After spending so much time in the wilds, on horseback, and sleeping in the shadow of great trees or the dampness of a cave a real bed is like finding true heaven. Redmane hasn't sleep so deeply, or without nightmares, for a very long time. Waking comes slowly to her the following day. By the time her eyes open, sunlight is pouring through the window near the bed ... and she finds herself alone.
"He always gets up before me," the woman mutters, and then pulls herself out of bed and gets dressed. Since this isn't the lair of a monster, she makes the bed up again before stepping out into the rest of the cottage. "Good morning!" she chimes.
"Do you always sleep to nearly lunchtime?" Myrrden chimes as she peers around the kitchen door frame, then smiles and waves. "You cost me a few coins, you know. Thomas bet me that you wouldn't wake until lunch time. I said he was silly. So ... he challenged me to a bet on it. The bugger won; won't hear the end of it now!"
"It's all his fault," Redmane claims. "I normally wake at the crack of dawn."
"That I can believe ... but how is it his fault?" Myrrden inquires as she carries over a small tray piled with muffins. "Muffin?" she offers and holds it out.
Redmane accepts the muffin with a smile, saying, "Thank you! Oh, and it must be his fault, since I only sleep late when I'm in a bed with him."
"Or is it you only sleep in a bed when you're around him," Myrrden asks. As she glances toward one of the windows, she says, "He is already out and about. He has never sat still for as long as I can remember."
"I hope he fed Rhiannon," the knight says, looking towards the door. "She gets cranky otherwise."
"Well, there was a lot of noise and shouting a few hours ago from the pen," Myrrden comments. "So ... he might have."
"Oh good," Redmane says, sounding unconcerned. "I wouldn't want her eating the pen. I think she likes Thomas."
Myrrden laughs. "Shouting does not sound like liking," she notes as she carries the tray of muffins back to the kitchen. "I assume you will be leaving today?"
Redmane nods. "We have a ways to go yet. And just because Thomas shouts does not mean the horse doesn't like him. He seems to have some issues with returning affection is all."
"Do you want to take any food with you? I have extra muffins and a few other dry goods," Myrrden calls back. "Where were you going, again?"
"To Thomas' old home, before he took to living in trees, and then on to the Palace of All Seasons," Redmane notes, and leans against the doorframe wil eating her muffin. "I wouldn't want to put you out - we do have our own supplies."
"Ah, the valley. Pretty place, supposedly," Myrrden says, "And it's not putting me out. It's cause for a celebration that someone gave him a reason to visit again."
"In that case, I'm sure Thomas won't mind a few fresh supplies!" Redmane then asks the woman, "Does anyone live at the old home still?"
"I don't know. I've never been there myself," Myrrden explains as she pulls out a checkered kerchief and piles it with a dozen muffins. "I'm sure there is no immediate family, if that is what you are trying to ask."
"Well.. someone must still live there though," the knight points out. "Unless something spoiled the land. Is this valley known for producing anything?"
Myrrden has to think about that. "Nothing outside of some timber, I don't think. It's fairly remote, small, and hard to get in and out of," she answers.
"Strange," Redmane murmurs. "From the reactions of his cousin back at the tournament, I had gotten the impression that his family was close to that of the ruling family of November."
"There was a falling out a long time ago, or so the story goes. They moved away from the ruling family and lived in seclusion. No one quite knows the whole story," Myrrden starts to say. She leans to the side and peers out one of the kitchen windows before continuing, "Well, except for someone who won't talk about it."
"Can't be any worse than my own falling out," Redmane notes. "At least.. I hope it can't. Never sure with Thomas."
"Between you and me, I think he likes being a mystery," Myrrden comments, "Probably believes it gives him an edge or a better bartering position."
"Well.. I suppose when you have a lot of past, it's easier to be mysterious than to try and remember it all," Redmane points out, and checks out of the window. "Did he say how long he'd be when he left? I don't think he'd abandon me, but I suppose he must be thinking on wether or not to really visit his old home."
Myrrden ties the kerchief into a bundle and brings it over to the tall woman. "Oh, he's probably right outside. knowing him," she says and wipes her hands on her apron after Redmane takes the bundle. "Easy enough to find out," she adds and heads to the front door and goes outside.
Holding the bundle, Redmane grins and follows, asking, "I don't suppose there've been any odd occurrences around these parts of late? Monsters, people or animals going missing, strange crimes or tensions.. that sort of thing?"
"Lords no, not out here in the middle of the forests," Myrrden answers, "Are you looking for trouble?" Sure enough, Thomas is outside. He's standing near the forest edge with ... well, a rather large bird perched on his thickly gloved hand. It, well, it looks like he's nibbling on its neck.
"No, just Thomas right.. now.." Redmane says, trailing off as she tries to fathom just what she's seeing. "He's never nibbled on me like that," she finally mutters.
Myrrden just covers her eyes and laughs. "I don't quite think it is that sort of nibbling," she manages out between giggles. Thomas, hearing the commotion, looks over towards the pair with a very obvious 'what?' expression.
"Friend of yours, or are you trying to make it lay an egg?" Redmane has to ask, gesturing to the bird.
"If you're going to make fun of me maybe you don't deserve to know," Thomas retorts as he makes his way over to the pair. The bird, either an eagle or hawk, just peers at Redmane curiously.
"I'm not familiar with birds, so really.. I have no idea what you're doing," the knight replies. Then she stands up straighter, and says, "And you make fun of me all the time!"
"Because you do ridiculous things," Thomas claims. He hefts the bird up a bit higher, explaining, "This is Celestine. Old friend ... well, messenger, really. I was asking her to deliver a message for me if you absolutely must know."
"By nibbling on her neck?" Redmane asks, agog. "And you say I do ridiculous things?"
"Her head looks like a giant rose," Celestine somehow manages to say. It isn't speech, not exactly, but somehow the animal's expression and the way she ruffles and shifts seems to imply things. "And she sounds jealous."
"Apparently you have never preened a bird before," Thomas comments as if it would be the most natural thing in the world. "And she's right, you sound jealous."
Redmane eyes the falcon, and asks it, "Are you always a bird, or do you change?"
Celestine picks at its wing a bit. "Why would I want to be anything other that perfect?" it asks.
"All right, no arguing," Thomas says as he tries to step in. "You will deliver the message, right?"
"She talks like a horse," Redmane notes. "I'm Knight Redmane of May, if Thomas hasn't already told you."
The bird tilts its head. "As in, you may be a knight," it asks.
Thomas taps the side of the bird's head lightly. "Behave, you," he tells her. "and yes, I already told her. The message is about you."
"Letting the Palace know I'm coming?" Redmane asks.
"Now that would be telling," Thomas non-answers as he lightly scratches the bird's cheek. She allows it for a few seconds before snapping at him with an annoyed, "I am not a pet!"
"She and Rhiannon would get along fine, I think," Redmane notes. "And of course it would be telling. Why wouldn't you tell me, after saying the message is about me?"
"To make you wonder," Thomas answers rather honestly. He takes a few steps back from the two women and lifts his arm high. With a few heavy beats of her wings, Celestine takes to the air. When she's a fair distance away, Thomas adds, "And Celestine and her parents before her have lived here keeping an eye on Myrrden and her family for me. I may not visit often, but I do try to keep an eye on things, as it were."
Myrrden hmphs and puts her hands on her hips. "We would prefer a visit," the older woman notes. "You're practically family Thomas, why do you always try to avoid that."
"How.. thoughtful.. in a disturbing way," Redmane notes. "Now, where is she going?"
"Oh, somewhere," Thomas answers with a mischievous grin.
Redmane just sighs and shrugs. Maybe if she stops asking, he'll tell her out of boredom.
Thomas pats Redmane's shoulder, asking, "Don't you like surprises? Or do you not trust me?"
"Surprises are good?" Redmane asks.
"Time for you to find out," Thomas claims. He runs his hands through his hair before telling Myrrden, "Well, it is time for us to head out. Thanks for the hospitality. It's always great seeing you."
"Thank you for putting up with us," Redmane adds, and holds up the bundle of muffins. "And for the baked goods too!"
"Don't forget to get your demon. I mean, horse," Thomas reminds Redmane.
"Did you feed her this morning?" Redmane asks Thomas.
"It was lovely having you. I hope it won't be the last time you visit," Myrrden tells the pair of them. She then looks expectantly at Thomas.
"I threw a bale of hay in and some other food. I wasn't about to get close," Thomas explains.
"What?" Thomas asks Myrrden after he notices the stare.
"Say it," she says flatly.
"You're being silly, Myrrden," Thomas claims and pats the woman's arm. "Say what?"
Redmane arches an eyebrow at the pair.
"Just say it, okay? I don't know if I ever will see you again, so ... just say it," Myrrden says rather gently. "Please."
"Don't be silly. I'll see you again," Thomas begins, though he's cut off by Myrrden pressing two of her fingertips to his lips. "You don't know that. You can't predict it. So, say it. Just once. Say goodbye." she says quietly.
A look of understanding comes over the redhead's features now.
Thomas shifts uncomfortably and looks skyward. Myrrden presses on, "Dammit, Thomas, please. Just say it. You're practically family. You helped raise me. Quit pretending that we'll always be here for when you finally come back by. I'm an old woman now. I may not be alive within a Year. And, who knows what could happen to you. So ... if this will be the last time, please let us part without anything left unsaid."
"It's better than living with regret, Thomas," Redmane points out.
"Myrrden, I," Thomas says haltingly as he shifts weight back and forth uncomfortably. HE looks down now and rubs his forehead, suddenly looking very tired. When he finally looks back up ... he tqakes the woman into his arms and hugs her tightly, his face buried in Myrrden's thick hair. "Goodbye, Myrrden," he murmurs. It's barely audible, but there.
Quietly, Redmane reaches over to rub Thomas' back.
Myrrden smiles and returns the hug and letting her eyes close for the duration. "Goodbye, Thomas. I wish I could get you to promise to share more with others, but ... this is a start." She looks over to Redmane and tells her, "Please try to keep him out of trouble."
"I'm only one woman," Redmane says. "But I promise to try."
THomas finally lets go and draws in a deep breath as he straightens out his clothing. "Well, right. Lots of land to cover and we lost daylight because someone slept in. Lets go!" he announces a bit melodramatically.
"You know," Redmane chides Thomas as the head back to the pen to get Rhiannon, "you could have woken me up..."
"No way. Last time I tried that you kicked me," Thomas complains.
"You could try waking me up in a nicer way then!" the knight retorts.
"With a halberd from ten paces?" Thomas asks.
"I should let Rhiannon nibble on the back of your neck," Redmane notes. "You probably need some preening."
"Don't you even think it," Thomas warns and waggles a finger towards the knight.
"She likes fingers too," Redmane notes. "Where to next? The valley?"
"If you're nice to me," Thomas asserts, "Otherwise I'll find someplace unpleasant to go..."
"How nice? There are some haystacks.." the woman teases.
Thomas rolls his eyes. "Oh, get your horse and lets go. Maybe we can find a nice, cold pond to help cool off your heat. I think the wolf is still lingering," he teases in return.