Gilwen
Man
servant
There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 593
|
Post by Gilwen on Apr 5, 2009 12:50:43 GMT -5
Something immediately turned, and Faeldor's liveliness seemed instantly dulled, if not forgotten. Her chin was caught tenderly and raised to look at him once more. “Why are such beautiful brown eyes so morose this morning?” The mention of eyes! She stayed silent still, thinking her tongue would betray her if she dared uttered a word. He indeed inquired as to her blush, and Gilwen's heart felt entirely too heavy the second he dropped his arms to his side once more.
She had hurt him. That had not been her intention in the least. "Faeldor," she began, stepping closer to him to show she was not upset at his touch. "You have done nothing wrong!" Her voice was slightly hurried, as if she was frantic to correct her wrong. She touched his cheek with one hand, and reached for his own with her other. She once more raised to her toes, this time to kiss his cheek to bring him more comfort. "Please do not think me upset at you," she whispered before she rolled back to her normal footing.
She paused a moment, floundering slightly for the right words. "My mother simply..." She frowned slightly, dropping the hand that was upon his cheek to her side once more. "She's quite excited." There. Those words did no disrespect to her dear Mama; and she was sure Faeldor was keen enough to catch her meaning. Perhaps though, she should continue nonetheless. "I heard quite the conversation between them." This was spoken softly, as the color deepened in her cheeks. What could she possibly say? "They spoke of beautiful babies we are to have, and of my age. I worry I cannot give you the proper children you deserve,"?
Oh, but she could not leave the conversation there, he would truly think she was upset! There were no others in the small room, and her heart knew she could speak to him of anything. "Meleth and my dear Mama seem to...see the future clearly in their minds." It slurred all together, with the speed she finally uttered the words at, her heart once more hammering away.
If this truly bothered Faeldor, and drove him away, Gilwen would be heartbroken. Still, if she said nothing and he was driven away by her own display of fluster, she was certain she would not be able to forgive herself.
|
|
Faeldor
Man
Head Stablemaster
Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
Posts: 556
|
Post by Faeldor on Apr 5, 2009 14:29:38 GMT -5
Almost as soon as the man had released her and stepped back, Gilwen had once more breeched their distance and came close to him, kissing him upon the cheek and taking his hand. He felt relieved at such, and she apologized. “Then I trust that I have not upset you,” he told her after she had asked it of him, and he was encouraged again by her closeness to place a hand upon her shoulder, which shortly ended up cupping the back of her neck, with his thumb softly caressing her jaw.
He listened to the woman speak of her concern. So, it was simply their mother’s having a good time, talking about their children, and she had overheard. Quite the conversation. Faeldor wondered at those words, and was in fact a bit amused that Gilwen would find so much grief in the mere ramblings of women; ‘mothers’ to be exact. Mothers were well known to seek the best for their children, and if they were quite pleased with Faeldor and Gilwen being the ‘best’ for each other, then Faeldor was relieved. He would not have it otherwise.
Faeldor sighed, relieved that Gilwen was not upset with him for his affections toward her. He very well could have controlled himself if she had not thought it appropriate, but he was glad all the more that she enjoyed him. His arm reached around her again, pressing into the small of her back and leading closer once more. “My dear, are we not both adults who will make our own decisions as we see fit? Certainly our mothers have planned for us a lovely future, but their plans our simply dreams in their love for their children, and we must make our own futures.”
“Would you rather them be as Miriel with her angry rages and fiendish words? Let us take comfort that they are in fact glad and that they should encourage us, and not hinder us from…” Faeldor faltered here, not sure what words he might use to describe the relationship in which the two of them shared. They had never really encountered the need to label it as anything; and it had simply grown from their first day of meeting. It was difficult to remember where the line had been broken in his own mind between meeting the woman, and pursuing her trust and friendship, and continuing as such with his affections.
Faeldor realized that his pause was exceeding long as he thought, and it would surely make Gilwen uneasy if he had not clear words for her of his intentions, so he finished simply with what he thought, and did not try to rephrase it, “…our courtship.”
Courtship… it was a term that did entail much, and he hoped as much that saying it would not imply too much for Gilwen’s own comfort. He felt that she would agree though, for the timid woman’s feather soft kisses upon his cheek, and the way she initiated taking his hand were enough to tell him that she cared for him deeply. To label their relationship as such, though it was a slight risk, for she was a shy woman, did imply that his affections had purpose behind them, and that he had indeed come to love her. Courtship came before an engagement and marriage, and in society things were seen in that order. It was not binding; but it very well led to such other relationships that it often became so.
There were men, of course, who did not see to things in the same order. They might pull at a lady’s heart and disgrace her of her honor without intent of marriage. Faeldor was not of such, and his intentions for Gilwen were entirely genuine, and she would know, for she had begun to read his own eyes and heart the way that he read hers.
|
|
Gilwen
Man
servant
There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 593
|
Post by Gilwen on Apr 5, 2009 15:02:12 GMT -5
Much to Gilwen's relief, Faeldor seemed to forgive her for her cold display when he first arrived. At first it seemed he was still discouraged, since he laid his hand upon her shoulder merely; though it changed quickly to a touch that Gilwen treasured more. And that evolved more with a sigh on his part, and a strong hand in the small of her back pulling her closer to him.
He spoke to her, in strong words that Gilwen could not ignore. More than this, it calmed her heart, and her mind to know that the horse master was not angered by her mother's forward behavior. Of course, if he had been with them as they walked here earlier this morning, he might not be so calm. Gilwen suppressed a weary laugh at the thought of all of the questions that her mother had bombarded her with.
Faeldor was right. They were both adults, capable of making their own decisions. And drawing the line of perspective to Miriel caused Gilwen to almost frown. No, she supposed that speaking of lovely children to come from a good match was much better conversation for the two than how Niniel's dear daughter was a harlot among the lower tiers. It was best for them to discuss children born form a proper union in marriage than children that would come from Gilwen's supposed un-stately behaviors.
She let him continue speaking in silence, waiting anxiously to hear precisely what word Faeldor would use to describe them. The word he chose pleased her; courtship was a virtuous thing---one that could theoretically bring Gilwen closer to having a family of her own. Oh, such thoughts were now in the forefront of her mind because of this morning! Five and twenty was an age that should warrant such care though. She hid them in the back of her mind. She could not think of such things with Faeldor right her with her. Her face was far to readable.
She smiled at him lightly then and replied softly, "I am happy to know that at least from our parents we shall have no trouble." Gilwen wanted Faeldor to know she had no trouble with him speaking of their interactions as courting, and by replying in such a way, she gently revealed it to him.
She was still for a moment, and finally made move to rest her head upon his chest. Now that such tension had been lifted from her shoulders she could truly show her affections. Faeldor was also correct in that this room offered plenty of privacy from prying eyes. At least for the time being, anyway. The women who returned from break would have no problem passing about the gossip of the horse master and little Gilwen; how they had been caught in each other's arms when they had walked in unknowingly.
At the moment, it did not bother her in the least. "How has your morning gone?" She inquired softly.
|
|
Faeldor
Man
Head Stablemaster
Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
Posts: 556
|
Post by Faeldor on Apr 5, 2009 17:29:10 GMT -5
"I am happy to know that at least from our parents we shall have no trouble." And there it was; Gilwen’s consent. The man smiled as she came to rest upon his chest, and he considered to himself how lovely she was there. Her little frame fit perfectly into his arms, and her head barely came up to his chin. When she had moved close, his other arm had fallen about her; his arm now securely about her shoulders. He was strongly disappointed that their meeting must be only brief, and not consuming the hours that the night previous had.
Faeldor did not care whether someone should walk in on them. The Steward and the Captains would not step into the servant’s quarters after all. Surely if the other servants were to step in the room, they would of course spread the gossip of what they had seen; but even so, Faeldor did not mind. If anything, it would allow the truth of Gilwen’s affections for him to spread among the palace’s eyes and ears, and give less credit to whatever rumors it was that Miriel would pass to hurt Gilwen’s name.
Gilwen was barely audible when she asked the man of his morning, and he thought for a moment before speaking. He did not wish to bore the woman with the details of the stables, yet if he simply answered, ‘It was well’, he would not be communicating with her. She did like horses though, perhaps she would be interested to hear of such matters.
“My morning has been quite well. I have been given permission to obtain ten more horses to begin training for the Calvary. We cleared the unused stalls this morning, and I shall be visiting the breeders who work with the stables of the lower levels this afternoon. It is always an enjoyable process, to select the new horses that will serve our Steward.” Indeed, the lovely mares and stallions that he would look for in the afternoon were of the finest out breeding, and strongest quality. Faeldor had learned well how to select a good horse. “Although I do regret that I will not be in the stables during your afternoon break,” he added.
“Although I am certain Lumiel would enjoy your company, and even Thissel, who seems to have been of quite decent behavior. You might go in her stall alone if you wish. I’ve never seen a horse quiet as well as she has in even the past month, from such a jumpy foal, to a calm mare. Aside from storms, which she still detests, and probably always will…”
“But I do think she will be quite well and ready to be taken on by a new rider soon. Beleth will enjoy her greatly I am certain. She will be nineteen very soon, and I do think well ready to care for a horse. She probably could have kept her own at fourteen, but her older brother did not wish the rowdy girl out and about alone. Oh, and I should like to take both you and my sister riding together sometime. It would be a lovely time for the both of you, what do you think?”
Faeldor was a talker, it was for certain, and he did not digress. As he rambled on through the subject of horses, his fingers wandered as well, and found their way to Gilwen’s silky brown hair, which he adored the feel of on his calloused hands. It was indeed good that Gilwen was such a passive woman, and enjoyed to listen to him. He only paused now to hear her answer. It seemed that she had by now calmed; she had been in quite a fit when he had first entered, but her pulse had slowed against him. It would not do to ask her of her own morning at this time, for it seemed that she had already said as much as she wished to on the matter. The poor dear had probably worried on their mothers throughout the entire morning.
|
|
Gilwen
Man
servant
There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 593
|
Post by Gilwen on Apr 5, 2009 19:39:27 GMT -5
Gilwen smiled quietly. A simple question on her part, and Faeldor could carry on for hours. It was something that Gilwen loved about his personality. If he was just as reserved as she was, there would hardly be any conversation at all; and she imagined that would be rather dull. He rambled, though the thoughts he formed linked clearly enough. Besides, she simply loved to hear his voice.
She did slightly sadden as he mentioned that he would not be at the stables for her afternoon break, but quickly had to dismiss the thoughts to continue listening to the man as he continued. Ah, yes. Lumiel. Gilwen would love to go see her during her break. She had developed quite the attachment to the gentle mare. Though she was slightly surprised he told her to visit Thissel, too. It didn't truly surprise her, Faeldor, she was certain, could handle training any horse at all. Yes, he was well skilled in horses.
She listened some more, and smiled pleasantly as she felt his fingers through her hair. It was a simple motion, but one that could draw her away from any situation to find utter calm. She closed her eyes then, and let herself be swept away from the palace work. Faeldor has stopped speaking, though it took her a moment to realize he had asked her a question.
"Oh, that would be lovely." Gilwen finally replied, looking up to him smiling. Narbeleth was quite a sweet young woman, and of course Gilwen would not mind spending time riding with her. It seemed that that particular sister of his could very well be a great friend to her.
The door opened, and a group of three palace maids stood staring in the doorway. Gilwen turned to see them and immediately blushed and stepped away from Faeldor to once again make their interaction permissible in proper etiquette. Oh, and at work, too. Gilwen scolded herself for not paying better mind. This was quickly going to circulate; and she did hope that at least Faeldor's name would not be touched by it.
To be caught in someone's arms like she had been would seem very compromising; especially to a servant's eye. It was so easy for things to get distorted and warped when dealing with staff who always wished to have the latest news. The three ladies shuffled in, dropped off their buckets and turned to leave once more.
"Gilwen," one of them said before she shut the door. "Serving will start soon," with a second glance to Faeldor, the door was shut and the three were gone again. Gilwen was deeply troubled for she knew those girls were quite loquacious, though forced herself to not show it to Faeldor. She stepped back toward him and grabbed his hands once more.
"I do need to be going," she paused a moment and chewed her lip. "Have fun picking the new mounts!" She grinned lightly. She did not move away just yet. She had a few moments to spare before she would leave to head to the kitchens. Besides, she did not want to rush away from him, giving him the idea that she was in some way ashamed of him, for that was not at all the case. She simply wanted to keep both of the reputations in tact amongst the staff. She could, after all, lose her job over it.
--
The girls had arrived at the kitchen giggling amongst each other with wide eyes. Oh, what they had seen! The second they stepped through the kitchen door, the remaining servants converged, and the story was exchanged.
"Our little Gilwen?" Someone exclaimed almost in disbelief, though she was quickly shushed by another. "Who was she with?" The same asked in a hushed laugh.
"I have never seen him before," one of the girls admitted. "My, but he was handsome! Tall, dark hair. Light eyes."
"Grey eyes, I do believe!"
"The stable master?" Another said, clamping a hand over her mouth to hide her laughter. "My, he is quite a catch. Are you sure it was Gilwen?"
"Positive. And his arms were completely about her, it was rather sweet. Oh, and he was playing with her hair!" More girlish laughter erupted from the corner. "But quiet about it now," one of the girls bit her lip. "She will be here soon, I am certain!"
|
|
Faeldor
Man
Head Stablemaster
Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
Posts: 556
|
Post by Faeldor on Apr 5, 2009 20:30:46 GMT -5
Faeldor managed to keep his composure as the servants entered and glanced at the two of them. Gilwen however, stepped back quickly and blushed heavily. The man bit his lip for a moment; thinking that she would be entirely upset by the matter, but after the door had shut behind the girls, she had returned and grasped his hands, smiling. Was she proud of herself? He mused lightly, grinning.
“Well, Starlight, I should not mind the public knowing of my affections for you anyhow. You are the loveliest lady in all of Arda.” He tried to ease the situation, though it would have been better if they had not been so compromised. He did not know if she would be in trouble for such; though she was on her break afterall. She seemed a relaxed state though, and bid him well for his work with the horses.
He leaned down and gingerly kissed the woman upon her cheek, and then once more, lower upon her jaw, and ever so close to her lips, lingering for a long moment near the corner of her mouth. “You must be going, I know. Do have a pleasant afternoon. And I should be back to the stables by the time you are finished at work. Please do come and say goodnight to me,” he urged, a smile upon his face. His hand was lightly upon her cheek, and as he moved to release her, he let his fingers trace along her pretty lips. He was quite certain it would set her in a good mood as she went about her work, even if it did make her blush.
“Now, do leave before me, and off to work. After that, we should not exit together. I shall wait a moment before I go. Do not fret, if someone finds me here I shall simply feign a poor lost stable master looking for the kitchens.”
------ The servants seemed to be raving with gossip today, Miriel thought, as she saw some enter the kitchen and gather together. Of course, they were a gossiping bunch anyhow. But she did wish to know what they were speaking of, and she made a point to walk past them in order to gather a pan that she needed. Moving slowly and gracefully so that she might hear the entirety the conversation.
When she heard the subject of their chatter, her mouth nearly gaped open and she stopped in her tracks. She quickly caught herself though and continued toward the pans. Gilwen and the Stable Master, hm? What a lovely sight they must have beheld. She wondered how compromising the position they were in truly was, but she could certainly imagine. That little harlot would do anything for her brother’s attentions, wouldn’t she?
Miriel frowned at the servants, though they were distracted enough on their own accord to likely not notice, and made her way to the bakery quickly. Her mother must know what a scandal had been committed against their own family. She should have listened before, but she had even encouraged Faeldor in the matter.
“Mother…” Miriel said slowly, as she pushed open the door into the warm bakery. Meleth was pulling bread from the oven, and laughing lightly with another woman who was sitting upon her stool. Miriel glanced at the woman, who was wearing peasant’s garb, and gave her no mind.
“Mother,” she said again more quickly. “Yes, dear?” Meleth asked, glancing quickly to Niniel. She did not wish the woman to meet her insidious daughter at this point while they were having such a charming time. They had discussed almost everything under the sun this morning… well, mostly about their son and daughter. Stories of their childhood! Some that Faeldor would have even blushed at had he known his mother told them readily. They’d thought of delightful names for their future grandchildren, and even discussed what trade the little ones might go into in the future. It was mutually agreeable that the children would grow up loving horses.
“Mother,” she said for the third time, all the more sharply. “You should just hear what those servants are talking about now. I’ve told you this would happen… that wretched girl…” Miriel’s words were getting away with her and she lost her breath for a moment, needing to pause for a second. “The palace is all the rage. Do you know what they saw? Those servants were simply in to get cleaning supplies, and they open the door to the closet, and lo and behold, what do you think their eyes did see?”
Miriel did not pause long enough for her mother to guess. “Our Faeldor, with that nasty girl all over him. They were in quite a compromising position I might say. What a disgrace! And even in the palace halls. I told you she was a harlot. She is no good for him. That loose woman best leave our family alone. What a sleeper! I can hardly believe you have condoned as such.”
|
|
Gilwen
Man
servant
There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 593
|
Post by Gilwen on Apr 5, 2009 21:17:24 GMT -5
Gilwen smiled at Faeldor's compliment and relaxed even more. It seemed that he was not that worked up over the other servers coming in suddenly, and it also seemed that Gilwen hid her own unease well enough; Faeldor at least seemed not to notice it. He leaned in to kiss her three times. The first two Gilwen found somewhat familiar, and smiled lightly to herself, a sudden wave of comfort washing through her once more. Though the third! It seemed to Gilwen at first that he would directly brush her lips this time, though it was placed finally near the corner of her lips.
Instantly her skin grew hot, and she blushed once more. He lingered there for a moment, Gilwen's heart fluttering quickly in her chest. It was quite a bold move, though not received poorly by any means. It seemed to toy at her though; and fleetingly she wished he had simply kissed her. She soon scolded herself for those thoughts, though. Especially after being caught in his arms like that, Gilwen was ashamed that she had wished him to compromise the situation more so. Even if the servants were long gone. She still looked quite stunned.
He spoke to her once more, and traced his fingers along her lips. She simply looked up to him with wide-eyes, surely looking like a surprised deer from the woods. She could not imagine her face being any darker red than it felt. "Y-yes. I-i-i..." she faltered, and fell silent a moment before regaining her voice. "I will see you. To wish you a goodnight. After work." It was incredibly choppy, but her mind was not functioning at full quite yet. It seemed she could still feel his fingers on her lips, and she quickly raised her own hand to touch them lightly as if to prove they were no longer there.
"Yes, I shall go." She whispered so softly that at first she wasn't even sure she had spoken them at all. She had not broken eye contact, and after a few seconds of silence she turned and rushed out of the room, closing the door behind her. She was quite thankful that none of the servants had lingered: to come out of the room with such red cheeks and a racing heart....it would have only fueled the gossip she was sure to find spread rampant by nightfall.
With one last look at the shut door, Gilwen set off for the kitchens.
--
Niniel had been quite pleased with how her morning had turned out. Meleth was such a lovely woman! And the topics of conversation had certainly been to her liking. Oh, it had been fun to speak of baby names, for all sorts of combinations of the two grandchildren they both expected, and to wonder what jobs they would take when they came of age. A lull had come in the conversation, though it was not because either was mad at one another. Simply put, both ladies would find bouts of silence when both would silently reflect on what had been said.
It was during this silence though that Miriel entered, a lovely young woman whose face did not at all seem familiar to Niniel. Though the minute she called Meleth "Mother", she knew who it must be. Miriel. She registered, her face's happy smile slowly fading as she glanced at Meleth and then back to her daughter.
Without paying her any mind at all, Miriel spout off a horrible rumor, using quite foul words to describe who Niniel knew instinctively was her daughter. The woman stood, her light and kind face turning instantly hard, and somewhat defensive. "Young woman," she began coldly, instantly adopting the air of a bothered mother. "I would mind my tongue and learn to bridle it. If you wish to speak abominable things about 'some servant', it would be in your greatest interest to see that her mother is no where around."
She paused for a moment taking a deep breath. She had never been one to lose her temper openly, though it was surely rising within her. "My daughter has been brought up with all of the same rules of etiquette as you. Though it does seem Gilwen heeds them more." She was of course referring to proper language.
Niniel moved forward then, and approached Miriel, her hand twitching at her side. She did wish to strike the girl for what she had dare utter of her darling daughter, though knew it was not her place to do so. Instead she forced her icy eyes to warm some and look to Meleth. "Meleth, dear, I shall be going now." She gave the woman half a smile, and then glared once more at Miriel before moving back out into the kitchen.
Her dear Gilwen would not have compromised herself in such a way, nor would Faeldor had let her. She dismissed the foul lie as just that: a lie and moved to the door with a fierce intent. As she walked out the door, Niniel saw her daughter approaching and paused for a moment.
"Gilwen."
The tone reminded Gilwen of when she was in trouble at a young age. Gilwen faltered and then rushed to her Mama quickly. "Yes, Mama?" She asked softly, curiously eyeing her.
"Do be careful in there," she raised her hand to touch her daughter's cheek and sighed. "I will see you at home tonight." She kissed her cheek and moved off. She hadn't meant for her voice to sound so harsh against her own daughter, it was simply left-over tension from that dreadful Miriel.
No wonder her daughter disliked her, so. For every bit of Faeldor's sweetness, she seemed to have been equally as bitter.
Gilwen found it curious, and watched her mother go off before working her way into the door. Immediately it seemed to dawn on her what was that had happened. She dropped her mouth slightly and fervently glanced to the giggling servants in the corner. Miriel.
|
|
Faeldor
Man
Head Stablemaster
Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
Posts: 556
|
Post by Faeldor on Apr 5, 2009 21:58:00 GMT -5
Faeldor grinned to himself as Gilwen fumbled over her words and visibly became a bit disarrayed. He had meant to do as such to her, for he knew that though she would accept such a gesture, it would highly surprise her, and he did enjoy such. Perhaps he would be kinder later, and simply kiss her when she came to visit him. At least in the stables such behavior was not ill condoned. And aside, they might sit and talk longer after Gilwen had seen the horses, and they could have some privacy in his own quarters of the stable. Nobody would disturb them.
Yes, he decided, as he leaned back against the wall, still smiling to himself. He would kiss her later. He waited just a few minutes, and then took his departure, ducking out of the palace as quickly as possible to avoid further trauma.
---
Miriel fumed at the dreadful woman before her when she began her lecture, but she was so stunned that she had no words to say back to her. Eventually she raged out, and Meleth simply gaped at her daughter.
“Miriel, how dare such words leave your lips. You are disgraceful. Your brother would allow no such thing, and neither would Gilwen. You, though, I dare say I would believe any rumor of the sort true of. You best watch your own actions before you say such foul things of others. And now you have dishonored her poor mother. I have raised you better than this.” Meleth was in a rage, for all the sweetness that the lady possessed, in the last moments she had come to look quite hostile. Miriel was attempting to ruin everything for her son and Gilwen. Simply because she did not have her own happiness, she wished nobody else in the Earth to be happy.
“Mama, you did not see it! You do not know what they were doing in there—“ Miriel started to argue once more.
Meleth had enough though, and stepped forward. “Neither did you, Miriel. I think I have the right to judge the actions of my own son who I have known for six and twenty years.” At that she slapped her daughter across the face. It was rarely an action to stem from gentle Meleth, but her daughter needed the reminder of who her mother was. “Now leave my bakery, and see to it that I do not see you for the rest of the day.”
Miriel was in awe that her mother had struck her. Her pretty mouth gaped slightly and her hand came up to feel the sting on her cheek. She glared at her mother, but did not say another word, and fled from the bakery. Meleth turned, shaking slightly. She hated to lay a hand against her own children, but look now what she had gone and done! She had sent her new friend angrily from her welcoming bakery, and she had insulted both Gilwen and Faeldor. Surely a rumor would break out of such now. The woman wiped her eyes with her sleeves; she felt tears in her eyes.
Miriel was raging, and all in perfect timing as well, it seemed, for the servants still stood gathered about and waiting for the meal to serve, but their eyes were in the direction of the doorway, where it seemed that little Gilwen was standing apart from the others. She must have just run into her foul mother on the way out, from the shocked look on her face. Miriel marched right up to the woman and did not contain herself.
If Gilwen’s foul mother should insult her proper upbringing, she would let her have her own way. The woman forcibly grabbed the girl by the shoulder of her servants dress, and pushed her heavily against the wall. “You filthy harlot, how many times have I told you to stay away from my brother?” she muttered indiscriminately near to the woman. She had no more words for the woman though, and she raised her hand to slap her across the face, as she had done weeks before. Unable to cure the stinging of her own cheek, she used her own force to inflict such upon another. Perhaps her rage now made her aim all the more accurate and quick, and it was surely to leave a bruise worse than before.
Surely the other cooks had seen her, and one came quickly forward to pull the women apart. Miriel’s rage had gotten the best of her it seemed, and it wasn’t the first time she had assaulted one of the servants, even in the kitchen and at the verge of serving time. Confound it that her family was so well liked and they kept her here.
As the cook grabbed Miriel from behind to pull her away from the girl, Miriel did her best to kick Gilwen in the ankle, as hard as her boot might allow it, before relenting and spinning about to push the cook off of her, and stomping away to the back of the kitchen.
|
|
Gilwen
Man
servant
There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 593
|
Post by Gilwen on Apr 5, 2009 22:36:31 GMT -5
It was a whir of action, though the second Miriel had started toward her, Gilwen felt the storm approach. Gilwen did not have much time to react, or defend herself in any way before Miriel had shoved her against the stone wall. It had jarred her entire frame, though Gilwen did not find altogether excruciating. In fact, Gilwen thought momentarily, if she escaped with only such interaction, she would be doing well for herself.
Miriel's threatening words cut through the tense air and the small young woman flinched. She could see the seething anger and hatred in Miriel's eyes; there was no reason for her to think she was going to make it out of this without something a bit more permanent than a shove against a stone wall.
And she was right. No sooner had the thought hit her, than did Miriel's strong arm lay a nasty slap across her face once more. It seemed with the increased emotion on Miriel's part, the slap had been all the worse, and it instantly caused Gilwen to gasp for breath.
This time it seemed the other staff members came to her rescue and attempted in vain to pull the fuming Miriel from her. A few of the serving ladies bravely came forward seemingly to pull Gilwen aside and comfort her; but they were not fast enough to prevent Miriel's boot from crashing into the girl's ankle. It was such a blow that it knocked Gilwen's balance off and with a small cry she fell directly to the floor, immediately ducking her head under her arms to avoid further injury.
She felt hands, comforting ones, on her trying to pry her from the floor. Her cheek, it stung so horribly; and just as the other bruise was almost gone and healed! She let them help her up, still dazed from her assault. In front of people? Had Miriel lost her mind?
"Gilwen, oh, Gilwen, dear!" One of the elder serving ladies was frantically murmuring to try and calm the situation, gripping at the girl's upper arms to keep her steady. "How is your ankle?" She looked down a moment, and then back up to Gilwen's face. Her expression seemed to be that of a deer once more that day; though this time a startled one caught during a hunt.
"I-i-i--" Gilwen began, trying to stand securely on it to no avail. It hurt to even shift her weight; there was no way she would be able to walk for serving. All at once she was crying. For the second time in the past few weeks she would have to be let go from table duty and lose her pay. As the tears began to fall, the woman hugged her.
"We will handle the table today, Gilwen. Take a long break---we'll talk to the mistress." The words were meant to be comforting, though they did very little to settle the small woman's nerves. The woman hugged her once more, and released her to take her place to serve the food; the chaos of the kitchen, to the calm of the serving line. They moved out silently carrying trays of food, and Gilwen was alone against the wall.
It seemed as if someone was making a move to go to her, though Gilwen was crying so horribly now that she just turned and tried to run to the bakery. Her own dear mother had gone, though there was still another who could help calm her in her place. The poor thing limped the entire way, and flung open the door, standing there a moment to find Meleth working with her dough. She limped inside, and shut the door behind her, and then resumed her tears.
She could find no words to say to Meleth, though even if she could she doubted she had the breath to say them at the moment. Her cheek was throbbing horribly, and it seemed as if her ankle was swelling already. She simply sobbed, and tried to hobble over to Meleth, though soon stopped and just stood halfway to her, unable to bring herself to walk any more. Finally she found words and blurted them out with a slightly frenzied feel, "I would never dishonor your son's name." It was a all she could say to fix any problem Meleth might have had with the rumor that was sure to have started already---it must have been what set Miriel off. She was not a harlot.
|
|
Faeldor
Man
Head Stablemaster
Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
Posts: 556
|
Post by Faeldor on Apr 5, 2009 23:13:56 GMT -5
The door to the bakery opened, and Meleth turned around quickly to see that Miriel had not come back in for more words. Her faced softened though when she saw Gilwen, disheveled as she was. She knew instantly that this was Miriel’s doing. She had not heard the ruckus that had taken place behind her closed door.
The girl shut the door behind her, and began to sob, limping toward her, though stopping part way. To Meleth, it seemed that her own heart broke at the sight of the girl who she had just spoke fondly of for some hours previous. She had undoubtedly been slapped, and her leg was injured in some fashion. Oh, if her mother were to be here for this, she did not know what Niniel would have done. Whatever it was, Miriel would have deserved it, it was certain.
"I would never dishonor your son's name." Meleth intook her breath deeply at those words, and then answered quickly, “I know that you would not. You should not even have to say such.” She stepped forward quickly to take the girl up in her arms, to hold her and comfort her for some minutes, rubbing her back gently and trying to still her sobs. Twice, in less than a full day, her family had brought the girl to tears, and it was all the workings of her dreadful daughter Miriel.
Miriel had indeed accosted the girl; it would have been none other. “Sweetheart, come here, let me see to your ankle,” Meleth said gently, making the girl to sit down upon her stool and handing her a handkerchief for her face. Before Gilwen could protest to her, she bent down to lift the hem of Gilwen’s skirt, and began unlacing her boot, gently pulling it from her foot. She removed the girl’s stocking, and held her little foot right within her hand, inspecting the delicate ankle, which was very reddened, and beginning to bruise and swell. It did not appear broken at least, but the poor thing must ache terribly.
“Gilwen, I will go get something to still the swelling,” she said quietly, her face set in a tight line, and she stood quickly and bustled out of the bakery in an instant to aquire a bowl of cool water. Only moments later she was back in with the treatment, and placed the bowl upon the floor, immersing Gilwen’s foot within it. “Would you have me send for Faeldor?” she asked.
|
|
Gilwen
Man
servant
There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 593
|
Post by Gilwen on Apr 5, 2009 23:51:09 GMT -5
Gilwen felt comfort even amongst her distress that Meleth would rush to her that way and assure her she believed nothing of the foul words that would undoubtedly have been offered. She gratefully cried into the woman's shoulder, as she calmed her in a way only a mother could have done.
Meleth pulled her over to the stool her mother had been sitting on earlier that morning, and bade her sit so she could see her ankle, while handing her a handkerchief for her tears. She obeyed, half because she did not have the mind to protest, and half because Meleth didn't gift her enough time to reply in any way.
She did not look, and instead buried her face into the cloth she had been handed. She could feel her cheek bruising again, and grit her teeth bitterly as she choked back another sob. Just as her face had begun to return to normal, Miriel had to leave a mark of her hatred once more, for all the world to see. The stamp of a harlot; or at least thats at least what Gilwen would assume she had done such an action to brand her.
Meleth excused herself to go get something for the swelling, and Gilwen nodded slowly, sniffling a little as she calmed herself. She was furious. Gilwen could not remember ever being this angry before. What right did Miriel have to strike her again? After such a wonderful moment with her brother, her day had gotten explicitly worse; and a part of her longed for the embarrassing morning all over again.
She would rather be mortified by her mother's friendly tongue than assaulted by Miriel given the option. What would Faeldor say when he saw her this afternoon? She averted her eyes to the fire in the stove, watching it dance and burn, glowing in a friendly manner that seemed to mock her very state. A few more tears glided down her cheek, though now she did not sob or gasp for breath any longer.
It was not worth her tears. She could not let Miriel win. Gilwen took a deep breath just as Meleth returned with the bowl of cold water, and shivered slightly as her foot was immersed. While it was highly uncomfortable, it did quell the ache almost immediately, reducing it to a dull throb.
“Would you have me send for Faeldor?” Gilwen looked down at the woman and thought a moment. She did wish for his comforting arms at that moment, and the kisses he would have surely given her cheeks. "No, he is busy." She could be strong without him until work was over and she could find him in the stables.
In her heart, Gilwen knew this would get worse. Miriel was clearly on a mission to make sure the young woman was completely miserable. She did not quite know how far she would go with it, but Miriel was sure to do other things. Miriel was not one to let anger go---and she had been completely livid.
"Thank you, Meleth." Gilwen whispered, chewing her lip slightly. She didn't know what else she could say. She just sat in silence and looked back to the dancing fire.
|
|
Faeldor
Man
Head Stablemaster
Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
Posts: 556
|
Post by Faeldor on Apr 6, 2009 6:53:15 GMT -5
Meleth kneeled upon the ground for some moments in silence after Gilwen had answered her. Surely Faeldor would wish to know, or deem this more important of his time than whatever little errand he were on. Though it was true; if he were to let the woman get in the way of his work, he would face the same consequences as well. That would be good for neither of them.
By now the girl had calmed considerably; no more were her sobs breaking through the bakery. Meleth stayed upon the floor gently brushing the cool water upon the girl’s ankle, and the swelling slowed itself, though it was still quite red. The bruising seemed to be coming quickly and was enveloping the little ankle in its purple and sickly yellow shroud.
The woman stood, and dried her hands upon her apron. There was not much more that she could do for that. It would certainly take a time to heal, and she worried that the girl would not be able to perform her work properly, if at all. She should certainly not walk upon it for any good period. “You are welcome, though I have not done much,” she answered slowly.
There was nothing more to do for the ankle, but Meleth of course was still a mother and could still care for the girl. She stood quite near her as the girl quietly finished her sniffling, and rubbed her shoulders softly with a gentle hand. She softly inspected the reddened cheek as well. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, I do not know how far my daughter will go, or how long she will carry on like this. She is quite stubborn and it has only gotten worse these past years…” Meleth paused for a moment.
“She just came in here blathering about something atrocious, and set your mother into a fit. I shall bring my own apologizes to her later in person. I did strike her after she sent Niniel out. I was never one to strike my children.” As Meleth said this, her own heart ached that she had done so. It was not unrequited, but all the same she did not wish to inflict pain on anyone, especially her own blood, who she loved.
“But you must set my heart at ease, dear, please. She said she heard it from the servants, who saw you. You and Faeldor were simply embracing, were you not? I do not think otherwise, for I know my son is noble and would not be with an un-noble lady. But I just must hear it from you. I will believe what you and Faeldor say.” The woman stooped back down to carefully remove Gilwen’s ankle from the water. It needed be out for a few minutes before putting it back in to continue reduction in the swelling. She did not stop after this question though; she had more to say, and she may as well say it at once.
“And… also, mind you, I will trust your words. But you must set a mother’s mind easy. Miriel’s words of harlotry against you are false, are they not? Your mother has said you were never with another Suitor, let alone slept with a man. But do let me hear it from you. You do not seem a lady of the night.” Meleth could hardly look at Gilwen’s face as she asked this last question, such was it against all her own morals to speak of such things out loud, or pry into another’s life in this way. Little Gilwen did not seem at all as one to do what Miriel had accused her of. She was so timid and gentle.
|
|
Gilwen
Man
servant
There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 593
|
Post by Gilwen on Apr 6, 2009 8:23:38 GMT -5
As her foot was raised from the water, Gilwen chanced a look down. The bruise was certainly going to be there a while, and Gilwen was not going to be able to walk properly at all for at least a few days. Papa would be highly upset; they needed her serving wages. She turned her brown eyes away, letting the woman come up and lay a hand upon her shoulder comfortingly.
Though her words turned far from being comforting as Meleth bade Gilwen set the story straight. Her heart wrenched, and she fought back more tears. The same woman who had assured her that she would not have to say that she did not dishonor her son now wished for an answer. All the hearing of harlotry and whorishness was bound to affect Meleth eventually, though Gilwen had wished she would be steadfast, and not be swayed.
"We did embrace; that was all." Gilwen paused a moment before speaking the answer to the rest. "I might be poor, but I would never disgrace my father that way. Faeldor is my first suitor, and the first outside my own dear family to even embrace me. Please know I am not a streetwalker."
This was bound to get blown highly out of proportion. Miriel would not let it be otherwise. Still, as long as none could deny she was with Faeldor, his integrity would speak highly in their favor. Faeldor would never touch a woman that way; he was too much of a gentleman. And most of the palace staff knew this.
She took another deep breath, and fell silent again. Her mother would be fine. Niniel would surely not believe that she and Faeldor had crossed the bounds of propriety. Still, Miriel will probably have caused her mother a great deal of tension and anger---something was bound to come from it.
Fleetingly, Gilwen mused that Niniel would tell Beregar everything. Just as father was really beginning to approve of Faeldor, too! Perhaps she would be banned from seeing him. No, her mother would not allow him to go that far; banning his lovely daughter from going to his house would not be too unrealistic for her father. He would claim it was to make her run-ins with Miriel less often. Gilwen knew better. He would be so disgraced by even the rumor of his daughter sleeping with another. To a soldier, honor was everything. Once it was gone, you had nothing. Beregar had never been an exception to it. Gilwen would face dire consequences if ever her father thought her a true harlot.
She shook off the pensive mood and raised a hand to her cheek, lightly grazing it with her coarse fingers. "How bad does it look to be?" She asked. Perhaps it was not as bad as the first. Perhaps Faeldor would not notice right away that Gilwen was so beaten. Surely if she stood stock still and walked nowhere with him he would never see her ankle, it all rested on her face. If her bruise were to be conspicuous, Faeldor would know it all.
|
|
Faeldor
Man
Head Stablemaster
Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
Posts: 556
|
Post by Faeldor on Apr 6, 2009 11:25:43 GMT -5
“Then I shall believe your honesty, and I am sorry that I even did need to ask. Do forgive me,” Meleth said, as stood again, wrapping her arms about the girl while she sat on the stool, and kissing her head. The woman’s chest felt heavy. There was surely more to come of it than this, for a rumor, however untrue it was, could do much to affect a person, especially a young woman who in most cases would not be allowed to speak for herself on the matter. She hoped Miriel’s words in front of the kitchen staff and the other servants would be cast off as rubbish and forgotten over the next few days, but within herself she knew that they would not. It had certainly already spread even through other areas of the palace.
“Please, Gilwen, I did not mean to label you as such. I only asked so that if it is brought to my attention, I might tell the others that from your very own lips you have denied it. I trust my own son’s judgement, and I trust you. Perhaps I have not spoken often with you in the past years, but I have seen your work, and I have seen your supervisors pleased with you. There is nothing in my mind to make me doubt that you are humble, and that your family is honorable.
Meleth took the girls hand gently and brought it down from her face. “This one will last longer than the last, I am certain.” She thought for a moment, “Well, I think perhaps we could do something to help it a bit though, at least to ease the pain…” Meleth walked away to her cupboards and pulled out a clean wash rag, then stood before her counter to pour water from her pitcher over it, and after that a good amount of vinegar. She thought to speak, but held her tongue.
She rung the cloth, and went back to Gilwen. “Keep something cool upon it as often as you can today, and again before you go to sleep. It will take the swelling down. And the vinegar may help today with the blueness of it… tomorrow before you move about you might put a heated towel on it to soothe.” Gilwen was certainly well able to hold the cloth on her cheek by herself, but Meleth wished to do so, standing in front of her with one hand to soothe her skin, and the other to move a tangle of hair back behind her ear, and smooth it.
Finally, she chose to tell Gilwen her own thoughts. “When I was just a bit younger than you, and Faeldor’s father was courting me… there was a lady who did despise me for it. She was not his sister, nor was she so vocal; but she did do her best to strike at me when she had the chance. It happened more than a few times, and I did take measures to hide it from my own parents. Although… she was a bit smarter, and did her best to hurt me where it would not show. But I was all the better for it. If my parents had learned of it, my father surely would have taken me away from Faelon. But perhaps only because we had let it go so far without telling him. Make sure that your own father does know the truth.”
Meleth for a moment seemed lost in her own thoughts, but finally she spoke again. “I do wish Faeldor to go with you, to see your father after all of this. Your mother will surely understand, but I would not have your father to think that my son has inflicted you with these. It would be best for you to tell him everything right away, and not to hide it.”
“I do not wish you and Faeldor parted over this. You are far too perfect for him,” Meleth said quietly, stroking the girl’s uninjured cheek. “And I did think so even before your mother and I discussed the matter. After seeing you together last night I do know so. He will need you. He cares so well for everyone else… he needs someone to care for him.”
|
|
Gilwen
Man
servant
There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 593
|
Post by Gilwen on Apr 6, 2009 11:59:04 GMT -5
Gilwen looked up at Meleth a moment as she explained her reasons, and forced herself to smile up at her. "Thank you for trusting me," she murmured, as the woman hovered over her and cared for her. Still, the way that Meleth brought her hand from her cheek and spoke to her of her bruise immediately made the smile vanish, or at least mostly. Longer than the last. She repeated to herself, sighing bitterly. She had just been able to stand looking at herself in the looking glass again recently; a good two and a half weeks after the bruise had been formed. This time, she probably would not be able to stand her reflection for a good three or four. An entire month!
Meleth moved off again, uttering words to Gilwen on how to care for the bruise, and then returning to hold a cool cloth against her cheek, gingerly fussing with Gilwen's disheveled locks in a motherly manner. There was a small silence, and Gilwen could see in Meleth's lovely light eyes that she was thinking. Finally, the woman began to speak. Gilwen seemed awed by the story; who could have struck Meleth? She was absolutely beautiful both inside and out! It brought her great comfort, though. For Faelon and Meleth had turned out alright together, and it made her heart somewhat happy to know that she and Faeldor had the same chance.
She warned Gilwen of explaining things properly to her father, and the servant just nodded. There would be nothing at all that she could say to Beregar that he would not quickly be able to identify as a lie. Truth was something that Gilwen respected far more than she could possibly say. Meleth then told Gilwen she wished Faeldor to go with her to speak with her father.
She wanted Faeldor to meet her father, because he had not yet been able to do so. Still, those were not precisely the circumstances she wished them to make acquaintances under. Her father would certainly be livid; and he was known to have a temper when thoroughly provoked. Degrading his family name was surely going to constitute as adequate provoking.
"He will need you. He cares so well for everyone else… he needs someone to care for him.” Gilwen actually found herself smiling lightly. It was by no means a grand spread of lips across her face, but it was enough to look natural and genuine. Meleth had made her feel so much better.
"I would not have us parted over something so small," Gilwen replied with a small blush; though it was only visible on one of her cheeks. Indeed, in the scheme of things a bruise on her cheek meant nothing. Faeldor, though, meant everything. She would do her absolute best to care for him, and it would come easy because of her great adoration of the man. Perhaps that word wasn't quite strong enough. Love. Gilwen surprised herself with thinking the word. How strong it was! Still, it fit her feeling better than any other word she could possibly think of otherwise.
A silence had fallen over them, and the door to the bakery opened once more. It was the supervisor, who quickly looked to Gilwen and shook her head. The servant was about to plead her case, but the woman simply began to speak. "You have had quite the morning." There was a short pause as the supervisor's eyes seemed to hint at a flash of sadness; though it was soon covered. "I will not have you work anymore today---the women told me what happened," she took a glance to Meleth and nodded to her in greeting. "When you feel well enough to go, you may." She lingered for a moment before the older woman shut the bakery door and was gone again. Undoubtedly to reassign the work of the other girls to allow Gilwen her leave.
It relieved Gilwen that she would not have to hobble through the stone hallways of the palace all day, though it made her sick to know her payment today would hardly be helpful to her parents. Still, if she didn't heal, she would not be able to work up to par for a good week or so. And that would do her no good at all, either, and cause more harm than half a day off. She could pick up extra hours later to make up for it.
"Would you mind if I stayed a while longer?" Gilwen asked softly to Meleth. She did not wish to leave the warm and safe Bakery yet; but could understand if the woman had work to do and needed her to go. After all, she could hobble her way to the stables and sit with Lumiel until Faeldor returned later that afternoon.
|
|