Elenis (The Witch of Laverlock)

Chapter 8 Flush of Betrayal

It had been awhile since Oranya had brushed Elenis's hair. It felt good to have her mother's attention after a long while. Since the birth of Lucille many things she and her mother did had been tempered for Lucille took much of her parents time.
They were all in Gertrudis's room getting ready for the tourney, the rain had stopped but the field was a slush of mud. Despite this set back Lord Fitzriley ordered the continuation of the joust in order to appease his restless guests.
" You will be pleased to know you can wear your boots today Elenis, the mud would destroy your slippers.  The gowns however will be ruined if you don't take care girls" Oranya declared.
"Not that she has been wearing slippers at all" Gertrudis snorted as she was being laced into her gown.
"Tell me daughter has lord Blackthorne been most attentive?"oranya raised inquisitive eyebrows at her oldest.
"Yes he has mother. He never left my side all of last night" Gertrudis replied the sparkle in her eyes betrayed her excitement.
"And what about you Elenis?will Sir Wulfric FitzWilliam be your champion or has Lord Fitzhugh sparked some interest?"Ornaya waited for Elenis answer hoping she favored the former.
Elenis sat still pondering on her mother's question, clearly the latter was out of the equation for he was balckguard but the former was just as dicey. She would be a lying if she denied that her preference  for Wulfric for he raised within her a longing that was still a mystery.
"Why the silence Elenis?"Gertrudis asked curiously going to stand before the looking glass as the maid braided her hair.
"Neither one would suit" Elenis replied finally hoping that they would drop the subject.
Oranya let the brush down on the table and looked at her daughter seeing the confusion in the young girls's face.
"I was four and ten when my beloved father betroth me to your father. I was young, playful, beyond reproach. I preferred sparing with Horace who was so easy to provoke." She smiled as both of her daughters looked at her simultaneously.
"My mother had bathed me and made me wear a brand new gown the color of the clear blue sky. I was so excited to be wearing the dress but I had not known then what it was intended for" Oranya continued "I was so innocent and young, still a child in more ways than one. I had been told we had important guests and I was to behave like a lady. I can still remember that eve so vividly, the hall was bare except for my father and his closest Knights then your father walked in with his entourage. His hair was golden like the sun, his features were clear but he wore a thunderous expression that illuminated his green eyes. I thought nothing of it until my father announced our betrothal. My mother and Horace held my hands to my chair in case I bolted which is what I wanted to do. He frightened me, your father for he was so much older, six and twenty, I was a mere child compared to him. Both of us had no choice in the matter, the match was ordered by the king." She paused eying her daughters.
"Oh......" Elenis had never asked her parents how they met all she knew was that they were her parents and that was that. She hadn't realized their union was consigned by the king.
"I always thought you chose father" Gertrudis mused.
Oranya laughed "Nay, 'twas not the place for the daughter of a noble to choose. She is bound to the dictates of the crown or her parents. I was clearly stricken, unprepared for the resposibilities of a wife and your father had seen this immediately. You see he had been married afore, and his wife perished in childbirth along with his son. He had favored his first wife immensely."
"Mother how come you never told us of this before?" Gertrudis asked sharing a glance with Elenis.
"Well I am telling you now. The point is when both of you were still babes we thought to give you a choice instead of wait for the king to decided your husbands. I was lucky, although your father was young he was still much older than I, the gap between our dispositions was vast he was a kind man. He was worldly, having been to France and the north where as I was sheltered, raised by doting parents who gave me everything. My world was my home, your father had seen much more of life, he had fought battles and won them, been to places I never knew existed making conversation was difficult at first. When he discovered I had a curious mind he hired a tutor to teach me about letters and numbers. We started getting along better and then affection grew. Both of you however have a chance to find someone to get along with, take this moment to explore those possibilities, the alternative would be the king's choice, I cannot surmise what that would be." Oranya ended her tale watching her daughters with affection.
"And if we don't find anyone" Elenis asked.
"Then your fate rests in the hands of the king who has already sent his missive requesting your presence at court, there is a widowed Baron he is considering for either of you. I believe the man has already lost two wives." Oranya warned.
"You can always send Liza" Elenis volunteered.
"Very funny Elenis, now consider the knight Fitzwilliam, I believe he has a prospective title. Gertrudis, I believe you have already chosen your heart's desire?" Oranya turned to Gertrudis with a beaming smile.
"Yes mother, he has made himself plain" Gertrudis blushed.
"All is in good order then. Let us make our way to the Barfois before your father grows impatient."
........................................................
Elenis was not paying attention to the joust for her mother's words rang in her ears. She could feel the shackles come to claim her , tied she was to her fate. In truth she wasn't sure about Wulfric for the events of last eve showed a man that was a mystery to her. His behavior was suspect and she wasn't sure about him any longer especially after she heard from Justin that there was another maid involved. But could Justin's information be relied upon?
The joust ended satisfactorily with her uncle loosing to Blackthorne. Gertrudis was beside herself with joy, jumping up and down as she saw her champion win.
Life was so simple for her sister, she was obedient and good. She did not have as vivid an imagination as Elenis, nor did she get herself into so much trouble. Elenis on the other hand wanted more out of life then to be just a wife, she needed to be challenged, she wanted to battle with swords and become a good archer. She wanted to hunt with the men, travel on adventures. Perhaps Marraige was an adventure in itself she mused.
Leaving her family she thought to take a short ride to the waterfall before the afternoon tourney. mounting her horse she quickly sped away hoping not to be gone long.  She needed to think and it was the best place for that.
The sound of the water flowing freely from the rocks filled her senses as she sat by a tree stump close to the water's edge. Peering at her reflection she tried to look for answers to her dilemma when her reflection was joined by another.
Standing abruptly she almost fell into the water but two strong arms broke her decent, pulling her against his body Wulfric looked at Elenis in confusion.
Pushing away from him she veered to her right "What are you doing here?"her voice was sharp with anger still feeling the remnants of betrayal from last eve. "Did you follow me?"
Shaking his head as if trying to dismiss something he gazed at her strangely "I thought to come here and......" He paused looking about him before returning his gaze to her "Nay I did not follow you. It was my intention to come here on my own." He stood to his full height gazing back at the water.
"Why? This is a private place" she replied tartly walking away from him until she was a safe distance. Wrapping her arms around her waist to keep the tingling sensation from consuming her she looked away.
" I remember you telling me of it the other day but....." He paused rubbing his head "what happened last eve?"
She turned incredulously "How can you...." Pausing in mid question she tried to calm her nerves from imploding. The lout! "How can you ask that of me when you know very well what happened!"she nearly went hysterical in her anger.
"I know what I did" he cleared his throat having the grace to turn red with embarrassment " I mean I know what I did earlier in the evening, we danced and I led you to a private corner where we....." He paused again turning away in embarrassment "I remember that part of it but after taking you there I know not what happened. I found myself in my tent this morning with a massive head ache and no memory of what happened after the alcove. I had not drunk enough to render me defenseless but what I need to know is if I have harmed you in any way?"
She could see from his expression that he was tortured by the lack of knowledge. She recalled dazed expression as he left her side, could there have been something that happened that was beyond their comprehension? He did behave strangely as soon as Justin came. Did it have to do with Fitzwilliam?
"Do you not recall Lord Fitzwilliam being present? Goading you?" She asked.
"Was he there?" His question was incredulous making her hair prickle in her arm. It was as if his memory was blocked. What had happened to him?
"It was him that found us and ordered you to leave" she replied as the anger within her disintegrated. " I find it strange you do not remember."
He stiffened turning to meet her eyes, his expression was shuttered and cold "if you say he was present and I have no recollection of it then......" He paused as if holding back something inconconcievable.
"Then what?" She asked as the fear within her grew. Clearly he was not pretending for his manner was angered.
"Nothing....I can see you are unharmed. If I have behaved dishonorably then I would like to right such things and offer my sincerest apologies. And since I have no recollection of what I have done then perhaps you can shed some light on the matter and I can strive to make amends. " he turned trite as he looked at her with sincerity.
Elenis could not believe he had dismissed his passionate behavior so loosely, as if it had never happened at all. Did he not realize that this was the first time she had experienced such bold display of affection? Was he so obtuse, that he had taken for granted his effect on her? Looking at him coldly she remained poised, full of disappointment.
"There is no need for amends. You are right in claiming I have not been harmed and whatever damage last eve may have caused to my delicacies is not irreparable. The only witness to such account has been Lord Fitzhugh, I doubt he would cause any trouble. Now please leave Sir Fitzwilliam , you trespass on my privacy."she replied coldly.
He whipped his head up as if he'd been slapped in the face, looking at her for a brief moment he bowed stiffly before taking his leave. She watched him mount his horse and ride away, waiting until he disappeared behind the trees before she turned back to look at the water as the tears that gathered in her eyes burst forth and spilled down her cheeks. The pain in her chest blossomed into throbbing mass as she wept bitterly.