Love Thy Enemy (Closed for Lotharian and I)

[Daisymell]

Kaylaina stepped carefully from the water, her bare feet scraping the rocks littering the bottom of the pool she had just bathed in. Water slowly rolled down her naked body revealing above her breast the tattoo of her family the Dorns, a family of bloodshed and warriors, who steal, rape, pillage to get what they think is theirs. She is just as proud but she is also bitter of her family for their protectiveness. They do not think well of her as a warrior. With this thought she forcefully pulled on her green gown and soft pelt cloak. She swept her fire red hair back and turned quickly as she thought she heard a noise.

 

[Lotharian]

Roland. The young King of Lesia. He was a handsome young man with soft brown hair, and kind blue eyes. It was thought when he came to the throne that the idealic Prince would make a wonderful King and his reign would be full of hapiness. That was, until Dorns of west began to raid their towns. Bringing with them rape, and pain, and pillage.

The King was forced into action, and as most would do, he lead his troops with valour and honour. He was dedicated to turn back this stem of unprovoked raids and bring peace to his lands and his people and start a new age of prosperity. He was leading a small scouting party on a routine mission when they got cut off. And things slowly became worse...

Now, Roland was alone deep in hostile territory. Roland was currently moving as well as he could through the woods. He was more a knight than a ranger, and this whole thing was unaccustomed to him. Yes, he did indeed have the training need but it wasn't his strong point. That was when he saw her.

He knew not whether she be a Nymph, Dryad, or thing of his imagination. She was bathing and her body was of such beauty that Roland had to force the impure thoughts from his mind that began to stir as he turned his head away. But not before noticing her mark. He then heard the sound of water dripping and when he turned, she was clothed. And Roland trained an arrow on her. He couldn't risk her screaming or something to a nearby entourage.

"Please do not be alarmed dear lady..." Roland said calmly and courteously. "But I mearly seek my passage back home. I knew not the house of Dorn had Nymphs within their rank and I pray you be so kind to a way-ward soldier as they say in legend."

 

[Daisymell]

Kaylaina could not believe her luck. The man training the area on the same place as her tattoo was a tall elegant soldier unlike the men of her fathers ilk. She hated them, the men of the Dorns and found the man fasinating.

"I am not Nymph, dear soldier," she smiled. "Just a flesh and blood woman."

Her eyes sparkled like a cat's green eyes as she watched the man closely. She also was trying to distract him from noticing her hand move into her cloak for her daggers.

"I am of the Dorn house but who be you? I do not get out much and do not know the emblem you wear so proudly. Please do not harm me, move the arrow away."

She reached out towards him as one of her daggers lay in her hand in wait if he attack her.

 

[Lotharian]

"It is that you have the house of Dorn that my arrows lies so skillfully trained dear lady." Roland say with a smile. "As for mine, it is the symbol of the Royal House of Lesia that your kin have so chosen to attack. So now we know where each other lay dear lady?"

She was a fascinating woman. Most from his homeland were so dainty and would be so... frieghtened by this point. But she stood strong like a soldier against him. He made sure to watch her carefully as to ensure she made no odd movements that would place him at risk.

"Now as I said... I merely seek my passage home dear lady. Would you be so kind as to point me towards my home? Or must I barter for passge?"

 

[Daisymell]

"Barter..." Kaylaina let the hand with the dagger into the light to trace the corner of her mouth her tongue lightly touching the tip. She then replaced the dagger into her cloak and looked deeply into his eyes.

"How old do you be? And are you just a soldier of Lesia? I wish to know more...let me barter information for my protection to your home. I have never in years left the confines of the longhouse of Dorn. I am a prisoner in my father's home. All I want, well other than...hmmm, is information of the outside. Why does my father, other than bloodlust, attack you?"

She genuinely looked naive in these things and waited patiently for him to take the barter.

 

[Lotharian]

"I accept your offer." Roland says, lowering his bow lightly. The arrow still knocked, but no longer trained on a vital area. He looked her over now that the moment had passed. She was a beautiful woman and he couldn't believe that such a man of nightmare could bore a thing like this from his seed.

"I guess you can say I am a leader in Lesia who is held in high regards. I was leading a patrol that go cut off and sadly, I am all that remains and have come to this fate. Maybe by fate? I dare can not tell. As for age? My kin are amazed I am yet without bride, though enough offers have been made."

And then, Roland was forced to actually think for a moment about the last request. As of yet, he really had been offered nothing of knowledge on WHY they attacked other than bloodlust.

"Why your kin attack? I thought you would know more. Obviously not for honour. There is none in raping and killing innocent women, nor in the slaughter of children and peasants across the land of Lesia. Mayhaps you could tell me more?"

 

[Daisymell]

"Please follow me...I will tell you as we move far away from the fence along my family's land. It would be bad for us if we are caught. They would assume you have taken that which can only be given to my husband."

Kaylaina quickly moved across the clearing to a group of large oaks and looked behind her before disappearing into the woods.

 

[Lotharian]

Roland quickly took off after her, keeping pace to her running though he was getting tired of it. He had been running for days from various patrols, afraid to be captured and what it would do to his people. He couldn't bear to see what would happen if the Dorns got control of Lesia...

"Are you sure this is safe? Far safer for you to be caught than for I." Roland said as they made their way.

 

[Daisymell]

She stopped dead in her tracks. "Actually, they would probably just ransom you and bloody you up because he has spoken of your King's compassion for his people. Me, they will hang me up in front of my father's square and allow me to bleed to death from certain...wounds...I have seen it done before. Women found with other men than their husbands...me being found with you would constitute the wounds to bleed for the longest time allowable."

She turned again thinking over what she had said quickly wiping a tear from her eyes, "My own mother was treated to the same. That is what brings us to why the feud exists. My mother was found in the bed of Griffin of Lesia. I believe he was a cousin of the King of Lesia. It was due to this that my mother died and Griffin was later slaughtered by my father. My mother fell in love. She hated being imprisoned like myself. But my father says I have my mother's blood and will betray him. That is why we must be careful and I do this for my mother's memory. For we may kill but I do not have to like why we do and follow that path."

She smiled at him. "We have further to go...we do not need to run for you must be tired but we must hurry."

 

[Lotharian]

Roland nodded as they moved along. "Well, if such cruel punishments await you, then I've no want for us to slow down any bit." Roland said as they made their way. "As the comment on my father's cousin... I guess you are less ignorant of the outside world then you said?"

Roland was truly horrified by this father of hers. He sounded like a man bound by cruelity and false prejudice. Slaying his people over an offense like that... He should've challeneged his father's cousin to an honourable duel. Not raid and slaughter... and rape....

 

[Daisymell]

"The only reason I know the story is that my father likes to flaunt the fact that he punished his wife to death. Our ways are that you marry once and if the person dies then you can pretty much just have whoever you want. Since he is the head of the clan, he pretty much gets whoever. The only reason I know where I am going is because being locked up leaves you a lot of time. I raided my father's maps so that if I ever got out I could find my way to Ilrist, the neutral town. After this I don't think I will be able to go back so I might as well just drop you off there. We do not have much further to the main road."

 

[Lotharian]

Roland nodded his head to this. He had heard of Ilrist. A town of some warriors of great skill whom held their City-state safe for centuries. They evaded the fearsome might of the Dorn's because they felt it not worth the cost to try and take them.

"If you do not think you can return, then I see no reason for you to be an outcast." Roland said softly as they made their way. "I am sure that King Roland would hear your case."

 

[Daisymell]

Seeing the main road just ahead, Kaylaina thought on his words. Why would the King listen to her? She was his enemy's daughter. Why? She stepped onto the road looking down the road in the direction of her family's holdings and then towards where Ilrist was a barracade between the Dorns and Lesia. Then she jumped. The Horns were blaring and she could hear thunder on the road. It was coming fast. She swiftly turned around noticing the Soldier next to her.

"The know I am gone."

She tried to push the Soldier back into the trees looking beyond frightened.

 

[Lotharian]

Roland grunted as he was unexpectantly pushed back into the woods. Hrm... it seemed that he was being drawn into an even larger situation. A daughter of the Dorns AND being a King in Hostile Territory. This all can't end well... not well at all...

"Do you know another path that isn't patrolled? Or they wouldn't search?" Roland asked quietly, letting the Lady whom knows more lead the way.

 

[Daisymell]

"Let me think...I think there is a hunter trail that goes along this road that is hidden in the woods. I doubt that they would think I would know of it. We could go along that. But we will have to run. This is looking to be very bad. I am so sorry I thought they would not notice until night fall. They usually just leave me in my room and check on me in the morning and at night. Come along."

She grabbed his hand and started off back into the woods to the hunter trail which was overgrown with shrubs and trees. They kept running and running only resting in small intervals until they could see the banners of Ilrist.

"We should go to the side entrance. The Dorns are not welcome here so you may have to pose as your captive."

Kaylaina pulled the sash from her cloak and gave it to the Soldier.

"You will have to tie my hands. If they find out who I am, the fact you are a Soldier of Lesia will be proof enough for us to enter safely. The Dorns will know that alone I can not enter and they will not gain entrance. My father hates the fact he has to be nice to the Ilristians and can not enter."

 

[Lotharian]

Roland sighed. He didn't like this one bit... There was too much potential for things to go wrong and he didn't want to loose any friendship with the Ilstrians. But he had to do something and her plan was as good as any. And so he bound her hands firmly and nodded.

"Alright then... I guess we head into the city..."

And with that, Roland headed out towards one of the side entrances of Ilstir, and immediately was there a gaurd shouting as for his business. Roland was quick to answer in a formal tone.

"I bring with me a captive needed for questioning in Lesia!" Roland shouted to the gate guard. "I request the right to rest my weary self and captive here for the night before heading on my road yet again!"

A couple of minutes passed and the gates creaked open.

 

[Daisymell]

Kaylaina was impressed. The Soldier was not just handsome and brave but was commanding. He reminded her of the way her mother use to talk about Griffin during their very short interlude. The men of Lesia were fasinating to her especially this one. She let out the breath she had been holding and allowed the Soldier to take her into the unknown city. She may know roads but there had not been a map of the city of Ilrist.

"I hope you have been here before because beyond here I have no idea where we are."

 

[Lotharian]

Lesia and Ilstir were trading partners in the past and Roland in his childhood had come here on and off. It was for this past friendship Ilstir maintained neutrality. They knew they would be crushed if they took up their swords against the Dorns. But they would at least be a barrier that the Dorns would not willingly cross for a while if they stayed neutral. Though many wanted Ilstir to aid the Dorns to secure themselves, their current ruler wouldn't let it.

Roland led her to one of the not so terrible Inns in town. Mainly they used to house the merchants of Lesia before the war began, but now with trade down to an all time low there were many vacancies.

"'Ello good sir!" Said the innkeeper when they entered. "Welcome to tha Golden Deal. Wut can I do fer ya?"

"We'll need a room my good sir." Roland said as he put down 5 silver pieces. A very generous sum and the innkeeps eyes lite up. "And please, I would not like to be disturbed. I merely stay until morning until I can get this prisoner here to Lesia to answer some questions."

"Of course m'lord! I remember when the people of Lesia used ta be 'ere all the time!" The inkeep says. "Actually, you bear a strikin' resemblance to Roland, the new King o' Lesia..."

"A coincidence I'm sure." Roland said with a smile. "And what room am I granted?"

 

[Daisymell]

"He really looks like the new king? You look like the king? Do you know him? Is that why you are taking me there?"

Kaylaina wondered about the resemblance but then just shook it off thinking that maybe he was a distant relative that looked like his cousin. She kept quiet from then on trying not to bring suspicion to her and wishing she would have put up the hood on her cloak. Her hair was bringing unwanted eyes her way and she even got a couple of crude jestures from some men.

 

[Lotharian]

Roland laughed at her rapid fire questions about his knowledge of his relationship with himself. When they got back he'd be sure to tell her the whole truth. But for now he would string her along.

"Nay, it is just a coincidence." Roland said jokingly as the innkeeper handed him a key, though eyeing the pair questionably. Roland blushed lightly when he got the idea of what the innkeeper might be thinking. Knowing of some couples that kindled their relationship with that kind of... thing.

"Erm... so what room is this for?" Roland asked hurriedly, wanting to get on his way now to his room so he can plot out his next moves. They they SHOULD be alright for their passage to Lesia, they might have been new patrols of Dorns in. And the Dorns would not be reluctant as to press into Lesia territory to recapture the daughter of their lord.

"It be room #5 M'Lord." the Innkeep said, motioning to the stairs. "An' please try ta not make things too loud wit' yet 'prisonner'." The innkeep said with a hearty laugh as the now crimson Roland made his way up the stairs, taking Kaylaina with him towards room #5.

 

[Daisymell]

Kaylaina practically growled at the innkeeper as Roland pulled her along to the room. Once inside she turned on Roland and said, "I can't believe the nerve of some people," she looked to Roland who was still bright red and reddend herself.

"I am not my father...I would not force attentions of such on you. Not that you are not handsome and brave or anything of that such to attract someone like myself. I just would rather they be mutual..." she whispered the last looking shyly away and began to move towards a chair her hands proving difficult when trying to sit and waited for what would happen next. She tossed her red hair and looked more closely at the bare room although it did have quite a large and inviting bed in it. Kaylaina again thought about what the man might be like in bed and felt herself shiver and grow warm. That is when she caught Roland watching her.

 

[Lotharian]

Roland didn't think he could get redder but he overheard her comment on his willingness. He turned about so she couldn't see the deep red hue his face had come to bear. After a moment of compossing himself and feeling the heat of his face pass, he was able to turn about again to see her and maybe strike up a conversation.

Roland noticed the uncomfortable position she seemed to be in and then nearly smacked himself for his forgetfulness. Roland quickly went and untied her hand and handed her back the fabric.

"Uhm... thanks." Roland said with a sheepish smile. "And I apologize for the behaviour of those men down there. And these dark times it seems few remember how to be gentlemen. Is there anything you might wish? A drink? Some food?"

That was when Roland noticed that there was one bed. For the two of them. Roland shaked his head. They'd just sleep in shift. Yes. That would save him from having those dark thoughts in the back of his mind from taking any deeper root. He'd get her home to Lesia if that was how cruel her father was and maybe see if she could speak some sense into her father after seeing the destruction of Lesia's once beautiful lands.

 

[Daisymell]

Kaylaina thought that if he was acting like a gentleman it was definetly not like anything she had ever seen. She took the length of fabric that had tied her hands and rethreaded it through her cloak. Then she proceeded to take off her cloak and drape it over the bed. Turning to Roland, she smiled.

"I think I could use both a drink and some food. I do have a little bit of money if you need it," she began to search her bodice for the small pouch of coins that she kept close to her body. She pulled out the pouch, "There it is," she handed the pouch out to him, "I don't think you should have to pay for me...you are already helping me out so much."

 

[Lotharian]

Roland took the pouch the took her hand, placing it in there gently with a smile on his face. It was a kind gesture, but that wasn't his way. After all, being a King he had a healthy purse of his own and thus didn't need to take what limited funds she has.

"I've coins of my own. I won't take what little money you have left." Roland said softly, and kindly. He looked into her eyes and held for a second. He hands were so soft and felt so kind to his hand calloused from the trials of war.

He suddenly stood up and once more beat off those dark thoughts from whence they came. "Does bread and mutton sound good to you?" Roland said with a smile as he backed off from her towards the door.

 

[Daisymell]

Kaylaina felt her heart race as she looked deeply into Roland's eyes before he let her go and started to back away. She could feel that he was tempted with her but that he would not offend her with being like her father. Almost as if he cared enough not to be ungentlemanly and she realized that the way of the Dorns were no longer her ways. Once in Lesia she could start a new life and find anyone she wanted to have to be hers. And she wanted him. But she would wait until after she spoke with the King to make her move towards him. She did not want to offend him or scare him off.

"That sounds wonderful. Thank you," she smiled. "If it is at all possible I would like some water to clean up. I don't need a bath just a little water if that could be obtained?"