He gave a stiff nod as he proceeded to escort the widow and son, the widow a bit limp from all the crying she exuded.
He sighed as he called for two guards to take them back to the gate, and when they were escorted away, with some small signs of struggle, Alduin returned to the room. His expression being cold and calculating.
He sits at her bedside. "I almost unsheathed my blade.. Your compassion is inhuman.."
She gave a wry smile at that and climbed back into the bed before grabbing a fresh sheet of parchment and her quill.
"Oh believe me, my patience was tested, but she was upset. The shadows took something she held dear and if I were in her shoes I would have done something similar. Tell me you would not have." Putting her quill down she handed the note to Alduin for him to read
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He took the note and stared at it solemnly. He handed it back and shook his head. "I cannot for I am no socialite, nor am I of the opposite sex. You will find very little sympathy from me."
He continued his thousand-yard stare before standing to his feet. "Besides, I do not care for the simple thought-exercises of being in someone's shoes unless it is directly in place of my enemy. And my people are not my enemy."
He calmly walked to the door, "I have two guards posted outside in the event that a Nighthaunt comes. I have ordered them to remain vigilant at all hours of the day and night. There is still much preparation ahead of the Wave. But now with this incident I cannot suspect that there is a possible hole in our northern defenses.." He laid a hand on the knob and looked back at her, "I will check back before dinner.. Try not to do anything too strenuous."
Once again left to her devices she turned to face the window to her right and she stayed like that for a few moments going over what Alduin said. It was clear that he left a couple emotions behind. But having to live a majority of your life in constant battle and survival, she could see it being a necessity. For her husband she imagined he had to grow up at an accelerated pace- do things he had no say in, see things that would have broken a grown man- it was no way a child should have lived, but what does one do when they are the son of a lord?
She counted herself lucky her father was born into a merchant family and had no need for war. It still saddened her that he didn't have anyone on his side before she came along. Faun now found herself in a slightly foul mood. Today had been stressful and it wasn't even noon yet. Tea seemed to be the only thing that would calm her nerves, luckily she had a nice steaming pot a maid had left her earlier. She went to pour herself some but stopped as she noticed a strange black mark on her arm. Thinking it was just ink she rubbed it, but the more she rubbed, the more it seemed to spead- following the path of her veins.
'No, no, no, no, no...' The panic was evident on the Lady's face as the mysterious black substance continued it's path upwards contaminating every branch of veins in her arm. Throwing the covers off she went to make a run for the door, but stopped short as she felt that familiar bitter cold crawl up her spine and something softly curl around her neck and her mouth. Her panic skyrocketed as she shadows before her materialized into that horrible monster from three days ago.
"A fINe specIMEn indeED...it's BEen YeArs sinCE We hAd a chILd of ThE WHIte hInd..."
She could feel the tears pool in her eyes as the shadow spoke. The voice was terrifying, sounding way too gravelly and deep to be natural.
"ONce wE hAVe you...BrITAnnIa wILl be thAt much cLoSEr to...uTtEr RuIN..."
'W-what is happening?! Why can't the guards here anything?!'
"NoW thAT We KNoW wheRE yOU are wE wIlL CoME for you...WE will CaLl bAcK our TRooPS From yOuR boRDerS for NoW, JuSt ENsuRe yOur paThEtIc liFe mAtE stAyS on HiS lanD, LeSt we TakE HOusE ViXes..."
To panicked to even think clearly she nodded the tears finally falling as she silently prayed she wouldn't get eaten. The shadow lightly caressed her face as it attempted to smirk, ripping the skin around it face to show its teeth.
"RemEMbEr liTtLe fAwN....wE'Re AlWaYS wAtchINg..."
And with that the shadow vanished and the black in her veins receded, until a very faint blue was all that remained. Suddenly feeling very tired she lay down and closed her eyes. When she opened them again she found a meister and a guard staring down at her in worry.
"My Lady, are you alright? Sir Johannes heard screaming from your room and sent Sir Dacre to fetch me."
Faun looked to the both of the confused, but she nodded to the meisters question. Last she remembered she was psychically incapable of doing so.
"Are you sleeping alright? You look extremely pale and you're forehead is burning up...."
From what she could gather she was probably having a nightmare. 'It was so real...' But other than the shock and fear that was still coursing through her she felt fine.
"Sir Dacre, tell Sir Johannes to find two maids and bring them here. It seems Lady Faun is showing early signs of a fever and I would like to combat it as soon as possible."
"Yes meister."
"You must be starving my Lady, don't worry as soon as I'm done, I'll have a maid bring you your dinner and a fresh pot of tea."
Faun could only nod in response. Everything seemed to be happening so fast it was a wonder she was able to keep up.
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...Meanwhile...
Alduin slumped in his study-chair as he processed the day's events thus far.
He couldn't quite understand what it is the woman meant by the "White Hind." Perhaps this was some form of mystical intrigue that he wasn't aware of. He thought about how each house had their own set of secrets, and that he wasn't too privy on them for he was always stuck in the brunt of warfare. However, even if he wasn't too privy on such things he could, at least, catch wind of them as they move through the ears of his cohorts and servitors.
But as his thoughts were delightfully complex and strenuous, a low hum was heard emanating from his scabbard. He furrowed his brow as he took the scabbard by the mid-blade and hoisted it up from his side; eyeing it quietly.
He saw that the blade vibrated oh-so-slightly, and that vibration was enough to create sound.
He looked at it curiously before it dawned on him that Nighthaunts were present, and he immediately went on the defensive; glancing around as and, in one swift motion, unsheathed the blade and got into a striking pose.
However just as he was prepared to strike at a horrific foe, the vibration ceased.
He slightly dropped his guard as he looked at the blade. "That means it wasn't in the room.. But nearby... Then it must be Faun.."
He took a minute to gather himself, before making his way back to the room; keeping a brisk pace as he does.
"Alright my lady, as soon as you receive your tea be sure to take the medicine I gave you. I infused it with magic so should do well to keep the fever from setting in, it should also alleviate some of your throat pain." Faun nodded at the meisters instruction and as softly as she could she thanked him. The meister smiled kindly and dismissed himself from the room, leaving Faun and the two maids that had just arrived.
"Please excuse us my lady, we are here to help make you more comfortable. We will return shortly with your tea and lunch." Both maids bowed before leaving as well. Today was just not her day, first it was Mrs. Harlight, then another nighthaunt but this time it could talk, then it turned out it was all a dream. What next? A rampaging dragon? She didn't think it possible to be so emotionally drained so quickly.
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Alduin eventually stepped in, keeping his calm demeanor at the forefront.
He gave a stiff nod to Faun, as he took a seat at her bed side. "I've come a little early as something was bothering me." He looked at her with a serious look. "What is the White Hind?"
Okay, so maybe rampaging was not quite the appropriate term. Simmering. Simmering seemed to best describe the dragon. At least she knew she could handle the situation better as Alduin didn't appear as angry as she thought he might be. She nodded back in his greeting before taking up her quill and a fresh sheet of parchment and writing vigorously a brief and concise description of the White Hind.
"The White Hind is the mother of the land. A white doe said to have magnificent antlers made of pearl with the sun, the moon, and the stars held between them. She scoured the Earth for many moons searching for a place to put down roots and eventually she along with several other creatures as beautiful as she, founded Britannia. She settled down in what was previously known as the state Edrich, but is now known as Farenir. She is said to be responsible for the creation of mankind and over the years her title has been skewed to the point of her being the goddess of fertility."
"In a way that title isn't completely wrong, for those born under her grace will bring good harvests and more people for fifty years. However only two houses have truly gained her blessing and they are my family, house Vixes and House Rosewood- but they were wiped out early on in the war of Stag River. All of this information is readily available to the public, but it isn't common knowledge. I guess people aren't as interested in history anymore."
"The power Mrs. Harlight was talking about however is not a well known topic as there is hardly any literature on it. I've only read about it once and there wasn't much information. All I can tell you is that every child born under the White Hind is inherit to a portion of her powers. Those powers are said to enhance psychical and magical attributes and dispel dark magic. They come in at different stages, but there wasn't any passages explaining how to use it. I guess that's why Mrs. Harlight thought that was why I could have destroyed that Nighthaunt, but as I said readings are scarce. But the real question is how Mrs. Harlight knows, cause those books are a part the Vixes family library."
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"This is more than I had expected.." He thought as he handed the sheet of parchment back.
"A question that I can only speculate has two answers. The first being that she might have some connection with your family that neither your father or mother spoke of, and the second being she was fed this information by a third party. If this information, you say, is scarce then that means someone," he paced around, "or something must've given her this information. As such, it would appear as though you are public enemy number one to Nighthaunts."
'So it seems.' She sighed heavily and started writing again. Just as she put the proverbial pen to paper both maids from before returned.
"My lady and my lord we have brought your lunches as well as a fresh pot of tea."
Faun nodded in thanks and dismissed the two before she continued writing. Once finished she handed it back to Alduin. "I will write home and ask if mother and father know of Mrs. Harlight. As for me being prey for the Nighthaunts, it seems as though things have gotten more serious. Apparently they can communicate. I don't exactly know how, but I think they infect their victims and slowly take over their minds...I felt them Aludin I could feel them crawl through my veins and in my head. Their voices gods their voices were awful! I couldn't move either, I don't even know if what I saw was actually there or just a vision they wanted me to see. It was- they were here but it was like I was the only one who could hear them. I- please tell me I'm not going crazy." Her writing seemed to get faster and the more she wrote, signaling her distress. She stopped though as she had snapped her quill in half with her tight grip. With a shaky hand she held the paper out to Alduin and turned to face the window, she didn't want him to see her crying.
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