Greetings! This is a new chapter 6. I'm sorry for all the changes.
I just want to thank ehcorns again for taking the time to talk with me about my story and how to improve it.
I own nothing but Nemir.
Chapter 6
The following weeks were a huge adjustment for Nemir, as she continued her training routine with the three Foam Maidens. Each day ended in exhaustion and pain, mostly due to Mithiel's aggressive training technique. The women was not known for pulling punches and this resulted in many bruises along her hands, arms, and butt. She was showing some progress with her quarterstaff, but she sometimes wondered if all this frustration would lead to anything truly beneficial. The only reprieve she received during the week was during the two days Ada was home from the boats.
In anticipation of meeting Mithiel for sparing later that day, Nemir bound her chest and dressed in gray leggings and a sleeveless blue tunic before traveling to the kitchen. "Morning Naneth," greeted Nemir as she grabbed a freshly baked roll from a basket on the table.
"Oh Nemir, I'm glad you're up. I need you to run an errand for me," her mother shifted the large laundry sack on her hip."I want to start on this laundry, but there are a few items I need picked up from the market. Could you do this for me."
"I get to skip laundry day? Of course I'll go!" said Nemir as crumbs escaped her mouth. .
"Thank you dear. There is a list and coin pouch on the table, and you might want to adjust your attire before you leave," instructed her mother as she exited the cottage with the bag.
Nemir looked down at her leggings and weighed the consequences of appearing in town wearing men's clothing. She wanted to avoid the attentions of busybodies, but she also didn't want to expend the effort to changing just for their sakes. She finally settled on using a long hooded cloak with slits in the sides for her arms, this allowed for the front to be partially buttoned concealing most of her outfit. After fetching the list and a basket to carry supplies, she began the long walk to the small town market.
The weather was pleasant as a cool sea breeze prevented her from becoming too hot under the cape, and a few well placed clouds guarded her from harsh rays. She surprisingly enjoyed the walk and the outline of buildings eventually came into view. While she had visited with her mother several times, this was her first time attending the market alone and a small tickling of nerves formed in her stomach. "Don't be a child," Nemir scolded herself mentally, " If you can survive Mithiel, you can certainly face a few nasty old ladies." Forcing her shoulders straight and head erect, she marched purposely toward the market.
There were about 15 stalls spread about the center of the village, and Nemir was surprised at the sizable crowd that had formed around each one. She supposed the first crop of the season had arrived so everyone was vying for fresh food after a winter of salted fish. After quickly reviewing the list, she made her way to the first vendor which required her to weave through groups of people.
"Good Morning Miss Garavel," greeted Nemir with a wave as she wedged to the front of the wooden display.
"Nemir! You look more beautiful each time I see you. Your mother here?" an older lady with silver hair braided into a crown and friendly green eyes hobbled out from behind the stall and embraced the teenager.
Nemir bent down to return the embrace, "No, she is busy with laundry today so I'm on my own."
"Well I suppose you are certainly old enough now. Ulmo's beard, the older I become the faster time seems to fly right by me," said Miss Garavel before returning to her stool behind her counter. "What does your mother need today?"
"She was hoping to have some of your famous tomatoes for a stew this evening," replied Nemir as she scanned over the produce, "and maybe a couple mushrooms".
"Well I certainly can help you there missy. I'm just glad you stopped by early today because everything has been flying off the shelves. People are tired of winter stores." Miss Garavel waved Nemir around to the back of the stall before reaching down and retrieving produce from in a bin by her feet, "Here, these are the best ones I save to people I like."
Nemir grinned, "Thank you so much Miss Garavel." She placed the tomatoes and mushrooms into her basket and pressed some coin into her wrinkled hands.
"Give your mother a hug from me," said the old lady before turning to face the newest customer.
Nemir casually floated from booth to booth, observing the goods that were sale and purchasing the different items on the list. She was admiring a particularly beautiful bracelet made from woven stone beads when a loud, sharp voice startled her, "Witch!". Nemir spun to find the source standing on the far side of the market. It was the unpleasant blond boy from the boat pointing accusingly in her direction, an angry scowl twisting his face. Her body froze unsure how to respond. Ignore him? Run and hide? Confront him? The vendor at the stall was starting to give her uncertain looks, so she pulled the hood over her face and tried to disappear into the crowd. Her escape was short lived as a claw dug deep into her shoulder and ripping the hood from her head.
Nemir turned to face her attacker, suddenly wishing she had her quarterstaff. "You! I should have known!" wailed Mrs. Bruiwen, a stocky middle aged women with graying hair and cold dark eyes. She possessed an unflattering reputation in the village for being unpleasant and contrary to everyone, and would loudly voice her complaints to the nearest audience. She was the leader of the group of women who often judged and gossiped about Aeriel and Nemir when they visited the village. Nemir hated her.
"My poor Nimmeth told me about how a monster tried to drown him, you harpy!" screamed Mrs. Bruiwen causing the entire market to focus on the conflict.
"I...I...I'm afraid you're mistaken," stuttered Nemir as she attempted to back away from the furious woman, but the gathering crowd blocked her way.
"Lies! Lies! I always knew there was something strange about you and your mother," the woman slowly stalked the scared girl thrusting her finger accusingly into her chest. "With your odd colored hair, pale skin, and slutty outfits. Now I know. You're here to seduce our young men and drown them! Siren! Sea Witch! Minx!" with each name the angry woman jammed a sharp finder in Nemir's chest forcing her back.
"Tis true!" exclaimed Nimmon as he joined the circle in the middle of crowd. "She tried to use her beauty to lure me into the waves, but I resisted her cruel spell."
It took all of Nemir's composure not to respond with a sarcastic role of her eyes. She was certain she could easily defeat him without the use of magic as she observed his scrawny arms and narrow shoulders. "As I said before, you are mistaken," she insisted again, but with more confidence hoping to defuse the situation, "Sounds like a fish story to me."
"Are you calming by son a liar?!" exclaimed Mrs. Bruiwen as her eyes bulging from her head.
"I'm saying, he may have exaggerated his story to hide an embarrassing accident. Perhaps a large fish pulled him from the boat. Maybe he tripped on his own net. I don't know." Nemir was trying to stay calm, but doubted anything she said would cause Bruiwen to back down. To do so would make her and her son look foolish in the eyes of the villagers. She needed to focus on convincing the crowd to prevent a mob situation from forming.
"Tripped on a net? I'm not an dunce! You pulled me in the water after I..." bellowed Nimmon clenching his fists.
"After you did what Nimmon?" challenged Nemir with a glare.
"It doesn't matter," he replied crossing his arms with a sudden boost of confidence, "I have a witness." Nemir's eyes widened as she quickly inhaled a short breath, she had forgotten about the dark haired young man. "My cousin, Morfindir, was with me. Where is he?"
There was a shifting in crowd as people searched for the missing witness. After a few moments, the tall, dark youth was forced forward by the crowd. As he stumbled into the opening, he meet Nemir's eyes and seemed shocked to see her there. "Cousin," greeted Nimmon with a slap on the back, "Please tell these fine people about how this creature tried to drown me."
Morfindir shifted his gaze from his cousin back to the scared young lady. Nemir tried to plead with him using only eyes as she tightly gripped her basket handle till her knuckles turned white. He circled her slowly, making of show of examining her appearance before returning to his cousin's side. "Well, Nimmon, I must say she is certainly more beautiful than the slimy thing that pulled you overboard."
"What?" Nimmon spun to face his cousin, his face tight with shock. "Now is not the time to jest! We have her."
"The creature responsible for my cousin's unfortunate accident was certainly not mystical in nature. I'm afraid his exaggerations have gotten out of hand due to spending too much time in the tavern." Morfindir projected his voice at the crowd, " Nothing to see here, go about your business."
"You bastard!" Nimmon lunged for him, but Morfindir easy dodged the attack, "You make of fool of me."
"No, Nim," said Morfindir with a fierce look that gave his cousin pause, "You do a great job of doing that yourself. Aunt Bruiwen I suggest you get your son before he does something he regrets."
Bruiwen sent a death glare at Nemir, but she new the battle was done for now."Come Nimmon, it seams blood is not thicker than water. This isn't over…" the couple slunked away to cause trouble another day.
Nemir let a long sigh of relief escape her as the crowd began to disperse, but was surprised when Morfindir approached her. "It might be best if you leave now. My Aunt has many connections in this town and I don't trust her not to retaliate if given the opportunity." He extended his arm to her, "Let me walk you home. It will be safer that way."
Well this was certainly not was she expected, and she gazed at his arm as if it had teeth. "If you accept, it might help quell any doubts," he suggested.
"Or convince them I enchanted you with my dark magic," she countered.
"Damned if you do. Damned if you don't," he chuckled, "for safety's sake, please allow me."
"Fine," Nemir hooked her arm around his and was surprised at the firm muscle she found there. She found herself suddenly wishing she had replaced her hood to hide any embarrassing blushing. Nemir received some odd and hostel looks as they left the village, but no one tried to stop them. She wasn't able to breath freely until they gained a little distance, but she wasn't sure how to deal with the situation she had attached herself to. "Why did you lie for me?" she asked trying to keep her voice steady. She had little experience interacting with people her own age, especially handsome young men, and she was feeling a awkward.
He seemed to ponder his answer for a moment," Well…for one, my cousin is a spoiled, idiot who caused his own problem. If he hadn't tried to attack you, you never would have retaliated. Though I don't approve of your methods."
"He tried to kill me!" countered Nemir.
"And you almost let him drown," stated Morfindir with a disapproving tone.
She wasn't proud of her actions that day and the unexpected flash of temper had scared her. For a moment, his death seemed justified and she was going to watch it happen. "You could have jumped in to save him if you were that concerned, " she challenged.
At this, he suddenly looked a little embarrassed, "Uh… actually, I couldn't have."
Nemir gasped, "No, you can't swim either?" and she began to laugh. "How is that even possible?"
"Keeping my head above water is the extent of my abilities ," he muttered, "a lot of the men at the docks can't swim."
"That's just ridiculous. Do you have a death wish?" she asked.
"It's really not an issue. If a man falls overboard, we simply toss them a rope and pull them back," Morfindir explained.
Nemir shorted, "I mean no offence, but I wouldn't trust my life in the hands of someone like your cousin."
"Not all of us are born with fins," He replied sulkily.
"Neither was I, but I learned," she teased with a grin, becoming more comfortable in his presents. The conversation lulled a bit, so Nemir decided to compare the purchased items in her basket to the items written on her list since she was unable to finish due to the interruption. She gently freed her arm and searched for the paper in her dress pocket. Morfindir watched curiously as she scanned over the paper, "What's that?" he asked, "An evil spell to turn me into an eel?"
"Ha. Ha. Very funny," she replied dryly still looking down at her paper, "It's just the list of supplies my Naneth gave me. I didn't get to finish it before getting run out of town,"
"What does that say," he asked pointing to the top word.
Nemir gave him a questioning look, "Tomato…".
"How about this one?" he motioned to the second item.
"Mushrooms...," she answered slowly uncertain of his motives. Was he testing her?
"Huh," he grunted,"Could you show me how to spell my name? I've never seen it written down before."
Nemir was surprised by this, "You can't read?"
"Nope. Never had anyone to teach me," he shrugged nonchalantly.
"Do people in town not read?" She asked confused.
"Oh there are 2 or 3 people in the richer families can a little, but that's about it. Never really understood the need to learn anyway, reading doesn't help you catch fish," he explained.
"I just always assumed that everyone learned to read. Naneth taught me when I was young, and Ada has a book of songs he likes to perform from," said Nemir trying to absorb this eye opening information.
"Reavor can read? That explains how that weasel Lore was never able overcharge him. You're father has helped people save many a coin from that conniving miser, myself included," he said eyebrows raised as the dots connected.
"See, it has a useful purpose after all," stated Nemir feeling justified.
As they climbed to the top of a small, grassy hill, Nemir could see her home sitting at the end of the slope. She was dreading telling her parents about the disastrous situation that occurred at the market, and her mother would be furious she didn't inform her about the incident with the cousins sooner. She found her body reluctant to finish the short journey home, and seriously considered living with Laegwen and the otters. She turned to face Morfindir, "Thank you for saving me from your crazy Aunt. If it wasn't for you, I might be at the mercy of an angry mob."
"It was the least I could do after my cousin tried to kill you," he replied with a smile.
Nemir was surprised to discover that she felt reluctant to leave his company. It has been nice to talk with someone her own age who didn't seem intimidated by her otherness. Maybe this is what it's like to have a friend? She wanted a reason to see him again. "I feel as if I'm still in your debt. I'm sure your relatives will make your life miserable for making fools of them. What if I teach you how to swim to settle my debt?"
Morfindir seemed slightly taken aback by her suggestion, "Uh, that is certainly an interesting proposal. The fact that I'm even considering entering the water with a Foam Maiden, just proves how crazy I really am."
"If I didn't drown your troll of a cousin, I'm certainly not going to harm you," challenged Nemir crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow, "unless you're just scared of facing the water."
"Hardly, I practically live on these waters," he boasted with a puff of his chest.
"Yes, but you won't live long IN these waters if you don't accept my offer," she commented.
"You make a convincing argument. I accept your offer Sea Maiden," and he extended his arm out to Nemir which she grasped to signify their agreement.
"Meet me on the shore just past my home at noon on Highday, and I'll start your first lesson," instructed Nemir.
"Aye, Aye Captain," Morfindir answered with an enthusiastic mock salute before marching back to the village.
A giggle escaped Nemir's lips as she witnessed the ridiculous display, but her joy was short lived for she knew what waited for her at home. She proceeded toward her doom, each step feeling as if boulders had been strapped to her feet. She eventually reached the painted door, and sent a short prayer to Ulmo before reaching for the latch.
As always, feedback is very helpful, so please review. I feel like this is something newish in the LOTR fandom so is it working?
Thanks! :)
