Letter for you Jacki!
Alys instantly tried to open it, scurrying away from the woman as she tried to grasp it from the girls hands, failing before the seal was broken and the contents read in Alys' poshest put on voice, the letter high above her head to try and stop Jacki from swiping it back.
Oi now! It could be private! Give it here or I'll be telling your Ma who you were seen with the other night!
You wouldn't!
I would!
At this, Alys took her chances, quickly going over the first part of the letter
Hello Jacki, I write you to let you know all is going well up North. I've had a small run in with.....what?! Orcs? Who be this writing to you?
Jackilyn had had enough and snatched the letter from the curious girls hand, quickly seeing who the sender was.
It be a friend, alright? And no one you need knowing either. Now you'd best be off, I've got more preparing to do, I want it to be lovely for them.
Not till you tell me who it were you were talking to at the inn, I heard it were that grumpy one.
I talk to many folk Alys, grumpy, funny, kind and spiteful too
Pretty doctors!
..Aye, though, not the one you be oogling all the time. I'm done with that one.
Why? He be rich, pretty, I might ask him to the dance. Who be the others?
Jackilyn suddenly snapped at her
Because he is an arse alright?! You'd be wise to steer clear of him, understand?!
Alys leant back, shocked at the outburst and raised her hands up defensively
Don't like him really, honest!
Jackilyn sighed and conceded to her other question
The others were a lass who be good at healing, fair of face, older, and a lad who be keen on more than just healing me I think given his boldness, still, they both be good company.
Will they be coming to the supper?
No no, that be just between the dwarves and I, private like.
Why? You spend too much with queer sorts you know, Jack says it
So because Jack says it, it be true?
No, but, what is true is you be keeping company with plenty of folk that others would say is...queer? Now letters about orcs?
Jackilyn sat down by the fire, a bowl of unshelled peas on her lap. It was a routine, mundane task, and one she wanted to focus on instead of giving the sixteen year old explanations. Soon though, Alys was sat on the bench, staring at her as if the look alone would make her spill the..peas? The other woman was well aware of the eager gaze.
It's been a bad time Alys, what with feeling ill and all. The dwarves be me friends, but also me healers as you know, and with knowing them I also know a couple more dwarves. There be them that feel like, since what happened, they should be protecting me. Big men like to protect little lasses Alys, it be their nature normally. When I mean what happened, I mean, well..
She struggled at this point, her recent incident with Elias Dimheim was not common knowledge as far as she was aware, what had occurred straying from her lips only to the two dwarves, her friends, who cared for her medical needs.
...him being an arse to you, on that trip and all?
Exactly! Talk goes around. You've seen it yourself though, you get all upset and the moment you do, your brothers are out looking for the lad who upset you. Men be protective, at least the good ones. Though I could keep company with kings and queens and it ain't anyones business but me own, why I could even go walking with a dozen men! It don't mean I be in their beds or letting them steal kisses. I'll warn you now though Alys, there be bitter folk, men and women, who be only wanting to make you look bad so that it helps them, or so they think, look good. I ain't got time for folk like that, but others will, people like gossip.
So, who you be letting walk with you now eh? The grumpy one? That healer? The orc lad? Quentin? That one in the red?
Jackilyn rolled her eyes in exasperation
You ain't listened to a word I've said have you? I just want to get this supper done nice and proper, give me friend a good send off before he be traveling. Now be useful, go fetch me that pot of carrots, they be needing peeling.
As the pouting girl went away she called out
Need a knife?!
Though Jackilyn didn't hear the girls question, her mind awash with her own words and thoughts, fears and even hopes for the coming days. In the recent chaos, there had been moments of sadness, anger but also peace, even happiness, and at last her heart felt as if it were healing.
Stop daydreaming about them!!! Knife?!
