A new wind blowing

[Duratan]

Duratan stood on the balcony of the Eastern guard tower of the Bretagne castle, one of the oldest fortresses in all of Manzanare. It had five guard towers, three of them taller than the others. The Eastern tower was the largest and tallest of them and from the top of it one could see miles and miles of farmland, reaching all the way into the grey horizon.

Duratan leaned against the wind and with its gentle touch on his face he closed his eyes to think. He had been the ruler of Bretagne for twenty peaceful years and the same peace had been shared by all the provinces in Manzanare, under the one banner of King Halfast. But Halfast had passed away without a son to take his place and with the steward taking his place, troubles had started to come. There were rumors that Halfast did have a second bloodline but it was hidden, assassinated or perhaps unknown to all. One specific group held this belief strong in their ranks and that group resided within the lands of Bretagne.

Opening his eyes Duratan looked far into the horizon. Behind the rich farmlands would open the deep, mysterious forrests and the largest of them was the Drakkius forrest, home of the rebellion. Duratan had heard much of this group but he hadn't taken any action against, nor for it but he was anxious to meet their leader and find out all he could about the second bloodline and the new steward.

[Ælfthryth]

Ælfthryth led Thinelroch through a gloomy forest, tired and worn from travel. She had been seeking another town or village for days already and had found nothing but woods and plains. Her face lit up when she saw a light in the distance shining through the massive tall trees.

"Thinelroch, look!" she said happily, stroking the horse's silky mane. "Look, there is an opening!" Thinelroch whinnied in reply and galloped on towards the silver of light. She nudged the horse to go faster as they approached it, and suddenly they burst through the edge of the forest and into the sunlight. "At long last!" she said with a smile. "There is a fortress up ahead, let us find the town that must accompany it." She squinted and thought that she could see a man cloaked in red standing on a tower balcony.

"Come now, Thinelroch," she said gently, giving her horse a slight nudge to walk on, hoping that they hadn't been spotted by anyone important.

[Duratan]

Something moved in the edges of the forest and as Duratan squinted his eyes he thought he saw a man and a horse but the distance was far. As they closed through the opening he could see that the rider was a girl, not much younger than his own daughter. Maybe an orphan judging by her worn clothing but her mount was a fine horse and this made Duratan wonder. He watched as they made their way, seemingly careful. Suddenly Duratan remembered the new orders he had given to the gate-guards, since the rebellion had begun. No stranger was to pass through the gates unless they had family within the walls of Bretagne, with the exception of merchants and anyone carrying the royal signet.

There was something about this traveler that made Duratan curious and so he summoned two of his guards to accompany him to the city-gates.

[Ælfthryth]

Ælfthryth nudged Thinelroch to go faster. "Come on, Thin," she said, leaning forward to whisper in the horse's ear. "Remember the last time we tried to approach and past a fortress? Hurry, we must not let that happen again." She straightened herself as her horse appeared to have understood her; he whinnied and hastened his steps.

She glanced up at the balcony once again and noticed that the man was no longer there. We were probably not seen, she thought in relief. She rode Thinelroch up a steep hill and when they reached the top, a tall and dark gate loomed over them. "That must be the town," she said reasonably. "The gates were invisible to us on lower grounds." She approached the stiff guards meekly and tried to appear piteous and harmless so that they might let her in without any questioning.

[Duratan]

The armored gate-guards, holding tall spears, saw the girl approach and although they didn’t really consider her a threat they had orders to obey. The oldest of the four guards took a few steps toward the young stranger “ Halt there young woman! What brings you to Bretagne?” He yelled, still a distance from the girl. One of the guards, the most arrogant of them spoke, leaning his back against the city-wall “ She surely isn’t one from our province. And what does a young girl do traveling on her own? If my eyes serve me right, she came from the forests behind the farmlands. Who knows, she could be a spy sent by the rebels!” “ Or worse yet, a spy from Hess. Things haven’t been normal after the disputes about the northern borders. We’d better throw her to the dungeons!” The other guards said. It had been a long day to stand in guard and they were taking the chance to amuse themselves, on the expense of the stranger.

Duratan and two of his bodyguards stood in the arching hallway between the citywalls, listening to the gate-guards tease the stranger. Having heard enough Duratan stepped into the open, out of the dim gateway “ Hold your tongues, men. The young lady is my cousin’s daughter, a relative from the distant land of Romin. I pardon the rudeness of my men but I forgot to inform them of your arrival, my memory isn’t what it used to be. Come, we have much to discuss!” Duratan said with a smile on his face, inclining her to enter the city-gates.

[Ælfthryth]

As Ælfthryth approached the gate guards, they spotted her and in stead of letting her in as she had hoped, they proceeded to throw rude remarks at her. She cowered as a guard suggested that they throw her into the dungeon, and she could not speak from the fear and panic that had taken her voice.

A man suddenly stepped out from the archway, clad in rich blue and red. His face was aged with wisdom and knowledge, and his face seemed weary and tired. She recognized this to be the man that she had seen on the balcony. She also realised that he had probably been watching her make her way across their land from the forest the whole time.

As he began to speak, she realised that he must be the ruler or a person of high status of the city, by the commanding tone his voice bore. When she heard the words he spoke to the guards, she started slightly. Who is he? she wondered in confusion. Why is he lying on my behalf when we have never met before? She looked at him cautiously to see whether or not he meant her harm. At once she saw his fatherly kindness and she decided that she would trust the strange gentleman.

She inclined her head to him as a makeshift courteous bow and dismounted Thinelroch, taking a firm hold of his reigns. "Thank you... my lord," she murmured, not knowing what else to say to contribute to the man's well-wrought fib. "It is good to see you again. My father sends his regards." She avoided the guards' gaze as she bowed once more and led Thinelroch through the gates at the man's leave, wondering what he would say to her.

[Duratan]

The girl’s clothes had indeed seen the best of their days but her beautiful golden hair glimmered in the sun as she led her horse through the gates. Duratan turned to his body-guards “ Tell the cook to prepare an early dinner and have the servants prepare a bath, her way has been a long and weary one.”

Once the men took off, Duratan turned back to the girl “ I’m terribly sorry for the inconvenience. Bretagne hasn’t always been so aware of strangers but things have taken sore turns as of late. My name is Duratan, duke of Bretagne but don’t let my title make you feel dis-comfortable. You can call me Duratan.” He turned his eyes to her mount and gently patted the horse’s muzzle. “ I’m inviting you and your friend as guests to my castle. You’re free to turn the invitation down but let me just say, Triaron my personal cook makes the most delicious meals in all of middle Manzanare.” He turned back to the horse “ And not to forget you, there’s more fresh hay in the stables of Bretagne than you and fifty more could eat in a lifetime.”

Duratan halted for a moment and continued with a more serious look upon him “ My offer is not completely free. I’d like you to answer some of my questions..” He looked at the girl and he thought he saw worry in her eyes so he continued “ Be not afraid! No trouble will come to you, whatever your answers will be. I give you my word for it. What do you say?”

[Ælfthryth]

Ælfthryth was stunned by the man's generosity as he gave his orders to his bodyguards. She was half thrilled to hear his orders, as she had not eaten proper food in weeks, nor had she bathed in a year.

"Duratan," she said hastily, stumbling to a clumsy bow as he told he told her his name and status. "I will stay if is your wish, my Lord," she said politely. "Thinelroch and I have no where else important to go. We wander from town to city, in search of places to stay for nights and for food to fill half our stomaches, if we are lucky." Her mouth watered slightly at Duratan's offering on the food, and it was enough to persuade her to stay.

When he requested her to answer his questions, she hesitated, not quite sure what he would ask her. She was certain she had done nothing wrong during her year travel. She decided to grasp the offer, since she realised she probably had nothing to hide, except her fleeing from her engagement to Belenus... but that had nothing to with her business here, and she figured he would not ask such questions. Anyway, Ælfthryth and Thinelroch were both hungry, filthy and exhausted. I suppose I can answer questions as a payment for food and shelter, she thought reasonably. There is no harm in that...

"I will answer what ever you ask of me, my Lord Duratan," she said finally.

[Duratan]

"I will answer what ever you ask of me, my Lord Duratan,"

A happy smile found it's way to Duratan's face as he heard the girl's answer. " Excellent!" he yelled without being able to hide his excitement. "I already know your friend goes by the name Thinelroch." he said, moving his hand across it's silky mane " But what is yours?"

Duratan looked around, making sure they couldn't be overheard. He trusted his people beyond thinking any of them as spies but he didn't want any nasty rumors going around the city. Lowering his voice he began, "I couldn't help but see you appear from the forests far beyond the farmlands." Duratan's forehead gained wrinkles as he seemed to have fallen into his thoughts " You must have heard of the rebels during whatever travels it is you've taken and you may also know that they are believed to have formed their headquarters into some, maybe many of the forests in Bretagne. Which is one of the many reasons I'm so very interested in their existence." He went silent for a moment and his expression became almost sad "Would I be hoping too much if I asked you.. did you meet anyone in the forest? Anyone at all, apart from the lumberjacks and hunters? And if you did, did you ever see a camp or anything alike? Before you answer, know that even if you did meet them, even if you're one of them or in good terms with them.. No harm will come to you or any of them. I have no true opinion on their organization and I will not allow myself to act upon anything I'm not schooled about."

" But how selfish of me! All this can wait until after you've bathed and had dinner. Please follow me to the castle, I'll show you to your room, the second room of my daughter, Lilith. And if you don't mind my men will show Thinelroch to his, in the stables of-course." Duratan pardoned himself, regaining his smile.

[Ælfthryth]

"I am called Ælfthryth," said Ælfthryth with a smile. Then she lowered her voice, as Duratan seemed to want to keep their words private. "I can tell you what I know right now, my Lord... I cannot give you many answers, but all that I know is that I have heard of the rebels, most definitely... I was pulled roughly aside at the last city, questioned endlessly, and imprisoned because they thought I was one. I escaped though, when I seduced my guard into releasing me. As I went rode through the forests, I noticed smoke rising among the trees in the very forest that I emerged from. I was not far from it; it was probably a few hundred metres from the path that I was following, but I went on and decided not to look. There was someone there though, and it may have been rebels that you are searching for."

She allowed Thinelroch to be gently led away by Duratan's servants, as she followed him into the castle. "If you do not mind my asking..." she said hesitantly, wondering if speaking without being invited to was permitted. "How old is your daughter, my Lord?" She was interested in finally meeting another girl that she might even be able to become well acquainted with.

[Duratan]

A spark of hope lit in Duratan's eyes when he heard Ælfthryth speak of what she had seen. Maybe the smoke had indeed been from the fires of a rebel camp. It was optimistic to be hoping so but it was the best clue he had, apart from the drunken tales spreading from mouth to mouth. " Do you think you could find your way back to where you once saw the smokes?" Duratan inquired.

As they climbed up the stony stairs, making way into the bedchambers, Ælfthryth finally spoke "If you do not mind my asking..." "How old is your daughter, my Lord?"

Duratan halted for a moment, turning around to meet Ælfthryth's gaze " She's living her 20th year, not much older than you. I'm sure she'd love to meet you. If you'd like we will join you for the dinner so that you don't have to eat alone." Duratan answered with a smile.

As they reached the doors to the chambers, Duratan halted again," Ælfthryth... that is a pretty but also a strange name. I don't think I've ever heard one alike, not in Bretagne." he spoke as if he was thinking aloud, " Quite a journey you must have made.. a dangerous one aswell. The roads aren't safe for anyone who makes way by themselves, the bandits are a ruthless bunch. But tell me, what sent you on this journey and why are you traveling alone?" he asked, looking at her with wonder.

[Ælfthryth]

Ælfthryth tried to remember where she had seen the supposed camp fire. "I do not know exactly where I saw the smoke," she said slowly. "But I do remember that it was not too deep into the forest. It was well-concealed though, as I had heard sounds and I saw smoke, but I saw no one."

She nodded eagerly when Duratan offered to have her sit in their company for dinner. "It would be an honour, my Lord," she said with a curtsy... a properly executed one, this time.

When they stopped in front of the chamber doors, Duratan finally asked her of her purpose traveling around on her own. She hesitated and gave him a slightly pleading look. "I am not from these parts," she said. "I have come a long way and I have been traveling for one year now. I sent myself on this reckless journey and at times - when I encounter the more dangerous realities of the outside world - I wish I hadn't. I left a man that I loved and that loved me because I knew I was not ready to plunge into a married restricted life with little freedoms. If I was given the choice of turning back and returning to him, I would.. but I cannot."

Her fingers trembled sightly on the bow that she had been holding behind her back... she would have wept, but during the year that she left home she constantly thought of Belenus and she had learned not to cry about it as it would do her no good.

She felt strange; Duratan was the only person that she had spoken to of this, ever. She suddenly felt relieved, as though she had just released a terribly heavy burden from her shoulders. "Thank you for asking, my Lord Duratan," she said with a slight smile.

[Lilith]

Dressed for riding in a simple tunic and pants, Lilith led her mare into the stables where she reluctantly relinquished her reins to the persistent stable master. With a final affectionate pat to her horses neck she turned on her heel and returned to the castle, beginning the long walk through the winding corridors towards her bedchamber. When the aches in her legs became to hard to ignore, Lilith decided to venture the shorter distance to her second and less frequently used chambers where the promise of a bath beckoned.

Rounding the final corner she waved down a maid who crossed her path, greeting her with a friendly smile.

“I’ll have my bath drawn in my second bedchamber this evening.”

Upon the ending of her request, Lilith’s attentions were stolen by a familiar figure standing outside the door to her chambers. At the sight of her father’s familiar broad shoulders and his once black hair now turned grey from age, a smile blossomed across her lips. Without hesitation Lilith closed the space that separated them.

“I didn’t think I’d see you till this evening. What with the impending arrival of our important guests so soon. I-”

All other thoughts abandoned Lilith entirely, as she caught sight of someone standing slightly behind her father, a fair-haired girl, possibly a few years younger than herself. Although Lilith was familiar with the daughters of the Lords and Lady’s of Bretagne, the young ladies of the court and even several of the younger women who lived in the city, the identity of this young blonde girl was unknown to her.

“Oh. I am sorry for the intrusion.” Offering them both a small apologetic smile for the interruption, Lilith turned her eyes to her father, a silent question rising in their dark depths.