My Sweet Thing
Chapter 03
The Stranger
~~~,,,~~~
After two days, the majority of the company was more than ready to return to their garrison.
Everyone except Gauwyn. He spent more time numbed up and passed out than he did awake and when he was awake, he was restless, in pain, and angry. That bothered Elfhelm to no end.
Elfhelm was torn. As captain, it was his duty to return with his group and leave someone with his brother. However, the one being left behind was his brother. Duty and family at times did not mix. If Gauwyn wasn't so bad off…
"You stay," Mathye was fairly insistent. "I'll explain-"
"I should go and leave you behind. Or Eafa…"
"No." A heavy hand came down on the young captain's shoulder. Hæfern stood tall behind him. "You stay here, I'll talk to Gamhelm. The Marshal," he said with a wink, "and I have been friends for many years. We had Rider-training together. He owes me a favor or two." He lifted his hand. "Chances are, he'll be up here with a fresh detail to have a looksee himself."
"I don't know," Elfhelm shook his head. "The men are my responsibility."
"So is the one laying half-dead in the bed there, Rider!" Hæfern spoke gruffly. "Stay put with him or your mother will have your head if you come home without him. And Achae right behind her!" Elfhelm shook his head in agreement. Hereswið ran a tight tavern and no one crossed her, not even her easygoing husband or any of her children. She'd raised twelve and all of them tiptoed around the woman. He feared her more than he feared his senior captain or his Marshal! Put in that context, Elfhelm quickly agreed to stay behind.
"I'm more afraid of her than I am of Gamhelm, anyway!" Elfhelm whispered with a smile.
"As you should be!"
As his men began to disperse and head out to saddle and saddlebag their horses, Hæfern drew him close. "If it worries you, I outrank you and ordered you to stay behind." Elfhelm nodded in agreement. "However, there is one thing you can do for me while I'm gone."
"Sure. Name it."
Hæfern was mildly amused at the speed in which the young Rider agreed to the unspecified request. "You know Lýðrest is my niece-"
"I'd heard rumors," Elfhelm said with a grin.
"I had planned to be here a few more days; however, with your troubles, I'm cutting my visit short." The older captain leaned forward. "Keep an eye on her. There are a few unsavory Rohirrim that have laid hands on her, wait!" Elfhelm reared up in fury, Hæfern laying a restraining hand on his chest, "Hear me out. She's not been… physically accosted, but it hasn't been for lack of trying."
"Who?"
Hæfern looked around, making sure they had no company. "Hucohun," Elfhelm nodded; he knew the man, at least by now he did, "and his two buddies, Ælle and Eadbald." Elfhelm's normal smile now turned into snarl. "Hucohun has been difficult and is becoming more difficult to deal with."
"Why doesn't her father send her on elsewhere?" Elfhelm hissed. "Somewhere where she'd be safer?"
Hæfern shrugged. "Same reasons we've discussed. She's all her da has left, but if she had gainful employment in a safe haven, I think I could talk him into letting her go. That's part of my reason for going in your stead. I can talk to Gamhelm and his wife Aelwydd. I hope I can appeal to their family instincts to take her in. If I can procure employment for her or if I can get Gamhelm to head this way with me on the return trip, my stubborn brother won't have much choice." Hæfern leaned back, his plan revealed. "Besides, your ma has a soft heart and could use the help in the tavern. You know it, as well as I do." He clapped the young man on the shoulder. "You can do that for me?"
"No problem."
"Don't try anything."
Elfhelm shook his head. "Nah."
"Good." With that, Hæfern turned and strode off, his bootfalls echoing down the hallway.
Not paying attention, Elfhelm felt a hard punch on his arm. He turned to see Lýðrest standing in the now open doorway behind him. It was apparent she'd heard every word. "I don't need a babysitter." She elbowed her way around him. "And I'm not leaving my da!" she spat over her shoulder.
"Oh," Elfhelm smiled and rubbed his abused arm. "I think you do and I think you will." With a grin, he returned to his brother's room to sit with him.
~~~…~~~
For several days, things were quiet. Well, relatively quiet considering the hamlet's normal propensity for noise. Lýðrest was busy, keeping up with the kitchen, the help, and trying to stay out of Hucohun's way, as well as Elfhelm's. That man somehow managed to find her no matter where she went, what she did, how she tried to hide… wasn't he supposed to be busy taking care of his brother? Somehow, he managed to do that as well. Lýðrest was glad for that. The worst thing about dealing with an injured, disabled man was helping him in the toilet. Many women – and most men – talked about that shriveled, dangling thing as if it was the greatest gift Béma ever bestowed upon a walking human being. Sauron's balls, Belle talked about how much her Rider loved her to use her mouth on it. The thought made her gag. If he pissed out of it, how on fekking earth could the damn thing taste good?
But at least Elfhelm seemed to be dealing with that. Gauwyn was slowly healing, too slowly in Lýðrest's opinion, but she felt fairly certain now that he would survive.
On one occasion, she walked by the room and heard sniggering laughter. With a frown that would frighten Morgoth himself, she threw the door open to see Gauwyn propped up in the bed with Elfhelm sitting in a chair next to him, booted feet stretched up beside him. Both had stupid-arsed grins on their faces, obviously talking about one or the other's conquests and Gauwyn was now wheezing in pain from the exertion of his laughter.
"Look, you spleeny clotpoles," she had a finger pointed straight at the two overgrown buffoons. "Settle down and pipe down. If Gauwyn splits his stitches because of your blathering tongue, I'm not so sure I'm going to spend my da's best whiskey getting your brother drunk again so I can restitch him!" With an angry nod, she slammed the door shut.
"Clotpole?" Gauwyn gasped. "What the fek is a clotpole?"
Elfhelm was laughing so hard, his chair tipped backwards and he fell in the floor with a loud thud, causing him to groan and then laugh harder. Almost immediately, the door slammed open again, a vengeful wraith of a Lýðrest standing in the entry like an avenging ghost. "You two are worse than any child that graced this town. I'll not stitch up your head either!" And with the she slammed the door shut.
Both brothers burst into heartfelt laughter, laughter that Lýðrest could hear as she stormed down the hallway.
"Elfhelm?" Gauwyn rasped. "What is it we were laughing at to begin with?"
"I dunno!" The young Rider was rolling over, and trying to find his footing. If the spitfire came back, he didn't want to be at her mercy in the floorboards.
Lýðrest fumed down the hall. Those two would be the death of her! She couldn't wait until the brother was good and well and they would leave and return to whatever garrison or fancy town they came from. She knew Gauwyn had a lady down in the Eastenmet, but Elfhelm… she didn't know.
Not that it mattered. Riders rode in, Riders rode out. None of them stayed and she knew too many bar maids and women here left with broken hearts and babes with no das to count. So caught up in her furious musings, Lýðrest wasn't paying any attention when she came around a corner in front of the stairwell and ran headfirst into Hucohun.
"Well, hello beautiful!" Hucohun reached out to grab her as if to steady her, but Lýðrest jumped back out of his reach. "Now is that any way to greet the man you love?"
Lýðrest's jaw dropped. "The man I love? You pignut!" She drew up full. "I'd rather marry Captain Elfhelm, you tottering pumpion!"
Hucohun stood up straight, his posture showing anger, but a look of confusion on his face. "Tottering… pumpion?" It was apparent her insult was not fully understood. Neither were aware of the several barmaids and a few young kitchen boys who were now staring at them. Her father set down the mug he was drying and was starting to come around from the back of the bar.
"Did someone mention my name?" Lýðrest jumped, only to land into the outstretched arms of Elfhelm. He was grinning like an idiot. Before Lýðrest could extradite herself from the Rider's embrace, he kissed her brashly on the mouth, his tongue brazenly stealing her breath. "I wasn't aware we had discussed marriage so soon, my dear!" He turned her loose with a grin.
"Why… why…" Her sputtering only made Elfhelm grin brighter.
"Where were you heading, my love?"
"The kitchen, but-"
"Go on with you then," Elfhelm nodded, dismissing her. "I'll be along shortly. Gauwyn needs some water and something a little heavier to eat than broth." He pushed her gently in the direction of kitchen, his grin becoming wider as she turned with a huff and stormed off, muttering dark curses about men in general.
"You should not interfere with things that do not concern you, Captain," Hucohun gritted between his teeth, his voice an oily hiss.
Elfhelm turned his full smirk on the town bully. "You should not attempt to take what is not yours." Before the man could stop him, the normally affable Rider stepped up, grabbing the man by the neck of his tunic. "Her uncle charged me with keeping an eye on her until he returned. I plan on doing such." He turned the man loose, shoving him backwards into the stair railing in the process. He inspected his palm where he had laid hands on the man. With a disgusted scowl, he grabbed a rag lying on a nearby table, wiping the palms. "A bath and cleaner clothes might rein in some desperate woman, but I don't think Lýðrest is all that… anxious about obtaining a man." With that, he threw the rag down and started to walk around him. As he stepped to his shoulder, he stopped. "If you ever lay another hand on her again, I will make you scream like a Dunlending, do you understand?" Green eyes turned dark in anger. "Good." Elfhelm obviously didn't want a spoken answer. He clapped him on the shoulder hard, causing Hucohun lurch sideways, the railing of the stairs stopping his fall. "I'm glad we had this conversation." And with that, he disappeared into the dark hallway behind the stairs, obviously following the tavern owner's daughter into the kitchen.
Hucohun grabbed the bottom of his tunic, straightening it and turning only to run headlong into Hamon. Lýðrest's father was furious, his face a beet red.
"If you ever accost my daughter again, you maggot," obviously Hæfern wasn't the only one with a vile vocabulary. Lýðrest learned her curses and putdowns honestly, "Captain Elfhelm will have to wait his turn at making you scream like a Dunlending, if you still breathe. Do I make myself clear?"
Hucohun snarled and using his shoulder to shove Hamon hard, walked around him and stormed from the tavern.
Elfhelm was inwardly sniggering over that rather improper but enjoyable kiss with Lýðrest and outwardly smoldering at Hucohun's audacity to waylay the girl in front of everyone. Whistling, he walked into the kitchen, pushing at the swinging doors.
"ACK!" Just in time, both hands went up, protecting his face from the brunt of a cruel blow.
Lýðrest was swinging an iron skillet and it pounded the captain in the forearms. Gasps from the women and several boys in the kitchen could be heard loudly and Lýðrest staggered backwards, dropping the heavy cooking utensil. "Béma!" She stepped forward, her intent to inspect the possible damage. "Are you a-right?"
A furious visage emerged from behind the captain's lowering arms. Quickly, he inspected where she struck him, moving them to ensure there were no broken bones or tendons. Normally sapphire blue eyes darkened to storm grey as the man bore down on her, backing her into a wall. "Why?"
"I thought you were Hucohun!"
"Bullshite!" This was a side of the man she hadn't seen before and truth be told, it terrified her. "You knew I was following!" As quickly as the anger built, it dissipated. He backed up, giving her room and air. "Damn woman, you're dangerous with that thing!" He flicked her nose with his finger. "Remind me to be more careful around corners and doors."
He then turned to the cook, turning the full brunt of his charm on the woman. "Gauwyn needs something a bit hardier than broth. Any chance we can put just a little bit," he held his thumb and forefinger a breadth apart, "of meat in some? Or some bread?" The woman nodded in a daze, still unsure what all she had seen and reaching blindly beside her for a trencher, began to dip. As soon as the trencher was filled and given to Elfhelm, he thanked the cook graciously and turned to see Lýðrest still standing where he pinned her, mouth agape.
"Would you really rather marry me?" She nodded dumbly. If anything the Rider's smile grew larger. "I'll remember that." Thinking twice before leaving, he leaned forward. "Watch out for Hucohun. Please." With that, he left through the swinging doors, leaving the kitchen and its inhabitants dumb-founded.
~~~…~~~
It was late and the whispering caught her unawares, incomprehensible hissing on the edge of her hearing. Exhaustion had invaded every bit of her body; everything hurt, everything worn out. Between her normal duties and chores and then the added responsibility of injured Riders, five days of caring for Gauwyn and putting up with his insufferable brother Elfhelm, every nerve in Lýðrest's body was stretched taut and ready to snap.
She was of a mind to ignore the noise, but her womanly curiosity got the better of her and she slid under the stairwell, the better to her and the less to be seen.
"You're sure it's taken care of?" Hucohun was like a snake.
"Aye," Ælle hissed loudly. "Her latch has been loosened. It will give with no trouble whatsoever."
"And if it does," Eadbald continued, "I've undone her window." He cackled drunkenly. "The sweet Lýðrest is yours tonight, Hucohun!"
Lýðrest put both hands to her mouth to keep her outraged gasp from being heard.
"If she's worth anything, you two can have a go with her when I'm done. At least we don't have to worry about that damned captain!" Hucohun snickered. "He had his fair share of ale tonight. He'll sleep like a baby!" Their conspiring continued, but the threesome moved away, out of Lýðrest's hearing. Quickly, on her toes, she made her way to her room. Checking closely with her lamp, she looked at her drop bar. Sure enough, the braces had been loosened, only holding on enough to anchor them barely to the door. One shove or firm shoulder would be all that was needed to break the wood away.
Hearing footsteps coming up the hall, Lýðrest backed up, not taking the time to check the window. The door would give easily enough and there would be no escape from the bastard. Shutting the door, she quickly continued down the hall, taking the back stairs up to the second floor.
She was hyperventilating by the time she reached the landing. Her mind raced. Alone, she was no match against three men, no matter how well armed she was. Her father had been complaining all day of a migraine and she had given him something several hours ago to help him sleep. No amount of screaming would wake him up and in all honesty, she was rather loath to disturb him! No one else was in the tavern except the two Riders, her father, herself and the three men stalking her this minute.
The stairs on the far end creaked.
Without taking a second thought, she grabbed the closest door, pushing on the handle.
Locked.
Fear gripped her. She could hear someone pushing on her door downstairs. She moved across the hall, praying the door was opened.
It was. With a stifled sob, she flew in, gently shutting it behind her and throwing the door drop. The room was dark and slowly she backed up, fists returned to her mouth, trying to steady her breathing.
Suddenly, there was the sound of sword being pulled from the scabbard. Lýðrest jumped, almost dropping her lamp.
Elfhelm rose from the bed, wide shoulders highlighted in the moonlight. He squinted, obviously seeing Lýðrest in the glow of her lamp. He scowled.
"What in the name of Mordor are you doing in my room, wench?"
tbc