Dama Eydis's rooms

[Laluna]

In the vicinity of what was once a great castle are the rooms of the Dama Eydis. The castle was once a beautiful piece of artwork, but when hardships struck it took a toll on the castle. Dama Eydis, a beautiful delicate woman suffering from a wasting sickness that would slowly take her life. The Dama did not ask for much, for she was content with the mildest of pleasures. Her rooms were fairly bare, for the fortune of her family name had run dry when the new king took the throne, but Eydis did not mind. The lady was easily content. She had a bed, chairs, a nightstand, a wardrobe, and other such necessities as would befit a lady. But her favorite feature of the room was the window, a window with a marvelous view of the world below. There, by her window she often sat and read, or did her embroidery. And like those many times there she sat gazing out her window dreamily, an embroidery hoop with a handkerchief for her brother, Friðgeir, lay in her lap momentarily forgotten- replaced by dreams of freedom and running on the far away hills like a small child.

[Mary Blithe]

Lárus glanced up, from his point of view - which was currently flat against the walls of the castle, he could just make out the distant ledge of Edyis's rooms. The vines beneath his hands felt all of the sudden far too brittle, and he muttered a silent prayer to Agamemnon before continuing his climb. No lady was worth this, damn it, but Friðgeir was home... and while Lárus loved Friðgeir as a brother ... the Herra of the castle was just a little too protective of his sister and his sister's virtue.

"Not that he has any reason to doubt me," Lárus muttered. "I'm the most trustworthy man I know." Not that it hadn't crossed his mind, but he liked all his parts in tact. And if Friðgeir found out ... well, despite their love (or in Friðgeir's case, tolerance), then Lárus would be dead. He had a sudden vivid image of what it would be like for one's body parts to be strewn over the countryside, paving a bloody road from úrkula vonar to Sarundell.

At last, his fingers hit the edge of the windowsill. He let out a long, slow breath of relief, and gripped it tightly with both hands. Heaving himself up on both his hands, he swung forward and tumbled into the Dama's rooms.

[Laluna]

Eydis jumped, startled by the sudden entrance. "Lárus? What? How did you get up here?" She stuttered, still surprised that her brother's dear friend suddenly came through the window. Why was he here to see her anyways?

[Mary Blithe]

Lárus grunted with the impact, and stood, brushing his palms off on his pants before performing a quick, low bow.

"Minn Dama," he flashed her a charming smile. "Do forgive my sudden entrance, I didn't mean to startle you. However, your vines were growing tired of my weight, and I didn't want to test their endurance any further than I needed."

[Laluna]

She stood and curtsied then blushing "The vines? Why on earth would you climb here? You could have been hurt, Lárus!" Eydis exclaimed, curious as to why Lárus would think of doing something like climbing the vines to her room.

[Mary Blithe]

"It seemed a good idea, at the time," Lárus admitted, realizing for the first time that his hands were faintly trembling. "I came to visit you and Friðgeir, but I thought I'd come see you first. You know how he is."

[Laluna]

She noticed his hand was trembling, and if she were a more outgoing person she might have held it, but she was certainly not. Eydis softly said "He means well, he cares a great deal for me...And for you I'm sure. He would not want to hear his closest is being lying dead on the ground under my window. It would make both of us quite sad."

[Mary Blithe]

"Oh, I know he means well," Lárus replied lightly. He clasped his hands firmly together, and they ceased trembling. "But it gets tiresome, you see. And he should know well by now that if any man with harmful intention came within a hundred leagues of you, he would become well acquainted with my rapier."

[Laluna]

Eydis smiled, feeling the burning of her cheeks as she blushed bright red. "I think my brother just would like to protect me from men altogether," she lightly replied. "I do think it would be a lot of bother for a man to court me, if there was no certain end in sight." She had thought of this quite a lot. It would be trouble, for she was sick and she well that she had no fortunes to be with the man for his troubles.

[Mary Blithe]

Lárus took her hand and kissed it. "Minn Dama, a man would have to blind not to want you for his wife." he said, guessing at her thoughts. "I honor your brother's motives ... most of the time. But a lady doesn't need to be kept in a tower. Fresh air - that's the cure-all."

[Laluna]

Eydis wondered if she could be any pinker. "Thank you, Lárus, but I am afraid it is worse than that. It would indeed by foolish for any man to marry me." She knew it was the truth. She had turned it over in her mind and thought about it many times. She was no great gain other than what little benefit a title could offer.

[Mary Blithe]

"It will get better," Lárus replied with his usual optimism, as he began to pick up and examine random knick-knacks that were arranged on her dresser. "Something will happen. Sarundell will grow a spine and invade, The Black Jester will die ... somehow. But in the meantime, don't let it get to you. Everyone is hurting. The Sigurgeirsson family is the only one with title that still means anything around here, and I hear young Sigurgeir has his eye on you."

Why did he say that last bit? He berated himself silently. He hated Sigurgeir as much as anyone, he didn't know why he had even suggested to Eydis the possibility of such a marriage.

Lárus liked Eydis. He would marry her himself ... if he could. But he was a selfish man. He wanted to keep her with him, while at the same time, had his eye on marrying on the Dama Katrín Óðinn - one of the richest widows in Evenspell.

"Sorry," he muttered. "Shouldn't have mentioned it."

[Laluna]

Eydis smiled kindly in spite of her stomach tightening with fear at the suggestion, "You did not mean ill, Lárus, I know that- besides I am sure Sigurgeir could have his eyes on many women. He has two eyes, after all, and he seems greedy--" She stopped herself mid statement. She did not like talking bad of people no matter who they were. "Forgive me, I did not mean to speak unkindly of him..." She muttered softly.

[Mary Blithe]

"Oh, don't feel bad," Lárus finally settled down, turning on his heel and dropping into one of her chairs. "I don't think I've ever a word spoken of the family that wasn't ill." he shrugged. "But you've nothing to fear. The moon will glow purple in the sky before Friðgeir even considering allowing such a match to take place."

[Laluna]

"Thank goodness for that." Eydis said, meaning every word of it. She sat back down on the windowsill, picking up the embroidery hoop that had fallen when Lárus made his entrance and placing it back in her lap. "I do not know what I would do." She said shaking her head, then she smiled. "Either way, Lárus, it is pointless to think I shall ever marry."