The World Out There (solo RP)

[Nyanna al'Meara]

It looked like a minute blizzard. Another tiny white thread drifted silently after its predecessor, swaying from side to side as it fell leisurely down, dancing reels with the air currents.

Miriamele dangled her feet into the open, sullenly whittling at the quill feathers with her arrowhead pendant as she sat in the last rays of sundown in the arched window of her little tower room.  She liked catching the fresh air up here this way, even if she couldn’t go outside much at the moment.
It had belonged to her Seoman. The pendant, that is, not the room – it was one of his arrows. Had been.

 

Miri sighed, leaning her head back and staring up into the gray clouds above; she missed her older brother so much. After mother’s death he had taught her everything the former so strongly discouraged – dashing about on horses, even some of the archery her family’s House took so much pride in. He’d even taken her hunting but she had never managed to actually loose the arrow on an animal, much less kill one, and she had yearned to be allowed on his travels and adventures from which he always returned with some story or trinket for his little sister…

 

But he was gone now, never returned from that fateful hunting trip, and all that remained of minor House Erkyn was her father and little brother. She might as well not exist; the way Lord Elias kept her practically locked up, now that everyone who could actually deal with her or teach her was gone.

Another sigh, more like a chagrined snort this time. By rights, in the country of Andor, she –as the next oldest child – should be Lord Elias’ heir and follow his footsteps.

 

But no matter how hard she tried, or begged, or attempted to prove herself to her father, at least in Seoman’s memory, he saw only a wild daughter who could not represent his House like a son would. Bollocks. Ah, yes…that was another thing she was working on (with little avail), a courtlier manner and cultured way of speaking. Her studies were intellectual and progressing well though, he couldn’t really complain about her education.  But ladies were supposed to be refined. Miri wrinkled her nose at even the thought of the word genteel. She would rather slide around corridor corners in a mad sprint to wherever excitement she was heading. However, either way, none of it had any effect whatsoever on the way her father respected her – which was little, apparently. Her brother of only eleven summers was now his focus and successor, she a mere daily annoyance that had to be dealt with, somehow-

 

Oh no. Dare speak of it and lo! Miriamele hastily swung her legs back over the sill as in the distance a lone rider churned up the dusty road to the small castle’s gates. However, as he dismounted in the courtyard she saw it was not her father after all – if possible, her glower darkened her face even more, until it must have been sculpted into the ugliest gargoyle grimace she could muster. Earl Fengbald of Falshire was a burly man in his late twenties, not bad looking, sophisticated, and most importantly – rich.

 

All that gave no reason to dislike him, excepting the fact that her father wanted nothing more but to marry her off to him. That inconsiderate decision, as yet unannounced officially but growing more definite every day her father grew weary of his irresponsible daughter, it hurt. Plus that man was a pompous ass! Striding around in what he probably supposed was a purposeful, impressive manner, that arrogant prick only made her despise him even more than the obvious knowledge that he was only pursuing her hand for personal gain and hope of rising in the ranks. Well, she huffed inwardly, he’d have a nice surprise when Lord Elias announced his son’s inheritance of his title and lands, not hers. Not that she was marrying him of course. Ew.

 

Glad that her visiting uncle would be there to entertain that lout instead of her, Miriamele stalked back into her room, loudly slamming the shutters in tempestuous fury. Her father was off on another of his negotiations with his neighbouring Lordship about whoever-it-was-that-wanted-money-loaned-matters, yet another not unusual example of his disinterest in his children – his was a world of politics. A piercing jab in her clenched fist made her realise she was still clenching the sharp end of the now bald feather quill.

Miri sucked the droplet of blood on her palm unconsciously, wistful in thinking about what she would rather be doing now. When Seoman had lived – that thought brought another pang of sadness –, not more than a year ago, and Elias had paid as good as no attention to her as she’d been in the protective hands of her brother then, Miri had taken the liberty to cut her hair to shoulder length, dyeing it and dressing so she would be unrecognizable as the Lord’s daughter. She had become Malachias, a nondescript serving boy. Until curfew when the nurse would check on her, Mi- no, Malachias would skulk around in the village, enjoying the talk and banter from the Inn and stable workers, or out exploring the countryside.

 

Not possible now anymore, and her hair was back to halfway down her back.

 

Miserably, Miri flung the remaining piece of mutilated quill on her desk and sprawled into an armchair, peering around the flickering gloom of her bedroom. Nothing. Silence. Not a thing was here that provided entertainment, or freedom, or anything that made her feel alive. Her eyes wandered back to the window. She envied the birds - if only she could fly so high, soaring and wheeling. If only-

 

The notion struck without a warning, and made her shrink back for a split second. She was shocked by the very thought of it, yet…a sly smile was curling the corners of her mouth. There was nothing for her here, anyway. She could not see herself leading such a boring life forever, locked up by a father or husband who treated her as a trying obligation, no more. So why not…

 

Why not go out there and see for herself what the future held?  …Fly, flee. Free. Escape. The mere thought of the word brought rising excitement, a kind of surprising delight that wanted to make her giggle and jump on her bed or something... It was a full-blown grin now and Miri lurched to her feet, rummaging in a drawer.  Alright, it was a bit of an inflated idea.  Maybe even slightly impossible but – no, that wasn’t going to stop her. There was a big world out there, full of dangers even Seoman hadn’t prepared her for. That made her pause too. Eh, she could handle a sleeve knife pretty well, and her archery skills were not to be underestimated. Miri found what she was looking for and held up the needlework scissors triumphantly.

 

One more reconsideration. Miriamele peered at her reflection in the mirror, and took a deep breath – whatever their relationship she loved her family and the place she had grown up in dearly. And was she prepared for this or was it another of her reckless ideas that would land her in no end of trouble?

She raised her hands and wwhhhsh. With a soft hiss a whole sheaf of golden brown hair dropped to the ground, tickling her bare feet. Pursed lips pointing her concentrated face, Miri snipped methodically, lock after lock drifting to the ground not unlike the feathers from before, and when finally she straightened it was a familiarly mischievous façade peering back at her.

 

She was slightly disheartened by the more womanly tones in her face since she had done this last, a year ago. Cheekbones and small nose gave away more about her gender than she would like to pass by as, but... maybe the Night’s Ink root lotion would fix that. Down on her knees Miri could reach the handle of a chest hidden under her bed – with an unladylike grunt she pulled and it shot out to pop open before her. Thrilled, Miri began pulling out the breeches and a couple of puffy-sleeved shirts that she tucked loosely into the pants after abandoning the silly dress she’s been confining herself in. She reached back into the box. Right…

 

Some time later the candlelight reflected on satisfyingly jet-black locks that hung down to her neck. Suddenly not regretful in the least, Miri cast one more glance around the room and ensured herself there was nothing left that bound her to this place. She’d packed all the limited nick knacks of deeper sentimental value, as well as a bundle of useful implements that Seoman had shown her were absolutely indispensable on a hunting trip – they would suffice for her goals too. And of course her purse that had been rarely opened in the past years, and been left in peace to grow ever fatter. Now for the hard part.

Edited January 18, 2013 by Nyanna al'Meara

[Nyanna al'Meara]

The door creaked treacherously as Miri peeked around it into the dark corridor, so she gave it a vengeful nudge on the careful way past. So far, so good – her uncle, Earl bloody Fengbald, the few servants that had not rode with her father, and Nurse Tenna of course, would be at dinner now, a meal they all knew she refused while being locked up inside. She wasn’t spending much energy anyway. A hallway down she stopped, and lowered her bag silently to rest by a bench – she couldn’t leave without this, it was important.

Slipping through the door (almost) noiselessly, Miri stepped into the pitch black and heard her little brother’s rattling breathing. She felt her way across and sat on the edge of his bed, and straight away a frail little hand curled around hers like it did every evening. “Can’t sleep, Terri?” The nod she couldn’t see but knew it was there. As always. “You know Nurse will be up shortly with your sleeping draught.”

Terrowin was sick, though not with the same illness that had taken their mother. His was a much longer, constantly returning ailment that oft left him physically too weak and unable to accompany their lord father as his duties as the new heir would actually require. The main reason it was foolish of Elias to choose him as his successor, much-loved though Terri was by everyone in the household. The young boy’s mind was sharp however, and so it did not come as a surprise when he asked “Where are you going?”

Miri sighed, and reached out to brush a sweaty lock from his forehead. She had agonized over this, and decided to tell only half of the truth, something he could understand and believe in. She wasn’t abandoning him… “I am going to look for Seoman. Don’t you miss him too? He never came back, nor did his body, so how do we know for sure? And then everything will return back to normal. He can tell us the stories again, and carve animals with you.” The hand gripped tighter, and then loosened to pat her wrist. The half-whisper rustled among the bedsheets again. “I’d like that.”

Miriamele allowed herself a small sad smile, only realising how much she would miss the little fellow. He was much brighter than anyone thought, much more mature for his age than his condition belied. She tucked Terri in lovingly and leant closer to hear his small voice “Take care Miri, bring our brother back one day? I hope you find him.” She assured him it would be so…and it hurt saying what was likely an untruth. And not knowing when she would be returning. Or if.

“White grows the lily
Red grows the rose
Here lies my laddie
Look how he grows…”

 

The familiar lullaby sent Terri back into his half-awake fever-hot doze, and she kissed her little brother’s forehead one last time before smoothing his covers and rising quietly. Reaching out she placed a folded note where they would surely find it in the morning, and silently backed out of the room.

Edited January 18, 2013 by Nyanna al'Meara

[Nyanna al'Meara]

As soon as the door was closed again, the excitement returned and she crept into a side corridor leading to a large pantry. She would not be able to take much, but several loaves and some dried fruit and vegetables would do nicely for a while. A couple of handfuls of lemons went in too, and some jerky meat. Unhooking a water pouch too, she continued out into the shadow filled courtyard. It felt unnerving and yet exhilarating stealing away from her own home, but what she’d made up her mind to do, her resolve would not weaken. Not this time.

 

The stables were alive even at this time of night, vigilant snorts greeting Miri as she slipped in through the neatly hung tack. Hurriedly she scooped oats into a provision sack, then pulled out the saddle, fixing the bags to it. She was making good use of the time everyone was at their dinner.

 

“Heyyy boy.” Miri laid a hand on Wyn’s nose to calm his curious snuffling. Seoman’s horse was the only sign of him they had found, and since then she took care of the dark bay gelding, gaining his calm loyalty in return. He was another rare thing she had left of her brother. Wasting no more time she quickly brushed and bridled him, heaved the saddle with its load on his back, and led the horse out of the stables. His shod hooves clattered on the laid stones and she flinched, quite sure that it could be heard all across the courtyard.

 

It seemed like an age until they finally arrived in the darkness of the large entrance gates. Slinging the reins around a post, Miri braced against the bolt and struggled to lift it until it shifted up at last. A gust of cool wind met her, bringing with it the sharp fresh scent of adventure. Wide-eyed she swung herself up on Wyn, gazing back at her home for many years… no longer. She shook her heard, no longer.

 

Miri nudged her horse and they took off in the direction the wind blew. It was time to see that world out there.

Edited January 18, 2013 by Nyanna al'Meara