Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 20:31:55 -0700
From: Dragonwriter <Dragonwriter@toshirodragon.com>
Subject: A Fairy Tale in Flight

A Fairy Tale in Flight ch 2


I apologize for the delay in posting! The holidays have been so crazy! To
make up for it, I shall push to have Chapter three up by New Years! This
chapter is very short, but read between the lines! It's not what's being
said that's important, listen to what's NOT being said!



Father didn't summon me the next day nor the day following and while I was
certain it didn't mean he'd dropped the subject of me marrying, I couldn't
help but feel just a little bit relieved. I needed time to think of what I
could do to solve this situation and time for Tamas to finish gaining
control of the dragon. Mother, however, looked me up and down when I
answered her summons, the morning after and shaking her head, she sighed.

"Well, I could have told him that you're a defiant little bugger," she said
in an exasperated tone. "Not that he ever consults me with his plans."

"I'm sorry, Mother," I said softly, wondering why I was apologizing to
her. Perhaps I wanted to prevent her from launching a full scale assault on
my ears with all her woes at Father`s hands. Mother waved the apology away
and went on talking as if I hadn't said anything.

"Her Ladyship is going South to visit her daughter who lives near the
Blessed Martyr's Cathedral and has commanded me to attend her on the
journey. I expect we'll be away until autumn or there abouts. I may do a
pilgrimage while I'm there..." Mother's voice trailed off thoughtfully and
I had to stifle a laugh at the image of her horror when presented with the
pilgrim's traditional hairshirt.

"Hmmm, did you say something, Nicco?" She asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

"No, no Mother, you were saying?"

"Oh sit down, you make my neck hurt looking up that high." She gestured to
the end of her bench and I sat down leaning against the high back.

"I'm leaving Mellys here," Mother went on. "Don't look so surprised, I know
you and that child who stays with you would be lost without her to look
after you. Besides I have a new maid, I need to give her my attention to
train her well."

"Thank you Mother," I said genuinely grateful.

"Yes, yes," Mother said making an embarrassed shooing motion. "Try not to
fight with your father or brother while I'm gone."

I ducked my head and mumbled something I hoped would be satisfying. How
could I not fight with Father when he was so determined that I should marry
against my own wishes? Mother's hand lightly patted mine.

"He's only trying to make your life better. We've worried so much about
you."

"I know Mother," I said softly, feeling panic cut off my windpipe. I felt
trapped as surely as a rabbit in a snare. Trapped by the expectations of my
class and I wondered briefly if Mother had felt that way before marrying
Father, I wished I knew, though I dared not ask. Mother's good mood was
something to be cultivated not something to be mown down lightly.

Nayne was horrified when I showed up at the forge with a swollen bruised
cheek. Teru and Noah were equally upset and Kinna was ready to march up to
the castle to give Father a royal dressing down. But I insisted it was
nothing, I was man enough to take it and it was probably my turn anyway,
which made everyone chuckle and calm down. Tamas continued to glower
however, on through the day, each time he caught sight of my face and I was
quite glad that Father would have no business in the town smithy.

Lehi returned home on the third day after the row with Father, which had
turned rainy, so we stayed home instead of braving the muddy roads. Bitte
informed me that Lehi went straight to Father's quarters, even before
changing his travel clothes or greeting Meg and spent the better part of
the day there. Previously, I'd have looked upon it as no concern of mine
and gone about my business with no further thought of the two of
them. However, now I wondered if they were discussing my future and making
wedding plans for me. I debated on storming into Father's quarters and
telling them both that I wouldn't marry but in all honesty, I couldn't see
where it would do me any good. More than likely, I'd come away with a few
more bruises for my efforts. Bruises a soon to be fully grown dragon said
he'd not stand down on again. I sighed and dropped my head to the table.

I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew I heard someone
call my name and shake my arm roughly. I blinked and tried to focus on the
tall man beside me, I could hear my name spoken in a soft voice and at
first I thought it was Tamas beside me. However, as my eyes focused, I saw
this man was blond haired with a neatly trimmed beard and I jumped
backwards in surprise nearly falling off the clothes chest that served as
my seat.

"Whoa, easy now, Nicco," Lehi said reaching out to catch me from falling.

"Lehi?" I asked rather stupidly.

"At your service," he said with a bow. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle
you."

Privately I questioned the simplicity of that statement, but I decided he
probably hadn't meant to scare me and he had tried, at least in theory, to
be gentler in waking me than he'd have been with one of his fellows. I
rubbed my eye wincing when I touched the bruise. Lehi gripped my chin and
turned my face sideways, he sighed in exasperation.

"I told him not to be too rough on you. That you'd bruise up like a girl,"
he said sharply.

I flinched at the "like a girl" and scowled back at Lehi, who didn't seem
to notice it. He let go of my chin and straightened up, his eyes casting
critical looks around the room. He let out a theatrically sorrowful sigh.

"Aren't you tired of this, Nicco? This living like a monk on scraps? What
if I said you could have a much larger room, with several windows. And an
army of servants to tend to your needs. You could have money for new
clothes or or or..." Lehi cast frantic glances around the room trying to
guess what I would spend money on. "Books! Yes, books, you like to read,
don't you?"

His tone was honey sweet as if I were a somewhat idiotic child and I
scowled at him again. I resented being bribed with new toys or shiny things
in the same way one distracts a small child who is having a temper. I was
strangely offended by the offer of a room with more windows, more
opportunities for cold to come in and make my joints ache even more. Twenty
years of patronizing and whispers hadn't served to make me more compliant
and my already gray mood turned decidingly black.

"Lehi," I said sharply. "I am not a child to be distracted or bribed with
shiny things. I have no wish to marry an elderly dowager or to marry
anyone."

"Oh Nicco, I don't see what you're getting all worked up over. Just think
of the hundreds of pounds a year you'd have to spend," he said cheerfully
as if I hadn't spoken.

"Spend on what?" I asked. "My needs are few, I don't need hundreds of
pounds."

"Nicco, Nicco, if you had that money, you'd find things to spend it on,"
Lehi said with a tolerant smile.

"Namely you?" I thought waspishly. But I kept my mouth shut having no
desire to start a third argument in as many days.

"Nicco, really, it IS time you decided to grow up, get a wife, run a
household. I'm sure your new wife would allow that child of yours into her
place, in the scullery or something of that nature."

"The scullery?" I thought. "Waste that intellect and humor scrubbing pots
in the lowest of low jobs?"

"Nonsense," I snorted. "Bitte is far too talented to waste in the
scullery."

"And I've been meaning to speak to you about that," Lehi said changing
topics like a bird chasing bugs in the grass. "You haven't noticed anything
of yours missing, have you? Things have, ahem, disappeared around the
castle."

"What!" I said shooting to my feet. "Are you accusing Bitte of theft?"

"Well he is a Gypsy," Lehi said.

"Half-gypsy," I said tightly. "His fourteen year old mother was raped by
some manor fellow." Lehi shrugged and made a dismissing gesture. "Bitte is
the most honest person I've ever met." I stopped and took a deep breath
before sitting down, grateful to whatever god or being that kept Bitte out
of my room at that moment. I knew he'd not greet Lehi's casual attitude
about his mother's rape with pleasure.

"Lehi, that accusation is ridiculous and you know it. Things always go
missing, there are so many people in and out of the castle constantly. And
sometimes it's a loss by accident, the wrong thing picked up or a foreign
servant mistaking something for their master's. You're not stupid, Lehi,
you know that as well as I."

"It's just that I worry about you, Nicco," Lehi smiled. "Really you should
get married, you can move to better accomadations, have someone to talk to,
servants to look after you."

"Lehi, enough! I am not going to marry, I like my life the way it is."

"Oh Nicco, you're like a child, you don't know the pleasure of having a
woman at home. Someone to sooth you after a hard day and make for you a
haven of peace after the stresses of dealing with fools. She'll supervise
your servants, bear and raise your children and-"

"Sounds like a raw egg to me. What does she get out of it?" I asked wryly.

"Why the satisfaction of being your wife, of course. Not to mention the
safety of your protection and the benefit of your wisdom."

"My protection?" I asked laughing and holding up my hands. "Definitely a
raw egg for her."

"Nicco! You're being stubborn, just think of all the advantages in having
an heiress for a wife."

"Oh yes, we're back to the money," I said resting my chin on my fist and
looking up at Lehi. "Money for me to spend or money for you and Father to
spend?"

"Makes no difference," he said airily.I watched him fuss with his doublet
sleeves. "You know, your needs are few. There should be plenty of money."

I stared at him trying not to burst out laughing. The fool was actually
trying to convince me by using my own arguments against marriage as a
reason why I should allow him and Father to drain my future wife's purse
dry! For several minutes my brain refused to function and I was stuck
staring at him like a cow.

"As for bearing my children, aren't you trying to marry me off to women
well past child bearing age? The Dowager Countess of East Keith has
grandchildren my age."

"Well Nicco, she was just a suggestion. You know she's a very intelligent
woman, someone you could," he paused, then went on in a cheerful tone,
"talk to and feel comfortable discussing whatever you've read. Yes, that's
a fine idea."

"Not bloody likely," I said gruffly.

"Nicco! There's no reason to be crude," Lehi said prissily.

"Crude?" I thought, wondering if I should treat him to whole of my
education at the smithy, up to and including Sweet Kate`s charms. "Lehi,
how can I phrase this so you'll understand? I do not want to marry, I have
someone I love very much already."

Lehi studied me for a moment before walking to the door. Turning around, he
leaned back against it, narrowing his eyes and crossing his arms over his
chest. I wondered if he thought he looked manly or threatening that way
instead of looking like a pompous ass.

"The red headed smith in town?" The light airy tone of voice was gone now,
replaced by a sharp edged voice. "Oh, do close your mouth, you look like a
fish, Nicco. Did you think I'd forgotten that black eye? You disappear and
are nowhere to be found in the castle, did you think that absolutely no one
noticed?"

"No," I answered evenly. "I just never expected anyone of my class to care
where I went."

"That's a hell of a grudge against your peers, you're toting on your
shoulder," Lehi said softly. "Really, you need to see we aren't your
enemies."

"Lehi, we've been through this before," I said tightly clamping my jaws to
prevent screaming at him. "All I am is a joke to the people living here,
something to laugh at, but certainly not someone to invite in for a bite to
eat."

"And don't tell me it's my fault," I added as he opened his mouth to
speak. "I'm standoffish because I've never once been invited into the inner
circle. I'm a cripple, I can't fight, maybe my hands aren't all that's
twisted and I can't even make love to a woman, so what good am I? Yes, I do
hear the whispers and gossip. My sole worth is to marry to some doddering
dowager who won't notice my relatives draining her purse dry," I ended
bitterly.

"Nicco, if that smith means so much to you, set him up a shop close to your
house. You can visit him and all's good. I'm sure your new wife would
understand that you have certain needs above what she can offer you." He
made a flicking motion with his fingers. "It isn't like the old crone will
be expecting you to do her. And if all goes well she`ll die soon and leave
you to take over the estate." He snorted derisively.

"Needs? Is that how you explain it to Meg?"

"Meg? Whatever do you mean?" Lehi said smoothing his hair with one hand.

"Lehi, everyone knows you go into town to play around with the girls
there. I know the people who've escorted you out of town, when you`ve
bothered the local women too much."

"Really? You do? Then perhaps you wouldn't like to see their shops
destroyed, would you?"

Lehi's eyes narrowed and he peered at me over his bunched up fist. I
swallowed in sudden fear. Thoughtlessly, I had given Lehi arrows with which
to threaten people I cared very dearly about. Thinking rapidly, I watched
Lehi's face for a hint to what he was thinking.

"Lehi, they're peasants," I said trying to sound calm and reasonable. "Why
should you care what they do? Brush them off. It's beneath you to be
concerned about them." I added, dredging up all the arrogance of my class.

"And you couldn't afford the restitution to His Lordship anyway." Lehi
turned red and sputtered for a moment before regaining his composure.

"I suppose you're right, still you can't be seen in the company of
peasants, people will talk, Nicco and-"

"Oh, let them talk," I said. "I don't give a damn anymore."

"If I ever did," I added after a moment.

Lehi returned to the table and leaned heavily on the edge. Something in his
eyes made me swallow and wonder if I had just stuck my foot deeper into the
swill than I was capable of pulling back out. Lehi studied me a moment
before speaking.

"Nicco, that boy," he half spat out the word, "just became Master smith. Do
you really think he's going to continue to play around with you? He needs a
wife and someone to raise his prestige, he'll drop you in a moment. And
even if he doesn`t he`s a boy! He can't possibly take the responsibility
seriously."

"Besides," he went on, "how do you know you're safe with him? You saw how
violent he is, I mean he hit me for just touching you! And the fire, he's
some kind of demon, Nicco! Take my advice and stop messing with him."

My eyes widened as he spoke. Every drop of blood in my body threatened to
turn into fire and for a moment, I thought I would spit flame at
him. Slamming my hands down on the table, I jerked to my feet. Lehi looked
surprised and took a step backwards.

"Lehi," I hissed through clenched teeth. "Damn you, what the hell do you
know about Tamas or my relationship with him? When have you seen him warm
my hands and dry my tears? When have you ever seen him make me laugh? He
doesn't care about my hands, unlike you and Father, who have never thought
of me as anything other than a hopeless cripple. Tamas has helped me so I
can use my hands better than ever. He's taught me how spar with a
quarterstaff and I'll tell you I'm damned good at it and I'm getting
stronger all the time." I stopped to catch my breath.

"Nicco," Lehi started, but my anger burned brighter than the forge ever
could and he stopped talking..

"Tamas has more responsibility in his little finger than you have in your
whole body. He works hard to provide for his family. He's practically
raised his two apprentices from babes. He has a reputation for hard work
and quality that is known all over the shire. I've seen greater men than
you stop at his smithy to request work. What do you think you know about
him? And me? You know nothing, absolutely nothing about me. How can you
claim to worry about your little brother when you cheat so unconcernedly on
your wife? You show your greed so openly I feel like I have a price written
on my forehead like a brood mare."

"Nicco, you're being selfish. Father and I just want to see you taken care
of," Lehi said surprised.

"Then get me a real servant and a bigger, warmer room," I said

"You can have all that, you stubborn idiot! I already said, if that smith
means so damned much to you, set him up a shop close to your house. You can
visit him and roll around in the dirt all you like."

I didn't know my hand was going to fly at him until it connected with his
mouth. He stumbled backwards a look of surprise on his face and a trickle
of blood running down his chin. I doubled over clutching my hand and
crying, I'd never hit anyone in the mouth before and it hurt more than I'd
expected. The door slammed open narrowly missing Lehi, and Bitte came
through it. Glancing at Lehi, he paused a mere second before running to me.

"Idiot," Lehi said, wiping the blood away with the back of his hand. "You
could have everything and you're willing to throw it away for some peasant
and a half-breed Gypsy whelp. I don't understand why you can be so
idiotic."

"No Lehi, no more. I'm tired and my hand really hurts. Go away," I said.

"All right, I'll leave but," he paused, spitting blood onto the floor. His
eyes narrowed for a bare moment and I felt chills run down my back. Bitte`s
hand on my arm tightened."Think about what I've said today, Nicco. You have
an obligation to Father, who has supported you and to His Lordship as
well. You aren't a peasant to roll in the dirt, you need to repay your debt
to those who have kept you warm and fed all these years." He sucked his lip
and spit again before grasping the door handle and pulling it open. He
studied me darkly a moment before breaking into an overly cheerful smile.

"Really, Nicco, if you marry, you won't have to write anymore, you can pay
someone to do it. Then your hands won`t hurt as much."

He closed the door behind himself as if that were the defining argument for
me getting married. I stared at the door for a moment before looking at
Bitte and breaking out into the worse case of hiccupping laughter that I'd
had in ages, the fool actually thought that writing was a burden. Did he
think I drove myself to copy books because I had nothing else I could do?

"Just because you don't want to read, don`t assume the rest of us don`t
want to either," I said choking with laughter.

Bitte sputtered and we laughed like daft fools until our limbs shook from
exhaustion. We both slept so much better that night. Perhaps we needed the
release that laughing had provided, from the tensions of the last week.
Father and Lehi and all their machinations receded in my mind and I dreamt
of being warm and safe in Tamas' arms.