New Day - Chapter Four

  
 
 


"So close..."
- Renny Alberwine
- Lotus Outlaws (npcs)
- Caewlin (npc)

***

The first signs of Ast that the band of outlaws observed was the plume
of smoke over the tops of the trees. It was beyond that of the normal haze
to be found clinging to a settlement. Something was definately out of the
ordinary.

An hour later they emerged from the trees and witnessed the town of Ast.
Built on the western side of the mouth of the Foyle River where it flowed
into Loch Killala, it numbered over two hundred souls, most of whom were
heavily involved in earning their livelihood from the water. It had a small
harbour with a jetty that led out a short distance into the cold waters.
>From what Renny could tell, Ast ~used~ to have two wharfs... yet the other
had somehow collapsed into the water, and the stumps that were left were
charred and smashed. Mixed into the debris were the shattered remains of
perhaps the biggest ship Renny had ever seen in her life. Almost as big as
the vessel that was currently moored out in the waters of the Loch. On land,
there were two smoulding skeletons of what used to be buildings of some
description. A large tent had been hastily erected between the two,
and there was a hive of activity centered upon it as the townsfolk went
about their (unknown) business.

Renny held out a hand to stop everyone and motioned for Sparrow to join
her up front.  Raven tagged along, as she usually did, suspicious now that
Edmund was gone.  Renny was weary of her constant inquisitions, as she
was sure Sparrow was, but needed her for the moment.  "Thoughts?"

Sparrow tapped his belt and looked about thoughtfully.  "If its a
respectable place we--" he gestured to raggedly unkempt mess that was
the band at the moment. "Will not be welcomed." he looked her over,
taking in the dress and her apparent manner of style.  "You'll be better off
alone.  Or in the least with just Raven.  If they question why you are so
dirty--or why you are traveling with such a brutish woman--claim she's
your bodyguard and you were beset by thieves farther down road."

Raven scowled at his comment, but only folded her arms and nodded.
"He's right.  It's worked before hadn't it?"

Farther back in the group Badger sneered and nodded towards the three.
"See?  They make all the plans, don' talk to us or anything." he hissed the
two men at his side.  "Is that fair?"

The two men looked at each other uneasily, torn between loyalty to Moira
(and hypothetically her daughter) and the unrest they felt at the plans.
"W'at can we do?" the smaller, Jon, muttered staring at the dark patch
of weeds.

Badger smiled grimly. "What she did to our cap'ain."

"I don't think so." Renny told Sparrow and Raven loudly, causing the rest to
pay attention.  "I can't get the information I need by being a hoity-toity
miss."

"You can and you know it." Sparrow snapped.  "Now go off before your
noise alerts them to ALL of us here." he pointed towards the town and
Sparrow grasped Renny's arm to get her moving.  "We'll see you tonight."

"If you're not strung up!" Luke joked.

Renny shot both of them a murderous glance and docily followed Raven.

***

If Renny didn't know better, she would have thought the townsfolk were
in a 'tizzy'. They had regarded their arrival with an initial dose of
suspicion mixed with fear, but they listened to their story and seemed
to accept it readily for it's face value. With a lot of relief, so she
thought.

The local 'constabulary' had been reduced in size, as the need for soldiers
for the looming battle against Sanglet had diverted fighting men from their
numbers. Ast was part of King Hawk's personal lands, and as such
many left north to meet up with the gathering army. That left barely
a dozen armed men to keep order. And the acting sergeant at arms
was an older man who had seen his fighting prime come and go. He
was gentle and friendly enough however, and after he had
prodded Renny with a few questions about her reasons for being
in Ast, he seemed satisfied. Renalla had a strong hunch she could
interrogate him a little herself, as to anything she might need to
know.

"Sir have you seen any other strangers--say three or four men?--come
through here in the last four days or so?" Renny asked.  "They'd be on
horses, if you did, in a mighty hurry also." she added smiling hesitantly
at the man.

"Aye, I did," said Caewlin the sergeant. "They went out onto that
yonder ship anchored in the loch," he gestured. "Damn biggest ship
I ever seen. Pleasant folk as well, for foreigners. Their horses are still
here however. They can't moor at the other jetty because the draught
of their vessel is too deep. They were waiting to berth here," he nodded
at the wreckage, "but they will have to wait until we can get some
barges from Gwynriod to finish loading the rest of their supplies and
horses."

"Oh." Renny murmured staring at her boots.  "Did...did any of the men
seem unhappy to go along?  As if the others had to drag him along in
some way?"

Caewlin chewed the inside of his mouth for awhile in apparent
thought. "Then he slowly shook his head. "No ma'am. They all
seemed familiar enough, worked together like they knew one
another. Sure could have used their help the night before last,
a few of them looked pretty useful in a fight."

Raven leaned over to whisper in Renny's ear, "You sure its your nancy
boy fiancee then?"

Renny clenched her teeth and frowned.  "Edmund doesn't know how
to fight--plus they're his father's men.  He probably doesn't wish them
hurt in some way." Renny  told her tightly.  "Thank you sir, you have
helped me a good deal." she told the man holding a few coins out to
him.

"No, that's fine ma'am. But-" he then took the coins from her hand
before she could retract them. "There are other folks around here
that could use it. If ye wouldn't mind."

Renny glanced about recalling what he had said about men and
Sanglett.  *So the King is marching against him?  Serves the ass
right if he gets killed.  If half the rumors are true...* her thoughts
trailed off.  "I will need some lodgings, at least for the night, for
myself and--" she looked to Raven for the number.  "Seven."
Raven told her immediately.  Renny nodded. "Six men and one
woman." she prompted.

"Eh?" replied Caewlin, a sudden look of concern on his face. "You
have others with you? Where?"

"They are to meet with me later tonight--the rest of my guards." she
told him smoothly.  "I am but a female, I require at least six men to
guard myself and my--" her mouth quirked and she could hear
Raven stifling a bark of laughter. "--honor."

"Don't worry, they listen to me and won't do your town any harm.
We have a mission and I plan to see it is done." she assured him.
"Lodgings?" she pressed slightly.

Caewlin's face took on a pale countenance. He did not speak for a while, but
when he did it was with a sense of resigned surety. "Ma'am... it ain't safe
in the
surrounding lands. The person that did all this may still be hunting the
rest of the
ship's crew. If these friends of yours are nearby..." He couldn't bring
himself to
finish his sentence.

Renny blinked at the tone.  "They'll be fine." she repeated.  A thought came
to
her suddenly and she smiled.  "They need more people for the crew hmm?" she
murmured thoughtfully.  "Raven...please tell Sparrow and the boys about what
is happening." she ordered, waving her hand dismissively.

Raven glared, but bowed in obedience.  Plenty of time later to beat her.
"Seargent, is there anyway to possibly meet with the Captain of the vessel?"

"I'm not sure you understand!" He took her hand and swung her around
towards the wreckage. "There IS no ship! Her crew is dead or dispersed! The
Captain was the first to go down! I'd suggest ma'am, with all respect, you
take
your guards and head back to wherever you came from. I mean, sure they were
slavers and I don't take kindly to their ilk... but still... no-one deserves
this." He
shook his head. "What do you think happened here!?"

"Guards?" Renny stared shocked at the man.  "My fiancee came this way
that's what happened here!" she told him angrily.  Snatching her hand back
she glared at him.  "I want my fiancee back, sir, and I want to deal with
the
people who took him!"  her voice got shrill and she took a step towards the
man.  Startled Raven grasped her shoulders and held her back.  "I don't
CARE what happened to your pathetic town.  I don't CARE what happened
to some stupid ship.  I just CARE about getting Edmund back and getting
him back NOW!"

"Well then I don't care about how you get out to that ship," he snapped.
"And if I see you or your companions create any havoc here, I'll see
to it that you're all arrested and taken to Alban to rot in it's cells."
With
an icy glare, he stalked away, barking orders to a handful of the militia
who had turned to watch the sour end to the exchange.

"Nice one Renny," Raven muttered releasing her hold on the girl.  "Now
what?" she asked wearily, rubbing her eyes.  She didn't like the looks of
those about them.  In fact she didn't like being here period.  "We just
gonna march the Merry Band through the center of town?"

Renny rubbed her upper arms and stared grimly ahead.  "I'd like to--King
Hawk would back me I think, if I can prove it was unjust to send us to jail
in the first place." Renny told her quietly, moving to the side.  "We need
to know more about Edmund and those men.  No matter what that man
says Edmund would not have gone willingly with them."

Raven nodded expecting this much.  "How do you supp'se to get this
information?"

"A little persuasion, bribery, treachery, whatever it takes." Renny
retorted.
"As long as we don't cause a ruckus." she added.

Raven shook her head and nodded leaving Renny to her own devices in
order to alert the others.  Renny glanced about and finally set off towards
the waterline.  Someone had to know something down there that would
be willing to tell.

***

"An Arrival in Alban"

Connald ap Lywen
Cael ap Dafydd, soldier/NPC

Approaching the gates of Alban, Connald pulled up on his horse's reins, 
looking over the scene.  People seemed to be moving in and out of the 
gate freely enough.  The guards seemed to know their business.  At least 
to his eye.  Today he was dressed in simple travelling clothes, a 
leather jerkin over a wool tunic and leggings, leather boots guarding 
his feet and legs.  A dark green travelling cloak hung down his back, 
the hood thrown back, allowing his features to be seen clearly.  The 
leather wrapped hilt of his tulwar was near his hand, though that hand 
rested casually on his thigh. Twice on his journey from the north, he'd 
run afoul of those who wished to steal his horses, coin, or life.  While 
such a thing seemed unlikely a bowshot from the gates of a city, he'd 
long learned to be a bit wary.

After watching the gate for a bit, he rode down to it, his two pack 
animals led behind by a tether.  He'd swapped horses three times getting 
here, and he was tired of the road.  Or mud track, or cowpath, or forest 
trail...  A smile crossed his darkly tanned face as he looked at the 
guard.  It was good to at least contemplate sleeping in a bed, this 
night.  "Hail, sir...be this Alban?"

The guard looked at him, at the odd blade he carried, and the three 
horses, two moderately packed with bundles.  "Aye, this be Alban, less 
the King decided to change the name of the place after his breakfast. 
 And who are ye?"  His eyes held suspicion, since Connald was unknown. 
 "Are ye a foreigner?  Ye speak a bit oddly."  

Connald grinned a little.  "I am a foreigner, indeed.  Well, not 
terribly foreign.  I am from Dinodig.  Connald ap Lywen is my name.  But 
I have been gone from this land for many years."  Too many years.  This 
land seemed almost foreign to him, though for the most part it was 
nearly identical to the hills and forests of his homeland.  "I've come 
to see the city, and perhaps to find an appointment of some kind at court."

The guard seemed skeptical. "And what would ye be doing at court?  Is it 
a soldier ye are?  That's quite a scar on yer face."   He looked over 
the horses again, and walked over to the first packhorse, when Connald 
didn't immediately answer.  "What's this, in the bundles?"  He turned 
when Connald came off his horse gracefully, and moved to his side.  "The 
first bundle is my armor, bow, and some shafts...the box contains books, 
and scribing materials."

"A scribe with a sword?  I'll have to tell me wife about that."  The 
guard chuckled, and waved him through.  "Good luck to ye, Connald ap 
Lywen.  I be Cael ap Dafydd, perhaps I'll see ye around the city."  

Connald grinned, and suddenly, in his hand, was a lovely white rose. 
 "When you see the dear lady, offer her this.  It was a pleasure to meet 
you, Cael ap Dafydd, perhaps we can take a pint or two of the necessary 
together."  Leaving the bemused soldier staring at the white rose in his 
hand, Connald led his horses into the city, remembering a small, swarthy 
man, and a trick learned long ago, in a city far larger than this, in a 
land far warmer.


 

An Assassination Attempt
General Iowerth
Earl Gwilym
NPC Guards
 
NPC Courier
 
The courier rode to the edge of the encampment. He had a white flag tied to his arm and horse's bridle. He knew that the delivery of this peace parlay was of the utmost importance. Many men could be saved if the King would agree to these terms. 

"Hold! Who goes there?" One of the guards approached the courier. "What do you want?" 

"I have brought a peace offering from Sanglet to the represenative of the King." The currier said stopping his, showing his white flag.

Gwilym, standing close by, looked on fromt he distance as the rider had approached with a white flag of truce, something he wasn't sure he would have accepted with Sanglet having openly challenged the king for the throne with his
actions, but then again, Sanglet did have some of Iowerth's children in captivity. 

Gwilym slowly approached the gathering as he continued listening to the conversation between the men. He pulled his blade and held it ready in the event of a trap. It was only the other night that Sanglet sent men into the camp killing a few soldiers to show his lack of fear at Iowerth's army and the threat of war. The Duke of Abertawe was hanging by a string when it came to trusting him to uphold the rules of engagement. One more mistake and a white flag would not save his courriers.

"May I pass?" The curier asked. He had to deliver this package. It could stop the war and bring peace to what was almost a certain war.

The guard looked to the earl for confirmation.


Gwilym looked at the man intently for a moment, "Come to me, courrier. What is it you bring with claims of peace after only attacking this sight just the other night. Speak or you'll be through. The word Sanglet holds no trust in this camp." Peace offering? This had to be some sort of joke.
"This gift is not for you sir. This gift is to Iowerth." The messenger said putting it back into the sack. "It must get to him before he does anything to enrage Sanglet." 
The guards were apprehensive to let this man into the presence of the general with his box. They knew that Sanglet would do anything to win. So again they looked to the Earl.
"TO ENRAGE SANGLET! You forget which ground you stand on messenger." Gwilym snapped at the audacity of the messenger while back handing the man across the jaw. "We care not about the anger of Sanglet." Gwilym stepped away from the fool not wanting to kill a man carrying a flag of truce. "Soldier go and get Iowerth." Gwilym said looking to one of the soldiers standing guard before turning back to the messenger, "I trust you not and for your insolence, if Iowerth is not 'satisfied' with this gift, you will die by the gallows, Truce flag or no Truce flag."
The soldier came back with the general a little bit later. "What's going on here?" The older man asked.
A messenger here has brought a gift of peace to end the war." Gwilym said sarcastically.
"Your Grace I have brought a token of peace and prosperity. He wants this to end and not go any further." The courier said handing Iowerth the box. He held it out in front of him and said. "This is yours, may it bring peace to this land." 
Iorwerth was not a fool. He gestured one of the guards to take the present and open it. He did not trust Sanglet at all.
Gwilym could sense the same lack of trust from Iowerth that he held and moved beside the messenger away from the guard with the package.
The guard cautiously opened the package. There was an audible click and then smoke billowed out of the box. The smoke was thick and choking and for a few moments, no one could see one another. The currier stood in disbelief. He had been assured the package was one of peace. He would not see his family again. He was a dead man where he stood and the realization was clear on his face as the smoke cleared enough for the others to see him. He dropped to his knees. "I swear, I had no idea." He squeaked.
Iorwerth looked at the man, what did these people think that he was a murderer? "Get up, I do not take my anger out on innocents. You can return to your master and tell him his plan did not work. Or you can remain with us as a free man, the choice is yours."
"General, I would not let him go ? how can you trust the honesty of any man who associates with Sanglet? His soldiers are no fools. Rumors are thick in all of Abertawe of Sanglet's war to take the thrown, even the most innocent man of common birth. To associate with Sanglet is treason against the crown. No man in Abertawe is safe from this affliction that the serpent has caused. You may not desire to kill him, but if he is 'aware' of all that goes on, he can easily tell Sanglet how many troops we have and how prepared we are. Do not take that risk. Imprison him until after the war or it could prove to be used against us. If you wish dissention, then have your spies spread rumors quickly that the trap was a success and that you are severely hurt. Use this, milord, don't turn your back on it." Gwilym had seen many strategies such as this and the ruse worked more often than not.
the general seemed to think for a minute, and then shook his head, "the common people can't help it. If you are dependent for everything on your lord, you don't leave. This man probably had no choice. I see what you are saying, it's not the way I fight wars, I try not to make innocent victims. Yet there is truth in what you say."
He turned to the poor messenger again. "You have nothing to fear from me or my men, but I am afraid that the earl has a point, so I must ask you to be our guest for a few days. After that you can return to your family, or choose to make a new life away from here." 

The man's look of relief was evident. "Thank you, milord. Your mercy is bountiful. I will do what you say and stay where you wish." He had
not risen off his knees.

"Good. Is that satisfactory to you?" He turned to Gwilym. "Then we will find this man a safe place to stay. " 
The courier waited for the Earl's answer. He hoped the man would not suggest something horrid like stocks.
"Very well then General. I would place a guard on him and leave him back with the transport and supplies, so that he'll be out of the way." Gwilym would rather have placed him under arrest until after the war, but it was not his army. Gwilym tunred towards one of the guards who had been present and assigned the courier to this man. One more problem now out of the way.
<




"We Attack at Dawn"
- General Iowerth
- Earl Gwilym
- Dame Quarra
- Baron Gwyleged (npc)

***

The missive from Burke came in from a runner just before midnight. It was
delivered to Iowerth's hands. After the incident with the messenger from
Sanglet, it was unrolled and checked before be presented to him. They had
been forced to awaken the general for the urgent Missive from Lord
Burke.

"Attack comes at First light"

That was all the missive said, but it was enough. The battle would be
delayed no longer. The man also relayed to Iowerth the status of
Sanglet's men and the poison they had been subjected to.

When he read about the poison Iorwerth got angry, he was sure that he had
not ordered that, and he hoped none of his men had stooped that low.
Straight away he summoned all his aides together. "Get me all my
commanders, and to me to meet me here in 15 minutes." He bellowed.

Gwilym was rustled from his sleep with the news of Iowerth's urgent meeting.
He assumed nothing and quickly dressed and headed to Iowerth's tent,
"General, I am here and ready. What news have you that awakens us in
the middle of the night?" Gwilym asked trying to assess the situation.

Iorwerth handed him the note."We need to get ready, it will get light in
about five hours and we should be waiting for him then."

Quarra heard this, as she stepped into the command tent. She bowed
carefully, "Aye, sir."

Baron Gwyleged swept into the tent, crouching his bulk through the door like
a monster forced to hulk his way through a dungeon corridor. "I have come
as ye have summoned," he said. His eyes were a little misty from sleep, but
he seemed alert enough.

Iorwerth quickly filled him in with the latest news.

"Then we will fight the dog! Although I would be wary in taking Burke's
advice on this matter... He was no casual ally of Sanglet for certain."

"I know, I also know what Sanglet did to his daughter.  Because of that I
trust him now."  The general said quietly.

"I propose we bring the camp into readiness.  No great activity so they
won't know we have been alerted and will walk into a trap."

A messenger entered the tent. "My lord, scouts have returned. They
report the presence of a unit of horsemen from the Church. Master
Nwython sends greetings and advises they will aid your forces against
Sanglet when the occasion presents itself."

"Tell him he is very welcome." Iorwerth said. "We can use all the help we
can get. Make sure his men are hidden from view."

"My lord earl."  He turned to Gwylim. "Take a force to meet Sanglet's
army at the gate.  If Burke helps us, we will know this is not a trap, and
the whole army can move."

Gwilym nodded to the General and those present at the briefing rapidly
emptied out of Iowerth's tent, intent on plans and preparations for battle.
Dawn was fast approaching...

***



"The Offensive"
Lord Sanglet
Lord Burke

Lord Burke stood with the assembled men.  Sir Hexlor had the cannon waiting 
as well.
Burke didn't know about this cannon.  He was afraid of what it might do to 
his own
men.   They were waiting for Sanglet to decide his final directions.  The men 
had
already confered and Sanglet would man the castle  while Burke would lead
the bulk of the men to attack Iowerth's camp.  

Sanglet walked down the steps.  Dawn was merely an hour away and all
was readied.  "Lord Burke, do not take prisoners. I am want them all dead.
I do, however, want Iowerth's head." He said with a laugh.  "I wish to send
it to his son." 

Burke saluted across his chest.  "Yes, milord. Will there be anything else?  
I have
left you 200 men for inside the keep. The rest of these will ride out with 
me."

"Take another 100 with you. I do not expect there to be a battle here." 
Sanglet
boasted.

"As you wish."  Burke motioned to a Captain who went to tell another company
to roll out with them.  

Burke mounted his horse and prepared to lead the procession of the Castle.  
The 
rest of his men were arrayed just outside the gate as if waiting for these to 
lead the way.
The idea was that they would fall in behind.  However, Burke had made other 
arrangements.

Sanglet smiled. 'It was almost over.'  Burke would sacrifice many but Sanglet
was confident of a victory.  Iowerth was outmanned and asleep.  Sanglet's 
forces
were better armed and better armored. 

Burke called for them to ride out and sat watching as the first of his men 
headed out the opening gate.  He fell in beside them when about half of the 
column was out the gate.  When he reached the gate, he pulled up a horn and 
it sounded.  As if one body, the 
column turned and pulled their weapons.  100 of Burke's men began attacking 
anyone
wearing Sanglet's colors.  Those who were positioned on the back wall, began 
firing bows
at Sanglet's men to work their way towards the gate.

Sanglet stood for only a few seconds in stunned disbelief.  He then began to 
shout
orders as he pulled his sword.  "It is a trap, treachery." He screamed.  "Get 
me my pages."
He screamed.  50 of his men made a wall in front of him as runners were 
brought to him.  The sounds of clashing swords and men screaming filled the 
air.  

"You.. go to the east wall, have the men attack Burke's men who are on the 
wall." He said to one runner.  "You.. have Captain Deilen take his men and 
hold them at the gate."   He turned to a third runner.  "You, have Captain 
Teren take his men up onto that wall and get that gate shut."   So began the 
battle, a clear disarray for Lord Gwilym to see, who waited quietly in the 
false dawn light. 



Gwilym's Men
Lord Gwilym 

Gwilym sat upon his horse a way's back from Sanglet's lands. He had followed 
Iowerth's words to the letter and brought forth two thousand Knights, 
Infantry, and bowmen. He had to present a front that King Hawk's men were 
present and accounted for. As he sat in wait, he reflected on all that had 
occured thuse far with the assassination attempt and the discussion with Lord 
Burke. He couldn't imagine being in Lord Burke's shoes at this moment 
betraying the man who said he would kill Burke's daughter if his order's were 
not followed.
 
For the first time, as gwilym sat upon his horse, he was afraid of the 
battle. Hatred drove him when he was younger, but now he had a love and a 
desire to settle down. The thoughts of his first love had finally been put to 
rest. A child stirred within the belly of the woman he was to marry the 
moment he returned to Alban. So much had changed in his life. The vile man 
that he once was, was now gone forever. 
 
Then the horn blew and Gwilym snapped back into the present. "CHARGE!" he 
yelled ordering his men to begin the fight. A final fight that would end this 
entire treachery and bring Abertawe back in unity. Gwilym rode hard to reach 
the gated before something could possibly go wrong and the gates closed. If 
that happened, this battlwe would be for not, as Sanglet's estate was a well 
sealed castle as any he had seen. He had to reach the gates at all costs.


"Taking Stock"
Lord Sanglet.
Sir Hexlor

The battle was raging inside and outside the walls. Hexlor had tried 
repeatedly to warn Sanglet against going to war to soon, but he would not pay 
any heed to the experienced tactician. Sanglet had just asked him to get the 
cannon ready, but the fool didn't understand the training it needed.
 
None of the men Sanglet had issued him had had any time to learn how the 
machine worked, and though, in the short time they had been with him, Hexlor 
had tried to explain it's mechanics, it seemed that all five men were 
bufoons, who had as much brains as their master. 
 
Nevertheless, there was no more time. Sanglet had already attacked and 
Iowerth was approaching with more men. A troop of soldiers had been sent to 
fetch the cannon, and guard it as it was brought into battle along with its 
operators, and Hexlor only had a minute to run over the details of its 
operation before the soldiers began rolling it out of the foundry.
 
Hexlor ran about it frantically as he tried to make sure no one damaged it. 
If he had had more time he could have improved upon it, and made it stronger, 
but Sanglet had been typically rash.
 
Sir Hexlor turned the cannon towards the knot of men that 
led this treachery.  Smiling with satisfaction, the fuse was lit.  The cannon
had been tested multiple times as the crew trained and it had not failed.  
What Hexlor did not know is that an error in the casting had been created.
Each time he had fired the cannon, it had weakened slightly.  When the blast
sounded, everyone in the battle dropped to the ground at the horrifying 
deafening sound.
When the smoke cleared, the cannon had stood, there was a smoking pile of 
debris, body parts and metal.  The secondary blast from the powder kegs had 
put a hole in the ground
and many about became crying out that a witch was among them.   Many 
surrounding the area were littered with flying splinters of metal and wood.

Sanglet watched as disarray and disbelief played out before him.  His
men were totally unorganized. He turned to the trumpert. "Order them
back within the Caer."  He knew that it would be difficult for Iowerth
to force his men out.  They had already removed wooden shutters and pulled
flamables away from windows. The large stone manse had one main tower 
structure
The tower had one entrance from outside and one from the main manse.  both
closed with stone constructed doors that he had prepared for a internal 
seige.
They would not fall to a battering ram easily.  

The trumpet sounded and men that were able quickly fought their way back in 
to doors.
Sanglet was forced to sacrifice almost twenty-five to shut the doors.  Their 
valiant
death's kept the invaders from preventing the shutting of the tower door.  
Immediately,
every window was filled with an archer and arrows soon reigned down on the 
attackers
from the top of the tower and the every open edificie.  

Burke was shouting orders when he took an arrow in  the shoulder that knocked 
him 
from his horse.  His men pulled him to oneside and he continued to bark 
orders while
at the same time, cursing at the man trying to remove the arrow.  "Leave it, 
ye bastard!"

HIs men were still flooding inside the gate now that there was no resistance. 
 When Gwilym rode through, Burke saluted him from the wagon he had been 
forced behind.  Arrows
were still raining down as if the very skies had opened up.  "I am sorry, 
milord, I could not keep him from shutting the door."  Burke's face was pale 
and while the wound did not seem to be bleeding, he was having problems 
breathing.


"To Seige the Tower"
Lord Burke,
Lord Gwilym

Gwilym rode into the compound leading his men. Several of Sanglet's men fell 
to his sword and those of the rest of the troops as they finally reached the 
castle, happy to find it still opened. Gwilym glanced around to assess the 
situation and found Lord Burke behind a wagon with an arrow in his shoulder. 
Gwilym dismounted as Lord Burke spoke and nodded, "You have done the kingdom 
a great service, Lord Burke." Gwilym looked to the tower that Sanglet and the 
rest of his forces barricaded themselves within. "There was nothing you could 
do to prevent them from entering that place. It is not a tower ... it is to 
become a tomb."
 
Gwilym stood and looked to his men around him and those of Lord Burkes. 
"First, get this man to safety as we have healers back at the camp. I do not 
fear that more of Sanglet's troops will attack. Make him a stretcher and get 
the Lord there as soon as possible trying to keep it as easy as possible to 
ease his pain." Gwilym spoke that as an order not a request and ignored the 
look of protest that came from Lord Burke's eyes.
 
"Second, send a rider with all due speed towards Iowerth and give him an 
assessment of the situation as well as to bring down the catapults. Let the 
General know that we have time. I want the rest of these men to set camps 
around the perimeter of this tower but out of the way of the volley of arrows 
that continue to come from it. Every man is to stay on alert keeping watch 
over the tower. With Sanglet barricaded in their, we will be here a while, 
quite possibly months." Gwilym wished there was a way he could get to the 
traitor.
 
"Get every captive and create a prisoner location on the outskirts of this 
estate away from the battle. Put your best interrogators on every one of them 
and learn whatever information you can about this tower and it's defenses." 
Gwilym wasn't sure that interrogation would do any good, but he had to try.
 
"Last, bring me the soldier with the loudest voice to me here on the double." 
Within minutes a large soldier with a dep booming voice that reminded him of 
his giant friend Niall, made his way towards Gwilym. "I am the liudest voice 
in this militia, Sir. How can I help." The large man said confused.
 
"I want you to yell this out every thirty minutes until I order you to stop: 
To the men in the tower, sanctuary will be provided to all who aid us in this 
final peril. You have lost and have no where to go. After time, your food 
will run out, and you will begin to starve. The Forces of the rightful king 
Hawk, only want Lord Sanglet. Swear loyalty to the true king and bring us 
Sanglet. I swear upon my all that is holy that your lives will be spared. No 
more lives need to be lost in order to bring this man to justice. The choice 
is yours." Gwilym had a conscript right out his words and hand them to the 
soldier. "Every thirty minutes I say. Do you understand?"
 
"Yes Sir Lord Gwilym. As you command." The soldier took up spot behind the 
wagon to maintain safety from the arrows and began his thirty minute routine 
belting out from the top of his lungs:
 
"To the men in the tower, sanctuary will be provided to all who aid us in 
this final peril. You have lost and have no where to go. After time, your 
food will run out, and you will begin to starve. The Forces of the rightful 
king Hawk, only want Lord Sanglet. Swear loyalty to the true king and bring 
us Sanglet. I swear upon my all that is holy that your lives will be spared. 
No more lives need to be lost in order to bring this man to justice. The 
choice is yours!"
 
Gwilym smiled in satisfaction. This was a common ploy as the men in the tower 
would begin to lose sanity with lack of sleep and food. It would take much 
time for it's effects to kick in, though, and Gwilym was all too aware of 
that.
 
"The rest of you, set up areas for the catapults. Find rocks big enough to 
thud against the side of the tower without bringing the structure down. We 
are going to continually bombard them to keep them awake and drive their 
insanity with a lack of sleep." As the men dispersed, Gwilym waited patiently 
for General Iowerth to arrive.



meeting the Queen Mother

Connald
Isa

Connald felt like a new man.  After arriving in Alban, he'd managed to 
find a good inn, had a bath, a good meal, and then spent a couple of 
hours rereading a treatise on the art of surgery by al Sadur.  His 
horses were stabled, his goods piled in the room he'd taken for a 
fortnight.  Now, though, it was morning, and time to be about his 
business.  He wore a black tunic, and leggings, his boots polished by a 
servant at the inn.  A shoulder bag contained his scribing materials, 
and a copy of Josephus that he'd translated from the Greek.  The tulwar 
hung at his side, as he made his way through the common room, where he'd 
broken his fast an hour before.

He spent a brief time chatting with the innkeep, who was a font of 
information, then departed, making his way on foot to the castle that 
dominated the city.  Without hesitation, he simply walked in with the 
other servants and peddlers that moved through the castle gate.  It took 
only a moment for a guard to approach him.  These were unsettled times,
he'd found out.  As the guard started to open his mouth to speak, 
Connald bowed, and said, "Greetings sir.  I am Connald ap Lywen, a 
scribe.  I am told that her Royal Grace the Queen Mother may have use 
for such a person.  I am here to inquire of her about the position."

The guard looked him up and down. With all the threats against the king

they had been trained to be very carefull. But he also knew that the royal
family liked to stay aproachable. And the queen mother could really use
some help with her many duties.

"I will send somebody to enquire if her Majesty has time for you.  I will

have to search you for weapons, security is tight because of the war."

Connald raised an eyebrow, then said, "As you like, of course."  He
unhooked the heavy, slightly curved blade from his belt, and gave it to the


guard.  With it went a small belt dagger.  He offered his shoulder bag to
the guard as well, a slight grin playing over his face.  "Well, I have a
sword, and several pens...which is mightier, eh?'

the guard was not really in the mood for jokes, he took the pens as well as
the weapons.  When he was about finished a page came in.
"her Majesty will see you now, sir."  He said.  "If you will follow me."

The Queen Mother was a tall woman in her early forties.  Still beautiful,
although her face was lined, and her eyes seemed a little sad.  What was
striking about her beside her height was the long blonde hair, it was
obvious that she was not from Celtic descent.

"my lord ap Lywen."  She said, "I hear you are here to enquire about the
position of scribe?"  She had a slight accent, one that was very familiar
to him.

Connald bowed low, using the movement to mask the bleak expression that
crossed his face.  A Saxon woman, the Queen Mother of this place?  By the
time he rose from the bow, his face was calm.  He'd had little to do with
Saxons since the day he'd jumped into the harbor, years ago.  But a deep
anger still coiled in him.  Her beauty did not escape his eye, she was,
after all, only a few years older then he. But she was both married, and of

the Royal Family, so he simply noted it.  The sadness in her eyes he also
wondered about, briefly, as he answered.

"Indeed so, your Highness.  I am, as you know, Connald ap Lywen, of
Dinodig, though I have spent many years wandering in diverse places.  I am
most interested in a place here as a scribe.  I can read and write Latin,
Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, smatterings of more easterly tongues, as

well as our own speech, of course."  As an afterthought, he said, "I can
also converse with fluency in the Saxonish dialect of German, Highness."

she looked at him, he sounded very useful.  And her husband and son had

been urging her for some time now to get some help.  So she smiled at him.
"I envy you your travels."  She said.  "the Saxon colonies are so near, and
yet there are so few people here that speak my native language."  She said
wistfully.  "Where you there recently?"

"No, Highness." He'd avoided the Saxon holdings on his way to Abertawe.  He
spoke in Saxon, a bit accented, but otherwise quite fluently.  "I did
however have the opportunity to learn your language well, several years
ago."  His druid training let him keep the bitterness and irony out of his
voice, leaving it calm.  "As for my travels, they have been enlightening,
yet I am glad to be back in more familiar lands."  He met her gaze
directly, his grey eyes calm, though the scar that ran from eye to mouth
gave him a rather forbidding look, even at rest.

Isa felt that something was wrong here, she could not put her finger on it
completely, yet if she was to an employ this man they would work very
closely together and she  would have to trust him completely, and the other
way around.  So she followed a hunch.

"how did you come into contact with my people?"  She asked kindly, yet very
direct. Isa   It was not a woman who was intimidated easily, she possessed
and inner calm and strength that was admired by many.  Not many people knew
her true self.

He considered, for a moment, simply lying to her.  He was actually fairly
good at lying, and making it convincing.  Instead, he simply spoke the
truth.  "I was taken in a raid, Highness, a score of years ago.  It took me
some time to regain my freedom.  During my time as a slave, I had ample
opportunity to learn the speech of your people. Among other lessons."

she looked at him with compassion.  "This must be difficult for you.  Are
you sure you want the job? you and I will be working very close together.
And although I have lived here most of my life, I cannot change the way I
look.  And I still love my people.  I know they have their bad sides, and
you have probably only seen those.  Yet there is another side to them as
well."  She said softly.

Connald nodded, listening to her words. "I have seen many peoples, milady,
and all have their good, and bad.  I do wish the job.  Admittedly, I have
little love for your people.  However, I am no fool to believe that all
Saxons are the same, or wish the same things.  I would be honored to serve
you, Highness."  He had other reasons, for wishing to be in Alban, and have
access to the Royal Court, but those reasons were his own.


"That is a good answer."  She said.  "I hope I can show you the other side
of my people.  Before I  employ you, I would like you to meet my son.  you
will have to work closely with him, so it's important you two get a long as
well, would you mind?"

"I would be honored to meet your son, Highness."  Connald was actually
slightly taken aback by her politeness. He'd had little contact with Royal
persons before.  He'd of thought there would be less asking, more
declaring.  This Royal Lady was a pleasant surprise, despite the
unfortunate fact of her heritage.

"wonderful."  She said smiling.  "What say you that we get you settled
first, and give you a little time to rest, then you can meet my son tonight."

Connald bowed deeply. "As you say, Highness.  I am at your disposal."








"An Evening Stroll"

Diora di`Annangar
Connald ap Lywen

Kingdom of Abertawe

The dinner that she had with Hawk and Arianna was nice. Diora thought 
for a change she would go for a walk within the city.  Since she didn't 
leave the gates, her guard could keep an eye on her as she walked.  They 
would not accompany her to give her peace, but she would be protected.  
She sighed and contemplated many things as she walked.

Viewing a city at night was often a good way to come to understand it.  
Connald walked the streets near the castle, considering his plans for 
the following day.  A treastise on surgery awaited him in his room at 
the inn, but he wasn't quite ready to settle in and read it yet.  As he 
rounded a corner, he nearly ran into a woman who seemed as lost in her 
thoughts as he was.  After avoiding the collision, he said, "My 
apologies, milady.  My thoughts were elsewhere."

Diora was partly startled out of her reverie upon almost walking into 
the man.  "Twas my appologies, milord." She said to him folding her 
hands in front of her.  Her pendant with the symbol of the Morrigan 
glinted in the lantern light.  Her crystal blue eyes made contact with 
his. She curtsied as best she could to him and then spoke again.  "Ye 
seemed in a bit of a hurry, please don't let me stop you."

Connald smiled as his grey eyes lingered on hers for a moment.  Then his 
eyes went to the pendant, and the smile widened.  "It has been some time 
since I saw that symbol worn as anything other then a trophy of battle, 
milady.  Though stories of the Morrigan served me well, once upon a 
time."  They'd proven rather popular as with the young wealthy listeners 
in the great city.  "I am in no hurry, milady.  I am Connald ap Lywen, 
may I be favored with your name?"

She smiled.  "My name, dear sir, is Diora di`Annagar.  It was common to 
hear those stories as well in the country as well." His dialect was 
familiar to her as it was something similar to her own.

Connald blinked at her, wondering if she'd read his mind, then he said, 
"Are ye a priestess of the Morrigan?  They become rare, in this day."  
He thought a moment, then said, "Are ye daughter to the Duke Annagar?  
The innkeep said he was in the city.  I'd heard of him."

She nodded to his first question.  "Aye, I am a priestess of Morrigan.  
I'm one of the few remaining."  She smiled to his second question.  
"Duke Annagar of Caer Lleyw in Aberstywth, aye though he doesn't take 
the title anymore since the Nywddwyn family took the land.  He's more 
happy being a Lord now than he was a Duke." She said to him.

"It is good that a man be happy."  Connald returned her smile.  For a 
moment, he wondered what a lovely woman of such importance was doing 
wandering about unattended in such unhappy times, then his eye caught 
the guards in the near distance, and he nodded.  "Milady, I am no 
gallant knight, but I would offer to escort you to your destination.  
However, I see that you are already well cared for.   I have a old 
Arabic treatise on surgery awaiting me, with some small luck, I can make 
a start on translating it into our own tongue."    He bowed to her, 
deeply.  "It was a distinct pleasure to make your acquaintance Diora di` 
Annagar."

"You need not go so soon. I may have something that would help you in 
your translation."  She said to him.  "Besides, I could use the 
company." She said taking no notice of the guard.

Connald looked at her, interested in that.  "Something to help in 
translation?"  He smiled, a little. A priestess of Morrigan would likely 
have the same druidic training he'd received, at the very least.  
"Mostly what I require is time, to sit down and do it.  Any assistance 
you might offer would be appreciated."  Then the smile widened.  "I 
would be honored to continue our conversation, in any case."  Her 
crystal blue gaze was intriguing.  "Are you interested in the arts of 
the physician?"

"My dear sir, I am one." she gave him a little laugh.  "Not only am I a 
Priestess, I am also the king's healer." she smiled brightly to him.

He chuckled, watching her.  "A lady of some importance."  He nodded, and 
said, "I've always admired Physicians for their skills. I've got several 
texts in Greek and Arabic, that I brought back with me, from the Eastern 
lands.  Perhaps you would be interested in their contents?  Some things 
are written there that might surprise even a druid."

"I'd be interested in reading what you have." She said to him.

"Excellent.  They are in my rooms at the inn.  It is some little way 
from here.  Shall we just walk a bit, for now?  I'd love to hear of your 
training, milady.  When I went to the Tor, I was too old to truly be 
considered for the deeper knowledge."  He grinned a little.  "Though I 
might have picked up a bit here and there that the Ovates didn't exactly 
intend."

"I'd like that.  When I was at the Tor they sent me to the deeper 
learning expecting to be somewhat of a scholar.  I was happy being a 
physician." She laughed walking beside him.  "The Ovates let me alone 
because I followed the path they thought best for me."

"Very convenient of them.  For some reason they wished me to be a 
filidh, and wander about dispensing poetry, songs, and such small wisdom 
as I could muster."  He chuckled just a bit.  "By all the gods, that was 
a long time ago."  He looked at her, and grinned.  "I must seem 
remarkably old to a young lady such as yourself.  I've spent most of my 
life far from here.  It's good to be back, I think."

"She smiled.  You remind me of my father." She said with a smile not 
thinking of Annagar but of Fagan. "I am glad that you have returned, 
that just means I have someone to converse with that doesn't normally 
have to deal with politics." Diora said to him with a bright smile.

A deep laugh came from him, and he exclaimed, dramatically, both hands 
held over his heart, "Shot through the heart!  I meet a pretty lass on a 
lovely evening stroll, and she tells me I remind her of her father!"  He 
winked at her, and offered his arm.  "Well, then, milady, let us 
promenade, and discuss the weather, matters of faerie, and the strange 
things that cows do under a full moon.  Anything atall but politics."

She giggled and took the pre-offered arm and hooked her arm into his.  
She then sighed. "I wish the city walls weren't so confining.  I miss 
the smell of spruce trees on a spring morning and songs sung to bring in 
the year.  I think that's what I miss the most about the Tor.  I have 
been told that I was very much a Fae child.  Always climbing up trees 
when the elders and Ovates were looking for me." she said with a chuckle.

He looked over at her, and nodded.  "I remember the spruce trees.  As I 
recall, the elders took a dim view of kissing winsome maids under 
them."  He cleared his throat.  "Speaking only from observation of 
course."  He smiled a bit, misty memories of his years at the northern 
center for druidic training coming back to him.  "I may have to wander 
back up that way again, before too long."  He walked on, arm in hers, 
enjoying the company of the young lady on his arm.

She smiled.  "Of course.  Never was allowed near those trees as I got 
older.  They sent me here to finish my training instead of the Tor." she 
smiled remembering the older initiates having their handfastings at 
Beltane.

That brought a slight chuckle.  'That I can well understand.  Very wise 
of them."  He looked over at her guards, and raised an eyebrow as they 
approached at a good pace, a young page with them.  "Hmmm....at a guess, 
I would suspect our walk is coming to an end."

She turned and looked behind her.  "They get over protective. Do not 
fear.  If you wish to continue this conversation, if you areever at the 
palace, I am usually found in the hospital or in the Palace Gardens. 
Twas indeed a pleasure to meet you Connald." Diora said and stepped away 
to give him a curtsey before the Guards escorted her towards the palace 
once more.

He watched her walk off, a small smile playing over his face.  Casual 
fear was something he'd had burned out of him in Saxon lands many years 
ago.  But she'd no way of knowing that, and her concern was touching. 
 "Remarkable young lady."  Still smiling, he turned and headed for his 
inn, and his plans for the morrow.


"Fragments of Chaos - The Battle"
- A cast of npcs & a cameo by a pc...

***

Nwython watched the chaos unfold. He heard the call of the horn,
and watched as Burke's men turned against their higher master. 
He observed Earl Gwylim begin the charge forward, the bulk of Iowerth's
army at his back. He was in position to move, but he held back. For
to move now, would be to add an element of chaos to chaos. 
Compounding the problems for Sanglet, yes. But also stifling Burke's
treachery, and getting in the way of Gwiylm's assault. As much
as it grieved him to stand by and do nothing, that was exactly 
what was needed from him at this point.

So he watched. And waited for a time when he would be needed...

***

His vomitus had turned red with blood this morning, but duty 
called him to hold his place, next to his men. And they needed
him. For as Lord Burke's men turned upon them, and the call
came forth to scale the wall and close the gate, Captain Teren
turned to his soldiers and shouted, "To me! The wall and then
the gate!"

He gasped for air, the poison had clogged his lungs and clouded
his head, but he fought it's effects and ran towards the stairs
that scaled the inside of the outer wall. His troops ran to his side,
and he waited as they fell in, preparing to charge up the wall.
As they came together, he looked at them, and was surprised
by what he saw. Whether it was the screams of the injured and
dying, mixed wth the cacophany of steel on steel and the
gutteral yelling and shouting that surrounded them; or just the
pale and sick look that mirrored his own; he was struck 
with a sense of... humanity.

Most of the 'men' were in differing stages of emotional anguish.
Some were grim and stoney-faced, obviously expecting the
worst and having somehow come to some sort of 'peace' with
their doom. Others were wide-eyed and frantic with
fear, holding it together with deep breaths and a crouched
posture that resembled a stray dog expecting the boot 
from a passer-by. One young man... Eiddef he vaguely
remembered being his name... had clutched his spear tightly
to his chest in a white-knuckled grip that trembled with intense 
terror. He was not even aware that the shaft of the spear had
cracked. Teren reached forward and tried to take the
spear from his grasp. It was like trying to pull a stone eye
from out of the wall of a dungeon.

"No! No!" moaned Eiddef.

"Give me the spear!" ordered Teren loudly. "It's cracked!
It's useless!"

"Nay! I- I cannot! I cannot do this! We're goin' to die!"

"Give me the damn spear!" he shouted at the boy
again. He was going to pieces completely, and 
as he opened his mouth to scream again, Teren hit
him in the face with his fist. A loud *crunch* and a stringy
rope of blood splattered from the contact into the air, 
coming to rest on his shoulder. Eiddef lost the power
to his legs, and as his eyes rolled back into his head,
he simply crumpled to the ground, like a sack of 
manure dropped from the edge of a cart.

Despite the chaos, there was complete silence around the
Captain. Teren was still breathing heavily, and his gaze
slowly moved from the lifeless form of Eiddef to the 
stares of the soldiers around him. It was almost like a
bubble had formed around the group, isolating them from
the unfolding drama.

"Ye killed him," muttered a gruff voice from within the
tangle of a spearman's dense beard.

Teren opened his mouth to say something, but closed
it again, takng a few moments to choose his words.
".. I know this to be a shitty hand of fate," he began. 
"But I'll be raped by my horse before I have anyone
else loose their head. Get - up - there - and - close -
that - gate."

The look his soldiers gave him at that point almost 
made him despair. Disdain and hatred stabbed at 
him from their eyes like daggers. Normally he did not
care for the mewlings of footmen, but he knew that if
he had even an ounce of respect from any one of these
men before... it was now gone. Sanglet had made
him a Captain, because he knew he could trust him
to get the job done. But was it worth this?

For the first time in his 'career', Teren suddenly felt
old and tired. It wasn't just because of the poison: he
genuinely began to believe that he would
not live to see the dawn on the morrow. As the men
began to slowly trickle up the stairs towards the top
of the wall and the gate, he looked again to
the body of Eiddef. And saw his own face. With
empty lifeless eyes that stared at a cold and 
cruel world...

***

"Ye BASTARD Sanglet!" screamed Baron Gwyleged at
the top of his lungs. Standing in his stirrups, the horse's
hooves thundering beneath him, the swarthy noble raised
his axe and greeted the onrushing melee with a mixture
of ecstasy and thrill. It had been a long time between
fights - he would have gladly become a pauper to 
be here at the edge of death...

***

Elsewhere, in the forests near Ast...

Sparrow was as quiet as a mouse. Bear was nowhere
to be seen. From his perch in the tree, surrounded and
shrouded by it's dense foliage, he could see through the
smallest of gaps. The bodies of Luke... and Jon... lay
where the reaper had kissed them. Sparrow had
thought about descending onto their assailant to avenge
their deaths... but something inside told him that he
would share their fate, if he dared to even breath. The
others had shared the same fate. Only he had the 
presence of mind of avoid that kiss.

Underneath, a knight in black strode about through the
trees, searching. His onyx sword stained with blood,
his eyes wild with fury and madness. He had only one
arm, yet such was the purpose and the speed to his 
actions, that Sparrow was not fooled in the slightest
to assume he would have an advantage. So he
kept very, very still, as still as all his experience and
skill would allow. And counted each and every 
second until the knight's hellish form moved away
through the trees, seeking unknown goals elsewhere...

"Learning the Past"

Lady Diora
Lady Gwyn
Irena


Diora arrived as prescribed following on the heels of the messenger from
Duke Lleu.  She was shown into the main foyer and awaited those within.  She 
sighed and sat on one of the benches waiting.

The messenger then went up stairs to the main bedroom where Lady Gwyn was 
speaking with her "charge".  "Milady, the healer Diora is here as requested 
to examine the girl." He said with a bow to the Baronness.

Gwyn turned to Irena. "This healer will examine you.  You will submit or I 
will send you to the dungeons of the city."

Irena glared at the Baroness.  "You have no right." She sneered.

Gwyn raised an eyebrow. "I have every right if you might be carrying my
grandchild."

Diora was shown to the room where Gwyn and Irena were.  She curtsied to the 
Baronness out of respect.  "Milady."  She then saw the reason she was here. 
She had a small smile on her face that assured the Lady that her examination 
would be indeed thorough.

"I will leave you to her care then."  Gwyn swept from the room in anger.

"Don't even think you are getting near me." Irena hissed.

"Suit yourself, but what are you trying to prove?  You think by seducing a 
child with ties that you could gain those rights?  Instead of pulling the 
boy away from his mother you only strengthened his ties, but you are only 
hurting yourself." She looked at the young woman's frame.  "I'd say by the 
look of you, that carrying a child to full term is unlikely.  You are under 
nourished and if you succeed, you wouldn't survive the birth, nor would the 
child.  I see that evidence without touching you."  Diora said.

"You should be grateful that you live.  The lady could have had your head 
for what you have done and it would be her right." Diora said quietly to 
her.

"I have done nothing but what his lordship bid me." She answered.  "It is 
his right to command a woman to his bed." She tossed her head defiantly, 
even dressed solely in a chemise.

"Did nothing eh? You were the one who put the option in his head by asking 
him about byblows and things.  Oh yes, my dear he already spoke to me of 
you.  You had confused him a great deal and fooled him into loving you to 
get what you want.  He's 13 summers.  You are older and should know better." 
   Diora said to her calmly "You were more childish than he to pull the 
stunt that you have done, and because you won't let me examine you. You may 
get really ill to the point I cannot save you. Now you do not want that do 
you, dear?" She said to her quietly.

"You do not scare me.  I have studied my herblore and healing arts. I know 
what I am capable of." The girl said defiantly, crossing her arms.
"Besides, it the gods will that I not conceive then it is their decision not 
yours or even a high and mighty noblewoman."  Irena spoke well for a girl 
supposedly of the streets.

"Where was your family from?" she asked.  "And you are right about the gods, 
they do take vengence on stupidity. Just as well, if you are learned on your 
healing arts and herblore you also know the laws as well, and the fact you 
broke quite a few of them."

"Daffydd." She answered, a little taken aback by Diora's answer, the
insolence was absent.

"Do you remember the druidic law?" she asked Irena knowing full well that 
she herself grew up in that area.

"There are many laws amongst many followings.  I doubt we have learned
the same laws."  Irena said quietly.  "My father had a druid in court."

"In court," Diora heard her correctly.  "Are you of the royal house in
Daffydd?" She asked sitting on the bed.  Diora realized that just getting 
the girl to talk was a vast improvement.

Irena turned pale.  "No.. " She whispered  'I will leave and I will trouble 
Llywen no more." She offered hopefully.

"Irena, if ever you need a friend right now, I offering.  You can trust me, 
what's going on?" She asked as she saw the girl pale.

"I can't..."  Irena steeled herself. "I do not need a friend." She finished 
bravely, but her face and eyes gave false to her words.

Diora sighed. "Such a brave soul where the heart still shows through.
I am here to talk and to be your friend; I will not go back on my word.
I never have yet.  Llywen knows that well.  I can promise that you will not 
be sent away and that you can stay with me if you wish It.

"You are a druid.  Druids pervert the ways of the gods."  Irena spouted. But 
Diora could tell that she was not saying anything that hadn't been drilled 
into her head. The words were toneless as if repeating them for the 
thousandth time.  "I am pregnant and you will try to take it from me."

"I am a woman, and I know that you will need someone to help you.  No one is 
going to take the child from you.  Do you really believe that I would 
perverse what the gods bless, and a child is something that the gods bless." 
   She said absently placing her hands on little bit of a belly that she 
herself had. Diora was being honest and it showed through her whole being 
and she was rather calm about this too.

"I heard his lordship tell her ladyship that you would take it." Irena
accused.  Irena was confused. She expected anger and condemnation
if they were discovered, but this she did not expect.  "I want to speak
with Llywen." She said, her eyes filling with tears.

"Irena, if you don't listen to anything else, listen to this.  No matter
what happened, I will not take the child from you.  I want to help you take 
care of yourself and the child."  Diora said walking over and quietly taking 
the girl in her arms.  "I did not see Llywen, but rest assured you will be 
cared for."

Irena trembled in Diora's arms.  She didn't want to like anyone. She wanted 
to hate these people.  They had destroyed the only family she had for 
several years now. They were gone, scattered or dead and it was these people 
who had caused that death.  She had nothing left.  Tears formed on her face 
as she looked away from the older woman.  They should pay for it, that is 
why she had come here.

"I know what its like to lose those that were a family to me.  I know the 
vengence that is seething through you and I know why you followed Llywen 
here, but it matters not.  The thing you don't realize is that if you seek 
out your vengence, you'll only be more alone than you are now.  I'm giving 
you the chance to start anew. I give you my word, you'll have to trust me." 
Diora said to her.  She remember what it was like and though she was younger 
than Irena she was in the same boat.

Irena lost her strength of purpose with those words.   The fight just went 
out of her.  She burst into tears for she was very scared at the path she 
had chosen though she had not admitted it even to herself.  It was at that 
moment that Gwyn had stepped back in the door.  She stood there frowning as 
she met Diora's eyes.

She gave Gwyn a nod and motioned her to wait. "Irena, tell the Lady the
truth to your background.  She needs to know that much at least.  No harm 
will come to you, now is the time to be honest." She said still holding onto 
the crying girl in her arms.

The girl stiffened at the mention of the Lady.  She turned and backed up 
against Diora.  She looked as if she would run, much like a cornered animal, 
in fact.  "I.. I.. " She could not find her tongue.

Gwyn stepped foward. "What truth is there that I have not already diserned." 
Gwyn asked softly.

Diora gave the girl a comforting squeeze.  "Do not be afraid, you no longer 
have to hide who you are." She said to her calmly.

"I am not common born." The girl stuttered.  "I was born into the house of 
Daffydd. I.. I have not been to Daffydd in over eight summers."

"Go on child." Diora said to her quietly, still very much in comfort and
protection.

"I .. I .. " She lost her words and her courage failed her.

Gwyn sighed. "Can't lie fast enough child?" She had no patience for this 
woman child what so ever. Her corruption of Llywen was beyond forgiveness.

"I am not lying."  Irena defended hotly. 'I am from the house of Daffydd. My 
father was head of our clan til they killed him and took the children away."

"Alright now, tempers are not needed." Diora said to them equally.  "We need 
to be calm about this whole thing.  Milady you have been hurt, the girl did 
what she thought to do for she didn't know better, but now she will be 
retaught right from wrong.  Apparently the followers had taught her things 
that were unbecoming and as an impressionable child she didn't know better.  
She probably was forced to watch her siblings be killed in front of her for 
not cooperating.  You have heard the tales.  She was alone and is taken with 
your son, and now she's the surviving member of her clan and carrying your 
grandchild." Diora said to Gwyn finally.

Gwyn looked up to Diora's eyes, hoping she was mistaken.  "This had better 
be the truth. For if in my inquiries, I find that it is not.  I will send 
her to the King's justice for her crimes.  With your permission, I will 
leave her with you till the truth can be verified."  Gwyn was wishing for 
the Duke right now.  She did not know what to do with this new truth.

Diora met her eyes and she was not mistaken.  The truth showed in her own 
eyes.  "Aye, that will be fine."  Diora said quietly still holding onto 
Irena.

"Then I will trust you to gather her things and get her out of my home." 
Gwyn said, somewhat defeated.  She left the two young women alone.

Diora watched Gwyn leave.  She then made sure that Irena had on a gown that 
fit and thought that the girl needed something better.  She then gathered 
the few things that were there and took Irena by the hand and let her out of 
Lady Gwyn's home and into her own.  She didn't know how Gwilym would react, 
but it was something that she had to do.

"Dinner Conversation"

King Hawk
Lady Diora
Rhys
Dame Arianna ui Llewellyn



Diora took the moment to rest for a change.  The sickness that had been
wracking through her had finally ended and she started to notice changes.  
She smiled as the sun's light warmed her.  She had been spending much time 
in the garden and she rested up under her favorite tree.  She was dozing 
quietly as a messenger came to her with an invitation to dinner.  She 
relaxed in the glow of the sun set then decided that she should go prepare.

The seamstress had brought several new gowns for her to allow her to move 
comfortably.  She selected a navy blue one and wore her Morrigan pendant 
that Gwilym had given her. She brushed her hair and let it fall gracefully 
to her lower back. She then quietly walked down the hall to Hawk's office 
and knocked on the door.

"Enter!"  The King's deep voice sounded. "Diora" he said smiling when she 
entered.  "You look beautiful, my dear."  His eyes scrutinised her, she was 
still pale, yet not as bad as she had been this morning.

"Well, thank you Hawk.  I was able to get some rest.  How are you feeling?" 
she asked him taking a chair opposite his desk.

"I have rested a bit, and I spend time with Arianna.  So I am trying to
relax.  Yet when I come in here and see all the work that needs to be done, 
it is hard.  But more important how have you been feeling?"

"I am feeling better, though I wish this war would end soon." A look of
worry shown clearly her face.  She had Gwilym in her mind when she wasn't 
busy.

Just as Diora spoke.  Arianna quietly slipped in and arranged her hair
quickly.  She had been playing with Rhys again and time had gotten away from 
her.  She smiled at them both.

"I am sure my father will keep a good eye him."  Hawk said reassuring.  "He 
is a seasoned commander, and he does not take risks with people's lives if 
it is not necessary."  He held out his hand for Arianna and pulled her 
against him so he could kiss her.

Arianna quickly kissed him and gave Diora a wink, though she saw a  
crestfallen look on Diora's face. "Come now dearest, you'll be fine, and
Gwilym'll be home before you know it.  Besides, you need to think of your 
future and the lil one.  You've been running yourself ragged and you need to 
slow down a little bit."  She said quietly.

"Aye, I know.  I've been dealing with an unlikely sort this afternoon and 
was able to relax." She sighed sitting comfortably back in the chair she sat 
in.

"We will not allow you to overwork."  The King said.  "If need be I will
put a watch on you, and this is not simply revenge."  He smiled.

"Aye Hawk I know.  I already have a watch that Gwilym set upon me before he 
left.  You can just add to it..." She said smiling back.

"You will be the  most guarded person here outside of the royal family." He 
said coming to his feet.  I should go and see if everything is ready for 
dinner.  Despite everything he still moved a bit stiffly.

She laughed but was wary.  She didn't like the idea of being under guard. "I 
don't want to be made that obvious, you can just cause charge to the ones 
that are already in place."  She said as he headed out the door.

When Hawk  left it was not a minute later before Rhys peaked his head
around the door  and came in.  It was passed his bedtime, yet that did not 
seem to bother the young prince.  He smiled at the two women and then sat 
down at their feet.

"Hello there? I don't believe we have met." Diora said to the little boy.

"Rhys, I thought I tucked you in.  Come now...let's get you back into bed 
and I'll read you yet another bedtime story." Arianna told the crown prince.

He ignored Arianna for now, obviously not wanting to go to bed.  "I'm
Rhys."  He said to Diora.  "You want to play?"

Diora smiled to Rhys and then looked up at Arianna and winked at her.  "Nice 
to meet you Rhys, I'm Diora but you can call me De.  Instead of playing why 
don't you come sit up in my lap and I'll sing you a song." she said to him 
quietly.

He thought for a moment and then climbed into her lap.

His nurse entered the room, the poor woman seemed very relieved that the
Prince was here.  "I am so sorry your Grace."  She said.  "I thought he was
asleep."

"Tis alright, he can stay for a little while, besides I need the practice."
Diora said to the nurse.  "I'll make sure he ends up back in bed." She said
quietly.  She held onto Rhys and smiled at him. She then wove a tale of
dragon and a dashing knight together in a beautiful song for the little boy
to dream to.

Arianna sat opposite her and watched Diora interact with Rhys.  Arianna had
a smile on her face and she noted that Diora had a peaceful look on her face
as she sang.

The little boy began to fall asleep, a big smile on his face.  And he was
soundly asleep when his father returned.

"What's this little scoundrel going here?"  He asked smiling.

Diora smiled in return holding the sleeping boy.  "Apparently he didn't want
to miss in all the fun." She said quietly watching the sleeping boy suck his
thumb.  "I'll go put him to bed and return shortly and we all can go eat."
She stood and nimbly took Rhys into his bedroom where she tucked him in.

Arianna watched Diora go and then flashed a smile at Hawk.  "Rhys received a 
treat.  He got Diora to sing him to sleep." She said giving him a deep hug.

"You are both so good with him.  He is so lucky, beside my mother he now
has you to look after him."

Arianna smiled.  "Aye he does bring a certain joy to my life."  She said and 
kissed him again.

Diora came in quietly with a distant look and a smile on her face.  She was 
humming a little tune and didn't notice the lovers.  She sat in the chair 
and waited until they were finished.

Hawk flushed a little when he looked up. "Uhm sorry, got a bit carried
away. It's time we were married."

"Aye love. After this war is over, we'll be married."

"But tonight we only have time for Diora."  He said smiling.

Arianna nodded and pulled away from Hawk.  She walked up to Diora.  "Come 
let's go eat and you continue to enchant us with your song if you wish."  
She said smiling.

Diora smiled and nodded and followed Arianna and Hawk into the dining room 
to begin an enjoyable evening.

New Arrival
Eirwyn ui Galeran

Eirwyn's head nodded low in her seat, jostling side to side as the
cricketing carriage hit a stray rock or pit. Her dark hair hung down in
tired strands of heat and dust that blew over the open cabin. The carriage
had barely stopped along the two day solid trek between Dyfadd and
Alban, and nearly four days before that from Tywyn.  The steady thunder of
the horses was even and calm, but the girl had only been able to fall asleep
for a few scant hours as a time - excitement and anxiety swirled in her
stomach as each league thundered below the carriage wheels.

"We're arriving, lady!" came a call from Neric, the driver she had
comissioned from Dyfad. "Just ahead lies Alban."

She woke with a start, blinking wide eyes at her surroundings. "Oh," she
breathed in a bit of awe as the large city stretched before her. Pillars of
white and gray rose high along the walls, and the grounds seemed to writhe
with movement, color, and sounds of the people around. They passed through
the the front gates with a nod from the guards, and Neric seemed to know his
way as he trotted the tired horses along the winding cobblestone streets.
Eirwyn stared in every direction, wishing she had three extra sets of eyes
to take it all in, the deep smells and din of a thousand voices chatting and
shouting in the sunlight.

Within the inner walls of the castle, the air was much more subdued. A
fragrant breeze lifted her tired hair, weaving a light scent of flowers and
less than a trace of the noise and bustle from the market outside. The
carriage made an abrupt stop, and Eirwyn quickly tumbled out without waiting
for assistance. She tried to straighten her dusty travel clothes as best she
could in a fit of self-consciousness, but gave up after realizing the
clothes would not clean themselves with a few pats.

"May I help you, Milady?" a young man with a guarded stance approached from
a few paces away.

She tried to give an easy smile. "Eirwyn ui Galeran, sir, I've come to give
my assistance to the future queen. I was told everything had been
arranged..."

"Ah yes," a faint flicker of recognition passed over his face. "Come with
me, lady, my lords have been expecting you." He gestured with a stiff hand.
"Come now, I'll have someone sent for your bags."

"Thank you," Eirwyn gave a last glance to Neric, who was carefully unloading
her trunks, and followed the man inside.

"A Little Information Gathering"
- Renny Alberwine
- Raven (npc)

***

 
"This bloody useless Ren," Raven swore glaring at small child armed with a
rock.  "These people aren't worth it."

Renny threw her a disdainful glance before handing a piece of bread to the
child.  The child ran off without a backwards glance and Renny finished the
last of their lunch.  "Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way." she finally
conceded.  Her hand grazed her pouch and she grinned at the jiggling of
coin.  "Think mother would've minded if I used the last of her treasure to
finance finding Edmund?"

Raven grinned back and the two set off to re-negociate the terms of
agreement with many of the townspeople.
 
***
 
As evening drew to a close, Renny had managed to probe several of the
townsfolk into what they knew of the vessel. Just about all had needed
some 'encouragement' in the form of payment to even gain their attention,
but she had gained more information about other matters than she had
planned on.
 
The wrecked ship had been a slaver vessel, which the sergeant-at-arms
had alluded to before. Onboard had been men with dark skins and curved
blades, and occasionally they had paraded people clad in chains and rags
of clothes on deck to perform menial tasks that the sailors could not have
been bothered with. Rumour had it they were waiting for a 'shipment': an
emissary had come ashore several weeks ago and headed in the direction
of the capital. In the meantime, they had treated the townsfolk with polite
arrogance and generally avoided any contact with them. 
 
The night before last, during the middle of the night, someone made their
way on board and proceeded to slaughter everyone on board. From all
accounts, it was neither pleasant or pretty. For while most of the slavers
were killed, many of the slaves also died, as the ship was set alight from
within and burnt to the waterline. The town guard rushed to the scene, but
given the spectacle unfolding before them, they decided to remain back
from the disaster, valuing their own lives over that  of unknown foreigners.
It gave Renny a slight tinge of satisfaction to learn that there was much
soul-searching by the militia afterwards over their lack of action on that
night. 
 
During all this, the vessel of interest to Renny remained dark and silent in
the Loch. The folk onboard were generally described a lot more
favourably... they were closer in appearance to the folk of Abertawe, and
Brienh was mentioned as the port of origin for the ship. It had been
moored there for over a month, and took little equipment or provisions on 
or off over that time.
 
One peasant actually remembered the troupe headed by Tathal leaving
the vessel when it originally arrived. The same person also recalled when
they had returned several days ago. He corroborated the verson given to
Renalla by Caelwin: that Edmund had seemed to be in their company of
his own free will. 

As the man walked off, a tad happier at the coins Renny had given him
(more then the others, since he had given her the information she wanted),
Renny sighed frustrated.  "What do you think?" she finally asked, leaning
back against the chair she had occupied for several hours.  "You think
Edmund really went off with them happy like?"

Raven lifted her mug and sipped thoughtfully.  "Well he *seemed*
honorable enough.  Sure as hell didn' mind dealing with us did he?" Raven
began licking her lips.  "Then again..." she shook her head.  "Think we
should call the guys in?"

Renny nodded grimly.  "That tale of the man slaughtering the slavers...
who's to say he won't mistake Sparrow or Luke for them?" she shook
her head, absently worrying over the tangles.  "'Sides think we need to
formulate that plan we were supposed to make about getting Edmund
back." she added.

Raven shrugged standing.  "Its a waste of our time." she said quietly.

Renny stood also, brushing her mouth with a scrap of cloth.  "Its my
time to waste." she reminded her firmly.

***

"On The Road Back"
Kingdom Of Abertawe
Sir Gwynne Hawley- Crest Of Topaz
Lady Jolene Burke



It was early morning when Gwynne's eyes opened to find his betrothed still
sleeping. He watched her intently, so happy to have her back, but knowing
that the Jolene he had fallen in love with was gone, and that he somehow had
to find a way to repair her very soul.

"Lass, darling, wake up," he said, shaking her ever so gently.

She screeched and scrambled away from the hands touching her. Her eyes were
wide and reminded him of a small frightened animal.

Gwynne was startled himself by how she looked, her reaction shocked him as
much as he had accidentally shocked her. "I am sorry Jolene, we return home
this day, you must awaken, we will eat breakfast. Do you wish to bathe here
or wait until we get home?" he asked, he smiled pleasantly at her, hoping
his soft, soothing voice would calm her.

She just stared at him in confusion. She looked about wildly, her eyes
filled with tears.   She pressed herself so tightly back that she fell
between the cot and wall of the tent.

He could not believe how scared of him she was. The one man who would never
harm her and you would have thought Gwynne was her attacker. He rushed to
her aide and picked her up off the ground. "Lass are you okay?" he asked her
tenderly, his hands holding her arms.

She stiffened in his arms, her face hid by her hair as she did not look up.
She trembled in his arms. She had yet to say a word.

Gwynne knew he had only one thing to do now, he kept one hand on her arm
tightly and the other he brushed her hair from her face and he looked into
her eyes, he touched her nose with his own, "Look at me Jolene! This is
Gwynne Hawley, Knight of the Realm! You are no longer captive, this is me
Gwynne! Your betrothed! Come undone from this wretched trance!" he beckoned
her from the world she was in, as if his voice could somehow reach her if he
was a bit more harsh with her. Truth was he was just frustrated with her,
but he never struck her, he just shook her.

Jolene stilled in his arms and went limp. She began to cry softly and then
buried her face against his tabard.

He held her, his eyes misty as he did so. For the longest time he thought
she had died, and now here she was against his chest, crying. "Lass you are
free, read this," he encouraged. Unrolling the parchment so she could see
the signature of her father, "we are legally betrothed, and no matter what
has happened to you, I will do my best to cherish you and make you feel
loved, I am not stupid enough to think I can somehow make up for what has
happened, but I can attempt to make you happy again," he said, he gently
stroked her hair as she cried. He was so careful with her, for fear he might
break her into a tiny little pieces. "I love you Jolene, with all my heart
and I'm not afraid to tell you."

She could not answer him. He said she was free, and yet her stepfather had
sold her to him. How was she free? She knew she would never be free. She
cried even harder.

It pained Gwynne to see the lass cry, but he held her and let her do so.
"Jolene, what would you like to do first when you get home?" he asked.

"I just want to go home." She whispered against his chest.

"Then we shall do so, let us eat breakfast together," he smiled. "Will you
please eat for me?" he almost begged her.

She nodded her head.  "I will dress if that is permissible?" She more asked
then stated.

Gwynne smiled, "Aye darling," he walked over to the chest he had brought
with him and opened it, "all the dresses inside here are new milady,
undergarments are new as well, all of them lace and silk," he smiled
proudly. "Choose what you like, then we will eat and get on the road,
hopefully by tomorrow night we will be in our own bed," he said happily, not
realizing what he'd said.

She stood very still. Her eyes dropped to the floor. "Yes, milord." Nothing
had changed, she had just changed masters.

"Wonderful, I will be right outside, heating up breakfast," he smiled,
moving close to her and gently kissing her cheek. "If you have need of
anything, just call for me."

Jolene slowly moved to the chest. She dressed in a very demure outfit of
deep green. She braided her hair somewhat automatically. The sounds of the
camp were filled with wounded moans as she stepped out. It was clear that
yesterday's battle had been costly to the King.

Gwynne smiled when he saw her, "Green is such a beautiful color on you
darling, come sit and eat with me," he said graciously and handing out a
bowl to her. Deep inside himself he was praying she would eat.

She sat down beside him and took the bowl offered. She made an attempt to
eat to please him. She knew it was important to please him.

"I am so happy to see you eat," he said, lighting up with happiness. "When
we get home, what would you like for me to buy for you? What would make you
happy?" he asked, truly wanting to do something generous and heartfelt for
her.

"I do not know." She answered quietly. She took a couple more bites and then
put the plate aside.

"No lass, eat more, you must eat, I beg of you to eat, please?" he said with
fear in his eyes. "Eat lass, please? It breaks my heart to see you starve
yourself to death," he added.

"I ate." She pointed out. She didn't dare eat, she could barely keep
anything down.

"Okay dearest," Gwynne sighed sadly, he was so distraught. He had saved her,
he had given her new dresses, he had secured their betrothal, and his
business had tripled since he had last been with her. "Then have you
 packed?" he asked kindly.

"I didn't unpack what you brought and I brought nothing." She pointed out
quietly. "I am ready to leave when you are."

"Wonderful lass, then I will pack the horse, the tent is from the army as
are the cooking utensils, they will retrieve them for us, the Sergeant has
also agreed to return the chest for us. You have more clothes and fabrics
awaiting you at our home. Let us begin our journey," he smiled. Gwynne was
hopeful, she was at least starting to talk now.

"We are not married, yet." She pointed out, attempting to be brave. "I
cannot go to your home."

"Aye lass, but I am afraid for your safety, I do not want you out of my
sight for fear that damnable Sanglet might. I will see if we can't arrange
quarters in the castle, there at least I may be able to keep you safe and
close to me," he smiled. "I do have separate beds at our home though, and
darling it is your home too now, or soon will be. Your father has also given
us a small estate outside Alban, so we have three homes we may reside in,
and my mercantile endeavors have tripled since we last saw each other, you
will soon be a wealthy young lady," he smiled proudly.

"When are you planning us to wed?" She asked quietly.

"It depends on how you feel lass, I would like to wed soon, but will defer
to you on the matter. I love you Jolene, I will take care of you and cherish
you all of my days, and of this I give you my word and honor as a knight of
the realm," he told her, his hand on his heart.

"It does not matter to me." She answered. "We can wed tomorrow if that is
thy wish."  She looked up at him, the blank look that she had most of the
time since he had found her was back in place.

"Then when we return home I shall speak to a druid and we shall marry as
soon as he is able to carry the service. Who would you like to invite lass?"
he asked kindly, he was now at the horse packing a large weaved basket, tied
shut with rope, then came the saddle bag and a blanket, he rolled up an
extra for Jolene just in case they didn't make it back to Alban before
nightfall.

"I do not care if anyone attends. I have no friends I would want to invite."
She admitted.

"I am sorry milady," he said sadly. "Atleast now we have each other for
always, I shall never leave your side. And I will try my best to make you
happy and to raise our family to be strong and honorable, I still endeavor
to receive official title in this shire," he replied. "Do not worry milady,
you will be well taken care of."

She nodded. What could she say to that.  A soldier walked by them and he
watched as she stiffened in fear. "Can we go now?" She whispered.

"Aye," he replied. "Too many horses were lost in the battle so we shall have
to share lass, I am sorry. I will buy us a carriage when we get to the city,
and that way you may travel anywhere in town without walking," he smiled
proudly.

Gwynne mounted the horse and bent down with his arm out to her, "We shall
away my darling," he said smiling.

She held her hand up to him and allowed him to pull her up in front of him.
She stared straight ahead so as to avoid the curious looks of those within
the camp. Against Gwynne, she felt as stiff as a board.

Gwynne took off down the road to Alban and as he did he felt her stiffen
against his chest. He was sad that she did not trust him and knew he was
acting strangely. Gwynne was not one for hiding what he was feeling, at
least with her, "Milady, I apologize for my strange behavior. I am so
concerned for you, and I am nervous and not thinking. I must sincerely
apologize for my actions and words. I truly mean you no harm, and will
always be gentle with you," he said quietly, his chin rest right next to her
ear so she could hear him and feel his gentle breath upon her skin.

"That will be a relief." She said quietly.

"Please darling do not doubt my love, for it is unwavering. I wish to make
you happy, and perhaps you can find love for me again. You are precious to
me, and if there is anything you desire, I will do all I can to buy it for
you, anything that I might do that will make you happy, you have only but to
ask," he told her. He was very respectful of their closeness, he did not
want her to be uncomfortable.

"Let me join a convent of the one god." She answered immediately. If he
really wanted her happiness, he would grant this.

This request instantly crushed Gwynne so completely that he almost fell off
the horse. In one simple sentence she had just destroyed him. He was silent
for a long time as he did his best to recover.

"What if I am with child." She asked softly, not looking at him. "You wish
to marry but I am no longer of value to marry. I cannot give you a heir of
your blood."

"I would consent to sending the child to a convent, but in honesty milady my
heart would break if you did not choose to be my wife, I will grant thy wish
if that is what you want. But, my heart will never mend from such a thing,
but I love you too much to keep you prisoner, if I am not worthy of your
heart then I shall have to live with it. But in my eyes you are worthy to
marry, and it is your heart that is of value to me, not thy body, it is your
soul that makes me feel alive and what I wish to see resurrected within
 you." That was all Gwynne could say. For he could not truly say he loved
her and hold her to the betrothal, but it was clear Gwynne's heart was torn
to shreds in that moment.

With those words, Jolene fell silent. She did not know what to say from such
outpouring of emotion. It did not reach her heart, but at the same time she
was somewhat moved.  However, regardless of the child's parentage, she
wasn't sure she could send her own child away. Would he send it away without
her consent? There was to many questions and most she did not have the
courage to ask.

"If I were to keep the child and raise it as my own milady, would you then
be my wife?" he asked. If he would have to raise another man's ill-gotten
child to gain the woman he loved then he would do so.

"I do not think I could bare to send any babe away from its mother,
regarldess of its parentage." She answered.

"Aye," he said. "I am not sure if I can give the child my inheritance, but I
shall raise the child as my own if that is what you wish. And if you wish me
to release you from the bond of betrothal I would do so, because I love you.
I do not think I could bear the loneliness your absence would cause me
again," he sighed to her. "I thought you were dead once and that I had lost
you and here if you go to a convent, I would lose you yet again," he said
distraught.

"I will marry you." She answered quietly. She knew any other life would be
as stifling as what she had just been rescued from.

Gwynne finally breathed then, he gently embraced her and reached down and
kissed her cheek. "I shall raise the baby with affection lass, I give you my
word. I only ask for children of my blood, and in return I will live
everyday giving you the love you deserve to receive. I see the wonderful
soul within you Jolene, the gods have not ripped from you. I do love you,
and I do wish only for your happiness," he said to her and quieted then.
Thinking of how difficult it would be to raise the child.

Jolene felt nothing. She didn't know if she ever would. She wanted to hide
herself away.  "You are most gracious, milord." She answered softly.

"Thank you milady, it is my hope you will see just how kind and gentle I
will be. I cannot begin to say I know what you have endured, but I can at
least try to make the rest of your life happy. I only ask for your
affection, and for children, be at my side and I shall make you happy," he
told her tenderly. "I will take the child and raise it as my own," he
reassured her.

This was hard for Gwynne to admit too, but it was not the baby's fault, it
had no control over the circumstances. He knew that he could legally give
his fortune and title to whichever child he wished. But, at least the babe
would have a father, and Gwynne would be allowed to love Jolene back to a
state of health and renewal.

Jolene did not know if this man was always so.. effusive. She hoped not. But
then, effusive was better then mean and abusive. "Again, you are too kind
sir."

Gwynne smiled, he could see that he may have been in over his head, but his
heart would not allow him to run from the darkest pain he could see in her.
Someone had to care enough to break her out of it, and Gwynne did truly love
her. Only time would tell how her wounds would mend.






"The Still And Quiet"
Kingdom Of Abertawe
Sir Gwynne Hawley- Crest Of Topaz
Lady Jolene Burke
And assorted NPC's



Jolene sat in the small parlor. She sat staring out the window. The clothes
that had been laid for her hung loosely. Gwynne could have put both her
wrists in one hand, so frail was she. She did not speak much still. Whenever
he found her, she was usually in some far off place in her own mind. That
was how she was now, staring out the window, as still as if she did not
live.

Gwynne covered his eyes, "Milady, how are we supposed to get to the priest,
it is bad luck for the groom to see his bride before the wedding," he smiled
a bit.

"Do you not think such luck as already been expended." She said quietly,
without looking at him.

"No milady, you are alive, I see this as a blessing," he replied. "But, if
you think it is not needed then I shall open my eyes," he smiled at her, he
looked upon her now noticing how frail and thin she had become. Gone was the
voluptuous figure he had dreamed of, gone were the sparkles in her pretty
green eyes, but he still loved her.

"When did you wish to join in marriage? Should we not wait for your
father-by-law?" She asked, she still had not looked at him.

"You said that you preferred to marry quickly milady?" Gwynne asked, unsure
if she had changed her mind or not. "Remember? Since we had to live under
the same roof?" he asked, hoping she remembered. He would wait if she
wanted, but he truly wanted her to be his wife as soon as possible.

She shrugged. "I am under your roof now?" She pointed out. "But I doubt my
father cares if he sees me wed or not."

"The priest is waiting, but I shall send one of the messenger boys to him if
you wish to wait?" Gwynne inquired. They were under the same roof, but slept
in different rooms. Gwynne had been spending sleepless nights racking his
brain with ideas to help her from this dark pit her soul had caught itself
in.

"No, I care not if it is today." She rose slowly. "I am ready."

"You look gorgeous my dearest lady, I only wish you would eat," he said.
"Have you eaten anything yet this day?" he asked. "If you do not eat, you
starve two lives, not just one," he frowned. He took her hand gently, so
that he could lead her to their carriage.

"I have eaten." She said as she let him pull her forward.

He smiled proudly, "I am pleased Jolene, thank you." He looked at her, "May
I kiss your cheek lass?" he asked, he was very careful with her, afraid of
what she might do if he just kissed her. He was not expecting a wedding
night, that was for sure.

"As you wish." She held her face obediently that he might kiss her cheek.
She was much like a puppet on a string.

He leaned over and kissed her lovingly upon the cheek, "You look enchanting
milady," he wrapped her hand and arm around his own arm and led her out of
the house and to the carriage. He then helped her up into the carriage,
always being the perfect gentleman with her. He did not want to ruin this
day. He knew she was sad, that she had not recovered and he knew perfectly
well that she may never recover and that this is how she would be for the
rest of her days.

Jolene moved over to the window and looked out. She let the cloth fall when
someone looked back in curiosity. She did not want anyone to look at her.

Gwynne was feeling awkward, he was not sure what to say to her, nothing he'd
done had helped her. But he wasn't going to give up. He gently took her hand
and held it as he pounded on the wall to signify the driver to begin their
trip to the church.

"I bought a bouquet for you milady," he showed her a pretty bouquet of white
roses. "And have planned a getaway after our wedding, are you sure you don't
want me to invite anyone to a reception?" he asked her.

"I am sure." She said quietly. She looked over at him. "Why do you wish
this?"

"I am not daft milady, I know you do not love me in return, but I love you,
and want to take care of you. I will take care of the child within your
womb, and do my best to be a honorable and faithful husband. I do this
because I love you, for no other reasons," he said honestly. He was being
very careful not to smother her today.

"I see." She simply said and then looked back out the window.

"I have a surprise for you Jolene, I have also bought you a nice wedding
present, I hope you like it," he said, watching her look out the window.

"I am sure that anything you choose would be wonderful." She answered in a
calm even tone.  She glanced at him, but he didn't see much beyond casual
interest.

"I wish to only bring you happiness and at least a bit of joy," he replied.
"I do believe you will enjoy where I have planned to take you on our
honeymoon," he said hesitantly. He didn't expect to have a normal honeymoon
or even a wedding night, so this topic concerned him, afraid she might lapse
into some kind of terrorized dream or memory.

"Really, where would that be?" She asked now paying attention.

"I rented a chateau on Lake Conner, outside Alban-it is breathtaking. We
will have the entire mansion to ourselves for four days. I am not sure if
this pleases you but at least you will be able to relax and enjoy the quiet
of the Abertawe countryside," he replied, still quite concerned.

"I will like that." She agreed.

"The Duke raises swans and they make their home on the lake, the lake can be
seen from the back of the mansion milady. The hills roll on in green waves
for miles, I was quite shocked that I was able to get the estate on such
short notice," he smiled at her. He wasn't about to tell her how much it
cost either.

"It sounds lovely." She agreed and then began to look out the window once
again.

"I do hope you enjoy it, I am hoping the peace and the relaxation will help
you," he said, he almost put his hand on her knee and had to stop himself.
He didn't want to do anything that would affect her in a harmful way.

It was then that the carriage arrived at the front of the church, Gwynne
opened the carriage door and reached his arm inside to help his fiancé down
onto the street.

Jolene stepped out and jumped as a man yelled at his donkey. She moved
closer to Gwynne in self-defense.

She was so beautiful, and being this close to her intoxicated Gwynne, he let
her take solace in his closeness but did not do anything forward or
inappropriate. "Lass, I am not religious, but would prefer you decide by
whom we are married. A priest or a druid?" he asked her, trying to get her
attention from what had startled her.

"I have no preference." She said quietly.

"I don't know which one would be best," he said to her honestly. "The druid
is down the street and the priest is inside," he told her kindly. "Are you
sure you have no preference milady?" he asked again.

"We are here. The priest is here. Here is fine." She said, attempting to
smile.

He wrapped her arm around his and escorted her inside the church. They were
met by the priest. "Greetings Friar, are you prepared to wed us?" he asked
the man, in the clichéd brown robe.

"Aye Sir Knight, you are blessed of God to be joining to one so fair and
lovely, come we shall begin," the priest led them inside the sanctuary and
bid them to kneel on the altar before the dais that contained a golden cross
with a jeweled ruby at it's center. Gwynne looked to Jolene and helped her
to kneel beside him.
Jolene had not been a church but twice so did not know much of what to do.
She had a hard time focusing as the friar droned on about cleaving to
something or other. She wasn't snapped out of her musings till the Friar
asked if any there should object to their union.

"That would be my line, I believe." a voice said from behind them.

Jolene turned to look, puzzled at who had come to object to her new master.
A man stood in shadows, well dressed by what she could see.

Gwynne struggled to hide his anger, "You would do well sir to leave this
place and keep your objections to yourself, or you shall meet my blade here
and now," he told the shadows.

"Yes, I think the Lord God would object if you tried to kill the bride's
father." The man
said in calm arrogance. He had still not left the shadows.

"Her father has already sanctioned this marriage," Gwynne pulled out the
blessing and legal document that Lord Burke had given him.

"That would be wonderful, if Burke were her father, son. A fact you know is
not true." The man stepped forward out of the light. Lord Alterain stood
before them both.  Jolene stood very slowly, her face had lost what little
color it had. "And I object to you dragging this child to the altar when her
mind and most likely her body is not healed from the damage that the dog did
to it."

"You would rather her child be born a bastard and to see her disgraced?" he
asked. "I would not do such a thing to her. I love her, someone has to take
care of her and help her heal. You may be her father, but Jolene has already
agreed to this union, it has been blessed with the King's seal," he held up
the document. "I will take care of her, more than I can say for you. You
have the gall to show up here and ruin this day for us when you have never
acknowledged her before?" Gwynne shot back sharply, clearly angry at the
impertinence of this man before him. Gwynne didn't care who was before him
and showed him no respect.

"Milord, if he be her father, and he objects, I cannae wed you. If any man
objects is what our Lord Jesu says." The Friar cautioned.

"Yes, listen to the Friar son. For the very fact that you would lord about
that she is with child in an open room shows you are not the man to care for
her." Ian said firmly. "You have just disgraced her before a man of the
clothe." Ian held out his hand to Jolene. "Come to me child, I will see you
healed and sheltered from that which you fear.

Jolene looked warily between the two men. One was her master, one claimed to
be her father. She looked about wildly in fear and then at the friar. Fear
and then realization crossed her face before she spoke.

"I claim sanctuary." She whispered.

He had been so close, at the altar, almost there to place the ring upon her
finger and make her his wife. Gwynne did love her very much, but in his
anger he had not watched his tongue and regretted his words. "I am sorry
lass, I was angry and spoke out of line," there was only the priest, her
supposed father, two witnesses and Gwynne and Jolene. But still he had
unintentionally disgraced her and he was mortified.

"Jolene, I do love you. I will raise the child as my own. Doesn't it deserve
a father? I love you Jolene, let us wed?" he asked, he went to one knee in
front of her. He knew that to show more emotion would only hurt his cause
here. But, he showed his devotion to her as best he could. He had lost her
once and did not believe he could bear losing her again.

"The lass has claimed sanctuary. Come to me child." The friar held out his
hand and Jolene fled to him. "I must ask you both to leave."

Gwynne looked to Alterian, flames of hellish fire deep within, and if Gwynne
was ever able to kill in cold blood it could have taken place right then and
there. He turned to Jolene, his heart shattered so completely that he could
barely stand, he bowed to her. And turned for the door. All he could see
ahead of him was pain, heartache and a lot of bottles of rum. Yes, rum would
be his wife and death his savior. For what reason had he to live now?

Alterian stood in silence for a long moment, his eyes locked with the
friars. It had been the friar that had given him fair warning of events. "I
leave a gift for her care. Send for me if there is need." And Alterian laid
a bag of coin on the floor and turned and left the hallowed walls of the
small church.

Gwynne had walked outside the door, and collapsed onto the steps. Hiding his
face in his hands and wondering how he could possibly recover from the pain
he felt. He had been alone for the last three years, but he had never felt
as alone as he did at this moment. All he could think about was how Jolene
left him at the altar, and how Alterian had shattered his life.






"Revenge Is Best Served Bloody"
Kingdom Of Abertawe
Sir Gwynne Hawley


Gwynne sat on the steps of the church for what seemed like hours, the red
hot rays of the sun beating down on him as life had beat him down. He was
alone again. He wanted revenge on Alterian, he wanted revenge on that priest
but most of all he wanted revenge on Sanglet for making poor Jolene the way
she was now in the first place.

~ I will have revenge upon you snake, the Sanglet name shall be a curse in
this land, for I shall write the tale of your treachery, and keep it upon my
desk with your head weighing down the story from the bustling winds ~

He stood up from the steps, his fists clinched in anger, pain and
resentment, stepping into his carriage. He had the driver return to his home
where he picked up his saddled horse. He went on to journey to Sanglet's
manse, it took him almost six hours of travel.

He spent the entire time thinking of how he would enjoy chopping off the man
's head. He prayed the battle still raged so he could shed blood, and
hopefully wash his pain away by such acts.

Gwynne would never be the same now, abandoned by the woman he loved, scorned
by Alterian and destroyed emotionally by the viper Sanglet. Gwynne would
have his revenge one way or another, he would not slip quietly into the
seems and cracks of the court.

No! He would make his enemies pay, make a name for himself and have the
nobles of this shire practically push their unwed daughters upon him. Jolene
would regret choice, Alterian would regret his actions and the vile Sanglet
would rot in hell.






"Going to See The King"
Kingdom Of Abertawe
King Hawk
Duke Lleu
Llywen- Young Baron of Waterford



Llywen had been to the castle many times now, but he never tired of seeing
the inside and how majestic it was on the outside. He remembered that
fateful banquet when he first saw the princess who had captured his heart.

He looked over at the Duke, and back in front of him, grateful that he had
not put that leather diaper on him. He was also hoping that the Duke would
not mention Llywen's exploits the last few days. He knew that if Rowena did
marry him, and King Hawk agreed he would never spend another night with
Irena. For Rowena had always held his heart, and would forever. He closed
his eyes and asked the gods to bless him, and to let the King have favor
upon him.

Lleu kept running the last couple of days through his mind. How could the
boy get mixed up with that priestess...He shook his head silently and he
would guide Llywen, but he would let the boy do the talking. They quietly
entered the king's chamber.

The King watched the Duke and the boy come in. He was still in his private
quarters, doing little work, but he was out of bed and dressed. He smiled at
them welcoming them. "Have a seat, and tell me why you are here."

Lleu sat quietly for a moment before speaking up. "My liege, my young charge
has been brought before you today to speak with you. I am here under his
guidance." He said to Hawk but gave him a 'we'll speak privately later
look.'

Hawk muttered so slightly that the boy did not catch it. "So young sir, what
brings you here today." The King asked.

"Your majesty, I thank you for seeing me. As you know milord, in a few years
I will be the true Baron of Waterford, not only in name but in title and
authority. I have you and the Duke to thank for this, and I am thankful your
highness. But, I come to you so that I might ask for the hand of your
littlest sister, Rowena. I shall agree to any requirement, and I shall give
you whatever recom. recompa." Llywen froze up. 'What is that word?' he asked
himself. He smiled at the King, "I will give you whatever you desire, if I
may only have Rowena's hand in marriage. I do love her sire, my mind is on
her all the time, my heart seems to beat for her by the day, I know that she
is away now, training to be a druid priestess. But, I know the Lady Diora,
and she is a healer and a druid priestess and she is to marry soon. So
Rowena is not correct when she says that druids can't marry. I love her so
your majesty, and I will cherish her and make her happy for the rest of my
days, and I will do anything you ask of me if I might just be the man that
is blessed enough to call her wife," he knelt before the King, he was
smiling, his eyes held faith, and his heart contained hope. He had been
practicing this in his mind for as long as he could remember.
"I respect that you love my sister, and I have nothing against that. I am
not one of those persons that want her to make a state marriage, I want her
to be happy. Yet, she is very young, girls that age don't think about
marriage yet, us guys are very different." He gave the boy a knowing smile.
"And I want it to be her decision. So, I guess you will have to
wait a few years, lad." He said. "That isn't so bad, it will give you plenty
of time to make you an experienced lover when she is ready. Women appreciate
that, as long as you don't tell them where you got that experience and be
very discreet about it. I'm sure you can do that."

Llywen was crushed instantly, and had no idea how to respond. His pain and
the heartache he felt was clearly written on his face, and inset deeply into
his eyes.

Lleu saw the look. He bent over and whispered to the young baron. "He's not
saying no. He's giving you an approval for the way you feel. Do not lose
hope, young lord, but thrive on what you feel. You love Rowena. Keep that
faith, for when she returns, you'll be ready to court her properly." He told
his young charge to give him some boost to his hurt heart.

Hawk also saw the boys disappointment, he could understand it a little. The
child that age, coming awake to the pleasures of his own body. And he
decided that when he was feeling better, he would have to do something, take
the boy to a whorehouse or  something. "You won't believe that now, lad. But
time will fly."

"Thank you, your highness," Llywen bowed to his King and then turned to look
at the Duke, but could not find a smile inside his wounded soul. He looked
to the King, "Thank you your majesty for your time," he said as politely as
possible and waited for the sovereign's dismissal.

He did feel sorry for the boy, yet it was very serious that his sister
should have the right to make her own choices. "You can go. If you I had
caught, just come to me, and I will teach you a thing or two." The King
smiled, he had exactly the girl in mind.

He motioned for the Duke to stay behind.

"Llywen, wait for me in the hall." the duke said giving him a hopeful look.
He then turned and looked at to the king after the boy left. "Hawk, the
reason for this visit was to ascertain some solid hope in the young boy's
heart. He has been caught sleeping with a young woman three years his
senior. She attempted to seduce him to stake hold of his barony. She is in
Lady Gwyn's custody and is being examined by Lady Diora as we speak. I know
you want what's best for your sister as I do for my young charge. The two
of them were inseperable at the ball and he was the reason she snuck away
from her guards. We need to give him some assurances, otherwise my largest
barony will be running around with bastards and I'll have an unhappy baron
on my hands." Lleu said finally.

"Poor kid." Hawk said sympathetically. "That comes from growing up with only
a mother, lovely woman though she is, somebody should have taken that boy to
a whorehouse the moment he became interested in girls, I know my father did
with me. I can't make promises to him I cannot keep. If Rowena would want to
marry him, I have nothing against it, yet it will be her decision."

"Aye Hawk, I know...now he has love confused with lust. He won't listen to
me and I doubt a whorehouse will do him good. We must talk with him before
he does something to regret again." Lleu said to his friend.

"What do you suggest?" The King asked.

"Assure him that he's in good standing to court Rowena when she is ready.
That would ease his mind. It's not making a promise that you can't keep, you
are telling him the truth." Lleu said to Hawk.

Hawk looked puzzled. "I thought I just did that?"

"Aye but there is no way of telling whether the boy understood. I think we
need to make him a promise as well as he promise to you to come back when
Rowena is older and have this discussion again." Lleu said to Hawk.

"All I can promise him is that I will keep an open mind. And that he will
have my permission to court her. That's all I can do, it comes down to her
decision in the end." He said.

"That is understandable and I would have done the same thing if I was in
your shoes, but alas my sister...she would have been 18 summers this year if
she hadn't been taken by Sanglet." He sighed pushing that memory away. He
smiled and bowed to Hawk, he then turned to the door. "Llywen, would you
please come back in here??" Lleu called to the lad.

"Yes milord," Llywen replied, walking back into the room. He bowed again to
the King, "Your majesty." He still looked very sad, he had been hoping for
an actual bonding contract between him and the King so that he could whisk
Rowena away and love her always.

"Son, don't look so sad." The King said. "Do you really think it would be
fair if I promised my sister to you without asking her? You know Rowena, it
would make her angry, not only at me but also at you. I think you stand a
better chance to win her now."

"Thank you, your majesty," he bowed low to his King. "Your highness, does
this mean I don't have to find noblemen for my sisters to marry when I
officially hold the title of Baron? Won't that mean that commoner blood will
weed out the noble blood in Abertawe?" it was a simple, naïve question. For
his whole life he only saw noblemen bartering of their daughters and sisters
to whatever man best fit their own plans. "I thought it was a custom to
build alliances and strengthen ties by the joining of two houses through
marriage?" it was clear he really wanted Rowena.

"You have a point, Young Lord." The King said. "Yet think that you are a
woman, and your father or brother forces you to marry somebody you don't
want to marry. Do you think that is fair?" He asked. "And believe me
nobility is not always in the blood."

Llywen did not know how to reply to this. He had no issues with the way
things had been done, but that was because he wanted Rowena's hand in
marriage. His eyes had blinders on them, all he saw was Rowena's pretty
little face, "I do not know your highness, I just love Rowena," he said
honestly. "Nobility is in actions, my lord Duke is teaching me this," he
said.

"Good, I am glad he is teaching you that. I am glad that you love my sister,
and I hope she loves you too. Only time will tell, do you understand now
that it will be her choice if she wants to marry him, can you accept it as a
man?"

"Yes your majesty," he said, bowing to his liege. The boy was still very
sad, he had hoped to settle the issue today, and have the girl that had
captured his heart truly belong to him. He had absolutely no idea how he was
going to earn her affections now, especially since he didn't know where she
was, and poor Llywen went into a deep depression right then and there.

Hawk saw that he was not getting through to the boy and it confused him a
bit. One so young should not be so serious but enjoy life. Commitments would
come soon enough. "If you need advice you can always come and talk to me."
The king said hoping to cheer the lad up a little.

"Thank you, your highness. I would enjoy coming to see you sire, I know you
are very busy, but appreciate this time," he smiled and bowed again to his
King. "However your majesty, could you help me in finding her so I could
court her?" he asked. He at that point in time was thinking with his heart
and not his head, the boy's tenacity would serve him well one day.

The king paused for a second. "You concentrate on your own education now,
young man. Make your mother proud of you. Yet I promise you that I will
search for my sister. Yet I will not bring her back if she really wants to
stay away." It hurt him to say this. He wanted her back with him so
desperately. Yet he had to stay with his decision to let her have a free
choice. Only he wanted to make sure that nobody was manipulating her.

"Yes, your highness, as you wish," he said, bowing again.

It was all Hawk could do. He hoped that his friend would keep a good close
eye on the boy.



"Meeting the Hawk of May"

Lady Isa
King Hawk
Connald ap Lywen


Connald looked around the room at the inn, and at his goods there.  He 
had a satchel with the items he really need for the next couple of days 
over his shoulder.  The rest of his goods would stay here, as he 
intended to keep these rooms as well as whatever quarters were provided 
him in the castle.  Heading down the stairs, he chatted a moment with 
Bwyyl, the innkeep, before making his way to the castle again.

It didn't take a tremendously long time to make his way to Isa.  On 
seeing her, he bowed, and said, "I have returned, Highness, as you 
mentioned earlier."

"Ah good to see you, Connald." She said smiling. 'Have you seen your rooms
yet?" She asked him.

Connald shook his head, a slight smile playing over his face.  "Just long
enough to drop some things in the front door, Highness.  They seemed quite
nice, though."  He still had a small satchel over his shoulder, the one
that contained his writing tools, and the copy of Josephus.  His blade was
at his side. Although the guards gave him some odd looks, none of them had
apparently considered it necessary to disarm him this time.  "Is there 
aught I can do for ye now, your Highness?'

"you could call me Isa when we are alone.  I don't like formality.  And you
could have a chat with my son, is in his study now.  Only please don't tire
him, an assassin got to him a few days ago, and he is still not completely
well."  She said with consern in her eyes.

Connald nodded.  "As you wish, Isa."  He smiled slightly.  "Fear not, I
rather doubt he will spend enough time chatting with a scribe to tire
himself.  Unless he should decide to dictate a stern letter to someone."
The talk of assassins was of some interest, but given the heightened
wariness evident in the palace, it seemed unlikely that too many assassins
would be slipping in anytime soon.

Entering the King's study was interesting.  Connald spent only a moment
looking over the room, before his attention fell on the young monarch.  As
the King's somewhat weary gaze fell upon him, Connald bowed deeply.  "Your
Majesty."

The king was taller then the average celt, but his hair was flame red which
did not give him a saxon look. He came to his feet when the scribe 
enterred.

"Please rise." He said in a deep voice. "I heard my mother wishes to hire
you. These are dangerous times and we know very little about you." He went
on. "Tell me about yourself." He gestured the man to sit down.

Connald nodded and sat, laying the satchel beside him.  "There is little to
tell, of interest.  I am a man of Dinodid, my father was a landed knight,
so I do have some minor claim to nobility.  I was trained at Selton Tor, in
my youth, but was taken by the Saxons before I could finish my studies.  I
spent several years among the Saxons, till I made my escape from them in a
city on the Middle Sea.  There I learned many things, some scholarly, some
less so.  Now I have returned to our land, and my travels have brought me
to Alban, and the service of her Royal Grace, the Queen Mother."

"The saxons...mother told me." The king said pensive. "And you have no
trouble working for her?" He eyes focussed on the older man. "She has been
through a lot lately, I do not want to see her hurt or upset again."

"Her Highness has been very kind and gracious to me.  I will do nothing to
upset her, and I will do what is in my power to see that she is not hurt."
Connald met the King's eyes squarely, a slight glint of amusement in the
depths of his pale grey eyes.  "Majesty, it has been almost a score of
years since I was a captive of the Saxons.  While I hold little love for
Saxons generally, her Royal Grace had nothing to do with my being captured,
or with the various unpleasantness that occurred during my captivity. I
wish only to serve her to the best of my ability."  He chuckled, just a
little.  "At the risk of sounding arrogant, Majesty, I believe she'll find
that my abilities are both varied, and useful."

"good."  The King said.  "You need to be a little arrogant when you're
dealing with my mother.  She looks so fragile, yet inside she is very used
to getting her way."  He smiled now.  "I think you will be good for her.
Welcome."  He held out his hand.

Connald returned the smile, taking the King's hand for a moment, gripping
it firmly, but not especially trying to match strength or any games like
that.  "I thank your Majesty for your kindness."

Hawk liked the firm handsake. "I hope you will make me happy by looking
after my mother." He smiled, "and maybe I will borrow you once in a while
myself."

"As you command, Majesty."  Connald bowed again.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Inspections and Introductions"

Dame Arianna ui Llewellyn
Lady Eirwyn ui Galeran
Ian (NPC) - Seneschal



Ian was told that the lady he had arranged for had arrived. He smiled at the
look on Arianna's face when presented with her first lady in waiting.  He
told them to send the young woman to him.  First, he had to make sure she
was suitable.  He wanted no one to interfere with the matters of Queen.

After a moment, a young girl with dark hair and an anxious smile entered the
room. She crossed the floor with a composed glide, though dusty in a simple
green outfit that looked well-travelled. "My lord," she greeted him
politely, standing a respectful distance.  "I am Eirwyn, arrived as
promised."

Ian looked over her as if she were a horse he planned to buy. His gaze was
calculating and intense.  "Tell me about yourself Lady Eirwyn." He said
watching her closely. He did not take her hand in greeting.

She paused for a moment as though she did not quite expect his reaction, but
recovered quickly. "As you know, my lord, my father is Lord Galeran of
Tywyn. I am his only daughter, and he was concerned for me when the wars
drew too near," she said matter-of-factly. "He had heard the good fortune of
the upcoming marriage of His Majesty, and he has sent me to give any
assistance I can to my new Queen. I am eager to offer all I can to her
service. I hope you may find me worthy of the position." A pause, then an
innocently wry smile played at the edge of her mouth. "Or were you hoping to
hear about some of my skills and interests?"

"I am interested in anything you wish to tell me.  But since you brought it
up, what are you interests." Ian asked. He walked about her with his arms
folded and his index finger tapping on his chin.

Eirwyn paused for a moment, then rattled in a congenial manner, "I enjoy
good conversation and music. I try to keep a close eye on the internal
politics of the court and current fashions. I can embroider or sew if the
situation calls,  but I do enjoy being out-of-doors. And archery," she added
as an afterthought.

"I think you will suit." He said after a long pause.  "Come, I will take you
to meet your future Queen."  He did not wait for her answer but turned and
led the way from his offices. He sent a page ahead to ask Arrianna to meet
them in the royal garden.  There they waited for her highness to arrive.

Arianna arrived a short while later.  She quickly fixed her plaited hair as
she had been playing with Rhys yet again today.  She had not time to change
and her cheeks were ruddied from running.  She was wearing a blue chemise
and her best pair of breeches.  She looked between Ian and the girl and gave
a smile.  "Well greetings to you, on this beautiful day." Arianna said to
them both.

Ian bowed.  "Your highness, may I present Lady Eirwyn. She is to be the
first of your ladies in waiting and first amongst them as well until you
personally choose another."

Arianna studied the girl quietly. She saw quite a bit of innocence there and
wondered if the girl would survive this court.  "Tis a pleasure, Lady
Eirwyn.  I hope your journey here to Alban was uneventful?" she said
finally.

Eirwyn gave a low, graceful curtsey and smiled a bit, as though the future
queen were not quite what she expected. "An honor to meet you, your
Highness.  And I am thankful that my trip was uneventful - I had no troubles
at all."

"Good, then let's get you settled in."  She then looked to Alterian and back
to Eirwyn.  "I'll be along soon to make sure you need anything." She said
knowing that she never had a lady in waiting before and didn't know what
they did. Arianna knew she needed to make herself more presentable.

Ian beckoned a servant forward. "Show Lady Eirwyn to the rooms prepared
for her." He said quietly.  He bowed to Arianna, "your service ma'am."

Arianna nodded to Ian and quietly watched the girl go.  She then quickly
went and got cleaned up.  She looked a little more presentable and
uncomfortable in the gown but even still.  She had a servant show her to
Lady Eirwyn's rooms.  "Are these to your liking??" She asked smoothing out
her midnight blue kirtle.

Eirwyn was standing in the middle of the room, surrounded by a few open
trunks. She, too, had taken the brief pause to change out of her worn travel
clothes into something more appropriate - a simple gown of dusky red. "It is
a very pleasant room, my lady. It will suit me nicely," she responded with a
firm smile that was much more relaxed than when Ian had been near. "It is
good of you to meet with me. I suppose we should get to know one another
better."

"Oh, I agree."  Arianna said, not knowing what to do.  "Mind you, I have
never had a lady in waiting and never grew up to those thi