Mereliss enters the room. She looks tired and worn. She appears a simple village girl garbed in drab, unassuming clothing. She peers around the room with tired eyes eventually spoting Deorcred sitting in the chair and offers a faint smile.
"Westhu." She says almost meekly.
Deorcred sits in a rather comfy position on the chair near the fire. His long legs outstretched and looks at the newcomer. He bows his straw head in return.
"Greetings." He says, in a little raspy tone.
"This is the refugee dwelling?" She asks quietly.
Deorcred drifts his icy gaze around and shrugs his injured shoulder lightly before replying. "Ah... I guess that'll be it." He responds.
Mereliss offers a small nod. The same faint smile is there, but there's a solemn look in her eyes. "I am Mereliss Aethelwulf's daugher." She says by way of weary introduction.
"'Tis Deorcred and I haven't got anything smart to add" Deorcred studies her for a moment before he says with a ghost of a smile curls his lips. But he would seem a gallant man, even in the first look.
"You...came from Stangard with the others?" Mereliss inclines her head as she speaks. Her blue eyes shine out from under her straw brow like smouldering fires, unable to hide the lust for knowledge she currently seeks. She places herself closer to the fire to try and take in its warmth.
Deorcred nods for once, “Recently, yes.” He glances at her. “I don't know you, though. You from around Forlaw?”
“Scylfig, though perhaps you know of my brother, Leofstan? He...” Her voice breaks for a moment. “...he was at Stangard, but did not make it back.”
Deorcred raises his blond brows. “Ah... My condolences.” Then he glances at her with a sad smile under his beard, “Well, I'm not from Stangard, so I probably don't.”
Mereliss gives him a small nod, her thoughts are dark and she is unable to return the smile. "From where do you hail?"
Deorcred drifts his gaze back at the fire. “I'm of Folde.” He says in a clear and strong tone.
“Aldburg?” She replies.
“Aye.” Deorcred answers.
“The weather is fairer there than here, I suspect? I have never left the Wildermore...” She says by way of qualification.
“It is sunny and meadowy, I dare say.” Came his stoic reply.
“It sounds...pleasant. Though I wonder, what brought you north?”
Deorcred grunts quietly, for the backstory for that is a huge one. He sighs heavily and tries to answer with a basic one. “Being appointed.”
Mereliss raises an eyebrow. Her naive, childlike curiosity breaks through and she is unable to hold her questions back. "Appointed?"
Deorcred says, “The éored, Mereliss. I was appointed to Régnwald's éored. Which is broken and separated, as of late.”
Mereliss gives another small nod. Her eyes inspect the man before her. "I met others from Régnwald's éored in the tavern. Stalimund. He told me to seek refuge here. Told me of the Easterlings and Stangard...You fought there?"
Deorcred scoffs lightly. “It was me, who warned the Watch Tower.” Then he glances at his shoulder briefly, where an arrow pierced.
Mereliss follows his eyes and notices the wound for the first time. She takes a moment to compose herself as her thoughts turn to the fate of her kin again.
“Will it heal?” She says quietly, after a long pause.
“Time is the cure for everything.” Came his sage reply.
Mereliss bites her lip and stares at the wound a while. "I wish you a speedy recovery." She manages, still fighting back the dark cloud over her mind. She finally sits, not making eye contact with Deorcred, staring into the fire.
Deorcred bows his strawhead once again, '' Thank you, friend. '' then he follows her gaze right into the fire.
You say, 'Once you recover, what will you do?'
Deorcred sighs quietly, '' I don't know... My heart or my sword will choose my path. ''
You say, 'What of Régnwald's éored? I...*she shakes her head, not finishing her sentance*'
Deorcred darts his blue eyes at her, '' What of it? ''
You say, 'Will they fight? Return to Stangard?'
Deorcred says, 'I have no idea. I did not swear fealty to them.'
Mereliss offers a quiet nod.
You say, 'And your heart, or your sword; where do they bid you?'
Mereliss is still staring into the fire. She hasn't made eye contact since she took her seat on the hearth.
Deorcred smiles a sad one to himself, '' To my forebears. But the Fate did not take me there, yet. ''
You say, 'My brother awaits me with them. But I am not ready to join him. *she pulls her gaze away from the fire, her blue eyes are aflame, or perhaps the fire is reflecting off them* I want to fight.'
Deorcred raises a brow, '' That so? ''
Mereliss 's gazes upon Deorcred, unflinching. "It is." She replies. "I forsake the life I had, the life of a woman. I will take up the spear, the shield and the sword - and bring vengeance upon all those that have harmed the sons of the Mark."
Mereliss 's voice is almost horse as she speaks. Her words are bitter and filled with bile. Fresh, raw anger is jagged on her tongue.
Deorcred stares at her with his natural furrowed brows and with a sad look on his young but rugged face, he nods for once but heavily. He then inhales deeply, '' The world is spread before you for making choices. But no harm comes from being careful about the choices we are about to make. ''
Mereliss regards him with a curious look. A mixed sense of respect and frustration rise in her, flashing across her face in confusion. "You would not wish for vengeance visited upon the foes of your kin? Those that ripped them from us? If I can bring peace to even one mother, one sister..." Without realising her fists are clenched and passion rules her tongue.
Deorcred in contrary to her, sits relaxed. His experience of warfare is wide and far, even expanded from these lands. He keeps studying her, '' Life is not fair, and our Kin knew it, friend. Anger and passion like yours might prove dangerous and lead to fear without true courage of your heart. ''
Deorcred says, 'Brother of blades had a saying far from this country... More you sweat in training grounds, less you bleed in the battle.'
Mereliss blinks at his words. Her lip trembles as she takes it in. After a moment she regains her sense and compsure and speaks again. "Then...I will seek one to teach me."
Deorcred smiles faintly under his blond beard as he watches her, '' I do appreciate and respect your eagerness and passion. But you'll only have a use of them if you learn how to control your feelings. '' he says with an approving nod.
Mereliss drops her eyes to the floor. Her age or lack there of is evident in her actions. She stares at the wooden floor for a time. "Your words are wise, Deorcred of Folde." She pulls her eyes up to him again. "How does one gain such control?"
Deorcred keeps his eyes darted onto her, '' Training in different circumstances. Not only the stuff these small children doing with their wooden toys in their hands. ''
Mereliss regards him for a while. Eventually she speaks. "Who can teach me this?"
Deorcred shrugs his shoulders very lightly, '' I don't know. I'm pretty sure there would be some 'high-ranked' people appointed by Régnwald, who trained some people back at Stangard. ''
Mereliss continues to regard him with a curious stare. "And you? Who are versed in battle and stoic in conversation. Who saved the lives of many in Stangard with your warning and who has given me wise council this night?"
Deorcred looks down with a sad smile, '' Me? Many doesn't ask me for that. ''
You say, 'Then perhaps they should. For it has opened my eyes to what I was blind to before.'
Mereliss offers her first real smile in days. Since she found out the fate of her kin. "What say you, Deorcred of the Folde? Will you teach me? I have little to offer you, but what I do I will gladly give in return."
Deorcred swallows silently and his face takes a solemn look, for he hasn't done that for long time now. He scratches his beard then looks down at her, '' Very well. '' he says, with a few very short nods.
Mereliss 's smile widens and her eyes light up for a moment. "You have my gratitude and my service, for as long as you require."
Deorcred smiles faintly down at her, '' Aye. But you know, you can quit whenever you want, it is not for everybody. Or, when you think someone else as a better guide. '' he shrugs lightly.
Mereliss cocks her head to the side with an inquisitive glance and a furrowed brow. "I am over joyed that you will teach me and that you wish me to pledge no oath. As an informal agreement then, perhaps we can count each other friends?"
Deorcred let's out a little raspy chuckle, '' Oath? So many oaths... they make you swear and swear. But no matter what you do, you're forsaking one oath or another. ''
Deorcred says, 'Many people does not even take me as a friend, I don't know, mayhaps I'm a hard man, but then that's what I am.'
Mereliss eyes him over. "And here you sit, offering me council, agreeing to train me. A hard man? Perhaps in the saddle, but I see a man of wisdom and strength sitting before me."
Deorcred listens her words with slightly lifted brows, then he smiles in gratitude, '' Thank you. Not very used to hear such words. ''
Mereliss offers him a final smile. "I hope you heed them if they are not heard often." She blinks as she stifles a yawn. "I fear I must find a corner to sleep in. I will find you in the morn?"
Deorcred nods for once and returns the smile, '' I guess you will. Be safe. ''
Mereliss rises to her feet, she seems less burdened than before, if only a little. She inclines her head to Deorcred and moves off to find a place to sleep.
