Silence
Anonymous Me
@Darker Mornings
Donovan walked the hill country with his father and a few other men. It was too rough here to ride the horses and so the small company of men walked. He'd been told that his betrothed had grown in a lovely young woman, but he wouldn't know that for himself until he saw her. The last Donovan remembered of her was when his father had made the trip years ago to arrange the marriage and he'd accompanied him. At the time he remembered seeing a little girl out in the gardens at play. She was a stuffy little brat from what he could tell at the time. Hopefully she outgrew that.
Then again, he wasn't without faults himself. One of his many faults was broadly spoken of. It was a fault of being outspoken and he frequently said what he thought to be true. That was something he was going to have to put in check for this marriage. At least for the ceremony. Donovan's grey eyes turned toward the overcast sky. They likely had only a few hours more before it was dark.
Pulling the hood of his green cloak a bit higher he covered his already damp curls. His black hair had been drenched in an earlier rain and his boots were muddied and his pants all the way to the knee. If his horse had not splashed him with the mud, he'd sunk in it over the past hour of walking through the rough hill country. Unlike some 'lovely' lads Donovan hadn't taken to the luxury of his soon to be inherited fortress. Rather, the young lord preferred the wild lifestyle of a huntsman. He preferred the outdoors and was known as much for his outspoken nature as he was for his hunting.
A little known fact about the short man was his ability to fight. Donovan could wield a sword as well as any of the king's personal guard, but he preferred not to be found among them. The old man was a tyrant and Donovan had only kept the thought to himself for fear of being branded an outlaw.
When the great hall came into view at last Donovan stared at the large, bleak stone walls. Once he was wed to this girl he would have more responsibilities. A woman was helpful in bearing sons, but she could otherwise cause the court to think of a man and his status differently. As a single man of the court it was expected that he would have wild ways and they could excuse his darker skin from the weeks and days he was off hunting. That was all about to change.
************************************************
It was not yet dark when they reached the great hall. The gates were still open and Donovan entered behind his father and the herald that bellowed their names. Inside the walls a stable boy rushed to take the animals to be fed and a servant girl showed them to their rooms.
A great tapestry inside Donovan's room blocked most of the air from blowing straight through and the small puddle of rain beneath the window told him it had rained here too. At least the fire was warm. Taking off his wet clothes Donovan hung them on the drying rack near the fire and changed into his better clothes for the night's dinner. Dipping his fingers in the rose petal water he sniffed it before dipping the edge of the cloth provided in it. Using the water sparingly he cleansed his face and behind his ears. With a final swipe at the back of his neck he was about as ready as he was going to be for this ceremony. The party would last for a week at least, but there would only be three days of feasting with the multiple lords and ladies. It was rumored that the king himself would attend to see the two great houses combined.
When Donovan stepped into the great hall he was assaulted by a barrage of smells and sights. There were a few performers as to be expected and a great roasted boar along with a few sparrows. Sparrows indicated that there was a falconer at the palace and the falcons were well trained. Another display of wealth and a bit pretentious. He was guided to sit at the head table and Donovan waited for the lady he was to wed to enter. When she did he would get the 'pleasure' of sitting next to her for the duration of his stay here before he took her back home with him.
Donovan walked the hill country with his father and a few other men. It was too rough here to ride the horses and so the small company of men walked. He'd been told that his betrothed had grown in a lovely young woman, but he wouldn't know that for himself until he saw her. The last Donovan remembered of her was when his father had made the trip years ago to arrange the marriage and he'd accompanied him. At the time he remembered seeing a little girl out in the gardens at play. She was a stuffy little brat from what he could tell at the time. Hopefully she outgrew that.
Then again, he wasn't without faults himself. One of his many faults was broadly spoken of. It was a fault of being outspoken and he frequently said what he thought to be true. That was something he was going to have to put in check for this marriage. At least for the ceremony. Donovan's grey eyes turned toward the overcast sky. They likely had only a few hours more before it was dark.
Pulling the hood of his green cloak a bit higher he covered his already damp curls. His black hair had been drenched in an earlier rain and his boots were muddied and his pants all the way to the knee. If his horse had not splashed him with the mud, he'd sunk in it over the past hour of walking through the rough hill country. Unlike some 'lovely' lads Donovan hadn't taken to the luxury of his soon to be inherited fortress. Rather, the young lord preferred the wild lifestyle of a huntsman. He preferred the outdoors and was known as much for his outspoken nature as he was for his hunting.
A little known fact about the short man was his ability to fight. Donovan could wield a sword as well as any of the king's personal guard, but he preferred not to be found among them. The old man was a tyrant and Donovan had only kept the thought to himself for fear of being branded an outlaw.
When the great hall came into view at last Donovan stared at the large, bleak stone walls. Once he was wed to this girl he would have more responsibilities. A woman was helpful in bearing sons, but she could otherwise cause the court to think of a man and his status differently. As a single man of the court it was expected that he would have wild ways and they could excuse his darker skin from the weeks and days he was off hunting. That was all about to change.
************************************************
It was not yet dark when they reached the great hall. The gates were still open and Donovan entered behind his father and the herald that bellowed their names. Inside the walls a stable boy rushed to take the animals to be fed and a servant girl showed them to their rooms.
A great tapestry inside Donovan's room blocked most of the air from blowing straight through and the small puddle of rain beneath the window told him it had rained here too. At least the fire was warm. Taking off his wet clothes Donovan hung them on the drying rack near the fire and changed into his better clothes for the night's dinner. Dipping his fingers in the rose petal water he sniffed it before dipping the edge of the cloth provided in it. Using the water sparingly he cleansed his face and behind his ears. With a final swipe at the back of his neck he was about as ready as he was going to be for this ceremony. The party would last for a week at least, but there would only be three days of feasting with the multiple lords and ladies. It was rumored that the king himself would attend to see the two great houses combined.
When Donovan stepped into the great hall he was assaulted by a barrage of smells and sights. There were a few performers as to be expected and a great roasted boar along with a few sparrows. Sparrows indicated that there was a falconer at the palace and the falcons were well trained. Another display of wealth and a bit pretentious. He was guided to sit at the head table and Donovan waited for the lady he was to wed to enter. When she did he would get the 'pleasure' of sitting next to her for the duration of his stay here before he took her back home with him.