An Unexpected Detour

Jerri wrote:Castle? he was surprised she wanted to go back when she had been so obviously upset when she left it, come to think of it, I did not see a fox follow you out of there so maybe -- he looked in the general direction of the Castle to emphasize the point but he was uncomfortable with the idea of her heading back there alone again so as she walked, he took the same road as her to ask, you are certain that it is -- err -- safe? -- or maybe she was so upset she did not care for her safety --

Anonymoose wrote:Anonymoose listened to Father Dainsleif and Jasmyne, and tried to hold a stoic look on her face, but when Jasmyne gave her a hug, she could not stop the tears from running down her face.

She removed a handkerchief from her satchel and dabbed at her eyes, trying not to look at anyone else lest she burst into tears again.

Jasmyne wrote:Seeing Aasha in the shadows as she walked out of the castle, she walked by but didnt enter her shadow area as she respected her space but spoke lightly.

Aasha, we all mourn differently but im glad you came by, i need to head out of town for awhile, i've always been this way, it helps me collect my thoughts. Heero and i are going to get wed in another town nearby as ive asked Leana to precede over the matrimony, then we'll head north

You've grown so much since when we first met and im proud to call you family, so dont worry i'll be back to visit before you know it

Jas headed out of the castle and down the path to Heero and Her horse Mischief to head out of town before anyone realized they left so quickly

Jerri wrote:The moment of being informed of someone's death, even a stranger's, was never the moment to make a quiet exit, he felt that more than anything else and so Jerri quietly slowed his pace to give the grieving young woman some privacy but he did not change his path. The guards were perhaps not under orders to stop even strangers from joining the quiet ceremony that was taking place on the grounds because he certainly was not hindered in his progress as he made his way in after Aasha.

She found a quiet shady place and he stopped yet farther in respect as he listened to the exchanges and bowed his head. He could exit the premises before the others quietly after a solemn prayer for the soul laid to rest but there are worse things in life than death, he contemplated, like life itself for some --

Papajay wrote:Jay stood in the back, out of sight, and just within earshot of the memorial. Of course he had heard, even before the whispers of town reached his ears, a friend had told him one night of her passing.

The news had turned him into a recluse, he neglected his fields, his friends, his responsibilities, and had turned to the bottle for comfort. In the constant drunken, then hungover times, he turned to memories of doing that very same thing with Tiff, which made it even harder to get past it.

He stood, far in the back, under the protection of a cloak, his face shielded by a hood. He had always been shy, and embarrassed by his feelings for her, and found solace in the hood, so he could weep openly, and none would see his tears. He laughed bitterly through his tears, she would surely poke fun at him for being this way, as she had on many occasions. Under his cloak, he held a single red rose, preserved only by ice in the river near his home, and a single letter he wrote long ago. The letter exposed his true feelings, and a desire for her to come home. He'd hoped many times the she would visit home just once so he could just tell her.

He never sent the letter, and today, finally, when everyone went their ways, he would correct that mistake.

Jay stifled back a cry, "I'm sorry Tiff..." and waited for the end of the memorial.

Harlan wrote:Harlan stood next to Kerri as the ceremony began, running through his mind were memories of Tiffanyanne. He recalled how so much around town used to revolve around her. Then there were her playful slaps upside his head, usually for offhanded comments and such..so they were well deserved. He would miss those most. He had known her for so long Harlan just couldn't imagine her not being around anymore.

As Kerri began to sob, Harlan put his arm around her and drew her closer, he nearly lost control of his emotions himself, but managed to reign them in. Someone needed to remain strong, to be the shoulder to cry on.

He heard those around him, each mourning in their own way, and he closed his eyes in silent prayer as Father Dainsleif blessed the ground around the memorial.

Tuesday wrote:Tuesday hoped her late arrival would not be too great a distraction from the solemnity of the ceremony at hand, but it could not be helped; her travel arrangements were not expedient and she'd had to wait in Stafford for the hired wain. Drawn by two immense black horses, the closed, covered wagon pulled up at last on the cobbles at the entrance to Shrewsbury Castle. An unliveried footman helped her from the cab, and she slipped into the back rows of the gathering, trying to not disturb or attract notice.

For once in her life, Tuesday was dressed appropriately for her station, although the finely made black mourning gown did nothing to hide that she had grown even more drawn and thin. She'd been slim to begin with, but now bordered on emaciated; the deep rings under her eyes emphasized the shape of her skull, showing through her sallow skin. Her hair had not been dressed, and her long queue was missing; her black hair hung lank and flat to collar length, where it had been roughly cut. She had not slept, or eaten, for days and it showed.

The solemn blessings Dainslief performed were touching, and her mind raced with memories of her friend. Tiff had been so staunch and supportive; her loss was a blow Tuesday would never recover from. But she could not cry. Not yet, at least. She had to make it all the way home first. She glanced over her shoulder at the waiting hearse, and then back to the plaque at the front of the gathering.

I will have to come back... Tuesday thought to herself. Tiff was too vibrant and fun and I am not in a state to celebrate that as it should be. She deserves a wake, not a funeral....

Jerri wrote:He was obviously an intruder upon the grief of these people and by the looks of things, the loss was huge, Or so people like to show -- he thought and then immediately checked himself, not all are alike - why am I so quick to doubt intentions?

There was a pained look on his face as he turned to leave the Castle premises but the pain was not for the stranger being mourned. He mourned the loss of his own innocence, I used to trust -- the lump in his throat, the slight moisture in the eye was nothing anyone would notice, he was nobody here - he was unimportant in a setting where they were mourning someone obviously very important to them.

He had no will to go back to work, it was time to find solitude - time to think again. The fence was calling --

Jasmyne wrote:It was evident she wasnt home or didnt want to open the door, so jas scribbled on a note then went to the sideyard and pulled up a sapling, she widdled away at it to have a fine sharp point, then went back to the door

Once at the door, she unveiled the note and held it fast to the door, with her other hand she thrust the makeshift arrow into the door attaching the note

Dear Aasha,
Please come back to the castle, though it may not seem like it, your still my little sister and i need you there with me
Although our lives take different paths, we are still a family
Please come back

Jas

Harlan wrote:Finding the occasional respite from studying, his mayoral duties, and socializing in the tavern, Harlan had been working on a sword for a friend and now it was finished. Wiping it with a clean rag and polishing off any smudges, he raised it to the light and looked down its length. Straight and true. This was one was slightly shorter than the usual to reduce the weight. It was for Aasha and as slight at she was, wielding this weight would even be a challenge to get used to.

Summoning a messenger, Harlan sent her a note that it was ready.

Aasha,

Your sword is completed and ready to pick up.

See you at your earliest convenience.

Lord Harlan Bradley

Sending the messenger off to Aasha's residence with payment for his duties, Harlan re-entered his forge and set about organizing for his next project.