It was a cordial greeting but unlike that which we were expecting, but Robin agreed and left with the guards but only after pulling me aside and giving me instructions. He told me to make camp but to set patrols around it and ter be alert.. so thats what we did.

The rest of the day pased and night came, none of us slept and when Robin was brought back to our camp he had an unusual look about him. When we spoke he said that mayhaps he had an agreement with the King, but that the King wanted a few days to think upon such. When i asked him what was troubling him he said that something was nae right and to double the night guard and to have every man armed and awake before sunrise but not to make it look like there was anything wrong.

Daylight came and Robin left again and then returned with no new news. The same happenned the next day but he came back with an answer. It was yes! 25 score of men (500)were to be loaned to us by the King for a period of 4 full moons.

To be continued...