A Stranger's Home

[MirrorTornBeauty]

He offered for her to sit in a seat. She shook her head, she didn't want to get the furniture dirty. Soon footsteps were coming 'click click click' he would be an easy target to spot if she ever needed aid. She was told his name, then lifted to her feet. The stranger asked her to join him for dinner afterwards, iddly her hand touched her coin purse, she couldn't afford to pay him back... but she was taken off before she could answer. Suppose it was expected.

Pensworth was leading her, she counted the steps, and memorized every turn they took. He tried to make conversation with her as they walked. Spoke of being a guest, and being the newest one... they had many guests. He spoke the strangers name. "I only met him today. I was in the bakery... I'm new to this land. I'm a nomad by trade, a traveller. I don't have a place I call 'home' anymore."

Lord Validrir... she felt foolish, not guessing he was a Lord or a King. She should have guessed, after all those were her kind before unfortunate events had cursed her. So he liked to have guests... she wondered if they were down on their luck girls as well... pretty with broken smiles, easily taken advantage of. She shouldn't think of such things but she does. She was led into a room. He asked if she needed anything else. "Yes, please... could you run the shower and bath? That would be lovely." He nodded and off he walked. She paid close attention, listening to where his steps led him. Soon the rush of water was heard. 'Anything else, Ma'am?' "I hate to ask, but if you could... please light a candle on each side of the bed... and one on the vanity... and put a hanging lantern with a lit candle on the door? And leave me some candles as well, with some matches.. please?" She paused and handed him the bag from the bakery, "And could you put my tart in the icebox? I hope to eat it later... Thank you." He would agree to and off he went down the hall to gather the items.

She stepped around the room, following where his steps had been the first time. She entered the bathroom and felt the warm steam coming from the shower. She began to remove her clothing, dropped the dirty dress to the ground. She placed her coin purse on top of her rags, and another pouch she had under her dress and placed it next to the other. She began to unfasten leather belts from her upper thighs, they held small throwing knives... and upon the other one, held a stiletto dagger. She moved her hair to the side and removed the cleverly hidden glass katana on her back and placed it
against the wall. It was an enchanted weapon, very light, unbreakable blade, undetectable to the untrained eye and it made no sound.

She entered the shower and rinsed the dirt from her flesh. Soon she turned the water off and exited the shower. Careful steps towards the tub, full of warm water so it was easily seen by her. She stepped over the side and laid down into the water. It had been so long since she taken a warm bath. This was heaven. The water covered her flesh and dampened her hair. Hands felt for a cloth and soap. She began to wash silky skin, all the while she hummed an old song she learned when she was a child. Her voice was beautiful, the Sirens' voices could not even rival hers.

[MirrorTornBeauty]

Soap lathered against her flawless skin, the dirt was being removed from her flesh, leaving it a clean peachy colour. She felt around in the water for the plug, pulled it and waited for the water to drain before refilling the tub with clean water once more. She turned the water off and sat back in the large tub. She untied the black cloth from her eyes slowly.  She washed her long hair, it covered her back completely; she rinsed it and pulled it into a knot on top of her head. Clean digits felt around her face and her "eyes." She could feel the dried blood, the scabs, the area around her eyes would never scar, it was made that way... so she had bleeding cuts so to say, only they just trickled. A devastated sigh escaped her lips. Her voice quieted for a bit, listened to see if someone was nearby... heard nothing. She picked up her voice again, humming... prepared herself for the task at hand.

She took in a deep breath as she dipped the cloth into the water. She reached, turned the water on hot, let it trickle slowly. Hand rung the cloth, placed it under the running water, rung it again. Cloth brought to her face, she could feel the steam coming from it, and she began to clean her orbit area; dried blood coming off, scabs being scrapped from her flesh. Bloody cloth placed under hot water, rung out, began removing dried blood from her face. Her humming had quieted, choking back cries. Fingers moved to her eye area again and felt around for dried blood, only fresh crimson was felt. She pulled the cord, drained the tub. Cloth was rinsed and placed over her eyes area to slow the blood down. She tried to rinse it again, although she didn't know what colour it was and was hoping her blood would be hidden. Grabbing a clean cloth she stood up as she turned the water off.

Hand in front of her, water rolling off her flesh, around her soft curves, leaving puddles on the hard floor. She felt for a sink and finding it, turned on the cold water. She ran the cloth under it, dampening the whole thing with ice water. She folded the cloth and held it to her eyes, cooling them, calming them. She backed up, feeling the wall for a towel, and finding one took it in her other hand, wrapping her body with it as she let her hand guide her to the door and finally to the bed. She sat down, and under her she felt clothing of some sort. Pensworth must have put it there. She dried her body off and stood up, the towel dropping to the ground. Hand felt, to see if there was a new cloth for her blindfold and to her delight there was. She quickly placed the washcloth down and tied the blindfold over her eyes, wishing she had some more ointment to place over her eyes to stop the bleeding more so. Katrina reached for the clothing, a bodice top, had her breasts been so un haltered that it offended them? She chuckled to herself. Placing it down, she grabbed up the skirt first, pulling it on. It fit like a glove around her waist, black in colour and ruffled out in an elegant gothic way, the under layer was a deep crimson colour; she lifted the front of the first layer, and tied it up in the front to show off the second layer. (No... she can't tell what colour it is, but she knows how to dress herself, folks) The shoulderless bodice tied in the front, lucky for her. She tightened it, forming it to her body, breasts pushing together to form wonderful cleavage. She let her fingers fall down the matching crimson and black top, feeling the beading and embroidery that it decorated it. "This must be very expensive... I don't have the money for this... perhaps he will allow me to work for him. Or at the bakery!" her mouth watered again, she really needed to stop doing that.

She looked around the room, how delightful, the candles were in place. She moved with ease to the vanity and sat down. Hand searched for a brush, which she found and brushed through her hair, leaving it down that would form into slightly wavy hair when it dried. She stood, walked to the bed and felt for the candles, for matches. She walked to the bathroom door, placed two candles on either side of the doorway, light each one; she entered the room, she placed three candles on the tub, one on the sink, two by the shower and one on each side of the toilet and light them all. She returned to her pile of clothing, grabbed up her pouches and weapons and returned to the vanity. Sitting down, she organized the brush and her pouches, knives, stiletto, belts and katana on the table top. She thought better of it, and tied the leather belt with the throwing knives onto her upper thigh. Opening a pouch she pulled from it a necklace, three strands of black pearls with a sapphire diamond pendant (oval in shape, 1.5" in height and 1" width) which was surrounded by white diamonds (about 1/4 carat each in size, triangle in shape), in the middle. She clasped it around her slender neck, the pendant fit perfectly in the nook of her neck where her collarbones left a space.  She would now sit and wait for Pensworth to return for her, perhaps he was looking for shoes for her.

((Sorry for the double post... I was BORED and insomnia sucks.))

[Lord Validrir]

"No sir, I do not believe she has any idea at all who you are. I even mentioned your name and she didn't seem to recognize it. Although, she did say she was new in the land." Pensworth told Lord Validrir. They were in the library, a cavernous room that was lined with book shelves at least twenty feet tall. The room was floored in a thick red carpet with gold embroidery. High backed arm chairs and large sofas dotted the room. Each set of furniture had a small table of cherry wood. Validrir was up on a book shelf ladder, lookin through one of the higher shelves.

"Pensworth, every one on the planet knows my name, She is either a good actress, or..." He stopped and looked toward the far end of the room. there was a large fireplace there, flanked by two dark marble griffins. He stared into the fire place, which stood empty for it was a warm day. Finally his thoughts were concluded and he spoke again. "Or she is not of this realm. And if that is the case, she may be of great intrest." He turned back to the book shelf and with drew a large leather bound tome. Climbing down the ladder he went to the nearest table and set it there carefully.

"What is that?" Pensworth asked. Validrir began to skim the pages, looking for somthing.

"This is a record of all we know about demonic relics, customs, and even the demons themselves. An amulet was found in some ruins to the south, and the wizards think it demon made. And what's more, it burned me when I touched it. They'll be reporting to me soon." Validrir looked up and thought. "It will soon be dinner time, go and fetch the young lady, I should like to speak with her." Pensworth bowed and headed for the door.

"Yes my lord." He said as he left. He found next to the stairs a pair of slippers he had asked one of the maids to get for him. They were black with gold lace, and made with velvet. The young lady would like these he thought. And with that he went up the stairs to get her.

[MirrorTornBeauty]

Katrina sat quietly, taking in all the noises from the building she was in. -click click click - at a smooth steady pace: Pensworth. He entered the room, "Hello M'lady, nice bath?" he was too proper for her liking, she left that lifestyle long ago (and back then M'lady would have been an insult to her).

"Please call me Silver..." she had grown into that name, although she preferred her real name because it gave her back some dignity.

A gentle nod of the head coming from the butler as he took a kneel in front of her. "I have brought shoes for you to wear."

She liked shoes, least she always did when she was royalty. Now she walked barefoot, trying to feel her way around the world, but for dinner she knew it was proper attire. She lifted a sculpted leg, foot held up for him as he slipped on soft shoes, they fit almost too perfectly as if a God had made it just for her... actually the whole outfit felt that way. "You must have dressed many a women to know their size without measurement."

A gentle chuckle came from him as he gently helped her up. She took his arm and he led her down the stairs, her other hand trickling along the railing. She listened to his breathing, counted steps and turns, felt the warmth that escaped his body. Soon they came to a halt. He left her side. She watched a heated figure move to her front and made the motion of moving a chair out. She followed his steps and moved to his front, fingers touching along the cushion on the seat. Slowly she took a seat and was pushed in. "He will be just a moment longer."

She nodded up at the man and heard his noisy exit. She looked up, saw the small balls of light from light candles on the table. Hand in front of her, feeling for a place setting. Silently she counted the forks, the knives, spoons and cups in front of her. After it was felt she knew where everything was, she gently folded her hands together and placed them in her lap, ankles crossing beneath the table. She sat (and looked) like royalty once again, a princess that couldn't see the riches in front of her.

[Lord Validrir]

Lord Validrir closed the book after finding nothing on the amulet. There were, of course, other books to look through, but he would do that later. He stood and left the library, walking to the dining room. As he walked, his robes seemed to melt and loose form. they then reformed into a long white coat, with white pants, shoes, and a gold vest. He entered the dining room and saw the young woman there waiting for him. Rather than taking his usual place at the head of the table, he sat down near to the girl. "I am sorry to have kept you waiting. I was researching on the artifact that the wizards found." He took his napkin and placed it in his lap as the cooks came out with the food. " I hope you like grilled chicken, or we have some rather delicious salad, or seasoned potatoes. Just tell them what you would like." He motioned for the cooks to place a portion of all three on his plate. "I never caught your name." He said suddenly. "May I ask who you are and where you come from.?"

[MirrorTornBeauty]

Waiting, she finally heard the footsteps of a male coming her way. Head lifted up to see a figure with a curious aura around him, it was the stranger. He sat across from her, explained that he was researching an artifact. She nodded "Knowledge is a splendid thing, one can never have too much of it," her words were sincere and yet inside she felt it ironic, for eternal life brings limitless knowledge but one grows tired; and then there were her eyes, "It can be found in many forms. Did you find anything of interest?"

He mentioned what they were having for dinner, she was more then pleased to what they would be eating, then again she hadn't eaten a hot meal in some time. The servers came, she could see the orange figures moving and carrying plates of warm food. The smell was a wondrous thing to her, her mouth watered with anticipation. She almost spoke out of place, instead she moved her fingers to her necklace and listened to his voice. He wanted all of the objects they offered for dinner, then would ask about her. Oh if she could shot a look at the Lord she would have, her mouth turned down in the corners of her mouth. All she wanted to do was indulge herself in the food that was so close to her! The server came by, Katrina ordered all three things, although she wouldn't touch the salad until the end for she lived on nuts and berries and to have some meat and starch vegetables was just glorious. "Thank you kindly..."

She picked up a fork and knife, followed the scents upon her plate and tongs pricked the soft end of a piece of potato, placing it in her mouth she slowly chewed, a smile began to form. She would have ignored him and continued to eat, but she thought she might as well not be rude to the kind stranger. "I am known to many as Silver." She began to gently cut through the chicken, her slices were precise, perfect, almost like a surgeon; her fingers held the knife and fork with such an elegance that she couldn't have just been a commoner. Piece of chicken in her mouth, "This is wonderful... but seems bit of a bland meal for a Lord. I would have thought lamb and figs, things of that nature." Food still being put in her mouth, she chewed like a lady and swallowed before she would speak. She had a habit of speaking out of turn sometimes, she was happy to actually have another person in her presence. "I am a nomad, all I do is travel. Walking from place to place. I am no one of importance." She was the ruler of a land by birth, but has left that behind. It has been hundreds of years since she had returned to it. The witch placed a curse upon the land, much like the tale of Sleeping Beauty, her kingdom slept, but there was no cure for the curse. "I am from a place long forgotten. I have been on many ships and walked for a very long time. I tend to follow bodies of water, that way I always have something to drink and possibly catch fish for food." Her head turned up, "And you? What is your story, m'Lord?" She started in on her salad.

[Lord Validrir]

Validrir smiled at her thoughts on the meal. "I suppose it is a bit bland, but I do appriciate the simplicities in life. Such as a good piece of chicken." He said it good naturedly, her comment had not upset him. She stated that she was called Silver, by all acounts a very pretty name. She cut her food and ate with such percision, that Validrir doubted that she had always been a nomad. She asked about his past as she began to eat her salad. He sat back and thought, he could keep her in the dark if he wished, and not reveal his true identity. However, that would be lying, which he did not take to well. Besides, so far, she had ot seemed to answer him very truthfully, maybe apon knowing his true self, she would open up. "I was born," he began, "in a kingdom, very far from here. I, at a very young age, decided to devote my life to the gods, and thus became a paladin. I trained every day, untill I was a great warrior. I even learned to use magic from a great wizard." He paused and chose his words carefully before going on. "This part of the story gets a little unbelievabe, but it is true. One day, while I prayed, the god Talingue came to me. He spoke of a realm in great peril, and that it needed my help. I was commanded to muster up armies, and so I did. We were then taken to the realm by Talingue. I will never forget that desolate and terrible place. It was ruled by the demon lord of Ire, or wrath, as it were. The people were tortured and misused greatly by their demonic masters." His eyes were distant with memory as he went on. "I attacked and wrought a terrible destruction apon the demons, and after much toil and war, they were vanquished. The demon lord escaped, however, to another realm. That realm was free, and for my efforts I was gifted lordship over it. That realm is now known as Calgoa, this realm." He turned to look at silver. "That was over four thousand years ago. I was made a god, that I might rule this land for all time." He then added in a very serious tone. "And this god, can tell that you have not been very truthful. So tell me again where you come from."

[MirrorTornBeauty]

She placed the fork down, listening to his story. She sat back in her seat, she just watched his movements and listened for any wavers in his voice. When she found none and he told her that he knew she wasn't quite truthful she let out a sigh. "I thought your aura was a bit off. You have to know why I can't tell the whole truth, always to protect myself." She lifted up her skirt removed the leather belt with the knives strapped to it and placed it upon the table. "I suppose that these wouldn't do any good against you if you were to attack me." Her fingers idly played with the pendant around her neck. "I am from a royal bloodline. The only living of my fallen kingdom. It is placed under an unbreakable curse, my subjects and always jealous mother, are in eternal slumber. My father died and reached the better kingdom before it all happened..." she hated telling the story, didn't want any one to know her past, but how can you truly lie to a god?

If she could have cried she would have tears forming in her eyes. She felt the band slip and she immediately bowed her head, hands reaching behind her as she caught it and retied it to cover her eyes. She looked back up at the man in front of her, didn't really want to go on. Slender arm reached for the glass of water in front of her, she brought it up to perfect pink lips and took a sip, as she placed it down she felt the trickle of crimson fall from her right eye and escape the black band. Quick movements, the speed of an elf, to place the glass on the table and wiped the blood from falling too far down her cheek. The blood would smear across her flesh, but she had hoped she had gotten it all. She kept her head turned down a bit as she tried to change the subject, "why have you taken a intrest in me?"

[Lord Validrir]

Validrir looked at her with a very sad expression. He understood now, why she had not been truthful, her past was a bad one. She asked him why he had taken a intrest in her.

"Because," he said, "I do not make a point of showing my subjects that it is fine to mistreat someone for their apperance, or any reason for that matter. And besides, you looked like you needed some kindness." He tooka sip of water ans thought. "This land of yours, there is no way to free it of this curse? What did the person who did this say, exactly?"

[MirrorTornBeauty]

He answered her question. Her cheeks grew hot from anger. "So it is pity kindness? Dear Sir, I do not need pity. I am in no need for it, I can survive. I have done it for hundreds of years, the soul grows weary but the spirit never dies." He probably didn't mean it like that but she was on the defense. She pushed her food away slightly, in no mood for it any longer. He changed the subject quite quickly, asked about her land and the curse upon it. "Evil ugly hag, or so I thought. Most powerful enchantress witch, she was. She punished me and my people, fitting for the cruel ruler I was. No one was good enough for my presence so now everyone is in eternal slumber... leaving me alone in a quiet kingdom. I had to learn to accept others, rather find others to accept me. So I am cursed with a beauitful nightmare to feel the pain I showed others." She sighed, "I wouldn't change this nightmare."

She picked up the knived belt from the table, replaced it on her high thigh, skirt pulled down. She looked up at the man, blood stained cheek showing to him. "Lord Validrir..." she had repeated his name back to him slowly, each syllabol rolling off her tongue was deliciously tantalizing; he would have heard no other being say his name as perfect as she did, her tone was almost seductive. "A form of Valtteri, the Finnish form of Walter which means 'ruler of the army.' Your name fits your past well, seems your future was designed after your name." She had calmed her anger down, waited for him to say something else, to do something.

[Lord Validrir]

She would not change her fate, that is what she had basically said. Validrir knew that lessons sometimes had to be learned the hard way, but to punished for eternity, that was a fate befitting of only the very few. She complimented his name and fell silent, waiting fr his response.

"There is a difference, between pity and treating another with the respect that has been denied them for a long time. We all need some kindness from time to time, and I saw that you could use some." He let his words sink in as he thought about what he would say next. "What do you know about demonic objects?"

[MirrorTornBeauty]

She felt she had wiped the blood from her face, satisfied with it, for he didn't question her past anymore, or what happened to her eyes, or why they bleed. She wouldn't tell him either way. He asked about relics, like a princess would have been taught about things of that nature. And they didn't make books on runes or relics for the blind, and if they did they were so very rare. She didn't really know a lot about things that she couldn't see! "It depends on what it looks like, I suppose. I don't know of demon relics from personal experience, but I know of demons. My dear friend Phacia had a friend that was part demon. It is my understanding with a strong will, demons are not always what they seem... but most are evil." She smiled, took a sip of her water, "is there dessert?" a gentle chuckle coming from her. "Now, you being a God of some sort, you would say all demons are evil, yes? Don't judge by looks alone... because by looks, I should be evil. And, the only being to cause me pain was a witch, and you hang out with magical beings... how do I know they aren't the ones that cursed my land? Or the teachers of evil spells? You may think you know them, but if it is easy to hide royalty from the world, then why not evil?"

She leaned towards him. "Tell me about your life... where is your wife?"

[Lord Validrir]

Validrir was taken aback. His wife? he had never married, but it would not be true to say he had never loved. In the span of only a seconed, his mind flew back to a time when he was but mortal. Her name was Clara, and she was beautiful. He had met her during one of his many travels and soon fell head over heals for her. She was but a simple milk maid, but that was of little importance to him. they spent much of their time together, but eventually he was called away by king and country. He was a valuable warrior and was required to accompany the king, of his home land, into one of many border disputes. He returned though, only to find that the old farm had been abandoned, raided by thieves. Clara had been kidnapped, abused in many unspeakable ways, and eventually killed. He withdrew from his thoughts and answerd Silver.

"I have never been lucky enough to marry. The one woman I love, is dead. Murdered, by a band of theives in my absence. There was nothing I could do." he stared off into nothingness as he spoke, a single tear forming and falling from his deep blue eyes. "I miss her terribly at times, but such is life, or death rather. The rest of my life has been rather happy though. I am surrounded by reasonably good people, and I speak with the high gods on a regular bases."

[MirrorTornBeauty]

She watched the man speak, his aura turned slightly, he was lost in his thoughts, memories. Gentle orange line fell from his eye and ran down his cheek, he had changed his voice, tried to hide sorrow. He spoke of his tale. "I apologise for making you cry from memories of old..." she truly was sorry for making this kind God sad. She pushed the chair away from the table, she turned sharply, remembered the steps that she took with Pensworth, looked for the winged beings and took off in a sprint, removing her shoes in a haste. Hands reached out for the door, she ignored what the guards would have said. She felt the doors and flung them open, exiting them promptley.

She stood outside of the door and screamed to the stars, even her scream of anger held beautiful elegance. She was very upset with herself, even in her state of cursed nightmare she still found a way to be cruel. It was unintentional, she knew this, but to make a God cry? She was truly damned. Her voice quieted, head hung low, "At least He loved once," not knowing if there was someone listening or not. She had walked this world for a long time, that was her curse, to walk the world alone without love. She was thinking of running away, but she didn't want to venture the stairs alone. She slumped into a kneel, head falling down, hair cascaded around her face. The moonlight bounced off her locks and off her peach skin, if she had wings, she would have been created in His vision. "I must go back in an apologise..."

[Lord Validrir]

Pensworth

"Young lady, what ever is the matter?" Pensworth came around a near by hedge with a watering can in hand. He had been seeing to some of the plants that the gardener had not been able to get to that afternoon. He set the watering can down and came over to sit down beside her. "I have seen people get upset before, but what could have happened to make you so distraught?" His voice was benevolent and full of earnest worry, that that of a concerned grandparent.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lord Validrir

He was rather surprized when the young woman got up and ran out the door. He considered going after her, but it was plain that she had ran out of shame for invoking in him sad memories. He had not intended for her to become so upset. He sat back and sighed, but soon a thought came to him. How had she known that a tear had fallen from his eye? She was blind. It was obvious that he would have to look into this.