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= [ORP] Kel's Bells Tavern in Egremont

--Dunn
Zukran was standing by a pillar, their was very little torch light in the area he was standing, so much so no one but Zukran could see, or hear a Dark figure behind Zukran.

Your close to them Brother. I can feel it, in my own heart.
Dunn, you have no heart. Where as I was saved by this curse, it clearly killed you.
No Kran. Your death, killed me, who knows why you survived, and I lost my soul? Is it fair, I don't think so.
Nor do I, but I did not ask for this
Yes you did Brother, in your subconsious you did not want to die, and what ever Magic our family placed on us....it took my soul and gave you life. Now....we're both undead in away. I am souless, you should be dead.

Dunn Paused before speaking again.
But tell you what...you know the laws. How about I kill all of these people, the little Girl, the Tavern Owner and his wife. All of them.
Then I would kill you.
You cannot kill me brother, you see thats the beauty, you cannot kill me, and I cannot kill you. If either one of us slays the other, we both Die. Tell you what I will let them live, if you help me find my soul.
Your Soul?
It's dark Magic Brother, and it is best we do not discuss it here, meet me sooner or later in the Weald and we will discuss it more. If I don't have my soul....this time Next Year, they will all be dead.

And With that Dunn walked out of the room, leaving Zukran puzzled, and afraid for his freinds.

--Blythe
Hikenai wrote,
Quote:
Here Neo, and Phoebe! There is a wash stand with warm water for your hands and face. And here is rose cream you can smooth on after you pat yourself dry. I made it myself from rose petals, and the juice of a funny plant called aloe vera.
Hikenai noticed Blythe had placed the tray of bedtime drinks on the table nearest the door, then had passed back into the darkened hallway.
She heard Blythe's footsteps quicken and then a muffled, Kitty, kitty....awww, got you now!


Then, Blythe came back from the doorway triumphantly holding Felix in her arms, upright, like a toddler! The huge black cat had already begun to purr loudly.....his long tail curled around Blythe's arm. Here is his majesty, his highness the king of cats! Blythe giggled as Felix let out a loud 'meow' in greeting as he leapt from her arms onto Neonea's bed.

Later in the night, long after both children were sleeping soundly, Blythe rose to close the shutters built into the window casing inside the room where she slept. The upstairs bed chambers had shutters on both the inside and outside of the building, that firmly secured, prevented drafts from penetrating the thick leaded windowsills. The outside shutters had been left open, however to allow the rays of the morning sun to awaken her. As she swung the inside shutter closed, she thought she caught a glimpse of a dark shadow in the street below, the vague shape outlined by the flickering streaks of moonlight passing in and out of waves of darkness , as an icy wind pushed thick and angry clouds across the inky sky.

Goose bumps caused Blythe to rub her arms with both hands, but even after she returned to bed, she still felt cold.

What was that?
Neonea
When I came into the room where I would be sleeping, I stopped in a half-daze. My expression grew serious, but not dark. A sort of awe state where I wondered if it was real or not. I grasped Hikenai's hand, where I was too afraid to let go for the second. Since everyone left, I had slept on the ground. Any bed I did manage to find, was usually made out of hay, or less. And certainly, it didn't feel so nice. I only released her hand when she brought me out of my daze as she mentioned a castle. I looked up at her curiously, as though I was certain I didn't hear that correctly. She said something about a castle, and me staying there for a long time? A real castle?

"Are you a princess?" I blurted up at her. Papa had told me about castles, and how Kings, Queens, Princesses and Princes stayed in them. Royalty. In order to cure the curiosity I had, I asked.
I went to the wash stand and washed my hands first. They stung. Even clean, they were still red and wounded. Under the warm water, I opened and closed my fists before I started to wash my dirty little face. I was drying off my face when I heard Blythe bring in the cat. When I saw the cat, My face dropped in shock.

"Wow!" I exclaimed, for it wasn't anything like what I imagined a cat to be. "Wow! Is that Felix? Is he a King, for real? Oi'll bet he is! He's so big! What's that funny noise he's making?" In my excitement I rushed to Blythes side, "Can I---uhm, May I please pet him?"But Felix had already headed to my bed. And excited, I followed and crawled into the bed with him. To my surprise, he came to me, and I wrapped y arms around him, burrowing my face in his soft fur and smiling as he made his funny little noise. The comfort of the bed easily brought sleep to me, and my eyes grew heavy with anticipation of good dreams in a warm room.
Before my eyes sealed, I looked at Hikenai, smiled and whispered, "Thank you."
_________________
I sing in joy of my new baby brother and sister!
Hikenai
Tomorrow I hope that Neo and Phoebe will come to the castle and stay with us there for a long, long time.... Hikenai was amused when Neonea asked,"Are you a princess?" and she started to gaily explain about the castle, but Hikenai stopped and choked on her words, her eyes filling with tears as she observed Neonea's discomfort at washing her hands! The little one had been so long in the cold, without shelter, apparently, without solace, yet she carefully washed her face and hands. It was then that Hikenai clearly saw the weather reddened cheeks, the stiff and sore little fingers, the violet smudges of fatigue beneath those bright blue eyes that gleamed warmly beneath her heavy lids. She was exhausted. Hikenai didn't know if she could bear to leave Neonea and return to Wallace Castle for the night! Before she could speak, however, Neo saw the cat!
"Wow! Is that Felix? Is he a King, for real? Oi'll bet he is! He's so big! What's that funny noise he's making?" She was clearly excited and climbed up on the bed next to Felix, who made a bee line straight for the little girls arms. Hikenai relaxed then, somehow swallowing her tears and murmured to Neo, Of course, darling, you may hold him. The noise you hear is purring, Neonea! He does that when he is happy, and he is so happy to you are here!
Hikenai watched as Phoebe quietly washed her hands and face. The girl sipped warm milk from her mug and sat down on her own bed, nodding her head in appreciation at Hikenai and Blythe.
I am not a princess, Neonea, but I do live in a castle with my family. Tomorrow you and Phoebe will come there to stay as long as you wish! We can bring Felix with us too! Hikenai drew the covers up over Neo, tucking her snugly into the bed. Phoebe smiled and drew back the covers on her small bed, climbing in and settling back.
Yes, they would bring Felix, they would bring anything this child desired that might induce her to stay with them, to make her home with them, to allow them to care for her, forever, always. A fierce longing pierced Hikenai, her heart seemed bruised, the urgent need to spare this little one any further pain in life grew fierce within her. She would do her best to protect her, to defend her, to keep her!
"Thank you." Neonea whispered to Hikenai, her eyes already glazing over with the approach of sleep.


(OOC: The story of Neonea, Kelster and Hikenai resumes in Hikenai's Stay in Cumberland in the Glen, and will be returning here to Kel's Bells tavern from time to time, too! )
_________________

Wife to Kelster Wallace, Baroness of Hawkshead, Viscountess of Whitehaven
Hikenai
The next morning before first light, Blythe arose to stoke the fire in the small bedrooms. She drew on her shift, wrapped a blanket about her, and quickly passed across the hall to the small room where Neo and Phoebe slept. Upon entering she looked with dismay at the neatly made bed where Phoebe had slept. Neonea was curled beneath the heavy covers, one small hand cradled her cheek as she slept, her face deep in the eiderdown pillow. Felix lay sprawled across the foot of the bed, purring deeply with contentment.

Ah, the lass, where did she go......Blythe whispered to herself, as she gently closed the door. With a rapidly growing sense of trepidation, she tiptoed down the hall to the steps. Somehow, she sensed she would not find Phoebe below in the tavern kitchen....but that the girl had slipped away during the night.

Lady Hikenai will be so disappointed!

Blythe explained all this to Hik, who returned early with clean clothes, a coat, cloak, gloves, stockings and shoes for the child. Hikenai looking about in dismay, placed the things she had brought for Phoebe back in the bag. She turned her full attention to the little one then, knowing that the fine meal and warm bed was all she could do for Phoebe. Perhaps the girl would return to the tavern in the future, and she and Kelster would be able to help her, after all.
--Blythe
I came to work early, to set up the tables for the evening meals. Maxine had prepared sausages! I could hardly wait to try them with the fragrant herb and onion bread she had pulled from the oven earlier!
Egremont had so many newcomers in town, I knew they would be arriving shortly. After all, the Bells was the busiest tavern in Egremont!
--Blythe
John Blackstone entered the tavern, already carrying a tankard of hot spiced wine. He sat at the bar and took a long drink, eyeballing Blythe as she went about her work. The lass had a thin sheen of perspiration on her upper lip, as she had just returned from the kitchen where Maxine roasted chestnuts on the hearth.

Blythe's upper lip was not where John's eyes rested, however. Blythe frowned slightly as she turned to John and said....
Nuts?
--John.blackstone
A bowl of thick lentil stew before him, with fat chunks of pork swimming succulently in the broth, John grinned in contentment. He wiped his callused hands rather clumsily with a napkin Blythe offered him, wiped his mouth and smiled his broad smile. Good fare, m'lady! He smiled then and turned to survey the tavern. There will be music later, no? And dancin', lass? The musicians were entering and preparing to set up to practice.

Blythe drew up another tankard of ale and placed it before John. She went back to shelling the roasted chestnuts, wondering at how her feelings for this man had changed over the course of the past few days. Aye, she murmured, never taking her eyes from her hands. She felt herself grow a bit warm. She was surprised to find herself blushing! There was something different about John. It wasn't that he was such an old codger, for he wasn't, not really. His silly grin seemed to give him a youthful aspect she had not noticed before. When he talked to her, he seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say, very unlike many younger men her age. Sometimes they would appear to listen to her, only to be thinking all the while of something else! (Well, except for Cuthbert, and he had never appeared to think of her in any way at all! ) And Blythe knew this afternoon, despite John taking in her physical charms, had an appreciation for her intellectual ones, as well....probably more so, as he had sought her opinion on many things since they first had met.
--Sir.james.bland
Sir James entered Kel's Bells feeling a bit perturbed. Here he was, the night before leaving for Beeston, and he had been stood up by his lady friend, the Mistress Amelia Fallenfast! He dejectedly sat down at the bar,listened to the musicians play a rousing rendition of 'Black Jack Davy", and looked about with no little annoyance. Ordering another tankard of ale, he pondered on the journey he would make for Lord and Lady Wallace, to bring the midwife, a crone known as Rhea, the wise woman, to Egremont to tend to the birth of the Lady Hik's babe. Sir James sighed as the music died down. The weather was bitter and, in truth, he did not feel like going! Then the musicians broke into a song he had not heard before.

Sir James found his foot tapping to the music, the words making strange sense to him.......you know that you have seen this all before, your grace is wasted in your face....yes..not your fault but mine, and it was your heart on the line.....
When the song ended Sir James, throwing down the coins for another drink, strangely felt better. He reached his hand into the bowl of roasted chestnuts, and throwing a few in his mouth, began to chew slowly, relishing the smooth, almost buttery taste. As a matter of fact, he had a lady friend in Beeston he would like to see whilst he was there! She just might be surprised at his arrival in snowy weather such as this......and the dear lady had a warm heart!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLJf9qJHR3E
Little Lion Man
Munford and Son
--Blythe
She had to laugh a little several days later, when John Blackstone left off work at Wallace Forge and came into the tavern to eat.
M'lady Blythe, tis a pleasure to pass this mid-day here with you! As he pulled off his heavy coat, hat, and furlined gloves, Blythe was impressed with his appearance. He sat down at the bar across from her and smiled.
She noticed he had trimmed his beard and washed carefully, as well. He was as gentlemanly as ever, Blythe thought to herself, as he smiled at her, and asked for Scottish whiskey and haggis. Ah, John! A man after m'lord Wallaces' own heart, I'd say!
Lass, m'mother was a Robertson! Her own mother, a Wallace, herself! And John smiled warmly again, for he had lived his whole life in Cumbria, near Muncaster, as a matter of fact.....
I grew up eating haggis, lass! Puts hair on a man's chest it does!
--Rhea_the_wise_woman
The last day of travel had been the worst.

The first day of travel had been the worst, too. She'd had to go off and leave her goats, Basil and Bay, and her cat, Kenward. No telling if that boy would actually come out and feed them. He came from town to take her vegetables to market sometimes, but boys tended to forget. Of course, Kenward would be fine; he was a good mouser. Basil and Bay, however... she was likely to return home to find they'd eaten their shed.

The days in between had been the worst, as well. The cart jolted and creaked and bounced her around. The scenery didn't change much for the better, only getting more bleak as they went north, and the wind became more harsh. There were beds at inns with the stuffing falling out, and inns with beds little better than a pile of straw, and inns with beds that were fine but had so many people reveling downstairs that she'd hardly been able to sleep.

But aye, this last day of travel had been the worst. Rhea pulled her shawl more tightly around herself and locked her knees together so the wooden cane set between them wouldn't fall. It had done so once already, and Sir James had to stop the cart to retrieve it.

She thought longingly of her small cob house, with the large fireplace in the middle and the earthy, spicy scent of various plants and roots and food stored all over. Her chair with its padded cushion. Her privy, which she was assiduous about throwing lime in regularly. She hmmphed, wishing more people did that.

"That's Kel's Bells Tavern ahead," Sir James Bland said, breaking the silence. He reined the horses in, pulling them to stop just before the door, then lifted the old woman down.

Rhea wobbled a little as her legs got used to carrying her once more, then took her cane and gave Sir James a sharp rap on the shoulder with it.

"Mind where tha' puts thy hands!" she said, tucking her lips in and giving him a stern look. "I'm not some tavern wench for thee to be pawing about!"

She turned and hobbled towards the tavern, leaning heavily on the cane. "And bring in the bags. Here I am, joints popping and creaking worse'n that rick tha' brought me in. Let's hope they've got a good fire going, at the very least! And where might Mistress Hikenai be?"

The tavern was blessedly warm, and she settled herself at a table near the fire, grimacing as she settled into a chair. "I'll have a mug of hot water and a hot mulled wine!" she called out, waving her cane at a serving girl. "No, not the tea tha' serves here; hot water!"

James brought her bags, setting one on the table with a resigned expression. Rhea rummaged through it, pulling out three small pouches from the numerous ones in the bag, clenching her toothless jaws against the brittle pain in her hands. She added feverfew, angelica, and hops to the mug of hot water the serving girl set on the table, then took a sip of the hot mulled wine as it steeped.

"Well, what ails thee now?" she asked. "Go tell Hikenai I've arrived."

She blew on her medicinal tea and drank it down, ignoring the taste in favor of the relief it would bring to her joints, and then started on the mulled wine.

____________________________

(NOTE: TPB Rhea would like to state that the preparations described, while within keeping with historical accuracy and efficacy as described by herbologists, may not be herein described in correct dosages, nor safe in such combination. This description is not intended to provide information to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness. Extreme caution should always be used when administering any herbal treatment irl.)
--Blythe
Rhea said, in a crotchety voice,
Quote:
"And bring in the bags. Here I am, joints popping and creaking worse'n that rick tha' brought me in. Let's hope they've got a good fire going, at the very least! And where might Mistress Hikenai be?"


Blythe heard her before she saw her. The scratchy voice, surprisingly deep and commanding, carried through the tavern, and as she looked toward the door, Blythe saw an aged woman enter, hobbling on a cane. She made straight for the fire, and turning to Blythe demanded Lady Hik, hot water, and hot mulled wine in rapid order!
Rhea shot out,
Quote:
"No, not the tea tha' serves here; hot water!"

Blythe had lifted the tea kettle from the flame, but the old woman immediately anticipated Blythe's offer of tea, and the words died before they had left her lips. The cantankerous old biddie, she actually waved her cane at me, Blythe thought. Sir James entered with the woman's bags and, as he settled them on the floor beside her, met Blythe's eyes with an expression on his face that clearly begged for some of Lord Kelster's whiskey. She placed a double shot of it in a small pewter cup for Sir James, and hurried to the old woman, carrying the whiskey, hot water and hot mulled wine on a tray. Ah, mum, I see you have brought your own herbs....
But Rhea exclaimed in quick retort,
Quote:
"Well, what ails thee now?....Go tell Hikenai I've arrived."

Blythe stopped, shocked into momentary silence by the old lady's abrupt answer. She handed Sir James his whiskey, then turned to the woman and said, Mum, I cannot tell her, she is not here, but she will come directly......She is usually here along this time.... Then eying the old lady's herbs, Blythe spoke up brightly,
Herbs, why, Lady Hikenai has an apothecary shop! The Lady de Bevill Apothecary Shop, here in Egremont! Indeed, she has all the necessary herbs she shall require when she proceeds with the birthing of her child.
And Blythe smiled at the old woman, feeling perhaps the interest in herbs might be something she, herself, and the woman had in common.
--Sir.james.bland
He downed the whiskey in one short gulp. Jah's bones and liver! He'd needed that drink! Sir James had let the old woman's bags come to rest gently upon the floor near her feet. He had already been struck by her, outside the tavern. He knew what she was capable of! Privately he was aghast that Lady Hik was having this gruff old crone attend her during her childbirth! One sight of that gnarled, wrinkled face might mark a babe for life!

No good might come of a wee bairn seeing such a one upon drawing it's first breath in the world. Surely the babe would scream heartily, at being presented with such a fright, at hearing such a voice!
--Rhea_the_wise_woman
Rhea hrmmphed.

"She'll have all the herbs necessary in my bag here. I'd not use something from a shop. Who knows who grew it and how it was prepared? They might give me foxglove and say it was comfrey. Or just as bad, give me something dried in full sun, with all the essence leached from it!"

Rhea drank more of her mulled wine, feeling the warmth from the fire and the wine (not to mention the medicine she'd drunk and the alcohol) seep into her bones. Not only did it loosen her joints, it loosened her tongue.

"People fancying themselves knowledgeable when they hardly know a turnip from a parsnip, much less dill from fennel. Just as likely to sicken or kill someone as help them, they are. Giving rue instead of goat's rue to new mothers and killing the babies instead of bringing the milk, giving foolishness like owl skull scrapings to treat anything at all.

"And then those fancy surgeons with their cups and blades and purges! Stomach complaint? Oh, tha' must be cleaned out from top to bottom then, the surgeons would say, so they cause more of the same... People keeling over in their privies, shatting themselves to death, and for what? I'll tell thee-- for no more'n a good dose of slippery elm would have cured!

"Get herbs in a shop, indeed!"
____________________________

(NOTE: TPB Rhea would like to state that the preparations described, while within keeping with historical accuracy and efficacy as described by herbologists, may not be herein described in correct dosages, nor safe in such combination. This description is not intended to provide information to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness. Extreme caution should always be used when administering any herbal treatment irl.)
Hikenai
As she came up from the kitchen area of Kel's Bells, Hik noticed Maxine turned to give her a most doleful expression. Then, as she proceeded through the doors between the pantry and the tavern, Hikenai immediately knew why!

Rhea! The woman Hikenai had chosen, the only woman Hikenai had wanted to tend to her during the birth, was here in Kel's Bells tavern!

She looked more aged, but just as formidable as Hikenai remembered her! Rhea, her ever sharp tongue admonishing Blythe, sat before the fire, warming her hands, and Hikenai mind was propelled back over the course of twenty years!


Rhea had said,
Quote:
"And then those fancy surgeons with their cups and blades and purges! Stomach complaint? Oh, tha' must be cleaned out from top to bottom then, the surgeons would say, so they cause more of the same... People keeling over in their privies, shatting themselves to death, and for what? I'll tell thee-- for no more'n a good dose of slippery elm would have cured!

"Get herbs in a shop, indeed!"


She had been a little girl when she first met Rhea. The only daughter of foster parents, Thomas and Elizabeth de Bevill, Hikenai had been hidden away from the world, forced to live a rather isolated existence in the wilds of Cornwall, near Land's End. The small manor of Lymberlost, home to the de Bevill family for several generations was located near the Men-an- Tol. Due to the falling sickness which plagued Hik, every week, Elizabeth de Bevill had taken Hikenai to pass through the opening of the standing stone, to fend off the strange spells that caused her to fall, smell the sage, recieve the visions, touch the angels. The legend she believed and trusted in, recounted how the stone, with it's curious opening, would safeguard babies and children from illness and witchcraft. Many came there to pass through the stone's hole and the Men-An-Tol was reknown throughout Cornwall, perhaps throughout England, for it's healing power! Elizabeth de Bevill relied on their weekly visits, to keep Hikenai's strange spells at bay. She felt, without the shadow of the stone casting it's protection over Hikenai, her daughter would surely fall prey either to the influence of a witch....or be accused of witchcraft, herself. And, should she not live her life in close proximity to the standing stone near Madron, Elizabeth was convinced Hikenai's strange spells would increase in frequency and severity!

There were other remedies Elizabeth de Bevill employed to keep Hikenai's madady from becoming too frequent. Often as a child, Hik was at the mercy of painful treatments, noxious elixirs, and long periods of isolation and loneliness. Thomas de Bevill sought to reassure his wife that Aristotle himself, had equated the falling sickness with special favor from Jah, but Elizabeth could only listen to Hikenai's strange prophetic utterances in horror, and once the latest spell had lessened it's hold on her, and Hikenai could rise from the floor, Elizabeth felt all the more certain her child was cursed by Jah, rather than blessed. As long as Elizabeth lived, she feared Hikenai would be accused of witchcraft because of those episodes Hikenai endured.

Now, Hikenai's mother was dead, and all Elizabeth's potions and remedies had been to no avail, but praise Jah, there was Rhea! If there was one person Hikenai trusted to see her and Kelster's baby safely borne into this world, it was this ancient crone, sitting before the fire in Kel's Bells Tavern!
_________________

Wife to Kelster Wallace, Baroness of Hawkshead, Viscountess of Whitehaven
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