Elsha's Story
Chapter Three: Handfast
When Ler found them, Elsha was still asleep. Alaric moved slowly, trying to find a comfortable position against the stucco wall, Elsha's shoulders in his lap and her head propped against his stomach. Sweat beaded Alaric's forehead- his Gift always took effort out of him. One of his hands rested on her forehead, and the other was twined in her flaming hair. Panting with heat and exhaustion, he turned to his friend. "Help me take her home?"
In the end Ler almost had to carry them both back to the Wandering Bard. Rue, the resident Healer, clucked in concern over Elsha, but pronounced that she would be fine with some rest. With a final effort, Alaric carried her to bed.
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Alaric
I can barely see her sleeping
through my own exhausted eyes
Watch over her I'm keeping
This girl I think I should despise
Is she a woman or a child?
She is nothing in between
She is a fighter, she is mild,
and from everything I've seen-
One look can pierce my armour
if she turns her eyes my way
If I care defend my honour-
and if honour-bound, we lay-
Hold your hand, don't touch her face
try not to steal a kiss
Much as you long for that embrace-
Deny your heart! It has no place!
Amid logic, amid reason
Fold your hands. Pull up a chair
to her bedside. Wait for the season
when she is a ready maiden fair
And until that time, defer.
You are unready for her.
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Idiot. Mynoss, Mithros, and Shakith. You know why you agreed to this in the first place when Ler suggested it- you reckoned on getting a daughter like the first one. Mousy, quiet, unassertive, feminine in every way. And you did want someone like that, admit it, why don't you? Absorbed with housekeeping and children, probably believing you when you told her not to ask what you did for a living. Well, Ler pulled a number on you with Elsha, didn't he, Alaric? A fighter, thief, most likely an assasin- Gods! Healer training and most likely loyal to the point of insanity. After all, it would make sense. She probably grew up with that sort of Rogue propaganda. And all of a sudden getting married makes you terrified.
Because this won't just be a docile wife. Elsha is a threat to you. You could fall in love with her.
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Alaric was asleep in his chair when Elsha woke up. Propping her head up onto rough-woven pilows, she took her time to get her first real look at him. His was the sort of face you could look at for hours and still come away feeling you hadn't seen enough. Not greatly handsome or anything. Just- fascinating. Jet hair, mussed and untidy from the fight. His face had a full, square jaw, and his face was a consistent soft brown like the chocolate occasionally brought in from Galla and Tyra.
He's still an enigma. A person could spend their entire life trying to figure out what drives him. And maybe, Elsha reflected, I will.
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"I think that's settled, then," Ler commented to the bright summer sky, "and I consider the business closed. When do you plan to take her home with you?"
Alaric gazed warily at Elsha's dowry as it was packed into a cedar trunk. With a forcible effort, he made one thought follow the other, out of the depths of his muddled brain. "I think the day after next, if you wouldn't mind shortening the handfasting period at the temple. We will come back next year for the wedding, of course. I just don't trust my Regent for too long, is all."
Ler chuckled. "I know the feeling, my friend."
"How is Elsha taking all this?"
"Oh, fairly well. With typical Elsha spirit."
"I think I should be afraid."
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"Why are you taking this lying down, Elsha? I thought you were going to be a fighter. A queen like Emily. Not just somebody's wife."
Elsha tugged the flap of her saddlebag closed. "You don't understand, Gem."
"No, I don't. You're letting your father rule your life!"
"I'm letting Alaric rule my life. There's a difference."
The K'mir snarled in disgust. "You're just letting a pretty face rule your life. Smart, Elsha. Smart."
Elsha glared at Gem. "What do you want me to do? Run away and make a break for Tortall? With every Rogue between here and Tusaine knowing who I am? I'm getting married to someone decent- a marriage which is going to make me Queen of the largest Rogue netween here and the Roof of the World." She glanced into the stableyard. "The horses are ready. Gem, you're just angry that I'm leaving. Come on, Mist was going to introduce you to the lady thief he knows. And I'll write to you. I still remember enough of my K'mir characters, or I can pay someone to write something in Common. Alaric is going to teach me how to read when I'm older."
Clumsily Gem got off Elsha's bed and hugged her. "Just don't forget your friends in the big city, all right?"
"I promise. Now, let go. They'll ride off without me."
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Goddess, Mithros, bless us here, let these chains be loving bonds...
At long last, Elsha stepped away from the altar. Her head swam, and she had to gasp for air in the stifling chapel. She gulped against the bile that these hot, humid days seemed to bring on. Stopping, Elsha pressed her hot, sweaty forhead against a wonderfully cool granite pillar.
Alaric stopped beside her and raised an eyebrow, saying nothing. Finally he exited the chapel without her. At length, a deacon touched her elbow and gulping, Elsha followed him and exchanged layers of heavy crepe skirts for golden-brown breeches and a linen shirt. Breathing more happily for the change, Elsha left for a side courtyard.
Alaric and her father were almost finished replacing their weapons. A white-clad novice returned Elsha her weapons, and before the young man's astonished gaze she strapped on every boot-, belt- and throwing- knife she owned, and cinched the lacings on her boots and breeches. Alaric and Ler leaned against the wall, having finished themselves.
Her throat constricted suddenly, and the red handfasting band around her forearm seemed all at once too tight. Breathe, she reminded herself.
She looked up to see her father leading a horse. He gave her a leg up. "See you in a year, gel."
She nodded tersely, and tugged her horse around.
Ler put a hand on the neck of Alaric's mount as his friend mounted up. "Don't worry about her. She just needs to settle down some. Give her a good slap and she's rather pliant."
Elsha heard this and shuddered, eager to be at the gate and away. Thanks, father. That's an auspicious start, and no mistake.