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Post by wilhemiaschleitz on Mar 15, 2008 23:26:17 GMT -6
The young woman stood at the wall, the blond hair pulled back into the familiar braid as she merely stared at the horizon. She had no idea what to do at this point.. her Da had been gone a while , he'd check in with her. but disappear once more. The lass found herself at something of a loss here. The sigh passed her lips as she leaned against the stone wall, and the hands folded the shawl closer around her shoulders. She was trying to see further then what the world showed her. They would all be getting ready for the spring festivals , and the sermons that Ma had always avoided. There had been moments that Willa could have sworn her mother avoided the clergymen when they came to their small village. Refusing such things as communion as well as confession. She had stated that her sins were her own, and all of which she'd gladly pay for in the end. The young woman couldn't say she understood that entirely, as she pressed her shoulder against the corner of the stone work while she looked down just over the wall. She missed her mother to a point of distraction.. she could in no way speak to her Da about the nightmares , not only of the blotched capture, but of the things that had happened before he had returned home. Brittany had been gone for nearly eight years... and their moving had carried them from the German settlements in northern Rome, though the french regions over the years. She couldn't understand why her Father had stated they couldn't get far enough away for his liking. Now.. they were in Scotland.. damn near the end of the world.. for all she knew. She knew Aileen here.. and a few of the nobles..Tilly and the other girls from the village... but it wasn't the same. The deep breath was drawn in as she continued to stare off towards the mainlands.. maybe someday she would return home? Though there were moments there, she was just as much of an outlander. The small turn of her head finally came as she viewed the city.. and the great beautiful castle.. it was all so perfect wasn't it? or so it seemed Though by remaining there as a guest, she had begun hearing rumors. And quiet frankly they were beginning to frighten her. Deaths and wars.. those would only be the first wave of horrors.. soon after those came famine and diseases If men and women fought during the spring seasons... who would plant the fields? See that the sheep are sheered for wool so that the winter months garments were ready. Or food stored.. or.. did these people not think of these things? Were they all so terribly blinded by their own greed they would sacrifice the lives of all those that stood out in the fields.. of course the rich would continue to eat.. as they had the money to pay for such things.. she had seen such before.. the rich seemed unharmed by the ignorance of wars. And the serfs... peasants.. the poor.. they suffered, they buried their children and parents.. Of these things she could not speak of to her father. Things he had no knowledge of her witnessing. It was obvious the one time she had spoken up.. his thoughts upon her place and what he had believed she had witnessed. The small cant of her head was given as she slowly pushed away from the wall. The shawl was gently laid across the stone of the wall, to free her hands. The slippers she had been given were taken off and set down onto the cold stone, as she slowly pulled herself up onto the thick portion of the wall. The wind pulled at the heavy skirts as she stood there , her arms open for a moment , even daring to lean into the wind for just a breath or so.. before smiling and slowly seating herself on the stone. The legs tucked beneath her as she ensured her modesty with the skirts tucked in around her. The ankle was doing much better and the bruises well on their way to fading. At least it would end some of the pitied looks she got from maids. The sigh came from her as she folded her arms and propped her chin up on the two small balled up fists. Just.. watching the horizon.
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Post by Sir Dmitrii Zurban on Mar 16, 2008 10:24:50 GMT -6
He was not a large man, but even the largest men stepped aside when Dmitrii Zurban walked by. Few men had attempted to rile his anger since arriving in Skye. The dark curly hair, the twin swords upon his back, and the dark black armour with silver accents were definite indications of who this man was. He was renown as a man with inner turmoil, who took it upon the living for the death he could not prevent.
The sun arched over the horizon, as if it was exploding when iut touched the line between earth and sky, the orange, yellows, and reds slashing its way across the sky. Dmi had chosen the night shift for his patrols... and this brought him to the wall.
Tory was gone, his remaining family, save Kaelyn, long since dead... now even she was getting married... but he knew that would have to wait... a mere age of two and twenty, he had a keen sense for war, and it was coming again, he could taste it in the winds. This he prayed for... t'would be yet another chance to join his family in the hereafter.
His duties brought him upon the wall... to the very place the girl took looking out at the sunset... two guards watched the girl as Dmi walked up behind them... "Ye got other duties, get to them... the girl needs nay guarding." as he nudged them in an antagonizing way, just out of earshot of the girl...
Approaching her, the lass, who seemed in much contemplation, "It is beautiful is it not?" ...he would offer a deep bow and a soft gentle voice, the accent of Russian in the tones. "M'Lady... tis nay safe to be so close to the edge... maybe I can get a box for yu to stand..." he paused... "I often come here to this exact same spot to watch the sunset." Standing beside her looking out to the horizon... "It allows the mind to wander so... and look at things differently."
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Post by wilhemiaschleitz on Mar 17, 2008 8:03:11 GMT -6
The young woman was blind to the guards that watched her from the distance. If they thought she was to jump.. or whatever their reason.. all that seemed to exist in the small blond's world was that distant sunset. The oranges and pinks teased the underbelly of the clouds while the east was already darkening with the azure blue of night. The chin lifted from its resting place upon her hands as the voice spoke up from behind her. The bright blue eyes fixed themselves upon the man as she studied him for a long moment. The man obviously had mistaken her for someone of importance as she canted her head just a fraction to the left. Then dipped properly as to where she sat, it would be too difficult to offer a curtsy in response to the bow.
" yes'sir" she half whispered as she slowly turned away from that sunset, and away from the gentleman as not to embarass herself. The little scoot was given as she pulled herself to the edge then slipped down once more. The stocking feet touching the cold stone as she winced a bit. " I didna knowed it was someone's spot.. " She apologized as she crouched down to pick up her slippers. Willa stood a simple five feet few inches, though she had to look up at nearly everyone she met. In this she did, looking at the man , his method of dress, the arms he carried upon his back. With her face turned towards the man now, the fading bruise along her jawline was unfortunately in clear sight. She remembered her place and turned her attention away to the sunset once more as the small smile touched her lips.
" Aye, tis at that. My Ma usta says that da settin sun takes wit it da worries o' da day an da wishes fer a betterin day tamorra. " she sighed softly and shifted a bit to slip the shoes again onto her feet, leaning against the wall a bit as not to put her full weight upon the healing ankle. Her own voice seemed quiet, subdued as though attempting to hide the peasants cast of her speech. Though it was a mingled mess of accents.
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Post by Sir Dmitrii Zurban on Mar 18, 2008 15:48:10 GMT -6
He smiled for the first time in many months, his steel grey eyes wider than usual… for this moment in time, he was neither angry at the world nor at death, that had claimed so many around him. The Rus accent thick as he spoke… “Tis nyet anyone’s spot… no one haz claimed it. Yu may come here az much az yu wish M’Lady…” he heard the tint of the ordinary folk in her voice, but her tone was that of angels.
Smiling once again as she bent over to pick up her slippers, then he noticed the favoring of an ankle, and when she leaned against the wall, he saw the bruise, and his eyes narrowed, but he didn’t ask. His hands open and shows nothing in them, he places them upon her waist and hefted her to the parapet ledge. “Sit dere, to eaze yer ankle, and gaze M’Lady… tis beauty that God gives us… but nyet too cloze to de edge.”
Listening to her Mother’s wisdom, he nodded… “Da, mabbe true for some…” then he glanced away as depressive thoughts swiftly entered. Glancing back to the girl, a smile once again captured his lightly bearded face in the infamous Zurban smile. “Myoi name is Dmitrii… Dmitrii Zurban… and yu are?”
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Post by wilhemiaschleitz on Mar 19, 2008 0:09:57 GMT -6
With the words given that she may come here as often as she wished, the small smile was given as she canted her head to look at the man. " Why thank ya , M'lord.. " the tone carried with it a light sort of teasing, as the pale brow lifted.
The smile remained only for a moment longer as he showed his hands to her, it was clear within the bright blue eyes she had no idea why he had done so, until he stepped closer. The lass couldn't shy away as she was against the stone wall.. though tensed from head to toe as he lifted her , effortlessly onto the parapet ledge. The flush was instant as she shifted just a bit away from him.
It wasn't him, or well.. it was merely because he was male and the thoughts of being handled so.. still spooked her a bit. She didn't offer a reason, but instead to hide her embarassment and discomfort of that few seconds that passed in silence she had turned to take up her shawl. He spoke again as she returned her gaze to him. The small ears managed to catch that sweep of melocholy as it hinted at his words. Then of course he had pressed on with the introduction. The simple eyes watched for a moment before she stuck out a hand in his direction. " Be right fine ta meet cherself, M'lord Zurban.. I'm Wilhemia Schleitz... though mos' jus calls me Willa."
The man seemed to hold that strange saddness about him. She was certainly not about to let him stay that way.. it wasn't her nature. No more then she was willing to let what had happened with the two brothers and their blotched attempt keep her in fear. Victims did that, and while guarded, she had come to the determination she was not going to let them force her into being a victim.
" Iffin ya dunna minds me askin.. where ya from? I ain'ts ne'er heard no talkin likes that? "
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Post by Sir Dmitrii Zurban on Mar 19, 2008 12:28:52 GMT -6
As she introduces herself, the man in the black and silver armour bows as if she were royalty before him, his curly dark hair, springing atop his head as he bowed. “Very pleased to meet yu Lady Schleitz…” he winked as he rose… “Willa… if I may be so presumptuous…” The pair was oddities to one another, but both found curiosities in the other to keep the conversation alive.
He had noted her apprehension when he touched her… the bruise upon her cheek… and he suspected she had been mistreated… and her rich blue eyes… “I am an open book to you M’Lady… ask anything yu wish…” the steel grey eyes seemed to briefly sparkle with life after many many months of lifeless grey spots. “I am from a land far away… it is called Kievan Rus… from the once-beautiful city of Kyiv…” leaning against the wall beside her, careful not to touch her. “And yu? Tell me about yu…”
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Post by wilhemiaschleitz on Mar 19, 2008 17:49:46 GMT -6
The bow had the light giggle brought from her, as well as the small blush again. Great.. she was going to pass out from silliness! The hands absently toyed with the shawl in her lap as she watched him with a skeptical expression that followed the giggle. " Does ya alwus bow ta milkmaids, yer lardship? " She asked finally.. admiting rather plainly she was no lady. If her manner of speech hadn't pointed that out? The life noticed as it danced within the steel grays, seemed to suit him far more then the dull darkness he dressed himself in. " Keevan Rus? " The name repeated, if not damaged by her pronouciation of it. The small cant of her head was given as she watched him. Though she didn't tense as he came to lean against the wall.. so long as there was a bit of distance from one another, and the gentleman hadn't made himself appear a threat.. she looked away to glance a moment at the fading light. "Me? Oh wella.. me and my Da we has a farm jus ta the south o' da city. Though he says fer naw he wants me here.. in da city.. be safer he says. " She made a bit of a face about that. Obviously she didn't entirely agree. Especially not with what had happened in the market and castle itself.
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Post by Sir Dmitrii Zurban on Mar 20, 2008 11:50:07 GMT -6
A glance to the girl as she giggled… “I am pleased I amuse yu M’Lady… and nyet, I do not bow to all milkmaids, just ones that covet my wall….” Then he winks at her. He figured her for no royalty, but manners of speech did not formulate class or status with him. Matter of fact, his best friends, Adam and Bess Aberdeen, the Duke of Duchess of Skye, were not eloquent in their speech, but that did not prevent them from properly governing a new nation.
The grey eyes sparkled once again as she almost destroyed the pronunciation of his native land, but most of western descent did… with a smile, he pronounces it for her… “Kee yev an Roos…” his tongue rolling with the R… “but ye did well… as I often destroy the English language…”
“In these times of trouble, tis best ye stay in the Castle, at least until Lord Adam cleans up… t’will be a good place once the rabble is rid of…” once again the soft roll of r’s tainted his English… “I think yer farm must be beautiful… one day, mabbe I shall see it…” He pauses and looks at her with interest, curiosity getting the best of him… “How did ye come ta getting’ the bruises and tender ankle?” He kept his distance and restrained from touching her, though his culture was a more touchy-feely sort.
“Once things settle down, I would like to invite yu and yer Father to Castle Zurban…” smiling… “It is not large, no small, but larger than anything I have had before… I can promise a good meal…”
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Post by wilhemiaschleitz on Mar 20, 2008 13:08:41 GMT -6
The bright eyes remained on the man while he spoke, though more importantly she watched his lips as he pronounced the words again. The small knitting of the brows together as she attempted it once more, though in a half whisper. As not to embarass herself any further.
" Ya calls em rabble.. ya knowed they calls themselves somethin else. " She spoke quietly of things she had managed to catch at the markets.. glimpses of conversations.. as well as mutterings of the servants. if one wanted to know what was really going on in the world, as a servant.
" An aye.. its purty enough, I'mma thinkin. Though ain'ts nothin like this. " She glanced towards the city. " Lots o' cows.. an chickens.. an thankfully I talked Da outta pigs. Smelly brutes they be.. an a downs right hassel ta keeps em in dere pin. " She babbled for a minute before falling silent with the next question. The small shift was given as she glanced down at her hands.
" Erm.. twas a pair o' boys that thunk they oughts has emselves a good time. " She explained quietly, obviously she had told the tale over and over again.. so a bit numb to it. She was more embarassed then anything else. " though they gots emselves inta a fight.. an I 'urt myself when I was runnin off. " She sighed and looked up at him. " Coarse I dun't fancy bein them boys.. me Da is fit ta hurt em bad.. they'd be lucky iffin da Duchess hung em.. cause Da ain'ts gonna be sae naice. " She had a fair idea of how not nice he could be.
The skeptical look appeared on her face again. " Ya wanna invite us.. ta yer castle? Good lucks wit dat one.. the onla reason me Da cames ta dis one.. cause he thunk I was hiddin from em. " She chuckled quietly. " He dun't takes ta nobles since Ma passed.. an we left da Empire."
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Post by Sir Dmitrii Zurban on Mar 21, 2008 10:45:33 GMT -6
A laugh ! Dmitrii finally laughed… her words brought about a feat not performed since long before the news of Tory’s death. The eyes had sparkled, the smile, now a laugh. Was this girl working miracles? “Da… I call them rabble… they call themselves something else… but I do call them something that I shall not repeat to such beautiful ears.”
He listened to her explanation of her farm and the incident of her bruises… his expression altering from a pleasant smile to narrowed eyes about the boys, back to a smile at her comments of a protective father. “The offer still stands for yu…should yu prefer to visit…”
Her speech, her mannerisms, her spirit… his mind wandering as he leaned upon the wall in silence, the steel grey eyes occasionally flickering back and forth as he seemed to get to know her visually… to bookmark her in his mind. The sun had set providing them a brief show of rays of orange, yellows, and reds, that danced upon incoming clouds of grey… now the evening upon them, he didn’t even notice the fading light until it was more difficult to see her.
“M’Lady Willa… it has been a sincere pleasure to speak with yu… but I do not presume yu will stay on this wall all night, so may I escort yu someplace?”
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Post by wilhemiaschleitz on Mar 21, 2008 16:11:38 GMT -6
She laughed along with him for his comment of beautiful ears.. though she shook her head at the compliment and muttered a soft " thank ya" She watched his expressions as they clouded over with her telling of what had occurred on that evening on her way back. " Twas partly me own fault.. I snuck out an.. pose I learned me lesson on alls dat. Thankya so verra much. " She chuckled ,despite the worries it evoked. The lowering of the light could slowly be noticed herself as they talked.
The blush touched her face as she looked about and made a little face. " Erm.. aye spendin on naight outside was good enough for me. " She chuckled as she eased herself down from the ledge carefully. " an fer now I be stayin up at the castle. At leas until me Da gets back an I gits ta go back home ta the farm. " She glanced up at him. " Thank ya fer talkin ta me.. an.. ya know.. ya oughts smile more.. ya dun't looks sae scary den. " She informed him as she wrapped the shawl about her shoulders.
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Post by Sir Dmitrii Zurban on Mar 22, 2008 6:39:10 GMT -6
His laugh felt good, and to hear someone laugh with him, rather than at him, left goodness somewhere down deep. With her comment about sneaking out, he shook his head slightly. “See, that is what the Aberdeens speak of… the ability to walk at night, to enjoy the fresh air without harassment. Yu should have been able to walk alone, although not a good idea, but still…” Wishing to assist, he started to reach for her as she alit from the wall; but his hands soon retracted knowing she did not like that sort of thing.
She made him chuckle mentioning a scary face. “Its good to have such a scary face at times… as long as it does not scare yu…” he smiled, the pinkish tint could be seen under the beard had it been daylight. They were in silence as they walked along the wall… he watched her favoring the ankle. At the steps, he stepped down first… “Yu can either take my hand… or let me carry yu down the stairs… I do not wish to explain to Lord Adam or yer Father why yu fell…” he gave her a smile.
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Post by wilhemiaschleitz on Mar 22, 2008 11:15:03 GMT -6
" I will keep that in mind" she spoke with a light smile at the words of not frightening her. While the silence seemed to seep over them while moving along the wall towards the stairs. Now and then her eyes flickered to the heavens and the appearance of the stars. She had made a face at the stairs, fair easier to get up them then down. Yet Dmi offered a solution as she blinked and stared at him. The idea of being carried? Oh Dear Goddess! The small shake of her head was given as she lifted a hand to accept his. " Yer hand iffin ya will. I ain't sae broke I canna manage stairs. " She stated softly as she leaned a bit onto that hand and strong arm. She made not a noise as she slowly managed her way down. For a moment once to the bottom she only looked up at him. Darkness or no, nothing hid the blush. It seemed her face would remain that pink as she slipped her hand away. " Thank ya , M'lord Zurban. I.. I should go, I thank ya kindly fer yer company and help. "
Though the man hadn't mentioned a lady , Willa was sure there was one somewhere that would not likely find it at all amusing for some little country cousin to be giggling and blushing over the man and his polite mannerisms. " Maebe, I'll gits da chance ta run inta again.. " Or come look for him on the wall? Too bold? Though the words had come out before she really had a moment to stop them, or think of the implications .. ah well it was out there now.
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Post by Sir Dmitrii Zurban on Mar 23, 2008 20:47:38 GMT -6
The smile appeared once more as she denied the offer to carry her… he winked at her knowing she didn’t want to be man-handled, but thought he’d offer anyways…
At the bottom of the stairs, it was like someone was pulling the good mood from him. He listened to her words of appreciation and was almost as a goodbye… The pink of her skin as it wavered against the dim torch made a smile of the crooked beard that some had known from earlier times. “No need to thank me for something I wanted to do…” he glanced away then back at her… she said it… ‘again’ Did she want to see this warhorse again? A man with no real reason to live? Or did he?
With a bow, his eyes looked to her… “Da… It would be a pleasure to see yu again… I patrol the walls at least one an evening… and my home, all knows how to get there…” He smiled that infamous Zurban smile once more… the beard crinkled a certain way when he smiled. Did she wish to know this man? Many know him… few speak to him, many obey him, and even more still avoid him… She could get to know this man and not ever have to ask him.
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Post by wilhemiaschleitz on Mar 24, 2008 0:17:07 GMT -6
She watched him, hoping that wasn't too forward of her as she managed to wrap her hands up into the shawl while holding it about her shoulders. He bowed to her again as she dipped in a slight cursty, actually it was more of just bending her knees a bit. The last time she curtsied she nearly knocked someone over. Mind she would likely go and speak with Eileen. if anyone would know anything about the man the little castle gossip would! The invitation again to his home came about and won him a bright smile as she gave a little nod. " Then I'll makes sure I keep all that in mind. " She stood there a moment longer before biting her lower lip and turning about to head back to the castle proper.
She had gotten a few dozen feet away and couldn't help but glance back over her shoulder.. before giggling to herself. The whole thing had been rather pleasant. Of course now all she had to do was make sure her Father never found out about it! Shouldn't be that difficult right?
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