* @Morgan follows his father
< 04Molly > **they get to the end of the drive before Adalabrecht speaks**
< 04Molly > You should come to the meeting and see whether Otto or Sascha are there
< 08@Morgan > that was my plan
< 04Molly > If they are not there, I give you leave to go to them'
* @Morgan nods
< 08@Morgan > thank you
< 04Molly > *he leads them silently to the large meeting hall, where he dismounts, tying up his favourite courser to the rail outside
* @Morgan climbs down and ties Xantha very loosely to the rail
< 08@Morgan > Xantha, Aufenthalt
< 04Molly > **the hall is noisy, but they go through the back entrance, and Adalbrect calls the meeting to order
< 04Molly > *he scans the crowd quickly, whilst waiting for the hush. He turns to Morgan with a shake of his head to show they are not present
* @Morgan nods slightly before walking to the corner unobtrusively
< 04Molly > *he continues to talk to the people, glancing over to see if Morgan has left*
* @Morgan looks at him for a moment before leaving the hall
< 04Molly > *his authorative voice can still be heard from outside*
* @Morgan unties Xantha and rides to Dietlinde's parents home
< 04Molly > **the small log cottage is situated on the far side of the village, not far from the cottage he and Dietlinde shared. It is starting to look a little poorly cared for. The chimney smokes, a strange pale cloud rising from the stack which smells just like the fire he lit in the scahwarzenwald so many years ago the night he met the schattenman. Xantha whines a little*
* @Morgan rubs the horses neck before telling him to stay
< 04Molly > Xantha does so, but doesnt look happy about it
* @Morgan goes to the door and takes a breath before knocking
< 04Molly > *the door is opened by a short, blonde haired woman, old before her time. Her dress is well made, but the fabric is cheap cotton*
< 04Molly > Sascha: Morgan! *She shouts back through the door* Look Otto, look who has come to see us! *there is a deep, dry cough from inside*
< 04Molly > S: Come in, come in!
< 08@Morgan > thank you
* @Morgan goes inside
< 04Molly > *the little cottage is tiny, a small kitchen table, an open fire. By the fire are the four comfortable chairs Morgan had had sent from Fischler as the bride price to mark the union. They now look old, faded from much use*
< 04Molly > Otto *he rises from one of the chairs, an old man for his age, already looking a decade above his actual age. He has a thick blanket over hs shoulders, obviously unwell. He shuffles to Morgan, extending a hand.*
* @Morgan shakes the hand
< 04Molly > O: Good to see you *cough* Wine perhaps?
< 08@Morgan > sit down Otto, save your strength
< 04Molly > *he sits* It is on the sideboard *he points over to a cluttered work space*
* @Morgan goes and pours some wine for them all
< 04Molly > **On the work top is a variety of things, almost a little shrine. In the middle is a large oil painting, wood frame hideously charred, though the central image remains mostly untouched. It is the portrait he commissioned some 3 years ago now, just a few months before their deaths. Dietlinde and Jana smile happily, their hair an identical shade of flaxen gold, straight, perfect, blue eyes bright and lively*
* @Morgan stares at the painting for a few moments, before looking around the worktop
< 04Molly > S: *she comes up behind him, putting a hand on his arm, her voice quiet* We saved all the things we could...
< 08@Morgan > so I see
< 04Molly > **It is a painful collection of memories, all at least minorly damaged by the fire, pieces of fabric from dietlindes wedding gown, jana's christening gown that dietlinde laboured over in those first few rainy march weeks before the birth, when she was too big to do much else. The rattle that he whittled whilst waiting outside the cottage for the announcement that it was all over and mother and child were well. (mtf)
< 04Molly > *little things, ornaments, spoons, all charred. Two boxes, the large one they had at the end of the bed, and Dietlinde's sewing box, smaller, beautifully ornate that he bought her when he'd fought his last battle of the war and was returning home to her, sit on the table also (done)
* @Morgan stares at all the things on the worktop, immobile
< 04Molly > S: *she opens the large chest, as she has many times before, with a maternal affection. As the lid opens, the gentle scent of her perfume remains on the bed sheets within, the only thing not burnt. It smells familiar, haunting, lily of the valley* These are some of the only things undamaged...
< 08@Morgan > you must have sifted through the remains for hours to find these
< 04Molly > Otto: *he coughs hard* we did... every day for a month, til the rains came, and swept the last of our memories away...
* @Morgan sighs
< 04Molly > S: *she goes to the other box, opening it. From it, she takes out a small outfit, far too small for Jana at the time, black trousers, a white shirt, and a highly ornate waistcoat in royal purple with silver embroidery. It is the same fabric as the last dress Verity had sent to Dietlinde to shorten. Sascha looks at Morgan* This must have been her last commissioned piece... So sad that I could never establish who had ordered it, such a waste...
< 04Molly >  such a waste...
* @Morgan nods, taking the wine to the seats
< 04Molly > S: *she follows* you can not remember whose child it was for?
< 08@Morgan > no
< 04Molly > S: of course that little boy could be nearly 3 years old now... *she looks at the fire in the grate, pain filling her eyes*
* @Morgan nods
< 04Molly > S: perhaps you might ask Lady Koertig, the fabric is so fine it might have been a commision from a friend of hers?
< 08@Morgan > perhaps. I'll ask when I return
< 04Molly > S: *she sits down, taking her wine* It has been a long time...
* @Morgan nods
< 08@Morgan > it has
< 04Molly > O: *he tries to keep the coughing to a quiet minimum* Are you still working in Avalon then?
* @Morgan shakes his head
< 08@Morgan > I'm done running
< 04Molly > O: That is good. Your parents must be pleased you have returned?
< 08@Morgan > its hard to tell... you know how father can be
< 04Molly > *they both nod* S: are you to stay with them?
< 08@Morgan > for a time
< 04Molly > O: have you *cough* been back there, to the ruin?
< 08@Morgan > no... I do not think I can yet
< 04Molly > O: I can not blame you, though we go every week after church
< 08@Morgan > I doubt that is good for you
< 04Molly > S: I would not wish to leave them so unthought of... and we can not visit their graves
< 08@Morgan > why?
< 04Molly > S: *her eyes become hard* They are buried in the graveyard at die dauerhaftigkeit. We were told not to come.
< 08@Morgan > told?
< 04Molly > S: yes, by your brother
< 08@Morgan > I see. That particular instruction can be disregarded
< 04Molly > S: *she smiles a little* I would wish to see their graves, are the memorials nice?
* @Morgan nods
< 04Molly > O: You see, Sascha, I told you it would be well, that they would not remain disdainful forever
< 08@Morgan > I suspect that he did not consult with my father before issuing that particular decree
< 04Molly > *they nod* S: We will come, when Otto is a little better
* @Morgan nods
< 08@Morgan > you need to see a doctor, Otto
< 04Molly > O: *he laughs, which sets off his coughing* assuming I get better! No, we can not afford to do so. I will either get better, or die *he shrugs with a wink at Morgan*
< 04Molly > S: *she looks very angry* dont you dare die, you ungrateful old man! You should know life is too precious to joke about its end!
< 08@Morgan > go to the doctor, I'll deal with the cost
< 04Molly > O: It would not be right to take charity
< 08@Morgan > it is not charity... we are family, Otto
< 04Molly > S: *she nods* we would be very grateful, thank you
* @Morgan sighs heavily
< 04Molly > S: *she looks at him sympathetcally* All these things we have saved, they are not truly ours... please, take whatever you wish to take to remind you of them
< 08@Morgan > no... keep them. I have this
* @Morgan pulls out the thong around his neck with her wedding ring on it
< 04Molly > S: *she begins to cry, and Otto pats her hand*
< 08@Morgan > I shouldn't have come
< 04Molly > O: yes, you should. staying away does no-one any good, especially when we did not hear from you on the anniversary
< 08@Morgan > I sent a letter, but it was returned...
< 04Molly > O: *he nods, and sascha manages to control herself, wiping her eyes on a handkerchief* I understand
< 08@Morgan > I have come because I have news that I wished you to hear before anyone else
< 04Molly > S: Go on...
< 08@Morgan > when I left, I was a broken man. I've faced death any number of times, for no real reason.
< 04Molly > O: Understandable
< 08@Morgan > quite. Its taken all this time but someone has finally managed to set me on the road to being myself again
< 04Molly > *a quick look passes between them, though neither speaks*
< 08@Morgan > you already know what I'm going to say
< 04Molly > O: No, I was merely thinking *cough* that there had to be a reason you came back after all this *cough* time. Healing will do that
< 08@Morgan > I am due to be married
< 04Molly > **For a moment there is a stunned silence. Sascha begins to sob suddenly, and runs upstairs, slamming the door hard behind her*
< 04Molly > O: *he looks to Morgan solemnly* This is very sudden
< 08@Morgan > no... its not. Its just not been here
< 04Molly > *he shakes his head, his own eyes filling with tears now, shoulders slumped, thinking of his only daughter, now gone forever* It is not even three years they have been gone
< 08@Morgan > I know. There isn't a day goes by that I dont miss them
< 04Molly > But not enough to prevent you moving on...
< 08@Morgan > tell me honestly... would Dietlinde want me to be alone for ever?
< 04Molly > I do not know. Would you have wanted her to quickly move on and remarry had you been the one to die?
< 08@Morgan > I would not want her to be the shadow of herself that I was
< 04Molly > What is it you expect from us?
< 08@Morgan > I expect nothing.
< 04Molly > You must see that we could not be happy that you can so easily replace a wife, we could never replace a daughter
< 08@Morgan > you think it is an easy thing to do?
< 04Molly > Well it bloody seems it!
Session Time: Mon Nov 09 00:00:00 2009
< 08@Morgan > Then despite the time we have taken to get to know eachother, it seems you learned nothing of me.
< 04Molly > *he watches the fire, not trusting himself to look at Morgan*
< 04Molly > I never thought you would wed again so quickly, I thought I knew you enough to know that she was the only woman you could ever love. Obviously, as you say, I have learned nothing
* @Morgan sighs
< 08@Morgan > you think I've forgotten her
< 04Molly > It certainly seems that way
< 08@Morgan > you have no idea. I lived as a pauper, as a servant, because I thought it would honour her memory... but it doesn't
< 04Molly > and remarrying does?!
< 08@Morgan > no... picking myself up and carrying on does. She wouldn't want me to be a broken man
< 04Molly > She also did not want to be dead, not wh-... *he goes quiet, looking back to the fire*
* @Morgan stands
< 04Molly > O: *he watches, waiting slightly nervously, searching Morgans face for an inkling that the slip was caught*
< 08@Morgan > when what?
< 04Molly > O: *he sighs* Is it not obvious? An outfit for a baby, in the purple of nobility... you do not know who it was for, Sascha can not remember Dietlinde speaking of it, nor can she discover anyone in the village with a child of the right age to order such...
* @Morgan stumbles backwards, coming down hard
< 04Molly > O: I will never tell Sascha, it would break her heart. *he stands, moving closer to the fire*
* @Morgan stares at the floor
< 04Molly > It was only luck that kept her from discovering such... it was the beginning of september, Dietlinde came to me and asked for two handfuls of wheat, and two of barley... It did not occur to me til after, when we combed the wreckage, that when she suspected she was carrying Dietlinde, Sascha followed an old wives tale of telling if a woman waswith child, and more so, whether it would be a boy or a girl... *he sighs heavily*
< 08@Morgan > what do you expect of me?
< 04Molly > Nothing. What does it matter now? Best that you take that damned clothing from this house and use it for an heir who stands a chance at acknowledgement, and at life!
< 04Molly > O: *he begins to cough hard*
< 08@Morgan > acknowledgement?
< 04Molly > by your family
< 08@Morgan > that would not have been an issue
< 04Molly > I did not see you sucesful in making my little girl your veisgraffin, nor was there chance fo Jana to ever be so. What makes you think this boy would have had any better fortune?
< 08@Morgan > my father gave his blessing on our marriage. The choice to not be formally announced as Veisgraffin was ours
< 04Molly > I see
< 08@Morgan > no, I dont think you do
< 08@Morgan > we did not live in the cottage because she was seen as unfit to be Veisgraffin... we lived there because _we_ wanted to
< 04Molly > She never told us
< 04Molly > *he sits back down with a heavy sigh*
< 04Molly > This is all a great deal to bear
< 08@Morgan > I know
< 04Molly > When is this wedding?
< 08@Morgan > three weeks
< 04Molly > *he nods, clearly resigned* And the woman?
< 08@Morgan > what about her?
< 04Molly > Is she local?
< 08@Morgan > no, she's not
< 04Molly > *he nods* does she know about them? about us?
< 08@Morgan > yes
< 04Molly > *he nods* well, perhaps with time, this will get easier
< 08@Morgan > I truly hope so. Do not think this is soemthing I've decided upon lightly
< 04Molly > Is it not?
< 08@Morgan > of course not
< 04Molly > that is something at least
< 08@Morgan > I promise you I have wrestled with my conscience all the waking hours of the day
< 04Molly > and what made you decide?
< 08@Morgan > a friend
< 04Molly > *he nods. Sascha appears at the top of the stairs, eyes red and swollen* S: I wish you to leave now.
* @Morgan nods
< 08@Morgan > as you wish
* @Morgan stands
< 04Molly > O: *he shuffles to the door, opening it for Morgan*
* @Morgan goes through it before turning
< 08@Morgan > see the doctor Otto, and visit the graves whenever you feel you want to
< 04Molly > *he nods slightly* Good day, my lord.
* @Morgan nods sadly and goes to his horse
< 04Molly > Xantha waits, watching solemnly
< 08@Morgan > come Xantha, lets go back to the hall
< 04Molly > Xantha nudges him slightly, and it is very akin to Auroras gestures
* @Morgan pats the horse lightly before walking off in the direction of the hall
< 04Molly > Xantha walks sedately, and it takes little time to arrive. It is immediately obvious that Adalbrecht has left, his horse gone
* @Morgan sighs slightly before climbing into the saddle and heading for his family home
< 04Molly > Xantha seems intent on getting there as fast as possible, only slowing as they reach the stables, A young stableboy waits patiently
< 04Molly > Take your horse my lord?
* @Morgan nods, climbing down from the saddle
< 04Molly > *the boy takes Xantha, who follows him, suprisingly docile, into the stable
* @Morgan goes into the house