Chapter 2: Meeting & Marriage Proposals
Serena and her people were all decorating the hall for their guest. It was all looking smart and rich and she smiled at the work her people had done for her. She had earned their trust years ago as a child.
Andrew walked in and Serena turned and watched him stroll towards her.
"Serena, this looks great," he smiled as he looked around the hall.
"Thanks but it was all the peoples work not mine. Just asking them to where to put them," she too looked around.
Andrew turned back to Serena and Serena turned back to him. He looked at her with compassion.
"They are here," he said.
Serena cringed.
"Where are they?" she asked softly.
"They are unloading their horses and that. I will go and meet them and let Peter go home to his wife..,"
"Ok," she said and turned back to asking the people to be seated and they all waited. Serena sat on her Lairds chair and wait silently and nervously.
Sir Seiya was looking around the village. It was so clean and neat. The houses looked perfect and calm. Smoke was coming out of the chimneys and set a friendly and loving atmosphere.
He would love it here.
Sir Diamond looked all round too. He too looked at the village and the houses with flowers everywhere. He cringed. He though it too womanly.
But if he was to marry this woman then he will make sure his men made changes.
Sir Darien also had a look of curiosity in his hard gazed. It was all nice and neat. He felt the friendly atmosphere and he liked it. In his land and village it was more Gothic and such. But this was more calm and free, yet his was not and something else.
They all turned the gaze to a man who was walking towards them all calmly. They noticed his sword on his side attached to his belt. They all had their swords to be safe and all.
"Greetings my friends, may I welcome you to our home. I am Sir Andrew McAdam's, and you are?" he asked.
They all took in their appearance and bowed.
"I am Sir Diamond Lupinruss, This is Sir Seiya Macmillan and this is Sir Darien MacSheilds."
"Well Welcome gentlemen, if you please follow me, we shall break bread and feast for you are the first visitors of here since her Lady came here'', he turned and walked towards the great hall and they all followed with Sir Diamond in front and Sir Seiya following him and lastly Sir Darien last.
As they all reached the great hall the three men saw everyone from the village had been seated and were all talking friendly. Then their eyes meet with the women that sat on The Lairds chair.
They all were shocked that she looked very young, like a child for she looked small. They were captured by her beauty and innocence. Her blue eyes meet their astonished gaze and smiled at the shockness they be strolled.
In the hall everyone hushed and looked at the three men that were in the middle of the hall and looking at the Lady Serena.
"Gentlemen, it's a pleasure to meet my neighbors. I am Lady Serena McAdam's," she spoken softly and with much gentleness.
Sir Diamond smirked widely.
He stepped forward and bowed.
"It's a pleasure to meet you My Lady. I am Sir Diamond Lupinruss…," he was about to introduce the other two but Sir Seiya moved quickly and smirked.
"It's a pleasure to meet you My Lady, I am Sir Seiya Macmillan," he bowed.
"And I am Sir Darien MacSheilds," he bowed.
Serena took them in and found she was attracted to all 3 men and she smiled at the introductions.
"Please be seated Sirs," she said.
They went and moved to seat near her. Andrew quickly sat next to Serena on her left. Diamond sat on her right, Seiya sat next to him and Darien sat next to him.
"Let us feast," Serena said and everyone all around her ducked in.
"So My lady, what is your age?" Sir Diamond asked seductively. Serena looked towards I'm and smiled.
"I am One in twenty."
"And do you have a betrothed, by any chance," Seiya asked.
"No there is no one, my sirs," she said as she sipped her drink.
"A pretty thing like you. I am shocked that you are not already lying in the marriage bed," Diamond said smoothly.
Andrew gasped and coughed. Serena felt like laughing out loud but kept it down.
"You flatter me Sir."
"Oh I speak but truth," Diamond said giving her a best smile.
"Are you all lying in the marriage bed?" she asked politely.
"No we are free and not tied down," Seiya said.
"I see, well hopefully you meet a woman you love and breed well, my neighbors," she said and dug in the meat.
They all ate their food and most of the people bid their Lady goodnight.
Everyone was left except Serena guards, Andrew and the three mysterious men.
"So what reason is it that you came to see me by?" Serena asked getting down to business.
"Well my Lady, you are unwed and have land. A small thing like you needs a mans hand to rule these lands in case of war. Now me and my fellow men here have a treaty and as such. But with you, we see no reason for you to wed. That is why we are here to see you be wed," Diamond explained and Serena listened to him.
"You are all here to help me search for a husband. I think that kind and all but I think that I am capable to search for a husband on me own," Serena carefully explained to the gentlemen.
"Nonsense. You will wed us," Diamond said arrogantly.
Serena was shocked of most but was expecting it.
"Wed you all? I think the church will mostly feel uncomfortable and disagree with that Sir Diamond," she said casually.
She heard Andrew laugh behind his hand and a grunt from the end of the table where Sir Darien sat.
"No my Lady, you will choose one on us," Diamond said angrily at the situation. She was teasing and he hated it.
"I do not wish to be wed any time soon. Has it occurred to you that I might want to be a nun?" She asked challengingly to Diamond.
"Nonsense, a young beautiful woman dreams to have a husband and be breed. You will pick one on us," Diamond said tiredly.
"You can not force this on me gentlemen," Serena anger came overflowing at this.
The three men stood up moved to the floor in the middle and all turned towards her. She glared at them and they glared at her.
Seiya stepped forward and said calmly.
"A woman who has lands is expected to give a husband you are neither married nor betrothed," he said.
"And why must I do that?" she asked he face red with anger.
"A man can lead, a woman can not. Its a mans job to lead these people. Each clan must be strong for sure when war comes. You may be clever and willing, it is a mans job on which he is trained to," Diamond shouted.
Serena stood up from her chair. She calmly breathed in and out.
"As Laird here not only am I assisted by my brother, Sir Andrew but I have many alleys on my side Sir's. I have all the help I have to stand on my own to rule MY people. James who lives here for many years has told me that you three since became Lairds, we have had no trouble or been threatened," Serena crossed her arms over her chest.
"My Lady…," Seiya began.
"Leave it be Seiya, it is obvious she will not see reason. Look My Lady. You will choose one of us or we will simply choose for you," Diamond spat out like venom.
"All I have done is clearly disagree with you for me having a husband. You Sir are blowing it over the top," she said calmly.
"You have been given this land by a fond man, My Lady. You know we want these lands and you are being too stubborn to may this easy. You are making this harder on your self and we are growing bored. Choose one of us or we choose simply as that."
Serena glared at these men, mostly at the stubborn horrid man, Sir Diamond. She then looked at the other two ho was letting the man take control of this.
"You two, do you agree with this man? You stand together do you? Sir Darien MacSheilds, you have not said a word about this at all. Do you agree with what these men have planned or me and my lands?" she asked and watched him.
Darien watched this woman who was suddenly a pain in the ass and yet very besotted with her.
"I agree My Lady, a husband is stronger then a wife. A man instinct is to protect what he is protecting. A woman needs help with her lands. An unwed Lady needs someone to stand by her. You my Lady need to Stand by someone. These are very fine lands, and we all 3 have eyes for this and make a great alley with all of us for when war might be declared," he said nothing else and bowed
The three men all walked away leaving Serena shocked and tired and angry to most.
"Well I say that went well Sis," Andrew said as his eyes fixed on where the gentlemen left from. Serena was too.
"I say. Arrogant pigs. "Choose one of us or choose for you," What's that about? How dare they even choose for me," she said.
"Well these are the downer lands, it rough her and for a good purpose too," he said tiredly.
"What now?" she asked.
"Well as I am aware. I have a good sense that they all have but one day each to woe you to be their wife. I have to say that they all want you," he said amusingly.
"No," she said simply. Andrew watched her with fixed eyes
"They don't want me, they want my lands. I am just a little extra. They try anything to get these lands and they are going to force me," she said.
She turned to Andrew and smiled.
"I have a plan and its going to be great. If they try and force me out in front of my lands I will simply do something to piss them off. Its war now. I will win this. I will win this without spilling a simply drop blood. I am going to my chambers make sure the guards are watching out for those three. Make sure half the men are up early so that my men can assist me," she said cheerfully.
"What are you up to, you little witch?" he grinned.
"With my herbs and spices all you have to do is guess for I ain't tell you nothing my dear brother," she kissed him on the cheek and went to her chambers.
He watched her with amusement eyes and shook his head.
"Poor blokes don't know what they have done. I feel almost sorry," He laughed and walked to his own chambers before he find the pretty little maid, Rose.