[IC] The Deposed Dilemma

[POOHEAD189]

"Ok," he said, giving her a nod in agreement. "I'll get you a dress and a scarf within a few days time." Berek heard the words coming out of his mouth, and realized he never expected the weak vagabond he saved on the road to be demanding this and that on the second day. He supposed this was how a lot of men became miserable in marriage. They try to help or get roped in by green eyes, and then the next thing they knew they were told to do this and that.

He dismissed the thought. She was a Queen after all. This wasn't normal, and he shouldn't blame her for not being used to... Well, she should have gotten used to it by now. She must have some confidence to still retain her haughty air. It was almost impressive. "Well, I do sometimes act like a dog." He joked. "But it looks like you're stuck with me."

He finished his meal, and chugged the remainder of his water before he stood up. "Now, I'm going to finish another contract. This breastplate will take me all afternoon. Let me know if you need anything, ok?"

[writingrin]

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!

[POOHEAD189]

Two days passed much like the first. Berek and Humprey, as well as the Donkey named Jeffrey did their best to keep Ferona company. However they all had their own things to do, and it was the curse of the comfortable get bored just as Ferona was fearing. It turned out Berek did have two books. Though one was a cook book and the other was a fictional story of a Knight who saved a princess from a Dragon. Nothing informative, though entertaining.

It was the morning of the 4th day they had been living together that Berek stood just outside of his front door, slipping on his pack and holding a walking staff. "I'll be back by nightfall." He told her. "If you're up to it, see if you could move some of the unsmelted ore I have in the barn to the workshop. Might help your boredom a bit."

He gave her a wave, and headed off into town and down the road, the powerful young man now a dot in the distance. Humphrey sat beside Ferona panting, and she heard the neighing of Jeffrey near the barn.

[writingrin]

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.

[POOHEAD189]

"So, 7 copper coins for these strips of leather eh?" The merchant said, mulling it over. Berek raised an eyebrow skeptically. Shouldn't have offered and just asked the going rate. "Come on Hocham. I've bought from you before, just take the money or I'll go elsehwere. Plenty of farms-"

"Alright, alright. But only because I like ye" The merchant replied, taking the copper and getting Berek what he needed. The smith had already obtained the materials for the hilts, and all he needed now was the leather to wrap them in. He wasn't usually this testy, but the dress he'd tried to find was hard on him. At the end, he got Ferona a maroon dress of satin, along with a plain scarf she'd probably call gaudy but it was the best he could find.

Once he got the materials, and another item, he packed his bags and headed on back home as the sunset. It was just dark when he walked back in, calling to Ferona and Humphrey he was home. Once he made it in, he hesitated at what he found. Ferona cross legged on a chair, embroidering his shirts with a very neat symbol on them. The ore had been moved...somewhat. But still, he didn't know how to feel.

"Hey..." he said to her, knocking on the doorframe.

[writingrin]

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?"

[POOHEAD189]

Berek let out a chuckle, thinking she was quite cute at her excitement. "Miss me?" He asked. "I got you a few things that I hope you'll like. But promise me you'll tell me how today went for you." He said to her, and plopped down on the cot as he fished into his bag. Humphrey approached, just as excited to see him as Ferona.

Soon he found a small wrapped up sack that he handed her, containing the dress. He then slipped out the scarf as well, placing it next to him. He had room for her to sit next to him. And as she looked at the items, he'd pick up the shirt and look at her handiwork, examining it. How did she know he enjoyed the axe? He guessed they'd been spending more time together than he had thought.

"Thank you..." he said to her, his caramel eyes warming, clearly enjoying the symbol she had made, and the work she had put into it.

[writingrin]

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."

[POOHEAD189]

He felt a warmth rise in his body when they shared a thank you and eye contact. His face flushed slightly, but he did his best to keep himself steady and ignore it. When she looked away, he could tell her hair was beginning to grow back nicely as well. It must have been very thick and long for it to already be making a come back.

He held the shirt up, admiring it. "I can't wait to see it if this isn't the finished product." He said. He ought to know something about quality. It was what his job was known for after all.

The next item he had wasn't exactly...well he didn't know how to show this without feeling uncomfortable or making her uncomfortable. But he decided to do it regardless. He knew it would make her feel better in a bad situation, so he decided to go for it. "Your hair's growing back nicely, but I know you'd want the scarf to wear over your head. So I uh, well there's a lot of farms around here, and I didn't have any extra money. But I saw something I thought you might like to wear over your ear with the scarf so..."

He produced a rose, and presented it to her. He tried to keep his face impassive and light, but he had to admit he was anxious for some reason.

[writingrin]

She'd been beginning to blush and so had he. Why was it so hard to make eye contact with him for very long, sometimes? So she'd looked away.

At least he appreciated the gift! She'd started out doing it because she was bored but eventually that's what it had become--a present. He didn't give her a direct, flowery compliment like she was used to but clearly liked it and thought it was well done. That pleased her.

When he began talking about her hair, she set down the dress and snatched up the scarf. She fiddled with it anxiously while he talked. But when she realized what he was getting at, she blushed. A rose to wear over her ear? She grimaced slightly at the thought. She would look too silly!

[POOHEAD189]

Berek's hopeful expression diminished when he saw her grimace. Not for the first time he wondering what he was doing in this strange situation. Why was it whenever she was pleased he was captivated but when she wasn't he snapped out of her spell? He didn't think she was a witch, but...he'd never felt this way before. His emotions usually weren't so volatile.

He sighed, and nodded with a sad smile. "You're right, it was dumb." He said, looking away, red faced and kind of embarrassed. He didn't know what she thought of him at the moment, and he wondered why he even cared!

[writingrin]

She was just thinking of herself, like she always did. She would look silly, especially with just the rose and not the scarf... but that wasn't even the image he'd suggested! It was just... it WAS a touchy subject!

But the moment HE began to think badly of himself her stomach twisted. She hadn't meant...

"No!" she said, reaching out for the rose and accidentally taking his hand in the process. She looked at their hands but left hers there. "Um," she faltered, something she rarely did, "No, it isn't... I'm sorry." She took the rose and slipped her hand away slowly.

She brought the rose to her face and smelled it, closing her eyes. For a just a second, the lovely smell reminded her of home... Then she kind of held it to her chest, blushing now, and thanked him.

[POOHEAD189]

Her sudden reaction caught him completely off guard, and despite himself, his heart skipped a beat when her delicate hands folded around his. He ran his thumb over her fingers, and for the first time since he'd met her, he felt like this was a truly wonderful thing that he had found her.

Ferona breathed in the flower, and to him, he felt like she was beautiful. "Of course." He said, opening his mouth to say something more. "I was just thinking you would enjoy a flower with your things." He said breathlessly, and just watched her in silent admiration. Humphrey in turn watched the two of them, happy as can be as they shared a moment. Berek tilted his head. "Tell me about your day, if you would. How did um..." He placed his hands on his legs. "How was it?"

[writingrin]

She glanced around and then sat next to him on the cot, continually toying with the rose.

"Oh, it was fine. Before the needlework I was reading with Humphrey. And then I tried moving those rocks but the..." she waved a hand around, "the cart is too heavy." She tried to think of something less dull to say but there wasn't much. "Oh and Humphrey played catch with me for a while. Didn't youu?" she picked him up so that he was sitting on the cot between them and petted him. "What else did we do?" she was forgetting something...

[POOHEAD189]

"At least you tried. I'm proud of you." Berek said with a nod, his hand idly petting Humphrey's head while Ferona scratched his mane on the base of his neck. He looked to be in canine heaven right now, the dog comfortable and smiling big. "Well, my day was no more exciting. Just haggling over prices and trying to find a dress I thought you'd enjoy. But I guess it beat's staying here. Next time I'll take you with me. We might even get Jeffrey some exercise if you want to ride him."

He suddenly noticed it was a tad chilly in here, and realized the furnace had not been worked all day. That and the night times were getting colder. "Hold on a moment," he said to her, and he stood up to go and turn the furnace on, though it was on a low heat, working the bellows for a minute until it grew nice and warm. He plopped down on the cot, and realized it was now quite comfortable in the room.

"I can make dinner soon, if you want." He told her, though he now lay back on the cot, his big arms behind his head, biceps prominent. Though his feet were on the ground. He breathed in, enjoying the warmth and the company.

[writingrin]

Proud of her, huh? That was strange. She mentally shrugged and left off petting the dog.

The truth was, she was dying to go back into town. Now that she wasn't just some street person they could all terrorize or pity. And now that her ribs were healed. She could go shopping for herself! "That sounds novel!" she said. It would definitely be better than staying here, bored, all day. But then he had to ruin it with talk of the donkey. "Oh, not the donkey!" she cried, shuddering.

But he must have thought she was cold? Come to think of it, she was a bit chilly. But soon that changed. As it warmed up, Humphrey settled nearer to Ferona and began to doze. Berek seemed tired too, laying down like that. There was something attractive about the casual pose but she looked away from it.

"I--" she started and then paused, questioning what she was about to say and why on Earth she would say it... 'I could cook something for us'? No she could NOT. What was she thinking? She twisted toward him. "Alright. But show me how to cook something too."

[POOHEAD189]

He smiled to himself about the donkey exclamation, but when she mentioned cooking, he opened an eye at her. "You would do that?" He asked her, now opening both eyes. He had to admit, this was a lazy day of his, and the town visit had him in an even lazier mood. He was in no position to refuse. "If you'd think you wouldn't mind, I'd be delighted to see what you'd come up with." He said, sitting up a bit and giving a groan as he did so, his strong muscles tired from the past week of work.

[writingrin]

No mention of showing her how?! And as to 'what she would come up with' well surely it would be awful?

"I'll set the house on fire," she warned him. This was one of the many fears that had cropped up while she was reading that useless cookbook. Just got a house over her head again, only to burn it down like it was under siege. Her face was seriously fretful.

[POOHEAD189]

He blinked, and sat up, feeling his head. "Sorry, that slipped my mind." He said, blinking more. "I guess I nearly was dozing off." The young blacksmith shook his head, his hair getting somewhat shaggy now. He stood up and went over to the water bin, splashing himself in the face. "Let's do it together. You tell me what you think you'd like to try, and I'll help you every step of the way." He said, and he grabbed an apron for him and her. Humphrey saw the new movement, and let out a strange, curious noise as if to say 'whats all this then?'

[writingrin]

Ferona relaxed slightly. She took the apron and looked at it strangely. But once he put his on she copied him. It felt particularly weird but she understood it's purpose, at least.

She followed him into the kitchen and set the rose down. Her mind flashed through the cookbook but settled on her first night here.

"The stew?" she suggested. It seemed easy enough.