Garrick Isles- Eulle and Portia

[Eulle MacGregor]

Eulle: Days past in the travel back towards the farms he called home. He stopped only to eat and rest before the journey continued past rolling hills and small villages, yet still they road well past the boundaries of civilization. In all honesty, of which he shared none with his new responsibility, he was taking the long way home. It was a few hours since they had left the last meager village behind, people calling and waving as he and his new charge went. His hand lifting in way of hello but he said nothing even with the curious looks that went to the woman seated behind him on the stead. Dusk was setting in making it look like they would spend another night in the wilderness until the hill rolled downward and around revealing the flats beyond and the small farmhouse situated amidst dotted vegetation all ready in full swing. His body relaxed a bit, as a feeling of being home washed over his silent exterior and his hand guided the horse with ease down the hill as closer and closer they came to the small farmhouse sitting silent and dark as if waiting to be filled. Reigning the horse into the yard, he waited till the horse stopped ad offered an arm to Portia to help her down first before dismounting himself. Tethering the horse to the post outside, his belongings could wait until he got the house lit. He opened the door which creaked as it went and went about setting the lights ablaze so they were not fumbling in the coming dark. "There is a well pump outside for water, a jug should all ready be out there if you want to get some water. Dinner will have to wait till I've settled the horse." His gruff voice broke the silence as he lit a lantern in the kitchen which sat to the left of the small sitting area. The farmhouse was only one story and two bedrooms besides the kitchen and sitting room. Meager but it had been enough.

Portia:Today she had been silent after two days of trying every way she knew how to get him to retun her to Dunsgate, she was sure even with Vargus dead that she could talk Ivella into the notion that she was an unwilling pawn in his scheme Kane had obviously gone mad, and everyone knew Vargus to be the brains in the family, and Portia just his wife, and puppet.. or she was sure she could make it seem such, two days headed south, not bathing not sleeping indoors, but on a bedroll outside without shelter, was enough to do her in.. the first day she railed and screamed at Eulle.. threatening and warning, the second day had reduced her to begging and whining and the third this day, to petulant silence.. when darkness had begun to fall she did not look forward to yet another night outside.. one might have though after the ferry ride over to the small island and onto Garrick Isle.. a small Isle named for a long forgotten sheep herder, that she might have taken a moment to wonder at the beauty of the little obscure island off the Sleat Coast.. but no.. she was unmoved by anything save her own misery, the hills and valleys of the small island that's main source of income was faming and in particular sheep and cattle herding, it's high pitch of central mountains which waterfalls cascaded like tears from the gods, into pools so clear they looked shallow but were some 30 feet deep.. all this meant nothing to the weary miserable woman who rode behind the man who had taken her off the Hands of the MacGregors, and now.. held her what she considered... prisoner. as he offered his arm she slapped it away, looking in disgust at the modest farmhouse.. with a defeated sigh.. He may not realize it but she had been carefully watching and planning to escape as soon as possible...she vowed as she jumped down into the dusty yard.. swiping at her dress, that was filthy from riding for days.. when he pointed toward the well and spoke of getting water, she wanted to run to it and pull up some and drink, but she wouldn't let him have the satisfaction and pointedly crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a go to hades look.. " Get your own water I'm not your slave "

Eulle:He sighed when she acted so stubbornly. First threatening then begging to go back to Dunsgate of which he gave no reply. He was certain if Master Kane had letters written by the woman's hand there would be no welcome for her in Dunsgate only a short drop and a sudden stop. She was intelligent, that he gathered despite her childish ways and though there was a glimmer of thought that her plan might succeed, he really didn't want to take the risk after having saved the woman's neck once. Setting the candle into a holder, he placed it on the table of which four chairs sat around, three of which coated in a thick pan of silver colored dust. Why had felt the need to stick up for the woman was beyond him. God worked in mysterious ways, wasn't that the saying? Perhaps God had a plan for him and for this woman. Perhaps, he thought on the long journey home he had been struck by the need to save the woman's neck in order to help save her soul and teach her some humility. He moved and acted with what seemed like an irritating calm pulling two plates and cups from the cupboard. "No, you are not my slave. Lord knows I cannot afford them, nor do I want to but I did save your neck for surely you would be dead no matter if you think Master Kane went mad or not. Do you really think by now you would be welcomed back at Dunsgate considering Master Kane would of shown his evidence to the Chieftain and family of your letters to your late husband?" He turned a truthfully look her way and shook his head. "I suspect by now you are considered a traitor to your clan and to be apprehended on sight. You are safe here an for the most part alive. I wouldn't try running off if I were you, as beautiful as the lands are, at night they seem endless and it is easy to get lost among the hills. If wolves don't get you, you would surely die of hunger and thirst. An besides that, the people are very superstitious when it comes to newcomers. You will not be very welcomed in many homes here. Besides, the ferry that brought us over won't be back for quite some time." As he spoke he set the plates and cups out and then turned to her again. "You are not my slave Madam but to survive here, you will work...or...you will not eat, you won't even bath. Work and you shall be rewarded, otherwise....well...I suspect it will be a long and painful death for you and my conscious will be clear of it." He moved to the door and paused. "If you would please, draw some water for washing up and for dinner. I would appreciate it, I am going to gather my belonging and put away the horse for the night."

Portia:It was if he were reading her thought, her mouth pursed and she narrowed her eyes even more at him each word he spoke.. Standing in the doorway not coming inside she watched as he set about plates, on the dusty filthy table and her nose wrinkled, Truth was if she saw herself in a mirror she wouldn't' have known her own reflection.. the carefully curled blond ringlets had long since lost their form, falling in mussed waves about her shoulders and down her back the artifice she normally wore as makeup on her face, smudged smeared and now disappeared after traveling.. and her clothes dusty and stained.. she no more looked noble than he did..in fact she looked like a poor commoner, not even middle class.. yet her bearing and her carriage screamed the pride and haughtiness of her previous life.. " I'm quite sure that I could speak to Ivella.. " she started to say, but as he continued saying she was probably a traitor to the clan, and wanted with a price on her head she snapped her mouth shut..and huffed, knowing well he might be right.. Pointing out all avenues of escape were non existent or either likely to end in her death was she was sure quite satisfying for him, as he seemed quite sure.. and then he lectured her on working.. " Like you care if I live or die.. you just want someone to order around and warm your bed. " she scowled.. and turned walking out the door and standing with her back to him and his little shack..Honestly did he expect someone who was used to living in castles to live this way.. She had servants,, she didn't draw water.. or cook.. or anything remotely..lower class, that was why people had servants! Her eyes scanned the dusty courtyard and landed finally on the well.. but it would be a cold day in hell before she hauled water for him.

Eulle:Nothing about this woman told him these days would be easy and here was confirmation as she stubbornly set her chin and walked outside, her back to him as she stared out into the night. His eyes rolled skyward as he again heaved a sigh. "Trust me Madam, you are likely the last person I would take to my bed, if such a thing even mattered to me." He retorted in that same irritating cool and calm tone as he stalked past her. Untying the horse from the post, he clicked his tongue and began leading the horse to the small barn just a few feet to the right of the house and disappeared inside. "So, Aretero, what do you think?" He asked of the horse who snorted in return and his huffed himself as he stroked the horses nose. "Yeah, me too" He grumbled low before leading the horse into his stall before removing the saddle and putting it away. His belongings set to the side as he got the horse settled for the night, making sure a bale of hay lay in the corner and the water bucket was full before he was shutting and locking the stall door. He even paused to check on the cows making a mental note they would need to be milked in the morning. He could hear the chickens clucking softly at the back of the barn where they roost set just outside of it. It felt good to be home away from war and blood but here still echoed memories of the past. Children's laughter and the call of their mother for meals. Grabbing the bag of his belongings he stalked out of the barn making sure it was closed and locked for the night before turning to the house. Seeing her still in the yard, he shook his head but said nothing as he took his things inside. Bread and cheese were taken from the sack and put into the kitchen while the rest of his things were put into his room and the door closed. He took his time taking up the spare plate and cup he had set out an leaving his own. He had been wholly serious about being rewarded for the work offered. If she wanted to go thirsty and starve, well that was her choice. Plate and cup put away, he moved with slow deliberate steps outside to draw enough water from the well for dinner and cleaning up for himself then moved back inside leaving the door open for her as he moved back inside. Some of the water was poured into a jug for washing up while the rest was poured into his cup and the water jug itself set aside to go back outside later. Each movement was of deliberate action, cutting a slice of bread and a slice of cheese which were put onto the plate before the items were stored away in the breadbox on top of the counter and then he was washing his hands and setting down to eat saying a small prayer of thanks before he nibbled at the food he had set out for himself. "Your rooms there..." He finally offered breaking the silence again as he nodded to the door just to the right of his own. "I start work when the rooster crows so you might want to get some sleep."

Portia:She walked past him after she watched him put up her plate and cup and snarled as she jerked up the water jug and marched to the well, it seemed to take forever to figure out how to attach it correctly and then unlock the hasp that lowered it..finally the jug began it's decent.. and she smiled to herself, she hadn't wanted to tell him she didn't know how, only wanted him to know she wouldn't' serve him.. smiling to herself a little as she accomplished the small task she almost felt a moment of self pride that she had figured it out..looking up at the full moon that cast the farmyard in soft light that was enough to see well by without the aid of the lantern.. she felt the jug hit the water in the well and then began to wind the iron bar that would reel in the rope and bring the jug up, it was heavier than she thought, and Portia was unaccustomed to labor of any kind, much less extending effort to pull up water from a well.. the rope suddenly went slack and she fell back with a sharp cry..landing on her bottom, in the dust, the jug had slipped off the rope, screaming obscenities that would probably make Eulle pull out his bible,she kicked at the dirt, and swatted her hands on her skirts in a temper tantrum, the last few days finally catching up to her, with Vargus's death, Kane almost killing her then giving her away like some whore.. she had lost everything.. even herself.. and she coudlnt' even draw water...pathetic, impotent tears coursed over her cheeks,as she sobbed..raising her fist toward the heavens and railing at god, and anyone who would listen.. she stood.. cursing her fate, " are you happy... here I am.. Lord.. brought as low as I can be I've lost everything.. what more do you want to heap upon me.. I've been a horrible person.. I get it.. " hands lifted up her skirt.. and plucked her shoes from her feet.. " What more do you want? You've taken everything.. Vargus.. my money, my home even those rotten brats I call children.. I have nothing... nothing " she sailed the shoes into the sky as if they could crash into the face of God himself.. for the punishment she was receiving.. " I just wanted a drink of water is that to much to ask ?" her voice lowered.. as she stared upward... bone weary and tired.. she turned, not even getting her shoes, and trudged back into the house..past Eulle and his dinner.. and toward the room he had pointed to, grumbling under her breath " If you are indeed a merciful God you will kill me in my sleep "

Eulle:He sat back, relaxing as his eyes swiveled to watch her snatch up the jug and move outside. Leaning forward with his elbows on the table so he could see out the door, he watched her struggle to attach the jug and then lower it into the well. With her back to him, he could not see the smile of triumph on her face but surely saw her fall and curse. Groaning, he leaned back in his chair again and shoved the chair backward scrapping it on the floor as he rose. So she saw she had acted terribly? That was interesting to hear and he stood beside the table as she heaved her shoes at the heavens as if to strike God for what she felt he had done to her. "God doesn't give us more then we can handle Portia." He offered lightly. "Come back here" He offered in that same light calm tone as he took down her plate and cup again. Again the bread and cheese were taken out, slices cut off for her and pouring half of his cup of water into her own, he waved her over and pointed at the table before going to retrieve her shoes and put them inside the door before setting to work retrieving the lost jug. It took several tries to hook the floating jug again, much like fishing and waiting for a bite he 'fished' for the jug and finally caught hold and wind it back up. Taking the full jug of water inside, he paused to close the door and then set the water aside the basin so she could wash up when she wished. Leaving part of his dinner untouched, he went into his room and did not return for several minutes and when he did, he had a white nightgown in hand along with a blue cotton dress which he lay over one of the spare chairs. "You look about the same size as my wife was" He offered patting the clothing before retaking his seat.

Portia:She had only given him a look when he had spoke of what God gives one to handle , a look that could have melted brass, stopping when he said come back and offered her food.. in the minutes it took him to fish out the water jug, she had eaten the meager meal and drank down her water, leaving nothing on her plate, it had been since dawn they had last ate, again it had been cheese and hard stale bread.. how she missed the decadent rich offerings of her cook and kitchen staff..they would have never served her such , but her stomach demanded something in it.. and her throat was parched from the long days ride. When he came back she was in the process of leaving the table headed toward the basin and she stopped.. looking at the clothing he laid out in offering.. for a moment it looked like she would refuse the simple garments, then her mouth pursed, as if she were having difficulties.. in finding the words to speak shifting from side to side.. her brow wrinkled before her hand reached out to gather them up, in one hand and the jug in the other.. " Thank you " she murmured before turning to the small room that had been portioned off by a thin linen curtain.. it was almost as if she had never before spoke in sincere gratitude before..settling the clothes on the little bed.. she looked around the nook.. it was a child's room it was obvious, as the bed was small and the pitched roof lowered to where even Portia's small 5 ft 3 inch frame had to stoop to avoid the ceiling beams near the solitary window. The bed was made with a patchwork quilt covering it.. and two small pillows, and a rag rug settled on the floor near it.. in the corner was a rocking chair, and a small dresser near it.. She guessed and correctly so that it held the contents of Eulle's children's belongings.. She had heard at Dunsgate once in passing about the man, that he had fought against the English and in the war his Wife and Children had perished.. on a ship, fired upon by the English.. she didn't know the details but knew.. the reason that the chairs and bed sat empty.. sighing she pulled the curtain across the nook, and lit a candle to see by, then undressed.. and begin to bathe, using a washcloth to remove the grim and dust from her face and body.. She neither realized, nor cared at this moment, that in the outer room.. Eulle was privy to quite the shadow show.. as she took her time enjoying the cool well water washing the past few days from her, soothing her frayed nerves.. She couldn't wait to get he hair washed so as soon as she had finished with her body she bent leaning her head into the basin and poured water over her long golden hair, and begin to lather it with a small cake of soap..soon the whole house smelled of lilac.. it was soap Eulle's wife had made with flower oils that bloomed on the farm... After she had dried off and bundled her hair into a towel she slipped on the white nightgown and pulled back the curtain.. " Do you have a comb?"

Eulle:Scooting his chair back in, he finished the last couple bites of his meal and slowly took a few gulps of water before setting his cup aside. His elbow raised on the edge of the table as she seemed to struggle with something and then gathered up the clothes. When she said thank you, a hint of a smile caught the corner of his lips and then he nodded "Your Welcome" He rumbled low as he leaned his weight onto his elbow watching her move away and draw the curtain. For a moment he watched her silhouette and was simply wondering what had happened to the woman to turn her so....well prissy. She seemed to have a good heart to her, evidence to her giving of thanks for the clothing. When she began undress, his gaze snapped away and he rose to clear the table of plates and cups taking the time to wash them and put them away, doing it slowly to give her privacy though his eye strayed to see if she was finished and finding at times her shadow moving in time to stroking the washcloth over her skin. He sighed heavily and shook his head and went to push the chairs into the table when the smell of lilac filled the every space of the room. His hands tightened on the chair as his head bowed and began to a silent prayer of strength for the pain which gripped at his heart and made him feel weak in the knees. When her voice rose asking for a comb, his head snapped upward and he cleared his throat as he crossed the room and into his own room to collect the brush from the dresser within. For a moment he held the brush in his hand, his wife's brush which had in its long perch on the top had left a clean print amidst the dust on the dresser top from being left unused for so long. Gripping the brush, he thrust his hand through the curtain and at her. After she had taken the brush, he moved back into the kitchen to put out the lantern and take the candle from the table into his own room along with his own jug of water for cleaning. Pouring water into the basin in the room, he set the jug on the window seal and sighed as he wiggled out of his shirt and took his own turn in cleaning up before bedtime.

[Eulle MacGregor]

Portia:Several days had went by at the little farm that Eulle called home and Portia called prison. He demanded she earned her keep, but had no idea that she really knew very little about being self suffiencient at all.. Always pampered and taken care of, she had little real life experience, yet still she had not cried.. real tears, she had tried in the first days of their journey to turn false crocodile tears to sway him to return her to Dunsgate, which he saw through without trouble, and ignored her dramatics. For the past few days... she had been sullen...and defiant, when he ordered her to do the menial work on the farm, such as washing dishes and clothes.. but eventually she capitulated, finding his strong will on her going hungry and thirsty if she did not comply to be a sound wall that he refused to tear down no matter how she glared at him.. The blue dress that he gave her, his dead wife's dress, was a little long on her.. so she tied it up on one side when she was about trying to clean the house she deemed a shack.. the plain linen underskirt. shifting as she moved against her bare ankles and feet.. the delicate embroidered shoes she had been wearing not suitable for the farm life sat beneath her bed.. Long golden curls had been tamed into a loose bun, as even that she was horrible at, always having a ladies maid to arrange her hair. This night found her brining in a basket of laundry she had earlier hung on the line in the sun to dry, after hours at the small creek, washing and pounding the dirty clothes against a stone and Eulle had showed her how. The willow basket, was lighter now the clothes were dry.. earlier it had been almost impossible to tote up from the creek to the line.. but she had managed.. it was almost a point of pride with her that she had not needed to ask for his help. She stopped just inside the doorway letting her eyes adjust from the bright sun outside.. to the dim interior.., pale blue cornflower eyes sweeping the room.. expecting it to be empty, as he usually did not arrive back at the house till dusk..

Eulle:Several days, only the first few of crocodile tears and a firm hand that he would not back down and Portia was on her way. He treated her as he would a field hand. You did your job or you would not get paid or in this case fed. Unfortunately though, he could not afford field hands and most of the work he did himself. Since Portia had portrayed quite rightly that she was pampered, he started her off on the easiest work, housework. It had nothing to do with her being a woman and he quite rightly figured he would get her up to working in the fields with him, someday. For now, he worked the fields alone even rising long before the rooster crowed so he could collect eggs and milk the cows and distribute the feed amongst the animals before it was a quick fix of breakfast and out the door. The days were long and hard so by dinner both were to exhausted to talk past eating and getting ready for bed and then on to another round the next day but Eulle, did not mind it. There was a peace and serenity in the land and working it that could be found no where else. For hours he could toil in the soil without a care for how the sun beat down upon his back and soaked his shirt in sweat till there was nothing to do but take it off. He finished the eastern fields quicker then he expected, the sun just dipping low when he shut the horse into the stables and the animals had been watered and fed again. The house was empty, the basket still gone so he figured Portia had not gotten back yet. Several days and she had not tried to escape as it were but then his warning had not been hollow. The hills were endless at night and while the people were friendly, once they got to know you, would not quick to help out a stranger. With Portia still at the creek, he went out to slaughter and defeather a chicken before cutting it up to fry in a pan with some sliced potatoes, something different from bread and thin slice of salted pork the last few days. By the time Portia came through the door with the basket, dinner was on the table and a large pot was heating in the fires for a hot bath. "The house looks good" He rumbled as he waved her in as he set out a pitcher of mulled cider. "Washing bowl is all ready to clean your hands up if need be, got water heating for a bath tonight." Making conversation as he took his seat.

Portia:A golden brow arched upward... at his compliment on the house.. it had been filthy, years of neglect, dust and dirt.. so much so that Portia had found it.. unbearable.. stripping the beds, and curtains.. and beating the two rag rugs free of dust, had left her with a grayish pall to her usual golden color.. she settled the basket on a bench near the door.. and sighed,, she was bone tired.. she didn't think she had ever worked so hard in all her life.. how did peasants do it? she rolled her eyes at the thought, which he might have mistook as intended for him, before she dropped her hands and headed to the basin to wash up.. for a long moment she looked in the watery reflection at the woman who stared back at her, and she.. couldn't find herself in the reflection.. cursing beneath her breath, she dipped her hands into the water and brought it to her face, scrubbing violently at the days grim there smeared like a badge of humiliation there.. until she felt passably clean enough to sit down to dinner.. Just the little bit of water, had dampened the curls about her face, once again giving her that angelic look, that was far from the reality of Portia.. She turned her stomach growling lightly, it had been almost a week now since she had had a hot meal, besides eggs for breakfast, and the meal he had prepared tonight smelled like a heavenly feast to her.. slowly she took her seat.. already her mouth watered at the smell.. and again her belly rumbled.. and she blushed softly... " It smells good " it was as much as a compliment as he was going to get.

Eulle: He shrugged his shoulders at the compliment, as little as it was. His wife had been a fantastic cook, he simply cooked to eat to get to the next day. Nourishment and not for taste but that didn't mean he wasn't good at it, the chicken powdered in flour and spice was perhaps a delicacy to somehow not used to a 'fine' meal. "Eat" He grumbled and pointed to the plate of chicken pieces and potatoes before shoving his chair back to collect the water from the fire carrying it past the linen barrier to pour into the tub before reappearing empty bucket in hand and moving to the door where the cool water from the well sat and that was carried to the tub to pour in to cool the water enough so she could get into it when she was done with dinner. With the tub filled, he rejoined her at the table and collected a small portion for himself. "How did it go at the creek today? Any difficulty?" Again trying to make conversation between bites.

Portia: Filling her plate she watched him fill the tub.. oh good lord in heaven a real bath.. not just a basin of water.. such a luxury.. she was used to bathing each day, servants drawing up scented water , perfumed with rose oil and lavender.. but here it had been quick washes in a basin at night before bed.. though she had marveled that even as Hard and Eulle worked.. he did not smell, as bad as the men at court when they were unwashed..for days... it was sickening cloying smell that had always made her gag,, when Vargus had only washed weekly during the summer, it seemed his excess in alcohol and women were a pungent mix.. and yet .. Eulle merely smelled of the earth.. and the farm..She had however vowed that she would bath in the creek tonight after dinner if need be, but.. he had provided a tub instead.. One bite of the chicken and she groaned soflty.. in pleasure her eyes closing.. as she savored the bite..a little smile crossing her face.. before her eyes opened again.. to meet with his as he retook his seat across from her... " No trouble.. what trouble could come of washing clothes?" she acted as if she didn't struggle half the afternoon with the laundry to get it up the hill back to the farmhouse to hand it.. and that the lye soap he had given her had not blistered her hands raw... Taking another bite she winced as a bit of the salt from the chicken got into the blisters.. then sucked at the offended finger to ease it's discomfort.

Eulle:His brows lifted as she let out a moan of delight at the taste of the chicken and then surprisingly enough a grin curled across his lips as he let out a laugh shifted as he took his chair again. Honestly he didn't know how men at court smelled and living alone for years, he had nearly forgotten how to be courteous and clean up so he wouldn't smell. Working in the earth, he sweated naturally and with a rich diet of what wealthy folk called table scraps and what he and the islanders called, good food, meant his body did not plug up with the oil of the foods they ate, thereby, the stink wasn't as bad. As she hissed with pain, he noticed the blisters on her hands and passed over his fork and knife. "Here" He nodded as he let the utensils clank against the wooden table. "After your bath, there is some ointment on the dresser that will help with those." An he took another bite eating for several minutes in silence before remembering he had asked her how the creek was and she had answered. "Well.." he spoke between a chew and then swallowed to finish. "A basket of wet laundry can be heavy but you seemed to have managed. It gets easier with time, it all gets easier with time. The aches and pains go away as your muscles get used to the work, blisters no longer appear as your hands adjust." He took a drink of cider and leaned back in the chair, for a man, he ate like a bird, small portions. "There is a peace and serenity to this land Portia, and working it adds to that peace. The pride isn't misplaced nor unjusticely gained." He sat up again to pick at his plate, taking small bites so that he felt fuller with little and less tired then someone who gored themselves on a meal. "Tomorrow I'll show you how to milk the cows and gather eggs. Do you know how to cook?" He suddenly thought about that, there had been no offering to cook, not that she offered to do anything around here but it did not seem to phase him. "After that, tomorrow is a leisure day. I'll go into town for some supplies we'll need for the week. I'll admit its pretty quiet out here so you'll need something you like to do. Do you have anything you like to do? Any talents you like to work on?"

Portia: She had looked at him oddly when he offered her both fork and knife, her words stopped on the tip of her tongue.. she had been about to comment on the fact that he offered her weapons.. but stopped not wishing to use her hands to with.. She listened it seemed as he spoke, of the land and wrinkled her nose when he spoke of milking the goats and cows.. how utterly..(pun intended) degrading.. soon enough she was finished with her meal and drank the cider in slow sips savoring it, for up to now she had only water since leaving the academy... far different from her usual cups of fine wine.. the first days of her captivity had left her with withdrawal from her usual fair of drink, pounding headaches and nausea had added to her misery of her new life.. but the last two days she had felt better... perhaps the clean country living was good for her ... but she wouldn't admit it.. not to him.. "the things I enojoy doing are not.. offered here" she glanced up at him.. " I think you have little need for planning parties, or dances.. and shopping for fabrics, and decorating castles.." true enough she was schooled in reading , singing and could play the harp passably well.. as any proper wife of a noble should be trained.. her voice was a bit short, with him as he asked of things she enjoyed.. did he really care..? if so why had he brought her to this hell hole..? She stood abruptly picking up her plate and heading to the wash basin with it.. as it was her duty now to wash dishes.. she winced but didn't fuss as her hands went into the soapy water.. " When your done I'll wash yours up as well " she spoke over her shoulder, basically hurrying him along. to put and end to the torture of her fingers.

Eulle: Honestly, he didn't think she could wield the knife and fork as a weapon. Her upbringing so far hadn't suggested anything of ways of defending herself. This suddenly brought the thought that over time, when he could trust her not to use it against him, he would teach her. Not that there was likely cause for threat out here but you never knew. He caught the wrinkle of her nose but any outward appearance that it bothered him, didn't show as it normally didn't. He listened to her explain the things she did and this made a brow rise in curiosity. "You like those things?" He asked and then shook his head "I mean you enjoy doing them?" He sat back as she rose up and when she hissed as she put her hands into the soapy water, he pushed out of his chair. "Your going to injury your hands further, stop, go take your bath" For one without servants or field hands, he sure could boss someone around and he bumped her out of the way so he could wash the dishes himself. "We're not heathens Portia, we have parties here but they aren't as lavish as they are on the mainland." He paused then continued "Portia, I wasn't sentenced to bring you out here and make your life a living hell. Out here, you can live." There was something in the way he said the latter part that implied more then simply working day in and day out. There was something spiritual about it. "We may not be heathens, but we're simple people and we're happy to be, we're happy living where we are, how we do." He collected the remaining dishes and dunked them into the wash bin. "I lived at Dunsgate when I was younger, before Searc took over being tanist, when his father was tanist. I was young, but I remember the lies, the deceit and the bids for power. Believe it or not, but I prefer it out here, came back as soon as my parents would let me. Out here there is power too, but the power is in our hands, in what we wield in this land, what we gain from it. No one else trying to take it from you. Out here, we each wield power over our own lands and accepting what we've been given and what we own. We've earned it, the right to till and work the land, call it our own. The nobles, they know nothing of this. Their land, is passed down from father to son and so on and so forth and they get other people to work it, so its easy for them to want more and more, taking it from others, fighting over it, cause in the end, they will just get more people like me and the people of this isle to work it but its a hollow pride and it always will be. Ours is a different kind of pride and we are not ashamed of it." This was perhaps the longest he had talked yet to her and when he realized he had said enough, his mouth closed and he went to work, washing dishes. "Go bath" He commanded.

Portia: "Yes I enjoy shopping and parties and pretty dresses, and getting all done up.. fine food and wine, and good people to have companionship and fun with.. " she bristled as he continued his lecture.. condeming her way of life and lauding his... " I do not see how breaking your back, for a pittance, barely eeking out a living , every day drudgery the same day in and out can be what you enjoy... or be proud of.. Didn't you want nice things for your family didn't you want to see your wife without skin darkened by the sun, and blisters on her hands, her body aching from all this work..? Your children educated and worth something more than a dirt farmer ?" the tone of her voice was offensive as her dislike of his way of life was just as apparent as his disgust with her way of life.. when he bumped her aside she snorted and walked off.. heading for the bath, and pulled the curtains.. harshly.. " Do not expect me to enjoy myself.. I'm your prisoner, your slave.. your worker , you've made that clear "

Eulle: He only shook his head as she retorted to his lecture that she liked parties, wine, pretty dresses and fine food and wine. The list went on and he seemed to be barely listening, especially when she mentioned his wife and children. She was just a rich bytch and he had been insane to take her into his care of that he had absolutely no doubts now. "We had nice things" He retorted to her question of if he wanted to provide his family with nice things. "My wife, was never more beautiful then when she was tanned by the sun and dirty as you may say and my children were happy and well educated. Why should we of wanted more then that? Why should we want more then just to be happy with life, content and not worried about if someone would want us dead to gain something they didn't deserve or earn? Watch how you talk about my kids or my wife...God rest their soul. They were good people." He turned his head as he heard the curtain whoosh harshly aside. "Fine, don't enjoy yourself but you are not my prisoner nor my slave. You wouldn't be, even if I wished to have either." He snorted back before turning his attention back to the dishes.

Portia:The sound of the curtains jerking open again would get his attention as she stood outside them, hands on her hips " Then why am I here.. your captive, I can't leave.. I'm not here of my own free will.. tell me what I am then? Certainly not your guest.. what did you think.. that I would just.. take up where your wife left off.. slopping the pigs, and milking cows and laying under you while you rutted atop me.. to produce more farm hands ?" her voice almost was a shriek that was hard on the ears... "Well your out of luck cause I can't have children, so there will be no little Eulles running around to be used as child labor for you from me.. and How could I possibly enjoy anything with you ordering me about.. you say Im not a slave yet you even order me to bath.. when and how you want.." she screeched.. " Well I'm done taking your orders.." sometimes her temper got the better of her and she did not think things through to their conclusion, the very thing she had wanted all week a nice hot bath lay a few feet away, but her anger and pride would keep it from her.. " I'm going to bath in the creek.. because I can " she huffed and walked out the door slamming it.. headed down the slope into the valley where she had spent most of the day... washing clothes.. her anger fueling her, she stripped the dress off as she got closer leaving it on the banks of the creek and waded in, dousing herself.. had it been daylight, he might have seen steam coming off her head.

Eulle: "You're here, because your dead anywhere else. You can leave anytime you want, if you want to die for your crimes." He began taking the dishes out of the dish pan one by one and drying them off, laying them aside to retrieve another as she ranted and he laughed, yes he began to laugh at her. "Take up my wife's place? That's quite funny. You, my dear, are a doll. You are a plaything noble men dress up and parade in front of their other male friends like a trophy, your not a wife and I am certainly not taking you to my bed, haven't even had the notion of it and likely never will. You are not my type and wouldn't even arouse me, which in all honesty, wouldn't be a hard task being so long but in your case, impossible." He stopped, finished with the last plate, he set it aside and leaned against the counter staring at her with a smirk as she ranted she was done taking his orders and stormed out slamming the front door in her wake. He took his time putting the dishes away and tossing the dirty soapy water out the back door before his eyes turned to the tub still slightly steaming. Well, he hadn't anticipated a warm bath but he wasn't about to let it go to waste. Let her freeze her pert little behind off. Stripping off his clothing and tossing them into a pile, he climbed into the tub brushing off her insults and ranting words like a grain of salt as the heated water soothed his muscles into relaxation. Ah, finally, something to find bliss in!

Portia: She had washed completely in the creek staying far to long in the chilled water.. until her teeth chattered, using sand from the bottom to scrub herself clean, and the small cake of soap she had in her hand when she stormed out to wash out her hair and body.. She cursed herself and Eulle for the flare of tempers that led her out here to the cold water, and not the warm bath she had been about to enjoy, and true to her words.. she had not enjoyed herself one little bit.. perhaps she was punishing herself, and not letting herself enjoy even the smallest of comforts, who knew what went on inside that twisted golden head. dragging on the blue dress again she sat down near a large bolder, pressing her back against it.. it still gave off some radient heat captured from the day, and she inhaled softly.. then lay her head across arms that crossed her knees.. was this it.. was this what was to be of her life..this island , this farm.. perhaps it would be better to face her crimes, for this was surely punishment of the worst kind.. It was then that finally real tears were shed, in her own solitude away from him, where he could not find fault of make mockery of her.. she cried, mourned... all that she had lost.. finding it surprising even to her that she not only fried for a life she no longer had, but.. she missed the children, Bart and Argus.. She hadn't wanted to adopt them at firs but when she was barren and failed to produce and Heir Vargus had insisted.. true she had little maternal instinct, but it was still nice to have them around sometimes, to play with, and there were times they hugged her and showed her affection that she felt wanted and needed.. that was what she missed .. that and the fact that they told her.. they loved her.. and they meant it.. Not shallow words like her lovers, or Vargus words when in public.. no Bart and Argus actually meant it.. and she realized now that when she had sparingly said it back to them.. so had she.. That realization brought on more tears and sobs... How horrible she had been not to realize that, and be better to them.. now she would never see them again and it served her right.. she had been an awful mother..

Eulle:He only stayed in the water for a few minutes. As nice as it was, a warm bath was not something he really enjoyed. Swimming and long bathing in tubs just really was not his thing. He stayed enough to wash his body with a bar of sandalwood scented soap which he used next on his hair and then he was out and toweling off pulling the curtain over between the two 'bedrooms'. He had not felt sorry for lecturing her about the land nor the ways of the nobles. He had never stayed this was here but had stated plainly what he had witnessed as a young boy that had carried with him to manhood. She choose to attach herself to it but he had not held back in attacking her nature and lack of wifely attributes that were little less better then a trophy. It was perhaps better that she went off into the night, maybe she would run off. At this point he didn't care. He felt a headache coming on, much the same he had had the first time he had seen her and the hours she whined and cried to go back as they road towards edge of the lands to catch the ferry to the island. There was nothing in her he found wanting, having a choice, if he wanted it of another wife, she would be the last person on earth before he CHOOSE it. She was stubborn, pig-headed, prissy and spoiled little pill and only several days in, he was all ready sick of her. Looks wise she was pretty but when she acted like this....she was no better looking then a troll from one of those children stories he used to tell his girls. Throwing himself down upon his bed, he draped the towel over his lower body and lay an arm against his head. His wife and girls...they had been happy with their lot in life, surely they never complained and he enjoyed spoiling them when they had done a good job around the farm. Rewards for service, he saved money for things like that and it made the difference. They did not whine for things they did not deserve and they were prideful and happy when they got presents for good deeds. How the hell was he going to get Portia to see this when she had been pampered and spoiled her whole life? His fingers ran along his slick wet scalp, massaging at his headache, its name Portia.

Portia: He was right in his assement of her , as stubborn and pigheaded, and spoiled.. with wordly goods, but the things she had lacked being spoiled in, family, caring warmth and love.. were what shaped the headache he had inherited.. Now faced with this harsh country life, and an harsher companion.. she was truly lost... She cried until she had nothing left, until her sobs had become hiccups and even they had faded.. until the stars and moon rose in the sky... the tempature dropping until the stone no longer gave off it's comforting warmth.. She contemplated the sky... wondering how in all the world she had ended up here.. with a man who hated everything about her.. and how would she survive this place... and if she even wanted too.. She curled against then stone, her head laid back staring into the night sky.. emotionally spent, and exhausted from a day of labor like she had never labored before.. yet sleep did not come.. another curse perhaps.. punishment for all the things she had done wrong... she spoke to God then.. as if acknowledging her punishment.. " This could go on a while you know.. if you are going to punish me for everything I did wrong.. "

[Eulle MacGregor]

Portia:Portia had not come home that night, instead she had decided she would rather dye that live out a life sentence as his induntured servant.. she knew the direction of the village that was hours away, and in the late hours of the night she struck out toward it.. She was getting off this damn island.. if it killed her.. and so it was the next morning would find her wandering the moors of the Islands, hopelessly lost, for she had been following a star thinking it a set point in the Night skye.. all night long she had walked expecting to see the village over the next hill.. or the next.. but much to her dismay, over the next hill.. she came over sat the little hovel that Eulle called home... she had made one all night huge circle and walked herself half to death.. for nothing.. it was like a trap, a nightmare she could not wake from.. slumping to the ground she just sat there on the hill utterly defeated, exhausted, and sore.. worn completely out..

Eulle: Just as light reached the hills, he was awakened by its rays though they barely touched the windows of the house and as he washed and dressed for the day, the rooster crowed. He found it mildly hilarious as he awoke before the bird and for a moment he grinned till he looked at the bed and seemed to remember how his wife always needed a kiss right after the roosters crow to get her out of bed. She had been the sweet spring of his life even in the dead of winter and there was not a day that passed that he did not miss her. Sweeping the curtain separating the bedrooms back, he saw Portia bed had not been slept in, the sheets not even wrinkled. His lips pulled into a thin line of concern as he swept past the bedrooms and out into the front yard to have a look around, when she was not in sight, he ventured to the creek and yet still there was no sign of her and he headed to get the horse to look for her when he saw her form cresting over the hills and she collapsed in exhaustion. He let out a sigh and then shook his head as he stalked towards her. Not a word was spoken as he stooped low cradling under her knees while the other clutched at her back to lift her into his arms carrying her back to the house. He did not lay her in the smaller bed she had occupied for days now but his own, it was larger and undoubtly more comfort and then turned still nothing passed his lips, no I told you so, no where have you been and he went to draw water from the well and then bring her a glass of water and he sat on the edge of the bed beside her offering the cup out to her.

Portia: She hadn't even fought him when he picked her up, humilaited, defeated, she just allowed, it, thought when he left the room with no rebukes, no words of anger she opened her eyes, realizing she was in his bed, and not the one she usually slept in.. When he came back she half expected him to be carrying a rod, or a leather strap to beat her with, He had warned her that to try to escape would be dangerous, and come to no good, she supposed he might beat her disobedience.. and was surprised to see him only carrying a glass of water to which he outstretched his hand and offered to her.. Dark brandy colored eyes, narrowed at him in wondering if this were some sadistic trick.. and he would jerk it away when she reached for it.. did he know how thirsty she was, of course he did, he seemed to know everything before it happened.. or before she thought it.. slowly a delicate yet dirty hand, still raw from the lye soap she had washed clothes with the day before reached for the glass, then took a tenitive sip.. as she sat up in the bed..leaning back against the crude hand hewn headboard.. no doubt hewn by his own, hands. It seemed as if Eulle was made for this life, and Portia was not..

Eulle: "If you wanted to visit the village, you needed only say so" He seemed to be teasing her as the edges of his lips pulled up into a grin as she took the glass and he let go watching her raise the glass to her lips for a sip. Raising from the bed, he moved to the front room again this time returning with a rag soaked in water and folded it to lay it over her forehead to cool her off. "I guess I can postpone our trip there until you get some rest. As long as we by midday we should be back by dark." He shifted to pull the covers up over her. "I'll go empty the tub and get it refilled so you can take a bath when you wake up before we go." There were no tricks up his sleeves having realized last night as he drifted off to sleep in the bed she now lie in that this was a big change for her while he had been born to it with a lifetime to adjust, he simply had to give her some time. He firmly believed she would be happy here, but of course, she had to try, he could only do so much. "I better go collect the eggs and milk the cows, rest now" He mused as he moved to the door pausing long enough to say his peace before slipping through the door.

Portia: She had finished the water and sank back into the bed, and within minutes fallen into the sleep of the truly exhausted.. some hours later she woke.. to the smell of eggs frying.. To her it was still and ungodly hour being well before noon, but Eulle was usually up with the dawn, and in bed with it's setting.. sleepily she rubbed here eyes and padded into the common room which was a kitchen, dining room and living area all in an open space.. through the partion to her room she saw the tub filled with water, possibly maybe still almost warm..and she sighed taking a seat at the table watching him as he cooked.. " I'm sorry " her words were small and unsure as if she had never uttered them in truth before.. out loud.. maybe once or twice to God in a moment of despair.. but never to another human.. especially a man.. She fidgeted a bit, in her seat.. waiting to see if he would speak to her.. she couldn't relay to him how lonely it was with just him, and the livestock about.. not even a dog.. or a cat.. She was used to people and servants and parties and such.. not this isolation, and dreary life.. How could he expect her to live this way..

Eulle:While she slept he did exactly as he said he would, collected eggs, milked the cows and then began going back and forth emptying the tub of the water from the previous night as water heated on the stove and was poured into the now empty tub. He was all work and no play but it did not seem to bother him and when the tub was full of steaming water he began frying eggs and sausage with a cream sauce while biscuits cooked in the oven. He heard her in the room moving about as she got up and she appeared as the pan of biscuits out. At first he thought he had been day dreaming. Did she just say she was sorry? "Why on earth would you be sorry?" He asked gently feeling somewhat guilty for what he has said the night before. He collected a bowl, cut a biscuit in two and lay them in the bottom, the eggs and sausage spooned on top and the gravy poured over top before he turned to her and set it down in front of her with a fork. "I admit, I didn't really think that this might be a difficult change for you. I do want you to be happy here Portia." He made a bowl for himself and sat down on the other side from her. "I've worked this land a long time on my own and it is grueling work." He stopped and sighed using his own fork to mix up the eggs, sausage, gravy and biscuits together. "Perhaps when we're in town you can look for a job that will suit you if farm work is something you can't tolerate. There is a dress maker in town, you like clothing, perhaps she would be willing to take on an assistant."

Portia: She took the bowl of food and begin to pick at it, it was plain but honest food, and she had to admit, it tasted good.. better than she could have done, for she had never learned how to cook. She was quietly eating as he spoke, dark eyes lifting up to him , beneath a halo of spun gold that had dried in the night into a riot of curls.. " I'm sorry because I did what you told me not to.. I was running away, but you already knew that.. " her lips pulled into a frown..as he spoke of getting a job.. her eyes widened.. slightly, work for someone.. as a paid laborer.. it was humiliating, how could she.. and she didn't know how to sew.. only to do a little needlepoint.. and that she wasn't very good at.. " I thought town was too far away.. it took us hours to get here.." was he telling her she was free to go? her brows furrowed.. or was he throwing her out.. humorously enough if he could have read her mind he would have laughed himself silly.. only hours before she had been trudging the moors in hopes of escaping him and his life , ready to take on the night and life or death, wild animals or worse men who preyed on women alone in the night.. and yet at the though he would throw her out penniless and without knowing anyone, she paled.. fingers shaking so bad the spook clanked upon the side of her bowl.. noisily before it was put away..was he getting rid of her, what would happen to her ?

Eulle: Both elbows leaned against the table, hardly manners as he spooned food into his mouth, chewed and swallowed. As she said she was sorry for running away, he couldn't help but grin a little. He found humor in it as she was acting like a child waiting to be punished for doing exactly what their parent said not to do knowing fully well they were guilty but it was endearing in a way to see such remorse on her face and admittedly it was the first time he had ever seen a real emotion on her face and not some rouse to get out of working. As she asked if town was hours away, it was his turn to duck his head and he spooned more of the mixed food into his mouth and chewed. She was worrying that he was throwing her out, the thought scaring her into shakes worried for she knew no one here and he was guilty for he was beginning to like the company, even if she had been a pill the last few days. "Ah well...about town" He started then stopped to finish chewing and swallowing, his elbows sliding off the table to lean back. "I took the old long road home, the road leading east from here actually leads into town, not more then an hours ride." Then he leaned forward again, his shoulders rigid waiting for her to explode in rage that he had in some way lied to her. He did not miss the look of disgust on her face when he mentioned working for the seamstress in town. "Portia.."He started and then sighed to collect himself and not make it sound like he was lecturing her again. "I can run this farm by myself for it benefits only me but to work it as one person for two people, will take a lot of work and I can't be the one to work all day and come home to well, you sitting here having done nothing all day. Either you can help me with the farm and I do promise working it gets easier and less rough on your hands and body, or we can inquire about work in town. Either way, I need your help if your going to stay here, working the land with me or making money doing work in town." He set his bowl aside and rubbed his hands together. "We'll even work out a pension, I don't expect you to work and get nothing, either here or in town, you'll earn a wage."

Portia: Her brow raised when he said he had taken the long way home, no doubt to convince her she was more isolated than she really was, but she held her tongue.. almost lashing out.. but stopping herself.. perhaps a good sign.. then as he begin his lecture on working the farm.. she genuinely felt guilty for all the work he had to do.. to provide for her, .. even as meager as his provisions were.. lets face it.. it was a grand castle they lived in nor, were their great works of art on the wall or servants to do everything.. not like what she had come from.. the play of thought on her face might have been amusing to him.. if he were watching her closely " I can't sew.. I can't do much of anything.. I don't' know how " she stood up.. then shoving back the bowl of half eaten food.. " you got a bad bargain.. a woman who has no womanly skills and that you... as you put it.. find so abhorrent she would be the last in your bed, so I take it whoring my way out of this .. is out of the question as well.. Perhaps they have an inn in town that needs a whore" her voice was a bit stringent as she realized her worth as a woman was nothing more, than whore for her husband, and his power plays, and that she was worthless..She moved into the little room she called her own and begin to strip down, to wash.. if she were going to be looking for a job she might as well be presentable and clean..

Eulle: He had to say he was quite surprised she didn't rile against him when he let out the truth that he had taken the long way home. He was amused for he had pictured her breaking the few things he had in the house in an attempt to hurt him and he let out a laugh, the first in a very long time then waved his hand in an attempt to say it wasn't her but the image in his head. The laughter quickly died when while she chastised herself. "Portia, I am sorry for what I said. It was cruel." He drummed his hands on the table as she stood up from the chair. "So you don't know how to do a lot of things, you'll learn. We all learn Portia, from birth we have to learn how to crawl and then to walk and talk. We aren't just born knowing how to sew or plow a field, if we did...well all of us would be rich wouldn't we?" He pushed his chair back as she stalked from the room. He hadn't expected her to be undressing for her bath, he had rather expected her just stalking off feeling sorry for herself, not that he blamed her. "Portia, wait a minute..I didn't mean...oh chyt!" He caught her in the stage as her last stitch of clothing hit the floor. He turned and caught the edge of the tub "f**k!" He cursed as his knee sang with pain and he was quickly falling grabbing for the curtain and missing, the last thing he could catch was her arm and down he went.

Portia: He was rambling outside about being born without knowledge, yet it did not cut through both her anger at herself, and her humiliation at the realization she had been just that Vargus's whore.. he had used her to get what he wanted, more power within the clan, bade her sleep with men who lusted for her.. so he could have power over them as well.. and what had it got her.. a price on her head, she had lost everything and now.. even here in this godforsaken place she was worthless. when he jerked back the curtains she looked up in surprise, only to see him stumble and fall. it happened to fast she had no time to sidestep him, and down they weren't, his hands catching her arm them falling onto the floor, her body tumbling over the wooden tub, and sending the warm water over them both.. completely soaking them.. she struggled as she fell on top of him to right herself, but her hand slipped on a bar of soap, making her fall once again across his chest, in a tangle of wet nakedness.

Eulle: He landed hard on his back sending the air whooshing from his lungs and if that didn't help matters, she crashed right on top of him as the water from the tub sprayed across the floor soaking them both, his clothing now clinging against him like a second skin was no better as it was nearly as bad as being naked himself. Her naked wet wiggling body on top of his owns did not help. Sure she was beautiful and he had been lying to say he wouldn't take her to his bed but it was not a lie to say her attitude put that thought of his mind rather quickly. As she pushed to right herself and went down again slipping on the soap he let out a groan, even as a man his cheeks flushed with color as he felt his coke flame with life at the contact only to harden against her wiggling body and press against her inner thigh as she landed once more against him and he let out a grunt to the weight pressing on his body and throb of his coke. "Are you always this clumsy?" He tried to play off the situation with a tease and let out a nervous laugh find his hands moving of their own accord to capture her waist.

Portia: "Me Clumsy.. you're the one who fell " she countered, flipping back her hair and looking down at him oddly, there was no doubt about what pressed into the soft flesh of her lower belly , nor his embarrassment at the fact it did so then he laughed nervously.. and she joined him in it.. hands coming to push flat against his chest to lift from him, only to find his hands settled at her waist.. she stilled, her body half off him now, breast brushing against his shirtfront.. dark eyes centered on his.. it was a moment they both would rather not have, for he hated her and she him, they were exact opposites and saw nothing the same way, and he wanted to be rid of her as much as she wanted to be rid of him.. right.. " I should clean this up" she murmured then begin to lift off him ..

Eulle: "You spilled the water" He countered and then laughed again until she was pushing her hands on his chest to right herself and her breasts hung low as if tempting and tantalizing him to taste them. God above save him! She paused as his hands found her waist and he felt her lower down and pause, her breasts against his chest and he groaned this time not embarrassed as his coke jumped between their two bodies and against her inner thigh. "Wait" He hummed as she pushed up and his hands gripped her waist tighter. Despite the circumstance they found themselves in, him with a hard on, her naked on top of him, his head turned slightly on the floor to catch her eye and then raised straight again when she looked at him. "Portia, I am truly sorry for what I said to you. I didn't mean it." He caressed her hips and then squeezed, though it was meant to be a comforting one. "You are an intelligent woman, you might not see it yet but you are, and you can do anything you put your mind to. There's no shame in asking for help, no one here is going to look at you badly to ask for help. We'll find you something you want and like to do, whether working here or in town and NOT as a whore. I'll help you, if its in my power to do so but for once in your life, trust someone. Trust me. I'm not going to hurt you and I am not going to use you to further myself in position or wealth." He shifted, his arms coming about her waist as he sat up and for a minute it looked like he was going to kiss her but his head turned and he placed a kiss at her cheek before he was reaching for the towel on a chair safe from the cascade of water and unfolded it to wrap around her. "I'll make you a deal, help mop up the water from the floor and I'll reheat water for a new bath. Deal?"

Portia: " Why? Why do you care.. why are you putting yourself out for me.. " she looked at him as if he were and oddity, a two headed calf, or a goat with three horns. then she meekly nodded as he wrapped the towel about her, and asked she would help clean the water up.. She slid from his lap, and grasp the towel closer to her tucking it beneath her arms, it was perhaps the first time in her life she had felt the need for modestly..usually she was proud of her body, the way men looked at her, lusted for her, but somehow with Eulle she felt almost ashamed.. because he knew.. all that she had been.. Her reputation apparently reaching even him . Trust.. was something she had never had in anyone .. and it would be hard won.. Quickly she mopped up the floor, with another towel.. moving back and forth to the door to wring it out, not like the neighbors would see her in only a towel.. at this point she was so undone with herself she hadn't even considered the effect of her parade to wring out the towel, back and forth back and forth, nor the way, she knelt in only a towel to wipe up the water, could effect, her captor.. her host.. her.. roommate.

Eulle: He pulled himself up from the floor and rung his shirt out onto the ground, not like it was going to get any wetter with all the water on it. At her question, his attention went to her and he grinned as a shoulder lifted and fell in a gesture he was unsure but then he opened his mouth "Everyone needs someone to care about them and as a person, not some trophy to be flashed about for others. Some people may not show it, but everyone needs someone to care about them. Who wants to be lonely? I sure don't" An he shrugged again. As she went to work mopping the floor, he kept his end of the bargain righting the tub and setting to work in bringing in water to heat and fill the tub. While she moved around in just that towel, he groaned. God above it had been so long but he wasn't a beast and wouldn't take her against her will, he wanted her yes but he wanted her...to want him to and not as just some game to get out of chores. As she moved outside to wring the towel out, yes he groped himself massaging the ache in his coke but when she returned, he was all gentlemanly manners and seemed to work quickly in order to get to the bedroom so he could calm himself down.

Portia: Her last trip into the room and she smiled, seeing him from behind, adjusting himself, it was hard not to chuckle, but she was really not in the mood for gaity.. " I thought you were content with you life here, the land and animal I didn't think you needed anyone " she leaned against the door watching him fill the last of the tub with warm water.. her hands holding the towel in place, she didn't look like the hateful spoiled viper she had been in weeks past but perhaps denuded of all her armor she was just after all.. a young woman, not even 23 yet.. married to and old man since she was fourteen.. she had never really had the chance to learn what or whom she liked.. it had been planned for her.

Eulle: He laughed nervously and embarrassed that he had been caught. His shoulders rose and fell in a shrug again. "I admit to being a man of simple taste and simple pleasures, but long denied erotic pleasure but I am a man..."If anything he prided himself on being honest, except for a few small details he had lied about...the road...taking her to his bed...little white lies. He righted himself from pouring the last bucket and lazily let the bucket swing by its rope handle in his fist. He was finally seeing a change in her, Thank you Lord God! He praised silently for surely had she stayed the spitting viper he would of booted her ass out the door sooner or later. A man could only take so much of a spoiled brat before even God would forgive him he was sure.

Portia: She shook her head softly as if disappointed.. " So you needs of filling your loneliness are of the erotic bent.. ?" typical male , stupid Portia had believed him when he asked her to trust him, and that he would not hurt her or use her.. and yet he plainly spelled it out.. it seemed as if her life were destined for belonging to some man, to fill his needs.. She turned her back to him then walking to the tub then dropped the towel and stepped into the warm water.. there was no need for modesty, he was the same as all other men.. oddly enough something quirked in her soul, a little stab, for she had really begun to believe him different..but here he was in so many words admitting, he just needed someone to fill his baser needs.

Eulle: He fixed her with an odd look. What the hell was she talking about?! It finally dawned on him and he waved his hands as her misunderstanding him became apparent. "Wait wait wait...no no no" He stammered and then laughed. "I was not implying I mean to take you to my bed." He sighed dropping his hands as she walked away. For a few minutes he just stood there and then yes followed after her, why not, he had seen her naked once all ready today. "Portia, I in no way meant I wanted to take you to my bed, maybe one day, but it will be on your terms, not mine." His arms crossed over his chest as he watched her settle down into the water. This wasn't helping his erection but he dealt with it. "What I mean to say is that if you decide...that is to say." And he groaned. This was coming out all wrong. "I'm not just going to take you to my bed to fulfill my needs ok. That's not why you're here." He dropped his arms and pulled the curtain to the bedroom to the side and then slid the curtain back into place as he stalked to the trunk in the corner pushing the lid up and sliding a box out of the way to find her another dress which was thrown over a bedpost as his voice rose to reach her. "Got another dress here for you when you're done."

[Eulle MacGregor]

Portia: They had spent the previous afternoon in the tiny village, nothing more than a collection of fishing shacks, a small general store, and a collection of houses really.. there was nothing on any import in Portia's mind that could possibly offer her a job, these people were poor, lived off the sea, and honestly she thought herself much better on Eulle's farm.. After they had bought a few staples such as mealed flour, coffee and tea, some nails and other things Eulle needed on the farm they headed back to the tiny farmhouse that was now home. True to his word the fishing village on Garrick Island was less than an hours ride from the farmhouse over treacherous territory, that would have been quiet dangerous at night.. and she shivered thinking how lucky she was to not have fallen into one of the crevasses in the ingenious rock that dotted the moors. As they rode back each on a horse with their wares she was aware possibly for the first time, what a decent man Eulle was, he neight drank to excess, nor swore or abused her, he didn't make her service him like a whore, and offered her his house as if it were hers, a twinge of guilt for all the trouble she had been, niggled at her mind.. then vanished flitting away.. as they had made it back to the house.. She helped him unload the supplies without being asked.. and helped put them away.. for once in her life, being quite affable to get along with.. Now morning had come and already he moved about in the predawn hours getting ready to gather eggs, milk the cows and such she suspected.. Usually she merely turned over and hid her head under the covers .. and he let her..not really waking her until he had finished up in the barn and then come back in to start breakfast.. Today would be different.. she eased out of bed, getting dressed and followed him out to the barn.. opening the door as he settled on a stool to milk one of the cows.. " Show me how ?" she questioned.. eyes still half mired in sleep, golden curls tousled by the same thing.. a light blush to her cheeks that made her look girlish , without the artifice of makeup she had worn as a Lady of the Manor.. it was surprising to see she wasn't as old as most suspected her..

Eulle: The village wasn't much to look at but it was home, every face smiled in their direction though they were more curious about the woman who accompanied Eulle they were pleasant albeit a little withdrawn. He had lied about the town being further away then it was before but had been true to the hour they arrived and the timing in which they left so they would not be out past dark. He had waited expecting Portia to mention looking for a job in town but she had not. Perhaps she had gotten used to the idea to working on the farm. She was pleasant and all most charming during their trip into, at and on the way home surprising him when she helped unload the supplies and put them away. He was stunned silent. What had changed, he wondered but he wasn't about to argue it with her or even bring it, not wanting to start a fight between them. The night passed in peace and with the dawn he was up and moving around, content to let her sleep till breakfast until the curtain swept back and she was dressed and ready to go. He gave her a grin then, pleased with her early rising? Pleased and stunned still when she followed him out to the barn and he took a seat on the stool easily as a bucket was put into place and he began the task only to stop when she asked if he would show her how. "Uh" He stated in still a stun and then lifted off the stool. "Sure" He waved her over and guided her down on the stool. Kneeling down behind her, he used a knee against the ground to balance himself, his hand moving her hair to the one shoulder so he could see over the other. "Now, make an o shape of your hands around the utters...like this.." an he reached around her guiding her hands and helping to shape them into place. "Curl your fingers like so..."An his fingers moved over hers shaping them as he did her thumb and forefinger. "An then squeeze, gently and pull down at the same time." and his hands melted over her own to show her how to do it. Milk squirt into the empty bucket 'sqeeeee' it sounded and he laughed as he moved his hands make to allow her to try on her own. "Try it on your own."

Portia: A look back over her shoulder at him, as he brushed her hair to the side, his breath warm on her neck caused little chill bumps to rise in the dim light of the barn.. warm hands covered her and demonstrated the technique and a thin stream of creamy milk sprayed into the pan, delighted with this she smiled.. and when he urged her to try by herself she did, and again the milk sprayed into the bucket, a few more times and she had the rhythm down, squeezing first with one hand then the other, alternating the stream from two different udders.. she cast a grin at him looking over her shoulder, and a bit of pride shown in her eyes that she had accomplished something.., but she wasn't paying attention to her hands at the moment and squeezed, sending a spray of milk right into his face.. Shocked, she gasped then begin to laugh.. peels of good natured laughter, that was probably the first real laughter that was not laced on purpose/

Eulle: His hands settled on his waist as he watched her alternating first one and then the other although he had said nothing of doing this and this made him grin. "You're a natural!" He praised with sincerity giving a clap of his hands that made the cow moo before his hands settled at his waist again. As she cast a look to him that shown with pride he grinned but his mouth opened to warn her about watching what she was doing as he caught the utter being aimed without knowledge and the spray of milk hit his face and open mouth. At first his face was shocked, humorous looking as it dripped with milk and he swallowed the bit that landed in his mouth and then he to was laughing only to jerk a step to the side as she aimed it at him a second time on purpose and the milk sprayed over his shoulder. "Hey!" He boomed and laughed as the orange tabby cat in the rafters mewed at the display then sauntered across the beam and disappeared into the loft as if that reminded her she needed to feed her kittens. His hand lifted as if to ward off the spray even as it went over his shoulder. "Don't waste, I've got to make cheese with this" He retorted though with a teasing tone to his normally calm contented voice. "Think you can handle Molly and Polly while I go collect eggs?"

Portia: She laughed at him as he defended himself, and nodded when he cautioned her about waste.. " Cheese.. you make cheese?" she tilted her head to the side, and continued milking the brown and white cow she was seated beside.. steady and content for the moment, both woman and cow, as Portia's hands were a bit gentler than Eulle's. Molly mooed contentedly and turned back to the grain in the bucket near her head.. munching away.. " I think I can handle this.. it's not that hard.." what she didn't know was after the two cows there were about 15 goats that needed the same attention..

Eulle: "Not for a long time, hard to do with just one person but now that I have help I can start again. Old family recipe, my wife altered it a bit, adding a touch of lavender. It used to sell quite well." His hands settled on his waist again as he watched her going to town on the cows, she was quite the natural to this. "All right well by the time I collect eggs, we should be ready to do the goats, don't expect you to do all fifteen of them by yourself." His hands fell from his waist giving a slap as he left her to milk the cows to collect eggs from the hen house. As he worked in shooing the hens to put the eggs into the baskets, he suddenly felt a twinge of guilt for mentioning his wife to Portia. It was as if he was holding up the wonders of his wife next to Portia who was not a farmer but that truly was not it. He had merely been talking. Later he would apologize if he hurt her feelings with it though and by the time he was finished collecting eggs and taking them back to the house, he suspected she would be done milking the cows though he paused long enough to wipe his face from the sticky mess of milk he returned to the barn. "So...ready to milk the goats and make cheese or would you rather go back to the house now?" He was giving her a choice of what she wanted to do today not forcing her to spend time with him.

Portia: Fifteen.. really.. fifteen goats.. oh good lord in heaven.. she moaned inside.. how could anyone need that much milk? she shrugged her shoulders and continued on with Molly, finding every now and again the bovine female turned her big brown eyes round to Portia, and batted her long eye lashes.. "See your not so bad" her hand lifted to pet down the hind flank of the cow.. soothingly, soon enough Molly was finished, and Polly was moved on too. same routine but Eulle would be surprised to find she was almost done with Polly when he returned, but moreso that she was signing quietly to the cows.. her voice wasn't half bad, a soft clan song, that a mother might have sung to a child..she even kept rhythm with the squirting of the milk.. Looking up she smiled softly.. " Almost done here , I'll help you with the goats I don't mind.. " she chimed as she finished filling up the bucket with creamy cows milk, the top frothy and bubbly . The orange tabby cat now circled her with wistful eyes and she scooped out a palm full of milk holding it for the cat.. " Does she have a name ? "

Eulle: Had he not opened his big mouth, he could of paused to hear her singing but as it was, with his arrival and the opening of his big mouth, her song ended but she continued to milk Polly turning her head to speak to him without missing a beat and he had to let out another laugh. After all of her mopping and moaning she was good at nothing she sure was doing quite the good job here. He moved to collect the first bucket lifting it to a work table in the barn. The cat could easily get to it he was sure but her kittens wouldn't be able to make the jump yet an she could only drink so much on her own. Turning, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched her scoop milk into her hand before offering it to the cat. An here he had been trying to keep it away from the feline! He couldn't help but grin though as he leaned against the edge of the table. "No name, I'm not good with names. Found her on the moors about a year ago, half dead, brought her home and nursed her back to health. Had a brown striped male that used to hang around here named Scoundrel cause he liked to get into trouble my girls said, he disappeared right before I left the isle for the battle and she came up pregnant, guess he knew he was in for it and halled his butt off." He hummed in a laugh and shrugged while pointing to the loft when he said the cat had shown up pregnant. "Had a litter of six, just about ready to leave the loft I'd say." He kneeled down as the cat finished with licking the milk from Portia hands mewed and wove around his legs and his calloused fingers scratched under her chin.

Portia: "She looks like peaches.. I shall call her peaches " she grinned wiping her hands on her skirt as she hefted him the other bucket of milk, a bit sloshed over the sides and Peaches took advantage of it.. " She looked upward when he poke of the kittens.. "Can we go up and see?" the goats could wait.. a little bit couldn't they.. " I'm sure you girls loved all these animals, my boys, they loved dogs and horses, never much for cats.. but I had one when I was a girl.. she was pure white.. I called her princess " she babbled as already she was climbing the ladder toward the kittens weather he was coming or not, Of course then gave him a prime veiw of what lay beneath her skirts, the flash of a chemise, a little lace and pale flesh... before she was up and over the ladder into the hay loft.. quickly enough peaches followed.. Leaving Eulle with a decisions.

[Eulle: He lifted up from his kneel as she hefted the heavy bucket and he took the handle from her as milk sloshed over the side and the newly named peaches took to licking it up as he hefted the bucket onto the workbench before turning as she asked to the see the kittens and catching view of her ascending the ladder giving him a perfect view of what was beneath his skirts. God in heaven! He jerked turning around turning his attention elsewhere until the hay shuffled in the loft and he turned around seeing her only her foot remaining for a split second before she was out of sight. Sighing, his hand lifted to scratch at the back of his neck as peaches now scampered to a stall side and then up an angled beam to the loft disappearing out of sight with her new mistress. After several seconds he followed to the ladder and climbed up to the loft crawling over the mounds of hay to the nest peaches had made for her kittens. Four girls and two boys. The boys were hissing at Portia from their hiding place far out of her reach while two of the girls merely stared in wonder at the new presences and the other two were now attempting to climb over what they considered a new toy that was Portia body. Crawling over the hay, he found a nice mound to lounge against, his elbow against the height of the mound to keep him propped up.

Portia: Portia lay on her belly, watching the kittens with a interest that was almost comical , the two boy kittens hissing and spitting while two others were cautious and the last two that were adventurous.. came toward her,, she eased out her hands and they came too her crawling atop her and playing with the golden curls of her hair.. she laughed picking up one and nuzzling it as she rolled to her side careful of the other one.. not to squash it.. " So soft.. " she purred eyes half closed in enjoyment of the simple pleasure... before he joined her in the hayloft.. He had not offended her by speaking of his wife or children in the least, they were part of the man, a very large part of who he was , and while Portia was spoiled and bratty, she was not dim witted to know any man who would go some 3 years without a woman, while he was grieving his wife.. well that man loved his wife.. She had been a lucky woman it seemed.." We should name them what do you think..?" she held up one of the girl kittens that was calico colored ... turning it too and fro... as if deciding on a name for the tiny creature.

Eulle: His eyes turned this way and that, to the boys hissing and spitting at Portia to the shy girls to the adventurous ones. After a few minutes the boys seemed to ease some though the hair was still raised on their backs. His lips pulled into a grin as his eyes swung around to Portia as she purred with the pleasure of having the soft kitten in her arms. She was, as he had expected all along, a good woman caught up on the wrong side of things. His fingers plucked at the straw before bringing one to his lips and chewing it thoughtfully between his teeth as he watched her play with the kittens. He had never been a man of many words, rather a worker and thinker all in the same mix. He thought now on the words of her sons. There was no doubt in his mind that she missed them. Perhaps with time he could go and collect them from where they had been left, if it pleased her to have her sons here. He hummed a small laugh as she held the kitten up saying they should name them. Calico colored kitten was held up and no names came to mind. He merely shrugged as no names came to mind. All the animals on the farm where named by his wife or daughters, he was horrible with names. "Portia..."He spoke after a few minutes of silence. "What if I offered to go get your sons on the mainland? Maybe, after a while, when your settled here?" He had begun weaving pieces of straw together, his eyes falling to the task now looked up at her.

Portia: "Patches, this one will be called patches.. and this one " she reached for a tabby striped grey kitten that was at her skirt, suddenly it bounded away from her onto his lap.. and she chased after it.. on her knees her skirt tangling about her legs as she caught it holding it up to a shaft of sunlight streaming in from a crack in the barn wall.. stunned she looked at him as if he had asked for the impossible holding the kittens close to her chest.. softly running her fingers over their fur..what did he mean collect her sons for her... did he mean for the to all live here, raise Barthomew and Angus here.. on the farm.. wide eyes looked down at the kittens for a moment.. " I'm sure they are better off with Shyvonne at the academy.. being raised as noblemen, than with me.. I'm not a good mother.. I'm not even their real mother.. " she shrugged softly.. her eyes fastened on the kitten in her hands.. not looking him in the eye with her confession.. " I'm a wanted woman , I can't give them a life.. I cant even fend for myself.. if you hadn't come.. I would have been dead.. " there was emotion in her voice that was both sadness, grief, but most of all despair.. The kitten was set aside as she stood, moving to the ladder.. " It was a nice gesture, but I'm not sure they would want me as their mother, now that they know .. what I've done.. " she had no doubts that Vargus and her crimes had been blurted out in the streets and rumors and that the boys knew of it.. She really did miss them, and truth was she really did consider them better off without her.. She reached the ladder passing by him.. " We have goats to milk " before she started to descend..

Eulle: "Peaches...then Patches. Somehow I think you like P names" He let out a laugh that rippled when she went chasing after the kitten that bounded from her to him and tangled herself within her skirts. The kitten was lifted up in a large hand and passed to her. Something told him he had hit a nerve even before she spoke at the way her body tensed and she held the kitten against her chest as she would in protecting or comforting a child. "You really think so after what happened to you being raised as a noblewoman? I'm not saying all of them are well backstabbing and I rather think you were lead into it unwillingly. I don't think your a bad person Portia, just put into bad situations. There is no doubt in my mind, you are a good person and can be a wonderful mother, if that's what you wish." He watched her put the kitten down and move to the ladder, shifting from his lounge against the hay, he caught her before could position herself to go down and pulled her back towards him. "Portia, you have to stop doubting yourself, look at what you did this morning. You wanted to do it, you set your mind to it and you accomplished something. We have two buckets of milk to atest for that. Don't make a decision now hmm? Just keep it in mind as a future possibility." His hand lifted to push the mass of golden wheat colored curls away from her eyes. "People can change Portia, no matter what you did, its past. It's here, now and the days to come that matter."

Portia: "it was milking cows.. plenty of people do it everyday.." she shrugged as he lauded her accomplishment as if she had cured the world of plague " Don't " she murmured as he pulled her back to him.. " Don't act as if you don't know I'm a bad person.. you know this.. but somehow in your guilt for your wife's an children's death you have decided to punish yourself by.. what.. reconditioning me.. some people are beyond redemption.. Eulle.. " she jerked away and fled down the ladder, not even looking his way as she stalked out of the barn.. walking swiftly toward the house.. then a door slammed.. she disappeared within.

Eulle: "Not everyone gets it with the first try" He countered and then sighed. "Portia, stop struggling" His grip tightened on her shoulders and he gave her a little shake to look him but she would not and finally broke free to flee down the ladder, out of the barn and the door to the house slammed resounded even in the space of the barn. He sat back on the hay with a sigh. He did not think he was wrong about her, if he had been, he would be dead. She could of easily used any of the utensils in the house as a weapon to slay him in his sleep the very first night he had brought her back to the farmhouse. After a moments pause he descended the ladder and grabbed an empty bucket to begin milking the goats. It needed to get done and maybe she just needed some time alone.

Portia: If he was surprised by her showing up in the morning then he would be surprised again some thirty minutes later when the barn door opened and she came back in picking up a bucket and stool and settling in with one of the goats.. silently she went about milking with him as she had promised, until they were done with all fifteen.. several buckets of milk lined up on the work table.. She turned to leave the barn picking up the basket of eggs.. and taking it with her..toward the house.. was she going to cook? she might burn the house down, did she even know how to start a fire..?

Eulle: The surprise of the morning was wearing off so when she returned to help milk the goats, all he did was grin silently and go about their work. It took some time to get the fifteen animals milked and with several buckets filled, he took the time to stretch groaning with the aches of sitting in one still position for so long despite getting up in between to line the buckets along the workbench. When she picked up the eggs and started back towards the house, he stared curiously after her. For a moment he was shell shocked into place before thinking that if she did intend to cook, he wanted to be there, with a bucket of water to put the fire out. The task of preparing the milk for cheese could wait as he followed her inside pausing to draw water from the well and then take it inside. "Portia..."He started and then sighed, his hand raised as in gesture but to what, even he wasn't sure. "I am sorry if I upset you but you've got to stop putting yourself down. You're not bad, if you were...I would be dead. That says a lot. I wish you could see it."

Portia: She was standing before the hearth looking at the pile of wood and wondering how to start it.. when he came in, she didn't even turn to look at him... as he spoke apologizing.. her posture was stiff, her back ramrod straight, until he said he was sorry and her shoulders slumped a bit.. " Why do you care.. why do you put yourself though this.. you could have left me.. " now she turned slowly the basket of eggs in her hands.. " your alive because I'm a coward.. I've never killed anyone.. with my own hands, but I watched my husband order it.. pay for it.. so I condoned it accepted it.. I'm just as guilty.." she shrugged " You paint a far better portrait in your mind of me than I am.." it was a wry self deprecating smile that pulled at her lips.. fingers pushing curls back from her eyes. " Why do you see anything good in me.. and why.. would you want to..why would you even want me here "

Eulle: "Why does everyone need a motive to care?" He felt his anger rising with her. She continued to put herself down no matter how hard he tried to make her see differently. They had just started getting somewhere, there had been a change in her, there had been pride in her and now all she seemed to want to do was put herself down. "Portia, people have done worse things then just watching others carry out their plots as you have done" He waved his hand and let out a groan as his hand moved now to rub at the back of his neck, his headache threatening to return with the tension in his neck. "Nothing I say is going to convince you of who you are Portia. You're going to have to see the good person you are all on your own. It's going to take time, annoying head aching time but it will happen." His hand dropped from his neck. "You didn't commit those acts Portia, sure you might not of acted against them but I feel sure in my heart that you didn't for fear of your life, or perhaps that of your sons. See I happen to believe, a person with a bad heart cannot be changed at all but since you've been here, there as been leaps of change Portia, maybe some steps back but you come forward again. You want to be good, you just can't believe it in yourself, but I do and nothing you say can change my mind of it." He did a small turn in the living space then turned towards the bedroom. He wasn't going to help her with the stove, not unless the house started burning. Let her accomplish this to on her own, let her feel that pride again he hoped. He liked her a hell of a lot better when she wasn't self mutilating herself.

[Eulle MacGregor]

Portia: Months had passed and things stayed the same, the holidays had come and passed and the promise of a new year offered little change or difference in the way of life on the tiny farm.. Cats had kittens, Cows .. calves, and sheep lambs.. and still Portia and Eulle stepped about each other as if China plates were between them bound to be broken if one misstep was to be had. They both had their reasons, and though time to time there were clumsy moments where and advance would begin, there was always a quick retreat. Christmas had seen him gifted with new gloves and a scarf in scarlett red, she had bargained for the wool with preserves from the peach tree, and for lessons on how to make it, each night adding rows to it in secret in her room.. Her cooking was approaching exemplarily and she mostly handled that task now along with the milking, while they both worked in the Fromage haut... (cheese hut ) to make the rounds of cheeses that now aged in the cellar to perfection. She hated market days when Eulle left to go to the mainland for a week to take their cheeses to market.. the cottage and farm was lonely without him, with only the cats and kittens, and the silly long legged calves that begged for attention and a stray sugar cube now and again. Tonight she had washed up the dishes and now settled into her bed, bundled under covers shivering as the wind howled outside and snow blew, ice formed on the roof and dripped into deadly spears. A single candle flame flickered as she read a book for the fifth time, a hopeless trashy romantic farce, it wasn't science but it made her laugh and smile..

Eulle: In truth his own visits to the mainland were not welcomed either though they amassed much coin, in these times it was difficult to get there and back, the snow a hindrance more then people of wealth would ever understand. They, could bundle under robes of fur in carriages while he and those of the island had to make due with bundling as much as possible and still shiver against bitter wind. Christmas had come and gone, now returning to the farm was welcomed with the new gloves and scarf from Portia, one he noticed she gave with pride for it was from her own trading she had done so. He in turn had gifted cloth for clothing as well as a horse, she was not new but the pure white mare had been bartered for several cases of cheese to make the trade worth while. His lungs were aching from the cold by the time he reached the farm working quickly to shut the horse away before jogging to the farmhouse and within slamming the door against the cold. The house was cold, the fire left unattended in the fireplace back his jaw tense with irritation for a moment. "Portia, do you intend to be an isacle in the morning" He barked in jest as he set the parcels from his travels back on the table and went to bring the fires back to life again.


Portia: She had come out from her bundled cocoon of blankets at the sound of the door slamming, pulling back the curtain of her room to see him home.. " Ohhh I had been reading I didn't realize.. " she stammered, at his barking, the smile fading from her face as he snapped irritatingly at her.. he must be half froze.. " I'll put you on some tea.. and warm... your supper.. she moved quickly on woolen socked feet to the small iron stove shoving wood into the coals and setting a kettle to it's top, while setting a pan atop it and and ladling in the thickened hearty lamb stew she had made earlier for dinner.. " I didn't expect you back so soon " cups rattled on the table as she set him a place and herself as well a cup for tea. Hesitantly she questioned him, " Is everything well.. did the cheese sell for a fair price " it was her understanding of him that when things went badly so did his mood.

Eulle:She thought him overly irritated, so she had missed the crocked grin turning up one side of his mouth as he tended the fire and sent it crackling in the hearth again. "What were you reading that you so forget it is freezing in here?" He moved slowly across the floor to join her in the kitchens sliding a chair out from the table to take a seat as he pulled the gloves from his hands then unwound the scarf from his neck though it was cold to do so, he did not wish to keep them on and sweat to death once the farmhouse had gotten warm again. For a long while he regarded her quietly, she had come far in the months since he had brought her here. Her manners had improved as well as her cooking, so much so she was a pleasant companion to be around when they were not walking on eggshells around one another. "Everything sold for more then a fair price, there is all ready demand for more. I ran out of stock which is why I am home so early."

Portia:" Oh just a book I bought in the village.. " she murmured as the stew begin to bubble she slathered some bread with butter and slices of cheese and set it inside the stove to brown.. then settled the bowl of stew before him, along with hot tea." Do you want a splash of whiskey in it to warm you?" she asked smiling then as he told her of the popularity of their goods and the reason he was home early " I'm glad your home.. it was lonely without you " she spoke as she turned to tend the cheese bread she was browning... it was an offhanded comment , truthful and honest, but carried a bit of weight to it.. somewhere in the months of isolation here on the Island.. Portia and Eulle had become friends, companions and actually liked and respected one another.. what odd things happened in the world.

Eulle:"Hmmm" He mused to her 'just a book' in the village comment. He had no qualms of her reading, if it brought her pleasure then he was rather agreeable to it. His elbows came to rest on the top of the table, his body ached from the cold and the long ride back home. He let out a laugh at her offhand comment of it being lonely here without him though he was not making fun of the comment, it was just so strange for her to say something like that yet true they had come a long way since bringing her to the isle an his home. For now, he was content in watching her move about the kitchen now in such a way as if she had done so her whole life. "Just a splash of whiskey" He mused, it would indeed warm him, else he was not prone to wanting much spirits. "A winters storm is upon us, I am lucky to have gotten back when I did else you might of been stranded here for God knows how long." He wiggled his fingers, just in a manner of moving then in gesture. "With the storm, you should share my bed so that we may warm each other least either of us get sick with cold."

Portia:She had pulled down the whiskey bottle, and uncorked it to add to his tea, when he spoke of sharing his bed, the splash was a bit more than a splash as her hand jerked and gave a very liberal dose to his cup, in surprise.. " Ohh.. umm well.. " she looked at him oddly.. then turned abruptly to the oven to pull out the cheese toast.. handling it carefully sliding it onto a tin plate then setting it before him..with a clatter. He had caught her off guard with his comment " I guess it was lucky you came home... with me letting the fire die, you would have came home to a frozen me" she pulled the woolen shawl about her shoulders a bit tighter and settled in the chair across from him, pulling her socked feet up into the chair beneath her gown. shivering still, as finally the fire begin to warm the farmhouse.

Eulle:He waited till the bread was set before him as well as the stew to eat and not before he gave prayer and made the sign of the cross to his body. The stew was hot and stung at his mouth and tongue but he cared not for it warmed him greatly. "I am sure you would of gotten cold enough to tend the fires had I not" He offered her a grin and then spooned more of the stew into his mouth before breaking off a piece of buttered and cheese bread dunking it into the sauce before that too was popped into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed before continuing. "You are a smart woman Portia but this is your first winter on the isle, the house is well fortified against the cold as well as most grand homes that can be found in Turas Lan but the cold, is not kind or forgiving and as I have only one heavy blanket, it is better we share a bed then one or the other of us freezing, more then likely it would be I if there is a choice in the matter but as I've ridden hours through the land of biting wind and snow, I wish to be warm tonight." He took a good swallow of tea laced with whiskey and began coughing at how strong it was, his food and her momentarily forgotten as his eyes watered to the burn of hot liquid and alcohol of the drink.

Portia:She chuckled as he coughed at the tea, and sipped her own.. looking at him with large doeish brown eyes over the rim.. " I defer to your experience then " was that a blush on her cheeks.. a subtle shyness. For months now they had avoided the physical relationship that usually erupted between people isolated and alone. She thinking he cared not for her past, or the fact she had known many men. And also knowing how he stilled grieved for his wife, missed her and his children, and had loved her deeply. Portia thought there would never be a chance that he would even look her way for even the most functional of needs, much less anything that remotely resembled a relationship. She however had her own demons she was working through, in her time here she had found that she wasn't as frail and silly as she had always been led to believe she was, nor was she stupid and useless... in fact, these last months had taught her more about herself, than her whole life before.. and she now had a respect for herself, and would never settle to be some mans possession, or whore again.

Eulle: "On many things am I experienced and yet, there are many things you are experienced to that I am not. When the time comes, I will echo the sentiments" He rasped out having captured his voice again and wiping the tears from his eyes. At first he had no care for her past, it rather off set him but he had let that go as she progressed on the isle. How she had blossomed from thorned flower to a rare type of rose out here. It had taken some getting used to, having a woman on the farm again and looks of her had sometimes brought about memories of his wife but the pain of her loss was slowly deadening, whether it was his new companionship or the promise that time healed all wounds was uncertain. He finished eating in silence and then pushed back the empty bowl and plate of which still held half the bread, his belly full. "I...have something for you." He pushed his bag towards her and nodded his head that she could open it as he sat back to nurse his cup of tea and whiskey. Inside the bag were odds and ends, things taken with him for the trip but of what he spoke of for her was a sealed letter from the Academy, a letter from the Lady Liadan MacCulium of her children's progress at the Academy but also two small letters from the boys and accompanied with drawings. He had, once arriving on the mainland sent word to the Head Mistress for news of Portia children without giving away where Portia was and had in turn received letter from the Head Mistress housekeeper in the absence of her lady. "There is news on the mainland that the trial has long been ended, those accused have been released except for that Robertson wife and father, they have fled in guilt. The Lady Lindall has married a MacDonald and has birthed a son and the Lady Chloe has delivered of a girl on the eve of the new year. I heard no news pertaining the questioning of your whereabouts. You should be settled that they have likely given up on finding you."

Portia:She perused the bags contents, her fingers coming upon the sealed parcels of letters, with the academy's seal upon it.. slowly she untied the bundles ribbon and spread out the drawings from the boys, Bartholmew and Angus had done several drawings of knights, dragons and one of the boys each holding one hand of a woman, who seemed to be her. tears watered her eyes, as her fingers traced the names that signed the small works of art, and her lips pulled into a saddened yet happy smile.. the artwork was left laying before her as she opened the letters from the headmistress on their progress, she read them a smile of pride on her face,a solitary tear falling down her cheek that she wiped away absently, as she re read the letters again.. then folded them neatly.. before raising her eyes to his face... " Thank you " it was a sincere and heartfelt sentiment... " It means so much that they are doing well..and happy " she took a deep breath and dropped her gaze again to the drawings.. " I failed them miserably, and yet they still think of me.. " she traced the picture that showed the boys and herself hand in hand..

Eulle: He was silent as she took out letter to break the seal. Silent still as she looked upon the drawings and looked at the letter of progress for the boys. He had no idea how she would take such a gesture but it was one he felt he needed to take. It had been months since they spoke of her children, she had not been ready to face it but she had grown so much and her demons were all but exercised except this. He swallowed the rest of his whiskey laced with tea and nodded his head to her thank you. "They must miss you terribly to draw such things, holding hands with you. Not all women are endowed with the knowledge of how to be a mother when it comes to them, especially when the children are not born of them and in the circumstances you were in, you did not fail them Portia and are still good mother to them and still would be, here, if you wish it." He fingered the mug a moment before sliding the chair back. "You need only make the wish clear." His head slightly spinning from spirits, he rested a moment even pushed back from the table before rising."Leave the dishes till morning, let us to bed, the house is warming but my bones still bare a chill."

Portia:She studied him for a long moment and didn't say anything, she wouldn't argue with him tonight, not when he had brought her such a sweet gift.. slowly she folded the letters and artwork neatly as if they were precious and they were to her, she stood when he spoke of leaving the dishes for the morning and padded to her room taking the letters and drawings with her, and putting them away in her dresser. Soon she made her way to his room and stood at the doorway a moment... before skittering into his bed dragging her covers from her bed with her and spreading them onto the bed for them both to share..along with her pillow.. She almost looked tragically comical, as she gave him a quick " Good Night" and turned her back before he began to undress.

Eulle: He followed after her diverting his path to his own room and going to the chest at the foot of the bed to take the down blanket from within and spread it along the bed, coupled with her own blankets, it would serve to keep them both warm. He was reluctant to wash up before bed and did so quickly leaving him more chilled them before. For her sake, he left on his trousers and shirt serving only to untuck his shirt before crawling into the bed beside her chuckling as he went to her comical look and quick crawl and turn in the bed away from him. "Are you a born again spring virgin my lady that you flush so at sharing a bed with me? Think me a beastly knight who would so rupture the sacred virtue of a woman who does not want his advances?" He teased.

Portia:" We both know different than that dont we " she scowled at his tease of her being a reborn virgin " There is no undoing what was done, many times over " she shrugged slightly then lifted blowing out the candle leaving them in darkness.. " I know well you would never take something not freely offered, nor would you want anything of me..I do not fear for my virtue " she spoke into the darkness pulling the coverings closer to her, curling onto her side... she had to admit, that he did put off a great amount of warmth, even with the space between them.

Eulle: The bed creaked and moved as he shuffled around to get comfortable and finally on his back with his arm over his forehead, he settled until the bed shook with a quiet laugh again. "Surely my affections towards you of late would speak again such a thing lady. My words spoken long ago were before we offered each other comfort and companionship. My words before are long since gone and no longer felt. You have grown much Portia, and yet many times you seek to sting yourself with words of hate against yourself. It is a trait I will be glad to see you overcome one day." The bed shifted again in the darkness as his arm left his forehead and went under the blanket chilled by the cold air in the room.

Portia:There was an out take of breath as she seemed frustrated.. by his proclamation.. " Your impossible I never know what you mean it's like being at court, with all those people playing games and saying what they mean the opposite of, it's infuriating" she grumped pulling the cover tighter " I do not seek to sting myself as you say, only say the truth of the matter " now she rolled toward him, not that she could see him in the darkness, propping up on one arm.. "I am not afraid you will as you say steal my virtue because I know you do not see me that way, and that I know you are a honorable man , and that sex means more to you than a way to stay warm" she nodded sagely then considering she had appeased his query turned on her side once again with a tug to the blanket.

Eulle: "I am honored that you think me well spoken enough to talk like one at the court" He did not get frustrated as she did, instead he laughed at such a thing. The bed bounced as she moved to look at him through the darkness though he could not see her nor her him. "Indeed, you would of course see them as truth, sometimes the bad people speak of us is easier to believe then the good. I have faith though, and time, to let you see the wrong of your words but you are right, the next I take woman to my bed for the pleasure of body, it will be as my wife." He felt her tug the blankets and laughed again as he 'tugged' them back.

Portia: " see you tease me but I know you Eulle.. I know well I am here for warmth and nothing more " she shook her head softly and curled upon herself, " I know I'm safe with you , One day you will find a woman who you can be proud of to be your wife.. you deserve happiness.. your a good man " her voice was drowsing slightly as she yawned then snuggled more into her pillow... She'll be a lucky woman "

Eulle: "I thank you for suh kind words Portia, now quiet your own of your ill worth before I toss you out of my bed and I will so do it with my frozen feet" He was still teasing but now he was getting irritated with her. Most woman would beam at compliment and not speak ill of it and time and time again she spoke against it, it frustrated him to the point he did image placing the cold pads of his feet on her bottom and thusly shoving her from his bed. This he could see behind the veil of his eyes as they closed in exhaustion for the want of sleep but he was still cold despite the blankets and the warmth she gave between the space of them.

Portia:" Yes sire" she chuckled and sighed yawing once more, " And Really Eulle... the letters... they were the best gift I've ever received.." she smiled into the darkness, she could almost smell the sweet scent of her little boys, the sounds of their laughter.. " I think I should like to send them a letter.. next time you go to the main Island.. " it was a step... a small one, but it seemed she worked best with small steps.. " Ohh and.. molly, had a baby boy calf... he's adorable... all shaggy and red " she reported on the main thing that had happened while he was gone... and without thinking snuggled back toward him in search of his warmth.

Eulle: He was falling asleep, if slowly but still managed a laugh. For several seconds there was only the sound of his breathing before he offered up into the darkness. "Write the letter, I will see it sent to the mainland even without my presence to deliver it. We have the money enough to do so and more." As she snuggled closer to him, his half sleep state had his arm uncurling and pulling her into him. "I am happy for Molly, maybe we should throw her a party" His lips curled into a tired grin in the darkness as his chest hummed in the effort of a laugh.

Portia: " A party for a cow, Eulle sometimes I wonder that living out here addles your brain " she sighed softly, as his arm settled about her waist she moved around like a kitten curling into him, thinking it was nice to be held..to be warm.. her fingers laced over his against her belly " How long do you think the storm will last?"

Eulle: Without thought of mind, his hand began to massage at her back rubbing up and down and up and down once more. His eyelids did not flutter, staying closed to heavy to open now and yet he grinned at her comment of idle brain and hummed at her question. It seemed he was deep in sleep now or at least on the way for he was silent for several minutes before letting out a sigh. "It's hard to say, winter storms are always unpredictable." He went silent again and then tightened his arm around her. "You said nothing of the news of the MacGregor Family that I gave you, to amerced in the letters I presume. I am happy they pleased you but I wondered your thoughts on your family."

Portia:" I never really cared for them.. nor they me.. I was a thorn in their side as Vargus' wife.. " she made a small sound of pleasure as his hand stroked her back, realizing as he did so that her back was sore from the last week of working alone while he had been gone, and the chill of winter was doing it's damage as well... another little sigh before she continue.. " I always thought well enough of Lindall, though she was warm.. but Chloe and Shyvonne... they were hateful enough, though I suppose I gave them reason.." there was almost a purr of pleasure as his fingers continued their wondrous trek... " It seems so long ago and far away.. almost as if I was never really there.. this seems so much more real "

Eulle: "I find, given enough time, people are eager to reconcile their differences, especially when loved ones lives are lost. I also heard it said on the mainland that your cousin Searc was caught up in a revolt at Struan and was killed. The Lady Chloe is now Chieftain. Perhaps with time you may return to them to bury the hatchet." His hand continued to rub at her back noticing at first her discomfort when he touched at it. His heart went out to her especially with pride that she had worked so hard in his absence. His arm tightened about her for a moment curling her tighter to him. "Think not longer on it. We will take things one at a time, as slowly as you need." He hummed in a small laugh. "I find it amusing, imaging the look on their faces to see you now, so changed. You have Portia, much as you still chastise yourself." His hand continued to rub at her back again but it was slowing with the coming of sleep. "Sleep now...sleep and dream sweet hmm"

[Eulle MacGregor]

[glow=red,2,300]Warning: Adult Content[/glow]

Portia:
During the night she had managed to roll over and cuddle closer to the human heater that was Eulle, now snugly against him her arm was thrown over his chest, head partially laying atop his shoulder, and legs tangled with his. Her gown had ridden up over her legs beneath the cover to that bare flesh of her legs were nude from the tops of socked ankles to high hip, the shoulder of the gown had slipped downward, revealing the soft curve of her shoulder, upon which golden curls lay in disarray. Soft sounds of her breath warm against his shoulder, and the scent of her, soap and firewood, and something else.. something feminine and uniquely her. She made a soft sound of pleasure as she shifted in her sleep.. nails grazing over his chest like a kitten, before she rolled onto her side, away from him, pulling the covers with her, and leaving him partially uncovered..

Eulle:
Several times during the night he had awoken to the room ice cold and him, strangely warm under the body of Portia MacGregor, it was a wonder how he managed to move her without waking her in order to tend to the fire in the small sitting room before returning to the bed and the warmth of her body, sometimes staying awake several minutes longer then he should just feeling the warmth of her body as she sought out his warmth again on his return. Several times he had done this and always she returned to his body. At one point in the night, her warmth and his was so great that he removed his shirt as his body began to moisten with sweat so that when morning came and her nails dragged across his chest ever so slightly, he let out a moan in his sleep. As the cool air from a dying fire hit his chest again he managed a groan before rolling with her tugging the covers back and raising them up above his shoulder and hers before his arm found place across her stomach and unconsciously he pulled her back to meet him so that he could spoon to the warmth of her once more.

Portia:
They usually rose before the sun, Eulle had this internal clock that never seemed to fail, the usual routine, was to dress and milk the cows, gather the eggs, then inside for a quick breakfast before they begin to process the milks in the fromage for the different types of cheeses they made. In the summer and fall, she had done this mostly herself, while he tended the fields and garden, but in the winter months, where there was little to tend save the frozen soil, they worked together... Today however, snuggly warm they both lingered in the comfort of the warmth inside the bed, her pulled snugly against him, in spoon fashion, bare flesh of his back against one bare shoulder of hers.. she made a purring sound in her sleep of contentment, then breathed in deeply, her fingers twinning about his that rested over her belly... " mmmmmm we should go tend the milking " it was a sleepy murmur, that was soon followed by even breathing as she lapsed back into a light sleep..

Eulle:
Oh his internal clock was going off at dawn, he for once ignored it against the bitter cold content with the warmth in the bed and its name was Portia. He felt her fingers twine with his own and let out a hum of a sigh. Her sleepy words brought him out of his own light sleep, his internal clock not letting him sleep any deeper then that. "The snow has risen up to the windows, we'll not be getting to the barn today, besides the cows are likely to distress by the cold to give milk, the barn will be comfortable for them for now and they will give twice as much tomorrow." He unconsciously gave a kiss to her shoulder as he pulled his hand from her own. "I need to go stoke the fire up again, stay here" He commanded softly as he rolled away from her and rose from the bed. The floor boards creaked under the weight of his body and could be heard all the way into the small living room where the grate made noise as it was moved, the poker to the fire and the comforting pop of the fireplace again as the fire was brought to life once more only to have the floor creak again as he came back to the bed and crawled into it taking his spooning position against her again.

Portia:
She did not argue the staying here part.. and half rolled to watch him stoke the fire.. with a sleepy smile upon her face... she yawned softly as she stretched, lifting her arms our from under the cover and above her head, her whole body tensing then relaxing before she returned to curl on her side as he slide back into bed..she snuggled back into him, lifting her head slightly so his arm could curl beneath her neck.. " Your feet are freezing " she commented, rubbing her own woolen socks against his feet to warm them, and in the process, her bare legs against his bottom half... " I should see if Erma can teach me to knit small stitches for socks " her head shifted as she looked back over the bared shoulder at him " though the rest of you warms nicely "

Eulle:
"They haven't had a chance to warm since last night, tended the fire several times during the night" He hummed in a sleepy laugh as he tightened his arm around her stomach feeling her warm feet against his chilled own but her bare leg against his hairy ones. "Be careful of Erma, she is a gossiping ninny" He let out another laugh at her comment though. "Blame it on your what did your book call it...quivering bosom" An he burst out laughing again, a low rumble in his chest that vibrated the bed. at one point in the night when he could not sleep, he had found her romance and found it quite amusing until he had felt sleepy again and had taken to bed and her warm presence within it again.

Portia:
She rolled toward him with a questioning prod to his middle " You read my book?" the look was incredulous that he would read such a trivial thing, most often read farming almanacs, and the bible.. She swiped playfully at his chest then pouted " It's no great work of art, but it's.. entertaining " she defended the now well worn novelette.. " and relives the boredom" she rolled her large brown doeish eyes, still liquid and sleep drugged at him, and gave and unlady like snort before flopping back over to face away from him, but she made no move to leave the warmth of his bed nor his side.

Eulle:
He curled to the prod at his middle but did not stop laughing as he rolled to his back still chuckling, his lips curled into a wide grin. "Only a few pages when I could not sleep" He stretched then himself grunting and groaning as he did then letting his arm fall to rest against his forehead, his mouth still curled in a large grin, like a cat who ate the canary. "Oh indeed, quite entertaining...relieves the boredom, quite right" The bed shook again but this time his laughter was silent. "So how many times as your bosom quivered reading it? It's quite worn, must of been many times now" Was Eulle actually teasing her? It was a wonder to behold but a sight unseen was unfolding before them. Eulle in a good mood and joking.

Portia:
"My bosom does not quiver " she snorted, and jerked the cover a bit over her shoulder " I've read it several times it's the only one I have, though I plan to buy another one soon.. Perhaps you would like to pick it out " the last part was a tease to him.. " So you will know what.. entertains me ' she smirked , unseen to him as it was only the view of her back and shoulders he was privy too " as it seems to occupy your mind.. my bosoms that is.. " she chuckled a bit then rolled back toward him with a winsome grin, dark lashes dusting the rosy apples of her cheeks, flushed from what... the shared warmth, of this talk of bosoms?

Eulle:
"Oh no, they heave and swell when excited" He rasped lids heavy over his eyes again but he let out a laugh when she snorted and jerked the covers her way. "Buy as many as you wish, if it pleases you...heaving bosom and all" His arm left his shoulder to tug some of the covers back to cover himself up, devoid of her warmth, the bite of crisp cold air was nipping at his chest. Once situated, his arm returned to its place but instead of at his forehead, it went to the pillow underneath his head but his arm remained close to his head as it was. "Oh yes, occupied my dreams quite well, I even copped a feel while you slept" Was he joking? His lips were still curled into a grin.


Portia:At his words she flipped again to face him.. " Heave and swell when excited.. how would you know I've not been.. as you say excited " a light brow arched his way as she tried to affect a prudish tone to her voice.. and then she gasp looking at him with wide eyes.. " You what?" she blinked a few times then tilted her head unable to tell if he was joking or not.. " Your dreams..?" her brow drew together and her lips pursed.. then she laughed rolling her eyes as she flipped back the covers " you got me.. " she chuckled.. as she swung her legs over the opposite side of the bed, standing the gown falling down now to cover what had been bare to his gaze for a moment... " I almost believed you " she shook her head as she hurriedly made her way into the kitchen putting a kettle of tea on the stove, before filling it's iron belly with wood and stoking it to life..

Eulle:
He peeked at her with one eye and began to chuckle again, this time in sound rather then the quiet one which shook the bed. "Oh yes, they heave and swell" He confirmed with more chuckling to follow as she flipped back the cover showing bare leg before she rose and the gown fell. "Did you know you make a kittenish mewing sound when your excited?" He called as she left the room and he heard her putting the pot on for tea and wood in the belly of the stove to start breakfast. He let out a humph of a laugh as he too threw the covers back and rose from the bed, a new pair of slacks were taken from the dresser along with a pair of socks that would help protect from the icy floor, the items tossed on the bed, he undid the ties at the front of his trousers and pulled them down using the mattress to steady himself as he pulled one leg off at a time and threw the slacks into a clothes basket before collecting the new pants to pull on and then sitting on the bed, he pulled the socks on and grabbed a tunic to pull on as he left the bedroom to help with breakfast.

Portia:
She moved about the kitchen, taking a few loaves of bread she had left overnight to rise and placing them in the oven, before setting pans on the top of the stove adding fresh butter to it, bringing it to a sizzle before adding a mixture of eggs, chunks of cured ham, onions and mushrooms into the pan all scrambled together and making a omelette.. She turned to answer back to his comment that her bosoms heaved and swelled.. when she caught sight of him changing his clothes.. a brow lifted in appreciation of his well toned and muscled body displayed before her, before she turned away, feeling as if she were intruding on his privacy.. " Again I tell you, I've no reason to heave and swell because I've not been excited.. and I do not make.. kittenish sounds " she declared settling on the hearth for warmth and sipping at her hot tea.. "You however seem obsessed with heaving bosoms.. how much of that book did you read?" she teased... lightly pulling her shawl closer about her.

Eulle:
"An again I tell you, I copped a feel while you slept, I know" He teased as he joined her in the kitchen missing her having witnessed his changing else his teasing manner might of brought up the point. The small house was all ready beginning to smell of the cooking breakfast and his stomach grumbled not used to eating so late into the morning though really it was fairly early for those who rose at this hour, they were usually up at dawn. "Yes, I quite like heaving bosoms, they are my favorite among body parts." He found a seat at the table and leaned lazily back in the chair. "Only a few pages, most I remember is heaving or quivering bosom, something like that...or was it heaving bosom and quivering member, ah well, it escapes me whatever it was. The heroine though, to large of breast, yours are quite nice, they fit into the cup of my hand" An he actually raised his hand and made a cup of it as if to give more meaning to the statement by displaying what it was like. Lifting up from the chair, he went to fix himself a cup of tea to ward off the chill that crept even into his clothing.

Portia:
Now she knew he was teasing her relentlessly, and her brow lifted and a devious smile creased her lips, turning up the corners into and expressive grin.. " Oh really... " she questioned as he made his cupping motion " That doesn't seem quite fair that you would, assess my breast while I sleep, to see if they fit your hand right, and I derive no pleasure from it " now she stood following him toward the stove, coming to stand right behind him, letting her hands trail down his back in a suggestive manner... lingering at the small of his back them back up... " Are we not equals.. " her hand slipped round his middle, hovering over his belly button.. teasingly letting her finger swirl over the indention... " Then I should be allowed such exploration as well no?" she was like a cat toying with a mouse, turning his game back upon himself.. now she would be the tease.

Eulle:
"You seemed pleased by it, or didn't I tell you, mewing kitten and all that you were" His chest rumbled, shoulders shaking with the tease that went on relentless as he poured the amber liquid into a mug and then added half a spoon of sugar and a little bit of milk just enough to give it a creaminess without cooling it to much. He felt her hand at his back and shuddered though it was not out of disgust but it had been so long since he felt a woman's touch in teasing or likewise against his body, sleep was one thing, this was another. Setting down the cup, he spread his arms out even as her hand crept around him and hovered at his belly button "I have copped my feel, why not you?" If she had thought she would get him with her teasing, she was dead wrong, he was following through with it, not allowing her to win as it was.


Portia:She chuckled at his back, her breath on the middle of his back " hmmmmm if you insist " her hand lowered to where his shirt tucked into his pants, and pulled it upward.., the warm small hand slipping underneath the coarse fabric..hovering just below his navel.. if he thought she would move down, perhaps it would surprise him as her hand moved upward, slowly exploring the well muscled wall of his ribs, and chest.. then lay flat across his heart... feeling the beat of his heart.., her nails curling slightly into his flesh. Behind him her forehead pressed against the middle of his back, then her cheek nuzzled softly there lingering for a long silent moment.. before a little sound of pleasure escaped her lips, and her hand slowly withdrew.. moving downward, retracing it's trek, to his side, then back to her side, before she was turning back to the fire... " I suppose I do make.. kittenish sounds " she murmured..

Eulle:
His shoulders rolled backward as her hand trickled down and under his shirt only to move upward and lingering over his beating heart. There he felt her fingers curl inward as her forehead came to rest against his back. Even Eulle could not help but make a humming sound of pleasure along with her at the touch of such warm flesh of fingers against his chest. It would of surprised him had she gone downward, it did not surprise him that her hand went upward and he shuddered again as her hand retraced her steps and finally pulled free of his clothing. He could not help but laugh at her murmured words as he took up his tea and took a swallow turning at the counter to watch her. "Well you see now I am at a disadvantage, at least the fee I took was outside your clothing, you, wandering fingers, went underneath my shirt. That in itself was quite unfair, kitten"

Portia:
She chuckled at his claiming the task unfair to him, then turned to the stove and moved to pull out the loaves of bread and settle them on the table, all warm and crusty filling the small farmhouse with the delectable smell of fresh baked bread.. " Perhaps, but I made breakfast so that has to count for something " she grinned over at him as she settled his plate and hers on the table across from each other.. there was a soft blush on her cheeks, as her eyes lifted to his in almost...challenge.. "But if you insist " she took a deep breath, drawing his attention to the woolen fabric that lay over the expanse of her breast, quite on purpose.. " I would never wish to be unfair " now had become a game of daring... that could lead to dangerous territory.


Eulle:
"For shame woman, claiming breakfast is fairness to touching flesh with flesh!" He mocked a gasp and then laughed setting his mug down on the table with the intent at sitting at the table again to wait for breakfast to be ready. Truly he did marvel at how far she had come, she was making breakfast, she had made fresh bread and he hadn't had to lift a finger to do any of it. She was an accomplished woman, full of promise, there was nothing that she could not do if she put her mind to the task. Palms lay flat on the table as she lay out their plates with that soft blush on her cheek all most a challenge in itself. He inhaled a deep breath as she tossed back the game his way. For several minutes he watched her for sign of resigning away from such a daring game. Lifting up from his lean, he moved around the table towards her, drawing close so his lips were a breath away from her own. "If you insist, Madam" His hand lifted and then was gestured away as a thick brow raised in question. "In all fairness" His lips curled slightly into a grin as his hand fell to the front of her nightgown and he exhaled softly as his fingers gripped and pulled the laces free. He used one hand, as she had to pull open one side of the folds that covered her breasts to expose one of them. The tips of his fingers brushed over the top swell of her breast, his eyes following the movement of his fingers as they traced the circle of her breast while his thumb grazed at her nipple while his fingers moved to the underside of her breast and then moved up as his palm cupped the mound of her breast into his hand, which surprisingly fit into the palm of his hand, as it said it had in teasing. As he cupped the warm flesh of her breast into his hand, he inhaled a deep breath as he fingers massaged over the glorious orb in his hand.

Portia:
She had stood motionless as he approached her, his words falling from his lips, warming the space that separated her lips from his, yet not touching, before he grinned, the warmth of his fingers untying the laces, in little hints of brushing his knuckles against her skin, goose bumps rose, and a deeper flush suffused the flesh of her cheeks neck staining her skin with a pink glow.. she trembled yet held her ground, as his fingers traced the curves of her breast then cupped it fully into the warmth of his palm.. a soft inhale of breath, that was held, her eyes riveted on his chest a moment, before the breath was expelled in a soft whoosh.. dark lashes closing over her eyes and a trembling shudder shook her body.. " Eulle " his name was barely a whisper from her lips... plaintive, almost a plea ... but for what...

Eulle:
He was captivated by the swell of her flesh, even the intake of her breath and the whisper of his name from her lips kept his body motionless as he teased at her flesh with his hand and fingers. Yet when she spoke his name, only the did his gaze leave her breast to look at her face, those soft features flushed a hue of pink, lids closed, mouth a gasp with the shudder of her body. He did not know what came over him then, seemingly a madness that came with the loss of feminine touch for so long, his free hand curled around her waist and lifted her upward onto the counter so he had better access for when her breast was in reach of his mouth, the warm wetness of it enveloped over the areola of her breast, his tongue circling her hardened nipple brought on by the tease of his fingers.

Portia:
Suddenly lifted atop the counter and settled, her fingers fell into the thick mane of his reddish gold hair, curling and releasing like the kitten he had called her, the feel of his lips fastening on her breast, suckling softly led to a soft serious of moans, before her head bowed downward to kiss softly atop his head, her fingers working over his shoulders, massaging softly, pulling him nearer to her... He was not the only one who had suffered the lack of physical touch, the intimacy of their living situation, the isolation, it was bound to happen wasn't it.. natural.. but she didn't dwell on these thoughts instead she surrendered to the sweet sensations he evoked in her, the feel of his lips warm against the tightened flesh of her breast, the graze of teeth against the pink bud of a hardened nipple, the feel of his hair thick and soft beneath her fingers.. She shuddered with a racking spasm of pleasure that arced upward thru her spine, and spread in glorious warmth throughout her limbs, and seemed to settled warm and molten, at the core of her being.. Her heart beat loudly, against the breast he feasted on, her back arching toward him in offering...

Eulle:
His mouth seemed intent on devouring her breast, savoring the taste of yet and yet suckling as if to pull all the taste from it that he could while his hands moved up her thighs pushing the material of her nightgown upward. He could feel her thighs quivering beneath his fingers as he explored the milky soft flesh beneath callused fingers even as her back arched with the pleasurable sensations running through her. His fingers found their conquest, the molten center of her body all ready quickened with moisture. It seemed to be more then he could handle for his mouth left her breast only to capture her mouth as his hands left her thighs only to grip at her bottom and lift her from the countertop to bring her back to the bedroom were the bed creaked as he laid her atop the mattress covering her body with his own. "Portia, do you want me to stop? Tell me." His rumbling voice seemed to echo off the walls.

Portia:
The kiss stole her breath away, it was a passionate firey thing that claimed her, his hands seemed all over her at the same time, and she responded in like manners, fingers pulling his shirt up and over his head, so that her own hands could explore his flesh, teasing over the flat male nipples, then over the wide expanse of his shoulders... before she was lifted, then laid upon the bed they had shared the night before... for a moment there was the chill of the air against her skin, then she was covered by his warmth once again... she moved beneath him so that her body fit his perfectly, breast pressed against chest, legs naturally parting for him to place a knee between.. as if in welcoming him into her... his voice brought her back from the haze of passion she had been lost in.. and she shook her head softly... " no... don't stop... " she breathed heavily in a rush.. kiss bruised lips lifting toward him invitation... a long bare leg, easing up his hip... arms circling his neck and pulling him downward into the awaiting kiss.

Eulle:
He barely felt the cold as the shirt was eased up over his head and tossed onto the floor. Breakfast had been forgotten to passion as his fingers explored the flesh of her thighs so did her fingers explore the flesh of his chest and shoulders. Even their kiss was firey passion but all he could taste was the warm sweetness of her mouth as he devoured it, his tongue swirling with her own as he lifted her up and carried her to the bed. He groaned as he lay her down, her thighs parted to allow him between them. She was making it so difficult to resist, so difficult to ask if he should stop for he was very close to being the past the point of no return. His hands on either side of her head braced himself up from his full weight being pressed upon her but her inviting lips, her breathless whisper in plead that he not stop had him crashing down upon her, his lips capturing her own once more as he pressed his hips in need against her thighs yet there was that annoyance of his trousers in the way.

Portia:
Her arms moved beneath his shoulders and nails grazed his back, as he fell down upon her , his lips capturing hers in a deeply moving kiss... when his hips pressed against her sex.. she pulled back her head and gazed into his face for a long moment.. she tried to see beyond the moment to see what he felt.. if anything... " Why ?" it was a simple question that brought them to a standstill... but one she needed answered... fingers cupped his face, slowly tracing the lines of his cheekbones, her thumbs stroking the corners of the mouth that had kissed her so well.. so passionately... and yet it was the depths of her brown almond shaped eyes that defined the moment as they searched relentlessly, his own sapphire ones... She needed to know his reason...


Eulle:
As her head went back, he went to follow till he realized her head was pressing hard into the mattress. He took this as a sign she wanted to stop and pulled his head back and then she asked Why. His mouth opened, the look of confusion plain on his face as he shook his head left and right. The question was anything but simple, it was like asking 'why is the sky blue'. Pressing his elbow into the bed beside her head, he lifted his weight off hers again in order to look her in the face. A part of him wondered if she thought he was using her for pleasure of the body, it was easy to assume such...he had brought her here to work in the beginning didn't it? He had thought her a pompous self centered arrogant little brat when he had first brought her to the farmhouse but she had come so far proving she was a good woman, proving she was intelligent far beyond the measures of a wealthy daughter, proving she had been brought up in being a rich mans wife and nothing more. She had come so far now, albeit she still belittled her worth in the world. "Your family placed you in so little worth Portia, I can see how easy it is to believe little of yourself when you are bred to be a rich mans wife...a rich mans play toy but you have proven yourself worthy these last few months of being so much more then that; you are warm and kind, you are intelligent and can do anything you put your mind to. Is it so hard to believe someone wants you for you, not as some trophy or toy to play with, but as a companion in this life, to walk with in this life and enjoy it with?"

Portia:
As he spoke here eyes shifted, so much he spoke was true, it was hard to imagine herself as being truly wanted, for more than pleasure, after all, her husband had used her cruelly , for other men's pleasure to further his own power, and wealth.. when he spoke of being a companion her eyes flickered back to his for a moment.. widening.. " So it is not because, we are out here alone.. and I am the only choice... are you sure.. that " she stumbled over her questions fearing if giving them voice would make them rear to reality, or even wake him from his passionate daze... " I do not want to be a regret for you... we live and work together.. and if.. this " she swallowed as now... as we have been, as friends than be nothing to you because you regret "

[Eulle MacGregor]

Portia:
He had said earlier and several times that the next woman he took to his bed would be his wife.. and yet here she was in his arms and in his bed.. and their playful teasing had brought them to this moment where she stared at him with doe like eyes, after such a soul stripping kiss full of need and longing..yet instead of doing what the old Portia, the pleasure first and damn the consequences Portia would have done, she pushed back from him, planting both hands in his chest and sitting back on her heels... nervous fingers then pushed at her hair before she made move to leave the warmth of the bed, socked feet almost slipping on the cold wooden floor in her hurry to ' unass' the bed... " I need to clean up the kitchen " she explained halfheartedly smoothing down her nightgown like a scared nun.

Eulle:
He wasn't about to force himself upon her and so when her hands pushed at his chest, he went backward rolling to the free side of the bed. An eyebrow inched upward as his face twisted with confusion. After her wanting to know why, wanting to make sure this wasn't going to be something to regret and a kiss that seemed (if only for a moment) to placate any of her worries, she pushed him backward and got off the bed citing that she had to clean the kitchen. He didn't mean to do it, the moment wasn't funny but he burst out laughing, rolling into his pillow to stifle the laughter that shock his body and the bed. "Well.."He rasped after getting his laughter out, and turning on his side again "That's one I haven't heard before." slowly he sat up and swung his legs over the bed to follow after her. "Portia, what's the matter? I'm not going to force you into anything you don't want to do, you don't have to make up cleaning the kitchen to get out of going to bed with me."

Portia:
At his laughter she whirled on him and gave him a look that would wither a lesser mans.. manhood.. "You horrid " she snorted and then turned back to the table collecting their dinner dishes that had been left unheeded in their tumble toward the bed.. " I'm not trying to get out of anything, just giving you time to think on the matter.. " she said rather pragmatically... sounding more like a school-marm scolding a child than a woman who had just been in his arms a few minutes before returning his kisses like a woman starving for the passion and pleasure of his touch... " I just don't want you to regret, or change your mind later, or realize that you acted rashly... " she spoke stacking the dishes in the dishpan readying them to wash.. she spoke as if they were discussing buying a new cow, almost detached... as if she wasn't the preverbal cow...there was a long silence save the clanking of dishes as she worked stiffly, her lips parted to add something then snapped shut..her jaw clenched tightly.

Eulle:
"Portia" He called her name as he gave out a long sigh all at the same time, leaning against the doorway and arms crossed over his chest. "In all the months you have been here, have you ever seen me make a decision that I acted on rashly and regretted later?" His head tilted slightly, eyebrow perked up again only this time the look of confusion was replaced by a look like this time he was the school teacher correcting a student on wrong facts. His eyes followed after her as she collected the dishes and set them in their place getting ready to wash them. If only she would take a step back and look at where she had been and where she was at now, it was a dramatic change he was sure. He noticed her mouth open then shut tightly. "Say whatever is on your mind Portia." He challenged in a low voice. She wasn't his slave and he wasn't going to have her acting like it.

Portia:
She hated being challenged it was something that she couldn't overcome, the need to rise to it, to take the bait.., the dish in her hands fell into the pan of water and she drew a deep breath.. the words sitting on the tip of her tongue.. but if she let them loose she would open herself to a vulnerability she didn't want to even admit to herself.. but better now... than in the mornings light after a night of passion and promises that were a figment of lust and need coupled with the false intimacy that being alone for months with each other had fostered.. " I couldn't bear it.. if you ever regretted a night with me.. It would kill me to see that.. in your eyes.." she still faced away from him, her shoulders trembling with pent up emotion... " I would rather never know.. than know it was not what you truly wanted... "

Eulle:
For several minutes, he stood there, leaning against the frame that lead to the bedroom in silence, arms crossed over his chest. The only movement was his face, that eyebrow snaking down that made his face look mean and hard, when really it was just a face of processing information, of thinking. It was a look he had perfected over years of being a father, driving his wife and twin girls crazy, as they never truly knew if he was anger or joking in those moments of silence that he wore that exact face. Finally he broke from his lean against the door, his face softening or at least his eyebrows seemed to relax and his face went smooth. "Portia, what have I ever said or done to make you think I wasn't a man who didn't do and said exactly what I wanted to do or say? What made you think this would be the case with you and I?" He came up behind her, laying his hands against her shoulders and spinning her around. "Portia, look at me." Thumb and forefinger captured her chin and tilted her head up to look at him. "I don't have much, I will never be a rich man, I will always enjoy working with my hands either in the dirt or with the animals, I enjoy the quiet and peaceful life, a life away from court of nobility and clans with flashy gowns and fake modesty. I'll always take pride in earning something then being given something, for nothing. If you wish it, I'll take you home, I'll speak for you with the Chieftain and make sure you're safe and come home, without you, if you wish it...but I would be honored, if it would make you happy, if it would be something you wished, to remain here with me, if you can...accept...and want, a simple man, with simple ambitions, I would be, ever thankful and blessed, if you would remain here with me, as my wife. My true wife."

Portia:
Her world suddenly tipped sideways, as he spoke of returning her to sleat, and leaving her there returning here alone.. to their home.. she paled visibly as he spoke reaching behind her to steady herself on the countertop, her knuckles going white with the effort to stand, while she felt she was punched in the gut.. his words seemed to come from underneath water, or her ears filled with wool... she blinked oddly at him as if not understanding when she heard him ask her to be his wife, she shook her head soflty trying to put his words in some sort of order in her brain... "Eulle...?" she leaned further back against the counter... her eyes opening wide and staring at him as if he grew two heads.... There was a soft curve of her lips as his words sank in finally... before she took another deep breath... " I don't' want to go back..." there was an awkward silence before she lifted her eyes to his.. " But I'm scared... I've.. never loved anyone before.. I don't know if I'll be good at it.. " how odd the once proud Portia MacGregor, now admitted not only her love for the farmer before her, but her worries of being inferior and undeserving of his love.. " But I want to be here.. with you...... " she looked back upward at him a soft smile growing... " I cannot think of not being with you "

Eulle:
His fingers released her chin as she fell backward against the counter, he jerked, for a moment ready to catch her if she fell. Why did she look so stark scared defeated by him asking her to marry him? His head cokeed to the side even as she shook her head, was she saying no. Hells bells, his former wife had thrown herself on him when he had asked her of course he wasn't comparing Portia to Ann, but this was only the second time he was asking a woman to marry him and the reactions were quite different. He let out a laugh as she smiled and said she didn't want to go back but she was scared, his hands came up to cup her cheeks in his hands. "I'm sure you'll learn quickly Portia, like you have with everything else, hmm" He winked, clearly teasing her. His fingers stroked at her cheeks as she admitted so tender feelings of not being about to think of being anywhere else then with him. "Good, had you answered differently, I would of chained you to the bed till you changed your mind." Another wink, another tease. He released her cheeks to cup her waist and pull her to him. "So is that a yes My Lady Portia?" his head cokeed, a corky grin crawling over his lips.

Portia:
When he pulled her to him holding her waist so that she was flush against him, she laughed softly at his teasing... " I would have thought chains were a bit... over the top for such a provincial as you " she teased him back as he grinned down at her.. as he asked her again.. her answer.. " mhhhhhmmmm" she swayed softly against him, the paleness from a few moments before now a soft sweet blush upon her cheeks, her eye shone with unshed tears of happiness, and the smile that reflected back at him was perhaps the most beautiful she had ever sent his way.. " That is indeed a yes.. " she purred lifting up on tiptoe to kiss him softly... then nuzzle her nose against his playfully " Though why we are in the kitchen with the dishes is beyond me "

Eulle:
"Oh I don't know about that, I think if the mood strikes me, chains would be quite interesting" He teased back at her and laughed as his arms wrapped fully about her tiny waist. Slowly he swayed with her, back and forth in one spot, they swayed and twirled coming around in a full circle. His face brightened when he smiled at him like that. "Ah, now there.." His lips brushing with hers as she raised on tiptoe to brush her lips against his own was quick for he was twirling her to a mirror on the wall, spinning her so she faced it and he stood behind her. "Look at that woman Portia, smiling in the mirror, this is the woman I always knew you to be, radiant, beautiful, you just had to have the chance to find her." His head dipped low to her ear to whisper the words at her before he kissed her cheek and then look back at the kitchen and the soapy water. "Oh yes the dishes, funny story that, this little shrew pitched a fit" He teased. "Wonder where that shrew went, oh who cares, I've a swan in my arms now." His chuckle was low, a deep rumble in his chest as he released her and backed up laughing, he knew he would be hit for that one and was now moving away from the expected.

Portia:
She examined the woman and man in the mirror for a long moment while he called her a shrew.. and turned to face him as he backed away " She can return at any moment " she threatened good naturedly... " You know... I would have never you as a man who ran from a little shrew" it was a challenge.. it seemed.. " but then there you are backing away " almost before her words were finished, she had turned and bolted into the bedroom and into the warm quilts.. "Last one in puts a new log on the fire !"

Eulle:
"Oh no, please." He shook his head. "I love the swan more." His grin stretched the whole of his face as he laughed, holding his hands up at her, as if begging her not to do much damage. "Well you see, the shrew is unpredictable, as she has proven with leaving a good warm bed and ready arms, I'm taking no chances. I am a cautious man when it comes to my genitals as well as my body, I am a wuss when it comes to pain, my lady." His hands came down suddenly as she bolted for the bedroom calling last one puts a fire on the hearth. His head turned to the hearth, screw it....He bolted after her, catching her around the waist as she fell into the quilt. "Oh I bet I can keep you warm as any fire....wife" He growled before his lips claimed her own in a firey passionate embrace.