the Leathermines

Back to Chapter 43

 

 

The afternoon breeze was hot and the sun did not have any clouds to soften it as it beat down on the gathered people.

It had been close to an hour since the sentry with the fast horse had come with word of the group from the Capitol City.  He said there were at least two hundred people in the group, servants included.  Del looked like he wanted to panic, but his mask went over his emotions and he set about opening all the rooms that Laun had insisted be readied.

The soldiers were in loose ranks along the roadway to the manor.  Until attention was called, they did not want to spend too much time with their black leathers in the sun, but they could not stray from their positions in case their commander called them to readiness.  The men next to the horses were dealing with the heat for themselves as well as the mounts and the horses were getting antsy.

The performers lounged.  They found shade and kept their energy for when they needed it.  Laun was amongst them, exchanging quips and barbs as well as the belled twine.  It was a way to pass time, but it also made the entertainers feel more comfortable around her.  She was not above sitting with them or learning from them, her rank in the nobles meaning little to the troupe.  Charel was trying to teach the Lady without being made fun of by the others.

Laun was in a loose, light colored linen tunic and skirt, the natural color to the fabric good for reflecting the heat of the sun.  She had a belt with a pouch and a few other things on, the first she had worn since she had gotten there.  She needed a place to put the few extra keys that Del had given her over the last few days, in case there was need as the people with Falmir were put into the manor.  It was the pouch that kept getting fingers almost into it with the bell on the twine, but Laun had put another bell just inside the flap, and that caught most of the sleight of hand entertainers.

Laun had graduated in her juggling to small balls that seemed to be made of lacquered eggshells, but much stronger.  This was good as Laun would have a tossed pattern and then loose it within seconds.  Most of the troupe had started to laugh at her when she did drop things, making Laun know that she had been accepted.  The sleeves of the tunic were getting in the way that afternoon, but Charel said it was a good thing to know how to work around.

Her hands started to cramp, so Laun went back to sitting among the troupe.  A few wayward hands started towards her pouch and she was able to catch many of them before they got there, the bell caught many more.  Some hands went towards her and went other places.  Laun was not sure how to take the few gropes, but did giggle when two different sets of hands caught each other on her breast.

There was a movement down the road.  A strong call from a sentry brought some of the soldiers back to the ranks.  Laun saw Lieutenant Senri run from his tent, hand on his sword to keep it from tripping him.  Laun stood as the soldier’s commander came to the head of the road and pulled at his uniform.  He called for attention, the word passed down the ranks.

Horses were mounted, soldiers at attention and a hush went over those assembled.  Laun used her cane to help support her as she stood next to Senri.  She heard Del running from the manor and he was in place before the lead cart was halfway up the ranks of soldiers.  Laun heard the troupe behind them readying for a splash of color and sound.

Several carts with servants and soldiers came up and around.  Del motioned for the other servants to take care of those carts.  A few officers on horseback cantered up, Lieutenant Senri saluting and motioning for the available unranked soldiers to help them dismount and take the horses.

A few more supply carts went by and then Laun saw Falmir.  He was on horseback and he was surrounded by several other nobles on horses, too.  Laun saw her uncle, Heran Dresden on one horse, not looking comfortable.  She saw the noble who Disa had been betrothed to.  There were others in the mass of horse and riders, but none she immediately recognized.

Behind them were carriages, ten of them.  Behind those, more carts with more people.  Two hundred people was a good estimation.

Falmir rode up and stopped his horse just a pace from Laun.  Those around her bowed or saluted.  She could even hear the troupe behind her making their own versions of genuflections to Falmir.  Laun stood and waited.

Falmir saluted to Lieutenant Senri.  He nodded to Del.  He waved briskly at the entertainers.  He then turned and waved at the assembled soldiers and a rehearsed cheer went up.

Falmir dismounted and stood over his daughter.  They looked at each other for a moment until he held his hand out to her.  She gave him a hand and he took it, kissing it first and then putting it to his forehead.

“Daughter, you look...like you hurt yourself.”  He backed off half a step and looked at the cane.

“Father, I did.  Nothing too serious, but it has kept me more confined than just being sent to the manor did.”  She pulled her skirt up slightly to show the bandage under the slipper.

“You will have to tell me later.  For now, we need to get these people into shade and water them.”  Falmir had not let Laun’s hand go and she felt that there was much he wanted to talk to her about, just not in front of all these people.

“I am sure that Del can handle the room assignments, Father.”  Laun turned to the steward and Del bowed sightly.

The nobles were dismounting and trying not to collapse into the grass.  Many of them were not used to riding and none of them were used to riding for three days without much rest.  Laun tried to be a gracious hostess as the men who were there were being introduced to her as if they were and always had been her long lost friends.

The nobles were polite.  Most of them bowed to Laun and then allowed the servants to escort them away.  A few paused and looked at the hands that were gripped together.  Heran almost did not bow to his King and the Lady Laun before going inside.  The entertainers started to do small things, with music and song, to fill the air with something other than the slightly awkward energy that many of the nobles were giving off.

The carriages started to roll close and the first stopped, the people inside being helped out by the footmen that had been clinging to the vehicles.  A woman Laun did not know, and had introductions to Laun as an important Midlands noble, had several younger women around her that almost looked exactly like her.  Her daughters, and more than one had a jealous eye at Laun and a coquettish smile for Falmir.  Laun could tell that her distracting entertainment by the women of the troupe was gong to be interesting, and needed.

An older noble, his entourage mainly of servants, was next out and not too interested in Laun, but had eyes that swept over the manor’s facade.  Laun instantly did not like nor trust him.

And then Laun saw the red ribbon rose in the shadow before she saw Ithian.  He had a wide smile on his face as he climbed down from his carriage.  He bowed to Laun, kissed her knuckles and put his hand over hers.  Laun had to paint a smile on her face and not slap him.  Laun did not say anything as Ithian stood there for just a bit too long looking at her.  Del cleared his throat and took Ithian’s attention from Laun, leading him away and into the manor.

Laun had to compose herself for the next man who came from a carriage.  He was the bishop who had been in the receiving line at the reception.  He took Laun’s hand and looked into her eyes.  He smiled and nodded and turned to be led away.  He had several lesser priests circling him waiting for his every word.

There were a few other nobles that were introduced, their people massing and starting to annoy Laun with their fawning ways.  They were there for something other than just getting out of the hot Capitol City.  Part of Laun’s mind was telling her that she had to be very careful.  And then Laun saw her.

The last carriage held Her Excellency.  Lady Engrid Pearl was helped down to the road and the look on her face was as if she had just eaten the last orange ever to be grown.  Laun held tight to Falmir and Engrid saw Father and Daughter holding hands as she glided up to them.

“Laun, you are larger than the last time I saw you.”  The feather fan waved slowly.

Laun kept her head straight and replied, “And you are older than the last time I saw you, Engrid.”

Falmir stepped in verbally with, “My Ladies, please.  It is hot and I am sure a rest is in order before any discussions should happen.”

Engrid curtly nodded at him and turned, not waiting for the servants to escort her.

Laun leaned on the cane as Lieutenant Senri asked if the men could be dismissed.  The royal wave was the answer and Senri called out, “Company Dismissed,” which was called down the ranks.

Falmir started to walk and Laun followed his lead.  Several of the entertainers winked at Laun to say that they would be happy to distract the man at her side.  Falmir walked until they were in the relative cool of the receiving hall before talking.

“It looks like this place is still standing, so I gather all is well.”

“Not entirely, sire.  But that is, as you said, a discussion for after you are refreshed.  Del told me which rooms you normally prefer and I had them opened and aired for you.  I hope you like how they have been stocked.”

“Took over here, did you?”

“I am dangerous bored, and you know that.  Though, bringing the person you know wants me dead here with you...”

He shook his head.  “She explained things to me and I feel that she just was in one of her tempers.”  He turned and put his hand on Laun’s cheek.  “I was given the letter you left for me and I was concerned for you.  I had let you stay in that room too long.  I should have let you get out more.  And then Bregnan-”  His face had anger in it.

“He is now dead, sire.  The damage he has done is not fully accounted for, but he cannot do any more harm.”

Falmir nodded.  He continued on through the manor, knowing which turns to take, which steps to go up until he was at the suite he knew.  Laun motioned to the door and several servants who had been trailing at a discrete distance opened the doors for him.  Laun stopped when he tried to go forward.

“Sire, I should let you rest from the road.  There should be baths being drawn already and some of your clothing left here from before has been laid out.”

He bowed to her and said, “Thoughtful, my little Thorn.”

Laun smiled.  “There will be a dinner gathering in a few hours.  Word will be sent.”

Falmir went into his rooms and the door was closed to her.

Laun turned and slowly walked through the halls.  The sounds of people in many of the rooms was good to hear.  Since Laun had found a few of the hidden entrances to the watcher holes, some of the suites that had been opened might be useful to get information from.

Laun kept her face a cool, bland smile as the new servants wandered past looking for things.  A few came to her boldly and asked directly where things were.  Laun knew more of the layout, but still did not know where everything was.  She directed those with answers she didn’t know to the kitchens as that was a central place for servants in any household.

The halls were lively, but outside was too hot for much activity.  Laun went to the tent set up outside to check on a few things.  One of the household servants was there to keep the cats away from the tent.  In the last few days, a few cats had started to show up while the tent was put up and the furniture arranged in it.  Laun was fascinated by them, but did understand that they were also a nuisance.

Laun was there to check that the head table had a number of chairs appropriate for the people who had arrived.  Falmir, Ithian, the Bishop and...her.  Laun was not pleased that the Blue Master was there.  With apprentices.  It was a thing that she briefly thought might happen, but had not really planned for.  She would not forget that lapse in the future.

There was an open space in the tables for the entertainers.  Laun walked to the middle of the tent and looked at the subtle anchor ropes on the center pole.  The acrobats had been practicing and the routine was going to be amazing to watch.  Laun turned and looked at the head table.  She knew little of actual protocols, but with the various nobles that had been brought, Laun thought hard and decided more chairs, and two of the shorter benches along the ends of the table.  She only really knew the people who should be at the head table.  The ones that wanted to be at head table were the underlying problem.

She had the servant there help her rearrange things a bit and then told him that Del would probably change it again.  He shrugged and sat again as Laun limped back to the manor.

Many of the soldiers she saw had changed back into the scruffier of their uniforms, if they had them.  They were moving slowly in the heat, but all seemed to have a mission, a duty to perform.  A steady stream of soldiers reminded Laun of ants making trails to and from the manor.

Laun knew that the kitchens were ready.  They had been ready for a day or so.  She knew that the troupe was ready.  They were excited to be performing for the King again.  Laun was not sure if she was ready.  She did not know what the visit had in store, but it had started with mixed energy and Laun was unsure about what to do.

She made it back to her room, hearing the unfamiliar call of servants just a short way up the corridor.  Laun knew where she had asked for certain people to be placed, if they had come with Falmir.  She did not know where everyone was put, and she was nervous.

Laun opened the door to the sitting room and heard a small giggle that was cut short.  Ithian was sitting in one of the leather upholstered chairs, Gem standing close to him with an angle to her shoulders that told Laun Ithian now knew Gem was not protected any longer.  Gem stepped away from the ambassador and took a place near the wall of windows.

Ithian stood and went to Laun, not bowing or talking or asking permission.  He had his arms around her and had his lips on hers.  Laun wanted to respond, should have responded.  He stepped back and had a hurt, confused expression when he found cold lips and a stony woman in his arms.

“Laun... What is wrong?  Do you need to sit?”  He tried to take her arm and support her to the couch, but Laun did not move.  “My Love, what is wrong?”

Laun tossed the cane to Gem and strode into the bedroom through the heavy curtains in the archway.  She noted that the items she had placed out were still there and went through to the bathing chamber.  She heard Ithian scramble to keep up and then pause as Laun opened the privy door.

Laun did not care if the man saw her use the privy.  He had seen her, hell, had wiped her before.  She wanted to make sure that she was as empty as possible before she had to deal with him and her own emotions.

Laun wiped, settled her garments and hidden things and stepped out of the little private room.  Ithian was in the doorway between the bedroom and the bathing chamber, Gem a few steps behind him with her eyes on the ground.

“Love, what has happened?  Why...?”

The Lady Laun stood, her hands on her belly, her eyes coldly looking at Ithian.  “Ambassador, I hope that your trip did not tire you out too much.  I expected that you would bathe and perhaps nap before the welcoming meal tonight.”

Ithian stepped into the room, annoyed at the official tone Laun was using.  “I could not rest knowing you were within reach.  I needed to be here with you.”  He held out his hand as he walked closer.

Laun felt the stones gathering in her stomach.  She did not move as he got within a pace.  “It seems needs are not some thing to always be considered.”

He paused, his hand lowering to his side.  Laun saw sweat on his face, and not just from the heat of the journey in the summer day.  “Have you talked with the Ki-  your Father?”

Laun took in a breath through her nose and just looked at him.

Ithian turned and found a wall to lean against.  “I thought...  You would want me.  That I could provide you with what you needed for the rest of our lives...”  His eyes went down to a pouch at his belt and he pulled the buttoned flap open.  A smaller pouch was in his hand and he held it up.

Laun’s head was bursting.  The bishop.  Ithian.  Engrid.  And Falmir.  The Uncle she would rather see in the ground than at her side.  It was a bridal party.  She had to turn away.  She had so many things going through her that she did not hear Ithian come to her and stop just a hand’s breadth away.

His voice was soft.  “Laun, my Love.  I was hoping to give this to you later, when I could ask you formally.”  He held the small pouch to her.

Laun could not ignore it. She was still turned away from him, but took the pouch.  The little velvet square was heavier than she had thought it would be.  She opened the drawstring and shook what was in it onto her palm.

As betrothal gifts went, it was huge.  As a way to rip Laun’s heart into pieces, it was just as large.

Laun turned and faced Ithian.  The gold and silver bracelet was in her open palm, the gems set in it seeming to have small flames in them.  She saw his expectation, his need of her acceptance.

She put it back into the pouch but did not give the pouch back.  “You know my feelings on being handfasted.  I share my title with no one.”  Laun’s voice had not been as steady as she had wanted.  It broke at the end and a sob came out.  And then tears.

Ithian’s arms were around her and she welcomed his touch.  She let the tears and sobs out even as her mind tried to put things together without the emotions that were overwhelming her.  She found his lips on hers, a hot need being pressed into her and she was accepting it.

To a point.  She pushed him away and pressed the pouch into his hand.  “I cannot accept it for what it is intended.  Not with what I know...”  She had slipped.  Her emotions were getting in the way.  Her need to be touched by him, to talk with him.  But he was ever her enemy, no matter what he had sworn to in the Embassy.

“What do you know?  Tell me, my Love?  Are you sick?  Is he sick?”  His hand went to her belly, a possessive gesture if ever there was one.

Laun backed away, breaking the touch.  “They are well.”

It took a moment for him to understand what she had just said.  “They?  More than one?  You have-”

Laun’s voice dropped and was cold as she said, “Remember, they are not yours.  They are mine.”

He was overwhelmed.  Ithian was not processing everything Laun had said.  Laun moved past him and went to the bedroom. She sat at the vanity and started to take the thong and ribbon from her braid.  Her legs welcomed the rest and her foot had been throbbing for quite some time.  She started to comb out her hair, keeping an eye on Ithian in the mirror.

Gem stepped forward and took up the brush Ithian had given Laun.  There were long strokes through her straight, brown hair as the ambassador leaned on the doorframe and watched.  There were no knots or tangles, the boarshair bristles smoothing the hair to a gloss.  Gem started to braid Laun’s hair up again, the thong in her mouth.

Laun held out her hand and Ithian was on his knee at her side.  He kissed her hand, knuckle by knuckle and turned it over, tenderly kissing her palm and wrist.  Laun closed her eyes and relished the feeling of power she had over him, and the physical sensations that were rushing through her.

“Ithian, I have been unfair.  This is all very sudden.”  Laun turned slightly and Gem moved to keep the tension in the plait in her hands.  “Do you remember our first night together”

He nodded.  He put her fingertips to his lips and spoke to her through them.  “Before or after I discovered your bell?”

Laun had a reactive smile that disappeared as she said, “Before.  What we talked about?  Falmir’s love and marrying her off?”

He nodded.  She kept quiet and saw that he was running through what had been said.  And felt, as his face flushed and his eyes half-closed.  “Love, it isn’t like that...”

Laun put her hand on his cheek and ran her thumb along his cheekbone.  It was a fine feature to his beautiful face, and she knew how much it hurt if you pressed right...  “No.  She married for other reasons, but I asked you if Falmir could just marry me off.  You knew he could.”  Laun felt Gem pause in her braiding.

He held her hand to his chest.  “You need a father for the children.  You need to have a home and lands for your...own.”

“I already do have that.  I just am not there.”  Laun dropped her hand limply from his chest.

He sat where he had been kneeling on the wooden floor.  His head was against the table and he looked as if he had been drained of all his energy.  “You love him more than me.”

Laun closed her eyes for a moment.  She took in a deep breath.  She let it out slowly and looked down at the black clad man at her side.  “I love my people.  I love my land, and yes, I love the father of my children.  You...”  She swallowed and her mouth was dry.  “You are one of my favorite loves.  You are someone I would want at my side.”

His eyes went to hers and a smile was on his face.  “Then, will you marry me?”

She shook her head.  “No.  And not for the reasons you may think.”  The book was in front of her on the vanity.  She wanted to use it against him.  Right then felt like the right time to use some of it.

“What are your reasons?  What could prevent you from being my wife?”

“Before I was kidnapped, I was with Dreng.  I am sworn to him.”

“You know where he is?”  Ithian went back up to his knees.

Laun shook her head.  “I do not know.  I have not had word since I was kidnapped.  Would you think I could, with her excellency watching me, your fingers getting between me and my freedom?”  His mouth opened and closed again.  “That is beside the point I am trying to make.  At First Feast this last winter, I went through several...ceremonies.  Including one making me a Princess of the Realm, and heir through my Grandfather to the Kingdom.”

Ithian blinked.  “You are an heir?  You can wear the three pointed crown?”

Laun nodded and took the finished braid from Gem’s hand.  She smoothed out the tail and wrapped the silver ribbon around it.  The ribbon was starting to look old, the bell bent in places.  It was how Laun was feeling, too.

“I had not told anyone in the Palace for fear for Dreng.  Having been made a Princess of the realm, regardless of Falmir, I am second in line for the crown.”  Laun finished tying the bell in place and flipped her hair over her shoulder.  “Because of your campaign to eliminate all the heirs before the coup, I will not tell you who the other is.”

Ithian had pain on his face.  He looked away and through the window wall to the walkway outside.  “My Love...  No one outside the King’s full council knows...”  He looked back at Laun.  “That is, my King, not Falmir.”  He put the back of his hand to hers.  “I know I did not tell you.”

“I am young, and make mistakes.  But I have skill.”  Laun moved her hand and loosely gripped his hand.

Laun felt his pulse though his wrist.  It was quickening and his stance on his knees told her that he was becoming excited by what she had just told him, the intrigue.  “My Lady, I would not endanger you or the children-”

“But you have.  By bringing... Her here.  She knows I and the babies are a threat.  She just does not know how much.  She has the skills and her apprentices.  I am not safe here.”

He brightened and put her hand to his lips.  “Marry me and I can protect you!”

“Like you protected Tressa?”

He dropped.  His smile, his hands, his shoulders.  “She... I had nothing to do with her death.”

“Remember that this was her room.  When she died, it was locked up, not used again until I was forced here.”  She watched his eyes go to a portion of the wall above a pile of traveling chests.  Laun had not searched, but now she knew where a secret place would be.  “If it hadn’t been for the glass flowers, I would not have suspected.”

His eyes went to the curtained archway, but he could see in his mind the several bouquets he had given Lady Tressa.  They were still there, clean and polished.  Not like the flower he had used on Laun, but from the same artisan in Rosemond.

He was not bested, yet.  He found his strength, found his duty within himself.  He knew she must have been guessing.  “You cannot think that I, or anyone from Rosemond would have gone against the Hawkwell family.”

Laun turned towards the vanity more but did not put her hand on the book containing the fragile information she had.  “No, you went against my Lord and Lady when they would not turn.  It was because you knew she had been a royal warranted assassin that you did so.”

He shook his head.  He stood and backed up.  “Lady...”  He stepped forward again, his hand going to his belt.

Gem stepped forward and put herself between Laun and Ithian.  Nothing more.

Ithian stopped and then knelt where he was.  “You have had someone telling you things.  You have had a spy, a thief, someone who has been getting you information somehow.”

Laun stood and put her arms around Gem, kissing the focused assassin on the neck.  “No.  But My Lady Hellon trained me well.  As did the rest of the people I have had the honor of learning from.”  She nudged the blonde out of the way and stepped towards Ithian.  “You ordered the deaths of my family.  And now you wish to console me by offering me a place at your side in yours?”

“I love you!  I wanted to...  Make sure you were well kept.”  His head went down and he looked at her slippers peeking out from under the linen skirt.

“You should have kept that night to yourself.  I don’t know how you did it, but you convinced Falmir that I should be wed to you.  And that cuts off one of the heirs to the Midlands.”  Laun put her hand to her stomach and rubbed.  “Perhaps more than that.”

He shook his head.  “I don’t understand.”

Laun stood and looked down at him.  He was in great amounts of mental pain.  He was confused.  He was beaten.  ...he really did not know the laws of the Midlands.

Laun held out her hand and motioned him to stand.  He stood, taking her hand and putting it against his chest.  “Then it was her excellency who did the talking.  She would know.  She has always known.”  Laun stepped closer and put her other hand on his throat, fingers on either side of his windpipe.  “If I marry, I cannot be in line for the throne.”

He stood still, red rimmed eyes looking into her cold, deadly ones.  His heart was irregular, the feeling in his chest as if he were going to die, either by her hand or his heart just stopping.  He had been played between the women more since Laun had left than when she had been in the Palace.  And the unusually sympathetic ear of the Council General had heard his weakness and used him.  Used him against the one woman that had broken into his mind and heart and made her needed for him to live.

Laun wanted to feel his life ended by her hand right then.  Her anger and frustration made her fingernails grip into his skin, but not as much as it would take.  She knew that she would be dead if he was found dead in her room.  She did not lie, he was a favorite.

Her hand was off his throat and she pulled away from him.  “Ambassador, why should I trust you today?”

His hand went to his throat and he found there was a trace of blood on his fingers when he looked.  His eyes went wide and he looked around the bedroom, searching for an answer.  And then, he saw the red ribbon rosette on his shoulder.  His hand went up and tore it from the velvet, a ragged hole left behind.  He threw the symbol onto the floor and looked back up at Laun.

Laun bowed her head and sighed.  “That is a romantic gesture.  One that many women may swoon over.”  Laun pointed and Gem picked up the rosette.  “You are part of the Rosemond hierarchy and cannot be easily replaced, even if your cousin, the King of Rosemond appoints someone.  You know that her excellency would not let you just leave.”  Laun took the rosette and held it in her palm to him.

He looked away from her hand.  “I don’t want it.”

She felt a pin go into her skin as she closed her fingers around it, crushing the starched ribbon.  “You will need another vest.  Not that you don’t already know how to repair such yourself.”  Laun turned her hand over and let the ribbon fall to the floor, strands of the back velvet fabric caught on the bloody pin on it’s back.  Drops of blood fell and stained her light colored linen.  Laun saw but did not care.

“I am too tired to deal with this right now.  Go tell your mistress that I will not dance for her pleasure.”  Laun turned to go to the sitting room.

“No!”  Ithian stepped forward and found Gem was in his way again.

Laun stopped with her back to him.  “No, what?”

“No, I will not tell her anything.”  He tried to go forward and Gem held a knife out at his throat.  He had not seen any knife on her, had not seen her pull it.

“You say that you are going against the one who has been pulling your strings like a good puppet all these years?”  Laun turned and gave Ithian a profile of her face as she said, “Again, why should I trust you today?”

“Because I love you...  And I renounce all of my ties to Rosemond.  I have already sworn myself to you.”

Laun turned around and saw how he was trembling.  Laun’s voice was quiet as she called to Gem, “Let him pass.”

He stumbled past the blonde and went to his knees at Laun’s feet.  “My Lady.  My Love.  I live for you.”

Laun held both of her hands out to Ithian and he placed his face against them, holding them tight.  He smeared her blood on his face without knowing as his tears mingled with her blood.

A count of five breaths.  “Stand, my love.”

He was ecstatic.  He stood, her hands in his.  She relaxed and smiled.  He smiled and looked as though he had seen the sun for the first time.  She leaned forward and his lips met hers eagerly.  He tasted her blood and pulled back.  She tasted her blood and licked her lips.

“Blood- bleeding!”  He looked and saw his hand and hers covered with her blood.

She grabbed the back of his head and forced them together again, the kiss deep.  She breathed into his mouth, “It won’t be the last.”

She felt his knees give way.  Her own strength was not what she wanted, but she held onto him and supported him as they kissed, her blood and his tears spreading over their lips and faces.

Laun heard footsteps.  Gem did, too.  The blonde went to the sitting room and opened the door before the footsteps could get to the bedroom door.  There were some low voices and some surprised sounds.

Laun let Ithian go and he did not fall to the floor.  Laun saw the blood on her and the clothing and had a small rush go through her.  Ithian’s face was smeared with her blood.  She smiled.

The door into the sitting room from the corridor closed.  Gem came through the curtain holding a travel chest with a large rose painted on it.  Laun pointed to the middle of the floor and it was set down.  Gem looked it over and then opened it, carefully.  Inside, a paper wrapped dress was set.  Gem took the dress out of the paper and draped it over her arms for Laun to see.

It was large enough to fit Laun.  And was appropriate, if Laun had decided to get married.  “From whom?”

“Her excellency.”

Laun waved it to the wardrobe.  Gem put it away not to be seen.  Laun stepped to the chest and saw on the bottom more velvet bags about the same size as held the bracelet.  She turned to Ithian and said, “You were all so sure of yourselves.”

“Her excellency thought that you just needed the right man, and with being alone for several weeks...”

Laun’s eyebrow went up.  “Ithian, you know better.”  Laun was feeling the blood starting to dry and it was pulling and feeling itchy on her skin.  She limped to the bathing room and pulled the soiled garments off and onto the floor before pouring water from a pitcher into a washing bowl.

Ithian saw her naked-mostly naked-in the bathing room.  Her scars were obscured by a series of knife and other weapon holsters strapped to her.  He knew she could have killed him at anytime.  That she must truly love him if she had not.  He saw her growing belly.  There were more stretch marks, but he did not see the imperfections as something pressed against her skin from the inside.

Laun turned, her palm on her mouth.  He could hear her sucking on her wound, a glint of something in her eye that he had only seen once, and she had knocked him out when he had.  He backed up, but found he was against the wall.  Laun was clean, but she had a small smear of blood on her lip from her palm as she stood before him.

“You may want to clean yourself.”  She waved to the red water in the bowl behind her.

He nodded but was scared.  For himself, but also for her.  He dipped his hands in the water and scrubbed his wet hands over his face.  Laun poured clean water over his hands and he got most of the blood off.  She gave him a cloth and he dried himself, his eyes only leaving her when the cloth got in the way.

Another scratch on the door was heard.  Gem came in and announced it was an hour til the welcoming feast.

“Ithian, if you have renounced, you are now in trouble, in danger.  We cannot let this be known tonight.  The plans were for you to propose tonight, right?”

He nodded.  “My Lady, if you hadn’t arranged for a welcome feast, Falmir was going to ask for you to come to his quarters for a meeting.  The feast is more public.”

“Go and get ready for the meal.  Please meet me back here and we will walk to the tent together.”  Ithian saw a tiredness go through Laun but also a smile came that made him feel warm inside.  “Even with all of this, I am happy you came to see me.”

 

Chapter 45 awaits for the welcoming feast.