Post by angesodwyer on Aug 4, 2009 4:34:03 GMT -6
Born to the family of Bryce and Patricia O' Dwyer was the fourth child, a little girl in which they named Agnes Rose O' Dwyer. The name chosen for the meaning,chaste..Lamb.. the Innocent. Now if somehow that managed to be true? Bryce was a man of herbal lore, his secret was that he followed the "old"ways while his wife Patricia was a devout Christian. Of course she knew of her husbands failings but love see's beyond the complications of religion.
Bryce was sought out by many for any and all ailments that came to those of the Mountain clan's people. While his cousins were barons of the said lands he kept himself and his family humble within a country cottage with its gardens and small flock of sheep. Each of the five children were taught how to make salves and the poultices that would cure most simple ailments.
However it seemed to his uncertainty that only his second daughter had the talent for finding the necessary combinations for the darker sicknesses. Bryce was a wise man to worry over such things for among those of his own religious backing, it was a matter of pride. However among the Christian people? He feared for his daughter's talent.
Agnes was seven when the strangers came to the mountain home , they looked decidedly uncomfortable in the saddles of the sturdy horses and the grand open fields. They spoke with stranger accents and bowed to her father. Curiosity nagged at the girl as she followed behind them while they spoke to her father. They spoke of a land far to the south, beyond the clan wars of Erie and Europe to a land where the Romans still held some sway. Bryce had declined , though at Patricia's urgings that if they did not leave then their other sons would be called to battle. To bury one's own children had been particularly difficult for Patricia.
So to comfort his wife he reluctantly agreed to pack up what was left of his family and journey to this southern kingdom. Life for this small family changed immediately upon their arrival as the children were sent then to the schools, and only upon the agreement that had been struck by her father, was Agnes allowed to join her younger brothers in the coarse's and gained an education that opened her mind further still to the uses and diagnosis of the medical fields. < mind all was still considered a touchy subject and in many places hericial >
Agnes however blossomed beneath the secrecy and lessons taught by the scholars. The greened eyed girl had admirers from men nearly twice her age, however she had no wish to become wife to any other then the books she surrounded herself with. During these years of her development her father sought a Governess, or Nanny to watch over his daughter. He found such a woman in a misplaced mongrel woman and her children. They resided with the O' Dwyer's for several years. Teaching Agnes yet another culture as the woman , Tolui na' Gan was one of the great amazon of the plains people. Once in the service of a Noblewoman from Ulster. When Tolui deemed her capable, the mongrel woman and her children departed for the lands of her own birth. Returning Agnes to her father's elbow more often then not when patients would come to the door. Or was awakened in the middle of the night to accompany him to homes of the elite.
While indeed thought a spinster, she had no cares for the idle thoughts of man, she was called upon by another nobleman for his child had become gravely ill. Her father's health did not allow him to make such a journey as she did so alone. Agnes thought nothing of the attentions the nobleman placed upon her as she cared for the child. Regardless of the education she had gained there was nothing to save the poor dear innocent. As she cradled the little one within her arms while the last shuddered breath passed from the child's lips.
Agnes bore the nobleman's anger upon her slender shoulders as well as a young woman could. Yet when the man became physically abusive, she attempted to flee. She scurried through the markets with only the small pack of her belongings clutched within her arms when the nobleman's guards began to hunt her. They began the stories of witch, and how she stole the child's soul. In righteous anger she stopped running and called the Lordling out upon the stairs of his own keep. She attempted to explain while common people as well as the nobleman's own court watched on. Yet the nobleman was a political elite, he twisted her words and condemned her upon the spot.
Within the crowd stood a man , a stranger to the lands with a daughter of spun gold hair. He watched as the populis cheered in the calling for the young woman's death. Agnes had turned to look at the people about her, terrified and crying out her own defense, she met the eyes of the man. His eyes seemed to hold a promise, however instead of acting upon it. He carefully spoke to his daughter and turned away. Agnes felt abandoned by all as she fell in defeat in the arms of the guards that carted her away.
While locked within the cells beneath the keep, the Lordling came to her, with the promise of setting her free, if she would give herself to him. He attempted to take her , since she would not freely open herself to him. The lordling soon found out what all the young woman had learned in the hands of the Mongolian's tutelage. He drug himself out of the cell and pronounced her death as the heavy iron bound door was slammed closed behind him.
Agnes believed herself lost. As the hour before dawn approached she awoke to the eyes of the man within the square. He lifted a thick finger to his lips, she gave a small nod as he lead her out of the keep. They , along with the golden haired child rode off into the arising sun north away from the hand of the lordling and his followers. She soon learned his name was Odeses though he offered no sir name, she never pushed as she found the child in his care a sweet chatty girl.
During their times of traveling, she had noted the man was quiet suspicious of cities and often they traveled through villages. Agnes had kept her talents hidden away and acted only as a Governess for the girl. However there was a genuine fondness between herself and the man, having spent months in each others company, the inevitable happened. However it seemed it was not to be, with the promise he would return he journeyed off alone one night.
Agnes waited for his return, which didn't occur until days later, he was injured and attempted to explain ..however through the tears she could only watch with a bittersweet smile upon her face as the man and girl rode away north again. This time leaving Agnes alone. She had no way of contacting him, no idea of what to do when she realized she was with child. She remained in the small village for several months until men in dark clothing approached her. Asking questions of a man and girl child. Not daring to put Odeses and his daughter into danger she offered false information that they had traveled east. Seeking shelter among the Turks.
Agnes herself saw that as a sign to pack her own things , while with a swollen stomach it was somewhat difficult to travel through the seasons. It was within the winter that she came to a small gathering of wagons and people of a joyous nature. The Roma welcomed the frightened pregnant woman, well the women did, as the men avoided her as if she were the plague itself. When they learned her ability to create salves and curatives even they began to warm up to the young woman.
She and her new born son remained with the gypsies for nearly two years before she thought to return to the lands of her birth. Erie had changed a great deal, as the mother and fatherless child arrived at the steps of her Father's cousin's home. She was treated as an outcast. After all a bastard child with eyes so serious that at moments it seemed as if the toddlers gaze would burn the flesh made many uncomfortable.
Agnes endured it all, until the day her Cousin's wife called her son a child of the devil himself for glaring at the woman in such a manner. Agnes was cast out from the home that day , of course after they managed to awaken the woman from the beating she had gained at Agnes's hands. The proud young woman gathered her son and departed company from the people of her father's Clan.
Three years passing, traveling from place to place, ill luck and superstitious people causing havoc for the mother and son. Some welcoming her talents until realizing that she could do no more for them, then they too would cast her out into the cold. She had come to expect that, truly. Of people in general, that the tutors in her home down within the coastal lands in the south had been correct, ignorant people act in ignorant ways.
Agnes and Daniel stood at the docks staring off as the boy's hand held tightly to his mothers. " We're going across the waters?' he asked softly as she gave a small smile.
" Yes , We'll find ourselves a home, Danny..I promise " she spoke softly. The boy lifted a brow and looked back at the ship.
" You said that last time " he mumbled and kicked at a pebble there upon the planked dock as Agnes could understand exactly how he felt.
" Yes, I did, but this time it will be different. " She looked at him with a wink before lifting her chin to the call for the passangers to begin loading. " Come along Danny, adventure awaits us. "She gave a brave smile that she didn't feel. This had to work, she was running out of coin and promises.
Bryce was sought out by many for any and all ailments that came to those of the Mountain clan's people. While his cousins were barons of the said lands he kept himself and his family humble within a country cottage with its gardens and small flock of sheep. Each of the five children were taught how to make salves and the poultices that would cure most simple ailments.
However it seemed to his uncertainty that only his second daughter had the talent for finding the necessary combinations for the darker sicknesses. Bryce was a wise man to worry over such things for among those of his own religious backing, it was a matter of pride. However among the Christian people? He feared for his daughter's talent.
Agnes was seven when the strangers came to the mountain home , they looked decidedly uncomfortable in the saddles of the sturdy horses and the grand open fields. They spoke with stranger accents and bowed to her father. Curiosity nagged at the girl as she followed behind them while they spoke to her father. They spoke of a land far to the south, beyond the clan wars of Erie and Europe to a land where the Romans still held some sway. Bryce had declined , though at Patricia's urgings that if they did not leave then their other sons would be called to battle. To bury one's own children had been particularly difficult for Patricia.
So to comfort his wife he reluctantly agreed to pack up what was left of his family and journey to this southern kingdom. Life for this small family changed immediately upon their arrival as the children were sent then to the schools, and only upon the agreement that had been struck by her father, was Agnes allowed to join her younger brothers in the coarse's and gained an education that opened her mind further still to the uses and diagnosis of the medical fields. < mind all was still considered a touchy subject and in many places hericial >
Agnes however blossomed beneath the secrecy and lessons taught by the scholars. The greened eyed girl had admirers from men nearly twice her age, however she had no wish to become wife to any other then the books she surrounded herself with. During these years of her development her father sought a Governess, or Nanny to watch over his daughter. He found such a woman in a misplaced mongrel woman and her children. They resided with the O' Dwyer's for several years. Teaching Agnes yet another culture as the woman , Tolui na' Gan was one of the great amazon of the plains people. Once in the service of a Noblewoman from Ulster. When Tolui deemed her capable, the mongrel woman and her children departed for the lands of her own birth. Returning Agnes to her father's elbow more often then not when patients would come to the door. Or was awakened in the middle of the night to accompany him to homes of the elite.
While indeed thought a spinster, she had no cares for the idle thoughts of man, she was called upon by another nobleman for his child had become gravely ill. Her father's health did not allow him to make such a journey as she did so alone. Agnes thought nothing of the attentions the nobleman placed upon her as she cared for the child. Regardless of the education she had gained there was nothing to save the poor dear innocent. As she cradled the little one within her arms while the last shuddered breath passed from the child's lips.
Agnes bore the nobleman's anger upon her slender shoulders as well as a young woman could. Yet when the man became physically abusive, she attempted to flee. She scurried through the markets with only the small pack of her belongings clutched within her arms when the nobleman's guards began to hunt her. They began the stories of witch, and how she stole the child's soul. In righteous anger she stopped running and called the Lordling out upon the stairs of his own keep. She attempted to explain while common people as well as the nobleman's own court watched on. Yet the nobleman was a political elite, he twisted her words and condemned her upon the spot.
Within the crowd stood a man , a stranger to the lands with a daughter of spun gold hair. He watched as the populis cheered in the calling for the young woman's death. Agnes had turned to look at the people about her, terrified and crying out her own defense, she met the eyes of the man. His eyes seemed to hold a promise, however instead of acting upon it. He carefully spoke to his daughter and turned away. Agnes felt abandoned by all as she fell in defeat in the arms of the guards that carted her away.
While locked within the cells beneath the keep, the Lordling came to her, with the promise of setting her free, if she would give herself to him. He attempted to take her , since she would not freely open herself to him. The lordling soon found out what all the young woman had learned in the hands of the Mongolian's tutelage. He drug himself out of the cell and pronounced her death as the heavy iron bound door was slammed closed behind him.
Agnes believed herself lost. As the hour before dawn approached she awoke to the eyes of the man within the square. He lifted a thick finger to his lips, she gave a small nod as he lead her out of the keep. They , along with the golden haired child rode off into the arising sun north away from the hand of the lordling and his followers. She soon learned his name was Odeses though he offered no sir name, she never pushed as she found the child in his care a sweet chatty girl.
During their times of traveling, she had noted the man was quiet suspicious of cities and often they traveled through villages. Agnes had kept her talents hidden away and acted only as a Governess for the girl. However there was a genuine fondness between herself and the man, having spent months in each others company, the inevitable happened. However it seemed it was not to be, with the promise he would return he journeyed off alone one night.
Agnes waited for his return, which didn't occur until days later, he was injured and attempted to explain ..however through the tears she could only watch with a bittersweet smile upon her face as the man and girl rode away north again. This time leaving Agnes alone. She had no way of contacting him, no idea of what to do when she realized she was with child. She remained in the small village for several months until men in dark clothing approached her. Asking questions of a man and girl child. Not daring to put Odeses and his daughter into danger she offered false information that they had traveled east. Seeking shelter among the Turks.
Agnes herself saw that as a sign to pack her own things , while with a swollen stomach it was somewhat difficult to travel through the seasons. It was within the winter that she came to a small gathering of wagons and people of a joyous nature. The Roma welcomed the frightened pregnant woman, well the women did, as the men avoided her as if she were the plague itself. When they learned her ability to create salves and curatives even they began to warm up to the young woman.
She and her new born son remained with the gypsies for nearly two years before she thought to return to the lands of her birth. Erie had changed a great deal, as the mother and fatherless child arrived at the steps of her Father's cousin's home. She was treated as an outcast. After all a bastard child with eyes so serious that at moments it seemed as if the toddlers gaze would burn the flesh made many uncomfortable.
Agnes endured it all, until the day her Cousin's wife called her son a child of the devil himself for glaring at the woman in such a manner. Agnes was cast out from the home that day , of course after they managed to awaken the woman from the beating she had gained at Agnes's hands. The proud young woman gathered her son and departed company from the people of her father's Clan.
Three years passing, traveling from place to place, ill luck and superstitious people causing havoc for the mother and son. Some welcoming her talents until realizing that she could do no more for them, then they too would cast her out into the cold. She had come to expect that, truly. Of people in general, that the tutors in her home down within the coastal lands in the south had been correct, ignorant people act in ignorant ways.
Agnes and Daniel stood at the docks staring off as the boy's hand held tightly to his mothers. " We're going across the waters?' he asked softly as she gave a small smile.
" Yes , We'll find ourselves a home, Danny..I promise " she spoke softly. The boy lifted a brow and looked back at the ship.
" You said that last time " he mumbled and kicked at a pebble there upon the planked dock as Agnes could understand exactly how he felt.
" Yes, I did, but this time it will be different. " She looked at him with a wink before lifting her chin to the call for the passangers to begin loading. " Come along Danny, adventure awaits us. "She gave a brave smile that she didn't feel. This had to work, she was running out of coin and promises.