#eyden

that one scene from Atlantis was very fitting for them

Chapter Four 

“I am Lady Eyden Loxton, The Countess of Thornbrook, sir. I have come to seek the protection of the Wyndhams, as my parents are now dead, slaughtered by the Horde.” Eyden tried her best to sound like an adult, even though her little heart hammered within her chest. be brave...be brave!  She told herself as she sat taller in her saddle.

The gentleman reached out pushing Eydens hood from her head, ignoring the dogs deep growl. He nodded. “I knew your mother Katherine well, and you favor her,” he said.

“And who sir, are you?” Eyden demanded in a slightly imperious tone that caused the gentleman to smile, obviously amused by her bravery.

I am your uncle Richard Donahue, Earl of Friarsgate, my lady, Countess of Thornbrook,” the gentleman said. “I think it is most fortunate I have come upon you instead of someone else. Is your servant without speech, Eyden Loxton?”

“Nay, I think you have frighten her, my lord. She has been very brave these past weeks, and I owe her my life. Eyden answered him truthfully. “Her name is Claire, but I call her Nanna, and my hound is Baron.”

“Richard nodded, turning to this woman. “You need not fear me, Mistress Claire. I am the childs  uncle and I shall take you to a place of safety. You can not reach Menethil today. I will send you with two of my own men to guide and protect you.”

“ Thank you, my lord. “ Claire managed to find her voice again. “The child looks ill,” The Earl said to Claire.

“I fear the conditions in which we have been forced to travel have caused it, my lord,” Claire said wearily. “We have had little to eat, and have sheltered mostly outdoors. It has not been easy for my little mistress. Only the dogs warmth kept her from worse harm.”

“No, it would not have been easy,” He agreed. Then, reaching out from his saddle, he lifted the startled child from hers, setting her before him. “You will ride with me, Eyden Loxton,” he said, and drew his fur-lined cloak around her little body. Then he looked at the great dog, who was now baring his teeth. “Come Baron!” he commanded the animal, and, recognizing the voice of authority, Baron obeyed. Eyden instinctively snuggled against the dukes chest. Her eyes grew heavy as they moved off, the even gate of the horse rocking her into slumber as they rode.

Richard looked down on the child for a long moment. He thought fondly of his sister, she had been a great beauty, although she was genuinely unconscious of it. Her blonde hair, violet eyes, and serene face had attracted her husband as far as he could recall, he was only a boy when she had left home. Now Richard was looking down at his niece, and she was the miniature of her mother, all but her ebony locks and cinnamon eyes. Those features she must have been gifted from her father. He was now interested in Eydens story. Why and how had her father and stepmother met their untimely end at the hand of the Horde.

They reached Theramore in two hours time, it was just dusk and they would make preparations for the night. “Mistress Claire, take Eyden to the inn, tell them I will be along briefly. Have the maid draw Eyden a bath and I shall have food sent to the both of you.” Claire gave a nod taking their things from the packs. Richard then made his way to the docs to make arrangements for the voyage to Menethil the following morning. After sufficient arrangements were made he returned to the inn where her had ordered food to be sent to his niece and servant.

Chapter Three

Claire awoke as the faint light of the new day shone beyond the thick brambles hiding the entrance to the cave. Again she heard the sound of horses, but this time they stopped briefly at Stanton water.

Baron raised his shaggy head, listening. She tensed nervously. Then she realized they only stopped to water their animals. They were shortly on their way again. The dog laid his head back down. But she waited until the sound of the troupe had faded into the silence again. Then Claire leaned over and gently shook Eyden.

“I must leave the cave for a short while, my precious,” she said. “You will remain until I return. Baron will stay with you and keep you safe.”

“Don't be long,” Eyden said sleepily, lowering her head back down again. Her eyes closed, and the dog pressed closer to her.

Claire stood up, brushing the hay from her skirts. Then, going to the the entrance of the cave, she listened hard before drawing the greenery aside and sidling out. The day was gray. The rain was still falling, but now it was a fine mist. All around her it was silent. There was not a note of birdsong, or animals lowing. Carefully Claire slipped through the woods and quickly crossed the open meadow before Thornbrook Manor. What had been a gracious home was now in smoking ruin. The air was heavy with death, and the smell of wet, burned wood, for the rains had tempered some of the destruction. Bodies were everywhere, and Claire recognized many of them.

She found the Earl of Thornbrook where he had died fighting before his home, his sword still in his hand, taking the sword, she wrapped it in her veil moving on. Lady Elaine, his wife, was in another area. She had been broken, and her throat was cut. Her delicate limbs were all skewed crookedly, her fair skin bruised and beaten. Claire could not help but weep at the sight of her gracious mistress so abused. She had to bury them. She could not leave them here for the birds and beasts to ravage. She looked about for something to dig a grave. Finding nothing, she wept harder. What was she to do? And then she knew, although the realization pained her deeply. Turning, she left the scene of destruction and returned across the meadow into the woodland and to the cave where Lady Eyden Loxton, the Countess of Thornbrook, was waiting for her Nanna. Eyden was her first priority. The dead were dead. Their pain and travails were over now. Eyden had to be saved. She had to be taken to the Wyndhams so she might grow up and return to Thornbrook one day with a fine husband who would rebuild it all.

“I was scared,” Eyden said as Nanna re-entered the cave. “Where were you? You were gone so long.” She had awakened and was walking nervously about the little cave.

“I went to the Manor,” Claire said candidly. “They are all dead, my lady, I have retrieved your fathers sword so that you may always remember how hard he fought for all of us. Now we must leave here. The countryside is like a tomb. Not a creature is stirring.”

“I tried to help, I shook out the blankets and folded them, but I can not reach the horses.”

“I will do that,” Claire replied. “Are you hungry?”

“Yes,” Eyden answered her. “I should like some oat porridge and ham.”

“I can give you bread, a sliver of cheese and an apple,” Claire said quietly. “We have no kettle, no fire, no oats, or a larder,” Claire continued, “and many like us have not what we have, my lady.

Eyden sighed deeply. “I understand, give me what you can, Nanna,” she said. Claire portioned out the food carefully. Who knew how long it would be before they would run out of the supplies the earl had packed for them? Or where they would be able to purchase more? If they were fortunate they might come upon a monastery or convent, and beg a nights shelter and a meal or two. But she suspected their travel would be rough for most of the way south to Theramore. There might be inns here and there, but such places were to be avoided. They were peopled by thieves and dishonest folk who would consider her and the child she shepherded vulnerable to their chicanery. No, the weeks ahead of them would not be easy. 

Then she lead a horse for the stall, tightened its cinch, replaced the blanket behind the saddle, and looked at Eyden. “Have you relieved yourself, child?” she asked.

Eyden nodded solemnly. Claire picked her up and sat her astride the animal. Then she tightened the cinch on the horse she would ride,put the second blanket behind the saddle, and tied on the small bundle she had packed the previous day. Then she clambered up onto the horse, and with the wolfhound by their side, they exited the cave.

The woman turned her mount to the right as they came forth, remembering the earls instructions. For several hours they followed Stanton water, which flowed in a fairly straight line through the trees into the marsh lands. When the stream turned east they left it behind. Around them the countryside was both silent and desolate. The herds of cattle belonging to Thornbrook were nowhere to be found. They saw no one. The Horde had done a fairly good job of destroying and stealing, although Claire knew there would be some who had hidden away like themselves, and escaped the fury of the Horde.

It was several days before they saw and sign of life, but those few people they saw hurried by them in the fields or woodlands, eyes averted. No words were exchanged at all, only furtive glances to ascertain whether they were dangerous. One man did look enviously at their horses, by Claire's hand went to her belt, where a large knife was visible, and Baron growled menacingly. The man lowered his eyes again as they passed by.

After almost two weeks of travel, they had the good fortune to come upon a convent just a days ride from Theramore. The ladies of Light took them in, and when they had heard the story Claire had told them, the sisters invited them to remain for a few days to rest their animals and regain their strength. They bathed Eyden, fed her a good hot meal of vegetable soup and buttered bread, then put her in a comfortable bed. Claire wept as she thanked them for their kindness.

They remained two full days, and then departed. Claire had dug out two sliver from her little stash and left them on the altar of the small church, as it was custom for visitors. She knew the ladies of light would be surprised to find them, and she smiled to herself as they rode along again. The farther south they traveled, the more difficult it became to keep from the roads, which it seemed were everywhere. And villages, there were so many of them. Claire had never been more than five miles from Thornbrook, and as they traveled she realized how different the rest of Azeroth was from the Northern countryside. It frightened her, but she would show no fear before her charge. Eyden was fascinated and intrigued by what she saw. Especially the towns. But Claire would not go into them. Seeing them from a distance, she would circle about them until she could head south again.

The autumn air was almost upon them. The days were growing shorter, and their hours if travel were fewer. Eyden had caught a cold, and Claire was worried it might develop into something worse if they did not reach Theramore soon. The child always had good health, but these past weeks of long travel, little food, and sleeping outdoors on the damp ground were beginning to take their toll. They both needed an end to their journey, and warm shelter. Then one afternoon they were forced to cross a wide high road, and Claire saw a sign. The sign read Theramore, and pointed toward one of the four roads before her. Claire considered. Perhaps now that they were so far south it would be safer and quicker to follow the road, especially considering Eyden's worsening health. She turned their horses in the direction the sign indicated.

They saw only a few folk as they moved along the road, and as with those they had seen in the woodlands and fields they traversed, everyone was minding their own business. Claire began to feel that perhaps she had made the correct decision. And then she heard behind her a troop of horses. Reaching out to grab the reins of Eyden's animal, she struggled to get out of the way, but she was no quick enough. They were quickly surrounded by mounted men. Claire pulled their mounts to a halt, that the others might pass, but to her surprise, they stopped as well.

The gentleman leading the troop, for his apparel she could see he was a gentleman, detached himself, and rode over to where Claire and Eyden sat upon their horses. “Woman,” the gentleman demanded, “What are you doing out on the road in these dangerous times? And with a little maid Where are you from, and where are you journeying with only this great wolfhound for your protection?”

Claire opened her mouth, but she was so frightened she could not speak for the life of her. What had she done, coming onto the road? Why had she not obeyed the earls directive? Would they now be killed for her foolishness? But the gentleman addressing her was handsome and slight of stature. He was commanding, but did not seem menacing. She swallowed and tried again to speak, when to her surprise, Eyden did.

to be continued