Post by Wildfeather on Jun 14, 2015 13:43:17 GMT -5
Branwen was glad to notice that the young woman seemed more relaxed now that she was at the fortress. Nothing bad could happen to her here in the safety of Lord Thorn's own fortress. The wolves of his family weapon would protect their owner and everyone else who sought refuge here. They also had Typhon the Terrible to protect them from Morg and his henchmen.
The maidservant admired the enchanted necklace Lady Ardis showed her. "It is a beautiful piece of jewelry, Milady," she smiled. "Clearly the artists of your world are very talented. I only have the strength of my thoughts to help me when I have to message someone..."
The woman mused for a moment when Ardis spoke of her husband's medallion being inactive. "It doesn't necessarily have to mean he has come to harm," she said as she stood in deep thought. "Perhaps he is in a dangerous zone and has deactivated it for the protection of his family? We can ask him when we find him..."
She did not say "if we find him," because she sensed that this woman was troubled enough from worries for her husband as it was.
"Young Master Belethorn is out hunting for the fortress today," she said gently. "If Lord Thorn and Typhon doesn't find him, Master Belethorn most certainly will. That boy knows Mir like the contents of his own pockets. Young Master Haldin does too, but he is further south at the moment, helping Captain Oakenshield to raise a rebel army against Morg and his orc troops."
Hearing Ardis whimpering of sadness, Branwen gave her a warm, reassuring hug. She knew how it felt to be worried sick for family members. Since the Lady of this castle so often isolated herself in her room and claimed illness, it was Branwen who had raised Master Belethorn and Master Haldin as if they were her own sons. She had often despaired when they ran off without telling her where they went or when they planned to return.
"If your husband is with Lord Thorn or his sons, he will be alive," she assured her. "None of them would let Morg or his stupid goons hurt him. We will bring your husband back to you, so you can just relax and wait for him here at the fortress."
Branwen listened when Ardis spoke of the route of the expected visitors. "Perhaps they knew parts of it and needed to stop somewhere and ask for directions," she suggested gently. "I hope at least the Princess will remember her uncle Thorn and know she has a safe home to come to here while we win back our Kingdom from Morg's terror."
A warm smile lit up her face as Ardis spoke of Wild and described her, and for a brief moment the bright green orc woman almost looked beautiful when her eyes sparkled with love for the Princess she had tended to on her visits to the fortress. The maidservant laughed heartily when Ardis described Wild as rough in etiquette.
"She's a Dark Elf child," she said with pride in her voice. "Of course she is rough in etiquette - it is how all Dark elves behave. She takes after her father, I hear. Good, that means she will be a good Queen when her time comes."
Her gaze softened when she heard of how beautiful Wild had grown to be, and with a heart as pure as gold. "The pure heart must be a gift from her mother," she said. "Queen Eliveva was known for her kindness and her compassion to all who needed help. I have always been proud of my little Princess - she was such a lovely child. A bit wild, perhaps, but she cared for her family. She was so sweet when she wobbled around and carried little Master Haldin. She was only 5 and he was 2. They used to play at the swing set in the garden, under the cherry trees."
With an eager face expression she turned to Ardis and listened as the woman spoke of the third member of the party. She was excited to hear that there were other elves than the ones in the continent of Mir, but perhaps she should not be surprised to hear of this. She had heard the tales of the elves that departed when the war between Light Elves and Dark Elves went too far. Many elves in this Kingdom still mourned the loss of their families, wondered about them and hoped their families had found the peace and the happy lives they wished for when they left.
"I hope to meet your elf prince soon, " she smiled. "But what do you mean the story is our Wild's to tell? What has she got to do with an elf prince of another Kingdom? Oakenshield told me when our Princess left that she had escaped to the human lands..."
The serving boy bowed politely to Lady Branwen and remained in the kitchen with Ardis as the maidservant left the kitchen to receive the newly arrived guests. When Lady Ardis touched his shoulder he turned to her and offered a smile, sad that he could not bring better news.
"Yes, Milady," he said in a gentle voice. "I was the one to receive Lord Thorn and Typhon when they landed, and called for the other servants so they could help bringing in the luggage. I saw three persons hopping off the dragon's back. One was Lord Thorn, his rider. The other was a young woman dressed as a peasant. But in spite of her robes she had a beautiful face under all the dirt, and her hair was dark as the night. She was escorted by a man dressed as a peasant, with a cloak draped around his shoulders. I could not see his ears because he had a hood over his head, but I saw strands of silvery hair under the hood."
(I remembered that Wild and Blaz were traveling in disguise when they left the rebel camp)
The maidservant admired the enchanted necklace Lady Ardis showed her. "It is a beautiful piece of jewelry, Milady," she smiled. "Clearly the artists of your world are very talented. I only have the strength of my thoughts to help me when I have to message someone..."
The woman mused for a moment when Ardis spoke of her husband's medallion being inactive. "It doesn't necessarily have to mean he has come to harm," she said as she stood in deep thought. "Perhaps he is in a dangerous zone and has deactivated it for the protection of his family? We can ask him when we find him..."
She did not say "if we find him," because she sensed that this woman was troubled enough from worries for her husband as it was.
"Young Master Belethorn is out hunting for the fortress today," she said gently. "If Lord Thorn and Typhon doesn't find him, Master Belethorn most certainly will. That boy knows Mir like the contents of his own pockets. Young Master Haldin does too, but he is further south at the moment, helping Captain Oakenshield to raise a rebel army against Morg and his orc troops."
Hearing Ardis whimpering of sadness, Branwen gave her a warm, reassuring hug. She knew how it felt to be worried sick for family members. Since the Lady of this castle so often isolated herself in her room and claimed illness, it was Branwen who had raised Master Belethorn and Master Haldin as if they were her own sons. She had often despaired when they ran off without telling her where they went or when they planned to return.
"If your husband is with Lord Thorn or his sons, he will be alive," she assured her. "None of them would let Morg or his stupid goons hurt him. We will bring your husband back to you, so you can just relax and wait for him here at the fortress."
Branwen listened when Ardis spoke of the route of the expected visitors. "Perhaps they knew parts of it and needed to stop somewhere and ask for directions," she suggested gently. "I hope at least the Princess will remember her uncle Thorn and know she has a safe home to come to here while we win back our Kingdom from Morg's terror."
A warm smile lit up her face as Ardis spoke of Wild and described her, and for a brief moment the bright green orc woman almost looked beautiful when her eyes sparkled with love for the Princess she had tended to on her visits to the fortress. The maidservant laughed heartily when Ardis described Wild as rough in etiquette.
"She's a Dark Elf child," she said with pride in her voice. "Of course she is rough in etiquette - it is how all Dark elves behave. She takes after her father, I hear. Good, that means she will be a good Queen when her time comes."
Her gaze softened when she heard of how beautiful Wild had grown to be, and with a heart as pure as gold. "The pure heart must be a gift from her mother," she said. "Queen Eliveva was known for her kindness and her compassion to all who needed help. I have always been proud of my little Princess - she was such a lovely child. A bit wild, perhaps, but she cared for her family. She was so sweet when she wobbled around and carried little Master Haldin. She was only 5 and he was 2. They used to play at the swing set in the garden, under the cherry trees."
With an eager face expression she turned to Ardis and listened as the woman spoke of the third member of the party. She was excited to hear that there were other elves than the ones in the continent of Mir, but perhaps she should not be surprised to hear of this. She had heard the tales of the elves that departed when the war between Light Elves and Dark Elves went too far. Many elves in this Kingdom still mourned the loss of their families, wondered about them and hoped their families had found the peace and the happy lives they wished for when they left.
"I hope to meet your elf prince soon, " she smiled. "But what do you mean the story is our Wild's to tell? What has she got to do with an elf prince of another Kingdom? Oakenshield told me when our Princess left that she had escaped to the human lands..."
The serving boy bowed politely to Lady Branwen and remained in the kitchen with Ardis as the maidservant left the kitchen to receive the newly arrived guests. When Lady Ardis touched his shoulder he turned to her and offered a smile, sad that he could not bring better news.
"Yes, Milady," he said in a gentle voice. "I was the one to receive Lord Thorn and Typhon when they landed, and called for the other servants so they could help bringing in the luggage. I saw three persons hopping off the dragon's back. One was Lord Thorn, his rider. The other was a young woman dressed as a peasant. But in spite of her robes she had a beautiful face under all the dirt, and her hair was dark as the night. She was escorted by a man dressed as a peasant, with a cloak draped around his shoulders. I could not see his ears because he had a hood over his head, but I saw strands of silvery hair under the hood."
(I remembered that Wild and Blaz were traveling in disguise when they left the rebel camp)