When Fate Comes a'Knocking (Goblin)

[Zero]

Erthe had barely had the chance to try to slip out of his room unnoticed before Primrose came stumbling into the hall, pulling on a boot. She was dressed strangely. He hadn't seen women dressed in trousers very often. He supposed that they'd be more practical for riding, but probably not very appropriate to the culture.

"Good morning, Lady Primrose. I slept late, forgive me." The drow felt bad for sleeping in the way he had. They were going to think he was a lazy layabout at this rate. Normally he'd have been up at dawn, but the trip from Serendipity must have worn him out more than he had thought. Then again, maybe he hadn't wanted to wake up from such a lovely dream. Those dreams were just a painful reminder of things that could never be again, so honestly he wished that he would just not have them.

"Is there anything you need of me? I should help with the preparations for our journey..."

[GoblinFae]

She had just slammed her foot firmly into place when Erthe had spoken, causing her blue eyes to flash up to attention. Primrose straightened slowly, smoothing out any wayward articles of clothing while offering him a gentle smile.

"If you slept then you needed it. I cannot fault you that when I assume you practically killed yourself to get here. The last of the preparations are being seen to and are not something I can have you handling."

Primrose smirked playfully and shook her head. "It's girly things and I think it best to save you from that. What I do need from you though, if you would be so kind is a partner to share a good meal with before we go. I imagine you would have us cover as much ground as we can and empty stomachs don't make good travel companions, now do they?"

[Zero]

Red eyes watched as the young woman straightened, smoothing down wrinkles - real or imagined - from her unusual clothes. Of course when she smiled at him, Erthe turned his gaze away, expression unreadable as his lips were set in a thin line.

"I see." The drow didn't really want to know what these preparations were. Though the idea of her 'saving' him from something was absurd. He was a slave, his only purpose was to serve and obey. Not that the lady - or anyone else in this house - had ever conformed to his understanding from the moment he'd walked in the door.

"An empty stomach is always poor company, Lady Primrose." He agreed quietly, and a lady should certainly not go hungry. It still troubled him to think of eating at the table with those so much higher than him on the social ladder.

[GoblinFae]

Primrose motioned for him to follow her down the stairs and into the kitchen where Jolie was busily placing steaming hot cakes onto two plates before moving to wrap the rest up in a cloth. The cook took one look at them before hurrying the pair in and ordering them to sit and eat before the food got cold.

The noblewoman was quick to obey as she tore the roll apart with her hands, licking her fingers of the sweet honey as she ate. If Jolie felt either of the pair was not eating enough then she placed more food on their plates, daring them to question.

"By the way Erthe, it's simply Primrose. You can forget the Lady part. I believe I told you of that already."

[Zero]

Wordlessly the slave followed her down to the kitchen. Erthe didn't know that he had much of a choice. His sense of propriety told him that he shouldn't be breaking bread with someone of her class, he was a slave - less than human as far as some were concerned.

When they reached the kitchen he saw Jolie, the old woman that had insisted on stuffing him with incredible food the night before. Sitting hurriedly, not wanting to have her after him again, he picked up a roll and ripped off a piece, popping it into his mouth and closing his eyes as the sweet taste of honey touched his tongue.

Knowing better to protest, he instead just focused on savoring his breakfast, even when she put more on his plate. Crimson eyes glanced over at the lady sitting at the table with him. The lady. It was hard to think of her in any other term. "Forgive me, lady, you did."

[GoblinFae]

The noblewoman laughed, letting her chin rest in the palm of her hand as she stared at the drow. "Rather insistent on that aren't you, Erthe?" She shrugged and ate more of her breakfast. "No need to ask for forgiveness. You're welcome to do as you please around me, slave or not," she added pointedly, almost daring him to protest the fact.

"Less talking, more eating," Jolie interrupted, popping a roll into Primrose's mouth much to her chagrin. Two more were placed on Erthe's plate along with a gentle pat to his back. "Don't let her ruffle your feathers young man. She's awfully good at it when she wants to be. Don't you go lettin' her win just because she's a pretty lady."

[Zero]

The laughter wasn't nearly as bad as the staring, either way, Erthe shrugged his shoulders uncomfortably. Primrose Dragoslov was a lady, it made sense and was respectful for him to refer to her by her title. Crimson eyes were cast downwards as he swallowed his protests. He wasn't going to get in an argument with her over this. He was not.

The drow flinched as he was patted on the back. It hadn't hurt, of course, just the sensation of touch made him jumpy. Logically he knew that she wasn't harming him and intended no harm, subconsciously the physical memories of the lash seared him psychologically. Erthe's eyes snapped open wide at Jolie's words though.

"I- I don't know what you're talking about." He stammered, before looking away sheepishly, the grey skin on his face darkening a few shades.

[GoblinFae]

"Sure you don't dear," Jolie teased. "That's why you're blushing like a stable boy!" She tried to ignore the way he flinched away from her hand even as her stomach plummeted in regret. The old cook had seen what lay beneath his shirt and suspected how he had earned his stripes. She was sad that she had caused him more pain as it was the last thing she would want to do to him.

Primrose saved her from saying anything more though as the noblewoman swiped another roll from those already packed for later, earning herself a slap to the wrist. "Must be a favorite already Erthe. She piles food onto your plate while denying me more," the lady laughed, shaking her head even as she took an unladylike bite of her stolen prize.

[Zero]

The drow turned a few shades darker at Jolie's teasing words, not helping his case at all. His face had twisted up in a strange expression somewhere between shock and indignation. It was not a slave's place to regard someone like Primrose in such a manner. For a slave it should hardly matter if a lady was pretty or not. Primrose was radiant, but such thoughts were not for the likes of him.

Erthe almost choked on a bite of roll when Jolie smacked Primrose's wrist. He wave even more surprised when the action was just laughed off by the noblewoman. A servant had just gotten away with striking the lady of the house, and not only that, but it had been laughed at. "M-me? No, I don't think so." He sputtered, glancing at the rolls that had been put on his plate with apprehension, almost afraid to even touch them.

[GoblinFae]

Primrose smiled and shook her head. "Believe what you may, Jolie does not ply just anyone with food. It's usually a fight to get more of her food and yet she freely drowns you in it."

"Ack! Primmy you exaggerate. Let the poor boy go so he may eat in peace. He's been through enough in his lifetime already. He doesn't need you pokin' fun at him."

"Says the one that started it!" Primrose stuck her tongue out at the cook when the woman's back was turned and swiped another treat. "If you're hungry for more Erthe then I strongly urge you to speak up and sate your hunger. I would be greatly disappointed to learn you went hungry under my care."

She refused to command him but meant what she said. Primrose would be heartbroken to find out he had suffered because of her while following her uncle's orders. She was not the monster he was, she would not treat a living creature as a one would a dog simply because they were different.

[Zero]

Bless her, bless her, bless her! Erthe could have kissed Jolie in that moment, but of course not really. Not only was there his aversion to touch, but she was older and married to Jain. Still, he felt a surge of gratitude and affection for the old woman for sticking up to him, even if it was to Primrose.

Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, the drow let his crimson eyes glance over at Primrose as she urged him to eat. He'd eaten more in this house than he would eat in days - sometimes weeks - at other places. While the food was delicious and he appreciated it, they were truly spoiling him. "I'm fine, lady."

He finished the roll he had begun tearing apart, and one of the two still on his plate before eyeing the third and sighing softly. This was a really confusing job, and he still didn't like that this woman's uncle had purchased him for such a silly reason. At least it was time away from the blood and death...

"When do you want to leave, Lady Primrose?"

[GoblinFae]

"As soon as we're done eating and that last of the food has been packed up unless there is something you need before we go. Do you need or desire anything, Erthe? You need not worry about asking."

She finished up her breakfast and licked the last of the honey from her fingers, savoring every last bit. "Mm, thank you Jolie. Delicious as always." The cook laughed and shook her head, throwing a cloth napkin at the noblewoman and instructing her to wipe her hands off before Erthe finds out what a heathen she was." Primrose laughed.

[Zero]

At least they were going soon. The sooner they got started, the sooner this could all be over. Yes, his life wasn't exactly glamorous, but if he could just get back into the pits everything would make sense again, even if he hated it and himself. This constantly being asked if he wanted or needed things made him itch.

"I require nothing, Lady Primrose." He said softly, staring at his plate for a moment before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. They would be gone soon, things were going smoothly. It was small comfort for a reminder, but this was going easier than he'd thought as far as convincing the lady to go.

He happened to open his eyes and glance over at Primrose and exactly the wrong moment, because just then she decided to start licking any traces of honey from her fingers. Red eyes looked quickly away, his ashen skin had only just returned to the proper shade, and now it darkened slightly again.

[GoblinFae]

Primrose was oblivious to her effect on Erthe as she finished cleaning up and moved to help with the rest of the food preparations. "Well if you do need anything ever, Erthe I would like to know," she said to him quietly, tying the clothes up around each bundle of food. "We both don't have to suffer because of this situation."

She would be lying if she said that she was not somewhat bitter about her future. That did not mean though she was going to drag someone else down with her, especially not the drow who had been sent to bring her "home." If he was a slave to her uncle then she already suspected the life he could have had leading up to being bought by Engilram. The man was caustic and abusive but he liked the people around him to already have been whipped into submission. He hated breaking a sweat.

Thoughts of her uncle made her movements sharp and jerky as she vented her anger into tying sharp knots. "Ready when you are, Erthe," she whispered, her breath coming out as a heavy sigh.

[Zero]

Well if there was one blessing to all this it was Primrose's seeming obliviousness. Erthe was mortified enough catching himself in the act, to have her notice and call him out on it would have been so much worse.

The drow's lengthy ears twitched faintly to hear such sad words. It hurt him, to think that he was adding in bringing someone suffering. The fact of how kind this particular woman had been to him only made him feel worse about it, but there was nothing he could do. It wasn't his place to question why his master commanded him to do this loathsome task, it was his place to see that it was done, nothing more.

Crimson eyes observed her subtly as Primrose took out whatever feelings she was bottling up on the poor knots in the cloth bundles of food. He wished someone else had been given this chore. Erthe didn't know how to deal with the emotions in this situation. Not sure what else to do, he stood quietly and headed for the door. "Don't forget to say your goodbyes, Lady Primrose."

[GoblinFae]

She froze but did not look up at Erthe's words. It was like a bucket of ice water just been dumped over her head as she remembered this time was so different than all the times before when she left to be married. This time, Primrose was not going to fight to come back. This time she was going to submit.

Her eyes blinked back tears rapidly as she fought the growing frog within her throat. "Thank you, Erthe," she finally croaked before waving him off. "You can get saddled up out front. I'll be out in a moment, I promise."

With her head held down, Primrose tried to keep working even as her hands shook and her vision blurred. It took Jolie's soothing hand for her to still and quit trying. Before she knew it the noblewoman was once more in a warm mother's embrace and found herself clinging back just as tightly as her protesting ribs said she was being squeezed.

Primrose's entire body shook with her unshed tears as she tried to bury her grief. When Jain came to collect her, he had but to look at the pair and his wife's watery eyes to know just how serious the moment was. He understood what they all did and likewise moved to embrace his two girls, holding them close and kissing their cheeks until they at last calmed.

The young woman turned in the arms that held her to give Jain his own strong hug before pulling away from the both. "I should go," she told them shakily, sucking in air like a fish out of water, "before I no longer have the strength to do so."

Solemnly, the trio headed in silence to where the three horses waited patiently for their journey to begin. Janus, oblivious to the gloom hanging over the three adults, happily bounced around Erthe like a lovestruck puppy, asking questions.

[Zero]

Erthe didn't waste any time in slipping out of the house. He wanted to escape. Those last words he'd said had been a bit insensitive, and he knew that this wasn't easy for the young lady. The last thing he needed or wanted was to see her cry, and he doubted she'd appreciate him witnessing such a thing either.

Janus was outside, practically waiting to ambush him. Sighing he worked on adjusting the straps and harnesses on the largest of the three horses, the one obviously meant for him. The excited boy would have to be disappointed with curt, distracted answers, where he got any at all. The drow might have only been up for a short while, but already he felt weariness seeping into him, one that wasn't really physical so much as psychological.

The three of them appeared from the house, Primrose and her two older servants, Erthe preoccupied himself with pretending to readjust something, refusing to look in their direction. He didn't want to see accusing looks. After all, he was the one taking Primrose away from here, even if it wasn't his idea.

[GoblinFae]

"Come say goodbye, Janus," his mother called, sending the boy racing over to Primrose. Jain separated from the family and approached Erthe. He placed a hand on the horse's broad neck, petting the beast lovingly.

"Take care of her son," he said quietly, looking at the slave intently. "If you haven't figured it out, she's a special young lady. She's going to need someone like you to look out for her and protect her. I have faith in you. Don't let her down," he said, raising a hand to pat the other man on the back before stopping and letting his hand close and fall to his side. "Safe travels."

[Zero]

There was a small sense of relief as the boy was called away, it gave him a respite from all the questions, of course the drow knew that very shortly he wouldn't be worrying about the boy or his inquisitiveness anymore. That was almost a sad thought, Janus wasn't a bad kid, and although the boy had been annoyingly attached to him since his arrival, it was almost nice having someone so openly interested in everything about him and wasn't put off by his standoffish nature or his intimidating appearance.

They all had been open and accepting, it was easier to take from the servants than Primrose, but even though he had only spent a single night, he realized that he liked these people. And he knew that Primrose loved them and they loved her - reminding him once again how hard this was.

Erthe's focus on the straps he'd been messing with to keep his hands busy was broken as Jain came over to pat the animal, and to speak to him. Crimson eyes turned to study the old man's face, he could see how much this meant to him, and found himself glancing towards Primrose, studying her for a few moments. Jain was certainly right about one thing - the young woman was very special. He wasn't so sure about her needing someone like him for much of anything, though.

His gaze turned back to Jain, and for a moment he locked eyes with him, gaze unwavering. "I swear to you by my rebirth and hope for salvation, it will be so." Erthe didn't know of a more powerful promise he could give. Without another word he swung up into the saddle, settling comfortably as he let the horse prance a few steps as they got to know each other.

[GoblinFae]

Jain nodded his head sharply in understanding. He was completely blown away by such a promise, for he saw it for what it was, the strongest and deepest oath a man could make. The manservant could not ask for more. If anything there was a glint of hope within his heart that his little girl would have someone to champion at her side in the face of the demons she was bound to encounter. He gave the beast a final pat and left to rejoin his wife and son.

Primrose joined Erthe soon after, mounting astride her own smaller mare with ease. The last of the preparations had been packed and all the goodbyes had been said. She was finding that there were no more excuses to stay and she could not trouble Erthe by fighting to stay.

With a final wave of her hand back to her waiting "family," the noblewoman nodded her head to Erthe and turned her horse away from home. She sat tall and straight, looking every much like her knight father and lady mother before her in that moment that it brought tears to the eyes of the adults that had known the pair. No tears filled the noblewoman's eyes though, those would come later when she prayed none could see them. Instead she smiled as if it was her choice to leave instead of the edict of a man filled with hate.