Still in great disrepair, it's where most of the guard sleep.

Wulfsen did not expect Lek to be done cleaning his armor. The boy had never cleaned armor before. But even soiled armor would be better protection against elves than none at all.

Lek used to earn a few coins by polishing the silver for the inn. Cleaning armor was a little harder, but Lek had it cleaned and polished in no time.

Lek checked out his reflection in Wulfsen's breastplate, trying to decide if he would look tougher with a scar through his eye brow or across his cheek. He was thinking eyebrow.

Wulfsen was surprised.

"You got that done faster than I thought you would." Wulfsen said, taking the breastplate and examining it. "Good, it's good." Wulfsen said. "I'm going to be going, hopefully I'll be back by tomorrow but it may take a few days ago. You can probably have everything in the armory cleaned up by the time I return."

"Leaving- shouldn't I be going with you?" Lek asked.

Of course the boy wanted to come along. Wulfsen shook his head.

"There may be fighting and you haven't had any proper training yet. I don't want you to get hurt before you learn to defend yourself."

"You were supposed to be training me." Lek said, disappointed.

"I'll tell my men to allow you to train with them immediately." Wulfsen said.

Lek's shoulders slumped.

"Lad, they'll teach you how to fight!" Wulfsen clapped Lek on the shoulder, then headed out to let Sileas know he was going away for a while. Again. He wished he could just spend time with her.

Wulfsen's barber, Xander, finished shaving Wulfsen around the same time he finished his story.

"And it was in the sink!" Xander laughed, swishing off the apron and clapping Wulfsen on the shoulder.

Wulfsen chuckled nervously. He stood up and studied his face in the mirror. The bruises from the scuffle with the elves had faded nicely, no longer noticeable unless one looked closely.

"Lek, my jacket." Wulfsen called to his page.

Lek took the dress jacket from its hanger and helped Wulfsen put it on. Lek had his own bruises, the men he trained with had not gone easy on them, but at least they only left marks that were easily concealed with clothing so Mama would not worry.

Lek thought that they were so hard on him to try to get him to quit. Lek refused. During a bout yesterday Lek broke his opponents wooden sword and managed to give the man a bloody nose. His opponent wiped at the blood, laughed and told Lek that he was beginning to learn how to fight. Lek lost the last round but he was starting to feel more confident.

"Well done lad." Wulfsen said and headed for the Dormitory.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:16, Wed 27 Sept 2017.

Wulfsen was shocked to have Sileas bowl right past him. Instead of going to hte hall she went to his room in the barracks.

"Uhm, Sileas?" Wulfsen asked.

Sileas was continuing on to the main hall, but stopped when she heard Wulfsen's voice. She turned. "There you are!"

"What's wrong?" Wulfsen asked with concern, his arms going around her.

"Nothing," Sileas lied, only to be betrayed by her voice coming out in a high squeak.

"Something is wrong." Wulfsen said, rubbing her back. "What is it?"

She shook her head stubbornly. "I don't want to ruin tonight. I'm fine."

"You're upset." Wulfsen said. "Let me help you." He said gently.

"Lek was looking for advice on Pinja, and he had said it was like she blamed herself. I mentioned that is part of the whole thing, that I blamed myself a lot during my year in seclusion. To which he replied, "She did nothing wrong and hadn't deserved it." Which is true, but the way he said it clearly means he feels I had done something wrong and deserved it. I know I was never close with Lek and Millie but I had no idea he felt that way about me. It hurts."

"Surely he didn't mean- If Lek meant it I'll give him a whipping." Wulfsen said.

"He claims he didn't, but usually when things pop out of someone that way, they've usually been at least thinking it."

"Sileas, Lek is obsessed with Pinja. He was thinking about her, not you, not even subconsciously." Wulfsen said. "He thinks about her all the time, even when he's asleep I hear him say her name."

Sileas's eyes flashed. "Are you saying I've overreacted????"

"No, of course not." Wulfsen gently rubbed circles in Sileas's back. "You misunderstood him and thought he believed you deserved to be raped... Being upset would be a natural reaction to that."

"I still think he did. I bet everyone but Mama and Papa did," Sileas sniffled.

"Lek knows you better than Pinja." Wulfsen said. "Why would he think you deserved it when Pinja did not?"

"Because of my background, growing up on the streets. Having a whore for a birth mother," Sileas pointed out.

"Lek doesn't put much stock in such things." Wulfsen said.

"I hadn't thought anyone in the family did. But the only reason I didn't think they did is because I had convinced myself they didn't." Sileas lay her head against his chest.

"I'm sure none of them think that way of you." Wulfsen said.

Sileas let out a small sigh. It was hard to believe they didn't think of her that way after believing it herself. And there times and moments that she still felt that way. "I suppose," she said, unconvinced.

"Where you came from doesn't matter." Wulfsen said, rubbing her shoulder.

She nodded against his chest, her cheek resting against him.

Wulfsen kissed her. "Are you ready to go to dinner?"

"I am," Sileas said, mentally pulling herself together.

Wulfsen stepped back to look at her.

Sileas looked up at him. "What?"

"Just admiring you." Wulfsen said.

Sileas couldn't stop her grin. "Oh. Well. Carry on then."

"And imagining... Ahem." Wulfsen blushed. "Let's go to dinner."

Sileas lightly swatted him. She wrapped her arm around his.

"I'm sorry Sileas!" Lek was close to tears. "I never meant that you deserved what happened to you, no one deserves what happened to you!"

Sileas jumped when Lek appeared from nowhere. She hadn't even heard anyone coming near them. She wasn't quite ready to forgive him yet, but there was one thing she could do. "I accept your apology, Lek."

"Thank you!" Lek burst into tears of relief. "I never meant it that way."

"You're very welcome. Now you'd best get to the feast."

Lek nodded and hurried ahead.

Sileas pulled close to Wulfsen.

Wulfsen hugged her and wanted to hold her some more, but they were already late to their own feast.

"Let's go." He said.

Sileas nodded and walked alongside him as they made their way to the hall.

Wulfsen did not find Sileas in her room, the Garden Tower, the Hall or the rooms beneath the cellar. Wulfsen then wondered if those... irresistible urges had struck her again. Wulfsen blushed and wondered if she was in his room, waiting for him. He went to the barracks and started to open the door to his room, then stopped himself. If Sileas was waiting in his room she may not be in a decent state.

"Ahem." Wulfsen cleared his throat. "Sileas? Are you in there? Are you wear- uh, er... Waiting one more night will be good for us. I'm coming in."

Holding one hand up to shield his eyes, Wulfsen slowly opened the door.

Wulfsen finally got up the courage to peek out between his fingers. Sileas was not there. His shoulders slumped.

Then he heard a whinny. He looked out the window in time to see a rearing horse unseat a rider. Concerned that the rider may be hurt, Wulfsen ran out of the barracks towards the fallen rider.

Sileas remained in the heap, unmoving. The evening breeze ruffled her hair.

"Hey, are you all right?" Wulfsen asked. When he got closer he recognized her.

"Sileas!" Wulfsen knelt by her side. "Are you all right?"

Sileas mumbled, willing the pain to stop. She was awake but remained still.

"What hurts?" Wulfsen asked anxiously.

"Everything," she mumbled. Her hand moved to lay over her abdomen. "Please be all right, please be all right, please be all right," she whispered over and over.

Wulfsen squeezed Sileas's hand. He glanced towards the keep.

"You need Difyr, but I hate to leave you alone."

"Where's Midnight?" she asked, lifting her head to look around. Then she lay back down. "If you have to, you have to."

"He's not far." Wulfsen said, clicking his tongue to call the horse over. "I really hate to leave you."

"I'll be all right," she whispered.

"I can try calling for help." Wulfsen said, cupping his hands around his mouth and screaming for help.

"You're wasting time, there's no around. And if you bring Yehudit over here, I will never forgive you." She clenched her teeth and moaned.

"I'll be back as soon as I can." Wulfsen promised. He hated to do it but he stood up and ran towards the healing room.

Sileas curled into a ball. "PLease be all right, please be all right, please be all right," she continued whispering. Tears streaked down her cheeks.

"She's right here!" Wulfsen knelt beside Sileas and gently touched her face. "Sileas, I got Difyr. You're going to be all right."

"Hold this." Difyr put the torch in Wulfsen's hand and set down her basket. Her hands gently moved over Sileas, checking for broken bones. "Are you feeling any pain?"

Sileas nodded, her tears still streaming. She heard more footsteps, followed by her mother's voice. "Mama!" she cried out weakly. To Difyr she nodded. "Everything hurts."

Difyr rested her hands on Sileas's belly. "Can you feel your fingers and toes?"

"Yes, I can feel them." She wiggled all of them for emphasis. Hands rested on her shoulders, Sileas gazed up at her mother.

"That's good. No cramping?" Difyr asked.

Wulfsen gently brushed the hair from Sileas's face with his free hand.

"I-I don't think so. But everything else hurts so bad, I'm having trouble distinguishing what pain is from what."

"It doesn't look like anything is broken." Difyr said, taking a bottle from her basket. "Mrs Spenser, could you help Sileas sit up so she can drink this? This is for the pain, Sileas."

"Of course." Brie changed position and gently lifted Sileas so she could accept the medicie.

Difyr tipped the bottle to Sileas's lips and allowed her to drink about a quarter of hte contents before taking the bottle away.

"You should start feeling less pain soon." Difyr said.

"If there's nothing broken, why is there so much pain?" She looked worried. "And the babe?"

"Possibly strained muscles, I'd like to get you inside to get a better look at you after I can determine it's safe to move you." Difyr said. "The babe seems fine for now."

"All right." Sileas relaxed, leaving her one hand over her abdomen. "I can't believe I was so stupid."

"You're not stupid." Wulfsen said, lifting Sileas's free hand and pressed his lips against it. He wanted to know why Sileas was riding her horse but was not sure it was something he wanted to bring up in front of Brighid and the healer.

"I was when I got on a horse knowing I was carrying a babe. One that might be a difficult pregnancy at that," Sileas sighed. "I let my emotions rule me."

"We all act on our emotions sometimes." Wulfsen said, stroking Sileas's cheek with a finger. "You're going to be all right, and so will our child." Wulfsen willed it to be true.

Sileas couldn't help the small smile. He had said our child. No hesitation or thinking on it. It made a small dent in the hurt he had inflicted on her. "Difyr will do everything she can."

Wulfsen noticed the small smile and smiled back.

"Are you feeling any better?" He asked.

"The pain is lessening. I will feel better when Difyr confirms the babe is all right."

Wulfsen glanced at his future mother in law and blushed scarlet. He wondered if he should tell her that he and Sileas did not do what it looked like they were going to do or if he should just try to forget the scene he must have made with Sileas in the hall and hope everyone else did the same. He squeezed Sileas's hand.

Brie just rubbed Sileas's shoulder. She spotted Shawn approaching. She cared very little about what had happened in the hall. All she cared about was her daughter and grandchild.

"Hello sir." Wulfsen greeted Shawn.

"Wulfsen. I'm confused by what happened after the two of you left the hall. My daughter being thrown by a horse was none of the possibilities going through my mind."

"We got separated." Wulfsen said, unwilling to admit that he did not know what Sileas was doing on a horse.

"Separated. I see. We'll speak on this later, because I do not understand how two people who couldn't keep their hands off one another got separated." Shawn was not pleased and it showed in his expression.

"It was my fault, sir." Wulfsen said. He was the one who carried Sileas off in the first place.

"Are you saying you tried to force yourself on her?" Shawn demanded, his anger growing. He had trusted this man to be the one to protect Sileas for the rest of her life.

"No! I would never do that." Wulfsen said. "When we were in the Hall it was as if I couldn't control myself. .. When we got out here I was able to stop.Bai said, er." Wulfsen was very red. He was still ashamed of his behavior.

"Bai said...?" Shawn prodded.

"Shawn! Wulfsen!" Brie hissed, cutting Shawn off. "This is not the time or place."

"How are you feeling now?" Difyr asked Sileas.

"Aside from worried and guilt-ridden? Better," Sileas replied.

"Stop that." Difyr said.

Sileas arched an eyebrow. "Stop what?"

"Worrying, and feeling guilty." Difyr said.

"It's true though. I gave no thought to possible consequences. It was a bad decision."

Lek jogged over.

"Is Sileas okay? What can I do?"

Millie had always wanted to be closer friends with her cousin and this could be her chance. Yehudit was nowhere around, and perhaps as a married woman, Sileas would be interested in things other than exploring and adventuring. She inched closer to her aunt and cousin, but allowed space for Sileas to breathe. "Is there anything I can do to help?" she inquired.

Wulfsen handed Lek the torch.

"She will be." Wulfsen insisted.

"Of course she is," Brie agreed. Her attention went to Millie. "Come sit next to me, just being here will comfort her.

"I don't see any signs of bleeding." Difyr said. "But it would be better to get you inside where there's better light."

"Someone should carry her in," Brie Said. "Best for her not to walk until we're certain."

"If it doesn't hurt her to be picked up I'll carry her." Wulfsen said.

"Oh, I'll let you know if you hurt me," Sileas said, barely keeping herself from being short with him.

Wulfsen blinked. "If you prefer Lek..."

"No. I just meant if I felt any pain, I would let you know immediately."

Wulfsen sensed that Sileas was not happy with him and did not know why.

"Do you want me to carry you?" Wulfsen asked.

"Yes, please," Sileas replied.

"Let me know if I hurt you." Wulfsen said and gently picked Sileas up and cradled her against his chest.

Sileas had had every intention of folding her arms across her chest as he carried her inside. But the warmth of his arms and the comforting sound of his heartbeat broke her resolve. She leaned against him and wrapped one arm around him.

Wulfsen smiled. He liked how Sileas felt in his arms. He began walking towards the healing room.

Sileas was still angry with Wulfsen, but she was having great trouble maintaining her anger. But she knew they were going to need to talk. Tonight. But for now, she was just going to enjoy where she was.

Wulfsen examined his freshly shaved face in the mirror, making sure he did not miss anything. Perfectly smooth. Wulfsen smiled and started getting into his suit.

Xavier walked in, already dressed. "Do you need any help with anything? Or are you ready and filled with anticipation?" he teased.

"Anticipation, and terror." Wulfsen said.

"Did you and Sileas get everything worked out last night?" Xavier inquired. "I was a bit worried when I caught her at the gate."

Wulfsen nodded.

"We worked everything out. Getting married after such a short courtship isn't going to be easy... but we can do it."

"Good, I was a bit worried last night. The quick rush definitely hurt the two of you. Anything need doing that you know of?"

"Nothing I can thing of." Wulfsen's heart sped up in panic. "I must be forgetting something!"

"I'm sure Sileas's family is taking care of most things. But is there anything special Sileas wants that the family might not know of? There's a place already arranged for tonight? Anything special for the menu that I should let Dyfrig know of?"

"We had talked about how nice it would be if the Garden Tower was fixed up... But we didn't think there would be enough time." Wulfsen said.

"I'll make that happen. I'll find a few of the servants and some of the pages. Anything else?"

"Not that I can think of... I must be forgetting something important." Wulfsen fretted.

"I can help with pleasing a woman, but I know nothing about marriage plans," Xavier replied.

"I think we can handle that part ourselves." Wulfsen stammered, blushing.

Xavier snorted. 'That wasn't what I meant exactly."

"Then what did you mean?" Wulfsen asked, feeling even worse.

"I meant in the decorating or how to coax them out of a bad mood. Courtship. Flirting, that sort of thing."

Wulfsen sighed. "We didn't have much time for courting."

"I know. So, some tips...women love attention being lavished on them, getting flowers and sweets for no reason. They like knowing they are the most important thing in your life. That's even more important later in the pregnancy. For some reason, they start thinking everything you do for them is about the baby and that they don't matter." Xavier shrugged. "I'll never understand that one. Take time for quiet moments-walks in the garden or by the river. Picnics. After she has the babe, take her riding. I understand she loves to read, so make one room in the keep a cozy library for her, filled with books."

"Okay." Wulfsen said. "I'll have to get some more books from Portside."

"Cushiony chairs to." Xavier thought for a moment. "Perhaps talk to Nelek about an alcove facing the courtyard."

"My page is really good at fixing and building things." Wulfsen said. "He could help."

"There you go. You could make it the room where she and her ladies gather. She can read while the others sew or play music. Unless of course Sileas likes sewing and playing music."

"Sileas does not like sewing... Whether or not she likes music has never come up." Wulfsen winced as he realized how much he didn't know about the woman who was to become his bride today.

"That doesn't surprise me, that she doesn't like sewing. She should have Millie as part of her ladies to take care of that around the keep. And Sileas's clothing."

"Millie does good work." Wulfsen said. "And Lek would like to have his sister around, they're very close."

"Millie would also be a more...reliable companion for her as well. Much more suited for life in a keep. Both will need to learn about the ways of court before any convenes here. They're hard enough on those who grew up in that atmosphere."

"It would be good for Sileas to have at least one friend who isn't awkward in court." Wulfsen said. "Though Questa isn't awkward so much that she doesn't care if she fits or not... Life in court will be interesting."

"While one part of me would love to be a fly on the wall to observe, I think I'll be asking for away from the keep tasks while court is in session. Wait until one of those snobby court women hurts Sileas's feelings and sets Yehudit off. I don't even want to think on it."

Wulfsen groaned. "People are going to get hurt."

"Yes, they are. And you know as well as I do how those women can get."

"Silas will want her closest friends with her." Wulfsen rubbed his temples.

"I never said I had a solution to this one," Xavier admitted. "I don't see Yehudit going along with being sent on any sort of mission."

Wulfsen groaned. "Why didn't I think about this sooner? Sileas wouldn't send Yehudit away any sooner than Yehudit would leave her. I wouldn't force them to separate either, they're closer than sisters. There's going to be blood spilled all over court."

"Aye. I would suggest training Questa to keep the peace, but I think she dislikes Yehudit so much, she would seize the opportunity to take her out." Xavier thought for a moment. "Actually...why don't we have a festival and tournament that runs the length of court. I can almost guarantee that Sileas would be out there nearly every day. I don't see her having much patience with sitting around gossiping. Especially if there are activities to watch and...dare I say, oversee?"

"But as a future queen Sileas has to take some part in court." Wulfsen said. "She can't spend the entire time outside and away."

Xavier rubbed his chin. "There's really not a good answer for this, is there? Other than some discreet knights guarding the ladies to step in when there is trouble."

"No." Wulfsen sighed. "We'll need to find someone to help hide the bodies."

"Hiding the bodies won't help. The husbands will start questioning when the women go missing." He paused. "Some will anyway. Some of those women are such shrews, the husbands will probably reward Yehudit."

"Maybe their husbands can help dispose of the bodies then." Wulfsen said hopefully.

Xavier snorted. "I still like the tournament and festival. All of the ladies could attend together, that way Sileas would still be attending court. Plus she'll gain experience when you go...oh geeze. What are you going to do about Yehudit when you and Sileas are traveling? Her mother's not going to want her to go."

"Yehudit will have to get used to being away from Sileas. After all, Yehudit isn't going with us on our honeymoon... I don't think." Wulfsen frowned.

"I don't envy you at all."

"When you fall in love you'll see how it's all worth it." Wulfsen said, still looking worried.

"I suppose so," Xavier admitted. "One day."

Wulfsen thumped Xavier's shoulder. "Next you'll be the one worrying about your future wife's friends killing people in court."

Xavier laughed. "I don't know about being the next one, but you are probably right. I would never choose someone tame and demure."

"You'll probably fall for some wild woman that eats raw meat that she hunts with her own teeth." Wulfsen said.

Xavier's laughter grew. "You're probably right. Let's face it, quiet and demure...seems...kind of dull."

"So, do I look presentable?" Wulfsen asked.

"Aye, Sileas will be well pleased."

"Now all I need is my bride." Wulfsen grinned.

"You know the women are going to take hours making her all pretty and all that."

"She's already beautiful, it shouldn't take long." Wulfsen said.

Xavier smiled and nodded. "Aye, but women...they do love all that frippery on wedding days."

"Sileas isn't like that." Wulfsen said. "She's probably waiting for me."

"She might not be like that, but...the other women helping her dress...well...they may have other plans."

"Sileas wouldn't stand for that." Wulfsen said, striding out the door.

"Mm hmm. I bet they don't give her any choice at all."

Lek threw on some light leather armor and buckled his rapier onto his belt. He put on a helmet and headed for the garden.

Shawn finally managed to catch up with Lek. "Lek! Wulfsen needs you in the war room."

"I have a duel." Lek said. "It shouldn't take long."

"The fate of the country is more important than your duel," Shawn stated. "Wulfsen made you a squire to protect the country first and foremost."

"He molested Millie and said disgraceful things about Pinja." Lek said. "Will you be my second?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:49, Tue 18 Feb 2020.

Shawn sighed. "I would if I didn't have a prior commitment. We can ask Wulfsen to discipline him instead of ignoring a command to the war room. It won't go well for you."

"I became a squire to learn how to defend others like my sister and Pinja." Lek said. "I can't back down or Edgar will do it again."

"And you're willing to risk a reprimand yourself for ignoring a directive?"

In reply to Shawn Spenser (msg # 185):

Lek straightened his shoulders. "I have to."

Shawn sighed. "Well, I have to admire a man with principals. I regret I can't be your second, but I'll offer advice. "Don't get yourself killed out there."

"I don't plan to. Thank you, Uncle Shawn." Lek said and strode out.

Shawn headed back to the keep. Nelek was going to kill him.