Chapter Eight
Darien walked through the inner bailey toward the practice yard, with Malcolm and Andrew by hi side. The three men had taken a few moments to change into heavy padded leather tunics and chain mail shirts. He suffered his friend's good natured jests at his expense, planning to knock their mirth out of them during practice. As they approached a crowed near the archery field drew their attention, and they moved to the edge of the gathering to watch.
Standing shoulder to shoulder was Malcolm's little sister Lita, and Nathaniel de Grey, both held long bows at their sides. Darien raised a brow at the sight then leaned over and tapped Melvin Lebeau on the shoulder. The small man turned and grinned widely at Darien showing a large gap between his two front teeth.
"Melvin, can you tell us what is going on here?" Darien asked motioning to the pair as Nathaniel began to lift his bow toward the target that was a hundred paces away.
"The troubadour wished to exercise his arm, and asked for a bow with which to practice." Melvin explained his attention returning to the field as Nathaniel let his first arrow fly. It thunked heavily into the middle of the inner circle of the target.
"And how is it that my sister came to be here?" Malcolm asked watching as Lita drew back on her bow. She fired her arrow landing just outside of Nathaniel's.
Melvin clapped along with the others then grinned to his captain, "De Grey saw Lady Lita hanging back by the fence. And offered to give her an archery lesson."
Malcolm arched a white brow, "And knowing my sister, she instead challenged him to a match."
Melvin nodded in agreement amusement sparkling in his brown eyes. "Aye. And the prize is anything the winner requests of the loser."
Malcolm folded his arms over his chest watching as Nathaniel notched his second arrow. He could see the strain on the mans face, but Nathaniel managed to hold the bow steady as he drew it back and released his arrow. The shaft caught a tailwind and veered off course sinking into the straw outside the rings of the target. A low murmur went through the crowd as Lita stepped forward and lifted her bow and gracefully let the arrow fly, it thunked into the target near her first arrow.
The sound of applause could be heard, Lita flushed with her achievement as she accepted a kerchief from one of the men. She wiped her hands and face on it then turned to watch Nathaniel. Darien watched as Nathaniel's shoulders visibly shook as he tried to get his breathing under control, taking note of how his brow was dotted with sweat. He stopped Malcolm when he took a step forward to stop the competition, with a hand on his friends arm.
"There is only one shot remaining," He said wanting to see the end of the little contest.
Malcolm stared at him for a moment, seeing the speculative gleam in his midnight eyes and stepped back beside Darien once more. "'tis already won, I taught Lita myself how to shoot."
Andrew who had remained silent through the first two shots spoke up now, "If Lita misses or Nathaniel gets a bulls-eye she can still lose."
Malcolm snorted at the thought but nodded, " Aye 'tis true."
Darien nodded watching as Nathaniel let his last arrow fly, it hung suspended in the air for a moment then landed on the outside of the bulls-eye with enough force that the target rocked back for a moment.
Lita wiped her brow watching her opponents arrow land and whistled low under her breath, it was a good shot. And the targets had been moved back twenty paces since the start of the competition She was best at this distance, years of mimicking her brother and Darien's form had taught her the appreciation of muscle needed in archery. She lifted her bow and selected an arrow from the quiver held by a page boy. She ripped off one of the feathers from the shaft raising green eyes to Nathaniel.
"It was a good match Sir, however this competition is mine." She said notching her bow expertly.
Nathaniel struggled to get his breathing under control, his heart was pounding hard in his ears. He raised a brow at the girls words, "Not with those tiny arms." He said grinning at her.
Lita just smiled and aimed her bow aloft she released the arrow, the crowd watched as the arrow spun wildly off balance in a reckless arc. She lowered her bow handing to the page and thanked him removing her archery gloves her back to the target.
"You are not going to watch it land?" Nathaniel asked the girl who was unbuckling the breast plate she wore over her gown.
"No need," Lita said and gave him a gamin grin.
Nathaniel turned in time to see the wildly flying arrow thunk into that target perfectly center in the bulls eye, the straw target teetered for a moment before toppling backwards. A roar went through the crowed as men rushed in to congratulate Lita and poke fun at Nathaniel. Nathaniel stared in disbelief at the small girl in front of him, he was one of the best archers in the region and yet he had been beaten by a mere slip of a girl. Reluctantly a smile spread over his lips and he bowed gracefully to her.
"And what would my lady ask as her prize?" He said gallantly.
Lita blushed as the men around her cheered at Nathaniel, her mind raced as she tried to figured out something proper to ask from him. A wind kicked up around them and drew his scent to her, musky man and underneath a hint of sugar and vanilla? She tilted her head to the side then grinned widely her green eyes dancing, she knew what she would ask for.
"Sir Troubadour, I have merely a simple requests. Meet me in the kitchens after supper this evening." She said blushing when the men let out whistles and cat calls.
Malcolm's eyes darkened at his sisters words and he stepped forward clearing his throat, the men around them scrambled then darted around the practice yard getting back to work. He stepped forward his icy blue eyes piercing into Lita as he paused by the pair, he swept his gaze down seeing Lita's trembling hands and the slight blue tint to the skin under her fingernails. He lifted his gaze to her face concern now shimmering deep in his eyes.
"You should not be out here Lita, I have told you that before." He said taking Lita's elbow in his hand as if he meant to lead her back to the keep himself.
Lita pulled her arm from her brothers grasp and stomped her slippered foot on the ground, "I cannot abide being caged a moment longer Malcolm! And I have a prize to collect!"
Malcolm allowed his arm to fall back to his side and stared at his sister, "You should be abed not romping around with the soldiers."
Lita let out an inarticulate shriek and stomped her foot again, she glanced at Nathaniel de Grey who was watching mutely as her brother embarrassed her. Then she cast her gaze to Darien and Andrew who stood behind her brother as if supporting him, her teeth ground themselves in agitation.
"Perhaps you could claim your prize another time?" Nathaniel suggested hoping to help the situation.
Lita's green eyes bore into his and a smile curled her full lips, "No I think if my brother wishes to accuse me of 'romping' I should oblige him." she said and grabbed Nathaniel by the front of his tunic pulling his lips down to hers and pressing a chaste kiss to his stunned mouth. She released him glaring at her brother defiantly, "that was my prize Nathaniel de Grey, I thank you for it!" She said without looking at Nathaniel then turned on her heel leaving the four men staring stunned after her.
Nathaniel slowly lifted the back of his hand to wipe his lips casting a cautious eye toward the three other men. Darien looked shocked, Andrew looked amused and Nathaniel was almost positive that the other man had cheered the woman on. He directed his glance to Malcolm as he lowered his hand from his mouth, the white haired captain looked like he was ready to explode. Nathaniel hastily took a step out of reach, he wasn't a coward but Malcolm de Ward was fully armed and Nathaniel held just the long bow used in the competitionMalcolm took a deep breath a flush still staining his face deeply, he pierced Nathaniel de Grey with a icy look before turning on his heel and disappearing into one of the buildings near the practice field.
Andrew watched as Malcolm left then turned to look at Nathaniel humor dancing in his eyes. "I would make yourself scarce Nathaniel," The blonde said chuckling under his breath.
Nathaniel nodded and turned on his heel tossing the long bow in his hand to Melvin LeBeau as he went. What had possessed that child to kiss him like that in front of everyone, and especially in front of her brother. He shook his head to himself, the sooner they left dunewald the better. He just had to find Artemis and Serena at the same time privately and inform them of his decision, surely they'd agree.
****
Andrew and Darien watched as Nathaniel walked away, when the other man disappeared into the keep shaking his head to himself. Andrew's lips twitched and his eyes brimmed with mirth, he glanced into Dariens and snickered.
"Do not laugh," Darien said glancing toward the building that Malcolm had disappeared into.
He looked back at Andrew to see his blonde friend still sniggering to himself and elbowed him in the ribcage, causing the breath to woosh out of the blonde. Before disappearing into the building after Malcolm. Darien paused inside the armory letting his eyes adjust to the dim sunlight coming from the square hole cut into the thatch roof. Malcolm was on the far end of the small building organizing weapons and muttering to himself, Darien could almost see sparks snapping from the ends of his friends hair.
"If that is you Andrew, I swear I will gullet you if you make a snide comment", Malcolm said not turning from his task.
Darien moved to Malcolm's side and lifted a cross bow with a broken stock and cast an eye toward his friend. "I should be grateful that I am not Andrew then."
Malcolm paused in his work and turned to face Darien, his icy eyes a stormy current of rage and confusion. And mixed together was a brothers protectiveness, "That Nathaniel de Grey took advantage of her."
Darien replaced the crossbow onto the table and arched a ebony brow, "'tis not how I saw it. He was as stunned as us on the 'prize' Lita extracted for winning the competition"
Malcolm's eyes darkened and he leaned a hip against the table crossing his arms over his wide chest, "In sooth I know you are right, but that means that I have to accept the fact that Lita is growing up."
Darien's lips turned up into a sad smile, "I do not think that is the case. Lita is already a lady grown. Though I think the reason for her actions is because you lectured her and insulted her in front of the men and servants in the practice yard. She was thrilled that she had won the competition and you did naught but talk to her like a child."
Malcolm's lips twisted slightly then smoothed into a small smile, "'twas a good shot, was it not?"
Darien nodded and clapped Malcolm on the shoulder, "Aye. It was, and I noticed that she mimics your arrogance with the long bow."
Malcolm' smile became a small laugh, "And yours too my friend."
Darien nodded and took a step toward the door, "I think that Andrew was still chuckling about the event when I came in here after you. Mayhap you would like to teach him a lesson?"
Malcolm smiled and wrapped an arm around Darien's shoulders, "Mayhaps I would. I could teach you one while I am at it."
Darien laughed and ducked under Malcolms arm, "You can try." He said walking from the armory and into the bright sunlight, Malcolm following behind him.
****
Serena move down the stairs into the great hall and paused listening to the noise around her. She could hear the women bustling around for the evening meal, and kids running around with one of the castle dogs playing. Her fingers dug into the fur at Sach's neck and she turned in the direction of the high table, allowing the wolf to guide her to a small doorway. She ducked into the kitchens the smells of yeast, flour, grain, and animal blood greeting her sensitive nose. Slowly the conversation died around her until she felt the eyes of the women on her. She cleared her throat nervously and smiled, her voice carrying over through the room like rich musical notes.
"I was hoping that I could help prepare the meal?" Her only outside show of nerves would be the twitching of her fingers buried in Sach's fur.
The women glanced back and forth between them wondering what a blind woman could do in a kitchen. Molly one of the women stepped forward her green eyes boring into Serena's blind ones, then dropped them to the large animal at Serena's side. The wolf stared back at her with unblinking yellow eyes, as if it could see into her soul. Molly crossed herself quickly and suppressed a shiver. She cleared her throat to tell Serena she wasn't needed, when movement from the corner of the kitchen caused her to stop.
Amelia O'shea, formerly de Tournay stepped forward wiping her flour covered hands onto her apron and took Serena's soft hand in her own. She turned it over studying Serena's palms, the skin smooth except for the tips of her fingers. She clasped the hand between her own pressing it and smiled widely.
"I do not think that we need help at the moment, however if you would mayhap play some of your music while we worked? I would greatly enjoy it, your voice is enchanting." She said her own voice soft and musical.
Serena froze for a moment knowing that she had made the women uncomfortable, for a moment she had gotten lost in her memories of home. She forced a smile and nodded, "I would love to, if you could show me to a stool and have someone fetch my viol for me?"
Amelia clapped her hands in excitement, "How wonderful!" She turned spotting her niece hiding in the corner of the kitchens. "Diana, could you please fetch Lady Serena's instrument?"
The little girl bobbed an awkward curtsy and rushed from the room, Amelia led Serena to a small stool by the hearth and patted the large head of the animal that followed at their side. Once Serena was settled, one of the other women pressed a goblet of mulled wine into her hands. Serena thanked the woman sipping the spiced wine closing her eyes, the sound of light feet running back toward them caused her to open them once more.
"I thank you Diana, if you could bring it to me?" Serena said holding her hand out to the child.
Once the familiar instrument was in her hands she set the goblet of wine on the hearth stones and lifted the bow pulling a couple experimental cords before she settled into a song.
When in the springtime of the year
When the trees are crowned with leaves
When the ash and oak, and the birch and yew
Are dressed in ribbons fair
Serena closed her eyes letting the music fill her as her fingers moved over the strings of her instrument and let memories of the last may fair she had been to wash through her.
When owls call the breathless moon
In the blue veil of the night
The shadows of the trees appear
Amidst the lantern light
She didn't notice when the women stopped working to listen to her, nor did she notice when a shadow passed over the doorway leading out to the kitchen garden. Lost as she was in her music, and memories of sunny warm days and of a time when she thought she was no different than anyone else.
We've been rambling all the night
And some time of this day
Now returning back again
we bring a garland gay
Who will go down to those shady groves
And summon the shadows there
And tie a ribbon on those sheltering arms
In the springtime of the year
The songs of birds seem to fill the wood
That when the fiddler plays
All their voices can be heard
Long past their woodland days
And so they linked their hands and danced
Round in circles and in rows
And so the journey of the night descends
When all the shades are gone
"A garland gay we bring you here
And at your door we stand
It is a sprout well budded out
The work of Our Lord's hand"
Serena lowered the bow from the strings and paused, before lifting her head and smiling at the now silent women. She stood the instrument handing limply from her hands and bowed slightly. Amelia wiped the corner of her eye with her apron and clapped, she noticed a couple of the other women wiping their eyes and smiled.
Serena bowed again then carefully set the viol on the stool she had vacated, "I think I will go for a walk. I will play again for you at the evening meal." She said and moved toward the door.
Darien stepped quickly out of sight not that Serena would see him and watched as she passed him, the ever present wolf at her side. His young cousin Diana scurried after the troubadour and he smiled before following a distance away.
Serena allowed Sach to lead her over the lowered draw bridge of the keep and through a small wooded area. She knew that Nathaniel and Artemis would be angered by her just leaving, but sometimes she needed to be alone. She tilted her head back on her neck allowing the sounds of the forest animals wash away her melancholy thoughts. She hated the fact that she could not see, sure she could get along well enough with Sach by her side, but it wasn't the same as being able to see on her own.
The pair moved through a small meadow and up a hill, a playful wind tangled in her hair as she settled into the soft grass and stared unseeingly off into the distance. Her thoughts were drawn to the past despite having left the keep in the attempt to shake off the memories. As she stared with unseeing eyes toward the trees in the distance her mind once again turned to the past.
****
Serena was lost, she had wandered out of the castles walls to collect herbs for her step sister Raye. Though she couldn't see she could find the plants needed by touch, a basket of the white headed flowers hung from her elbow as she turned in a small circle trying to get her bearings. Papa would be angry if he found out that she had left home, squaring her shoulders she started walking in the direction she hoped led home. The only choice she had was to reach rosehill before anyone noticed her missing.
The sound of footsteps somewhere to her left caused her heart to leap in relief, Nathaniel or Artemis had come for her. They had probably seen her leave over the draw bridge and thought to guard her as always. She moved in the direction she thought she had heard the steps. The footsteps had stopped and now voices floated to her through the trees, she paused a frown dimpling her face as she tried to recognize the owners of the voices. She could only hear bits and pieces of the conversation but she knew that whoever else was in the woods, it defiantly was not Artemis or Nathaniel.
"...been arranged...."
"de Fortenberry... a sennight from now."
"... an accident..."
Serena felt fear curl in her stomach and slowly backed away from the voices, they were talking about papa. But why were they in the middle of the woods, it didn't make sense. Chewing on her bottom lip she continued to back away from the two men, her slippered foot came down on a twig. The snapping sound was loud and the quiet that followed telling, she could hear the men moving again. It sounded as though the were moving away from each other.
She turned and ran as fast as her legs could carry her, branches and brambles pulled at her hair and clothing. She stumbled over a half hidden tree trunk and flew through the air the basket of healing herbs flying into the distance. She landed hard on her stomach the wind leaving her lungs then scrambled onto her hands and knees listening. The footsteps were getting closer, she tried to scramble to her feet and yelped when her ankle gave out sending her to the ground again. She curled into a ball, the men were going to find her.
"Serena...." Nathaniel's voice pierced the chaos of her thoughts a couple moments later her emerged from the trees and his familiar vanilla and sugar smell enveloped her.
"Nate..." she sobbed brokenly her ears still straining for the sound of her pursuers.
"Shhh, 'tis okay now. I am here, half the castle is searching. No one knew where you had gone." He chastised her.
She pulled away from his chest, "I was gathering herbs for Raye. She has another lung reclamation. I thought that I could make a tea to soothe her." She clutched at Nathaniel, "I heard men in the woods. They were talking out there, something about papa but I was not able to hear the whole conversation. They started to chase me," she said her body beginning to tremble.
Nathaniel looked down at the girl in his arms and frown, "Wait here." He stood and looked at the ground around Serena seeing her tracks he followed them the way she had come. He found the basket with the chamomile in it and picked it up looking at the ground. Shaking his head he turned and made his way back to Serena. He helped her to her feet and handed her the handle of the basket. "I did not see any tracks by yours, mayhap you imagined the voices?"
****
The sound of a childlike voice calling to her drew Serena out of her thoughts and she turned her head in the direction she had come. Light childlike footsteps were heard and she smiled though tried to school her face into a slight look of disapproval.
"Diana you should not of followed me, 'tis not safe for you to be outside the castle walls." She said as the small girl scrambled up the incline and settled on the other side of Sach.
"One could say the same to you," Darien said stepping out of the trees close to Serena.
Serena jumped her heart in her throat at Darien's words, she should have been able to hear his approach. Had she been too lost in her thoughts to notice?
"You looked sad in the kitchens, I thought mayhap you would like some company. "Diana said waving at Darien who was moving toward them from the trees.
Serena smiled and reached toward the child running her hand over the girls black curls, "Mayhap I am a bit sad. But 'tis naught but the past and cannot harm me any longer."
Darien studied Serena's face a she spoke with Diana, then settled on Serena's other side and stared down into the deep ravine that was inches from where they sat. "Mayhap you would be less troubled by the past if you shared some of the stories?" He said softly.
Serena started and her hand froze on Diana's hair a moment before she continued petting the child. "Stories of my past are not as entertaining as some I know." she said evasively.
Diana squirmed out from under Serena's hand and stood grinning at the two adults, "I am going back to the castle before Mama worries. I will tell the others where you are." she announced and before either could stop her turned hurrying away.
Serena shifted where she sat uncomfortable now that she was alone with Darien, his presence made her restless. He was too overwhelming and exuded a strength that Nathaniel and Artemis lacked. She found him threatening when the others were not.
"I have been curious, how is it you lost your sight? Artemis told Andrew that it was an accident and that you were not always blind." Darien said in the same low voice.
Serena tilted her head to the side thinking, "Aye. And accident is as good as any way to describe how it happened." She ran her fingers through Sach's fur, "It has naught to do with you Darien de Varray. Why do you care about a blind stranger so much? Glory and riches surely await you in your future."
Darien's lips flattened into a thin line of anger as he reached out and grasped Serena's slender wrist hard in his hand, "Mayhap I wish to know. Mayhap I wish for us to be come friends Serena de Fortenberry." He loosened his grip on her wrist when she twisted her arm, though he didn't release her. "Tell me, please." He said his midnight eyes filled with his own confusion as to why this woman interested him so. And it wasn't just Serena de Fortenberry that held his curiosity, he wanted to know about the brothers de Grey. And why three members of the gentry were wandering the country side as commoners.
( Word Definition time:
Sennight = a week seven nights = sen night
Mayhap = Perhaps/maybe
If I missed anything let me know in reviews and such and I'll try to add it at the end of the next chapter. Sorry the actual story is developing so slowly. x.x I promise to have more action and such in the next chapter. However 9 Pages of goodness this time -cheers- The song Serena sings in this chapter is the mummers dance by Loreena McKennitt)