The Tales of Calth: Isilorbor and Lendes #1

Lavinia took a sip of her iced water and looked over her vain yard. The harvest was perhaps the best since she was a little girl, the grapes were at their apex of favour and their numbers were great indeed. She had to everyone she could get her hands on and harvest them quickly to make her sales. The Yard itself was massive. It was big enough for nearly five-Hundred people to work side by side in the great heat. A wooden wall ran all the way around the yard, almost making it a fortress. A great wooden barn housed the grapes ready to be sold and also home to Lavinia herself. She stood on a balcony and took another sip of her water; she looked out over all of the people working and held a wax table in her other hand. Behind her was a small table of a jug of water with ice cubes bobbing up and down in it and another sip goblet. There was a small polite knock on the door and one of Lavinia’s yard hands walked in. He was an old man with no hair on his head at all. He bowed his head to Lavinia. “Miss Ventris, Lady Belegorn has arrived and is awaiting you.” He man said. “Ah, thank you, Mr Longus. Can you send her to me, please?” She asked gently. Longus nodded and beckoned someone to enter and gently shut the door behind Lendes. The two hugged each other and kissed on the cheek and Lavinia pointed towards the table. “Drink?” Lavinia asked lightly “Oh please, I’m gagging for some water.” Lendes said slowly. “Your always gagging for something.” Lavinia replied with a big grin on her face. “Lavinia!” She playfully slapped her arm and the two friends sat down with the sun bearing down on them. Lavinia poured some water from the jug into the glass and pushed it towards Lendes, who smiled and took a deep sip and let out a small breath of air. “Ah…I needed that…” Lendes breathed. “I need you to help me.” Lavinia said, sipping her water. “Oh?” She questioned. Lavinia took another sip of her water to clear her throat. “I’ve two things to ask. First one is a helping hand around the yard. I’m being rushed off my feet by all the wrong reasons and people…I need a friend who I can relay on to help me with all the bits and bobs of paper work. You don’t have to, but I could really use a hand.” She almost looked pleaded Lendes took her friends hand and smiled. “Of course, I’ll help!” She said brightly. “Oh thank you, Lendes! Thank you!” She threw her arms around Lendes and hugged her tightly, when Lendes frowned. “You said there was another thing?” “Ah..” Lavinia grinned and took a rather deep sip of water to calm herself. “Do you remember my son?” She asked slowly. Lendes thought for a moment, sipping her water. “Isilorbor?” She guessed “Yes, him!” Lavinia said proudly. “Yes, I have heard of him. He is in the army, isn’t he?” Lendes said. Lavinia nodded sadly. “Following in the footsteps of our family…” She said sadly and took a sip of her water, taking the jug and refilling both hers and Lendes’ glass. “So what do you need help with?” Lendes smiled in thanks for the water and almost spat and choked on it from what Lavinia said. “You two would make a great couple.” Lendes started to choke and he placed her hand on her chest and swallowed, looking Lavinia in the eye. “What?” She asked loudly. “Isilorbor is such a handsome man, caring, loving, playfully at times,” She took Lendes hand and looked at her. “Will you at least talk to him?” Lendes sighed and looked at Lavinia’s hand on hers and spoke sadly. “You know my family are planning to marry me to someone else…” “I know…But try my Isilorbor..At least try” She replied softly. Lendes sighed and nodded. “Okay…I will speak to him the first chance I get.” Lavinia let out a squeak of joy and wrapped her arms around Lendes again. They two of them laughed and talked for most of the day. Lavinia could not wait for Isilorbor and Lendes to meet. Months passed since that day. The Harvest was now over, but Lendes stayed on the yard to help around. She was given a room by Lavinia and the past few months had been a total joy for both woman. Lavinia had told her that her son, Isilorbor, was now on leave, and would soon come by the yard. To tell the truth, Lendes was hiding from both her and him. She got herself on the ground and start to place some grapes into a basket as Lavinia walked past her. She did not noticed her, luckily, and walked on towards the south gate. Lendes followed her with her eyes and saw a man dismounting from a red horse. She crept closer to see who this was. Lavinia broke into a run and threw herself onto the man. He held her tight and span her around a few times until he was told to drop her. Lavinia pulled his hood down and Lendes breath was caught in her throat. Isilorbor was a handsome man. His dark hair was touching his shoulders and he stood tall and proud, his skin looked untouched, like he had just been unwrapped. But his eyes made Lendes want to groan. His eyes were a deep, calming green, like emeralds that seem to shine. His smile was warm and gentle and his body was like that of a god. He was not at all over weight, but instead looked as fit as anything. No had no scars on him what so ever and Lendes could not help but feel as he if was glowing, like a light was around him. Lendes watched this man from afar, but felt if she was far away. She tore her eyes away from Isilorbor and got on her hands and knees and starts to gather the grapes, her breathing heavily. Lavinia let go of her son and stood back and looked Isilorbor up and down. “Oh, you look so handsome, Isily!” Isilorbor rolled his eyes and flushed a bright red. “Mother, I am twenty-four! You have not called me that since I was a boy.” Lavinia sighed and shook her head. “Already? Where is my sweet little boy gone?” Isilorbor hugged his mother tightly and grinned. “I am sure he is around somewhere, playing with the grapes.” He said lightly. Lavinia laughed and held her son for a few moments longer and looked Isilorbor in the eye. “Now, I have someone I want you to meet and help, Isily.” Isilorbor stared blankly at his mother when she used the name and simply nodded. “Her name is Lendes, and I have a sneaking suspicion she is close by.” She said that last words a little louder, just in cause Lendes was hiding. “I shall do that then.” Isilorbor said cheerfully and kissed his mother on the cheek. He walked down one of the paths and scanned around for the woman he was meant to help. Isilorbor had no idea what he was doing; he had said to himself time and time again he would not go hunting for women. Not that he did not like women, only that if he died in battle, the woman he left behind would be heartbroken. Uncle Forsion had warned him about women, he though has he walked down the path. Then he saw her. Isilorbor almost lost his footing then he did and tried to keep walking. Lendes beauty stunned Isilorbor, the sun was behind her and made her look even more breath taking, her blue eyes were as deep as the sea and as calm as a glass of water. Her brown hair was tied into a bun close to her head and her slender body almost seem to real to touch, as if she might just fade away. Isilorbor walked close and kneeled down next to her and cleared his throat very slight. Lendes turned and swallowed hard as they made eye contact for the first time, and already, she was hopelessly in love with him. “Hail.” He whispered to her. “Greetings.” She whispered in return. Both spook quietly, not wanting to let anyone hear them, or eardrop on them. “My name is Isilorbor Ventris.” He said. “Mine is Lendes Belegorn.” She said, keeping her hands on the grapes as she gazed into his eyes. “An honour to meet you, lady Belegorn.” Isilorbor said, gently taking her hand and kissed it very gently Lendes was surprised. She had not expected Isilorbor would be so gentle. He closed his eyes as he kissed her hand, and for a moment he felt her skin on his. It was like a bolt of lighting going though him, not a lusting for her, but a wanting, an almost needing feeling to touch her. He gently let go of her hand and nodded towards the baskets of grapes. “May I help you take there’s in?” “Hm?” Lendes had totally forgotten where she was and what she was doing and she giggled slightly and nodded. “Oh! Yes, please, thank you, mister Ventris.” She said quickly. Isilorbor picket the basket up and smiled gently at Lendes. “Call me Isil, most people I know do.” Isilorbor said. “As long as you call me Lendes.” She grinned. “Agreed!” Isilorbor replied cheerfully and the two of them walked together towards the barn. Lavinia danced a little jig as she saw them walking towards the barn. She preyed that Lendes and Isilorbor would get together. Inside the barn, Isilorbor and Lendes were alone. The sun was setting and casting a soft orange glow across the barn, sending long shadows and the smell of the air was sweet. Isilorbor put the basket down and took a beep breath, not that he was tired carrying the baskets, only that he saw Lendes with her arms folded across her. She looked alone, and it took all of Isilorbor’s will power not to run up and throw his arms around her. “Are you well?” He asked at long last. Lendes snapped out of her day dream and blushed. “Yes, yes…I was just thinking.” She said dismissively. “May I ask what about?” Isilorbor felt he was pushing his luck here, but to his surprise it paid off. “It’s just…My family are going to marry me to someone else…And…I won’t meet him until our wedding day…I feel quite alone, Isil.” Lendes confessed. She did not know why she told me, but something about him made her want to tell him all of her darkest thoughts and deepest secrets. Isilorbor stood up and walked towards a window and looked out towards Calth. Lendes let out a breath as the sun gently kissed his face, making him look almost divine and increasing his handsomeness ten fold. He turned gently towards her and smiled. “Fear not, Lendes. He might be the love of your life.” He said gently. Lendes gave a dry laugh and walked closer to Isilorbor. She had already found the man she loved, Lendes thought to herself. “What about you, Isil? Any person you are going to or want to marry?” She asked, looking at him, trying to hide the pain of the question from him. He shook his head as he looked out towards Calth. “No… But I will have to find a wife to carry on my bloodline. It is just the problem of looking for one.” Isilorbor placed his hands on the window frame and sighed sadly. “Besides…I want a woman I love…A woman I can trust and not one just for carrying on my families blood.” He said quietly. Lendes moved closer to Isilorbor and slowly rested her head on his shoulders, closing her eyes and breathing in his sent. It was almost intoxicating for her, making her slightly dizzy. “I know the feeling.” She whispered slowly. Isilorbor’s head leaned onto hers and the two watched the sun set over Calth. It did not take long, and the two watched until the stars began to show. Lendes took a beep breath and looked at Isilorbor. “I have never shared a sunset with anyone before, Isilorbor…” Lendes said sadly. “Nor have I.” Isilorbor replied. Lendes took his hand and held it, seeing his strong hand and placing it on her cheek and sighed at the touch. “Thank you.” She whispered. All Isilorbor could do was nod. He looked at Lendes and felt her warmth of her cheek on his hand and closed his eyes for a moment then opened them. “I want to go to bed.” Too late, Lendes knew what she said and bite her lower lip hard. Isilorbor swallowed loudly and looked around the barn, and smiled lighty. “Can I walk you there?” He asked. Lendes beamed a smile and nodded. “It is just over there…Can you please take me?” Again, Lendes bite her own tongue and swore that she was doing this on purpose. Isilorbor swung his arms under Lendes and lifting her into the air as if she was nothing and carried her to her room. She was breathing very heavily now, gazing into Isilorbor’s green eyes, there was a light, or a twinkle, or something that said to Lendes he would not harm her. He slowly opened the door and lead Lendes into her room. The room itself was simple, but well looked after for. A dresser, a large bed, a very large cupboard and many fur rugs over the floor with a small fireplace near by. Isilorbor gently placed Lendes on the bed and placed the sheets gently over her, kneeling beside her and looked deeply into her eyes, so far as he could feel her soul. He smiled once more. “Good night, Lendes.” He whispered, as if his words might break a spell. “Good night, Isilorbor.” She whispered back, a look of aloneness on her face as she turned away from him and placed her head on the pillow. Isilorbor stood up and opened the window. Moon light and star light filled it in a eye blink, casting very faint shadows over the room as Isilorbor walked towards Lendes. The air was sweet and calming as Isilorbor and Lendes stared at each other. Isilorbor cupped her face and slowly leaned forward and placed his lips onto hers. He took a deep breath before kissing her slowly, but deeply. Lendes sighed as she felt his lips and skin, it almost made her weep as she placed a hand on his face. Their lips slowly massaged each others, their senses heightened by the sent and touch of the other as the kissed enveloped them. Slowly, the kiss was broken, and Lendes leaned back in the bed with her eyes closed and her chest raising and falling deeply. Isilorbor slowly walked from the room, feeling light headed and walked towards the door. Lendes opened her eyes and looked at him leave, then her heart almost gave out as he blew her a kiss and gently closed the door behind him. She looked at the door for long moments, hoping he would come back. She gave up on that hope and lay down in the bed, holding herself tightly and looking at the empty space next to her. “I love you, Isilorbor!” She whispered to herself, holding herself even tighter and closed her eyes. As sleep took her, her dreams were of Isilorbor. And one day, she swore to herself that she would called Isilorbor hers. Isilorbor himself took his horse and looked back towards Lendes room. He let out a low sigh as he felt a aching in his heart. Was this love? It had to be. What else would it be? He slowly ordered his horse forward, and vowed he would return to Lendes again soon. He rode away into the darkness, wishing that Lendes was in his arms and rode towards Calth. To an empty bed, and a lonely morning.