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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 2, 2014 21:56:29 GMT -5
"She won't eat it if you do it. But she'll eat it if I do it. Mara is picky about the people she lets touch her. Shes a bit stubborn," she turned back to Mara ans stroked her nose. "Aren't you girl? Yes, you are, my beautiful stubborn girl."
Marcus wisely kept his thoughts of 'like mare, like mistress' to himself. Now was not the time to antagonize Olivia. It was bad enough she was outside in the damp air and already distraught over her horse. He hoped this wasn't going to set her back to a fever, or worse.
Master Mariodoc handed Olivia the long narrow ceramic jug that contained the molassis based mixture. "I'll let you give it a try then. Best thing is to put the bottle back as far as you can in her mouth so the end is past the bridge of her tongue. Then you tilt it up along with her pointing her nose up in the air and let the contents run out," he explained. "It has lots of molasses in it, so she should like the taste, but its wise to keep her head up and use one hand to keep her lips pressed shut until she swallows. Otherwise you might end up wearing the medicine." He winked at her. "Here ya go, down the hatch!"
Marcus was on-hand ready to catch the bottle or help Olivia keep the medicine in Mara. He nodded at her encouragingly. "It sounds more complicated than it is," he showed her how to press her thumb in Mara's mouth on her lower jaw right where there is a break between the front teeth and the back teeth in her gums. "Press down gently like this and she will open her mouth." Mara responded to Marcus' touch, but pulled her head away from him and eyed him balefully. He backed away slightly to give Olivia space.
Just then the stable boy ran up with two apples and several carrots. "Mayhap these here'll help, My Lady?" he asked hopefully. Marcus noticed the head cook peeking out the kitchen's back door to the courtyard and so he nodded his thanks to the cook who waved back and went inside. Now it was up to Olivia.
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Kallie
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Post by Kallie on Jul 4, 2014 9:54:48 GMT -5
Master Mariodoc handed Olivia the long narrow ceramic jug that contained the molassis based mixture. "I'll let you give it a try then. Best thing is to put the bottle back as far as you can in her mouth so the end is past the bridge of her tongue. Then you tilt it up along with her pointing her nose up in the air and let the contents run out," he explained. "It has lots of molasses in it, so she should like the taste, but its wise to keep her head up and use one hand to keep her lips pressed shut until she swallows. Otherwise you might end up wearing the medicine." He winked at her. "Here ya go, down the hatch!"
Olivia nodded and took the jug from him. "Yes, yes I know all about that I grew up on a farm with lots of animals." but still haven't come to terms with them dieing. she thought.
Marcus was on-hand ready to catch the bottle or help Olivia keep the medicine in Mara. He nodded at her encouragingly. "It sounds more complicated than it is," he showed her how to press her thumb in Mara's mouth on her lower jaw right where there is a break between the front teeth and the back teeth in her gums. "Press down gently like this and she will open her mouth." Mara responded to Marcus' touch, but pulled her head away from him and eyed him balefully. He backed away slightly to give Olivia space.
Olivia wasn't really paying any attention to Marcus she already knew how to force feed a horse, she could also force feed a pig, chicken, dog, cat, and a goat. When she was younger she'd had to do that to all of those when they got sick. Mara just looked sick to her and it was breaking her heart she hated to see suffering, weather in animals or people. She steeled herself took a breath and stroked the side of Mara's face.
Just then the stable boy ran up with two apples and several carrots. "Mayhap these here'll help, My Lady?" he asked hopefully. Marcus noticed the head cook peeking out the kitchen's back door to the courtyard and so he nodded his thanks to the cook who waved back and went inside. Now it was up to Olivia.
Olivia smiled at the boy. "Did you hear that girl? He brought you your carrots." Olivia said softly so that only her and Mara could hear, she was speaking right in her horses ear, that particular ear twitched at the mention of carrots. "I'll let you have some just like I promised in fact I'll let you have three." again the ear twitched going back and forward. "But first you're gunna have to drink this." Mara eyed the jug this time both ears twitched then Mara shook her mane as if to say 'no'. Olivia smiled and stroked her neck. "That's my girl stubborn to a fault and smart as paint." Olivia bit her lip took a deep breath and gave a chesty cough awful enough to rattle her rib cage. She held Mara's halter and forced open her mouth then as gently as she could put the jug in her mouth then tipped her head up. Normally Mara would have dislodged the jug and shied away but she was to weak she didn't swallow but eventually instinct took in and the horse swallowed all of the medicine, Olivia lowered her head and rubbed her horses forehead."See? Now that wasn't so bad was it?" Mara snorted and Olivia smiled. She reached over and plucked a carrot from the stable boy's arms, she offered it to Mara. "Here you go girl you deserve it." Mara took the carrot and munched it, then her head went back to drooping and her sides heaved in a very large sigh. Olivia bit her lip and hugged her horses neck stroking her horse. "Just hang in there girl it'll be all right. We'll get through this together. And from now on I promise we will never ride through a rain storm again." Olivia was doing her best to be positive, but she really did need to face the facts. Mara was old, and sometimes old horses when they got sick didn't get better. It was a fact of life, even if Mara did get better there was a good chance she wouldn't be the same this sickness might make her feel her age. After this she might have to turn Mara over to green pasture to live out her days with the other old horses in a nice green pasture with no work just a bunch of children learning how to tack a horse, and to groom them. Olivia couldn't really imagine going on missions without Mara, but it was time that she did her best to steel herself for the worst, she knew this day was coming but she had hoped that it never would.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 4, 2014 11:45:43 GMT -5
Marcus looked at Olivia with worry written all over his face when she coughed. "I think we need to get some more medicine in you as soon as Mara is taken care of," he said pointedly. "This time to help loosen up that stuff in your lungs. Eucalyptus ointment right on your, umm... well..." he trailed off, embarrassed to talk about her chest in front of the Horse master. "Well anyway that stuff Rick makes really does the trick. I got some in my pack. Say, it might even help Mara!" He had used it once on Spirit when he'd developed a cough and the next day the cough was gone. He wasn't sure if it was the ointment or not, but it certainly wouldn't hurt her.
He sent the stable boy, Tom, up for his ranger medkit and helped Olivia get Mara back to her stall. Master Mariadoc had disappeared into his room just off the end of the stables and came back as they were finishing up cleaning her buckets and getting her fresh water.
"Here, let's put this on her. It'll keep her warm and help break that fever." He held out a wool horse blanket with leather straps sewn onto it so they could secure it around her chest and under her belly. "I always keep some in my room near the fire in weather like we've had the last few days. It's nice and warm."
They put the blanket on Mara and got her to drink a bit of water. "Now all we can do is wait. I'll be right here and send Tom up to get you if anything changes. I think we got to her in time, but I can't promise anything for certain. My gut feeling says she'll pull through though."
Marcus thanked him and then took the ranger pack from Tom as he came trotting back into the barn. He pulled out a small stoneware jar with a waxed cork lid and opened it. Instantly the stall filled with the smell of eucalyptus, camphor and mint. His sinuses cleared immediately. "Undo that strap on the blanket across her chest and I will rub some on there right at the base of her neck." He said to Olivia, "unless you want to do the honors?"
He was hoping to avoid the confrontation he knew was coming. Olivia was likely going to want to stay with Mara, but she really wasn't healthy enough to do that. He couldn't blame her though, if it were Spirit (and it had been that once) he would stay with the horse, no matter the danger to himself. Maybe they could reach a compromise, such as a cot just outside the stall and some heated blankets for Olivia. At least they would have a few hours before that arguement was likely to arise.
When they finished slathering Mara with the ointment, Marcus sealed the jar and handed it to Olivia. "Be sure you use some of that yourself. I don't like the sound of that cough."
Master Mariadoc had gone back to his room and the stable boy was outside cleaning out the back paddocs. They were alone in the barn. Each stall had a place for a saddle and bridle, with a couple of shelves above and a bench that opened up for storage within. He sat down on the bench and patted the seat next to him.
"Why don't we just sit here for a while and keep an eye on her?" he asked Olivia. "I can got Tom to have them bring some dinner out here when it is time," though that wouldn't be for a few more hours. It was close to mid-day now, or a little after. "Mara will probably do better if she knows you are right here," he suggested. He told himself it was all for the horse, but he knew very well that he just wanted an excuse to sit with Olivia and maybe, if he was very fortunate, to be able to hold her and comfort her.
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Kallie
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Post by Kallie on Jul 4, 2014 20:28:37 GMT -5
Marcus thanked him and then took the ranger pack from Tom as he came trotting back into the barn. He pulled out a small stoneware jar with a waxed cork lid and opened it. Instantly the stall filled with the smell of eucalyptus, camphor and mint. His sinuses cleared immediately. "Undo that strap on the blanket across her chest and I will rub some on there right at the base of her neck." He said to Olivia, "unless you want to do the honors?"
Olivia nodded and dipped two fingers into the jar and slathered the goop onto Mara's chest, Olivia wiggled her nose and gave vent to six sneezes. Mara snorted as if to say 'bless you.' or knowing her horse as she did it was probably more like 'Sheesh got anymore?' She wiped her nose on a hankercheif then wiped her hand off in it. She stuffed the hankercheif into her pocket and stroked Mara's nose.
When they finished slathering Mara with the ointment, Marcus sealed the jar and handed it to Olivia. "Be sure you use some of that yourself. I don't like the sound of that cough."
She gave him a crooked smile. "You might not like the sound of it but I sure as anything don't like the feel of it." she coughed again and sighed. She was already sick of being sick. Her cough and sore throat could go away anytime it liked now she didn't care for either of them.
Master Mariadoc had gone back to his room and the stable boy was outside cleaning out the back paddocs. They were alone in the barn. Each stall had a place for a saddle and bridle, with a couple of shelves above and a bench that opened up for storage within. He sat down on the bench and patted the seat next to him.
"Why don't we just sit here for a while and keep an eye on her?" he asked Olivia. "I can got Tom to have them bring some dinner out here when it is time," though that wouldn't be for a few more hours. It was close to mid-day now, or a little after. "Mara will probably do better if she knows you are right here," he suggested. He told himself it was all for the horse, but he knew very well that he just wanted an excuse to sit with Olivia and maybe, if he was very fortunate, to be able to hold her and comfort her.
Olivia nodded and sat down next to him snuggling up into his side. Odd how perfectly she fit there, though she was small so naturally she fit perfectly in a lot of places. She held the highest place in hide and seek in her home town among her friends. But this was a different kind of perfect fit and mentally shook her head she was being to emotional today. She needed to get her level head back, she yawned hugely and laid her head against his side. Her eyes drooped a little though she fought to keep them open. Why was she so tired? She'd already slept for near five hours after sleeping through the night. She shivered a little she could feel goosebumps pop out on her arms. "Hey Marcus?" her voice even to her sounded sleepy and gravelly, it came out in a deeper register than normal. Was that really her voice? It didn't sound like hers maybe someone else had taken it. She laughed a little then stopped laughing to cough, it rattled her ribs and hurt her chest. She opened one eye to look at Mara, Mara's head was dropped and her eyes were closed, she was sleeping and Olivia knew exactly how she felt. Sleep sounded really good to her. "Would you rub my back? it hurts a bit." she leaned forward a little, maybe Mara wouldn't mind if she did take a nap after all if she was sleeping then she could sleep to right? And of course if anything happened Marcus could just wake her and tell her. Just a couple of minutes she told herself. A half hour at the most.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 7, 2014 22:34:24 GMT -5
Marcus wrapped his arms around her as she snuggled up next to him. It felt so natural to have her at his side. They seemed to have been made to fit together perfectly. Even their personalities matched eachother with shared interests and likes and dislikes, but with just enough differences to keep life interesting. He had a feeling that life would never be dull with Olivia, no matter how many years they spent together. She was bound to keep him on his toes and always be one step ahead of him.
He smiled as he rested his cheek against the top of her head. He could definately get used to this.
"Hey Marcus?" her voice even to her sounded sleepy and gravelly, it came out in a deeper register than normal.
"Yes, Love?" he answered softly. He winced in sympathy as the cough rattled deep in her chest. He swore it was getting worse.
"Would you rub my back? it hurts a bit." she leaned forward a little, maybe Mara wouldn't mind if she did take a nap after all if she was sleeping then she could sleep to right? And of course if anything happened Marcus could just wake her and tell her. Just a couple of minutes she told herself. A half hour at the most.
Marcus felt her shiver and could tell she was fighting sleep. He wriggled his ranger cloak around and draped half of it over her. "Sure," he answered, "Here, I'll scooch down as far as I can. Why don't you lay down here and rest your head on my leg." He gently rubbed her neck, shoulders and down her back. He was a little embarrassed at first to be touching her in such a familiar way, but in spite of that it seemed natural to do so.
"It's okay if you want to nap a little. I promise I will wake you if there is any change in Mara." He suggested as he continued to massage her back with one hand, the cloak draped over them both.
He had to keep a tight rein on his emotions as he carressed Olivia's neck, trying to ease the aches in her muscles from the cold. Although he was tired, he was wide awake right now. His mind was racing through what life with her was going to be. He would be honored to have the opportunity to share every night with her like this, sickness and all, he didn't mind.
He looked down at her perfect face and couldn't believe that she actually felt the same for him that he felt for her. He was utterly smitten with her. He would give anything to be able to trade places with her and take the discomfort of her cold and the worry over her horse upon himself if he could spare her that pain by doing so.
He gently pushed a lock of her hair back behind her ear that had fallen across her cheek. His fingers lingered on her cheekbone. He loved her cheekbones and the feel of them beneath his somewhat weathered ranger hands. Her skin was like porcelin, smooth and silky soft. ...
He nearly had to shake himself to get his mind off that trail before his thoughts got too far down it. Instead he concentrated on rubbing the ache out of her back as he watched her sleep. At least she was resting. It wasn't the ideal place, but she wasn't out in the woods, risking her life, and walking to some nearby village with a message to deliver. He realized he was going to have a tough time with that, especially when the courier job was as dangerous as it was these days. Maybe he'd just have to keep her pregnant after they got married. He nearly laughed at the thought. Yeah, something told him even that wouldn't slow her down much. Then he sighed, partly in contenment that she was here, in his arms and letting him give her a back rub, but also partly in resignation that they had a lot to figure out yet, and he knew there were going to be arguments in the days ahead.
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Kallie
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Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Jul 8, 2014 9:55:57 GMT -5
Marcus felt her shiver and could tell she was fighting sleep. He wriggled his ranger cloak around and draped half of it over her. "Sure," he answered, "Here, I'll scooch down as far as I can. Why don't you lay down here and rest your head on my leg." He gently rubbed her neck, shoulders and down her back. He was a little embarrassed at first to be touching her in such a familiar way, but in spite of that it seemed natural to do so.
Before her mind could catch up to her, her body nodded her head and she stretched out laying her head on his leg her back to the wall her front facing Mara. She curled her legs a little, a benefit to being small she fit on the bench comfortably. Well sort of, the hard wood was pressing painfully into her hip bone but she ignored it. She hoped nobody walked in, she was in a very improper position, but at the moment she didn't really care she was tired and needed comfort. "mmmm, that feels really good. Thank you." she fought the blissful blackness of sleep for a moment longer and then gave in and fell fast asleep. Her nose clogged and her mouth opened she breathed heavily through her mouth coughing here are there. And then she started to dream.....
The sun shone really bright and she squinted, she was in a field of flowers. She looked down and noticed that there were a pile in her lap as well as a half finished flower crown. She started to finish it, she heard footsteps and turned to see Marcus and a young child approach her. "We've awoken from our nap and wanted mama." said Marcus humor and love in his eyes, it was so familiar she smiled even in her sleep. The little girl had his eyes but had her mass of dark curly hair. The little girl sat in her lap and watched as Olivia wove the flowers together. She babbled and Marcus sat down just looking at her in the way he so often did. When she was finished with a laugh she put the crown on her daughters head. The little girl shrieked with delight then put it on Marcus's head. "Daddy king!" Olivia burst out laughing she couldn't help it he looked so funny with a crown of flowers on his head. And then they were gone and she was no longer in the meadow she was in a grave yard looked at a freshly dug grave. That same crown of flowers adorned the wooden cross at the head of the grave. She didn't know whose grave it was nor did she stick around to find out. She ran, she ran fast and far until she tripped and fell down a long steep hill. At the bottom she lay then the light was blocked out as someone leaned over her, it was a bandit he grinned at her and raised a knife.
"NO!!!!!!!!!!" she shrieked jerking awake and sitting up breathing hard heart pounding she looked around her wildly slowly coming back to reality as the dream faded away. Mara lifted her head her ears flicked back and forth she took a step toward Olivia she never liked it when her mistress sounded like that.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 8, 2014 22:13:42 GMT -5
Marcus watched Olivia sleep and worried over her rattled breathing and coughing fits that shook her whole body, even in her sleep. But when she smiled, he grinned back, even though he knew she couldn't see it. He was fascinated by her face when she was sleeping for some reason he couldn't quite figure out.
He thought about Olivia and where they would reside after they were married. His family was in Araluen and he visited there often, but he was a "relief ranger', one who was sent several places in a year to fill in if a ranger was injured or needed a vacation or had some other business to attend to. Crowley would send Marcus to that fief for however long he was needed. On the rare occasions when there wasn't a fief that needed tending to he would go home to his family on Merchant Row and stay with them for a few days.
So would Olivia want to live in Araluen? She too travelled around a tremendous amount as a courier and it seemed like she was always putting herself in danger, Marcus thought. He tried to look at it objectively and tell himself that she was just like any other courier, but maybe he was biased, because he could only see all the times when he knew she had been a bit cavalier about protecting herself. She always put everyone else in front of her own needs. It was a trait that Marcus loved about her, but it also frustrated him.
After nearly two hours her breathing changed and she began to fidget in her sleep. He tried stroking her cheek with his fingertips, but she brushed them away without waking up. Her breathing grew fast and she grew restless. Marcus wasn't sure if he should wake her or not.
"NO!!!!!!!!!!" she shrieked jerking awake and sitting up breathing hard heart pounding she looked around her wildly slowly coming back to reality as the dream faded away. Mara lifted her head her ears flicked back and forth she took a step toward Olivia she never liked it when her mistress sounded like that.
He jumped when she shrieked and his saxe knife was in his hand before he even realized he'd reached for it. He took a deep breath and hurriedly sheathed his weapon, hoping Olivia hadn't seen it. She had sat bolt upright and was looking around wildly, breathing hard like she'd just sprinted the length of the castle.
"It's okay, Olivia, you were dreaming." Marcus soothed her, still with his one hand on the middle of her back. "It must've been the hard bench. Do you remember anything about the dream?"
He gently carressed her back, hoping she would calm down. "It looked like you were enjoying it at first," he observed. "what happened?"
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Kallie
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Post by Kallie on Jul 9, 2014 19:29:17 GMT -5
"It's okay, Olivia, you were dreaming." Marcus soothed her, still with his one hand on the middle of her back. "It must've been the hard bench. Do you remember anything about the dream?"
He gently carressed her back, hoping she would calm down. "It looked like you were enjoying it at first," he observed. "what happened?"
Olivia coming back to her senses calmed her breathing, her heart steadied and she was very much glad to be back in the world of the living. She looked over at him and put on what she liked to call her diplomatic face. It was a neutral expression that gave nothing away not even her eyes gave away the horror of her dream. "Of course it was a dream, that is what one does when one sleeps. They dream." and because she didn't want to lie to Marcus she tactfully changed the subject. She didn't care to remember the dream because she wanted to keep it just a dream and not worry that it was a glimpse of the future. She was a realistic enough person that she knew there was no such things as dreams that revealed the future. Even so she didn't want to remember it. She put it in the back of her mind where it stayed locked tight with all the other bad memories and dreams she had had over the course of her life.
"Yes this bench is very uncomfortable, I think I might have a bruise on my hip now. Mental note to self don't use benches as sleeping perches. So to night I'll probably just bed down in the hay stack over there. Hay is pretty comfy even if it is a little itchy. It certainly will be more comfortable that this bench here."
She got to her feet feeling a bit stiff. She stretched her arms to the ceiling her back emitted a few loud pops. "That's much better. Say do you think it's dinner time yet? I'm starving I didn't get to eat lunch. Do you know whats for dinner?" She went over to Mara and fondled the horses ears and nose. "How are you doing there girl? You look a little better are you hungry? You should eat." Mara snorted. "That's what I thought. Stubborn as usual."
She smiled patted her neck then ran her fingers through her hair. "Ugh I bet I look frightful!" She combed her long curly hair with her fingers then proceeded to braid it in one long braid while she watched Mara. watch her with occasional glances behind her mistress to Marcus.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 10, 2014 8:22:54 GMT -5
"Of course it was a dream, that is what one does when one sleeps. They dream." and because she didn't want to lie to Marcus she tactfully changed the subject.
Marcus looked irritated at her response for a moment, but decided to let the subject drop. He was thinking to himself though, that if she didn't want to talk about it she could have just said so instead of talking to him like he was a five-year-old. But since she was the one who'd just had a nightmare and woke up suddenly from it, he didn't say anything at all and quickly erased the look of hurt followed by irritation from his face to one of concern for her.
"Yes this bench is very uncomfortable, I think I might have a bruise on my hip now. Mental note to self don't use benches as sleeping perches. So to night I'll probably just bed down in the hay stack over there. Hay is pretty comfy even if it is a little itchy. It certainly will be more comfortable that this bench here."
Marcus sighed, it seemed they were destined for a fight no matter what the subject. He approached her tentatively, "I don't suppose you would consider sleeping in your room if I promise to stay down here with Mara all night, would you?" He hastened to explain his reasoning before she could answer, just to give her a second or two to let the idea sink in. "If you stay out here and you get chilled it is going to set your cold back and you won't do Mara any good if your delerious with fever again. Not to mention it will take that much longer to get over your cold which means more time layed-up here with all those messages piling up that need to be delivered."
She got to her feet feeling a bit stiff. She stretched her arms to the ceiling her back emitted a few loud pops. "That's much better. Say do you think it's dinner time yet? I'm starving I didn't get to eat lunch. Do you know whats for dinner?" She went over to Mara and fondled the horses ears and nose. "How are you doing there girl? You look a little better are you hungry? You should eat." Mara snorted. "That's what I thought. Stubborn as usual."
Marcus smiled at her as he cleaned out Spirit's water bucket and piled some more dry grass in the manger. Spirit nuzzled his pockets, looking for treats and Marcus pulled out his last bit of cinnamon stick and gave it to his horse. "We should do another hot bran mash for her and put some carrots in it. Maybe she'll eat it this time," he suggested to Olivia.
He looked out one of the stall windows toward the castle and deemed it might be about 3 in the afternoon. "I doubt they have supper ready yet, but they always have a pot of something brewing for travellers coming to the castle." Marcus was hungry too. Of course he was almost always just a little bit hungry, the feeling never seemed to go entirely away unless he stuffed himself. He'd learned to live with it over the years and could push it to the back of his mind if he was focused on something else.
He opened the outside door of Spirit's stall and let him out into the adjoining paddock, making sure the paddock gate was secure. Spirit tossed his head and trotted out, glad to be in the open air again. He turned back to Olivia, "Why don't we go up to the kitchen and see if they do have anything," he suggested. "Besides I have something to discuss with that cook about following directions," he muttered under his breath. "Perhaps we can get a cot set up down here in the barn for the night. It would be more comfortable than the hay."
She smiled patted her neck then ran her fingers through her hair. "Ugh I bet I look frightful!" She combed her long curly hair with her fingers then proceeded to braid it in one long braid while she watched Mara. watch her with occasional glances behind her mistress to Marcus.
Marcus glanced at her and then watched in fascination as she braided her hair. "You could never look frightful," he disagreed. "You are too beautiful," he smiled at her. "How do you braid your own hair like that anyway?" His own hair wasn't really long enough to braid. If you could get the wavy blond locks to cooperate you might be able to get it into a pony tail in the back, but he would look completely rediculous like that.
"I wonder if our children will have curly hair and if it will be my boring blond or your gorgeous darker color?" The thought had just popped into his mind and was out of his mouth before he realized he'd said it out loud. He flushed and looked away from Olivia, running a hand through his hair nervously. It was a bit presumptuous of him to talk about their children when he didn't even know if she wanted to have kids or not and when they weren't actually officially engaged until after they spoke to their families. He looked back at her sheepishly, hoping he hadn't sparked another argument.
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Kallie
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Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Jul 11, 2014 18:01:14 GMT -5
Marcus sighed, it seemed they were destined for a fight no matter what the subject. He approached her tentatively, "I don't suppose you would consider sleeping in your room if I promise to stay down here with Mara all night, would you?" He hastened to explain his reasoning before she could answer, just to give her a second or two to let the idea sink in. "If you stay out here and you get chilled it is going to set your cold back and you won't do Mara any good if your delerious with fever again. Not to mention it will take that much longer to get over your cold which means more time layed-up here with all those messages piling up that need to be delivered."
Nope I won't consider sleeping in my room no matter if my entire family was down here watching Mara. It's a barn it actually much warmer than a drafty castle room. Besides I'm way past the fever stage I just know it. Besides once this cough dies down I'll be fit enough to deliver messages again. Just not preside over any treaty signings and such. At least not until I'm 100% again."
Marcus smiled at her as he cleaned out Spirit's water bucket and piled some more dry grass in the manger. Spirit nuzzled his pockets, looking for treats and Marcus pulled out his last bit of cinnamon stick and gave it to his horse. "We should do another hot bran mash for her and put some carrots in it. Maybe she'll eat it this time," he suggested to Olivia.
She smiled at him. "That's a good idea. I wonder why I didn't think of that."
He looked out one of the stall windows toward the castle and deemed it might be about 3 in the afternoon. "I doubt they have supper ready yet, but they always have a pot of something brewing for travellers coming to the castle." Marcus was hungry too. Of course he was almost always just a little bit hungry, the feeling never seemed to go entirely away unless he stuffed himself. He'd learned to live with it over the years and could push it to the back of his mind if he was focused on something else.
He opened the outside door of Spirit's stall and let him out into the adjoining paddock, making sure the paddock gate was secure. Spirit tossed his head and trotted out, glad to be in the open air again. He turned back to Olivia, "Why don't we go up to the kitchen and see if they do have anything," he suggested. "Besides I have something to discuss with that cook about following directions," he muttered under his breath. "Perhaps we can get a cot set up down here in the barn for the night. It would be more comfortable than the hay."
"Well either which way we can always ask for a little something to eat. I doubt they will refuse a poor sick woman her right to food." She grinned at him. "I suppose a cot would be better but I don't want to be a bother and asking for that would in fact be a bother. I'm telling you Marcus I'm totally fine and comfy in the hay its comfier than you might think. All I need is a couple of blankets. I'll be all right. Promise." She thought it was incredibly sweet of him to be so worried about her health. On the other hand she also thought it was annoying if he continued to treat her like a delicate flower he was going to get it. In the face. Well maybe not the face but a good solid punch to the arm would do the trick. She had never been a delicate flower a day in her life and she hated it when people treated her as such just because she was skinny and short.
Marcus glanced at her and then watched in fascination as she braided her hair. "You could never look frightful," he disagreed. "You are too beautiful," he smiled at her. "How do you braid your own hair like that anyway?" His own hair wasn't really long enough to braid. If you could get the wavy blond locks to cooperate you might be able to get it into a pony tail in the back, but he would look completely rediculous like that.
"I wonder if our children will have curly hair and if it will be my boring blond or your gorgeous darker color?" The thought had just popped into his mind and was out of his mouth before he realized he'd said it out loud. He flushed and looked away from Olivia, running a hand through his hair nervously. It was a bit presumptuous of him to talk about their children when he didn't even know if she wanted to have kids or not and when they weren't actually officially engaged until after they spoke to their families. He looked back at her sheepishly, hoping he hadn't sparked another argument.
"She smiled at him. "Well thanks but the cracked mirror on the wall thinks otherwise." she chuckled. "I dunno, its easy really. Well easy if you have done it pretty much all your life." she gave him a sly look. "Why? You thinking about learning to braid hair? Thinking about growing out your hair Ranger Marcus?" she said it a tad to innocently. If she was honest with herself she had to admit that he would look rather dashing with longer hair perhaps not a braid but she was attracted for men with longer hair for some reason she really couldn't explain. She went over and tugged at him. "Come on lets just go get some food before I faint from starvation." she tugged him out of the barn and into the fresh air.
"I wonder if our children will have curly hair and if it will be my boring blond or your gorgeous darker color?" The thought had just popped into his mind and was out of his mouth before he realized he'd said it out loud. He flushed and looked away from Olivia, running a hand through his hair nervously. It was a bit presumptuous of him to talk about their children when he didn't even know if she wanted to have kids or not and when they weren't actually officially engaged until after they spoke to their families. He looked back at her sheepishly, hoping he hadn't sparked another argument.
Olivia barely paused in her stride at the question she shrugged then on impulse slipped her hand into his. "I dunno I guess we'll just to wait and see. Perhaps it will be a mixture of both." she paused a little as a sudden thought struck her. "Marcus? Changing the subject rather abruptly, what do you think Crowley will have to say about this? What I mean is what do you think he will say about us?" she looked up at him. "Do you think he'll tell you no?"
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 13, 2014 16:02:38 GMT -5
"Nope I won't consider sleeping in my room no matter if my entire family was down here watching Mara. It's a barn it actually much warmer than a drafty castle room. Besides I'm way past the fever stage I just know it. Besides once this cough dies down I'll be fit enough to deliver messages again. Just not preside over any treaty signings and such. At least not until I'm 100% again."
Marcus glared at her for a full minute before saying anything. A little voice in his head whispered, 'if you give in to her on this you will be giving in to her your whole life. You know what the guys will say about you.'
Marcus clenched his jaw. "You're quite certain of that, are you? It's warmer than a 'drafty castle room' is it?" Did she know how ridiculous that sounded? However when she brought up food, he thought she had a good idea.
"Well either which way we can always ask for a little something to eat. I doubt they will refuse a poor sick woman her right to food." She grinned at him. "I suppose a cot would be better but I don't want to be a bother and asking for that would in fact be a bother. I'm telling you Marcus I'm totally fine and comfy in the hay its comfier than you might think. All I need is a couple of blankets. I'll be all right. Promise."
Marcus blocked her path, imposing himself between her and the barn's exit. "You are not sleeping in that dusty hay pile," he said, a trifle louder than he'd intended. "You can hardly breath now, just what do you think all that grass dust in your lungs is going to do for you? I am not going to let you kill yourself just because you are the most stubborn, independent and obstinate woman in this Kingdom!" He glared at her. "I'll get a cot down here, even if I have to do it myself and it won't be a bother." he said heatedly.
Marcus heard a chuckle behind him and then, "No need, my young friends." Master Marciadoc had heard the raised voices and come out of his office at the end of the barn to investigate. "Come here and let me show you." He motioned them over, with a smile on his face, and opened what had looked to be a box stall door. Inside it was sparsely furnished with a cot complete with folded blankets and a pillow, a coat rack, and a small dresser standing beside a bookshelf full of ointments, bandages and various equine remedies. The walls were all sealed and painted and the floor was hardwood, just like in a wooden cabin. "We keep this room ready at all times for just an occasion as this. Lady Olivia is welcome to stay here where she can be close at hand if her mare needs her." He grinned at the both of them, finding something immensely funny with their argument.
Marcus inspected the room, noted that the fireplace was even laid with dry wood and there were no spaces between the boards of the walls. He had to admit this stall actually was warmer than the castle room he had been assigned, but he wasn't about to admit that to Olivia.
He looked at Olivia, knowing there could be no arguing with this. Suddenly a mischievous grin swept across his face, "Oh I think this would be perfectly acceptable, so long as it won't be a bother. We wouldn't want to put one of your apprentices out in the cold for the night." He emphasized 'bother' and threw a glance at Olivia.
"Oh, it's no bother, I assure you," said Mariadoc. "They have their own rooms with the other servants. This is strictly for guests who wish to sleep close to their horses or in some cases when the castle is completely full we end up filling this room. It's no bother at all!" he swept his arm around the room, "as you can see, it's all ready to go as is."
Marcus looked back to Olivia and raised an eyebrow, "Well, compromise?" he asked, offering up a peace treaty. "If you stay here tonight, I promise to quit pestering you about your cold - at least for today."
Marcus glanced at her and then watched in fascination as she braided her hair. "You could never look frightful," he disagreed. "You are too beautiful," he smiled at her. "How do you braid your own hair like that anyway?"
She smiled at him. "I dunno, its easy really. Well easy if you have done it pretty much all your life." she gave him a sly look. "Why? You thinking about learning to braid hair? Thinking about growing out your hair Ranger Marcus?" she said it a tad too innocently. If she was honest with herself she had to admit that he would look rather dashing with longer hair perhaps not a braid but she was attracted for men with longer hair for some reason she really couldn't explain.
"I already know how to braid someone else's hair - sisters, you know?." He said smugly. "I just never have figured out how some women can braid their own. It's hard enough to do a horse's mane." He glanced at her when she asked if he was going to grow his hair out. "No. Well I hadn't thought to, why?" he wondered if she was teasing him or if maybe she didn't like his hair the way it was. "Would you want me to?" He asked thoughtfully.
She went over and tugged at him. "Come on lets just go get some food before I faint from starvation." she tugged him out of the barn and into the fresh air. Marcus agreed and walked with her toward the castle.
"I wonder if our children will have curly hair and if it will be my boring blond or your gorgeous darker color?" The thought had just popped into his mind and was out of his mouth before he realized he'd said it out loud. He flushed and looked away from Olivia, running a hand through his hair nervously. It was a bit presumptuous of him to talk about their children when he didn't even know if she wanted to have kids or not and when they weren't actually officially engaged until after they spoke to their families. He looked back at her sheepishly, hoping he hadn't sparked another argument.
Olivia barely paused in her stride at the question she shrugged then on impulse slipped her hand into his. "I dunno I guess we'll just to wait and see. Perhaps it will be a mixture of both." she paused a little as a sudden thought struck her. "Marcus? Changing the subject rather abruptly, what do you think Crowley will have to say about this? What I mean is what do you think he will say about us?" she looked up at him. "Do you think he'll tell you no?"
Marcus gripped her hand, loving the feel of her dainty fingers in his own. Her barest touch sent a shiver of excitement through him, erasing any lingering anger or frustration between them. She hadn't balked at the mention of children and he took that as a good sign. He was about to ask her how many children she wanted when she abruptly changed the subject to one that had crossed his mind, especially in the last few hours.
"Crowley doesn't mind rangers getting married," Marcus answered, "but we all get the lecture about it being a solitary life and most spouses don't understand. He said they often think it will be fine in the beginning, but as the years go by and they see so little of their spouse. Apparently the few weddings that have happened to active rangers usually end up with the ranger retiring early or the couple gets a divorce."
He squeezed her hand, "but that won't happen to us! We both know it is going to take a lot of adjustment and we won't be seeing a great deal of each other on a regular basis. I mean look at us right now." It was weeks between their brief visits now. And it wasn't just because of his ranger job. Her courier job demanded even more time away than his did. It was going to be difficult to raise a family.
"I have been thinking about this a lot over the last few weeks, ever since I realized," he paused, not used to saying the words, "I love you. I think we can make it work though. I will just make my 'base' wherever you are stationed. Crowley uses me a lot to fill in for other rangers when they are ill or injured or for certain areas that may need an extra pair of eyes. So if he will just use me closer to where you are delivering messages we can probably see each other more than we are now." He wasn't sure if he was explaining what he meant very well or not.
"So we get a house in whatever fife you are stationed and I get Crowley to have the majority of my missions based in that area with no weeks long trip to some other fife in the opposite end of the Kingdom." He said as they approached the kitchen. "We may have to revise this some once children come into the picture." He had thought some about that problem, but a good solution had not yet presented itself. The only thing he could think of besides one of them giving up their job, was to take turns "on duty". One would stay with the children while the other went out to work and then they would swap. He didn't like that idea though, because he would never see Olivia if that were to happen. "I guess we can cross that bridge when we come to it."
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Jul 14, 2014 7:30:40 GMT -5
Marcus blocked her path, imposing himself between her and the barn's exit. "You are not sleeping in that dusty hay pile," he said, a trifle louder than he'd intended. "You can hardly breath now, just what do you think all that grass dust in your lungs is going to do for you? I am not going to let you kill yourself just because you are the most stubborn, independent and obstinate woman in this Kingdom!" He glared at her. "I'll get a cot down here, even if I have to do it myself and it won't be a bother." he said heatedly.
Olivia just looked up at him calmly. "Dear Obstinate and stubborn is the same thing. Stubborn is just another word for obstinate and obstinate is just another word for stubborn. It is quite the common mistake." she was slightly amused that he was so adamant about her not sleeping in the hay, oh if he only knew. Scratch that he was never GOING to know she'd just give him an ulcer.
He looked at Olivia, knowing there could be no arguing with this. Suddenly a mischievous grin swept across his face, "Oh I think this would be perfectly acceptable, so long as it won't be a bother. We wouldn't want to put one of your apprentices out in the cold for the night." He emphasized 'bother' and threw a glance at Olivia.
Olivia just smiled at the horse master while reaching over and quite rightly pinched Marcus in the back. Hard. She hoped it left a bruise.
"Oh, it's no bother, I assure you," said Mariadoc. "They have their own rooms with the other servants. This is strictly for guests who wish to sleep close to their horses or in some cases when the castle is completely full we end up filling this room. It's no bother at all!" he swept his arm around the room, "as you can see, it's all ready to go as is."
"Thank you very much this will be perfect!"
Marcus looked back to Olivia and raised an eyebrow, "Well, compromise?" he asked, offering up a peace treaty. "If you stay here tonight, I promise to quit pestering you about your cold - at least for today."
Olivia turned to Marcus and rolled her eyes at him with a slight shake of her head. He was being ridiculous and annoying constantly worried about her. He was going to have to learn quick that she could in fact think on her feet and for herself AND that she also knew her own limits and what she was capable of. If he kept this up she would do more than pinch him.
He glanced at her when she asked if he was going to grow his hair out. "No. Well I hadn't thought to, why?" he wondered if she was teasing him or if maybe she didn't like his hair the way it was. "Would you want me to?" He asked thoughtfully.
"Oh no reason was just wondering is all. Besides men don't really think much about hair, its the women folk who do that all for you."
"So we get a house in whatever fife you are stationed and I get Crowley to have the majority of my missions based in that area with no weeks long trip to some other fife in the opposite end of the Kingdom." He said as they approached the kitchen. "We may have to revise this some once children come into the picture." He had thought some about that problem, but a good solution had not yet presented itself. The only thing he could think of besides one of them giving up their job, was to take turns "on duty". One would stay with the children while the other went out to work and then they would swap. He didn't like that idea though, because he would never see Olivia if that were to happen. "I guess we can cross that bridge when we come to it."
Olivia nodded. "That does make sense. I had a feeling that's how Crowly did it but wasn't exactly sure. I'm stationed over in Norgate fief but uh since the whole plague outbreak thing things are a little hectic over there. Couriers aren't really needed at the moment there's nothing to sign or deliver when everyone is sick. Even some of the couriers are getting sick, my friend Sara was one of them, though I suspect that she got killed by bandits not the plague. She went missing two months ago everyone just assumed she had gotten sick didn't know it and died somewhere on the road." she bit her lip a little as tears welled up in her eyes, it still hurt to talk of Sara in the past tense. Lady Sara had been her best friend her only friend really up in those cold mountains. Now she was gone and there had been nothing Olivia could have done to save her. She was silent for a minute.
"Well I guess I could always give up the diplomatic service until the children are older." She would never ask Marcus to give up being a ranger, she knew to much about the ranger corps to do that. As for her job, well? Anyone could deliver messages and help treaty's being signed. Sometimes of course you had to be polite when you wanted to curse the person. It did take a certain amount of controlled expression and practice in concealing your emotions as well as just letting it go. But with the right teacher anyone could do it. It wasn't always easy but Olivia had found that it was very much worth it. She loved a good challenge and all the heads in the diplomatic corps knew it, they often took her away from Norgate to go to different Araluen country's. The difference in culture was amazing to her and she loved experiencing it. She was also efficient in a few different languages, she loved speaking a different tongue and felt like she was walking on air when she actually understood someone else speaking it as well. But, she wasn't a naive girl, her mother had often described her as the one 'with her feet always on the ground.' she always thought things through and looked for a better or different answer. Marcus was something of a mystery though, whenever she was around him she felt giddy. Whenever someone mentioned his name she swore there were butterflies in her stomach. She felt different than normal, more unlike the Olivia she was used to being. He made her feel. Happy really, really happy. The ordinary Olivia would never have admitted her feelings for Marcus right to his face, that was just something she would never have done. But somehow some way he broke down all of her mental walls and turned everything upside down to where she wasn't quite sure which was up down left or right. In short he drove her crazy. Crazy enough to want him around for the rest of her life. From the moment she had realized that he had started to make excuses to come to Norgate JUST to see her she had wanted him. Of course he didn't know that she knew that he had done such things and she was never going to tell him either. He seemed very proud of the fact that he had fooled her and she decided to let him be that way. Men she had learned long ago needed ego stroking just a little every now and then otherwise they turned into pathetic little shells of really big pity parties. All she had to do was train him not to worry so much about her and everything would be more than perfect. "Also I got a letter before coming here that I was being reassigned in a week I'll be the head of the Diplomatic Service located in Meric fief. So maybe Crowley will just station you there, I've heard that Meric has a bit of a bandit problem. One in particular group I think they called it Mouse? Ever heard of that?"
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 14, 2014 18:46:41 GMT -5
Olivia just smiled at the horse master while reaching over and quite rightly pinched Marcus in the back. Hard. She hoped it left a bruise.
With the lightening reflexes honed by years of ranger training, Marcus reached behind him and grabbed her hand and held onto it firmly so she couldn't pull it out of his grip, but not so hard that it hurt her or was uncomfortable. He managed not to grin (because his verbal jab obviously got to her) or to yelp in pain because that pinch really had hurt, but he didn't want her to know it. He was probably going to have a bruise there.
Master Mariadoc pretended he hadn't noticed the exchange, but the corners of his mouth twitched slightly as he fought down another chuckle. It was obvious these two youngsters were in love and just discovering how to push eachother's buttons. It reminded him of his own tumultuous courtship with his Lilly some 40 years ago.
Olivia turned to Marcus and rolled her eyes at him with a slight shake of her head.
So she wasn't going to promise, eh? thought Marcus. Well he would just pick her up and sling her over his shoulder and lock her in the room up in the castle if he found her tucked away in that hay pile tonight. That should teach her not to take his concerns so lightly. Most women would be thrilled to have their man so concerned over their well-being. Of course if she were like most women, he wouldn't have proposed courting her. Why is it that he was always attracted to the most independent and fiery tempered women?
--- Olivia nodded. "That does make sense. I had a feeling that's how Crowley did it but wasn't exactly sure. I'm stationed over in Norgate fief but uh since the whole plague outbreak thing things are a little hectic over there. Couriers aren't really needed at the moment there's nothing to sign or deliver when everyone is sick. Even some of the couriers are getting sick, my friend Sara was one of them, though I suspect that she got killed by bandits not the plague. She went missing two months ago everyone just assumed she had gotten sick didn't know it and died somewhere on the road."
"You have mentioned her before. You know there is a slim chance she is still alive but being held by these so-called bandits," Marcus reminded her. "I think they are taking a lot of the ones they capture up into Picta. Not sure why exactly, but slave labor is my first guess." He wished Crowley had been able to find out what was happening, but each time a ranger went north to investigate they never came back. "Maybe we'll find out for sure what happened at some point. I know Crowley has been investigating all the disappearances."
They were silent for a minute and then Olivia said, "Well I guess I could always give up the diplomatic service until the children are older." Marcus looked at her in surprise. He would have thought she'd be adamant about continuing to work, even while pregnant, and certainly as soon as she was able to get back to it after delivery. It amazed him that she was even considering giving it up temporarily. Could that mean she really wanted children? He hoped so, because he wanted a large family. He was afraid to let her know that, just yet, however.
"I would hate for you to give it up if that's what makes you happy," Marcus squeezed her hand. "That's all I want, is to make you happy. But I think you would be sad to not have your job." He thought about giving up his ranger job to raise children and knew he could take breaks from it, but to give it up completely for several years would be difficult. Still, his job was dangerous. It would be worse if he were to get killed, leaving Olivia husbandless with children. He shied away from the thought.
"We might have to get a really good Nanny to help out for a few years," he suggested. "And get our bosses to give us assignments that keep us close to home." Maybe his own parents would have some insight since they were both working parents and raised several children. He couldn't wait to introduce Olivia to them. He was, in fact, hoping that as soon as she and Mara were well enough to travel, they would be able to head toward Araluen fief and drop in on his family. He needed to give a verbal report to Crowley anyway. Certain things shouldn't be entrusted to letters and he had some information Crowley would likely find very interesting.
"Also I got a letter before coming here that I was being reassigned in a week I'll be the head of the Diplomatic Service located in Meric fief. So maybe Crowley will just station you there, I've heard that Meric has a bit of a bandit problem. One in particular group I think they called it Mouse? Ever heard of that?"
Marcus started chuckling. It grew into a full-out laugh. He couldn't help himself. That would be just like Crowley, he thought, to station him and Tandar in Meric. He got is laughter under control and tried to explain. "Tandar is ranger of Meric right now, but I could see Crowley putting me there too. That way he would have two 'adle-headed, twitter-pated' rangers in the same fief, just in case one by himself was too dumfounded by love to do his duty- as he would put it." Marcus chuckled again. "Tandar got engaged at the Yule Ball to Lady Brandwyn, a Royal Scout!" He explained that they were both nobles and both had estates, though in different fiefs. "I bet they are having these same discussions! Maybe we should all get together and brainstorm." He laughed, then thought there was some merit to the idea.
With some difficulty he got his mirth under control and seriously considered the possibility of him being stationed in Meric. "It is true Tandar has had his hands full with bandits lately. He said he wipes out one gang and another takes its place in a few days." Marcus had, in fact, been through Meric just a month ago and ran into Tandar on the trail. The two of them tracked down a gang and captured them. They tossed them in Meric's dungeon, but that didn't seem to deter people. "Some of them are just people who are hungry and desperate and have lost their relatives to the plague. But not all of them. Some of them are true criminals, or part of this league of bandits."
"I have heard mention of Mouse, but as yet have not encountered the rascal," Marcus answered Olivia. "So you are being assigned just because Norgate is kind of slow right now, or is there something political going on in Meric that needs your special negotiation skills?" He looked at her proudly. She did have a way with persuasion, he reluctantly admitted to himself. But if she thought she was going to win every argument for the rest of their lives, she was in for a rude awakening. He disliked arguing, and found it pointless most of the time, but just because he stopped arguing with someone, didn't mean they had changed his mind or that he was going to do what they wanted. He brought his thoughts back around to the problem they were discussing.
"I will run the idea of Meric past Crowley and see what he thinks." Marcus decided. "Besides, that would allow Tandar to take some time to visit his family estate in Caraway. His father passed away recently and I am sure he has some problems up there to contend with."
It occurred to him that they might be a little premature in planning out their living arrangements now. "Of course it is going to be a little while before we need to worry about this," he reminded her. "We still have to meet the families first." He grinned and then ushered her through the door into the bustling kitchen of Seacliff Castle.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Jul 14, 2014 20:10:49 GMT -5
You have mentioned her before. You know there is a slim chance she is still alive but being held by these so-called bandits," Marcus reminded her. "I think they are taking a lot of the ones they capture up into Picta. Not sure why exactly, but slave labor is my first guess." He wished Crowley had been able to find out what was happening, but each time a ranger went north to investigate they never came back. "Maybe we'll find out for sure what happened at some point. I know Crowley has been investigating all the disappearances."
She nodded. "Yes I know that is true they could be holding her captive but even if she is still alive I doubt I will ever see her again. Captured or not, its no good to get your hopes up when you know in your heart it will only cause more pain. I rather just grieve for the loss of my friend. That way in the end if I do see her again the reunion will be that much sweeter. Its just odd you know? I mean Couriers are just girls we carry messages we are diplomatic what use would the picts have with us? I mean I'm there are ways I don't even wanna think about on how they are using the women but still I have noticed that Couriers are being targeted. Least ways a little more than the average female up in the Northern part of Araluen."
"I would hate for you to give it up if that's what makes you happy," Marcus squeezed her hand. "That's all I want, is to make you happy. But I think you would be sad to not have your job."
"Marcus if I had a child I WOULD in fact be happy. You should know me well enough by now that I would never let someone else do my job. If it's MY child I will raise them I won't let someone else other than family and trusted friends help. Yes I enjoy my job but as a mother I have a more important calling than to make sure some noble isn't skimping on taxes. Just don't tell the king I said that."
"We might have to get a really good Nanny to help out for a few years," he suggested. "And get our bosses to give us assignments that keep us close to home."
Maybe you should slow down that train of thought Ranger Marcus." Her tone was full of love and affection but had a certain ring to it that she didn't want to discuss children anymore. After all that was years down the road for her at least although Marcus seemed pretty set on them he probably wanted them right away. Still, yes she loved him but they were still getting to know each other, she figured that, the continuation of this conversation she be left for after they were married. Assuming that their relationship continued to grow as it was doing now.
Marcus started chuckling. It grew into a full-out laugh. He couldn't help himself. That would be just like Crowley, he thought, to station him and Tandar in Meric. He got is laughter under control and tried to explain. "Tandar is ranger of Meric right now, but I could see Crowley putting me there too. That way he would have two 'adle-headed, twitter-pated' rangers in the same fief, just in case one by himself was too dumfounded by love to do his duty- as he would put it." Marcus chuckled again. "Tandar got engaged at the Yule Ball to Lady Brandwyn, a Royal Scout!" He explained that they were both nobles and both had estates, though in different fiefs. "I bet they are having these same discussions! Maybe we should all get together and brainstorm." He laughed, then thought there was some merit to the idea.
Olivia was a little surprised when Marcus burst out laughing she looked at him quizzically and had to smile she rather liked his laugh it was adorable in an odd way but pleasant enough. She gave a little chuckle of her own but shook her head. "No I don't think we should brainstorm I rather like just keeping this between us. For now at least." Olivia by nature didn't really like voicing her emotions and she felt a little uncomfortable talking about her personnel relationship publicly with people she didn't really know. She didn't know why it made her uncomfortable it just did. It wasn't that she was embarrassed or anything it was just uncomfortable and would take a certain amount of adjustment. She turned her head and coughed into her elbow. She rubbed her throat a little her throat was getting worse it seemed to her but that was probably because she was just thirsty.
"I have heard mention of Mouse, but as yet have not encountered the rascal," Marcus answered Olivia. "So you are being assigned just because Norgate is kind of slow right now, or is there something political going on in Meric that needs your special negotiation skills?" He looked at her proudly. She did have a way with persuasion, he reluctantly admitted to himself.
She nodded her head in understanding Mouse being one person and not a group felt more correct she had only glanced at the paper containing her file before it had been whisked away. She looked at at him and smiled a little at the pride in his voice. "I'm not sure Lady Danielle said that she had been meaning to reassign me to Meric for three years now. But I was needed in Norgate more because of the pict's they needed someone who was good at keeping everyone in line and where they needed to be. Those were her words not mine just so you know. Of course it still needs organization what with refugees and the plague plus these bandit attacks and then there's the pict's to worry about. Then Couriers have been going missing or getting sick. Barons are becoming more difficult to manage they don't want refugees on their lands, then of course it all become s a political mess. And they have to be put back into line really there are some days when all I do is argue without seeming like I am. Its those days I just want to whack people over the head and tell them to either let people take refuge in their town or write them up for treason." She paused long enough to take a bowl of soup and a cup of hot camomile tea and sit down at a table in the great hall before continuing. "Lady Danielle said that since I've done nothing but organize the place she feels confident that someone less experienced can take over and be able to learn the ropes. Apparently they need to learn to think on their feet more often and think less textbook answers. According to Lady Danielle Meric fief is in dire need of organization and someone with a firmer hand than the Lady in charge right now." She paused and took a sip of tea. "Personally I feel like I should stay in Norgate, i feel like I've done something wrong that would merit me being reassigned. But it's not really my say in the matter." She took another sip of tea and tried the soup, it was delicious. "Sorry for rambling on so much I didn't think I would say so much! Usually I don't. And by the way about our living arrangements. Perhaps it is YOU who are thinking to much ahead. I'm the one moving there if we get married it is you who will need to be reassigned or double assigned or what have you. Not me." she gave another long chesty cough and took another sip of tea. "But that is all in the future my first priority is getting better so I can move into my new living apartments in Meric Castle. What do you have going on? Any assignments at all? Shouldn't you be checking in with Crowly soon?"
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 15, 2014 9:59:20 GMT -5
"I would hate for you to give it up if that's what makes you happy," Marcus squeezed her hand. "That's all I want, is to make you happy. But I think you would be sad to not have your job."
"Marcus if I had a child I WOULD in fact be happy. You should know me well enough by now that I would never let someone else do my job. If it's MY child I will raise them I won't let someone else other than family and trusted friends help. Yes I enjoy my job but as a mother I have a more important calling than to make sure some noble isn't skimping on taxes. Just don't tell the king I said that."
Marcus chuckled and shook his head, "of course not, I won't breathe a word."
"We might have to get a really good Nanny to help out for a few years," he suggested. "And get our bosses to give us assignments that keep us close to home."
Maybe you should slow down that train of thought Ranger Marcus." Her tone was full of love and affection but had a certain ring to it that she didn't want to discuss children anymore. After all that was years down the road for her at least although Marcus seemed pretty set on them he probably wanted them right away. Still, yes she loved him but they were still getting to know each other, she figured that, the continuation of this conversation she be left for after they were married. Assuming that their relationship continued to grow as it was doing now.
"You're right, you're right!" he agreed, laughing. "My Pop says I always leap in head first once I make a decision, be it right or wrong. I guess he may have a point now and then," Marcus conceded. "I suppose I am rather an 'all or nothing' kind of guy." He gave her a slight bow, "I will try to rein in my enthusiasm, My Lady, but you must know it is not easy when it comes to you!" He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles affectionately.
"I bet they are having these same discussions! Maybe we should all get together and brainstorm." He laughed, then thought there was some merit to the idea.
Olivia was a little surprised when Marcus burst out laughing she looked at him quizzically and had to smile she rather liked his laugh it was adorable in an odd way but pleasant enough. She gave a little chuckle of her own but shook her head. "No I don't think we should brainstorm I rather like just keeping this between us. For now at least." Olivia by nature didn't really like voicing her emotions and she felt a little uncomfortable talking about her personnel relationship publicly with people she didn't really know.
"That's okay, I was just joking anyway," Marcus answered. "I don't know the Lady Brandwyn at all really, though Tandar and I are fairly good friends. You'll like him, I'm sure. And if you are going to be heading up the Diplomatic Corps there, then you are likely to be interacting with him a little bit. Probably with his fiancé too, since I hear she is a ward of the Baron, and has a head for law and politics. She might be a good source for you to get a handle on the political scene in Meric," he suggested. "But we can't leave our personal business out of it," he smiled at her.
She looked at him and smiled a little at the pride in his voice. "I'm not sure Lady Danielle said that she had been meaning to reassign me to Meric for three years now. But I was needed in Norgate more because of the Pict's they needed someone who was good at keeping everyone in line and where they needed to be. Those were her words not mine just so you know. Of course it still needs organization what with refugees and the plague plus these bandit attacks and then there's the Pict’s to worry about. Then Couriers have been going missing or getting sick. Barons are becoming more difficult to manage they don't want refugees on their lands, then of course it all become s a political mess. And they have to be put back into line really there are some days when all I do is argue without seeming like I am. Its those days I just want to whack people over the head and tell them to either let people take refuge in their town or write them up for treason." She paused long enough to take a bowl of soup and a cup of hot chamomile tea and sit down at a table in the great hall before continuing.
"Well that explains a lot," Marcus said sincerely, as if understanding something for the first time. He snagged an extra helping of soup, two dark brown dinner rolls and a mug of apple ale and followed her to the table. He sat across from her where he could look into her eyes as they ate and chatted. "I guess with your training and the work you do every day, you don't even realize sometimes that you are using your powerful skills of persuasion even in your personal relationships. Not that it is a bad thing," he hastened to add. "You are very good at it and I think the Diplomatic Corps is lucky to have you." He'd been around enough female rangers to know that working women needed their egos stroked once in a while too.
"Lady Danielle said that since I've done nothing but organize the place she feels confident that someone less experienced can take over and be able to learn the ropes. Apparently they need to learn to think on their feet more often and think less textbook answers. According to Lady Danielle Meric fief is in dire need of organization and someone with a firmer hand than the Lady in charge right now." She paused and took a sip of tea. "Personally I feel like I should stay in Norgate, I feel like I've done something wrong that would merit me being reassigned. But it's not really my say in the matter."
Marcus shook his head and looked at her intently, "You shouldn't feel that way. I thought that myself the first time Crowley moved me to a new fife. I was getting comfortable there and settling into a routine and I was pretty upset when he yanked the rug out from under me and set me off in a new direction. There was a lot I wanted to do in that first fife, and I told him so." Marcus recalled that conversation vividly. He suspected Crowley had probably gone through a hundred identical conversations over the years. "I ranted and raved and he calmly sat behind his desk, waiting until I finished and then said, 'and that is exactly why I moved you - you were getting too comfortable.' I didn't understand at first, but in a few weeks I realized that it was for the good of the fife, and also for me, to make some changes. You miss things when you get into a routine and people learn your habits and learn how to work around you to get away with things they shouldn't." He tried to explain. "So don't feel like you messed up or are being punished. I am sure Lady Danielle just feels you have something that Meric needs and likely she has someone in mind for Norgate that needs to be moved out of their comfort zone for a while."
She took another sip of tea and tried the soup, it was delicious. "Sorry for rambling on so much I didn't think I would say so much! Usually I don't."
"Aw, you're not rambling. I love these discussions between us. Your intelligence, insights and opinions are some of your most endearing, and infuriating, qualities!" he grinned at her and raised his mug in salute.
"And by the way about our living arrangements. Perhaps it is YOU who are thinking too much ahead. I'm the one moving there if we get married it is you who will need to be reassigned or double assigned or what have you. Not me." she gave another long chesty cough and took another sip of tea.
Marcus paused in shoveling soup into his mouth and stared at her intently, a twinkle in his eye. "I just don't want to waste a minute of my life with you," he captured her eyes with his own. "And I want to have some answers when your mother starts drilling me," he laughed. "You aren't going to have to worry about having enough to eat or a place to live. I have a share in my family business and I've been saving up most of my ranger pay for years. We'll be able to get a nice house when the time comes. Just exactly what you want and wherever you want it," he promised. "I might not be a noble like Tandar is, but I am far from destitute." He sat back and took a sip of ale, "but you are right, I am getting ahead of ourselves again. Sorry." he grinned sheepishly at her.
"But that is all in the future my first priority is getting better so I can move into my new living apartments in Meric Castle. What do you have going on? Any assignments at all? Shouldn't you be checking in with Crowley soon?"
Marcus was happy she was moving to Meric. It was closer to the center of the Kingdom and he passed through there far more often than through Norgate. They should be able to see more of each other in the months ahead.
"Oh, I am working even now as we speak," he said cryptically, with a wink. "You know, rangers are constantly observing their surroundings and assessing situations." He grinned at her. Then he put his empty mug down after looking in it wistfully for a moment, wishing he had more ale. "Actually I need to go down to the harbor for a bit this afternoon," he answered her question. "It seems the Barons of Seacliff and Greenfield have noticed ships going missing when they go around the southern cliffs and through Hibernia waters. That's actually why I am here, investigating an overland trade route between the two fiefs and up into Whitby fief before the great fair at the end of the summer," he explained. "Normally it is easier to sail around Araluen to move cargo, but the last four months hasn't seen a single Araluen ship make it through from one side to the other. We suspect pirates, so I need to go question some captains and see what ships are in the harbor."
He mopped up the last of his soup with the last bit of bread. "Once I am done here, I need to get to Araluen and report to Crowley. Yes, it is about time I have to check in with him directly," he waggled a finger at her. "Do you want to stroll the harbor with me, or are you going to move your things down to the stable room and stay with Mara?" He asked, wondering what she had planned for the rest of the afternoon. He was fairly certain she wouldn't voluntarily go take a nap. But with Mara sick, he didn't think he'd have to worry too much about her leaving the castle on some errand. Then it occurred to him that if she did have messages that needed to be delivered in the city, it would be better if he were with her.
"Or if you have some message that needs delivering that's kind of on the way to the harbor, we could take care of that on the way to the docks," he suggested casually.
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