Now Haedley's day was slowly coming to an end and he stood bored in the tower as he gazed upon the dry Wolds of the Riddermark. All was uneventful and the othe two guardsmen in the tower were holding a debate concerning the women about Harwick, and though not all their words were couth they were a good way to pass the time. Haedley listened but had little interest in matters that concerned women who are not Melowen. He stooped onto the railings with his chin upon his arms.
"Have you met Adell?", said one of the guards.
"Adell?" Asked the other, trying to remember, "Is she not the sister of the stable-boy? My memory falters."
"Nay, she is the daughter of the tavern keep, have you not gone there?"
"Alas, I have seldom gone there. What purpose have we when there are free drinks for us in the barracks?"
"I go there for the lassies, friend. For you see... the lassies who serve us our meals within the barracks are there every day, and they make eyes for many men. Béma knows how many of them they have rolled together with in the furs, I do not wish to think of the count."
"You are being over wary!"
"Wary am I? I am cautious of who I would take to be my wife some day, I wish for a woman who is unspoiled, and had not had adventures with other men. Alas that it be so difficult to find such a maiden who be fair and unspent. Do they not care much for the old ways?"
"Ha... You truly are wary, friend. Do not think so, there are many women who have perserved their maidenhood. I doubt that making eyes for some lad in the barracks means that they would or have lied with them, they merely seek to be attractive, naught more."
"What do you know? Have you ever lied with a woman? Nay, as I thought!"
"Ha! None sense, I have lied with a woman!"
"Indeed? Pray tell who?"
"Elfwyn," he said after a short pause.
"I know not of any lass that goes by the name Elfwyn in Harwick. Liar!"
"It is no lie!" Then he paused once more, "She was a merchant's daughter, they were traveling from Langhold to the Westmark."
"I do not believe you," said the other, shaking his head.
"Now, if you are so bold to doubt my experience with women - what of you? Eh, you are speaking as though you know all there is to know of women."
"Lad, I know women well. I know what it is that they wish for, I know their signs and gestures ere they take true action upon what is in their minds. But above all: I know how to make a woman happy in many ways."
"Truly?"
"Yea!"
"Then why are you still unwed?"
"For there are few women in Harwick who have true virtue left!"
"Very well, you say there are few then why have you not yet taken one of those few for yourself, eh?"
And then the two men continued to bicker of the matter. But in truth both were lying for the desire to impress the other, and so that they boast of their non-existent victories to their friends.
The men were were soon interrupted by the sound of footsteps climbing the tower's stairs.
Thump, thump, thump
The steps came and all in the tower fell silent, fearing that it would be their captain. They feigned to be working where as Haedley seemed to pay little heed, he was still silent and deep within his thoughts.
Then up the stairs blonde hair came and with it a woman. It was Melowen, and she had indeed come to see Haedley in the tower. The other two men took a swift glance, and then looked to one another with wide eyes and grins. They very seldom found themselves in the company of a woman whilst they are on duty, and they find that it is bliss. However, Melowen came to see Haedley therefore she went and stood beside him. If only Haedley beheld the dismayed looks upon their faces when they saw the sign of a woman and she went to keep Haedley - of all, company.
Her presence lightened his heart as he noticed her, and a smile come to his face. Then they greeted in the manner of their folk and spoke together.
"It is beautiful, is it not?"
Haedley asked as they both looked out to behold the plains.
And it was doubtlessly beautiful, for it was sunset and the sky burnt orange in the sun's final few moments, there were few clouds obstructing the splendour of the view.
"Don't mind me, I don't want to disturb or interrupt your duties. I only wanted to have a look from here,"
She said to him, beholding the view,
"Yes, I do think so. Can see a lot more far from here."
Haedley's smile seemed to grow as she spoke, he welcomed her presence happily. His mood had become subtle, pleasant. He was once more the gentle soul as he often was.
"It is not so bad, actally, I like the view. Do you see that tower over there?"
He said, and pointed towards the sillhouette of a tower rising in the distance.
He continued,
"that is Feldburg. It is a very small camp. See? There are many defenses here in The Wolds; have you seen the towers at Wakenflood? They run beside the Langflood some leagues West of here, and keep watch for folk trying to cross the Langflood."
Then Haedley looked down unto her hand that was resting upon the railings, and there was some temptation in his eyes. He wished to feel her hand and such thoughts brought joy to him, yet he was ever shy of this and afraid that she would not appreciate the gesture - moreso he worried that he may appear selfish, that he would only care for what he wished and not regard her own personal space. Haedley was growing somewhat cautious in Melowen's presence, he loved that she would give him company and feared that some day she would not longer desire to do so. Thus he would be hurt in his heart, for he had then lost more than a friend; he had also lost one who he dearly grew to love in the short time that he had spent with her, even though Haedley could not wholly know the reason why he loved her so. She liked flowers too, and he enjoyed that. Yet there was much of her that was unlike he, and quite distant from his nature.
"I've seen those defenses while riding here from the south. The Easterlings press from the other side of the Langflood, I can see why,"
She smiled, continuing,
"You know; this duty is likely more important than the one you had before."
"Aye. And messengers pass quickly from the towers and battlements here in the Wolds-..."
And then he paused, for his mind thought upon her later words,
"I do not know, it is a good honour to protect the Thane's doors."
"It is. But what are the chances a visitor storms the Mead Hall to behead the Thane with a broadsword? Here is where the danger is more real,"
Said Melowen, and she added in jest,
"With a broadsword... or a shield. Imagine that: an assassination attempt with a shield. Might be hilarious to behold"
Haedley looked at her, and his blush, and shyness came forth to bring some confusion to his words:
"I do not know, but if ever it were to happen then there would only be the door warden, and the guards there like my-.. Like I was."
He laughed a bit,
"Still, it is my duty to take your shield, or what ever other weapons you may have hidden. I promise you that I was careful with them."
"I know you were,"
Said she, as though she truly trusted him. She smiled.
Then Haedley gazed upon her in silence and was thoughtful. The mystery of why he loved her remained deep and he had not thought of it - yet, however there was something of her that he was no so fond off. Nothing that he was unwilling to accept by any account, for he welcomed her as she was. He sighed and spoke what was on his mind.
"Your sword is big, I do not know. And I mean..."
His words failed and he hesitated,
"I mean no offense, but I do not like it,"
He said nervously.
"And what do you prefer? the spear"
She asked.
Now these were among the things he did not like much, speak of weapons and war. Though the question lingered upon his mind a while, and he thought; he worried that if he answered she may think less of him, think him a coward. However so he did not wish to lie to her, thus he spoke.
"I do not know,"
He said with a shrug.
"Why don't you like a large sword?"
She asked with a curious look.
It was at that question when Haedley felt as though he were shrinking, and it was a welcomed feeling for he very much wished to disappear and flee from her question. He did not know the answer, he hardly knew what to say, though perhaps through some fortune he mustered his confidence in the dismay and speak clearly.
"I do not know. It looks clumsy, and dangerous."
Now he felt like a fool speaking the latter and it hit his mind. His cheeks reddened and he frowned, thinking to himself, 'Haedley you are a fool! A sword is meant to be dangerous, you need not say it - now she will believe you a fool as well.' His dismay only grew greater then, though the soft laughter of response that Melowen gave him was enough for him to try once more and see if he can mend his foolery by jesting.
"Are you clumsy?"
And suddenly Melowen began to explain to him her teaching and experiences with her sword-long, educating him somewhat on the matter. He listened intetly, showing his interest in what she likes even though he did not like it very much, for Haedley has little love of weapons and other cruel devices made to wage wars. Though there was a sword upon his side that had not left its sheath for a long time, not even to be glanced upon.
When Melowen was done speaking chuckled and added the answer to his question.
"No, I hope that I'm not clumsy,"
She said with amusement.
Then there was a silence between the two, they were smiling and happy. Their gazes now looked towards the plain and the shadows were growing ever longer and some stars had begun to peak out in the skies, it was almost time for Haedley's shift to come to an end when Melowen made herself comfy, leaning unto the railing and broke their silence.
"We're riding in the morrow."
She said simply.
"Then this may well be the last day that we see one another for a long time."
Said Haedley somewhat sadly.
"For the time being. Yes."
She said and continued,
"Who knows, when this war will be over. If we will survive its end."
She finished.
"I will keep my promise to-.."
He paused and looked over his shoulder. Other two guardsmen were feigning to be on duty and paying no heed to Haedley and Melowen, yet they were listening fully. Haedley's tone dropped and he spoke softly,
"To pick a flower for every day that I do not see you. I will miss you."
In those moments Haedley's hand reached closer to Melowen's and looked down at it, she saw his hand approaching, but did not send it away. Rather she would welcome it with each inch that it slipped closer. Haedley was shy, afriad, and yet he knew what he wished and he felt as though there were something nudging him forth without end, whispering do it into his ear.
"I won't forget you."
She said.
Then he mustered the most of his courage and he took her hand, his cheeks were blushing bright and he was happier than he had ever felt before in his days.
"Nor will I you."
He said at last.
Then they kissed there upon the tower as the sun set completely beyond the horizon; the faces of the other guardsman were shadowed as the dismay took them wholly. They could not believe that Headley was kissing this woman, they felt as though their boasts meant less than naught now and that Haedley stood upon higher ground. Their only fear was that he would come about and boast afore them of what had just happened, but it was not so; Haedley's shift in the tower had ended with the sun's journey through the sky and so he and Melowen went down from the tower. They had to decided what they would do then, for in both of their hearts they wished to remain in each other's company, perhaps longer than they both would confess to.
Their decision was to go to the tavern and there eat together. There was not much to be seen, it was a quiet eve. For the night watchers had began to take their posts and some weary workers of the day were coming in to enjoy a good pint of mead afore they settled down for the night.
To Haedley's dismay he discovered that his uncle was in the tavern, and he had finished many cups that evening. He was drunk and his wife demanded that he return home immediately, it took her a while to manage, yet it was done and Haedley need no longer be embarassed by the shenanigans of his uncle.
There he and Melowen sat down and ordered their meals; Haedley was hungry and he ate quickly as they spoke together of trivial, however, once their meals and drinks were done the conversation swayed once more to the topic of battle and weapons. Haedley did not like it very much, and now he was weary. He was a poor drinker and even a small bit of mead aided to his weariness, therefore he put his head on the table and fell into a light slumber as Melowen continued to explain such things that he had no interest in. She payed little heed until a while passed and not a single word came from his mouth, then she stirred him.
He was short of wit for his weariness was still hung over him. He made mere gestures indicating towards the rooms in the tavern, all that he now wished to do was sleep, sleep contently of what was wrought that day. Melowen granted him this and helped him to a room where he quickly crawled into a bed and made himself comfortable. She bid him good night, but instead he asked her if she would stay with him. She declined, sadly, perhaps regretting that she would not, but he did not mind. Whether she was with him or not, he would remain content.
Then she was gone and she paid for his room. Haedley fell into a deep sleep plagued with pleasant dreams, dreams of Melowen and how happy she made him.
