A Fairy Tale in Flight ch 2
I apologize for the delay in posting! The holidays have been so crazy! To make up for it, I shall push to have Chapter three up by New Years! This chapter is very short, but read between the lines! It's not what's being said that's important, listen to what's NOT being said!
Father didn't summon me the next day nor the day following and while I was certain it didn't mean he'd dropped the subject of me marrying, I couldn't help but feel just a little bit relieved. I needed time to think of what I could do to solve this situation and time for Tamas to finish gaining control of the dragon. Mother, however, looked me up and down when I answered her summons, the morning after and shaking her head, she sighed.
"Well, I could have told him that you're a defiant little bugger," she said in an exasperated tone. "Not that he ever consults me with his plans."
"I'm sorry, Mother," I said softly, wondering why I was apologizing to her. Perhaps I wanted to prevent her from launching a full scale assault on my ears with all her woes at Father`s hands. Mother waved the apology away and went on talking as if I hadn't said anything.
"Her Ladyship is going South to visit her daughter who lives near the Blessed Martyr's Cathedral and has commanded me to attend her on the journey. I expect we'll be away until autumn or there abouts. I may do a pilgrimage while I'm there..." Mother's voice trailed off thoughtfully and I had to stifle a laugh at the image of her horror when presented with the pilgrim's traditional hairshirt.
"Hmmm, did you say something, Nicco?" She asked, eyeing me suspiciously.
"No, no Mother, you were saying?"
"Oh sit down, you make my neck hurt looking up that high." She gestured to the end of her bench and I sat down leaning against the high back.
"I'm leaving Mellys here," Mother went on. "Don't look so surprised, I know you and that child who stays with you would be lost without her to look after you. Besides I have a new maid, I need to give her my attention to train her well."
"Thank you Mother," I said genuinely grateful.
"Yes, yes," Mother said making an embarrassed shooing motion. "Try not to fight with your father or brother while I'm gone."
I ducked my head and mumbled something I hoped would be satisfying. How could I not fight with Father when he was so determined that I should marry against my own wishes? Mother's hand lightly patted mine.
"He's only trying to make your life better. We've worried so much about you."
"I know Mother," I said softly, feeling panic cut off my windpipe. I felt trapped as surely as a rabbit in a snare. Trapped by the expectations of my class and I wondered briefly if Mother had felt that way before marrying Father, I wished I knew, though I dared not ask. Mother's good mood was something to be cultivated not something to be mown down lightly.
Nayne was horrified when I showed up at the forge with a swollen bruised cheek. Teru and Noah were equally upset and Kinna was ready to march up to the castle to give Father a royal dressing down. But I insisted it was nothing, I was man enough to take it and it was probably my turn anyway, which made everyone chuckle and calm down. Tamas continued to glower however, on through the day, each time he caught sight of my face and I was quite glad that Father would have no business in the town smithy.
Lehi returned home on the third day after the row with Father, which had turned rainy, so we stayed home instead of braving the muddy roads. Bitte informed me that Lehi went straight to Father's quarters, even before changing his travel clothes or greeting Meg and spent the better part of the day there. Previously, I'd have looked upon it as no concern of mine and gone about my business with no further thought of the two of them. However, now I wondered if they were discussing my future and making wedding plans for me. I debated on storming into Father's quarters and telling them both that I wouldn't marry but in all honesty, I couldn't see where it would do me any good. More than likely, I'd come away with a few more bruises for my efforts. Bruises a soon to be fully grown dragon said he'd not stand down on again. I sighed and dropped my head to the table.
I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew I heard someone call my name and shake my arm roughly. I blinked and tried to focus on the tall man beside me, I could hear my name spoken in a soft voice and at first I thought it was Tamas beside me. However, as my eyes focused, I saw this man was blond haired with a neatly trimmed beard and I jumped backwards in surprise nearly falling off the clothes chest that served as my seat.
"Whoa, easy now, Nicco," Lehi said reaching out to catch me from falling.
"Lehi?" I asked rather stupidly.
"At your service," he said with a bow. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
Privately I questioned the simplicity of that statement, but I decided he probably hadn't meant to scare me and he had tried, at least in theory, to be gentler in waking me than he'd have been with one of his fellows. I rubbed my eye wincing when I touched the bruise. Lehi gripped my chin and turned my face sideways, he sighed in exasperation.
"I told him not to be too rough on you. That you'd bruise up like a girl," he said sharply.
I flinched at the "like a girl" and scowled back at Lehi, who didn't seem to notice it. He let go of my chin and straightened up, his eyes casting critical looks around the room. He let out a theatrically sorrowful sigh.
"Aren't you tired of this, Nicco? This living like a monk on scraps? What if I said you could have a much larger room, with several windows. And an army of servants to tend to your needs. You could have money for new clothes or or or..." Lehi cast frantic glances around the room trying to guess what I would spend money on. "Books! Yes, books, you like to read, don't you?"
His tone was honey sweet as if I were a somewhat idiotic child and I scowled at him again. I resented being bribed with new toys or shiny things in the same way one distracts a small child who is having a temper. I was strangely offended by the offer of a room with more windows, more opportunities for cold to come in and make my joints ache even more. Twenty years of patronizing and whispers hadn't served to make me more compliant and my already gray mood turned decidingly black.
"Lehi," I said sharply. "I am not a child to be distracted or bribed with shiny things. I have no wish to marry an elderly dowager or to marry anyone."
"Oh Nicco, I don't see what you're getting all worked up over. Just think of the hundreds of pounds a year you'd have to spend," he said cheerfully as if I hadn't spoken.
"Spend on what?" I asked. "My needs are few, I don't need hundreds of pounds."
"Nicco, Nicco, if you had that money, you'd find things to spend it on," Lehi said with a tolerant smile.
"Namely you?" I thought waspishly. But I kept my mouth shut having no desire to start a third argument in as many days.
"Nicco, really, it IS time you decided to grow up, get a wife, run a household. I'm sure your new wife would allow that child of yours into her place, in the scullery or something of that nature."
"The scullery?" I thought. "Waste that intellect and humor scrubbing pots in the lowest of low jobs?"
"Nonsense," I snorted. "Bitte is far too talented to waste in the scullery."
"And I've been meaning to speak to you about that," Lehi said changing topics like a bird chasing bugs in the grass. "You haven't noticed anything of yours missing, have you? Things have, ahem, disappeared around the castle."
"What!" I said shooting to my feet. "Are you accusing Bitte of theft?"
"Well he is a Gypsy," Lehi said.
"Half-gypsy," I said tightly. "His fourteen year old mother was raped by some manor fellow." Lehi shrugged and made a dismissing gesture. "Bitte is the most honest person I've ever met." I stopped and took a deep breath before sitting down, grateful to whatever god or being that kept Bitte out of my room at that moment. I knew he'd not greet Lehi's casual attitude about his mother's rape with pleasure.
"Lehi, that accusation is ridiculous and you know it. Things always go missing, there are so many people in and out of the castle constantly. And sometimes it's a loss by accident, the wrong thing picked up or a foreign servant mistaking something for their master's. You're not stupid, Lehi, you know that as well as I."
"It's just that I worry about you, Nicco," Lehi smiled. "Really you should get married, you can move to better accomadations, have someone to talk to, servants to look after you."
"Lehi, enough! I am not going to marry, I like my life the way it is."
"Oh Nicco, you're like a child, you don't know the pleasure of having a woman at home. Someone to sooth you after a hard day and make for you a haven of peace after the stresses of dealing with fools. She'll supervise your servants, bear and raise your children and-"
"Sounds like a raw egg to me. What does she get out of it?" I asked wryly.
"Why the satisfaction of being your wife, of course. Not to mention the safety of your protection and the benefit of your wisdom."
"My protection?" I asked laughing and holding up my hands. "Definitely a raw egg for her."
"Nicco! You're being stubborn, just think of all the advantages in having an heiress for a wife."
"Oh yes, we're back to the money," I said resting my chin on my fist and looking up at Lehi. "Money for me to spend or money for you and Father to spend?"
"Makes no difference," he said airily.I watched him fuss with his doublet sleeves. "You know, your needs are few. There should be plenty of money."
I stared at him trying not to burst out laughing. The fool was actually trying to convince me by using my own arguments against marriage as a reason why I should allow him and Father to drain my future wife's purse dry! For several minutes my brain refused to function and I was stuck staring at him like a cow.
"As for bearing my children, aren't you trying to marry me off to women well past child bearing age? The Dowager Countess of East Keith has grandchildren my age."
"Well Nicco, she was just a suggestion. You know she's a very intelligent woman, someone you could," he paused, then went on in a cheerful tone, "talk to and feel comfortable discussing whatever you've read. Yes, that's a fine idea."
"Not bloody likely," I said gruffly.
"Nicco! There's no reason to be crude," Lehi said prissily.
"Crude?" I thought, wondering if I should treat him to whole of my education at the smithy, up to and including Sweet Kate`s charms. "Lehi, how can I phrase this so you'll understand? I do not want to marry, I have someone I love very much already."
Lehi studied me for a moment before walking to the door. Turning around, he leaned back against it, narrowing his eyes and crossing his arms over his chest. I wondered if he thought he looked manly or threatening that way instead of looking like a pompous ass.
"The red headed smith in town?" The light airy tone of voice was gone now, replaced by a sharp edged voice. "Oh, do close your mouth, you look like a fish, Nicco. Did you think I'd forgotten that black eye? You disappear and are nowhere to be found in the castle, did you think that absolutely no one noticed?"
"No," I answered evenly. "I just never expected anyone of my class to care where I went."
"That's a hell of a grudge against your peers, you're toting on your shoulder," Lehi said softly. "Really, you need to see we aren't your enemies."
"Lehi, we've been through this before," I said tightly clamping my jaws to prevent screaming at him. "All I am is a joke to the people living here, something to laugh at, but certainly not someone to invite in for a bite to eat."
"And don't tell me it's my fault," I added as he opened his mouth to speak. "I'm standoffish because I've never once been invited into the inner circle. I'm a cripple, I can't fight, maybe my hands aren't all that's twisted and I can't even make love to a woman, so what good am I? Yes, I do hear the whispers and gossip. My sole worth is to marry to some doddering dowager who won't notice my relatives draining her purse dry," I ended bitterly.
"Nicco, if that smith means so much to you, set him up a shop close to your house. You can visit him and all's good. I'm sure your new wife would understand that you have certain needs above what she can offer you." He made a flicking motion with his fingers. "It isn't like the old crone will be expecting you to do her. And if all goes well she`ll die soon and leave you to take over the estate." He snorted derisively.
"Needs? Is that how you explain it to Meg?"
"Meg? Whatever do you mean?" Lehi said smoothing his hair with one hand.
"Lehi, everyone knows you go into town to play around with the girls there. I know the people who've escorted you out of town, when you`ve bothered the local women too much."
"Really? You do? Then perhaps you wouldn't like to see their shops destroyed, would you?"
Lehi's eyes narrowed and he peered at me over his bunched up fist. I swallowed in sudden fear. Thoughtlessly, I had given Lehi arrows with which to threaten people I cared very dearly about. Thinking rapidly, I watched Lehi's face for a hint to what he was thinking.
"Lehi, they're peasants," I said trying to sound calm and reasonable. "Why should you care what they do? Brush them off. It's beneath you to be concerned about them." I added, dredging up all the arrogance of my class.
"And you couldn't afford the restitution to His Lordship anyway." Lehi turned red and sputtered for a moment before regaining his composure.
"I suppose you're right, still you can't be seen in the company of peasants, people will talk, Nicco and-"
"Oh, let them talk," I said. "I don't give a damn anymore."
"If I ever did," I added after a moment.
Lehi returned to the table and leaned heavily on the edge. Something in his eyes made me swallow and wonder if I had just stuck my foot deeper into the swill than I was capable of pulling back out. Lehi studied me a moment before speaking.
"Nicco, that boy," he half spat out the word, "just became Master smith. Do you really think he's going to continue to play around with you? He needs a wife and someone to raise his prestige, he'll drop you in a moment. And even if he doesnt hes a boy! He can't possibly take the responsibility seriously."
"Besides," he went on, "how do you know you're safe with him? You saw how violent he is, I mean he hit me for just touching you! And the fire, he's some kind of demon, Nicco! Take my advice and stop messing with him."
My eyes widened as he spoke. Every drop of blood in my body threatened to turn into fire and for a moment, I thought I would spit flame at him. Slamming my hands down on the table, I jerked to my feet. Lehi looked surprised and took a step backwards.
"Lehi," I hissed through clenched teeth. "Damn you, what the hell do you know about Tamas or my relationship with him? When have you seen him warm my hands and dry my tears? When have you ever seen him make me laugh? He doesn't care about my hands, unlike you and Father, who have never thought of me as anything other than a hopeless cripple. Tamas has helped me so I can use my hands better than ever. He's taught me how spar with a quarterstaff and I'll tell you I'm damned good at it and I'm getting stronger all the time." I stopped to catch my breath.
"Nicco," Lehi started, but my anger burned brighter than the forge ever could and he stopped talking..
"Tamas has more responsibility in his little finger than you have in your whole body. He works hard to provide for his family. He's practically raised his two apprentices from babes. He has a reputation for hard work and quality that is known all over the shire. I've seen greater men than you stop at his smithy to request work. What do you think you know about him? And me? You know nothing, absolutely nothing about me. How can you claim to worry about your little brother when you cheat so unconcernedly on your wife? You show your greed so openly I feel like I have a price written on my forehead like a brood mare."
"Nicco, you're being selfish. Father and I just want to see you taken care of," Lehi said surprised.
"Then get me a real servant and a bigger, warmer room," I said
"You can have all that, you stubborn idiot! I already said, if that smith means so damned much to you, set him up a shop close to your house. You can visit him and roll around in the dirt all you like."
I didn't know my hand was going to fly at him until it connected with his mouth. He stumbled backwards a look of surprise on his face and a trickle of blood running down his chin. I doubled over clutching my hand and crying, I'd never hit anyone in the mouth before and it hurt more than I'd expected. The door slammed open narrowly missing Lehi, and Bitte came through it. Glancing at Lehi, he paused a mere second before running to me.
"Idiot," Lehi said, wiping the blood away with the back of his hand. "You could have everything and you're willing to throw it away for some peasant and a half-breed Gypsy whelp. I don't understand why you can be so idiotic."
"No Lehi, no more. I'm tired and my hand really hurts. Go away," I said.
"All right, I'll leave but," he paused, spitting blood onto the floor. His eyes narrowed for a bare moment and I felt chills run down my back. Bitte`s hand on my arm tightened."Think about what I've said today, Nicco. You have an obligation to Father, who has supported you and to His Lordship as well. You aren't a peasant to roll in the dirt, you need to repay your debt to those who have kept you warm and fed all these years." He sucked his lip and spit again before grasping the door handle and pulling it open. He studied me darkly a moment before breaking into an overly cheerful smile.
"Really, Nicco, if you marry, you won't have to write anymore, you can pay someone to do it. Then your hands won`t hurt as much."
He closed the door behind himself as if that were the defining argument for me getting married. I stared at the door for a moment before looking at Bitte and breaking out into the worse case of hiccupping laughter that I'd had in ages, the fool actually thought that writing was a burden. Did he think I drove myself to copy books because I had nothing else I could do?
"Just because you don't want to read, dont assume the rest of us dont want to either," I said choking with laughter.
Bitte sputtered and we laughed like daft fools until our limbs shook from exhaustion. We both slept so much better that night. Perhaps we needed the release that laughing had provided, from the tensions of the last week. Father and Lehi and all their machinations receded in my mind and I dreamt of being warm and safe in Tamas' arms.