Bre'Cheye
Honored Warrior
HW5
ussta zhennu ventash'ma zhah ussta zhennu abbil... My Great Leader is my Great Friend!
Posts: 8,369
|
Post by Bre'Cheye on Nov 4, 2009 21:31:26 GMT -5
She stood up from the chair she had been sitting in and walked into the cloak that he was holding, pulling it snug about her shoulders. Sitting back down, she could almost feel the coldness leaving her body as if she were a melting icicle. She covered her mouth to hide a yawn, then picked the mug of cider up to take another sip.
She looked toward the bar and wondered outloud, "Do you think they have any rooms available?" But then she regretted asking for she wasn't fully sure he was even from here. "I guess I could go ask them in a little while."
With the cloak pulled closely at the front, she continued sitting and listening to the soft murmur of the tavern crowd. Casting a glance at the one known as Michaelys, she smiled then looked back toward the bar. She sat that way for a few moments, her head bobbing downward then up until finally her head remained down. She had fallen asleep for the second time since arriving.
|
|
Irishman
Honored Warrior
Clan member[wCP:0]
Traveling Bard
Posts: 6,871
|
Post by Irishman on Nov 4, 2009 23:42:56 GMT -5
*Smiling at her as she fought a losing battle with sleep, Michaelys picked up his lute. Softly playing a lullaby he thought of how soft her skin looked and how childish her face became in sleep*
*As she drifted off, he noticed a few small heads nodding, resting on table tops. The grateful parents, paid their tabs and picked up there children to take them home to bed*
*After a bit, Michaelys was left alone in the bar, sitting with Bre'Cheye by the fire. Still playing his quiet lullaby, he got up and walked over to the bar. He stopped playing long enough to slip the man a few coins, then slowly walked back to where she sat. Ever so slightly, his tune changed, became langorous, more drowsy. Bre' Cheye slumped into a deeper sleep as he quieted the strings of his lute.*
*Packing his instrument into its sack, and putting it with his gear, he gently touched her face. Sensing that she was indeed, deeply asleep, he gently picked her up in his strong arms, and tucked the cloak about her. Then he carried her past the bar and up the stairs to the room he had just purchased. Nudging the door open with his boot, he carried Bre' over to the bed. Laying her in the bed, he pulled the cloak around her, then laid the coverlet over her slumbering form.*
*As he left the room, he laid the key to the door on the stand by the bed. Then, using skills only a man as nimble as himself could know, he left the room, locking it behind him. As he headed down the stairs, he reminded himself to return on the morrow to check in on her, and make sure sshe was taken care of.*
-----------------------------
*As he walked back down the path, under a clear sky, he wondered why the scar seemed to remind him of someone he should know. Shrugging his shoulders under the rucksack, he headed back to his other charges to make sure they were safe as well.
|
|
Bre'Cheye
Honored Warrior
HW5
ussta zhennu ventash'ma zhah ussta zhennu abbil... My Great Leader is my Great Friend!
Posts: 8,369
|
Post by Bre'Cheye on Nov 5, 2009 13:01:38 GMT -5
She felt so warm and comfortable as she snoozed the night away in the bed where she had been left. Even though she had no idea what the name of the tavern was, much less the name of the town, that didn’t matter as she curled up beneath the cloak and the coverlet.
Visions of horses, deer and squirrels rushed through her dreams as well as various faces on individuals she couldn’t recall. Shadows covered the faces of some, while light shone brightly on others. She could see herself walking through a field filled with every color flower imaginable that was lined with a dense forest to the north. As she made her way toward the trees she stopped for a moment to stare at a white object darting behind one of the thick tree trunks. Had it been a wolf or a lamb? She couldn’t be sure, so she picked her pace up to get to the clump of trees before the object had a chance to get away. As she got within a yard of the spot where she saw the animal, she saw two ropes being thrown out at her from behind the tree she faced.
She turned to run but the ropes slid over her, one falling to her knees and the other to her waist. The ropes where yanked and pulled, causing her legs to buckle and making her body fall to the hard ground. She could feel the ropes being tugged on even more as whoever or whatever it was pulled her into the forest. Once she was hidden behind the trees, another rope was wrapped around her arms making it impossible to move.
The ground, oddly enough, felt soft and warm but as she lay on it’s surface she was still unable to move. She looked up at the two male individuals laughing down at her, both holding long swords. She closed her eyes tightly to shut out their images: one with long scraggily hair and a beard and a younger looking elf with long silvery hair. As she tried to sit up she was shoved back down by a heavy boot to her middle. With her arms pinned to her sides, she pleaded with the pair, “Please let me go. Please don’t hurt me.” A scream finally tore itself from her lips as their blades pointed toward her face.
To anyone who would be in the room where she slept, they would take note of the cloak and the coverlet that had become tangled around her tightly and the fact that she was struggling to get free.
|
|
Irishman
Honored Warrior
Clan member[wCP:0]
Traveling Bard
Posts: 6,871
|
Post by Irishman on Nov 5, 2009 17:29:06 GMT -5
*Waking from a sound sleep with the sound of a womans screaming in his ears, Michaelys habitually scans his room for intruders. Just seeing his charges in their beds, he relaxes slightly. Getting up quietly, he goes to the basin, pours in a little water, then splashes it on his face. After drying off, he slips into the front room, and walks over to where he stores the tools of his trade.*
*Reaching up, he lifts an object from its shelf down to the table beneath. Unveiling it, one would be surprised to see a simple harp, lovingly polished so that it almost glowed in the moonlight. Setting the coverings aside, Michaelys carries the harp out into the night.
Sitting down under his favorite Willow tree, he quietly strums the harp, making sure it is in tune. Then he starts playing, it is an unexpected sound, coming from such a small instrument. Loud notes pulled from the strings send a cascade of sound down into the dell.
At first it appears a trick of the light. Then, flickers of light dance off the strings as Michaelys closes his eyes and thinks about a girl. A young woman in point of fact. The one he had left at the Inn.
As his thoughts drift towards that place, he sees in his mind, himself, walking through the woods. He is more ghost than man, drifting through the darkening woods. After a few moments, he sees her, walking ahead of him. Sees her pause, than start towards a small copse of trees. He watches as she is caught, then bound. As the men threaten her with violence, and her eyes close as she screams in terror, Michaelys steals into the moment. He becomes solid, standing between her and the men. He sees the glimmer of red deep in their eyes. He knows this is more than just a random dreamscape. He makes no overt moves, but the 'men' look uneasily at one another, then withdraw. Edging backwards, then fading from sight.
Michaelys turns to Bre'Cheye. She is caught in the middle, half way between terror and sanity. Laying a hand on her shoulder, he touches the ropes, causing them to fade away. As she feels the anger fade from around her, she begins to open her eyes. For an instant a form is seen over her. Yet, this form brings no terror, just a fleeting feeling of peace. Then it is gone.
Back in the dell, Michaelys quiets the harp, then heads back into his dwelling. Tired, yet happy, too. As he drifts off to sleep, his mind returns to the young woman he just met, and feels like he has known her for years.
|
|
Bre'Cheye
Honored Warrior
HW5
ussta zhennu ventash'ma zhah ussta zhennu abbil... My Great Leader is my Great Friend!
Posts: 8,369
|
Post by Bre'Cheye on Nov 5, 2009 20:26:27 GMT -5
As she fought to get free, a figure appeared above her; one that seemed familiar and strange at the same time. She felt the ropes loosen then disappear altogether.
Suddenly she woke, sitting up in the bed and scooting back toward the head of the bed in fright. Grabbing a pillow to shield herself, she quickly looked around the room trying to remember how she got there. When her heart slowed to a normal pace, she cautiously lowered the pillow then got out of the soft bed to look out the window. All that was visible in the dark night were the tops of trees that dotted the yard below.
Climbing back in the bed to lean against the wall, she once more clung to the pillow wishing it were her old stuffed and ragged toy bear. And try as she may, she couldn't shake the images of her very fresh dream. She had recognized the two who were tormenting her, but the third...
Each time she closed her eyes to attempt to bring forth an image of the third one in her dream, the image of the Bard kept floating to the top of her mind.
"No, it couldn't have been him," she spoke to herself quietly.
Looking to her left she saw a key lying on the bedside table and she could only guess that it was to the door. Had she drank more than just wassail and done something embarrassing? She couldn't even remember walking to this room.
"Oh gods!" she exclaimed, wondering just exactly she had done.
Hugging the pillow still, she finally slid back down in the bed to close her eyes and wait for the morning sun to wake her.
|
|
Irishman
Honored Warrior
Clan member[wCP:0]
Traveling Bard
Posts: 6,871
|
Post by Irishman on Nov 7, 2009 2:21:22 GMT -5
*Michealys woke up, just as the morning sun was rising. He got up, poured more water into the basin, and scrubbed up. As he headed out of the sleeping room, he heard his charges going about there morning chores. A whistle here and there as they cheerfully went about the tasks.
As he entered the kitchen, he saw the eggs carefully collected in their basket sitting on the table. The dough for the morning biscuits was already rising by the stove. Cheerfully lending his hand to the cooking, he made sure the stove had a bright fire going on inside before taking out a large wooden bowl, and cracking eggs into it. After he had a dozen or so in it, he grabbed up a whisk and started mixing them together. Setting it aside, he layed a skillet on the stovetop. Then, dumping the contents from a couple of earthenware containers into the bowl, he resumed mixing. Once the pan was hot enough, he poured the contents of the bowl into the skillet. Skillfully, he made up a large platter of scrambled eggs. Smiling to himself, he set out the assorted utensils his charges used to eat. Maybe eat wan't always the correct word, but hey, who was he to judge? Dusting off his hands he set the biscuits into the oven to cook. While he was waiting he looked outside on his charges. Some were stretching out the kinks from sleep, others were practicing their swordplay. They were the castoffs of society. Rogue elves, dwarves, a kobold, and assorted humans. Even a darky from far in the south. Detecting the biscuits browning he lets out a piercing whistle. All heads turn his way, then they set aside whatever they were doing, and dutifully file in to breakfast.
Michaelys discusses their training with each of them, pointing out enhancements to each. Then he takes out his purse, and hands a coin to each. They each look at it, nod, then put it somewhere on their person.
After breakfast, Michaelys leaves them to their training, and heads back into the forest. Hoping she hadn't left, he makes his way to the Inn, ten miles away. "I should be there ina about an hour," he thinks to himself.
|
|
Bre'Cheye
Honored Warrior
HW5
ussta zhennu ventash'ma zhah ussta zhennu abbil... My Great Leader is my Great Friend!
Posts: 8,369
|
Post by Bre'Cheye on Nov 7, 2009 10:46:20 GMT -5
The shining sun from the window wouldn't have it any other way but to wake her from an unusally pleasant dream. She opened one eye slowly to stare at the beam of light shining on her face and finally concluded that she may as well get up.
Sitting up in the bed, she noticed a second door in the modestly furnished room that surely led to a bathing room. Or at least, she hoped it did. She jumped from the bed to investigage and sure enough, it was!!
After about 45 minutes of a long hot soak in the claw-footed tub, she emerged to the room she slept in ready to take on the world. She had pressed the wrinkles out of her white dress as best as she could with her hands and had ran her fingers through her hair to get the tangles out. As she looked at her appearance in the mirror, she pinched her cheeks to get some color in her pale complexion then made a face at how one piece of hair would not stay in place; always falling to tickle her nose. Pushing the hair back a bit from her right temple, she wished that "L" shaped scar would go away. Sighing, she thought to herself that she just as well get used to it.
Walking to the bedside table, she picked the key up and her small purse with the long strap and headed toward the door. She had thrown the strap over her head to rest on her left shoulder so that the purse hung on her right side.
She bent down to put the key in the keyhole to lock the door but the key was not cooperating. Her stomach growled and her hands were shaking as she continued struggling with the key; and of course, she dropped it. She pulled her dress up to expose her knees so she wouldn't get it dirty and knelt on the floor to retrieve the key which had fallen into a crack. There she was, kneeling in front of the door with all her attention on finding that silly key, with no thought of anything else.... except that bard from the night before.
|
|
Irishman
Honored Warrior
Clan member[wCP:0]
Traveling Bard
Posts: 6,871
|
Post by Irishman on Nov 7, 2009 21:12:29 GMT -5
A little past half-way there, Michaelys realizes there are others in the forest. At first, he ignores them, darting around their presence without being detected. After a little while, he senses that they are looking for someone. Being careful to stay onobserved, he drifts in close to overhear a pair walking by.
"So what are we s'posed to do when we find 'im?"
"How am I s'posed ta know," the other says. "We get paid ta find 'im, and report back. S'long as I get paid, I don' care wha' He does wi' him after."
"I don' plan on bein' out here all day, lookin' fer some stranger. I don' care how well he plays."
Upon hearing that confirmation, Michaelys melts back into the trees. Moving more cautiously now, he flits through the trees, dodging ever increasing patrols of locals, hoping he can make it to the inn. As he runs, he lets out a piercing whistle like the cry of a raven. ---------------------------------------- Back at the cottage, his charges perk up, listening for a moment. Then, gathering up their weapons, they head out after him.
|
|
Bre'Cheye
Honored Warrior
HW5
ussta zhennu ventash'ma zhah ussta zhennu abbil... My Great Leader is my Great Friend!
Posts: 8,369
|
Post by Bre'Cheye on Nov 7, 2009 21:30:50 GMT -5
With the key in her hand, she squealed in self delight, "I got it!!!" then fell back to a sitting position which not only surprised her but the maid who had just crested the landing at the top of the stairs. Bre'Cheye looked up at the startled woman to explain, "I dropped my key and I got it out." The maid didn't seem very impressed, not speaking as she walked on by with an arm load of clean towels.
Bre'Cheye got to her feet to make her way to the tavern down below. Surely they had food as well as drink for she was famished. She took one step at a time, the sound of the patrons getting a bit louder the farther she descended. Finally, she stood at the bottom of the stairs and averted her eyes when half of them stared at her sudden arrival.
She sat on the closest barstool and looked at the approaching bartender. "Good Morning," she greeted, "is it too late to order some breakfast?" The 'tender assured her that it was not as he listened closely to her order. "If it's possible, I'd like a tall glass of milk, some toast and a piece of bacon." She smiled at the bartender then watched him disappear into the door which she could only guess was the kitchen. It amazed her that the layout for this tavern was much like the one that she owned.
She took a deep breath and tried to remember the elven words to the teleportation spell that would take her home. But her head was hurting from lack of food and a particular tune kept snaking it's way into her thoughts; a tune she had heard last night. She spun on the barstool to face the entry door in an attempt to think of something other than the bard from the night before, but the tune wouldn't leave her head. Had he cast some spell on her, she wondered to herself. Well, he at least he was a gentleman, she reasoned back to herself in her thoughts.
At last the food arrived at which she laid a gold coin down she had pulled from her purse. She had no idea how much the meal was, nor whether this type of currency was considered enough. She shrugged her shoulders and munched on her toast, puffing on the stray hair that insisted on tickling her nose.
|
|
Irishman
Honored Warrior
Clan member[wCP:0]
Traveling Bard
Posts: 6,871
|
Post by Irishman on Nov 7, 2009 23:20:11 GMT -5
Finding actual troops closer to town, Michaelys realized that the men in the forest were local trackers. Smiling to himself with the knowledge that no-one could track him, or his charges, he wondered who it was that was looking for him.
Sliding between sentries that were far enough outside of town that no-one in town would have noticed yet, Michaelys walked quickly to the tavern. -----------------------------------------------
In the tavern, the proprieter picked up the gold coin, and passed it to his wife. With a whispered conversation, he nodded to Bre'Cheye. His wife got a knowing look in her eye, and approached her.
"Excuse me, m'dear. Would you mind comin' inta the kitchen wi' me fer a moment?"
Leading Bre' into the kitchen, the woman hands her back the coin, and asks her where she's from. After hearing a stammered replay, she said, "Hush child. Around here gold is rarely used." She thinks for a moment. "Do you have anything smaller? If not, I may be able to make change in silver and copper for 1 or two."
|
|
Bre'Cheye
Honored Warrior
HW5
ussta zhennu ventash'ma zhah ussta zhennu abbil... My Great Leader is my Great Friend!
Posts: 8,369
|
Post by Bre'Cheye on Nov 8, 2009 9:42:14 GMT -5
Bre'Cheye looked at the woman curiously as she explained the monetary value of various coins in this area. Although Bre'Cheye had never met her father face to face, she had been raised with the ill-gotten money he had provided her mother. And upon reaching the age of 18, a large portion of the savings had been deposited in her bank account; in part, enabling her to purchase her own Inn in the community known as Mindenburg.
She quickly looked in the small purse hanging at her waist and bypassing the coins which she felt would be considered "more" than a gold, she found a few silvers, "Is this enough?" she asked while holding 4 silver pieces in her hand. "I don't have anything else."
|
|
Irishman
Honored Warrior
Clan member[wCP:0]
Traveling Bard
Posts: 6,871
|
Post by Irishman on Nov 8, 2009 16:40:59 GMT -5
The woman answered, "Oh my, you are a babe aren't ya? Dear child, here." she takes one silver, handing the other three back. "If you will trust me for one piece of gold, I will trade ya fair for smaller coin."
Retrieving the proffered coin, the woman disappears into a back room. After a bit, the woman returns with a small pouch. "Here child, this is the same as your gold, but much safer to have on your person. Conceal your other coins elsewhere, so that people only see you using the one I give." She presses the pouch into Bre's hand.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, Michaelys enters the tavern. Catching his breath by the door, he scans the front room for Bre'Cheye. Not seeing her, he decides to knock on her door to see if she is still resting. He heads across the room and begins ascending the stairs.
|
|
Bre'Cheye
Honored Warrior
HW5
ussta zhennu ventash'ma zhah ussta zhennu abbil... My Great Leader is my Great Friend!
Posts: 8,369
|
Post by Bre'Cheye on Nov 8, 2009 18:32:32 GMT -5
She looked at the pouch the lady had given her that was filled with smaller denomination of coins, then looked up at the lady again, "Are you sure? Can you maybe take it as a tip? My mother always said to tip good service."
Seeing that the bartender's wife was standing firm in her decision, she smiled and nodded her head. "Okay, well thank you." Turning around, she headed out into the tavern once more.
She stood near the stairs and looked at the busy tavern and took in the many voices that blended into a low 'hum,' then decided that she would go back to the room she slept in to be in a quiet area so she could attempt to remember her teleporting spell.
She smiled at the men in the tavern who bowed their heads to her as she passed, then started up the stairs to her room. At the top of the stairs, she stopped to watch the handsome bard from the night before knocking on her door.
"Looking for someone," she asked as she leaned against the wall holding the small pouch the lady had given her.
|
|
Irishman
Honored Warrior
Clan member[wCP:0]
Traveling Bard
Posts: 6,871
|
Post by Irishman on Nov 12, 2009 1:52:27 GMT -5
*Turning towards her voice, he sees her standing at the stair-top. An anxiousness withdraws from his face that he hadn't noticed.*
"Bre'! I, oh." he stopped just short of her. "I was just making sure you had enjoyed your rest. I was wondering if you would lilke a bite to eat. They make a nice porridge here, and the eggs a delicately seasoned. Um, If you are intersted, that is."
His hand lifted as though reaching for her, then dropped back at his side.
|
|
Bre'Cheye
Honored Warrior
HW5
ussta zhennu ventash'ma zhah ussta zhennu abbil... My Great Leader is my Great Friend!
Posts: 8,369
|
Post by Bre'Cheye on Nov 12, 2009 7:15:06 GMT -5
Her mind raced at the events that had taken place last night as she tried to remember again how she had gotten to this room. Had she been drunk? or simply fallen asleep. She studied his face and she could tell that he was sincere and unless she was wrong a very honorable gentleman.
She couldn't help but to smile at him as she replied to his first question, "The room was very comfortable, although it didn't ward off my bad dreams. I still can't remember how I ended up there."
She looked down and away as she felt her face become warm from her blush; she couldn't deny that this man had fully caught her attention. And although she had just finished eating, she wanted to spend more time with him. And if the porridge was as great as he insisted it was, perhaps she could get the recipe to take home to her cook Emmy.
Looking up again and feeling captured by his eyes, she slowly replied, "I'd love to join you," at which point she boldy reached out to touch his left hand with her right hand.
|
|