Post by SirThanatos on Jun 29, 2004 12:19:28 GMT -5
The Knight found himself in totally new surroundings....a room within the walls of the Castle. As the Lady Edfeil had promised, he found all of his gear and personal belongings within the room when he finally retired there for the night.
He moved to the window sill and stared out over the Lands of King Stormblade, his mind pictured for him the quiet movements of the Lord's Rangers as they might be moving among the trees to detect any and all unwanted "guests" stalking the Lord's game..or trying to do worse than that!
His mind then backtracked to the evening that had just passed by...He had gone to the Castle in search of Sinold, after spending a night in pure agony from the man's thirst for whiskey, a drink that he himself, did not generally partake in...and wanted to inform the man that if he had lost "Thor's Hammer" he, Thanatos, knew exactly where it was...pounding away in his brain!!
After a bit of tom-foolery regarding said Hammer with Sinold, and his Blood Brother, Roland out in the stables, the trio had retired to the Great Hall, where once more Sinold attempted to have him drink that vile liquor!! But he remained steadfast, and clung to his ale, to which Sinold had great mirth at the Knights expense...which he didn't mind, as he had taken a liking to the man, and knew it was mainly in jest that he insist that Thanatos try having "the hair of the dog that bit him".
During the course of this, several of the Ladies of the Court arrived in the Hall, including the Lady Rayven...whos' face he was now convinced, lit the room as if she carried her own personal torch within her Spirit.
As the Eve wore on, talk was general in nature and light hearted, until once more, it turned to the subject of possible war with the Franks. At this point he felt again that rush of fear and dread when again, Lady Rayven made it known that she could possibly be of assistance to the Realm.
The knight remembered how angered he had become at this notion..how foolhardy it was, and couldn't the Lady see this? To his surprise, the Lady stood her ground on this issue...and the two, he and the Lady, had "words". He remembered storming out of the Great Hall, when his anger became too great. Perhaps not the best solution, but at the time he thought it was the only way to handle it.
After long moments, he returned to the Hall, his anger abated, and Reason returned to his mind....He knew the Lady was fiesty, and believed in herself, so why could he not do so as well?? Thus he came back to his chair beside her, feeling somewhat embarrassed by his actions...Looking to the woman's face, he saw that she too had reached a conclusion, and that he felt that they both silently agreed the event was but a "hole in the ground", and best moved past.
Shortly after this, Sir Hawkmoon raced up the stairwell to the battlements and raised an Alarm....Word having reached him that there were strangers in the woods nearby, and he called out to all Rangers to alert them, and deal with the problem.
The Horn blast gave him such a start, that he instinctively reached for his sword at his side, and eyes strained to find an Enemy. Almost immediately, the Lady Edfeil took Charge, as he knew where she stood within the Royal Family, he turned to her for Orders. He saw the look on her face go from uncertainity, to clear mind of who she was, and what action she must take! The transformation was astounding! It was then that the Lady asked him a question......"You Offer your Sword, Sir?"
His Answer was immedaite, and again instinctive...as he Replied in the positive, she reminded him that he no Cause to do so, that he was a Guest within the Realm, and would lose no Honor should he simply stand aside! This he could not do...How could a man of Honor turn his head when help was needed? How could he return to his own Lands, and tell his own Lord, that he failed to help a Friendly Monarch when danger stood so near? The Answer was simple, he could not do it.
The Knight reminded the Royal Lady, that tho his sword was hers to Command, he could not Swear Fealty to Windstorm...as he was on Leave from his own Lord, but not Released from Service to that Lord. The Lady understood perfectly, and accepted Graciously, the offer of Arms without strings.
She bade him to stay within the Castle walls if he would, to which he Accepted, then she bade him to grant her a favor...to recall the Lord Hawkmoon back to the Great Hall, as she had need to speak to him. This he did, as swiftly as he could manage and he soon found himself back in the Hall...
By now the rush of the Call of the Horn had withdrawn form his body, and he Excused himself to all, and went to his rooms.
Now as he stood by the window, he recalled having the Lady Rayven's hand find his when the Horn originally Blew..and how he grasped hers back as if fearing she would suddenly vanish! This simple Act, had thrown a Charge thro his body and mind..to say nothing of his heart....The fear that harm might come to this woman, was enough to drown out that Voice in his head that constantly drove him to stay aloof, and distant to women..and was replaced by something else....What that was he still was not entirely sure of, but he knew in time he would have his Answer..after all, he knew not if the Lady herself felt anything towards him...mayhap the grasping of his hand was simple "reaction" to an unknown dread....
As he made ready for sleep, and blew out the candle by the bed, he saw her face again in his mind...and as she smiled to him, he dozed off to pass the Night in quiet repose.
He moved to the window sill and stared out over the Lands of King Stormblade, his mind pictured for him the quiet movements of the Lord's Rangers as they might be moving among the trees to detect any and all unwanted "guests" stalking the Lord's game..or trying to do worse than that!
His mind then backtracked to the evening that had just passed by...He had gone to the Castle in search of Sinold, after spending a night in pure agony from the man's thirst for whiskey, a drink that he himself, did not generally partake in...and wanted to inform the man that if he had lost "Thor's Hammer" he, Thanatos, knew exactly where it was...pounding away in his brain!!
After a bit of tom-foolery regarding said Hammer with Sinold, and his Blood Brother, Roland out in the stables, the trio had retired to the Great Hall, where once more Sinold attempted to have him drink that vile liquor!! But he remained steadfast, and clung to his ale, to which Sinold had great mirth at the Knights expense...which he didn't mind, as he had taken a liking to the man, and knew it was mainly in jest that he insist that Thanatos try having "the hair of the dog that bit him".
During the course of this, several of the Ladies of the Court arrived in the Hall, including the Lady Rayven...whos' face he was now convinced, lit the room as if she carried her own personal torch within her Spirit.
As the Eve wore on, talk was general in nature and light hearted, until once more, it turned to the subject of possible war with the Franks. At this point he felt again that rush of fear and dread when again, Lady Rayven made it known that she could possibly be of assistance to the Realm.
The knight remembered how angered he had become at this notion..how foolhardy it was, and couldn't the Lady see this? To his surprise, the Lady stood her ground on this issue...and the two, he and the Lady, had "words". He remembered storming out of the Great Hall, when his anger became too great. Perhaps not the best solution, but at the time he thought it was the only way to handle it.
After long moments, he returned to the Hall, his anger abated, and Reason returned to his mind....He knew the Lady was fiesty, and believed in herself, so why could he not do so as well?? Thus he came back to his chair beside her, feeling somewhat embarrassed by his actions...Looking to the woman's face, he saw that she too had reached a conclusion, and that he felt that they both silently agreed the event was but a "hole in the ground", and best moved past.
Shortly after this, Sir Hawkmoon raced up the stairwell to the battlements and raised an Alarm....Word having reached him that there were strangers in the woods nearby, and he called out to all Rangers to alert them, and deal with the problem.
The Horn blast gave him such a start, that he instinctively reached for his sword at his side, and eyes strained to find an Enemy. Almost immediately, the Lady Edfeil took Charge, as he knew where she stood within the Royal Family, he turned to her for Orders. He saw the look on her face go from uncertainity, to clear mind of who she was, and what action she must take! The transformation was astounding! It was then that the Lady asked him a question......"You Offer your Sword, Sir?"
His Answer was immedaite, and again instinctive...as he Replied in the positive, she reminded him that he no Cause to do so, that he was a Guest within the Realm, and would lose no Honor should he simply stand aside! This he could not do...How could a man of Honor turn his head when help was needed? How could he return to his own Lands, and tell his own Lord, that he failed to help a Friendly Monarch when danger stood so near? The Answer was simple, he could not do it.
The Knight reminded the Royal Lady, that tho his sword was hers to Command, he could not Swear Fealty to Windstorm...as he was on Leave from his own Lord, but not Released from Service to that Lord. The Lady understood perfectly, and accepted Graciously, the offer of Arms without strings.
She bade him to stay within the Castle walls if he would, to which he Accepted, then she bade him to grant her a favor...to recall the Lord Hawkmoon back to the Great Hall, as she had need to speak to him. This he did, as swiftly as he could manage and he soon found himself back in the Hall...
By now the rush of the Call of the Horn had withdrawn form his body, and he Excused himself to all, and went to his rooms.
Now as he stood by the window, he recalled having the Lady Rayven's hand find his when the Horn originally Blew..and how he grasped hers back as if fearing she would suddenly vanish! This simple Act, had thrown a Charge thro his body and mind..to say nothing of his heart....The fear that harm might come to this woman, was enough to drown out that Voice in his head that constantly drove him to stay aloof, and distant to women..and was replaced by something else....What that was he still was not entirely sure of, but he knew in time he would have his Answer..after all, he knew not if the Lady herself felt anything towards him...mayhap the grasping of his hand was simple "reaction" to an unknown dread....
As he made ready for sleep, and blew out the candle by the bed, he saw her face again in his mind...and as she smiled to him, he dozed off to pass the Night in quiet repose.