Memories of Lendes #2

The sun were high in the sky, it was an hot afternoon. Lendes were tending her little kitchen garden,smiling to herself. For the first time, since moving in with Risthir,she were felling somewhat happy, after he had joined the fourth company, and gotten the rank as sergeant, he had spend even less time home. Which meant less time to let out his anger on Lendes. She was kneeling in the soil, the birds were flying al around her, almost dancing though the air, singing their joyful songs. Lendes slowly started humming along, to the merry tunes, and wiped some sweat from her forehead. She looked over her little kitchen garden, smiling to herself, in a few months time she would have fresh, carrots, taters, cabbages and many other vegetables right her in her own garden. Lendes were pleased with herself, and a little hope in her stomach that Risthir also would approve or this little arrangement. After al, if they could provide themselves with most things needed for cooking, that would mean more wealth to their household, Lendes smile froze a little. Wealth, seemed to be al that Risthir was thinking of, wealth and glory. Why he wanted her in the first place, she could comprehend, he didn't even seem to care about her, she shook her head a little, as if the thoughts were an annoying fly she were trying to get rid off.

Lendes heard a sound from the road and looked up, it were their neighbours, she had seen them a few times before but never spoken to them. They were an elderly couple, of much class. Both where a little large in size, but somehow it suited them both Lendes thought to herself. The man weren't al that tall and he there for came across as even round that he actually were. He were dressed in a flask green robe made out of the finest velvet, with a barely visible white shirt under it, only the pompous collar where showing. Little golden buttons at the end of his sleeves and a golden belt under his stomach. His short, grey, thick hair were brushed back, he had a nicely cut mustache that went down his jaw line to his ears, and blended into his hair line. Every time Lendes had seen him, he had been smoking on a pipe and this time were no exception. The woman were even shorter than her husband, about a head. She had this kind round face, with apple cheeks, and Lendes thought she looked just like an sweet old grandmother should, like her husband she were also wearing velvet, though her dress were a dark red, that complimented her beautiful skin tone. It had long and wide sleeves, and had a mix of silver and golden peals over her breaths and on the edge of the sleeves. Her hair were grey as her husbands, but here and there it showed a few fading stribes of a light golden brown. She had clearly been an amazingly beautiful woman when she were younger, not that she weren't beautiful now, her age had just slowly starting to show.
The woman leaned towards her husband and whispered something and their wagon stopped. Lendes suddenly realized it had to come across as she were sitting and staring at them, which she after al were, but quickly lowered her head again, pretending to be busy with her kitchen garden, even though she had already finished it.
She could hear how one go out of the wagon, she kept her head down, the sun were burning hot on her back, but she didn't want to move, knowing their eyes where on her now. Then the woman cleared her throat and Lendes had to look up and meet her eyes. The woman beckoned her with an waving hand and a kind smile, Lendes pushed herself to her feet and dusted herself off from soil, took off her gardening gloves and left them on the ground as she made her way to the fens where her neighbours where waiting, the man still in the wagon.
“So you are Mrs. Faerveren, its such a pleasure to meet you.” She nodded her head gently and with admirable grace. Lendes felt a bit odd, cause when she had married Risthir, her family had insisted she kept he maiden name, normally the wife would take her husbands surname when getting married, but Lendes knew why. Her maiden name, were more respected than Risthir's, she therefore shook her head lightly and smiles a little nervous.
“I am the Mrs. indeed, but its Belegorn. Mrs.?” Lendes looked at her neighbour her face in a question, as the old lady chuckles.
“Forgive me, Lady Belegorn. I'm Lady Helbern, Jeniel Helbern. But please, just call me Jen, after all we are neighbours.” She smiles warmly and cheeks became even rounder.
“But excuse me for asking, Lady Belegorn, you are indeed married to Risthir? Risthir Faerveren?” Lendes nodded and could already see her next question and answered it at once, but yet politely.
“Indeed Lady-... Jen. I am, but I am an only child you see, my parents would like the family name to continue, I reckon. And please just call me Lendes.” She nodded her head slightly as in a greeting, and brushed some hair from her eyes when she looked up again. Lady Helbern were beaming a smile at her.
“Well aren't this pleasant? We were starting to wonder if Mr. Faerveren, were ever gonna marry. Weren't we dear?” She turned and looked at her husband who gave a little grunt, which Lendes assumed to mean yes, which apparently were the case, since Lady Helbern nodded and turned back to Lendes.
“That's Wolforn my husband, he might come across as grumpy, but he is really loving once you get to know him.” Lendes were unsure how to respond, after al, she weren't use to meeting people who were so open as this Lady Helbern. But before Lendes had time to come up with an prober responds, Lady Helbern, were talking again as she eyes Lendes' kitchen garden.
“Oh you have your own kitchen garden, so do I, perhaps you could come over one day and we could exchange experience on how to keep our gardens? Oh joy, that would just be so enjoyable, don't you think dear? Do you have chicken yourself as well? We do, we have the most adorable little hen house.” She were speaking with such speed and enthusiasm, Lendes needed a few seconds to turn it al around in her mind and sort out the relevant and questions from the rest, and yet remain a calm and friendly face.
“Of cause, it would be an honour. And sadly no we don't have an hen house.” Lendes decided to keep her answer short and accurate. Lady Helbern clapped her hands together and smiled even wider, Lendes was surprised that was even possible, but she hid it well.
“Oh then then you most come over soon Lendes. Wolforn, made our hen house, he will gladly make one for you two as well. There's nothing like picking up your own eggs and then eat them a few minutes later doing breakfast.” Lord Helbern gave a little cough from the wagon and Lady Helbern looked at her husband and then at the sundial in the courtyard of Risthir's estate.
“Oh my look at the time fly when your en good company. We better head home, I have so much to do, so much to do. I'm as busy as a bee sometimes.” She chuckled and walked towards the wagon again, Lendes just smiled an nodded politely.
“Oh do remember to stop by Lendes, don't keep old Jen wait to long, I'm not getting any younger you know.” She waves as the wagon slowly started moving again, and Lendes waved back, slowly turning around when they were out of sight and grinned to herself. Never in her life had Lendes meet a person like Lady Helbern, she was certainly a special lady, not that Lendes complained, quiet the opposite, she were pleased it seemed to be some friendly neighbours. She looked at the sundial and sighed to herself Risthir would be home soon, and he would want dinner on the table at once, and she would need a shower before cooking, after al, tending the garden weren't the cleanest work one could do.

The dining room were only light by a few candles, and the drapes were drawn for the windows, it felt like being in an oven, the heat wear almost unbearable. But Risthir had insisted on it being so, when he had returned with an headache, and Lendes would do everything to keep him happy in hope he would have word from Isilorbor, since he hadn't returned with anything the last few days. Risthir were sitting by the end of the dinner table, like a king at his throne, and tapped his fingers impatiently on the table, waiting for his dinner. Then just as he were about to get out of his chair, Lendes walked in with their dinner, dressed in a fine navy silk dress without any sleeves, it had silver strings that caressed around her waist and up between her breaths where they formed a neat little bow, and were fastened with a little silver medallion, that had a beautiful sapphire in the middle. Her hair were combed back and places in a braid and cruelled up, hold in place by a silver hair clamp formed like a butterfly. Risthir didn't even look at Lendes, he grabbed his fork and knife even before she had place the plate in front of him and started eating, talking with his mouth full.
“About time! I'm starving!” He spoke sharply and rough, and nodded to the other end of the table, meaning that, that were the seat Lendes should take this evening and so she did. They eat in almost silence, the only sounds heard once in a while were Risthir's grunts from lack of manners as he eat. As Lendes got up from her chair and started to gather the plates, forks and knifes, Risthir beckoned her and slapped his lap a few times, with a wolf like smirk on his face, and Lendes heart dropped to her stomach, but she didn't dare to disobey him. She slowly walked towards him with the plates in her hands, Risthir didn't even give her the change to put the things down, before he pulled her to his lap roughly. He started untying her dress in the front while licking up and down her neck, biting her now and then, leaving little marks.
“Now I believe its time for dessert!” His were breathing heavily and his breath were stinking of alcohol. Lendes closed her eyes, knowing it was unwise to do anything against it, the more quiet, she could be, the faster it would be over and done with. Risthir lift her and slammed her down on the table, a pain shoot though her body as her head hit the table hard. The plates she were holding slipped out of her hands and shattered as they hit the floor. Risthir undid his belt, lifted her dress and ripped her cloths under it so it broke, he loomed over her and had his way with her, over and over again till he finally where done. He crawled off her, and wiped the sweat of his face and looked around the mess he had made of the dining room.
“I'm going to bed! Clean up this mess, and be quiet about it! I don't want to be woken up by your walking about down here! I have to get up early” He pushed Lendes off the table with a grin, and walk towards the door, the stopped and looked back at Lendes.
“Your beloved Mrs. Ventris sent this back it return.” Risthir said the words mockingly and almost spit them out as he hold up a little note, and Lendes felt her heart jump in her chest, wanting to smile, but knew he properly wouldn't hand it over if she did, therefore she only nodded slowly. He throw the note down on the table in front of her on the floor and walked upstairs, to their bedroom. Lendes listen carefully to Risthir's steps and when they died out she dared opening the letter and read it to herself.

“The Knight sat dumfounded and weighted down by the rocks of fate which lay upon him, the dragon sweeping a woman he grow so close to and rendered to slavery.
The Knight stormed out of the Inn to mount his mighty steed, turning towards where the dragon was last sighted and rode forwards to the dark dungeon”

Lendes smiled, These lines showed Isilorbor had understood her codes. Joy would be a poor word to describe how she were feeling by the content of the note. Lendes kissed the letter, softly as if it were Isilorbor's face and lips. She then read on.

“The knight and his steed stopped, overlooking the dungeon with his silver lance in hand and fire in his heart. He waits there now, waiting for his chance to save the Stable girl.”

Lendes folded the note together and put it away. Isilorbor were waiting, waiting for her word she knew that. She wanted to write him back at once, but knew she better clean up this mess before the joy Isilorbor's note have given her, made her forget about what needed to be done. She cleaned in a hurry and found some new paper and started writing.

“The stable girl, saw the knight from her window, and knew why he were there. She longed to be close to him again, feel warmth and happiness once more.”

She looked her the words and though to herself and every single one of them where the truth. She hadn't felt happy since she left the wine yard, unless for the one night her and Isilorbor had spend in her old room in the barn together. She missed him so deeply.

“The stable girl knew the dragon would be away shortly, for sometime, but also knew the knight would go after it. They would both return, yet she knew the dragon would go out again, and leave herself unguarded for a time, she hoped the knight would notice, and come to the dungeon and cast some light to her otherwise so dark days.”

Lendes knew that both Isilorbor and Risthir would have to journey out soon, because of the thing going on close to the river. But knowing Risthir he would disappear for a few days, when Isilorbor released him from duty for a time. He would go to a nearby city, drink and most likely pay for a woman or two. That would leave an opening for her and Isilorbor to see each other, only thing that could set a stopper for it, were is Isilorbor weren't able to take time of himself. But she begged he were.

“The stable girl now waited to see if the knight noticed and were able to enter the dungeon.”

She folded and sealed the note and smiled to herself, now she would get some sleep and send the note along with Risthir the next day. Which she did, Risthir weren't pleased about it, and mumbled something that Lendes couldn't make out, but she were sure it were rude and unpleasant. But none the less he took the letter and marched off to meet with the company.

Lendes heart felt lighter and happier, her own fairytale were now taking off.