It was a bright spring day, just warm enough to enjoy being outdoors in the sunlight to pick flowers and sit in the grass making circlets. As she worked, deftly weaving the stems into each other, Zandrianna listened to her daughter giggle in delight as she played with the cool green blades beneath her small hands. The light breeze ruffled Zandrianna's hair, causing it to shimmer between red and blonde in the rays of light filtering through the boughs of the tree they'd stopped to sit beneath for a moment.
A she worked, she heard the footsteps behind her, feeling as someone knelt at her back and placed a large hand on her shoulder, gently squeezing it. “If you keep this up, love, every girl in Bree will be wearing one of these before long,” the man said, his voice filled with humor and contentment.
Zandrianna turned to look up lovingly at the man she called her husband, tilting her head as he leaned down for a kiss. “Komatsu ..”
Suddenly, she jolted awake from her slumber and looked around the room in confusion. For a moment, she could almost swear she felt the warm sun and smelt the scent of the flowers in the air of her bedchambers. “Komatsu,” she said quietly to herself, almost wishing she could go back to sleep again. She reached under her pillow, feeling around until she found the letter safely tucked away, and ran her fingers along the edges. Sighing, she thought, 'One day …' and smiled to herself.
She reached up, running her hand through her hair to get it out of her face, as she pulled the blankets off her legs and arose from her bed. Looking out the window, she furrowed her brow. The sun's rays appeared to be settling over the horizon for the night. The night?!? Zandrianna stared at the sky in disbelief. How long had she slept?
Still trying to figure it out, she grabbed her dressing robe from the wardrobe near the bed and raced out of her room, her thoughts on her daughter Althessia. In her rush, she almost ran into Rossiath, who had apparently heard her awaken and was coming to the room.
“Land's sake child, where's the fire?” Rossiath asked, putting her hand out to keep Zandrianna from bowling her over. “Settle yourself, everything's fine,” she added, taking in the younger woman's almost panicked expression. “Althessia's been well cared for since you went to sleep.”
With a sigh of relief, Zandrianna looked around the room, seeing the baby playing sleepily on her blanket. “I know you said that poultice would make me sleep, but I had no idea it would be for so long,” she said, shaking her head as she turned to Rossiath. “Where's Immalaine?”
In the midst of picking up the baby to carry her to her crib, Rossiath looked back. “She wasn't here when I arrived to look in on you. Merry was tending the baby, but I sent the child home.”
“And Rastellion?” Zandrianna continued, watching Rossiath cradle her daughter carefully.
Rossiath shook her head. “Haven't seen the young man either. Though Merry made mention that he'd been by earlier today and spoken to Immalaine.” She thought of the young girl, who'd barely managed to say much as she was rushing out the door to get over to her own chores, neglected by spending the past couple of days with Zandrianna and the baby.
“Oh good,” Zandrianna said, a smile crossing her face. “They must be off together then, talking things through. I've been encouraging them to for days ...”
“Young people,” Rossiath said, as she entered the girls' room to settle the child, Zandrianna close behind. “Always reluctant to take good advice from their elders. I'm sure they'll be fine after a quiet evening together and a good talk. And you,” she added, looking over Zandrianna's face, noting with satisfaction that the woman looked somewhat improved, but still tired, “I'll fix you some tea and toast, then off to bed with you.”
Zandrianna's jaw dropped. “But Rossiath, I've already slept most of the ...”
“And you still look like you're several days behind on it. Don't you worry yourself about the baby; I've raised one of my own so I'm sure I can look after this one until Immalaine returns. No,” she said, seeing Zandrianna ready to protest her decision, “That was not a suggestion, but an order. You'll get some sleep and let others tend to you for once.”
Seeing that she would get no where arguing with the older woman, Zandrianna spent the next several minutes singing lullabies to Althessia as Rossiath bustled about in the kitchen making the tea and toast for her. Soon, she found a mug of honeyed tea and a plate of toasted bread and cheese being pushed into her hands, with the order to eat. With a wry smile Zandrianna gave up trying to fight, and the two women chatting idly about the going ons around Bree as she worked her way through the food and drink.
As time wore on, Rossiath noticed that Zandrianna was picking at the last of her food, trying very hard not to yawn as she did. Nodding to herself, she stood from the chair by the fire and took the plate and mug from the younger woman, balancing them in one hand as she took Zandrianna's chin and pointed the young mother's face up. “Now, get to bed with you and I'll stay up and wait for that child Immalaine to return. No need for both of us to wait up, and you've far more need of the sleep than I.”
“Thank you, Rossiath. I am more tired than I realized ...”
“You'll thank me proper by getting your sleep then, and recovering your strength. Now off with you.” Rossiath, watched Zandrianna get up and make her way back to her bedchambers, before cleaning off the dishes and checking through the house to make sure everything was secure. Satisfied, she went back to the chair by the fire and sat down to wait for Immalaine's return.
Late in the night, Rossiath awoke with a sore back from sleeping in the chair. Muttering a low curse to herself, she looked around before standing to go check the girls' room. The baby was sound asleep, but there was still no sign of Immalaine. Shaking her head, Rossiath decided she'd take the child aside when she returned and have a long talk with her about her responsibilities, before heading to the small bed that Immalaine usually slept in. If the girl wasn't here to sleep in it, Rossiath figured, then she may as well make use of it. Immalaine would just have to wake her up when she returned.
The sun's rays peeked cheerfully through the light curtains of Zandrianna's windows as she opened her eyes and stared over at the wall. Stretching in her bed, she contemplated the fact that she'd not felt so rested in a long time, the constant looming weight of her responsibilities seemingly a distant memory, or at least easier to shoulder after a good sleep. Pushing the covers down, she stood up and began dressing for the day.
Once she had finished her morning routine, she left her bedchambers and went across the main room to the second bedchambers to check in on Immalaine and Althessia. To her surprise, she found Rossiath asleep on Immalaine's bed, the baby just waking up and babbling cheerfully to herself. After looking to make sure her daughter was content for the moment, she reached down and placed her hand on Rossiath's shoulder. “Rossiath?” she said quietly, gently shaking the older woman so as not to give her a fright.
“Hmph … can't a body get some sleep without being ...” Rossiath started in a muffled, sleepy voice, before realizing where she was and waking up. “Well,” she began, fixing her eyes on Zandrianna, “It seems it was a good thing I was around, considering that girl never came home last night.”
Zandrianna furrowed her brow for a moment, before shaking her head. “She and Rastellion must have spent the night together.” With a brief smile, Zandrianna reached down into the crib to pick up her daughter, who was beginning to fuss for her mother's attention. “However, I feel badly that you had to stay the night, especially considering you weren't expecting to and you have your own home to tend.”
“Don't you worry about that, child,” Rossiath replied as she pulled herself out of the bed and stretched. “Was the neighborly thing today, and I'm not likely to be leaving you alone when you'd expected to have someone here to watch your little one while you rest.” Brushing her hair back with her hand, Rossiath takes stock of Zandrianna's face, noting with satisfaction that the young woman finally looked more rested, if not entirely well. “And you needed the rest. You'll have to learn, child, that you can't do everything on your own, even if you want to. It's high time you found people to help you out.”
With a sigh, Zandrianna laid Althessia down to clean the baby up. “I know,” she said, “but with so many gone, and those left having their own troubles and marriages to deal with, there's not many I feel comfortable asking for help.”
“And those people will never know you even need help, if you don't ask for it,” Rossiath replied, countering Zandrianna's argument. “What is the worst they can do, say no?” she asked, as she headed out to the main room to start some breakfast. “I'll fix you a meal before I head home, and I expect you to eat it,” Rossiath's voice could be heard calling out from the main room.
Zandrianna shook her head and said quietly to herself, “Of course, Rossiath. Anything you say.”
After Rossiath left, Zandrianna spent the morning taking care of Althessia, the happy laughter and squealing of her daughter doing as much to lift her spirits and her resolve as the past few days of rest had done. Between playing with the baby, who was diligently working on crawling wherever she could manage, Zandrianna started cleaning up the rooms. Starting in her own bedchambers, she worked her way out in a burst of energy, as she hummed to herself.
So caught up in her activities, she finally looked outside to notice that half the day had passed already, and no sign of Immalaine anywhere. Wondering what was keeping the girl so long – surely the couple had had plenty to discuss, but still – Zandrianna decided to dress herself and the baby and head to Bree. If there was anyone who would know where Immalaine was, and most likely the girl was with him, it was Rastellion. Smiling to herself, she prepared for the walk to Bree ...
