writingrin

The Deposed Dilemma

Ferona's smile faltered slightly. "Yes," she said, but very quietly as he was already talking over her. She didn't really want to admit as much. "Sure..." she'd tell him all about it as he recounted his day to her.

She accepted the package eagerly. The dress was both plainer and a little fancier than she'd expected. Basically, the design was so lacking but the color was a nice surprise. And it was satin, instead of this coarse stuff she had on! She rubbed the soft fabric between her fingers. It was feminine--that was the main thing!

Then she laid it over her arm and looked back at him. "Thank you," she was saying, at the same time as he spoke. Her eyes warmed too and then she looked away.

She touched the patch. "It's not quite done..." She flexed her fingers which had stiffened and cramped. "I'll finish it tomorrow."

The Deposed Dilemma

Ferona's head shot up and she set aside the needlework. "Berek!" she said, sounding as excited as the dog who burst into a fit of barking at the sight of him. She smiled with relief, having just begun thinking he wouldn't make it back tonight. She approached, with hands clasped like a little kid. "Come in! How did it go?"

The Deposed Dilemma

Ferona made a face at him, feeling a spike of alarm, but didn't object. "Goodbye. We'll be waiting..." Together with the dog she watched him go. Then she bent down and picked him up, petting his head as she went back inside. She took a seat at the table and propped up her feet, letting Humphrey be a lap dog, while she read the rest of the cook book. She was almost done but it still wasn't making all that much sense to her. She just didn't have whatever background knowledge and experience its readers were supposed to have. But she wasn't an idiot she understood the concept... There were just little things about the instructions that kept tripping her up. She wasn't ready to attempt it. She flipped the book closed once she got to the end and let the dog out to pee.

At that point she decided to attempt the task Berek had given her. But as soon as she entered the barn and went to pester the donkey a bit she started to feel intimidated. She didn't belong here. She might look like a donkey right now but she was a purebred! She kicked the stall and turned away. Jeffery brayed in annoyance and then went quiet again.

Sighing, she walked around. Ore... what does Ore look like? Well there was a pile of rocks... She crossed her arms and tapped her foot. Rocks = Ore? She didn't see anything else that looked promising. So she bent down and began inspecting pieces. Some of them did seem to have strains of metal inside. So yes... this must be it. She looked around for a wheelbarrow and began to load it up. But she got tired and quit. When she came back to the wheelbarrow she realized it was too heavy to move! Annoyed, she left it and went inside for some water and a sandwich (pretty much the only meal she felt capable of fixing). She didn't end up going back out. But she did wander around the house looking for things to do...

Something about the furniture was bothering her. It wasn't arranged pleasingly enough, and she wasn't used to going around things so she kept bumping into them. Eventually she thought of one thing she could do well... She gathered up all Berek's clothing and searched until she found needles and thread. Whether it had belonged to his mother(?) or if he occassionaly attempted his own mending, Ferona could do this much. Not mend exactly... But needlepoint was a thing. She sewed up every tiny hole and took one of his shirts and began to actually embroider it. That's what she was still working on by the time night fell. It was like a patch over the breast with a knight's helmet, a horse shoe, and an axe. She was planning to add the words 'Berek's Forge' to the bottom later.

While she worked she'd thought a lot about him. Despite having chats with him, she hadn't asked very much about him. Like she thought there WASN'T any more to him. But that wasn't true... It might be interesting merely to compare stories about their lives. Was there any common ground at all? So far it seemed that they both liked dogs and that was it. As far as his personality... He was kind, first of all. But also honorable and generous. Hard working. Handsome... She shook that thought away. She liked having him around much more than anyone else she'd met here. And... she was missing him.

The Deposed Dilemma

She relaxed slightly when he acquiesced. At least that was one thing taken care of! He was a decent man, after all.

Ferona smiled at him slightly. Yes, she was stuck with him. And for now it was alright. She stood as well and nodded. "I will."

But as soon as he was gone she began to wander around. What should she do with herself now? Every day before this had been spent trying to get someone to listen to her or help her in some way. She'd eventually been reduced to scavenging and begging until she thought of selling her hair! She began to long for a book, any book. But could this fellow even read? Well... he was a business man of sorts so perhaps he could? What she really wanted was to learn about this kingdom she was in... They'd never had any dealings with her Demorion. Which made it the perfect place for exiling her. But of course there was no way to get that information from Berek's house. She doubted even the town would have it. So she needed some other way to pass the time... Since she was bored and still slightly weak and sickly she decided to just sleep.

As evening came on, she began to worry about her life from here on out. Seemingly only one person had come down the road in front of the house all day so she could safely say there were no people around. No books. No horse to go riding on. No musicians. What did one do around here all day?

...Chores... she finally realized. Oh, how depressing!

The Deposed Dilemma

She lifted her eyes to the heavens as if to say, 'Lord, help me.' And then testily replied, "Yes, it's important! Just buy whatever is... Affordable." Saying that word was clearly difficult for her. But the fact was she didn't know what kind of dress to get either. All her old clothing had been tailor made for her. So neither did she know about sizes!

However, the absurdity of what followed actually startled a laugh out of her. It wasn't exactly a kind laugh. But she had looked much more disgusted by the money issue than the belch. She raised her eyebrows at him. "Am I eating with Berek or Humphrey?"

The Deposed Dilemma

Ferona seemed to reconsider the food, even as she chewed the last bite and swallowed. She wouldn't necessarily say he was a good cook but he was adequate. She thought of a joke at her expense, but didn't find it very funny. She wasn't at the stage yet where she could laugh at her misfortunes. Her lips tilted down slightly. But she visually shook the thoughts away and returned her attention to him. She nodded in understanding.

"Thank you," she said.

Then she crossed one leg over the other and leaned back in the chair, folding her hands in her lap. They probably needed to talk about some things, like the fact that she didn't do chores.

"The money was for the dress," she explained. "And a scarf."

Would he bring up chores again? She pursed her lips in displeasure at even the thought.

The Deposed Dilemma

Ferona let him pull her up and escort her inside. From the outside they probably looked bizarre and he didn't quite have the walk down. But she maintained her dignity, looking back at him calmly every time he glanced at her. But she was relieved when he dropped her hand and put a shirt on.

Again she sat while he prepared the food. But this time she noted his anxiousness to please her. Where had that come from? It wasn't entirely unwelcome, however... She inclined her head graciously as he placed the food before her. But didn't start to eat right away. Instead she mulled over his words while taking a sip of water.

"You've never had to be anything else," she finally acknowledged. "Why should you be sorry?" She lowered her eyes to the sandwich and took a bite. It was hearty and crisp and juicy at the same time. Delicious!

The Deposed Dilemma

When he blushed, she blinked as if she didn't know what she'd been doing. And then she returned the expression two fold and looked away.

But she looked back up when he invited her to lunch, not unlike she had done in her memory. Just saying it without necessarily meaning more. And yet it did mean more? Eat with me, enjoy my company, spend time with me. It reciprocated a yearning in her. And he actually was not unlike Tyrell, now that she thought about it. He would make just as good a royal guard, if he had that skill set. And perhaps HE wouldn't have rejected her offer?

"Yes, I'd love to," she replied, offering him her hand.

The Deposed Dilemma

Ferona did rarely leave the castle. It required so much pomp and circumstance, even to her mind. She didn't always enjoy having people constantly around her. She did enjoy riding horses and hunting, especially with the dogs on the chase all about her. She could shoot quite well when she had the inclination. Even then there would be guards but they could be told to hang back. She spent a moment imagining the hunts she'd been on, and one particular time when she'd stopped for a sort of picnic. Tyrell had been riding with her that day... As he often did. But something had inspired her to ask him to join her. Why had she done that? He had not even accepted.

The memory made her awfully sad. So she was almost glad to be startled out of it. She smiled but as she turned the squirrel and dog came tearing toward her. She let out a little shriek and flapped her hands. For a moment she felt little clawed fingers and then the squirrel leapt off of her and onto the tree. Humphrey was all over her too and she heard his teeth snap next to her ear. She shoved him off and stood, breathing hard. And then her eyes met Berek's. She clutched her chest, trying to calm down, and then wavered back down to the ground, her arm coming to rest on the stump she'd been sitting on. Her eyes fell as she did, taking in his shirtless state but not quite processing it. Humphrey picked himself up and barked after the squirrel, gave up, and came back to look at her. She dropped her hand and petted him. "Bad dog," she chided, with no malice. She looked at him but then her eyes lifted back to Berek's hairy, muscled, sweaty chest for longer than they should have, and then his face.

The Deposed Dilemma

It was for a dress, of course. She didn't bother replying, just finished storming into the much cooler air outside. It was such a relief! She went back to the table and poured herself a glass of water to cool down. For a few minutes she still mentally fussed about the insult. But then she began to be distracted... At least he wasn't around right now...

She wandered around the house and then went outside. There was a small road and then the barn to one side. She turned toward it and also passed a pathetic little garden. But eventually at the back of the house she spotted her salvation. Of course the one thing this little shack had in common with the castle was that it reeked before one even opened the door. There was only so much that could be done about such things... But this one reeked far worse inside. She had no choice but to do her business and leave though, quickly.

Ferona burst back into the open air, reflecting that at least these clothes made things quicker and easier! She shut the door tightly and strode quickly away from the spot.

After that she looked around and strode up to the nearest shady spot, which was under a tree. It wasn't far from the house, not into the woods, and she did not feel bad seating herself on a root in these clothes. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine herself outdoors back home.