by sunglasses » Mon Jul 09, 2018 12:52 am
Bleddyn was quite happy to be home. He was ready to relax with Llewella and see how big the twins had grown. True, he did have some somber news to share-it's not everyday that the earth opens up and swallows your eldest sister-but he wasn't going to lead in with that news. Partly because rumors had it that it was either a witch that caused it or she was stolen by faeries. Neither of which he really wanted to think about. Both could be listening.
Of course this all went out the window when he realized Tegan was in his hold.
"T-Tegan. N-not th-that I-I a-am n-not pl-pleased to s-see y-you b-but what brings you hense?"
"I thought Llewella might want some company."
Behind her Llewella frantically shook her head no.
Bleddyn stared at her, he would not be intimidated this time! He stared at Tegan. Tegan stared back. He glared.
"Fine! Father tried to arrange a marriage with an older widower and I might have coated the privy with something. It might have caused some blisters and burning to the backside of anyone who used it. I might be temporarily avoiding his sight for now."
Bleddyn used to think Tegan's antics amusing but this was getting out of hand. He wrote to his brother knights seeking counsil...and possible bridegrooms.
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Persidius receives Bleddyn's message and thinks about it. Of his knights only Sir Yddyn is unwed and male and for the daughter of a vassal knight he finds it unseemly to even suggest an esquire.
Before responding to his friend he goes and speaks with Adwen about it though he knows the answer. Of course she is in favor of another dangerous woman being about...
With that confirmed he puts the matter to Yddyn who is somewhat surprised to hear his overly decorous lord suggest it.
"Barleyfield will be made aware of your parentage, of course," Persidius tell his knight, "Though I suspect he will be unconcerned. Lady Tegan is... difficult, as I understand, so naturally Adwen and Tatiana think this is a fine idea," he ends with a wry laugh.
"Thank you, Sir, I never expected such an opportunity," Yddyn replies with as much courtesy as he can muster. He's not much for pretty words given how he's earned everything in life so far despite niceties.
"Come now, such etiquette hardly suits you, Uncle," Persidius laughs.
"Fair point, Nephew," the older man grins.
"Good, I'll write to Barleyfield and see if we can arrange a meeting. If it goes well then I suspect you'll be wed within a fortnight."
Persidius sends a messenger and invites Bleddyn and his family to join them next Sunday if he accepts Yddyn as a suitor.
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It doesn't matter how the bloody rabbit's foot made it's way into Bleddyn's bed. The message was clear. While Tegan was not estatic that Bleddyn had made this plan for her, she was accepting of it.
(The mystery of how she got a bloody rabbit's foot was solved when it was discovered that rabbit stew was for dinner that night.)
Letters sent, children were played with, including the ward that was Arcadia's child. The decision was ultimately made to include them in the travel and dinner at Persidius. T'would do them well to see other homes and families. T'was never too early to prepare the young Heulog for realities as a page when he was older.
Finally the Sunday had arrived.
Tegan was dressed in a woolen gown that had been dyed with woad. Her hair, deftly braided by Llewella. She found herself...actually nervous.
"Brother, what do you know of Yddyn?"
"W-well h-he's b-been a k-knight f-for t-twenty f-five y-years, s-so h-he's g-got a f-few s-scars. H-he's t-the u-uncle o-of S-sir P-persidius. C-certainly h-he i-is a-an o-older m-match b-but I-I d-daresay h-he w-will b-be m-more i-interesting th-then o-other s-suitors y-you've m-met," Bleddyn declared while whispering, "a-and p-probably w-wise t-to y-your w-wiles."
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There is plenty of room at Pillarford for Bleddyn's entire family and his attendants. The old hall had been renovated and enlarged considerably over the past year and though it is still too early to break ground preparations are already in progress to raise a castle around Adwen's manor.
Persidius welcomes Bleddyn personally and shows them inside where a serving boy brings them mulled wine and cider as well as beer though everyone knows its hardly as good as what Bleddyn is accustomed to given Llewella's remarkable talent.
Adwen quickly spirits Llewella and Tegan away to the solar so they can talk without male interference and leaves Bleddyn with Persi and Yddyn. The other knights are out with the huntsmen and hounds hunting for grouse, fox and pheasant. Well mainly they are coordinating and giving chase while the beaters and hounds do the work. The knights themselves are on the lookout for deer.
Until they return Yddyn and Bleddyn can have time to get to know one another while Persidius enjoys the distraction. Its his first Sunday since his censure and it weighs heavily enough on the Roman knight that he doesn't take up most of the time talking.
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"Th-these sp-spices in th-this w-wine a-are qu-quite pl-pleasing, a-and d-do I t-taste r-roasted d-date?" Bleddyn sips deeply before continuing, "I-I kn-know th-this m-may s-seem s-sudden, Yddyn and S-sir P-persidius. I-I th-thank y-you f-for a-accepting th-this m-meeting. I-I a-am u-unsure i-if y-you h-have h-heard r-rumors o-of m-my s-sister. M-many o-of th-them a-are s-somewhat e-exaggerated."
"I heard she was creative with her use of nettles."
"C-certainly, sh-she c-can b-be v-very r-resourceful. I-if i-it i-is h-helpful t-to kn-know sh-she o-often r-resorted t-to h-her a-antics wh-whenever o-our f-father m-mentioned m-marriage. I a-am u-unsure o-of th-the d-details i-involved, b-but m-my c-cousin cl-claimed sh-she h-had a f-feminine n-notion o-on s-servant wh-whom w-was l-later s-sent t-to a-another h-hold. Sh-she i-is sp-spirited, I-I sh-shall n-not l-lie. Y-yet I-I c-can t-tell b-by h-her a-actions a-after a-announcing th-this d-dinner th-that e-even sh-she t-tires o-of h-her f-frantic a-avoidance o-of s-suitors," he continued.
"One moment, what actions did she perform after finding out about this dinner?"
Bleddyn stammered for a moment but swiftly recovered, "Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-why sh-she h-helped pr-prepare a r-rabbit st-stew." T'was close enough to the truth that Bleddyn only felt a thin sheen of sweat upon his brow.
Meanwhile, in another room
"Truly? You applied that to the seat of the privy?"
"I was just so infuriated! The man my father brought to see me was a widower who's previous two wifes all died of a pox that he plagued them with-or so the old wise woman said."
Llewella wrote something down upon her slate. Tegan glanced at the writing and groaned, "I am quite aware of the reigning opinion of the old wise woman. Bleddyn does not think her brains are that addled. She was his nursemaid before he left to be a page. He would listen to her for hours talk of faeries and other tales."
Tegan giggles, "In fact, Llewella, if you stay up late into the night I'm willing to wager he still puts out a small saucer of cream at night. She convinced him that it would keep bad luck at bay by keeping the Bwbachod happy."
She smiled and then looked distant and sighed, "I have caused him a fair amount of bother, I fear. I had not imagined he would have written his brothers in arms looking for a suitor for me. I was half expecting that he'd eventually turn to Sir Eliver for a solution-he always did seek council with El. I see that look you are giving me, Llewella. I shall not cause trouble for you, Adwen or Bleddyn tonight. Can you imagine the look upon the face of my mother when she hears I've finally accepted a suitor? Or the look upon father's once he hears about the parentage? This is perfect beyond measure. We should hurry this along, the quicker we can come to an agreement, the quicker I am wed, and the sooner I am out of the reach of any potential backlash that may have been brewing. I am not fond of the idea of being strongly encouraged into a nunnery- I fear that may have been the next plan of my patriarch. Well, once the blisters healed well enough for him to ride a horse to Barleyfield."
Tegan and Adwen giggled. Llewella pursed her lips, but eventually gave in to silent laughter as well.
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In the Solar
Cornelia, still getting accustomed to rural life in the south, perks up when talking about suitors.
"I once got a man to run naked through the heather, I heard the monks say his stones were redder than holly berries from the nettles."
In the Hall
"Indeed, my friend," Persi replies, "Dates and juniper berries make up a good portion of this mull. And, please, call me Caius. We'll be family soon enough and you'll even be Adwen's uncle," he says with a laugh, "But I wouldn't ask her to call you that if I were you."
He then looks over to see his senior valet, Rufus, bringing more wine, and waves him over then takes the jug, "Enough of that, fraterculum, this is hardly a formal event and you are family. Let the lackeys serve while you sit with us." He gives his brother a cup and pours him some himself then refills Yddyn and Bleddyn's cups before his own.
Soon after Pamigen returns and curses while getting himself some cider, "Not a deer in sight at all, Brother," he reports to Persidius, "but we bagged a few grouse and a fat pheasant, enough to feed the knights and ladies with at least."
They have a chance to drink and converse awhile more before dinner is ready.
Bleddyn sits on Persidius's right while Llewella stays with Adwen, Cornelia and Tatiana. Some space is made at the end of the main table so that Yddyn and Tegan can sit together without being overheard.
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Tegan picked at the pheasant. It was good but her appetite was fair at most. She ate a few bites and took a large sip of wine before speaking.
"I thank you, for considering this. I know this must have seemed sudden to you. I hope you will agree to this marriage. I have told Bleddyn that while I knew of your parentage, as long as that didn't apply to temperament, I would be in agreement. He has said that you are a fair and honest man. I cannot, truly, as for more."
She waited for Yddyn to reply. She looked up at his food and found him a bit ruddy faced and staring. He appeared to be weighing things to say carefully. She cocked her head and giggled.
"You have not talked much with a lady other then family, have you? Do not worry about etiquette now. It's just us talking. We shall not be overheard if we keep our voices down. Please, you will not offend me if you misspeak."
Yddyn drank deeply from his wine and breathed. She was a woman, just like his niece, there was no reason he can't talk to her like he would talk to his niece. Why he felt like a teenage boy first seeing a maiden puzzled him, "No. No I suppose I have not. To be honest, the suggestion of marriage with a lady such as yourself took me by surprise. I did query upon such a suggestion and was informed that there have been a few troublesome incidents regarding your past suitors. I have been assured by Bleddyn that you acted differently to this news-that you helped make a rabbit stew!"
Tegan coughed slightly at the mention of the rabbit but said nothing more on the subject. If that was how Bleddyn has passed it off, she wouldn't correct the statement. Yddyn continued, "I have no misgivings upon meeting your person. Now let us eat this fine food and drink. Fresh pheasant from a good hunt is always a delight."
"Agreed," Tegan smiled to herself as she renewed eating with vigor. Whether it was the wine or his prose that settled her nerves, she could not say. True, this was a marriage of convenience, but it didn't seem like it was going to be horrid. It seemed like it would be...comfortable.