Rosewood Kingdom

On a Need to Know Basis

1328

Helia looked around awkwardly once again. Her small, two room cottage suddenly felt much smaller than usual. "Are you hungry?" she asked. York looked into her eyes. "Assuming that you're a runaway prisoner. You haven't been eating properly."

"Uh, yes. I could eat something." He watches her stand and open the small cabinet to retrieve a loaf of bread.

"I'll make you this thing I call a sandwich. Two slices of bread and smooth peanuts in between. Like butter."

"Call it peanut butter."

"I will." She thought. deciding it wasn't enough for the both of them, she begins to boil some water. "I'm going to make a quick soup."

"How did you end up out here?"

"My husband always liked being out in the open. So he built this cottage with his bare hands. I always admired that about him."

"Husband? Should I leave?"

"No. He's no longer here with me. He died in an accident while building the cathedral."

"I'm sorry to hear that..."

"If you want a bath, I'll boil some more water and I have some...soap so you could wash properly in the next room."

"Thank you." He takes the steaming kettle in his hand and left her. "It's cold as a bitch in here."

"Yeah, he never figured out how to make the fire stretch to two rooms, so I'll have to start another fire." Helia leaves the pot unattended for just a few minutes to start another fire. Then she returned with some men's clothing.

The next few minutes are quiet. "He was a carpenter and blacksmith." She randomly speaks while sprinkling herbs in her soup. "I was a schoolteacher before we married."

York listened to her from the room while having his bath. "Surprised they let you be a teacher at all."

"That's almost the same thing he said before we married. The little children cried when I told them I couldn't be their teacher anymore." She laughed. "Some will come out here to see me sometimes."

"You can't be a teacher now?"

"The king here won't allow it. So, I just sell the little I have left over from my garden for more gardening supplies and cloth for clothing."

"Won't allow it?"

"The laws are different than they are in Shadowcourt. Here in Eastmont, when a woman marries, she dedicates her time and energy to her husband and eventual children. There is no time for a job outside of the home."

"Hmm..."

"Women are capable of so much but this is what we're reduced to."

York returns just as she finished the soup and another slice of bread. "A tad too small." Helia giggled. "I'll sew you another pair of pants." She promised.

"I'm glad to be of humorous entertainment to you, my Lady."

"Helia of Eastmont." She interrupts him. "Is it good?"

Better than the finest chefs I had in Shadowcourt, he thought. "Yes. Very good, thank you."

"I'm planning on going to town tomorrow morning, so I'm going to head to bed. In the room you bathed in, it's a bed in there. I had it when my parents died." She explained as she dumped the bathwater out the window and then drew her own to boil.

"So it's really just you?" he asked her. "I'm sorry to hear this."

Helia leaves the main room to bathe and change into her simple nightgown. "Yes. They were of nobility and when they passed, I was afforded to have some things, including the materials for this cottage."

"That's how you got to be a teacher."

"If we're honest..." she is done bathing and cleaning off the bed. The second room is warm enough now. "It is ready now."

York follows her in the room. "I use this to brush my teeth. I made this paste to keep them clean. It's just soap and mint leaves. Make sure to rinse your mouth out good."

"You are..."

"A lady who doesn't have her homely luxuries anymore." She laughed. "Good night, Sir." and with that, she leaves for the bigger room.

York lays in the surprisingly comfortable and warm bed. His mind wanders. Every sound, every rustle, it sounds like they're coming.

"There he is!" he heard a voice yell. Suddenly, the crowd of horses and yelling men take off toward him. York mounts the horse and takes off as fast as he could. A chase ensues.

I can't stay here for long, taking advantage of this lady...Helia's kindness. The least I could do is contribute to her. As king, she would easily be promoted to something. But what?

The next morning, Helia woke up early and made a breakfast. The smells woke York up quickly. "I'm going to be gone in a few minutes. I must mount my horse up to my wagon. If you have to be on your way, I appreciate your company and please be safe."

"Thank you...Helia."

She closes her door and hooks her horse up to the wagon and was gone before the sun was up. York finishes the breakfast and leaves on his black horse. Heading further south east. When the sun was high, he comes across a woman. A small thing in a black cloak. He steers clear of her.

"York, King of Shadowcourt." She speaks his name first. He steps back for a moment, draws a weapon. "No need for that, my King."

"Who are you?!" he yells. Movement behind her has him on high alert now. Another small woman.

"Brie of Orleans." She spins a handful of magic. "And this is my friend, Mikaela of Orleans."

"Mika for short, sometimes." The woman removes her hood. "We think you may need some help."

Meanwhile, Helia sets up shop in the town square to sell. She hoped to make enough money for her spring garden.

Soon however, a small group of knights ride in with a parchment in hand. "Shadowcourt has a runaway prisoner!" the man yells. "If any of you see him, bring him in dead or alive, you will be rewarded greatly."

Helia reads the announcement for herself. Her face pales instantly. Surely not...