Hello, so this is my second fic out and I hope you enjoy it. I really appreciate my reader's opinions, so, Review. Constructive criticism is welcome
The large wall loomed high as two weary travelers made their way toward their destination. As their horses neared the gate, they were able to make out the guards posted along the top, seemingly miniscule amid the massive size of the brick barricade. Both travelers kept their awe hidden. Although they heard many tales of Hadrian's Wall, they had never witnessed the real thing, and they found it a spectacular piece of architecture, and they had seen many fantastic things in their lives.
"Who are you?" one of the guards called from above them. The travelers pulled back their hoods, and looked up at the guard who then gasped, as he had never seen two women as beauteous as these two were. The women on the left, the one with the black hair spoke up. "My name is Brigit, and this is my riding companion and dear friend Etain." She introduced, gesturing at her friend at the appropriate moment.
Brigit wore her wavy black hair down to her shoulder blades in a braid, and had startling green eyes. She was dressed in a pale blue shirt and an ankle length dark blue skirt with tan suede boots covering her feet. Her facial features were delicate, perfectly pairing up with her petite frame. But what she lacked in height, she made up for in confidence and poise which practically radiated from her body.
Etain, on the other hand was tall and slender, and her facial features were exotic. With high cheek bones, and impossibly long and dark lashes rimming her sky blue eyes, she drew attention to herself by even walking into a room. Brigit was confidence, but Etain was pure seduction. She wore her strait golden-brown hair, waving loosely around her face, blowing slightly in the gentle wind. She wore a form fitting cream colored shirt with bell sleeves and a burgundy knee length skirt with black leather boots lacing up to her knees.
"We wish to find some food and shelter within these walls for a while." Brigit continued, feeling slightly uneasy as the guards gaze swept her body. She was accustomed to this treatment, but that didn't mean she enjoyed it. She hated the feeling it gave her.
"May we take a look in your cart?" The guard asked. It was Etain who nodded. "Yes but I request to being present at that time. My pets reside in that cart, and had a hard beginning at life and become afraid at meeting new people when I am not present." The guard nodded and turned around, and reappeared a few moments later as the gate opened.
"Might I ask, if your pets will pose as a threat to anyone?" He asked having a hard time tearing his gaze from the golden haired woman, who dismounted gracefully.
"Only to those who pose as a threat to my safety. I have trained them quite well, if I do say so myself." She pulled back the curtain, making soft, calming noises with her tongue. The guard jumped slightly as a little white puff came shooting out of the carriage, into the arms of Etain.
Upon closer inspection, this "white puff" was a small white puppy dog. "Oh hush Tayo, everything is alright." Brigit came around the side of the carriage and scratched the little dog behind the ears. The guard peered through the curtains still held open by Etain, seeing two animals that he had never seen in the care of a human, let alone getting along with each other: a leopard and a wolf.
They were still pups, but it still confused him. Shooting a questioning look at Etain who seemed to understand it fully. "Their mothers were killed the day they were born, I raised them." Judging from their actions, and the way they cautiously neared the opening made by their "mother", it seemed that he was told the truth.
In addition to the "white puff" dog Tayo, the leopard and the wolf, there were two other dogs. One a large curly brown one, and the other one was so small that the guard nearly didn't notice her at first. But her large brown eyes and golden fur caught his attention at the last second.
Inside the cart, in addition to Etain's pets, there was enough luggage for both these girls, to last them plenty of months. "Might I ask you why you have so much luggage?"
Brigit answered, "We have been on the road for many weeks. In our culture, it is tradition to send out the children at a certain age to 'find themselves'." The guard nodded. "Well I do not see why you cannot enter. My name is Beron, if you need anything. A source of protection, a source of information, a warm bed." He said the last part with a disturbing smile that sent chills up and down Brigit's spine, and made Etain uneasy.
"Thank you, but I don't believe that is necessary, as we do intend to have our own beds, but thank you." Brigit marveled at the way Etain kept her head. Her heart was screaming at her to run away from this man as though the hounds of Hades were on her tail. With those last words, Beron nodded to the men arming the gates, and the girls were allowed through without any further fuss.
The two women made their way to an inn, and after retrieving a good sized room with two separate beds, they turned to the kindly wife of the owner. "Pardon, Lady Morrisa, might we ask you as to what we may do to keep ourselves occupied, until we're ready to retire?" Brigit asked. "Well, at the tavern where I work, there are always plenty of things to do and people to meet, and most of the girls are friendly." Was the reply.
The girls found the Brown haired middle aged woman to be delightful. The two exchanged glances, coming to the conclusion that it might be something worth trying.
"Very well, might you give us directions as to how to make our way there?" Etain inquired. "Oh I was just about to make my way there myself. My shift there starts quite soon, if you would like to accompany me, I would take you there right now." Etain and Brigit smiled at the woman, and followed her outside.
~*~*~
"Oh dear. It's quite crowded tonight." Morrisa stated as they entered the tavern. "Morrisa! Thank the gods!" A pretty red headed woman came hurrying up to them. "Vanora, I apologize for my tardiness, these two young women here wanted me to show them where they could entertain themselves." The woman called Vanora nodded in understanding.
"If you need some extra assistance, I would be happy to offer what I could." Etain spoke up, sensing the woman was frazzled. Brigit nodded in agreement. "Oh thank you, I am Vanora." She held out her hand, which Etain shook and then Brigit.
"I am Etain and this is Brigit, we will help you out in any way you need it." Vanora smiled in relief. "Can you help us serve the customers?" at the girls' nods, she decided that it was time to warn them.
"Just a tip, after a few ales, even the most gentlemanly of gentleman cannot keep their hands to themselves." The girls looked around. "That is quite clearly evident." Etain stated with a small smile. "Thanks for the warning. I think we could handle it." With those words Vanora led them over to the bar, and after a quick tutorial, they were sent on their ways, jugs of ale in hand.
Brigit made her way over to a corner where a couple of men were throwing their daggers at a target. Sidling up with a smile, she scanned the group of men there: One of the men had long curly blond hair, and friendly green eyes; he seemed to be winning, and the other one looked very similar in comparison, only younger with shorter hair.
"Hello gentleman, may I pour you some ale?" The two men looked toward her and their eyes seemed to bulge. "Well of course you may." The older looking one spoke up first. "My name is Gawain and this is my younger brother Gareth. I do not believe I have seen you here before. What is your name, if you don't mind giving it?"
"Well sir Gawain, my name is Brigit." She said pouring ale into his mug, and then moving to Gareth's who still appeared to be dumbstruck. "My Friend and I are here for a while. Have a nice evening." She walked away, moving over to a table with a group of roman soldiers to fill their mugs.
Etain scanned the room, and seeing a table of men playing dice. She decided to make her way over there as they didn't appear too drunk; and by that, they weren't falling out of their chairs. As a bonus, non of them had Wenches in their laps and were in the middle of a game so the possibility of her being pulled onto them was relatively more slim than is she went to a table where the men were only talking.
It wasn't that she didn't enjoy the attentions of men, a trait she inherited from her mother, but she was a little bit cranky. She had spent nearly the entire day in her saddle, and her bum was sore, and she had spent two weeks sleeping on the ground. She got used to it eventually, but that didn't stop her from losing about ninety-six hours of sleep.
She smiled and made her way over there. A man with curly black hair (who was really rather handsome in Etain's personal opinion) seemed to be having a tough time of his game. She made her way up behind him, and snatched the dice directly from his large hands with a coy smile.
"This is for him." She winked at the Romans who were playing against him. She tossed the dice "I'd say a six." She called it. As the dice rolled to a stop they show-cased a perfect six. "Spend your money well." She smiled at him. "Now who would like a refill?"
The men were silent. It wasn't an uncommon reaction, and she went about refilling their mugs, and when she reached the dark haired man, she winked. He grabbed her fore arm, rather gently, she took note. This was a man who knew how to handle a woman. "What is your name?" His deep, sharp voice came out slightly breathlessly. Once again, not uncommon. "I am Etain, and what is yours?"
"Lancelot."
"Ooh, a Knight of the round table. Very impressive. Well Lancelot, enjoy the win a assisted you with." She smiled and gently pulled her arm out of his grasp and made her way around the room.
After filling the mug of the last man at the next table, she turned around strait into the well muscled chest of Lancelot. Smiling coyly, she tilted her chin up to look him in the eye. He was grinning down at her.
"Now we both know you didn't just assist me in that throw. Where did you learn that?" His voice radiated curiosity, and she could see the lust burning in his dark eyes.
"My brother, Dafyd. He has a lot of skill in gambling. He taught me many things." She explained as she maneuvered her way around his body to the next able and began to refill their mugs. "Ah, that explains it. He taught you well."
"Yes he did. Why all these questions?"
"I simply wish to get to know you better."
"Yes…you and the rest of the men in this room. It's nothing I haven't dealt with upon one occasion or another. But if you allow me a chance to rest, maybe tomorrow we can take a walk in the village? Show me around a little?"
Lancelot was thrilled at this. Although he was hoping to have her in his bed this night, it would have to wait. He had heard of these two beautiful women, having arrived that day from a very long journey; and he would be able to take a walk with her in the village tomorrow. Just having such a stunning creature on his arm for a day would be enough for him to die happily.
"Well then, my lady, until tomorrow." He gently took her slender hand in his and kissed her knuckles gazing into her sky blue eyes.
Turning with his trade mark smirk, he left the tavern. A new dawn waited, bringing a new sun and a day with a beautiful woman.
Wow, I must say this is probably the longest chapter I have ever written so far on my entire time writing on this website. Okay so anywhoo, I have a slight dilemma that I need your (my readers) help with: I DON'T KNOW WHO TO PAIR BRIGIT UP WITH (romantically) so please, please help me and tell me who. (Btw: the "G" in Brigit's name is pronounced the same as "great" not like "gelatin")
