Occ: With special thanks to Steph for his insight into villians for me.
Time had passed as it was known to do,it didn't wait for anyone and Jack chuckled softly as he looked at his little boy, Rycroft had hardly grown since spring, but was currently merrily tossing colorful leaves into the air and watching the red,golds and orange leaves spiral back to earth and around him with little happy squeals as they landed on him.
Jack held a praticularly large pumpkin in his hands and glanceing in the direction of his son he chuckled and hunching down rolled it towards him, it had quiet the opposite effect then he had planned,when it rolled right into the distracted little boy almost bowling him over,Jack was soon on the move to rescue his son from the pumpkin, yet for Rycroft's part he squealed instead of moveing from it's way,he ran from it.
Milady appeared at the door and glanced out it hearing her son squealing and her eyes went wide,that was a large pumpkin and it was about to bowl over Rycroft,glanceing about Milady knew she was going to suffer for this but that thing might hurt the small boy, her hands went out in front of her and she whispered words,she picked up and twig and whispering the final word broke it.
Suddenly the pumpkin seemed to stop of its own accord,and exploded the hard shell gone and the goo inside splattered both Jack and the fleeing little boy,like the pumpkin they both stopped and looked at themselves.
Rycroft's wool cloak settled about his form and he wrinkled his nose looking down at the pumpkin all over him,his lip pursed then one puckered out,then he looked to his father and giggled his intended tantrum forgotten in the glee of seeing his father.
Jack stood there his tunic was a mess of pumpkin seed and insides.It was all over his pants and in his hair as well,his eyes yellow gold flared and he turned to look at Mlady his hands going to his hips as he did so.
"Mlady did you have to do that ?" he demanded as he shook off some of the goo onto the ground.Then looked to his giggleing son and a hint of a smile dared to sneak onto his face.
In the door she shrugged and smiled at him playfully,his anger died in that instant,Mlady had ,had enough to be unhappy about lately. She had miscarried that summer and it had depressed her greatly,she still looked under fed to him and tad bit tired,but the smile brightend her features.
"Well it's not every day that pumpkin's attack small boy's" she said "and that one looked praticularly mean" she laughed stepping off the porch into the swirling wind that threatend of a snow early that year.
Spring came up the path holding a pie in her hands."Mlady how goes it ?" she asked softly as she paused to look at Jack and Rycroft and there messy clothes."Jack your -" she didn't get to finish the comment.
"If you say anything Spring I will personally sew your lips shut.." Jack hissed low and scowled at the other woman his eyes were dark and flashed as he spoke.
Rycroft broke the tense moment by going "MMMMMM" as he peeled off some of the pumpkin insides off and stuck them in his mouth chewing on them.
"Rycroft don't ye be eattin those" said Mlady as she scooped up her son into her arms,now shareing the mess that was on her son,on the simple pesant's blouse she wore and long skirt.
"But there good Mommy, here,look want some " he offered her some of the insides that was still clenched in his hand.
"That okay Croft.." she said softly as she looked to Jack and ran a finger over his sleeve. "Calm down you ,your a tad tight strung tonight" she soothed a little."Come into the cottage Spring we were planning the wedding for this summer and Jack doesn't want ta deal with the townsfolks.." she said.
Spring nodded in sympathy with Jack,"I agree,I don't like the half of them"her strawberry hair falling around her as she tossed her head.
Jack's arm went about Mlady's waist and he drew her to his side protectively.His lips brushing her's in a way of appology.There was something in the air, the pumpkin's seemed to strangely enough whisper to him as though trying to tell him something or warn him yet he could not think of what it could be and it disturbed him.
His thoughts lost with the comfort of the fire and the bath that Mlady gave him and Rycroft, The clean clothes and the shared company of there friend Spring.
================== =================================
The riders were surely not gentlemen,they openly wore weapons and were dressed in leather armor and missed matched mail,rowdy to a fault as they sat around the table in the Pub,they stared at the form of the girl that approached them some makeing rather in appropriate comments to her.
The girl seemed to ignore the comment and stared at a large grungy looking man with grease grey streaked hair," You are the leader I take it ?" she demanded softly haughtily,it was not hard to see she was of noble birth,she was the typical noble girl,well dressed manicured and full of herself.
"Aye,I am so " the grungy one said leering at her as he stuffed another chunk of bread in his mouth.Causeing the girl to look revolted,she didn't want to deal with these ruffian's but then again no one else in the town would do anything against Lord Winter's little girl,she was out of sight out of mind to them.
"Well, I want you to kill someone " she said with a nod as she drew herself up, her soft blonde hair fell in ringlets about her face and she reguarded the leader. "Someone who stole something that was rightfully mine from me!"
The leader snorted and looked to her "I'm a messenger,lady not a killer" he said with another leering grin."but depending on what yer will to pay I might consider.."he said and with out blinking she dropped a pouch of coin on the table.
One of the ruffin had been staring at her breasts and neck. he leered and patted his lap. "Come over her , Lass, and we will show you a good time."
Shdup" said the leader looking intently at the young women."This is business" he hissed knocking the other man upside the head with the haunch of meat he had then promptly tearing off another bite.
"So who took something from you ?" he asked as he stared at her keeping his eyes above cleavage level though his eyes wanted to wander."and where are they?"
The other guests were oblivious to all of this. Those who were not insencable could not hear above the crowd in the corner singing to a bar song.A old man pounded out the melody to the drinking song on an out of key piano.
"Well her name is Mlady" began the noble as she frowned as one of the other men shook his head "I ain't never killed no woman and don't want to do that.." he said,a small voiced agreement went up in the group.
Courtney sneered and dropped a second bag onto the table "I don't think I made myself clear the first time this should completely make it apparent, I want her gone" she insisted.
The leader, Kyle had been a bandit and murderer for years before he hooked up with his boys,it was an easy job and he knew the money was good, so it was some woman somewhere he didn't care,women children it didn't matter.
The same man started to protesta again but Kyle spoke up "You got it,well do it" he said with a shrug."Where do I find this dead woman?"
Rubbing his head where it had been hit earlier the ruffin grinned ad remarked. "On the other hand it could be fun...think of what we could do before."
Courtney smirked she was use to getting her way and after her nemisis was gone she'd have her way completely.She rolled her eyes "She's in the woods in a cottage can't miss it,it has a huge pumpkin patch near the back,and call of you mutt here or I'll have him arrested." she said in disdain looking to the ruffian.
"You are plottin' murder and you goin' to arrest me?" asked the ruffin. "What do you r care about how she gets dead.?"
Kyle looked at the ruffin and the noblewomen, "Shut up" he said again and swung a huanch of met at him again.
"Courtney Merdon doesn't lower herself to such trash,what we have is a business venture nothing more." she added as she pulled her hood back over her head and turned to disappear through the door she came in."She took my man and I intend to have him back " she said "and thats all you need know."
The ruffin got up from the table and looked at kyle. "We have her gold. let's off her."he said annoyed at being put down so easily by a woman.His hand was on the battleaxe at his feet.
"No." said Kyle.
"Killing a noblewomen would raise a hue and cry especially near the tavern." he had killed enough people to know this and he for reasons he couldn't explain mildly respected the woman for going after what she wanted.
The ruffin shook his head and sat down. "we should kill her. She is going to turn us in anyway."he sulked.
"Somehow I don't think so " mused Kyle as he watched the noblewoman depart and disappear into the night as sneaky as any thief.
Courtney looked up it would be a full moon by the end of the week and she would be able to celebrate the harvest with Jack like she was suppose to, the voice had told her so and she believed in them if anything they would not dare lie to her.
Kyle looked to his group,"Get a good rest we leave in the morning." he barked as he stood and headed to the bar to pay for his food and his room for the night,his men were on there own,and they knew it.
He had business to do tomarrow.
===================== ==========================
Jack stirred restless in his slumber and opened his eyes to look up at the ceiling,he had been drifting back and forth into sleep for hours.
Winter was asleep in his arms her snowy hair strewn across his chest and the pillows,her form was bare in the moonlight save the warm blanket tossed over them both,she seemed to be able to rest,or prehaps she was just exsausted.
The window was open and an errie sound was coming from the pumpkin patch again calling to him.Jack look down at the woman in his arms and decided that she was more important then some half imagined whispers.
Jack pulled Mlady into his arms closer and she let out a soft little sound and snuggled the top of her head beneath his chin defiant of the movement.
"shh sorry love" he whispered and she settled down,peaceful again though she did make sad little noises in her sleep that he soothed by lightly strokeing her back and shoulders,she had done that alot after she lost there second child.
When Jack finally was gifted with slumber his dreams were jumbled,pumpkins,screaming and death none of it made sense to his logical mind but it chilled his soul.
It was then that he was awaken by Mlady who was holding the sheet up to her chest stareing down at him rather wide eyed.
"Whats wrong?" he asked as he sat up concerned for her.
"You were crying in your sleep.." she remarked her eyes looked haunted as she said the words softly." I had dreamed you were crying."
"It was probly a nightmare." Jack said softly his tone had gotten progressively whispery as he spoke."It could have been anything" he murmured running his fingers through his loves snowy hair.
"I will be fine, but you,you look absolutely haunted would it help to speak on it?" he asked her.The silken white locks twirling around his fingers as he talked.
"No,it was just jumbled dreams for me" Mlady said softly as she fought the fear in her stomach and offered a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Your sure?"he pressed his own dreams he didn't recall.
Mlady opened her mouth to say something,but it was drown out by the sounds of Rycroft calling sleepily for a cup of water from his room across from there's.
"Hold on son,I will be right there" Jack called as he got up looking to Mlady "You go back to sleep little girl,I will be right back " he said kissing her lightly as he pulled on a long tunic and went to get his son a cup of water.
Again as he looked out the window at his pumpkin patch,Jack felt something again a kinship but how was that? He shrugged again and silently wished his pumpkin's a good eve.
The pumpkins vines swayed in the wind as though sadly.There secrets wouldn't be heard and couldn't be understood until it was too late, so they lay bathed in moonlight in silent lamenant.
Time had passed as it was known to do,it didn't wait for anyone and Jack chuckled softly as he looked at his little boy, Rycroft had hardly grown since spring, but was currently merrily tossing colorful leaves into the air and watching the red,golds and orange leaves spiral back to earth and around him with little happy squeals as they landed on him.
Jack held a praticularly large pumpkin in his hands and glanceing in the direction of his son he chuckled and hunching down rolled it towards him, it had quiet the opposite effect then he had planned,when it rolled right into the distracted little boy almost bowling him over,Jack was soon on the move to rescue his son from the pumpkin, yet for Rycroft's part he squealed instead of moveing from it's way,he ran from it.
Milady appeared at the door and glanced out it hearing her son squealing and her eyes went wide,that was a large pumpkin and it was about to bowl over Rycroft,glanceing about Milady knew she was going to suffer for this but that thing might hurt the small boy, her hands went out in front of her and she whispered words,she picked up and twig and whispering the final word broke it.
Suddenly the pumpkin seemed to stop of its own accord,and exploded the hard shell gone and the goo inside splattered both Jack and the fleeing little boy,like the pumpkin they both stopped and looked at themselves.
Rycroft's wool cloak settled about his form and he wrinkled his nose looking down at the pumpkin all over him,his lip pursed then one puckered out,then he looked to his father and giggled his intended tantrum forgotten in the glee of seeing his father.
Jack stood there his tunic was a mess of pumpkin seed and insides.It was all over his pants and in his hair as well,his eyes yellow gold flared and he turned to look at Mlady his hands going to his hips as he did so.
"Mlady did you have to do that ?" he demanded as he shook off some of the goo onto the ground.Then looked to his giggleing son and a hint of a smile dared to sneak onto his face.
In the door she shrugged and smiled at him playfully,his anger died in that instant,Mlady had ,had enough to be unhappy about lately. She had miscarried that summer and it had depressed her greatly,she still looked under fed to him and tad bit tired,but the smile brightend her features.
"Well it's not every day that pumpkin's attack small boy's" she said "and that one looked praticularly mean" she laughed stepping off the porch into the swirling wind that threatend of a snow early that year.
Spring came up the path holding a pie in her hands."Mlady how goes it ?" she asked softly as she paused to look at Jack and Rycroft and there messy clothes."Jack your -" she didn't get to finish the comment.
"If you say anything Spring I will personally sew your lips shut.." Jack hissed low and scowled at the other woman his eyes were dark and flashed as he spoke.
Rycroft broke the tense moment by going "MMMMMM" as he peeled off some of the pumpkin insides off and stuck them in his mouth chewing on them.
"Rycroft don't ye be eattin those" said Mlady as she scooped up her son into her arms,now shareing the mess that was on her son,on the simple pesant's blouse she wore and long skirt.
"But there good Mommy, here,look want some " he offered her some of the insides that was still clenched in his hand.
"That okay Croft.." she said softly as she looked to Jack and ran a finger over his sleeve. "Calm down you ,your a tad tight strung tonight" she soothed a little."Come into the cottage Spring we were planning the wedding for this summer and Jack doesn't want ta deal with the townsfolks.." she said.
Spring nodded in sympathy with Jack,"I agree,I don't like the half of them"her strawberry hair falling around her as she tossed her head.
Jack's arm went about Mlady's waist and he drew her to his side protectively.His lips brushing her's in a way of appology.There was something in the air, the pumpkin's seemed to strangely enough whisper to him as though trying to tell him something or warn him yet he could not think of what it could be and it disturbed him.
His thoughts lost with the comfort of the fire and the bath that Mlady gave him and Rycroft, The clean clothes and the shared company of there friend Spring.
================== =================================
The riders were surely not gentlemen,they openly wore weapons and were dressed in leather armor and missed matched mail,rowdy to a fault as they sat around the table in the Pub,they stared at the form of the girl that approached them some makeing rather in appropriate comments to her.
The girl seemed to ignore the comment and stared at a large grungy looking man with grease grey streaked hair," You are the leader I take it ?" she demanded softly haughtily,it was not hard to see she was of noble birth,she was the typical noble girl,well dressed manicured and full of herself.
"Aye,I am so " the grungy one said leering at her as he stuffed another chunk of bread in his mouth.Causeing the girl to look revolted,she didn't want to deal with these ruffian's but then again no one else in the town would do anything against Lord Winter's little girl,she was out of sight out of mind to them.
"Well, I want you to kill someone " she said with a nod as she drew herself up, her soft blonde hair fell in ringlets about her face and she reguarded the leader. "Someone who stole something that was rightfully mine from me!"
The leader snorted and looked to her "I'm a messenger,lady not a killer" he said with another leering grin."but depending on what yer will to pay I might consider.."he said and with out blinking she dropped a pouch of coin on the table.
One of the ruffin had been staring at her breasts and neck. he leered and patted his lap. "Come over her , Lass, and we will show you a good time."
Shdup" said the leader looking intently at the young women."This is business" he hissed knocking the other man upside the head with the haunch of meat he had then promptly tearing off another bite.
"So who took something from you ?" he asked as he stared at her keeping his eyes above cleavage level though his eyes wanted to wander."and where are they?"
The other guests were oblivious to all of this. Those who were not insencable could not hear above the crowd in the corner singing to a bar song.A old man pounded out the melody to the drinking song on an out of key piano.
"Well her name is Mlady" began the noble as she frowned as one of the other men shook his head "I ain't never killed no woman and don't want to do that.." he said,a small voiced agreement went up in the group.
Courtney sneered and dropped a second bag onto the table "I don't think I made myself clear the first time this should completely make it apparent, I want her gone" she insisted.
The leader, Kyle had been a bandit and murderer for years before he hooked up with his boys,it was an easy job and he knew the money was good, so it was some woman somewhere he didn't care,women children it didn't matter.
The same man started to protesta again but Kyle spoke up "You got it,well do it" he said with a shrug."Where do I find this dead woman?"
Rubbing his head where it had been hit earlier the ruffin grinned ad remarked. "On the other hand it could be fun...think of what we could do before."
Courtney smirked she was use to getting her way and after her nemisis was gone she'd have her way completely.She rolled her eyes "She's in the woods in a cottage can't miss it,it has a huge pumpkin patch near the back,and call of you mutt here or I'll have him arrested." she said in disdain looking to the ruffian.
"You are plottin' murder and you goin' to arrest me?" asked the ruffin. "What do you r care about how she gets dead.?"
Kyle looked at the ruffin and the noblewomen, "Shut up" he said again and swung a huanch of met at him again.
"Courtney Merdon doesn't lower herself to such trash,what we have is a business venture nothing more." she added as she pulled her hood back over her head and turned to disappear through the door she came in."She took my man and I intend to have him back " she said "and thats all you need know."
The ruffin got up from the table and looked at kyle. "We have her gold. let's off her."he said annoyed at being put down so easily by a woman.His hand was on the battleaxe at his feet.
"No." said Kyle.
"Killing a noblewomen would raise a hue and cry especially near the tavern." he had killed enough people to know this and he for reasons he couldn't explain mildly respected the woman for going after what she wanted.
The ruffin shook his head and sat down. "we should kill her. She is going to turn us in anyway."he sulked.
"Somehow I don't think so " mused Kyle as he watched the noblewoman depart and disappear into the night as sneaky as any thief.
Courtney looked up it would be a full moon by the end of the week and she would be able to celebrate the harvest with Jack like she was suppose to, the voice had told her so and she believed in them if anything they would not dare lie to her.
Kyle looked to his group,"Get a good rest we leave in the morning." he barked as he stood and headed to the bar to pay for his food and his room for the night,his men were on there own,and they knew it.
He had business to do tomarrow.
===================== ==========================
Jack stirred restless in his slumber and opened his eyes to look up at the ceiling,he had been drifting back and forth into sleep for hours.
Winter was asleep in his arms her snowy hair strewn across his chest and the pillows,her form was bare in the moonlight save the warm blanket tossed over them both,she seemed to be able to rest,or prehaps she was just exsausted.
The window was open and an errie sound was coming from the pumpkin patch again calling to him.Jack look down at the woman in his arms and decided that she was more important then some half imagined whispers.
Jack pulled Mlady into his arms closer and she let out a soft little sound and snuggled the top of her head beneath his chin defiant of the movement.
"shh sorry love" he whispered and she settled down,peaceful again though she did make sad little noises in her sleep that he soothed by lightly strokeing her back and shoulders,she had done that alot after she lost there second child.
When Jack finally was gifted with slumber his dreams were jumbled,pumpkins,screaming and death none of it made sense to his logical mind but it chilled his soul.
It was then that he was awaken by Mlady who was holding the sheet up to her chest stareing down at him rather wide eyed.
"Whats wrong?" he asked as he sat up concerned for her.
"You were crying in your sleep.." she remarked her eyes looked haunted as she said the words softly." I had dreamed you were crying."
"It was probly a nightmare." Jack said softly his tone had gotten progressively whispery as he spoke."It could have been anything" he murmured running his fingers through his loves snowy hair.
"I will be fine, but you,you look absolutely haunted would it help to speak on it?" he asked her.The silken white locks twirling around his fingers as he talked.
"No,it was just jumbled dreams for me" Mlady said softly as she fought the fear in her stomach and offered a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Your sure?"he pressed his own dreams he didn't recall.
Mlady opened her mouth to say something,but it was drown out by the sounds of Rycroft calling sleepily for a cup of water from his room across from there's.
"Hold on son,I will be right there" Jack called as he got up looking to Mlady "You go back to sleep little girl,I will be right back " he said kissing her lightly as he pulled on a long tunic and went to get his son a cup of water.
Again as he looked out the window at his pumpkin patch,Jack felt something again a kinship but how was that? He shrugged again and silently wished his pumpkin's a good eve.
The pumpkins vines swayed in the wind as though sadly.There secrets wouldn't be heard and couldn't be understood until it was too late, so they lay bathed in moonlight in silent lamenant.