Gilwen
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servant
There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 593
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Post by Gilwen on Apr 11, 2009 0:21:41 GMT -5
It was time for Gilwen to pry herself from her bed, but the young woman barely made a move to do so. Her body was too exhausted it seemed to behave at all. She whimpered slightly, rolling over in her small bed to grip at the pillow her head rested upon. She had gotten less sleep when she had gotten home last night than she had been growing accustomed to over the past few days.
She had returned home, after catching sight of Miriel and Rosiel in the window of Faeldor’s home, already distraught that it seemed Faeldor had replaced her eagerly only to find her father fuming upon the couch, with Niniel desperately trying to console him and calm him.
He had yelled and screamed the second she had walked through the door. Over his lost job, and a visit from a drunken man. He had held up a small pouch of coins to show her. ”Payments for last night, he said. And you expect me to believe you’re not a sleeper?”
The tantrum had kept her awake, and she had barely fallen asleep when it was in fact time for her to start another long day of work. Yet, the woman did not move from her bed. She would skip breakfast---she was in no mood to eat anyway—and stay in bed a bit longer.
Her moment of rest had passed, and slowly she pulled herself from its comfort to re-adorn her servant’s dress. She braided her hair today, for it seemed she had not cared for it well over the past few days. Her malnutrition was making it hard to handle and control. Then, she made her way to her shoes and stockings. By the time both of them were on, tendrils of hair had already slipped from the braid and fell loosely in her face; though Gilwen did not make a single move to brush them away. It did not matter, truly. By the time she had finished her shift today, it would have returned a thousand times over, no matter how often she replaced them.
She sighed, closing her eyes to gain the strength to leave the house. Her entire family was riding on her wages now. She could not disappoint her father any more than she already had. She would have to provide.
With that thought, she left her room, and opened her front door, turning to close it ever so softly. Before she turned, she sighed wearily, and leaned her head delicately against the wooden door. I will provide. She released the doorknob from her aching hands, and turned.
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Apr 11, 2009 0:41:55 GMT -5
Faeldor had gone to bed quite early the night previous. Perhaps sleep would stop the aching of his heart, he thought, as he chanced to sneak up the stairway even before Miriel’s lovely guests had left. It seemed that the moment he rested his head on his pillow his eyes were closed, and he fell asleep; the moonlight streaming into the window.
It seemed that the morning had awoken the man quite early; but again, not by his own doing. A little hand was on his shoulder, gently trying to rouse him. After a night of deep and dreamless sleep, Faeldor awoke quite easily, compared to the last time that Beleth had woken him.
“Fael…” she said gently, leaning near his face. He had not seen his sister since the night previous, when Durion had told the full story of his fitful evening in the tavern. Her face did not look so horrified or angry now though; only gentle and soft, the Beleth he was used to. “Fael, you must wake up,” she prodded softly again, sitting down on the edge of the man’s bed.
Faeldor rolled to his side, but he was so comfortable in his bed. “Do I not have one more hour of sleep, sister?” he asked. He would have liked to sleep away the majority of his day anyhow. Deep dreamless sleep was much better than the thoughts that would certainly be wont to flow through his mind throughout the day.
“No,” Beleth said in a much cheerier voice than Faeldor had let himself become accustomed to the past few days. “We are going for a walk.”
“To where?” Faeldor said suspiciously, burrowing himself into his pillow.
“To Gilwen’s house,” Beleth said pointedly. “She will be leaving for work soon. Come now. I am going with you.”
Faeldor felt his body glued in place to his bed, and as the time passed he had tried to argue with Beleth, that she would not wish to see him; that she would not wish to be bothered; that he had offended her, and terrified her. Beleth would have none of it though, and shoved Faeldor’s clothes at him, leaving him in the room to dress.
As much as Faeldor had protested and made excuses; he dressed rather quickly, and even combed his hair. He was ready as soon as he might have been if he were waking up late to head to work at the stables. Beleth was pleased by such, and though he protested more all the long walk down to the third tier, she held his hand and insisted.
“If anything, you must at least talk to her. I am highly disappointed that you have done so yet, Fael, you are usually so sensitive to such matters! Simply walk her to work, you can leave her as soon as you reach the stables if you do so wish to,” Beleth continued trying to encourage him, all the way.
“I would not leave her!” Faeldor exclaimed, a bit quickly.
“Well then you mustn’t. But I am sure by the way that you have been acting you have made her think so. Just think about it Fael, have you even made an effort?”
Faeldor sighed; her little house was in sight. There were no lights on, and it was still dark, but she was surely awake and readying herself for work. She was not one to miss on her responsibility. He frowned, thinking that the poor dear probably kept herself to little sleep; with working such longer hours… and she would have returned home last night to hear of her father.
“We will wait until she comes out, we would not wish to wake her family afterall,” Beleth said. Soon though after she had spoken the door opened, and Gilwen made her way outside, though she did not turn right away. Faeldor almost gasped to himself; for he had not seen her in some days, and her appearance, even from behind was not the same. Her shoulders seemed to slump, and before the day had even started she already seemed weary.
When the lady turned, Faeldor stood still, not sure of what he should say or do. Beleth took the lead though. “Gilwen…” Beleth had said before she approached the woman warmly, taking her hand for a moment gently. “Goodmorning,” she added. She released the girl’s hand. “I was just on my way home, but I thought I might say hello first,” she spoke ever so gently, and almost as soon as she had greeted her, she stepped back.
“Have a lovely day, Fael!” she called to her brother, leaving him standing in the street while she lit quickly back toward the upper tier of the city.
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Gilwen
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servant
There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 593
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Post by Gilwen on Apr 11, 2009 1:04:15 GMT -5
Immediately, Gilwen gasped, startled that two figures were standing before her house at such an hour. And more than this: two lovely and tall figures they were. Ones that she instantly recognized. She blinked a moment, as if to make sure it was not a hallucination of some sort. They were still standing there. Clearly, it wasn't.
Beleth moved forward and grasped her hand warmly and spoke to her first, and Gilwen fumbled for the proper words. Her mind though, was still reeling from the surprise visit, and on so little sleep she could not think of anything at all. It seemed she was not going to be given the proper time to reply anyhow, and Beleth immediately stepped back and away. “Have a lovely day, Fael!”
Fael... Her mind repeated as she snapped her gaze to the remaining figure. Faeldor. He was there; standing in the middle of the street, his grey eyes on her. And she looked such a mess. She opened her mouth as if to say something, and then clamped it shut again. She had wanted to see him again so horribly...but why was he here?
Her mind seemed to slowly process everything she could see. His face seemed slightly shocked, and Gilwen presumed it was because of her own appearance. He had not come to see her, or even try to, the past four days---it seemed strange that he would be standing there now. Beleth had claimed she was just on her way home---that had clearly been a lie; the market was not open until a bit after the dawn. There was no reason to be out and about at this hour, especially down here. He had not wanted to come. She decided morosely. Beleth had simply grabbed him, and drug him here to let him speak to her in person about how they were no longer to see each other.
The surprised feeling that had filled her instantly became that of a deadness once more. She had no tears, not now. She was far too worn for those at the moment. He had probably decided upon sobering up that she was not at all worth the trouble. That her reputation was just too tarnished to have to try and deal with. She didn't blame him. He was here to let her know. "I understand," she murmured quietly, turning to move away before he saw the sadness in her eyes.
Her visual display was horrid enough already, after all.
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Apr 11, 2009 1:39:33 GMT -5
Faeldor watched as Beleth greeted the woman, and said goodbye just as quickly. She was already starting back toward the sixth tier when Faeldor looked back to Gilwen, who was looking at him.
My Starlight. He thought. Sweet Gilwen, how he had wounded her, and how he had left her. Beleth was right; he had done nothing to fix the problem. He had let it be, and he had abandoned her all those long days. “I understand.” The words sunk into him. How good it was to hear her voice, though, it was full of sadness. What did she understand? He wondered. Perhaps she did not understand at all, for he was so glad to see her, yet she looked so morose.
He contemplated on what to say; he had tried to think of it on the walk down, but it seemed that everything had been temporarily washed from his mind, other than how glad he was to see the little lady before him. “I have missed you,” was what he ended up saying, his voice was soft.
“Please. Do not turn away,” he added as she started to go, and he placed a gentle hand upon the woman’s shoulder to still her movements. He wished to embrace her, and kiss her, and do everything to apologize for his behavior, but he needed wait. She had turned away from him. It was as if she did not wish to speak; as if she hated him. She surely did, after all that had transpired.
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Gilwen
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There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 593
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Post by Gilwen on Apr 11, 2009 2:12:26 GMT -5
“I have missed you. Please. Do not turn away."
His hand touched her shoulder in an effort to stop her from moving, though it was unnecessary. Gilwen had frozen in place the second the first four words had been uttered. Her heart fluttered under his touch though, and Gilwen closed her eyes to savor it. It was his hands that she had been longing to feel. Still, just last night she had seen Rosiel in his window; and Miriel had given her an awful smile. He had missed her? Her eyes opened. He must not have Rosiel anymore.
"You have missed me?" She asked softly as she turned to look at him. She did not shake his touch, though. For even if he was not sincere in his words, she did long for such a gesture. "Have you tired of Rosiel that quickly?" She asked once more, her voice a bit sharper this time. She sighed, and looked away from his grey eyes trying to calm herself. There was no need for hysterics, after all.
She brought her eyes back to his. It felt as if she was being drawn to them in all of their clarity. Gilwen had always thought his eyes the perfect picture of her Faeldor: they displayed his emotions so well. It would have been impossible for him to lie with them. She studied them now, and their mix of sadness and happiness. There was no deceit, no ill-purpose in them. They seemed clear and free of such thoughts she had applied to him. Her features softened, and her brow furrowed in perplexity, as she started to shake her head ever so slightly. "She was not a guest of yours at all, was she?"
She did not even wait for a response, for she seemed to already know her answer. She buried her face in her hands, and through them muttered, "I have missed you, too." She raised her eyes once more, and they were glistening in wetness. Her sheer tiredness prompted such a reaction to the relief that washed over her. "Horribly." She added in a whisper.
She made no move toward him though, and let him stay the distance he wished. Perhaps she was reading into his eyes what she wished to see, after all she had been so certain that he had simply used her for the past few days. She chewed her lip as she gazed at him, once more unsure of what to think. Her hands slowly lowered to her side and she took a deep breath. "Why did you never come find me? You had promised. Why didn't you come?"
Her hands were shaking slightly. Partly from anticipation, and partly from sadness. She had asked herself this question, and had come up with a multitude of answers to it; each growing more ridiculous than the last. But all had cut deep. Faeldor had promised to come find her. Promised, repeatedly to make it up to her. And he never showed.
That whole day she had waited, and he never came. He had abandoned her. "I waited for you, all day. You promised me you would find me. You never came!" A tear escaped from her watering eyes, though she did not outwardly sob or cause a scene. Her voice was still low, though it was a bit frantic with her feeling of betrayal. "Why?" She demanded once more, no louder than a whisper.
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Apr 11, 2009 12:38:39 GMT -5
Faeldor was relieved when the woman stopped and did not continue on her way, leaving him to stand in the street alone.
"Have you tired of Rosiel that quickly?" These words seemed to cut right into Faeldor, as he remembered the night previous, and Rosiel’s dreadful hands upon him. And the words she had said! She was utterly degrading to both herself and others. This question was somewhat curious, and he had wondered if somehow Durion had found his way down to Gilwen to notify her of the affections Rosiel had tried to play on him. Probably leaving out that he had avoided them at all costs, and twisting the words to suit his own purposes. Or perhaps she was still thinking of the night when he had danced with her, and she had so audaciously kissed him.
"Why did you never come find me? You had promised. Why didn't you come?" More words that stung Faeldor right to the core. He had promised? Well, she surely wouldn’t have lied to him about it. He was about to speak, when she continued. This was more words than he was used to hearing from sweet Gilwen, and her voice was somewhat frantic.
"I waited for you, all day. You promised me you would find me. You never came!" Her hands were beginning to tremble, and although Faeldor had tried to keep his distance, he could no longer keep himself from touching her. Her hands were beginning to shake so tremendously! He needed to comfort her. “Why?” He grasped her hands within his, stepping closer to her. It seemed that her frantic questions had finished, and now it was his turn to speak.
“Rosiel was not my guest. And she never will be. I tired of her the moment that Miriel first introduced her to me. Gilwen, you are my only. I belong with no other, and I wish for no other.”
“I thought that I had terrified you; you ran from me in the stables that day. I am so sorry to have been cross with you; it was none of your doing, all my own, and I had wished for you so badly throughout that day. I was…” he started, not knowing what else to say, then realized that he must get right to it. She wanted his answers, and he would let her have them. “Gilwen, I apologize for that night when you found me at the tavern.”
“I do not have an excuse for not finding you, only that I did not know that I had promised you such things. I remember nothing from that night that I was so inebriate,” He had come this far, now he must continue, for he had not known then, but he knew now of the way he had behaved. “Beleth told me the next day that you had brought me home. And just until last night, I had not known…” his voice seemed to falter. “Of the dreadful way in which I treated you. One of Miriel’s guests from last night’s dinner just so happened to be at the tavern and witness the whole thing, and he did tell me what he had seen. I did not know the things I was saying…or doing… I was not myself. Sweet Gilwen, I am so sorry… and so ashamed. I would never wish to hurt you, in any way. You are my love.”
While the man spoke, one of his hands had left her own, and found it’s way to gently touch the side of her face. His thumb caressed the tears that fell, and his heart felt utterly broken that he had caused her so much pain, and broken his promises to her. If he had only known that he had made promise to find her, he certainly would have done anything to keep them.
It seemed that once Faeldor touched the woman, he could not stop, and his hand brushed back the tendrils of hair that had fallen into her pallid face. He was ever so close to her now. And still, she looked so weary. Her brown eyes were tired and did not shine their light, and her hair was limp in it’s braid. Tears were upon her face, but she was still lovely. “My beautiful Starlight…”
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Gilwen
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There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 593
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Post by Gilwen on Apr 11, 2009 14:03:09 GMT -5
As Gilwen’s frantic words finally ceased, and Faeldor swept her hands up into his and stepped nearer her. Her eyes fell to look at his hands over hers, somewhat ashamed that they were in such a poor state, and once more aware of the sickly display she must be put presenting. Though, the thoughts did not have long to linger with her, for he began to speak and her eyes and thoughts were immediately drawn to his face.
His handsome face, eyes so expressive and honest. She had been waiting for so long to be with him this way again, and until this morning she had thought it impossible. She was there, though. And it calmed her immensely, listening quietly to the words and explanations he gave. “I did not know the things I was saying…or doing… I was not myself. Sweet Gilwen, I am so sorry… and so ashamed. I would never wish to hurt you, in any way. You are my love.”
His hand was on her cheek, the warmth and touch of which caused the young woman to close her eyes for a moment. Fleetingly, she recalled the drunken display the man had offered, and almost brought herself to speak on it. She could find no words: he was ever so close; she could feel his body heat in her very core. “My beautiful Starlight…” She turned her face toward his hand, and pressed a small kiss to his palm before he moved his hand to tuck her hair behind her ears. It would not draw too much attention from any that were watching, but Gilwen felt that Faeldor needed such reassurance.
His touch once more felt familiar, and this closeness that they shared did not worry her in the least. It was such a change from the inebriated Faeldor who had last held her. The tenderness that he held was finally returned, and more than this; he was truly sorry for what he had done to her. Still, they were in the middle of the street before her house. If her parents had come to the window, surely she would be in ever more trouble. Or, at least from her Papa. She felt a slight pang in her heart at the thought of her now distant father. She took a wayward glance to the window of her home and then turned her attention back to Faeldor. “We should not stand here,” she murmured quietly. She wanted to be with him, certainly. But her father would jump at the chance to criticize her morals should he happen to see.
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Apr 11, 2009 15:33:18 GMT -5
The man waited nervously for Gilwen’s response. She seemed quiet for a long while; it was not unlike her to have few words, but even her face seemed so tired that he could not read her eyes. She replied with nothing, though for an instant she brushed her lips against his hand, and Faeldor’s thoughts were drawn to the evening when the woman had sat within his arms in the stables. When he had brushed his fingertips against her lips, and her heart had quickened so because of it.
Her eyes seemed to hold none the adoration now though, and she offered no words in response to his apologies, nor anything to reassure him that she indeed still loved him as well. The small kiss to his hand, he thought, was only a symbol of her kindness. She was so kind despite all that he had done to her.
“We should not stand here.”
Faeldor felt a lump grow in his throat, and his eyes were sad, though dry. She does not wish to be with me. He was so distraught that he had not made the connection of her glance to her window. It would have made sense to him; for her to be seen standing so close to a man by her parents may have even destroyed their trust for her. In Faeldor’s mind though, it were as if she had told him that she would not forgive him.
The man though was loathe to release the woman, and step away from her, knowing that he would not be allowed to touch her as such again. His hand grazed her injured cheek tenderly for a moment. “Let us walk then,” he said, dropping his hands from her finally. His body seemed so heavy, and his heart was so fallen that he could no longer look at her as they left their place. “I shall at least take you to work,” he muttered sadly.
Her work. He thought on it for a moment. They had spent such a fleeting time together, and he had both destroyed her reputation, had her demoted from her position, lost her the friendships and trust that she had gained over her ten years working at the palace. Even in his heart he couldn’t help but feel that it was somehow his fault that her father had lost his own job. He had placed the sweetest woman that he had ever known right in the way of harm and turmoil, and she would no longer allow him even to offer her comfort and assurance. She no longer loves me. I have left her alone. The man’s thoughts continued their downward spiral as he began to walk.
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Gilwen
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There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
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Post by Gilwen on Apr 11, 2009 16:11:00 GMT -5
“Let us walk then, I shall at least take you to work."
His tender touch was recoiled, and Gilwen's hands were released and the man began to move off without her. Her heart hit the stones of the street, and she slowly turned to gaze after him, her jaw dropping open slightly and her eyes becoming even more dull, shadowed by an immense sadness.
He was a good few paces in front of her now, and she finally managed to convince her body to begin to move as well. With such a weight on her heart, it seemed the rest of her felt of stone, too. Faeldor was wrapped up in his own thoughts, and as Gilwen followed behind him she stayed silent as well.
The silence was tearing her apart. Even this morning, he had spoken of love. This...well, this seemed far from what Gilwen knew love to look like. His eyes were downcast, he did not even hold her hand. Her eyes stung slightly more, and finally the young woman planted her feet and watched as he moved on a bit more. "Do I disgust you?" She asked breathlessly. Her hands were shaking again, but her eyes were hard, and her cheeks dry.
"You do not look at me, you do not touch me." She presented her points, though the words were a tad harsh. "If you wish to be done with me, tell me. I will not be lead around like a dog!" The realization that Faeldor could have stood before her just minutes before and speak of love to her, and then simply turn away like that made Gilwen feel as if she were dying.
She set her jaw tightly, and straightened her shoulders to seem more strong than she felt. Though the display did not last long, and she sighed, stepping forward to him once more until she was next to him and raised her eyes to his. "Faeldor, I would not trouble you to walk me to work; your heart is not in it." She paused. She was surprised, really, that she was so talkative today. It seemed her nerves and feelings could not let her stay silent this time. And with such feelings, came also a rising boldness.
"I will ask that if you do wish me gone, you send me off---" she faltered here, unsure if her boldness was placed properly or not. Still, what more harm could come of it if he was already disgusted? She finally finished so softly it was almost a whisper, "With one last kiss."
No, there was no harm in demanding such a thing. Not when she was already wasted in reputation, and felt so dead. If he refused, she would go on with her life knowing that nothing could possibly feel worse. If he granted it to her, for that brief moment perhaps she would feel something again before he did leave her in utter darkness.
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Apr 11, 2009 18:33:37 GMT -5
Faeldor walked, perhaps a bit too quickly for Gilwen, paying no heed to the distance that he had gone ahead of her. He only wished that the woman would tell him her thoughts! To leave him with nothing more than stating that they should not even stand together. She had not cared about his apology, she had said nothing in response to him pouring his heart out to her. "Do I disgust you?" He gasped slightly, confused as to why she would say such a thing to him. She knew that he loved her, he had just told her so. He had just told her how beautiful she was.
"You do not look at me, you do not touch me. If you wish to be done with me, tell me. I will not be lead around like a dog!" The man began to slow his pace. That is not what he wished her to think! Had he not said that he loved her? Why would she think that he wished to be done with her. Why would she wish for his touch if she did not love him?
She continued though, before he had a chance to compose her thoughts, and he left her with more troubling words. "Faeldor, I would not trouble you to walk me to work; your heart is not in it."
The man stopped walking finally. Turning to look at Gilwen once again. Did she or did she not wish for him to go? She was not done speaking yet though, it seemed. So many words at once! And she was not giving him a chance to respond while she continued to stream off things that were not true. His heart was certainly Gilwen’s, though at the moment it felt as if she had kicked it across the cobbled stone by simply suggesting that he thought those things of her.
"I will ask that if you do wish me gone, you send me off---With one last kiss."
“My heart is in your hands, Gilwen,” he said softly. “Your little hands…” he added quietly, grasping one of them for a moment. Then he slipped his arm about the woman’s waist, and tilted her chin upward to kiss her gently, retreating slowly afterward. “But if that is the kiss I would leave you with, know that I will greet you again with another.” He leaned once more to kiss her again, and though it started just as gentle, he parted her lips, and it was ever more passionate than any kiss he had ever given her. He did not release her sweet lips until he was quite breathless and had to gasp for air.
“If you do not love me anymore, do just tell me, Gilwen, for I cannot read your face,” he said finally as he pulled away, though stayed only inches from her face, breathing heavily, and he wrapped his other arm about her. “I do not wish to send you off. I do not wish you to leave me. You are right, my heart is not in walking you to work. That is not where I will be taking you today. If you love me, you will be by my side, because I love you. Please just speak to me in words now, sweet Gilwen, my mind is too muddled to try and read your thoughts.”
The man was certain that she would deny him, and so his arms tightened about her all the more, and he held her against him, knowing that it would indeed be only moments before they parted. His chest pained tremendously from the pressure against his injury, yet he did not care for the pain in his heart was something worse than he had ever felt before, and perhaps if he held her against it, it would lessen with time.
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Gilwen
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There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
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Post by Gilwen on Apr 11, 2009 19:47:51 GMT -5
“My heart is in your hands, Gilwen, your little hands..."
Gilwen's heart floundered for a moment. What was he trying to do to her? How could he think that she held his heart if he had just walked away from her in such a way? He grasped one of her hands, and the woman looked down at his hand, and then his arm as it wrapped about her, but her chin was lifted to look up at him once more, and he brushed her lips with his own in a way that made her heart ache, and her pulse quicken. So he loved her, and wanted to send her on her way?
“But if that is the kiss I would leave you with, know that I will greet you again with another.”
Her mind began to reel once more. Was he, or was he not asking her to leave? His lips were back against hers, and her heart began to hammer, and her skin certainly felt hot under his touch. The passion that he showed her there, in those moments their lips locked together was enough to make Gilwen's knees buckle. Perhaps his arms around her had been the only thing to keep her standing at all. He pulled away, leaving her gasping for breath in the same manner he was, his face a mere inches away from hers.
“If you do not love me anymore, do just tell me, Gilwen, for I cannot read your face." Not love him anymore? Her brow furrowed in confusion. Had he thought her to hate him? He was still breathing heavily, but he continued to speak to her, and the words were enough to break her heart. "Please just speak to me in words now, sweet Gilwen, my mind is too muddled to try and read your thoughts.”
There was nothing that would have pleased her more than to tell him that she would not leave his side for the whole day. To simply be with her Faeldor, in the stables and not deal with the horrible rumors, and hatred from her fellow servants. But to relinquish the entire day would mean that she would lose her day's wages---and now her entire family counted on them.
He pulled her against his chest, arms wrapped tightly about her as he seemed to hold her so fervently. As if he would lose her upon her release. She immediately wrapped her arms about him as well, still unaware of his bruised body, and held him, her head lightly laying against him. "Then I shall use words." She looked up to him, and released him with one hand to touch his cheek. "How could you think that I do not love you?" She seemed hurt, perhaps, at such a suggestion. "I could never love another, Faeldor." She smiled at him slightly, dropping her hand back to work its way about his waist once more, and she leaned her head against him a second time. She began to speak once more, her voice low and thick with sorrow. "But I cannot simply skip work, my Papa..." she choked back a sob. "I must provide for them now; and he is ever so disappointed in me already."
She wished to tell him that her father was so angry. That he had lost his job; that the rumors had caused her to lose pay, and increase her hours. Gilwen was, after all, completely unaware that he already knew some of those things. Though she stopped herself, thinking back to the last sober words he had spoken to her those four days ago: "Must we always start in such a dour manner?”
It halted her tongue, and she simply tightened her hold upon him. She could not let him think of her that way anymore. She could not let him leave.
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Faeldor
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Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
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Post by Faeldor on Apr 11, 2009 21:05:20 GMT -5
"I could never love another, Faeldor." It seemed that the words gave him back his breath, and a sense of relief filled him. The man kissed Gilwen’s forehead as they stood together, and muttered against her, “We must learn how to communicate properly, my love.” As she continued to speak, he kissed her fervently upon the forehead, and atop her hair, and when she brought her hand to his cheek, he caught her fingertips against his lips as well.
“But I cannot simply skip work, my Papa... I must provide for them now; and he is ever so disappointed in me already." Faeldor’s spirits that had been beginning to regain themselves, fell once more, as he remembered the words that both Durion and Miriel had shared with him last night,of Gilwen’s family situation.
“I know, sweet one, I know you must provide,” Faeldor said, feeling within that she would soon cry. He had come well to know the feeling of the woman’s silent sobs already. He held her warmly, and again kissed her forehead before speaking more. “Miriel has made me well aware of your situation at work, and one of the Calvary has told me of your Papa’s loss. And I am tremendously sorry for both. Everything has spurred wrongly from our sweet embrace in the servant’s quarters.”
He sighed, continuing, “But please, let me have today with you. I know you cannot afford it. But Gilwen, a day of my wages are worth two weeks of yours. Your father has a Soldier’s pride, and I know would not let me assist him in such a way, but please, let me help you. I could not bear to see your family suffer over this. I cannot bear to see you suffer.” He pressed his lips again to her hair, then continued before she had time to protest.
“Beautiful, your eyes are so tired, and you feel so weak. My arms know that you are thinner. I know you have not rested well, I can tell. And your hands are overworked. I cannot stand to see you so exhausted, you need a day of rest. I will make up your wages for you.” Faeldor’s words were a statement, and not a question. He would have Gilwen with him today; she would not leave his side, and she would again have a chance for joy and rest. However, with all the trouble she was getting for her rumors of harlotry, he did not wish her to think that he was paying her for her time. He did not know how else to put it though. “I can provide for you… You must let me.”
She had tightened her grip upon his chest, and sharp pains tensed his injured muscles. She was sure to feel the spasm, and he quickly dropped his arms to hers and pulled her little body away from him slightly. Though, he knew he should say something so that the woman would not think him wishing to be apart from her. They had already had enough miscommunication. “I’ve just a little pain on my chest… a horse kick,” he muttered aside. “Lay your head here…” he said, pulling her back to him slowly, and with his hand, guiding her to lean against his left side instead of the right, and sliding her arms downward so that they were low about his waist and not squeezing his chest.
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Gilwen
Man
servant
There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 593
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Post by Gilwen on Apr 11, 2009 21:41:17 GMT -5
“We must learn how to communicate properly, my love.” Gilwen felt a great weight off of her chest. My love. Well, that was beginning their communication off quite nicely. Not to mention the ample kisses that he showered her with. It seemed to be a great comfort and instantly began to mend her mood. Though, it seemed that Faeldor had once more dropped in spirits; over her family situation, no less.
He had already known of her father's plight, then. And her own work change. From Miriel. She thought flatly. Clearly, she had been gloating. This entire situation probably brought her joy. And still, Faeldor wished her to join him for the day? She was about to inquire about it, when Faeldor spoke finally on her appearance. Of course he would have noticed; Gilwen was not sure precisely why she had thought him to overlook it until now.
"I cannot stand to see you so exhausted, you need a day of rest. I will make up your wages for you.” Her eyes widened, partly because she had not realized how much Faeldor earned per day, and half because it seemed as if he were buying her---though not for the services harlotry entailed. No, her Faeldor was ever so much more the genlteman; wanting simply to pay for her to rest. She would not deny she was exhausted. But she could not inconvenience his family that way! She took a breath to protest for the sheer dignity of her own family, but he silenced her with more words. “I can provide for you… You must let me.”
The air she had trapped in her lungs finally was exhaled, and not in the form of a protest. Perhaps it was her body telling her she needed the time off, after all, half-dead servants could not care for their family properly. Or, more likely, it was the prospect of spending the entire day with Faeldor to make up for the past few days. Did she not deserve such a treat for herself?
She did not know what to say, though, to accept his offer. "Thank you," she murmured. It would do no use to fight him; he cared for her too much to let her waste away, and she would surely do just that if she served in the palace for fourteen hours again.
He flinched, as her arms tightened upon him, and immediately she loosed her grip and frowned. He tenderly pried her away from him, and explained, repositioning her against him in a place it would not hurt him. "A horse kick!? Faeldor!" Gilwen pulled her head back and looked at him, eyes concerned, and her stomach suddenly twisted in a knot. She had struck him, with her own fist, that night at the tavern. "When did that happen?" She asked quickly. Oh, if it happened before she had struck him, she would feel ever so guilty!
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Faeldor
Man
Head Stablemaster
Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?[Mo0:1]
Posts: 556
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Post by Faeldor on Apr 11, 2009 22:33:17 GMT -5
Faeldor was relieved; the woman had done nothing but give her thanks as he told her that he would pay her wages for the day. Surely it would not be so easy for him to do such next time, but he thought that he could often try again in the future. In truth, Faeldor’s family was in fine estate; they were not lacking money, nor did it seem that they would ever. The man could have easily provided for Gilwen’s family whenever they needed such, and he thought that someday he would, but at least she had agreed to this one day now.
"A horse kick!? Faeldor! When did that happen?" The man should have known that saying such would elicit a response from the woman. But, he had to tell her. If he were to avoid speaking on it, and she found out, he was certain she would have been quite devastated.
He sighed, not wishing to tell her when precisely, but he would not lie to her, and she would not believe him if he lied anyway. “It happened a few days ago…” he started, but she was looking at him so expectantly that he had to continue. “A little while before the last time you came to visit me in the stables. It was a rough day,” he said a bit grimly. Those were the words that Gilwen had used herself, when she had brought him home that evening. Or at least that was what Beleth had told him, as he didn’t remember at thing.
“Those new horses we got in that morning. We were quite short staffed and one became riled while one of the boys was handling him. Better that he kicked me in the chest, than my stable lads in the head.” It was the very truth, and he doubted that Gilwen would feel better by it, but at least. “The black one, that I was seeing to when you came in. He was a pretty thing, and a good horse it seemed, until we put him in that stall. Something he disliked about it, it seems, for we tried him in another and he was quite fine.”
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Gilwen
Man
servant
There are times when silence has the loudest voice.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 593
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Post by Gilwen on Apr 11, 2009 22:59:47 GMT -5
Gilwen's face instantly displayed alarm, and then slowly a deep veil of remorse covered her. "The day...oh, Faeldor! I am so sorry!" She muttered, her brow furrowed all the more and she frowned heavily. So the injury had been there the night she had hit him. Oh, she felt so terrible!
She tried to recall how much force she had used, though for the life of her she could not recall. She had been so panicky for those few moments, and Faeldor had been so out of it----it was quite possible it was harder than she would have struck otherwise. But would she have been able to strike him that hard?
"How horribly does it hurt?" She asked, a motherly tone lacing its way into her worry. She could only imagine it was awful, horses were such powerful creatures. "You did not crack any ribs, did you?" Her brown eyes stared at his chest, as if she could see through the fabric to the damage done. She lifted a hand, and tenderly grabbed his arm, squeezing him ever so lightly.
"I had no idea, I cannot believe I struck you like that!" She groaned softly, pouting all the stronger. She wished now she could have taken it back. The look in his eyes when he had pulled away had been pain. Still, if she had not been so forceful, Faeldor might not have been able to stop himself, and neither of them would have liked that at all.
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