Of Monsters and Flowers [Sihtric Kjartansson]

Act I: Chapter Fifteen

Beamfleot
Kingdom of East Anglia

Lynette was overcome with guilt -regret- for having snapped at Everard when he was only being amiable. Much time had passed since then and she had now thought it would be best to go and apologise for her unseemly behaviour toward his kindness.

The night had swept in hiding the amber hued clouds behind their veil of darkness, the stars had taken the place of the mist that once covered the azure- they bloomed in a beautiful configuration that had entirely enraptured her. The wind swirled, colder than usual and yet Lynette felt warmer than she would have expected to when she stepped outside. Her feet rushed toward the stables and her hands fidgeted anxiously- she will apologise and hope all else falls back into place, she did not mean to be rude the moment had just overwhelmed her and she did not like such a feeling.

Her head turned and she peeked inside the quietened stable she did not see Everard, he would usually be in here Lynette could not think of which other place he would be and so she opened the door and walked inside her eyes roamed around, it was deathly calm.

The light from the fire glinted across the floor of the stable casting shadows with each step she took forth. From her peripheral vision she caught a slight movement, her head turned quick and her feet shuffled back just as fast. A man- rather large in height and width groaned as he stood up from his previous position of rest and opened his eyes, he seemed to have been sleeping among the hay of the stables. Lynette shook her head and twisted around to leave until an irritated voice called after her.

"Stop." His voice was completely coated with fatigue yet it still unnerved Lynette.

With a sigh of annoyance she turned but cautiously, hopefully unseeing to his eyes, she stepped back closer to the exit of the stables.

"Tell me girl, any word from them?" He snapped.

Lynette was confused, word from who? She shook her head.

The man scoffed as he used his hand to rub away the last remaining crumbs of exhaustion.

He did not seem to pay attention to her, she turned to leave but his voice called again this time less rough but still exasperated.

"I did not say you could leave."

Lynette turned back around yet again.

"You are new here..." He stepped forward, only somewhat, "..I don't recognise you and I tend to know all faces especially those of beautiful young girls."

Her silence had agitated the man, he was not used to such defiance but that was because he would force it out of innocents- just expecting obedience without anything said.

"I am not sure if you are mute or simply have decided to be defiant, which is not so smart on your part, but this is where you tell me your name." He stared at her with impatience.

He raised his eyebrows frustratedly.

"Lynette." She answered idly.

He laughed, "A name worthy of the beauty it has been given to."

Her head turned to the side and she silently begged for a way out of this unnecessarily bothersome conversation she did not wish to be apart off.

"Oh." He sighed, "..do not do that, hide away from me- come let me see, beauty is made to be admired, is it not?" He implored.

Lynette felt the hairs on the back of her neck slowly rise as she turned her head back around, her eyes locked with those of the man before her and where his held a look of pure hunger hers were the opposite they were filled wholly with disgust.