Elenis (The Witch of Laverlock)

Chapter 2 Family Reunion

On the way back to the castle Elenis met with her mother and Gertrudis.
They decided not to return to the castle post haste but diverted their journey deeper into the forest where they came across a small river with a waterfall cascading from a nearby mountain. It was a place their mother took them when they were younger, calling it a magical place where they could find mythical beings. There in that wonderful place their mother told them stories of rich folklore.
They sat near the bank of the river listening to the birds chirping. There was a reason why Oranya had chosen the place to take her daughters for it would be the only way she would calm Lucille.
"What made you run off Lucille?" Oranya asked her youngest daughter watching as the girl pulled the grass from beneath her fingers nervously, her eyes were still puffy from crying and her cheeks still glowed red from the anguish of her plight.
Not far away they heard the bleat of a donkey and soon Caedomn was upon them, dropping to the ground he sauntered toward the women sitting on top of a tree stump looking at the river.
"Caedmon it is good to see you" Oranya called out.
"Likewise mistress" he nodded and smiled but before he could say anything more he turned away having witnessed Elenis' glare.
Oranya missed nothing but decided to dismiss it ""Well Lucille? You emberassed your father in front of the whole assembly and your betroth was not happy about your illness. I left before he could ask me any more questions but I do want my own answers"
Lucille's lower lip trembled, Elenis could see the girl would be useless "She found out he cheated at the joust last spring, it has made her change her mind about the match."
Oranya stared aghast for a moment before she laughed out loud. Caedmon joined her but after seeing that Elenis was not amused he sobered and looked away.
"Is that all?" Her mother said in between bouts of laughter making both Gertrudis and Elenis look at her dumbfounded.
"Mother have you gone addled patted?" Gertrudis asked worriedly.
"A joust! Cheating in a joust! What makes the deed so heinous you had to run from wedding him?" Oranya skied after recovering.
"That's exactly what I thought?" Elenis crossed her arms against her chest delivering a scathing glance at Caedmon when suddenly the leaves from the trees started to shake and the wind blew against them making their hairs whip against their faces.
"Elenis stop!" Caedmon stood from the stump and roared the order making Elenis turn to him. The wind left them and swirled around Caedmon making him spin wildly.
"Elenis stop it!" it was Oranya but her voice was gentle and soothing as she touched her daughter's shoulder. As her daughter turned to her she saw her eyes dilating but soon her daughter calmed and Caedmon stopped spinning being thrown into the water by the wind.
Thankfully the water was shallow but he had been drenched. Shaking his head he turned an angry gaze at Elenis before picking himself out of the water and stomping away.
"I'm sorry" Elenis stood up abruptly looking wildly about she turned to Lucille "Marry him Lucille, he is a good man. He will take care of you" wrapping her arms about her she started to walk away but her mother and two siblings ran after her.
"Elenis don't go." It was Gertrudis that said this as she looked at her sister's anguish.
"I must. I am too dangerous. You saw what happened, I still cannot control my rage" she said softly as tears gathered in her eyes.
"In time my love it will change" her mother said gently tears had also gathered in her eyes.
Elenis sighed feeling the calmness of her mother's voice smooth her "Do as I say Lucille or what happened to Caedmon will happen to you!" She left abruptly leaving a stunned Lucille gasping in her wake.
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Caedmon was wiping himself with a drying cloth by the time the door opened to the cottage. He stood naked before the hearth, his body still glistening with droplets of water. He was a stunning sight, tall, his shoulders broad and arms thick with the sinews of muscle. His abdomen looked like as if it was carved from stone, his legs as thick as tree trunks. He had the body of a seasoned warrior complete with scars from previous battles. His face was comely , eyes shaped like almonds titing at the corners framed by winged brows. His nose was long and sharp,,perfectly formed while his mouth was like the bow of Cupid, pouty and as red as the juice of crushed berries. His hair was a deep rich fiery red,shorn close to his scalp most of the time but when he allowed it to grow it framed his head like a crown of rings dangling about him in unruly curls.
Elenis walked passed him, ignoring his manly beauty, sitting heavily on a chair rubbing her forehead with her hand.
"I'm sorry!" She said softly
"What's that? I cannot hear you" he said his back to her as he faced the fire.
"I said I am sorry" she said loudly sitting straight and looking at his back.
Turning around he smiled walking toward a chest he pulled out a dark braies and hose to cover his protruding manhood "that's better. Now that we have ironed out our differences you will have to believe me when I say I do no recall ever having told Lucille her betroth cheated in the joust."
"I believe you were not conscious of saying it because you were into your cups at the time. " she replied tartly standing up to get a kettle to brew some tea.
"That may have been how it happened" he mused, donning a brown linen shirt "I would not have had any idea then that my words would sway her to run from her groom."
"That's just an excuse" Elenis sighed slipping some herbs into the warming kettle "She was plagued with nerves. Every bride is I suppose , when the idea of the life they lived as they know it would come to an end. The future would seems rather bleak. But Shropshire has a winsome disposition, she should recover from her brief bought of panic before the wedding."
"Nerves!"he started to chuckle "Why is it that when a young maid about to be married has an attack of nerves it always results in her running into another man's arms?"
"Bite your tongue Caedmon for we know exactly what arms Lucille ran into" Elenis replied scathingly.
He held up his hands in mock defense "AlrightI concede. One spin is enough to make me learn my lesson" his face suddenly became serious as he approached her. Landing his hand on her shoulder he gave her a look of concern "you should however get a grip on your temper my love, perhaps its time to face the past then run from it."
"I cannot " she sighed resting her cheek on his Palm "The last time I tried it was too painful."
"Was it, or were the memories of the past to difficult to face. You should stop blaming yourself for what you could not control. The reason why we are is because we were born to endure love and pain sometimes in the same breath. It's time Elenis, you must open your heart once more or be lost in the power of anger. You will have to choose."
Nodding her head at the wisdom of his words, she poured two cups of brew. Caedmon sat beside her sipping the tea quietly. She turned to the flames on the hearth and looked but did not see. Instead her mind flew rapidly back to a time when things were not as it was.