A New Start
Many winters have past since the day Amber first walked into the castle grounds. She no longer seeks freedom or knowledge of her husband’s safety. Amber knows Roar will never return to this world, some say she is a lost soul other’s say she is waiting for something.
“Come on Amber.” Mairenns rosy face leans over Ambers, blocking out the early morning sun light shining through the thatched roof above them. Amber ignores her friend and remains in her straw bed refusing to open her eyes. “I will throw that water at you, don’t say I won’t.” Mairenn says while walking over to the small fire place inside their tiny cottage. “Come on, Lord Marshman is returning today he won’t be pleased to see his chambers not cleaned.” “Well let one of his whores clean them.” Amber grumbled while turning her back on the morning. “I’m getting the water.” Mairenn laughs. Amber remains still. “I mean it Amber.” Mairenn picks up a small clay bowl from the floor and slowly walks back over to Amber. “Ready?” Mairenn asks. Still Amber remains where she is. “Right well you asked for this.” Mairenn swings the clay bowl from her side and straight forward allowing the cold water to shoot out and pour all over Amber. Amber jumps up to the shock of the cold and grabs Mairenn by the arm and pulls her down on to her straw bed and they giggle together like children. “Must you do this every morning Mairenn?” Amber smiles while lying flat on her back. “Must you stay in bed so long Amber?” Mairenn smiles back while standing up. Amber still doesn’t move. “Oh here have this.” Mairenn throws a red apple towards Amber allowing it to land next to her on the bed with a thud. “Call it breakfast.” She laughs as she leaves Amber alone in the cottage.
Lord Marshman’s Castle is busier than usual this morning. Maids are rushing here and there and men wearing armour are scattered about planning something or nothing. Yet Amber slowly walks about without a care in the world, there could be a battle right out side these castle gates and Amber wouldn’t notice. “Bring me some water child.” The kitchen cook shouts at Amber breaking her from her day dream. “Come on hurry.” The cook continues while clapping her hands believing that will hurry Amber on. It doesn’t, Amber slowly walks outside and looks for her usual bucket.
“Is this what you are looking for?” One of the blacksmiths says while holding up the bucket Amber was searching for. Amber walks up the large, dark haired blacksmith named Kaven. “May I have it?” She asks. “Certainly Amber.” Kaven smiles playfully, yet still holds it up out of her reach. Amber pretends she has been beaten and turns to walk away. Kaven proudly looks over to his other fellow blacksmiths for a boast and before he knows it, crunch, Amber has already kicked him in between his legs, the bucket has been dropped and he is kneeling in pain in the mud. As the pain travels from his man area into his stomach Amber picks up the bucket from the floor and as she walks away she thanks him. No doubt all Kaven’s friends see this and laugh; they will tease him for the rest of the day for this. Luckily Kaven has got used to Amber’s ways. “Give it up Kaven.” Another blacksmith says to Kaven while helping him to his feet. “She isn’t like the other females.” Kaven rubs the mud from his knees and says. “That’s why I’m interested.” The other blacksmith shakes his head and walks away.
Amber leans over and stares down into the well. The cook really needs this water but the sooner she gets it the sooner she’ll give Amber another task so Amber slowly lowers the bucket down, very slowly in fact. The sun is no longer shining, the dark clouds have begun to hover over the great castle now, soon enough it will rain and her cottage which has been her home for a while will become wet and damp through out the night. Hopefully Mairenn will remember to put out the bowls and pots to catch all the rain drops if not they will have to cope. That is what life is like here, you cope. There is no fighting for your food or land. The Lord has land and you have nothing. You don’t work for coin you work to live. You can leave if you like but where is there to go? Mairenn thinks she’s lucky because they got the cottage but Mairenn has no idea what Amber had to do to get this cottage. You can usually get what you want round here if you are female and attractive, luckily Amber is both. Marriage is the only way out of here some poor females believe but what male is going to ask a woman for a hand in marriage if he can just take what ever female he likes and then throw her in the mud the next morning? The only way out of here is on the death cart.
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