|
|
Post by Wren Rae Mercer on Apr 15, 2012 14:14:02 GMT -6
Wren Rae could feel her heart beating in her chest, could hear the blood rushing in her ears. She was terrified, and now horseless. Something had startled the prize stallion and she had been thrown from the saddle, unused to riding astride. Now she stumbled through the trees, terror in her eyes. Her dressed had been ripped in several places, the once fine fabric now looking dull and muddied. The skirts got caught against the branches, and she stumbled in them on more than one occasion.
She felt the tears stinging at her eyes as she made her way through the forest. She remembered the stories she had heard about the beast that prowled the forest at night and she knew that if she couldn't get away soon, she would fall victim to the beast, if not to some other form of death that waited hidden in the foliage. She brushed angrily at the tears, leaving trails of dirt and mud across her cheek, and pushed herself to continue.
She couldn't let her fear overtake her, not when she was so vulnerable. She carried no arms and wore no armor. Her bag had few rations and she knew that she wouldn't make it much longer without rations now that her horse had been spooked and run away. She was certain that if she met anyone on the road, they would think her a madwoman. If the state of her clothes weren't enough to give the impression, the fact that her hair had been so violently torn at by the trees and become so askew definitely offered something to the impression of madness. The glowing red of her cheek also didn't help her case, but at least the other bruises weren't visible.
She broke through the treeline on a road. She took several deep breaths, looking both ways in trying to decide which direction to go. It had been years since she had been back to her home country, and she didn't know exactly where it was she had come out. In fact, she wasn't even certain this was part of Solraya. She could still have been within the borders of Tyrian for all she knew. She closed her eyes and sank down, using a tree in a futile attempt to keep her feet. She curled against the trunk of the tree and just let her tears fall.
"Please...anyone...." she said softly, knowing that only God would hear. She prayed he might send her an answer.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2012 16:27:56 GMT -6
"My lady the sky is getting more gray, please do come inside." Paulette said to the duchess of Hamptonshire who was sitting outside on a bench reading a pamphlet of how Solraya and Avonderre needed the support of everyone in their kingdoms regarding the possible, upcoming war with Tyrian.
"So it seems Paulette, no the wind is perfect right now. Not too hard yet steady." She replied loving the spring weather. Spring and Autumn were her favorite seasons of the year and she always loved to be outdoors during the days that the weather was cooperative for her. That was another reason why she loved living in the countryside, everything was peaceful and quiet. Yet no one could hear her screams at night when her husband Gerard would beat her and rape her senselessly. He kept her away from everyone and everything and she despised him for that. If looks could kill, hen he would have been dead a long time ago and Aislynn would never reveal this, but there had been times where she had thought about hurting him or worse, yet she did not have the courage to do so.
Suddenly out of the corner of her eye, she saw something move in the woods behind her manor. She quickly glanced over and saw something move in the distance. She quickly stood up and stared directly at her where she was staring.
"Aislynn..." Paulette warned and Aislynn dropped her pamphlet and ran over to see what was going on ignoring her head servant's orders. Paulette was one of her oldest servants and had been with Aislynn ever since she had been born and when Aislynn had married, she insisted on bringing her with her to the manor which Gerard brushed off not caring whatsoever.
Aislynn ignored everything as she entered the woods and began walking down the trail until suddenly she heard a noise. Slowly creeping around, she snuck behind a tree and suddenly found herself face to face with a young woman with torn clothes and looking exhausted leaning up against a tree.
Aislynn was not scared because the woman seemed harmless, however, she knew that anyone could attack her. Frankly there were days she did care if she lived or died. She slowly made herself known and gave the woman a small smile.
"Hello, are you alright?" She asked the woman softly wondering what exactly would happen next. She knew she could not trust anyone now a days.
|
|
|
|
Post by Wren Rae Mercer on Apr 15, 2012 16:56:05 GMT -6
Wren Rae's head popped up as she heard a woman asking about her. She looked up, not caring about her appearance, simply grateful that her prayers had been answered. "My lady I...." she looked at the ground for a moment before looking back to her, biting her lip. "Please...please help me..." She knew she sounded pitiful, but she couldn't help it. She had ridden so hard and so long, then had to run very far to get away from what she'd done. "Please, my lady. My name is Wren Rae...I...I am in need of sanctuary...if only for the night..." She rubbed her arms slightly. "I...I know that you have no reason to trust me...but please...please...if they find me...." She bit her lip. She didn't want this woman to think she was in so much danger that she would be putting herself in danger just by offering her sanctuary. "I...my husband..." she began, unsure of how much this woman wanted to hear her story. She couldn't help but want to tell her story, but if this woman didn't care, or God forbid if she was a friend of Tyrian, she could be in more trouble. "Please...I don't want to hurt anyone..." |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2012 16:17:14 GMT -6
Aislynn could not help, but wonder what this woman had been dealing with. She looked ragged and tired and she couldn’t help, but want to help her just like she had tried to help Darsidian. She did not have a bad bone in her body and no matter how many times she had been ordered to be bad and malicious to other people because of her nobility; she had always refused causing her to be a bit of a disgrace to her family. However she had her friends and allies at court so she was never in real trouble or real danger.
She listened to the woman’s soft pleas to help her and Aislynn could not resist that. It was as if she had meant to be there for the young woman. Her husband had been very displeased with her when he had learned that his wife had welcomed their home to a stranger which happened to be a male, she still had the bruises to prove it to someone else who had wished to known how much of a horrible man he was. She smirked glad that her husband was gone for the month on business. She would not be able to turn the poor woman down.
She slowly leaned down to her level and Aislynn sighed and shook her head at the woman’s poor state and gave the woman Wren Rae a kind smile, “Hello Wren Rae, my name is Aislynn and of course I will give you sanctuary for as long as you need it. Whom may I ask are you hiding from? Your husband or anyone else?” She asked her curiously glancing around making sure that the young woman was indeed alone and when she had heard nothing, but silence for a few moments, she knew she had to get Wren Rae inside.
“Please come with me my lady, there are spies and traitors all over these woods and I would hate for a young woman like you to be vulnerable to them. My manor is close and you will be safe there. You will not hurt anyone; you seem too kind and scared to hurt anyone. Please come with me before it gets dark. A storm is on the way as well.” Aislynn softly pleaded with the young woman by reaching down and holding out her hand for her to take.
|
|
|
|
Post by Wren Rae Mercer on Apr 18, 2012 16:55:13 GMT -6
The woman was a godsend, and Wren Rae had all but given up the notion that God was listening to her prayers at all. This woman was going to help her get out of this place. She looked up as the woman leaned down to speak with her.
"Lady Aislynn," she said. She would remember that name in her prayers for as long as she lived. This must be the answer to the prayers she had sent up and she knew that if nothing else, God had helped her in this moment. "You have my deepest and undying gratitude. I swear on my life I will find a way to repay your kindness, my lady."
Wren Rae bit her lip for a moment. "No my lady...I...I don't hide from my husband...I...I..." she started. She was afraid to speak the truth of her encounter for fear that this woman might think her a savage brute or worse, turn her over to the authorities. But somewhere in her heart, she knew that this woman deserved to know the truth of what happened. She took a deep breath and started again.
"My husband was a cruel and violent man..." she began. "I know that there are many who would say that of their husbands for just a few small instances but my whole marriage to him, all five years of it...my lady there is no other way to describe it but hell...this night he tried to force himself on me and I fought back and...oh my lady, I think I might have broken one of the commandments. I struck him with a candlestick and he fell to the floor. He bled and he did not rise and...please....you must believe me..." Her eyes pled with Aislynn. "I would not wish to harm another...I only struck out in self-defense...I didn't mean to hit him that hard..." There was a note of fear in her voice that the only lifeline that she had might turn her away.
Wren Rae looked at the proffered hand and then at Aislynn, her whole body suggesting relief. "You are an angel on earth, my lady." This hell-adventure was over for the time being. She could only pray that it would be the last she would see of this adventure. She reached up to take Aislynn's hand, using it to pull herself to her feet. She looked at her dress compared to Aislynn's perfectly beautiful dress and was instantly reminded of how absolutely disheveled she looked.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 13, 2012 10:54:51 GMT -6
(ooc: Sorry it sucks)
Aislynn could not help, but want or even need to help this young woman out. She unfortunately knew what she was going through and Aislynn sadly could see her younger self in the woman's panicked, scared eyes. That image sent chills down her spine and she did not wish for anyone to see what she had seen with her current bastard of a husband. She knew what she had to do.
She blushed a bit at the young woman's words about repaying her and she waved her hand dismissing the claims, "Nonsense you do not have to do that...I'm sorry forgive me, but I do not know your name. I feel as if I should though. My husband now is not very kind at all luckily he is away on business a lot so I am left alone at my manor. You are most welcome at anytime." She offered with a sweet smile before listening to the woman's story about what had happened to her now deceased husband. Her eyes went a bit wide, it seemed like it was just a freak accident and self-defense.
"Listen to me please, you did not nothing wrong. You were defending yourself nothing else. You do not seem to be the violent type. You will find solitude in my home if you would wish for it. Do you have any family though? I do not wish to worry them any further." She asked her curiously.
|
|
|
|
Post by Wren Rae Mercer on May 23, 2012 11:45:15 GMT -6
“My name is Wren Rae, Lady Aislynn,” she said. The relief she felt was so great, she couldn’t help herself. She threw her arms around Aislynn’s neck, hugging her tightly in relief. The nightmare was over. She would be safe for the time being. She felt tears of relief coming up to mingle with her tears of fear. “Thank you…thank you for everything.”
“I swear to you, Lady Aislynn, I would never hurt someone normally. I don’t know what came over me. I was so afraid he would force himself on me as he had done so many times before…” She looked up at her. “I am sorry to hear that you too know what it is to have a husband who is unkind. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.” After a moment she realized that she was still hugging Aislynn and she flushed, letting go and taking a step back.
“I’m sorry if it was terribly forward of me, my lady. I was just…so overwhelmed with relief. I have been riding all night, hoping to outrun any that would follow me. I was afraid if they found me I would be hanged for my crimes.” She smoothed down her skirt, looking at the ground. “If I have any family, my Lady, they have abandoned me. I keep no family here anymore, nor do I count my husband’s family as my own. I am alone in this world.
------------
OOC: Sorry it's so short
|
|
