The Day After-Part 2
Rememberance.
A scream of wood could be heard throughout the abandoned mead-hall as it's ancient door was pushed open. A bright glare rushed through the open door out to the endless plains that reached like an ocean around it. Dark was the night over the waving grass, music from crickets rising to the heavens as a chorus, the occasional call of a lost owl or creature of the night echoing from overhead. For miles the only thing that could be seen was a small town protruding from the vast emptyness. No more than five or six homes owned by the lords of horses made up this town, if it could be even given such a name. Reaching from the far side of the dwellings rested the mead-hall. To a traveler or rider it would seem as a beacon of hope, mead, bread, shelter. Its cracked and withered walls held sturdy despite the hateful cold and taunting wind that was beset upon it each year. Infact, the whole town seemed withered and it would most likely be a wonder to any that would see it as to why anyone would call it their home. If you were to ask one of the villagers they could not rightfully tell you themselves. Well, except of course for the oldest man in the town who's fathers father was present durring the laying of the first stone, and the dissmemberment of the first tree for the town. ''It's the old charm you see! The rustic look, the wonderful ale....and of course the barmaid Henian.'' It would only be truth if one were to say that the only reason that any man came to the town was because of Henian and her famous ale. Or should it be said that it was her famous breasts that was the actual lure of the town?
A boot broke through the glare of the stone fire as it entered through the doorway, a gentle chill following the boots caretaker as a whisper. Tightly did the glove of the customer grab the door, shutting it again to break the disturbance of the night and her shadows. To Etheirgrum the hall looked like relief, a break from his endless travel. A single long wooden table with benches of the splintery sort lay in the middle of the hall, covering one side of the place to the other. In it's more used days it'd have seated twenty men with ease though now it would complain with a creak at one man's rear placed upon it. The stone fireplace stood near it's center, offering most of the only light in the darkened hall other than an occasional dripping candle or hanging lantern. A counter with a tall man stood at the far end of the mead hall, his hands buisy with the few coins he had. His door's scream of opening made his eyes brighten with excitment and hope as he looked over his polished tables he only noticed a single rat under the table, this pleased him deeply. His green eyes darted to the customer, looking him over. The entering man stood larger than him, atleast 6 foot seven if not taller, large hands hung at the mans side, a young body with a young face that bore a younger red beard upon it's chin and sides. But of course the attention of Henian was drawn to the figure as well, her small teeth biting her lower lip from the first sight of a man in more than months. Preparring herself for the predictable comments and embarassing remarks she strod to the man to help him with his hanging sstatley blue cloak. Etheirgrum looked to the busty woman walking towards him, his attention was drawn to her more than revealed clevage, leaving him little for the imagination. Though he decided when he saw her to try and do his mind a favour, and give it the full picture. To him she was stunning even though she wore a worn and spilled upon brown dress that hugged her figure loosly. Her feet on the verge of bleeding from it's overly tight dust worn shoes. The sound of her soft footsteps stopped as she reached her careful hands to undo his cloak, her gentle brown hair waving like a tree in the breeze. Her eyes the colour of a doe's fur darted to the mans face as she hung his cloak upon a rack, she reguarded his handsome face though she could not to notice his grey eyes starring to her perky behind, this discovery was followed by a sigh.
After Etherigrum was seated with a mug pressed into his lips Henian shuffled through the pantry to find what edible and non-stale food there was to be found. After inspecting her clay flatter filled with chesses, breads, and swine she scurried on to the sitting man, placing the platter infront of him, turning to relieve herself to her room before she was stopped by the mans voice as he stuffed himself in what would seem as starvation.
'' You have pretty lips....though they do not speak other than ask me what I wan't for supper. Why is that? A deep shame if i've ever seen one myself. ''
Sighing as she had been stopped she turned back around slowly, forcing as pretty a smile as she could to the man. '' I have no reason to speak sire...nor would I wish to interrupt your evening and intrude upon your buisness. ''
Through a soft laugh he barked in reply '' My buisness is yours...I am intruding upon your...'' Eth's gret eyes scanned the room before returning deeply to hers as he raised pork to his mouth, mumbling from behind it. '' 'wonderful' establishment...it is only right I be asl=ked as to whom I am and what my reasoning is here don't you think lass? Though I disslike calling you such...who is it I may refer to you as? ''
'' Henian sire...but that is not important, nor is your name really. But if it humours you i'll ask it, as well as why your here. ''
Another chuckle could be heard through a grin '' Etheirgrum...though as you said it is not important hm? Nor is the reason I am here, more importantly I find your attitude entertaining...most bar maids I know would put on the fake smile your wearing and play hound to my heel. Hm...I am happy i've found a change in this borring state of the world. '' was his reply as his already empty plate was pushed away, one of his hands wafting dramatically through the air.
Henian could not help but to chuckle lightly at the change of normal conversation, so she found herself sitting with the man and engaging in converdation untill the next noon, when her eyes grew tired. It is true they talked about most everything one could think of to talk about, familly, life, the sun, many stupid and important things. She was happy in the fact that she caught his eyes starring at her chest only once, and to her, that was a relief. After watxhing him leave she felt almost sad, lonely, she ignored this fact and went back to her room, getting ready to sleep before the inn's owner pushed her up moments after she closed her eyes. After all it was her fault she talked all day night. Back to work.
That night she was releived to see the same man enter the hall, if not a bit supprised. Most visitors left the day they came, where did he sleep, why was he still here she wondered. Following slowly behind him was a large wolf-hound, strong in stature, it's short sleek fur shimmering a light grew from the light of the fire. Gasping from its sight before running her hands through it's fur, Grull's rough tounge lapping at her cheeks, causing another giggle to be heard throughout the hall. Grull's owner beamed a smile at his hound and the lass before he found himself yet again at the table, speaking to the woman. Though she tired much quicker, she had not slept because of him. But luckilly for Eth she did not hold it against him, and supprisingly she offered her bed oncw she learnt he was sleepin in the streets. So, as the 'gentleman' he was he accepted the offer, following her to her bed to rest. That night her brother came from hunting, bringing her a silver neclace he stole from a caravan. This his sister would never learn. Seeing her in bed with a man her brother instantly became enraged, pulling Eth from the covers and giving him a nice red nose before Eth knocked him unconcious by a punch to the side of his head. Henian sighed at her unconcious brother, appologising to her new friend whom insisted on sleeping in the streets, and to her sadness he did.
Thus started the daily secret chats in the garden at old woman Granger's house. They spoke for hours each day, and within weeks found themselves taking walks together, hunting, riding, smiling. Eventually even under the light of the moon in the garden a kiss was stolen from her lips, causing her lovely cheeks to turn as red as a tommato ripe for the picking. But the kiss was not a peck, oh no. To her it lasted hours, which in truth it did. A month after her brother was walking through the dust walkways in the center of the town, looking for his sister whom seemed to be missing. His ears perked as he thought he heard loving moans of a woman from the plains and enshrouding the town in the sound. He dissmeissed the though, mounting his horse and riding north to search for his sister. If he had looked across the plains of the south he might have seen with his keen eyed a bump amungst the grass, and his sister, moaning in exstacy and calling the name of a man he had heard day after day for months. Etheirgrum....
The next morrning he found his sister in her bed with a smile on his face, sitting near her he watched her softly sleep with care untill her eyes opened. Followed bt this event shortly was the whails of heartbreak and regret, depression. Etheirgrum closed his eyes as he heard the sound, riding upon his steed West bound. He looked back for a moment with a longing gaze before he urged his horse faster, his expressions much less cheerful and comical than they had been the past months. And so he fled from devotion, sacrafice, familly. In his heart he hopped not only for his sake but for the sake of Henian that she was not to have a child.
Slowly Etheirgrums eyes opened as he felt himself painfully being dragged across the hard and unforgiving gravel, his daily rival shining into his eyes as if taunting him. He groaning as a few stones ripped through the bare flesh on his back, struggling to get upon his knees, and then his feet. Weakly running behind the horse as fast as he could to keep from dragging. Dantion looked down at him from his horse, holding the rope that bound Etheirgrums hands. '' Afternoon brother! I don't know how you slept with all those stones eating at your back! It might have been the ale and herbs we gave you...ah well, no matter your up now and can stop feeding the stones! We don't want you too chewed up, you need to look presentable for your son and my sister. '' He smiled cheerfully back to Etheirgrum, Dantion's brown eyes shimmering in cheer before he looked back ahead. '' I hope you like exercize! '' The grey horse pulling Eth's hands forward hastened it's speed as it's leads were wipped. Laughter filled the air as the horse ran forward, Etheirgrun stumbling and groaning as blood ticked down his back and knees, stumbling and falling in dissmay. As he laughed Dantion looked back again, then to his companions before looking forward again, urging his horse faster. '' Let us see if you run as fast as I did when your son was on his way, we don't wan't to keep him waiting! ''
The fisherman opened his eyes as he heard the maniachal laughter, moving to his door and looking down the hilly pass. After seening nothing he wondered back to his bed, sitting on it's edge as he ran a hand through his hair. Wondering if he made a mistake before. His wifes eyes darted open just before the laughter fadded, looking over to her husband.
'' Dear....I think you were right. ''
