After one of the longest nights the matron had faced in a long time, her tired eyes stared blankly. The large manor that has felt so empty since the absence of her husband, is now full of many of the displaced and orphan children. A single ray of sunlight slices through the leaves of the branches overhead and pierces her eyes. Bloodshot amber eyes shine like gold in the rising sun. Kensly collapses on one of many chairs upon her front porch, exhausted though sleep is not possible.
Along the porch behind her, footsteps and the familiar tapping of a cane broke the silence that only comes with the dawn, “How many are there?” The voice rushed a wave of annoyance over her. Tired eyes turned up to the man from where she sat, “At least two dozen and I received word that there are more inbound.” With a slow pivot and placing his hand upon the arm of the bench, Physician Greghory exhaled a soft grunt in pain as he sat next to her, “You look like something the cat left on the rug of a doorstep. How many matrons you have helping you?” Kensly turned her gaze away, looking at the fountain in front of her manor, “There are nine of us, not including the few staff that I have and I do not believe I have had a good nights rest since my hus...” She corrected herself, “Since Araethius was placed in the asylum and I definitely have not had any sleep at all since the arrival of all of these poor, displaced children.” The older man rolled his eyes, though the matron would not see this. However, she could hear it in the tone of the words that followed, “I know you’ve been visiting at night when he’s sleeping. You come the nights I’m not there.”
He fished out his half-smoked cigar and clutched it between his teeth as he continued, “I’ve been told you just stare at him for hours.” The man reached back into his pocket and pulled out his matches and lighting the blackened end of his vice. He puffed on the cigar a few times, shaking the fire out on the match and tossing it onto the ground. Smoke drifted across the matron’s face and she waved it away. Kensly closed her eyes and exhaled a weak somber laugh, “I fought with him over smoking cigars that he received as a gift.” She shook her head, opening her eyes that showed the storm of emotions she held inside, “I wasted precious time arguing with him over something that seems so... so...” She swallowed hard, closing her eyes with her jaws clenching as she gritted her teeth to hold choke her tears.
The doctor inhaled a deep breath and slowly exhaled it, “There’s a reason I told you that visiting was not a good idea until you have had time to accept the reality of the situation.” Kensly opened her eyes with evidence of her tears lingering, “If I cannot sleep because I miss him, then why is it so terrible that I spend my time watching him rest? Why is it so terrible to watch him sleep when it is the only time he resembles the man I knew and loved?” Her voice cracked as she failed to be able to hold back her tears any longer, “I do not know how else to handle this emptiness I feel. I feel like if you looked hard enough you could see right through me with the hole that I feel is in my chest.”
The doctor tossed his cigar onto the porch, snuffing out the fire with the tip of his cane. He turned and lifted his arm up, placing it around her shoulder and pulled her against him in a caring embrace. Kensly sobbed on the man’s shoulder as he patted her on the back, “Just let it out, Kensly. I know it’s been difficult, but as you can see, life does not stop long enough to allow us to grieve.” She gripped his coat jacket until her knuckles grew white as she sobbed. He rubbed her back, “You’ve got all those children in there that have lost just as much if not as much as you have. You need them as much as they need you.” He continued on, attempting to encourage the woman with all of her accomplishments and all that she has overcome, “You lost your mother when you were young. You lost your father not long after. You grew up in an orphanage. You studied the Light. You found true love. You had a family and despite the loss, you still have so much to be grateful for and you know this.”
Kensly slowly calmed from all he as to say and lifted her head. He reached into his pocket and tugged out a clean and pressed handkerchief, handing it to her. The matron took the cloth and wiped her wet eyes and nose, “I know I have so much to be thankful for, but the world is in chaos and I...” She stumbled over her words, “I am alone.” Physican Greghory exhaled a lighthearted chuckle, patting her on the back once more, “Open your eyes, dear. You’re far from alone, but you have to see it for yourself.” He put his hands on his knees and pushed himself up from the bench with a grunt. She looked up to him and shook her head, “I feel alone, even when I am in a crowd of others.” He turned to face her, tapping on her shoe with his cane, “You won’t when you get tired of feeling it. Take my word for it.”
He took a few steps, “Now, let's get inside so I can evaluate some of these injuries and make sure you didn’t muck any of them up.” He kept walking and gripped the doorknob of the manor, “You go get some sleep and I’ll take over from here until you get some rest.” Kensly sat staring at the man with a deep expression of confusion within her eyes. He was never this kind and she had not the slightest idea what to make of it. “Al-alright.” she stammered as she stood up, following behind him. “You have a nanny for your children, right?” He questioned as he stepped inside. Kensly followed inside behind him, nodding her head, “Of course.” The matron shut the door behind them and he turned to look at her, “Then go get some sleep. You’re worthless without it.” Kensly cracked a half-smile, nodding her head, “I shall try my best.” He made his way down the hall and the matron went to her room for some much-needed rest.
The matron heard a knock at the door and set aside her sewing. She straightened her dress and readjusted her hair as she walked to the front doors. Kensly’s pale hand turned the knob and amber eyes peeked through the crack. Georea’s face popped into view, startling the woman. “Lady Garlunde, is that you?” The baroness of Summerwinds Manor opened her door with a puzzled tinge in her eyes, “I have not been called that name by many, miss.”
Kayla and Hazel made their way to stand behind their mother, staring at the stranger as they peeked around her skirt tail. Her hands drifted to both sides of her, placing her hands on her children’s backs, encouraging them to not be so shy. They both stepped forward just enough, standing next to their mother. A set of twin baby boys could be seen sitting together on the floor playing with blocks. “You may simply call me Kensly. Is there something I may do for you?” Kayla stepped forward a bit and grabbed the letter in the woman’s hand, “Mommy, she has a letter for you! It has your name on it!” Kensly inhaled a breath to scold her daughter for her behavior but was interrupted. Georgea nodded her head, trying her best to keep a smile on her face considering the audience, “Yes, that is why I am here, Lady, I mean Kensly. Misses Skybloom sent me to give this to you.” the mage cleared her throat quietly, “My name is Georgea Bridgeton. I am the new assistant to Lady Ludlow. Though I regret meeting you undah such circumstances, they ahe grave indeed.” Kayla held up the letter to her mother, “Thank you, Kayla.” She looked to both of her daughters, “Now, you and Hazel Jane hurry along back inside and watch over your brothers for a moment while this nice lady and I go outside and speak.” Hazel turned and walked back into the house with a mopey face and Kayla turned, skipping along behind her, “Okay, mommy!”
Kensly closed the front door, leaving a small crack and walked to a bench that lined the pathway to her front door. “Please, come have a seat, Georgea...” Kensly paused as she recalled the woman’s last name. “Bridgeton is your last name, did you say?” The mage nodded her head quickly, “Mmmhmm, yes ma’am.” She sat down on the bench and Kensly sat down next to her, glancing over the letter mumbling something about not knowing Lumen had any living family, but it was nice to meet her. Georgea squinted her eyes, “Pardon me, Kensly, bu’ did you just say my sistah’s name?” Kensly slowly nodded her head, mumbling Lumen’s name once more, though she was quite distracted by the troublesome words she read. Her eyes instantly filled with tears as she turned her eyes to Georgea, standing to her feet, “Oh Light Bless, Georgea! I must get to work right away! There will be time to grieve, later!” Georgea nodded, “Of course, but you knew my sistah?” Kensly nodded her head and waved to the young mage with the letter gripped in her hand, “Yes, I know Lumen! She is a lovely woman! Forgive me, Georgea! There is no time to waste! I must make arrangements and prepare for all of the displaced children!” The matron quickly ran inside her home, leaving her standing in utter confusion.
“She knows my sistah? My...my sistah is alive?” Georgea tearfully mumbled.
The world tree had fallen, as Vexxis feared it would. She took a moment of grief, weeping alone in her bedroom at the news she received from her beloved Cendelorn. Luckily, she had prepared for this, making sure to keep in good touch with Lady Ludlow and getting things in order. The Vineyard’s had been erecting livable spaces, tents and gathering supplies for those that may be displaced if the world as they knew it fell into the Banshee Queen’s grasp. It would prove, sadly, that she was right to do so.
She wiped her tears and gathered up the stack of fliers sitting upon her nightstand and headed out into the village, calling a meeting in the center of the village. This is what her grandfather spoke of when she received her markings, to take the weight of the world and carry it for those that could not. She calmed her shaking voice and spoke loudly and clearly, sternly but with love. “It has come to my attention that Teldrassil has fallen to the hands of Sylvanas and her Horde.” she began, taking pause as she stood upon a large fountain’s edge in the center of the village, fliers clutched to her chest as her other hand moved about with her words. “The Kaldorei, the Worgen and many other Alliance people have seen it as their home for many years now - especially the Kaldorei. It was our capital and now it lays in ash. Their refugees, those that have made it out alive will be moving into Stormwind territories as soon as their ships arrive. They will have nowhere to go. They will be scared and scarred beyond anything you could imagine by the tragedies this war has laid upon them. I want each and every able hand to begin now working in order to make their transition here as easy as possible. Tailors, cobblers, gardeners, butchers - all those that live here with your reputable skill begin your work. Make your wares in mass so that those we gather here can be as comfortable as we can make them. I entrust this will be done swiftly and without hitch as your Lady Ludlow would will it so.”
The eyes were upon her, some crying and some just standing in awe as they nodded their heads. Vexxis’ presence here was one that had garnered respect and love in the eyes of the villagers, and for that she was thankful. It paid to show kindness, and today proved that.
She nodded her head and the people filed out to do as they had been asked. Swiftly she checked in with the makeshift houses that were being built and the large tents that were being erected on the outside of the village all the way to the ends of the Ludlow property’s line, and then she made haste into Stormwind upon horseback. Once there she placed the fliers in her arms upon every public building that would allow her to do so, especially at the harbor and near the Stormwind Keep.
She truly had no idea the impact this would have on her place within the Vineyards, as that was not on her mind. The only thing that mattered to her was that she was doing the right thing, and to care for the people that had always cared for her.
(( @ludlowvineyards @cendelornshadowdagger @elizebella for mentions ))
With the fliers already in place, her work in Stormwind was done. She had never left her horse’s back until she made it back to her home in Ludlow Village, pleased to see after the hours had passed that some of the work she asked for was done, and was continuing to be worked at without resistance. A bit of peace was held in her mind for that at least so she could continue her next task.
Upon living here among these people she had made many friends, though one not so important as Kensly Garlunde, the orphan matron. Vexxis knew the cost of war and how mothers and fathers alike were fighting it, and likely died doing so. There would be an influx of orphans arriving at the harbor of Stormwind in likely little more than a day’s time. She had to prepare all fronts, if she were preparing any at all. And so her letter began, tears spattering the paper in which she hoped would not smear the ink.
-Dearest Kensly,
The news has spread that Darnassus and Teldrassil as we know it lays in ash. Sylvanas and her Horde have seized its shores and the World Tree stands no longer. Many refugees will be coming into Stormwind Territories as I have told those of the village. Along with those refugees will be orphans that will need a safe and good place to go, some older.. some as young as babes from the womb. I need your help, my friend, to place these orphans in your care. I will do whatever it is in my power to get you the hands you need to care for such a task properly, as these orphans will not be Kaldorei alone. Even gnomes if you can imagine it. Prepare your facility as needed. I will be ordering those in the village to send you supplies and will have the man power you need to distribute them as they begin arriving. If there is anything else you need of me. Beds to be made, more structures to be built, please let me know and I will make sure it happens. As you can tell, it is with great sorrow that I write this letter, but also with great hope that we can restore the people that have lost their homes with the hope they so have earned and deserved.
With Love,
Vexxis-
She let her tears flow freely then as she moved through the gates of Ludlow Manor and made her way into the wing that Lady Ludlow usually inhabited, finding her new handmaiden Georgea, placing her hand upon the young Gilnean’s shoulder. “I wish for you to deliver this message with haste to Kensly Garlunde, Miss Bridgeton. Do not stop until you stand upon her door step and the letter is in her hands. Urge her to read it as quickly as possible.” It was easy to see by the urgency in Vexxis’ voice and the tension that resided within her tone that it was of the utmost importance. Georgea, despite all the turmoil and chaos that was happening around the village nodded her head with a bubbly smile. “Not to worry, Miss Skybloom. You can count on me to delivah the message as quickly as needed.” The tall handmaiden then made her way down the hall, nearly tripping on a rug that would have received a rolling of the eyes and annoyance of any others. It was met with a soft smile from the druidess though, and a bow of her head. “Thank you, my dear.” the druidess said as she made her way out of the manor herself, seeing the woman off to do the task. She only hoped that the girl would reach Kensly sooner rather than later.
“Mommy, where is daddy? Is he still sick? When is he coming home?”Kayla finally outright asked, relentlessly pelting her mother with questions with barely a pause to breathe. Kensly froze still with a sting hitting her eyes, feeling as if her breath was stolen from her lungs. Hazel just sat quietly with her eyes looking back and forth between her mother and sister. The twins lay on a pallet in the floor of the play area that their father had built. She felt the room begin to spin and Kensly covered her eyes, stumbling back against the wall. Her body shook as she brought both hands to cover her face distorted with immeasurable pain as she cried, sliding down into the floor. Kayla dropped her doll and ran over to her mother, “Mommy!” She wrapped her little arms around her the best she could, watching her mother fall apart right before her eyes. Hazel stood up from the floor, not quite understanding what was happening. She slowly made her way over to her mother and hugged her the same as her sister.
The woman quickly wrapped her arms around her daughters, holding them both as close as she possibly could. Kensly finally broke, sobbing while clinging to her daughters feeling desperate for the pain to ease up. “I love you, Kayla. I love you, Hazel. I love your brothers so very much. Everything is going to be okay and daddy will be home before we know it. He will be well and he will be home and we will all be happy, just like before.” Her voice cracked and trembled through quivering lips while looking at both of her little girls, “Do you hear mommy? Do you hear me?” The two slowly nodded their heads as they looked at their mother with worry in their eyes. Kayla pulled an embroidered handkerchief from her pocket. She gently wiped away at her mother’s tears just as Kensly always did for her. “Yes mommy, I hear you.” Kayla softly muttered while Hazel simply nodded her head.
Physician Greghery’s words from just the day before echoed in her mind, “He was lucid just once in over two months, Kensly. He is not getting well, but in fact is only getting worse and you need to come to terms with this. You have children to think of and the sooner you accept it, the sooner they can and will accept it too.” Kensly hugged her daughters tightly to comfort them, as well attempt to somehow bring comfort to herself. “Daddy will be well and will be home with us again, soon. We just have to have faith. Everything will all be okay, I promise.”
It had been only a day or so since he had resettled into his new living arrangements. He sat down coolly in comfortable reclining chair looking out the small wooden window that had been magically sealed for his own protection. No punch, outside or inside was going to break that glass, but it provided such a magnificent view of the outskirts of Stormwind City. Araethius swears he could see the hustle and bustle of the city, and hear its denizens run their errands to and fro.
But.. nagging thoughts constantly ate at the paladin’s frail mind.
“Here you are, darlin’. It has all his belongins’ that we don’t allow. Not my rules, but if you had ever seen the things I have, you would know how dangerous they can be to the patients. You would be surprised at the things folks can do with clothes, belts, shoe laces, buttons, and even weddin’ rings.” The asylum nurse looked to Kensly, waving her hand in front of her face, “Did ya hear me, Missus Dawnforge?” Kensly’s eyes focused on her husband’s wedding band that rested atop of his blue plaid shirt that she had bought for him just a few months before. Her eyes welled with tears and she attempted to speak, but a crackling squelch replaced her words. “Tha-Than-Thank you.” Her lips quivered as she stammered. “M-May I see...” She gasped in a breath, holding the air in her lungs until she could gather herself before she continued, “May I see my husband?”
The nurse open her mouth to speak, but a voice interrupted her. “No.” Kensly turned around to see physician Greghory standing behind her. “That’s not wise for either of you at this time.” Soon after, a man could be heard yelling, a voice she recognized right away and sent a shock through her. She cried out automatic response, “Araethius!” Humphrey immediately grabbed her, spinning her around to face him, “Kensly, listen to me!” She froze stiff, holding her breath with the sounds of her husband’s voice continually calling out in distress. She closed her eyes, squinting them tight, as each word of panic and confusion he screamed penetrated her mind. “He needs time to adjust to the new reality of his situation and you...” Her eyes opened, immediately fixing onto Humphrey’s gaze, causing the man to stumble on his words, “You need to go home to your children and back to your life. The sooner you accept that this is for the best, the better.”
Humphrey released his hold on the mother of four. “If I am not mistaken, you have a cousin about to give birth any day now and she needs you, your children need you, Kensly. Folks need you and Araethius will be fine. Hell, he’ll be more than fine.” He turned away from her gesturing his arm out wide and toward the main hallway, “We put him in the best room we have to offer and he is going to be getting the best care we can provide for him, just as you requested. He will not go without supervision, he will not go hungry, he will be kept as comfortable as possible.” The man turned his body back to her with his cane clicking on the stone floor, “You said not to spare any expense for his care, so let us do the work you’re paying us for and get back to your life. Folks are depending on you and you owe it to yourself to do something for yourself for once.” He eyed her closely, lowering his voice as he approached her and rested an almost caring hand on her shoulder, “He will be fine and you will be fine. It will just take some adjusting. Araethius, you, and your children will just need some time to adjust. It will not be easy, but it will get easier over time.” He patted her shoulder, allowing his hand to fall away from her and placed it in the pocket of his jacket, “Kensly, trust me, the best thing you can do for him right now is go home.” Kensly just stared at her mentor without a single word, though the tears that streamed down her face spoke far more eloquently than she ever could in this moment.
Silently, Kensly turned to fetch the box that held Araethius’ belongings and made her way to the exit. Her husband’s cries of angst and confusion was all that kept her company as she escorted herself out of the front door and headed home.
If it wasn’t for nightmares, Araethius wouldn’t have dreamt anything at all. He didn’t realize anything at all.
That he had been slowly deteriorating. Blind to it, he believed nothing was wrong.
It didn’t matter that Araethius wouldn’t eat or sleep for days at a time. His mind adrift on a sea of turmoil. Often times, he would wander out into the garden in the middle of the night with no warning and sit in the moonlight, saying nothing, doing nothing. He would look straight, seeing things that were not there, sometimes hearing things that were not real. He wouldn’t make a note of these voices, occasionally he would whisper things under his breath he thought no one could hear. He would repeat words he had just said under his breath as reassurance.
Kensly had gone out. She was meeting with some physician, she said. Araethius, far more lucid throughout the day than when he was during the evening, was slowly eating a banana when he heard a knock at the door.
“This cannot be the only thing that can be done.” She shook her head in disbelief, tears clinging to her eyelids as she fought the urge to cry, “I will not accept this. The Light heals and saves all who believes. This is not some medicinal need. He needs the Light and needs for me to fight and to believe, when he has lost his way.”
A wrinkled, masculine hand gripped her shoulder, “Kensly, my child, you must realize that perhaps this is simply the way it must be.” The older man carefully lowered himself with a low grunt into the chair across from the orphan matron. He exhaled a grunted sigh of relief, leaning forward a bit with his hand encompassing the ball of his cane and his other stacked atop of the first. “The Light is horseshit.” Physician Greghery spat with a tone just shy of condescending as his pale blue eyes stared at the woman who was slowly crumbling before him, “Surely after all you have seen and been through, you cannot truly believe it will save everyone.” He sucked his teeth as if he was fishing out residuals of his breakfast as he retrieved a cigar from the ashtray on the table. He struck a match and held the fire beneath the rolled tobacco, puffing a few times. He turned his gaze to the floor, taking a decent puff off his expensive cigar, flooding the space between the two with smoke.
“If you want to be a good physician, you are going to have to accept that life is full of sickness, death, and loss. Not everything or everyone will have the happy ending you believe it should have. It is not our place to decide this. We either help mend those that are suffering or we help them let go to whatever it is they are holding onto and let them go.”
His gaze turned upwards to meet with hers once more, “That includes your husband.” With a nonchalant tone he shrugged his shoulders, “Well, I say your husband, but you were never legally wed to begin with. There is not a single piece of paper showing you have any say over what I choose to do to treat Araethius.” He took another puff and cleared his throat, “I am not the enemy here, Kensly. He is sick and needs to be placed where he will not be a danger to you, your children, himself, or anyone else for that matter.” He worked a loose speckle of tobacco around his mouth, pushing it to the edge of his lips with the tip of his tongue. With a quick burst of air from his lungs he launched it across the room, “Trust me when I say it is far better this way than if he did happen to hurt someone.” He leaned back in his chair, staring into her eyes, “After all I have taught you over the last couple of years, you know this to be for the best.” All his apprentice could do was sit silently with her eyes glazed over as his words gripped ahold of her soul, forcing her convictions to retreat.
She removed her jacket as the shock began to fade, feeling a rush of heat return to her body. She lifted the back of her hand, wiping the beads of sweat from her brow, “I just wish to keep him at home where he belongs. Why cannot I just keep him at home with me; with his family where he belongs?” Her hand was shaking as it fell away from her brow and finally a tear broke free and then another. The room was silent, save for soft squeaks coming from the Matron as she fought the urge to cry with all her might. Kensly sucked in a shuddered gasp, biting her bottom lip in attempt to keep the violent river that beat against the dam of her heart at bay. Her eyes drifted to the metal band that snugly hugged her ring finger that was once full of soft pulsing light. Her focus was shattered, realizing how much it has darkened over the last year. She gasped in a few, whimpered breaths, covering her mouth as she thought on how it now barely emits enough light to see in a pitch black room, let alone the daylight. “You have said and I have seen him deteriorate greatly in just these last six months and he is only going to get worse. He is not the Araethius you once knew, Kensly. He barely recalls his own children’s names, he sleeps day in and day out some days. There are times he is up for two and three days at a time and has not a damn clue what day it is.”
Her eyes turned upward, looking at her mentor as he continued, “He talks to himself and refuses to eat even when he has not had a meal all day, claiming he has eaten plenty. He has lost weight and his health and the function of his mind is rapidly declining. He needs to be escorted to the asylum and I will bring help to get him there. The man needs round the clock medical supervision that you simply cannot give him. Not to mention it is just far too risky for you and your fam--children.” She opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was a whimpered breath. She pressed her lips together, flattening them against her teeth. She leaned forward, resting her head in her hands, covering nearly her entire face.
The sound of his mouth pulling at the tip of his cigar and releasing in quick intervals filled the room, “For crying out loud, he even called you Ashleigh, Kensly. He called you by the woman’s name that he loved before you. You have been with him for how many years?” Kensly mumbled the years into her hand, though she was still the only one in the room to know the number once she went silent. “What further evidence do you need that the man’s mind is too far gone to not be a threat to everyone, including himself, Kensly?” She jerked her hands away from her face, instantly pushing herself up from her chair and stood with her face only inches from his, “You do not understand! You are so bitter and alone that you could never understand what it means to love someone with all of your being as I! I would die for him!” She pivoted around and collapsed to her knees, kneeling over the seat of the chair still warm from her body having occupied it just moments before. “He almost died to save me.... he... nearly...died...to me.” Kensly mumbled as she sobbed uncontrollably into her hands, then screamed out in pure agony.
The physician put out his cigar and struggled to his feet. He tapped the edge of her shoe with his cane, “I think it is best that you stay here in my office while I go confront him. With the children out for the entire day with the nanny, there is no better time than now and you do not need to be there.” The woman just continue to sob whilst he made his way to the coat rack, removing his hat and then placed it on his head. The sound of the door opening, shattered Kensly’s thoughts. She slid to the floor and curled up in the center of the rug, sobbing hysterically, just as an inconsolable child would.
Physician Humphrey S. Greghery tapped on the front door of Summerwind Manor with his medical bag. Alongside him were two rather intimidating gentlemen, prepared to do whatever it takes to get Araethius to comply and leave with them before the day is out.
The morning sun blasted through the curtains of their bedroom window, but only one remained in bed. Kensly was up before daylight, tending to their four children as she always does. Their five month old twin sons are the first to wake and be fed this morning. She quickly changes their diapers and places them in their adorable matching clothing that is hand stitched by their own mother. They kick and squeal at Kensly as she makes faces and coos at them both while carrying them downstairs to place in on their tummies. “There we are, my handsome sons. A little tummy time for some exercise will have you crawling in no time.”
Araethius didn’t arise until an hour or two after his wife arose. The mid-morning sun shining right through the chink of their bedroom. He opened one eye, drowsily looking around the room, his eyes finally coming to rest on the empty space where his wife slept before turning back to the window, bringing up a hand to cover his freshly awaken eyes from the glare of the mid-morning sun.
The morning sun blasted through the curtains of their bedroom window, but only one remained in bed. Kensly was up before daylight, tending to their four children as she always does. Their five month old twin sons are the first to wake and be fed this morning. She quickly changes their diapers and places them in their adorable matching clothing that is hand stitched by their own mother. They kick and squeal at Kensly as she makes faces and coos at them both while carrying them downstairs to place in on their tummies. “There we are, my handsome sons. A little tummy time for some exercise will have you crawling in no time.”
She stood up, smiling proudly at the newest additions to their family, even the smaller one who no doubt has dwarfism. “Now, I must go wake your sisters and get them dressed, and I have herbs to pick today, and Missus Langstone is due any day now, so I may have to leave and assist with her birth.” Kensly counted off each finger as she listed each task, only to close her hand in a fist to the last, knowing better than to plan much further. She sighed quietly, lifting her gaze to the stairs, “And I should probably wake your father, but perhaps he should sleep a bit more. I believe he had a long night.” She took one last glance at her twins and smiled to their handmaiden with a gentle nod in passing. Their routine is like clockwork come every morning.
The priestess made her way up the stairs, dreading passing their doorway. She knows Araethius did not sleep. The few words she heard that he spoke whilst he stood in the bathroom, echos in her head; He does not know she knows as she pretended to be asleep. With light steps she crept across the floor in front of their room. The rhythm of his snoring continues as she makes her way to their daughter’s room. Upon entering the room, Kensly exhales a gentle sigh of relief that she did not wake her husband, at least so she thinks.
It isn’t long the matron priestess carries their daughters downstairs, both dressed in frilly, adorable dresses, “Kayla, you have your lessons today. Are you excited?” Kayla smiled happily and nodded her head, with her little blonde curls bouncing. Kensly turned her eyes to Hazel who has her head resting on her shoulder. She is definitely not one to speak to of the morning, at least until after breakfast. She clung to her teddy bear in one arm and to her mother with the other. Their mother lets Kayla down first and she runs to the dining table and climbs up in her chair. Kensly places Hazel in a handmade booster seat and pushes them both up to the table.
Upon the table sat a bowl of porridge for each of the girls with a side of berries and sliced bananas. Kensly tied a bib around Hazel’s neck and kissed her forehead whilst Kayla unfolded her napkin and placed it into her lap like a true little lady. “Now, eat up so you can be strong, healthy, and smart.” Kensly makes her way to the table, glancing over to her sons as she takes a seat. She couldn’t help but chuckle to the two as they giggled and kicked while laying on their tummies, facing each other. She brushed her hair behind her ears and stared down at her plate of fruit and slice of toast. She was suddenly not feeling very hungry once the joy her children brings her was once again quickly replaced by thoughts of her husband.
“Mommy, I like butterflies. There are blue butterflies in the garden.” Kensly continued staring at her plate with Kayla’s voice sounding distant and obscure. Kayla spoke up a little louder, “Mommy, I like butterflies. They fly around in the garden. May we go outside to see the butterflies today?” The woman sat without a single blink and one may even easily think she’s stopped breathing. “Mommy!” Kayla screamed out loudly as her temper began flaring. Kensly jolted out of her thoughts, rapidly blinking her eyes and smiled to her daughter with a soft, awkward sort of laugh, “Yes, yes my darling, after your lessons.”
Kayla smiled at her mother and looked to Hazel who was silently staring at her as if she was the worst sister in the world. “Now, eat up so that we may begin lessons soon.” Kensly turned her eyes away and just as she did Kayla stuck her tongue out at her younger sister. A scream was heard and their mother turned in shock to see Kayla wearing a bit of porridge on her face. Hazel giggled still holding the spoon within her grip which launched the creamy goop at her sister. Kensly huffed, jumping to her feet, just as Kayla burst into tears. If anyone was sleeping in their home before, they definitely would not be after the chaos that was unfolding.
Parched lips smacked together as pink hair spilled out over the sides of the small life boat Sprankles had been hoarded up in for weeks now. At night she was sneaking on board and stealing what food she could from the ship she had found herself on. It was the very ship that had retrieved the Admiral in the first place, so of COURSE, she couldn’t let herself be known.. But she was really thirsty, and she was really hungry. She had not been able to sneak on board in nearly three days.. things going missing were starting to be noticed. One might not think that a gnome such as herself would require much in the way of food.. But whole hams were missing… more bottles of ale than she cared to admit, were missing. Most of all, cake was going missing. The captain’s cakes. She had icing smeared on her cheek from three days ago right at this very moment, as a matter of fact. She had to make a choice now. Go on board and show herself, or risk starvation and dehydration as there was still no land in sight. She didn’t even know if the boat was going back to Stormwind, or where they were taking Admiral Valesong.. if she was even still alive… so it was now or never.
I scream, and no one hears me.
Am I being punished finally for the sins of the past?
Is this is it for me?
What about them? What about me?
It would be the same sequence of events all over again. All of the strange stuff that I did before Argus, everything that I did after. The ignorance, the stupidity, the pain, the suffering, the looks they all gave me, the disappointment in her eyes.
I wasn’t the confident man she married all those years ago.
“Hello friends! Jungnay Softmaw here once again. I have another tale for you today, and this one is about a man of loyalty and heart, also a good guy to have in your corner. A very good friend of mine Mace Longclaw, and a sandwich which was not the best, but that is for later in the story friends.” Jugnay lets out a hearty laugh and scratches his belly. “Well if my memory serves me right…I believe I first met Mace at a poetry gathering at his brothers house many moons ago. I was on guard duty once again, and Mace was serving drinks and food. The poetry gatherings really did not need guards I feel, but I enjoyed the poetry all the same.” Jung chuckles a bit. “And any Ludlow function always has good food, so it was a win-win. It was not until a guard training session that I got to know Mace a bit better…”
“I could go for a good sandwich…Oh sorry friends…yes…where was I…ah yes, guard training.” Jungnay chuckles a bit. “So on this particular day it was just Mace and I, and we had quite an interesting task before us. Araethius Dawnforge the head guard training person…I guess…I just call him friend like I do everyone friend. I am sure there is a title but I do not recall.” Jung chuckles a bit and scratches his belly. “Anyway Araethius had set up a wall climbing exercise for Mace and I, and when we reached the top there was a prize of a sandwich which was made by his wife Kensley. First one to the top gets the prize. Well I looked at Mace and he at me, and then we started the climb. Mace and I both knew I think that it was not going to be a straight up climbing race, because Araethius always had tricks up his sleeve.”
“So Mace got a bit of a lead on me out the gate, but then the traps started going off, metal pellets falling down on both of us…it was not very fun.” The first wave of pellets came down on us and Mace fell down luckily he had not been that high up, but he is a man who does not quit and he got right back up and going again. Now I had the advantage as I was making my way up the wall, but then the second round of pellets came at us, we both held on this time and nobody fell but it definitely slowed us down and pissed us off. How would you like metal pellets dropped on you friend! Anyway friend we are now both nearing the top of the wall and now the third round of pellets come down on us as Mace had just about caught up and then he slipped ,but I reached out and grabbed his arm, and he grabbed my arm and together we did not fall, as I held on to let him get his footing once again. And I said to Mace “When we get to the top friend I say we split the sandwich, we both been through enough of this.” Mace agreed in his fashion with an “F” bomb sprinkled in…but that is Mace for you.” Jungnay let out a hearty laugh. “So we made it to the top together…both of us beaten from those damn metal pellets and the climb itself, but we did it as a team and from that moment on I knew I could count on Mace Longclaw.”
“Oh yes so the prize…the sandwich that needed help.” Jung chuckles a bit. “Mace and I split the sandwich and sat upon the roof eating our victory lap, but it could have used a helping of mayo and maybe a bit of pepper.” Jungnay gives a hearty laugh and scratches his belly. “But in the end we won the day and that is all that really mattered.”
“Since then Mace and I have been out several times working together. Once was to help get Miss Sable back for she was kidnapped. But we have to give most the credit to Gilbert’s dog Otho on that one though, the dogs got a good sniffer.” Jung chuckles a bit. “Mace and I did dispose of some of the thugs that had taken her that day. I still don’t know why she was kidnapped, but I know we were all just happy to have her back.”
“We have also been out bounty hunting together, Mace and his now wife Sable started their own bounty hunting company…Listen to me just rambling now.” Jung chuckles. “Well friends I think this concludes our story. Plus I think I could use a sandwich right about now.” Jungnay chuckles and scratches his belly. “Until we meet again friends, white tiger watch over you all.”
@macelongclaw @ludlowvineyards,
@sable-longclaw @araethius @kenslydawnforge @gilbert-ashbourn @longclawofgilneas for mentions
“One door, one floor, one bed, one fireplace, one rug, one shelf, one table, one first-aid kit, one picture.” Sarah’s eyes focus on everything her one room cottage with the door wide open.
((NSFW - Not for the squeamish/Natural birth of twins/You have been warned. PART I))
Pink pigtails bounce in full force as Sprankles dashes up the stairs with her loud shouting breaking the worried silence that filled the staff inside and outside of Summerwinds Manor, “I’M COOOOMIIIING KEEEEENSLLLYYY! YOU’RE NOT DYING YEEEEEEEEET! HEEEELP IS HEEEREEEE!” Sarah ran behind her but was nowhere near able to keep up with the tiny gnome’s energy. Sprankles plowed the door open and immediately saw Kensly laying near lifeless and falling in and out of consciousness.
The gnome rushed to assess the situation and upon seeing all the Sarah said was true, Sprankles wasted no time. Tiny lips hummed and chanted as tiny hands sent a burst of healing Chi energy through the endangered mother, giving Kensly just enough vitality back to function. “Something, something is not right.” The weak matron mumbled just before another pain struck her. She felt she was going to die and fear riddled her mind. She thought of all the things she had not had time to do. She thought of her husband who was off battling on Argus. Kensly began to sob through the pain, afraid she would never hold her children or see her husband ever again by the time this was over. The handmaiden gathered up Kayla and Hazel, taking them down the hall to their nursery to keep watch, just as Sarah finally arrived into the room. The petite inventor made her way over to the screaming newborn and lifted him. She cradled him against her and began humming and singing to him as she gently rocked him in her arms, “Come sweet baby in my flying machine, going up he goes, up he goes.” She moved to the chair in the corner of the room, sitting down with the newborn and continued to fill the room with soft humming and singing, calming his crying.
Kensly groaned and cried, “Something is...” She gritted her teeth, “Very wrong.” She gasped in a deep breath as a contraction struck. Sprankles had already got the bleeding under control, but still had no idea what she was doing. She was doing everything she could to help keep Kensly stable and this is all she could do. Sarah wrapped the sleeping newborn up tightly in his blanket and rested him in the crib that was left behind from Kayla and Hazel. The inventor made her way over to her cousin and held her hand through the contraction. She wiped her face clean and used the wet cloth to wet Kensly’s dry, cracked lips once it subsided, “Kensly Dawnforge, it is time to give birth to your second son. I am here. I will stay. I will hold your hand. Sprankles is here. You have help. You are fine. I am fine. Sprankles is fine. We are fine.” She gripped Kensly’s hand tighter and the matron nodded as tears streamed down her face. Without another moments notice a hard contraction shot through her body and Kensly raised up, bearing down and screamed through gritted teeth. Sarah helped hold her up and groaned as it felt as if her cousin was crushing her hand. “KENSLY! KEEP DOING THAT! I SEE SOMETHING!” Sprankles focused her goggles as she saw the second newborn’s head and squealed out, “I SEE HAIR AND A TINY BABY HEAD! THIS IS GREEAAAAAAAAT!” Kensly heard Sprankle’s words and it only encouraged her to dig down deep for her very last bit of strength and soon the room was filled with cries of the second newborn. The matron fell back onto the bed and lay near lifeless, but she was indeed still alive. “IT HAS LITTLE ARMS AND LEGS LIKE ME! KENSLY, YOU HAD A BABY GNOME!” Sprankles squealed out excited as can be, not putting together that humans cannot birth gnomes. However, the second son was quite a bit smaller than his brother. Kensly lost consciousness soon after.
The following morning, the mother rested peacefully with both newborns in her arms as she nourished their tiny bodies. Kensly looked liked warmed over death, but she still smiled down to her infants as they fed. She stared at her second born son who was not like his brother, but she did not love him any less. Sarah sat next to her cousin, passed out in the chair while Sprankles snored on the other side of the bed. It took them all night to get everything and everyone cleaned up and they were all beyond exhausted. The handmaiden cared for Kayla and Hazel, until the two impromptu midwives got some rest. Kensly swaddled her first son who seemed quite large and then swaddled her second who was near half the size of his brother; he was born with dwarfism. She cuddled them close and closed her eyes to rest and exhaled a few sighed words as sleep too her, “Araethius, come home to us.”
((Thank you twinnerwinner/ @sparkling-adventurer for giving me permission to write for Sprankles! I know I didn’t do her justice, but it was fun! <3))
((NSFW - Not for the squeamish/Natural birth of twins/You have been warned. Very long read.))
The daily chaos in Summerwinds Manor commences in full force as Kensly awakes just before dawn with a sharp pain in her lower back and hissed out, “Oh Light.” The mother-to-be struggled to sit up in bed, only to be forced to fall back in failure. Another pain struck at the base of her spine and the woman sucked in a breath through gritted teeth. Once the pain subsided she called out as loudly as she could manage, “Sarah! It is time! You remember what I said about when it was time?!” As the matron’s voice shrilled out from down the hall, Sarah was startled and stopped everything she was doing to listen.
Immediately, Sarah responded with a loud, steady voice, “It is time! It is time! I will send for the doctor!” The inventor could be heard stumbling around as she stopped what she was doing and stumbled down the hall. Kensly’s daughters sat secure in their cribs, staring at each other in confusion once their caretaker was out of sight. Kayla sat in a diaper and Hazel sat with her dress barely looped over her head. Not a tear was shed by the little ones as Sarah’s voice kept repeating those three words. Her voice was loud and clear as she quickly made her way to inform the help to fetch the doctor.
Not long after, Sarah comes barging back into the manor and swiftly made her way back upstairs. Little did she know chaos was about to ensue in its full glorious splendor. “It is time and I sent word for the doctor, Kensly Dawnforge!” The inventor swung her cousin’s bedchamber door open to find her face drenched in tears. “I am not ready for this, Sarah. My husband is not here and I need him here. He has never been away this long. I can’t do this without him. I am so afraid, Sarah.” The priestess exhaled a shuddering breath, shaking her head and repeated, “I cannot do this without him.”
Sarah looked at her cousin with a puzzled expression and proceeded to explain in the only way she knew how, “Kensly Dawnforge, you are going to give birth. You will give birth to twins. You will do this without help. it is natural. Your husband does not need to be here. He cannot help you give birth. Males cannot birth babies. Females birth babies. You will birth your babies. It is time.” Before Kensly could even dare manage to give her signature stare of disapproval she hissed out in pain, placing her palms on each side of her enormous belly. The woman gritted her teeth and then forced herself to pant a few breaths. Sarah stood staring at her cousin unblinking. Reading and studying about childbirth was vastly different from what she was beginning to witness. The inventor began to reach her hand into her pocket to retrieve her notepad, but before she managed to get her hand on it a scream startled her. She turned her gaze to the door with the whites of her hazel eyes growing, “I will return Kensly Dawnforge. I must tend to Kayla Rose and Hazel Jane.” Kensly nodded her head, waving her on as the pain of the contraction finally left her. They were slow and still spaced apart. The Matron having helped deliver many babies, including helped instruct her husband with the delivery of her first child, knew she had a few more hours; so she thought. As she stuffed another pillow behind her own back she felt a familiar rush of warmth and gasped. Kensly gripped her blankets, pulling them back to see the ring of amniotic fluid growing outward on her bed sheets from between her legs. Her heart began to pound within her chest as she felt the time she calculated that her twins would arrive slip through her fingers.
“Sarah.” Her voice was quiet and full of dread. “Sarah...” Kensly gasped out just a little louder. “Sarah!” She shrilled out in panic.
Sarah nearly jumped out of her skin to the shrill and felt her heart skip to the scream of pain belonging to her cousin that followed immediately after. The petite inventor turned to look at Kayla and Hazel that were dressed and ready for the day, “I am to care for you no matter what happens. I promised Kensly Dawnforge. I will take care of you Kayla Rose and Hazel Jane. It is okay. You are fine. I am fine. We are fine. Kensly Dawnforge is fine. The twins will be fine.” Sarah seemed to half-repeat things that were instructed to her, though there was a tinge of panic to her own voice. “Sarah, please! I need help!” Her cousin shouted out, sending her voice to pummel down the hall. Sarah glanced around the room and recalled the small constructed play area in her cousin’s room. She took up Hazel and placed her in Kayla’s crib and promptly moved behind it and began pushing it out of the room. Tiny wheels squeaked and scrapped against the wooden floor as she pushed the crib down the hall, banging it against the door frame as she pushed it into Kensly’s room. “Mommy!” Kayla called out and Hazel squealed out excitedly, reaching for her mother. Kensly did her best to smile at her daughters, one by blood and one adopted. “Mommy cannot get out of bed my little angels. Mommy is going to have your baby brothers soon.” She knew explaining to them was above their comprehension, but it was all she could do.
Sarah’s eyes fell on her cousin and then to the wet ring that circled where she sat on the bed. “Kensly Dawnforge, did you urinate on the bed? I will get clean sheets. I will be back.” Kensly quickly spoke up, “My water broke, Sarah. Is the doctor here, yet? How soon will she get here?!” Sarah stared at Kensly with a blankness riddling her hazel eyes, “I do not know.” This was not something that came out of the inventor’s mouth very often, if it had ever. She quickly moved Hazel and Kayla toward their play area and placed each inside. Of course, as soon as each behind was softly placed on the rug within, their tears and crying commenced. Kensly spoke up, “Kayla and Hazel, it is okay. Mommy cannot hold you right now, but she will be able to before too long. Be good little girls for mommy and Sarah, please.” Her last word as gasped as another contraction hit. The mother-to-be sucked in a deep breath and then grilled her belly, forcing herself to breathe through the pain. “I will get clean sheets. I will change the sheets on your bed. The sheets will be tidy.” Sarah spoke up and Kensly glared at her cousin and spoke through gritted teeth, “I need the doctor, not clean sheets.” Her voice was low and seemed quite intimidating. The inventor looked to Kensly and quickly made her way to her side, “Kensly is pissy. I make Aldreus less pissy. I hold his hand. It makes him less pissy.” She took hold of Kensly’s hand without another single word.
Sarah cried out, “Kensly Dawnforge! You are holding my hand too tight! It is painful!” Kensly screamed out in pain and only gripped Sarah’s hand tighter, causing her to scream out in agony along with her. Kensly, Sarah, Kayla, and Hazel were now all wailing simultaneously. Kensly’s grip of her cousin’s hand let up as the pain began to subside. Her apologetic eyes met with Sarah’s pained gaze as she panted and recovered, “I am so sorry, Sarah. I did not mean to hurt you.” Sarah pulled her hand back, looking down at it, red and throbbing with residual discomfort. “You are in pain. It is fine. You are fine. I am fine. We are fine. Kayla Rose is fine. Hazel Jane is fine. We are fine.” Kensly just allowed her cousin work through the stress in her own way, trying to not allow it to annoy her, though the pain was making it quite difficult. She leaned back against the pillow, exhaling a sigh and gestured toward the foot of the bed, “Sarah, I know we spoke about this. I know you know what to look for. I know you know about all of this. I know you studied it and you know how women give birth. Please, I need you to look for me. I need you to look and tell me what you see.” Sarah nodded quickly and moved to near the foot of the bed and promptly lifted Kensly’s gown. Sarah stood unblinking, hearing her pulse in her head with her face blushing red and then immediately turning pale. Her knees were slowly beginning to give. “Sarah, no, not now. You cannot faint now, I need you, Sarah. Please, Sarah, stay with me. I need your help, Sarah. Please stay with me, please.” Kensly begged her cousin, but it was too late. The inventor fell to the floor, leaving her cousin in the beginning of full labor and her daughters to fend for themselves until she came to.
After a couple of hours of painful contractions for Kensly who was stuck in bed and unable to move and Kayla and Hazel had cried themselves to sleep, Sarah began to stir. “Sarah, Sarah!” Kensly’s red, swollen eyes showed a glimmer of relief as she saw her cousin begin to come out of her fainting spell. She attempted to sit up some, reaching her hand out, “Get up Sarah, please. I need you to help me. I could die, Sarah. The twins could die if I do not have your help. The doctor is not here and I do not know why. Please, Sarah!” Hazel eyes opened to see Kensly reaching out to her and though her voice was distant, she heard her. The mother-to-be then snatched her hand back, gripping the blankets and groaned in pain. Her hair was drenched, her face was red, and her eyes showed the exhaustion that had begun to set in. Sarah lifted her head as the light in the room finally pierced through the haze in her eyes and she sat up only to bear witness to what she would be enduring in a few short months herself. The sheets were a mess with fluid and streaked with blood. Her cousin was panting and gasping to breathe as the contractions were powerful and close together, barely giving her a moment of rest before the next wave struck. “I am here, Kensly Dawnforge. I am here cousin. I will help. I will stay.” Sarah looked down to the sight before her eyes, seeing her cousin in the most vulnerable state a woman could be. Her heart quickly picked up in pace, thudding in her chest as the adrenaline shot through her veins, enabling Sarah to do what she needed without fainting, “I will get hot water. I will get towels. I will be back.”
The inventor wasted no time in gathering the items, hearing her cousin wail out in pain. She hurried back to her side, placing a cloth on her forehead and wiping away the sweat and cleaned her face with cool water. An insulated container of hot water sat ready for the twins arrival. Clean towels rested at the foot of the bed and Sarah sat, caring for her cousin until it was time for her to give birth.
“Push, Kensly Dawnforge!” Sarah instructed her cousin who was already mid-push at the time, holding her breath until the contraction ceased and she could strain no longer. “Breathe!” The inventor repeated the only words she knew to say to help her cousin in this moment, but it was enough, Kensly was too far into labor to focus on anything but Sarah’s voice and she was helping more than she could possibly know. Sarah’s eyes grew wide as a small small tuft of brown hair appeared as the first of two heads crowned, “I see it, Kensly Dawnforge! I see a baby! I see it!” The woman seemed nearly beside herself in excitement to actually be able to witness this for herself. Kensly smiled as she struggled to breathe, knowing an that the end of her struggles and pain was nearing. She gritted her teeth and gripped her sheets as another contraction spiked, causing her to groan and grunt as she pushed with all her might. “Push, Kensly Dawnforge!” Sarah repeated again, with one hand held at the baby’s head keeping it steady and the other getting ready to catch it. “Push, Kensly Dawnforge!” Sarah said excitedly as Kensly gritted her teeth and screamed out, bearing down with all her might once more. The head pushed through and and turned and Sarah supported it with her hand just as she read to do. The baby was now turned on its side and ready to descend from his mother. “Push, Kensly Dawnforge!” Sarah instructed and helped coax the his lower shoulder forward and the next instantly followed as her cousin gave one finale push. With a loud gasp of relief Kensly’s first son entered the world, covered in blood and coated in a thick, white film. Kensly fell back onto the bed and Sarah immediately suctioned the newborn’s nose allowing him to take his first breath. The baby cried out from the cold as Sarah rested him on Kensly’s belly, clamping and cutting the cord soon after. Kensly’s eyes were red and steaming with tears as she moved her weak arms to hold her newborn son for the first time.
“It is a boy, Kensly Dawnforge! You have a son! You are a mother!” Sarah immediately took a damp cloth and began helping clean the infant while Kensly gently held him steady and cried. There was no time for rest however, she had another son to birth and another smaller contraction hit, allowing her to deliver the placenta from her first son, thankfully she did so rather easily. The inventor did what she could to help discard of the mess as it was made, though by this time she was covered in things she never would’ve thought possible. Strangely enough, it also seemed to not bother her in the slightest due to her excitement and focus being on the babies and the well being of her cousin. Once the first born was settled and swaddled up tight in a soft blanket, Kensly handed him over to Sarah to ready herself for the birth of her second son. The petite inventor cradled the newborn in her arms and stared with barely a blink, “Hello baby. My name is Sarah E. Skyfall. I am Kensly Dawnforge’s cousin. You are my family. I love you. Kensly Dawnforge loves you. Araethius Dawnforge loves you. Kayla Rose loves you. Hazel Jane loves you. Aldreus will love you, Simon will love you.” The woman was finally silenced as Kensly groaned from a hard contraction hitting her. She spoke through gritted teeth, “Sarah, something...” She gasped and held her breath and forced herself to finish her words, “Something isn’t right. This pain... it’s different. Go, go get help...please.” Kensly groaned out again and that is when Sarah saw her cousin hemorrhage, flooding the bed around her with blood. The newborn in her arms began to fuss and Sarah’s heart thudded and skipped. She didn’t know what else to do so she placed him next to Kensly in her bed, just within reach, “I will hurry. I will be back. I will bring help. You will be fine, Kensly Dawnforge.” Thankfully, Kensly’s one and only handmaiden had finally returned from the market to the chaos and Sarah rushed her to the matron’s room. Sarah instructed the handmaiden to stay with Kensly, her newborn son, and sleeping daughters with only a brief explanation. The handmaiden agreed without hesitation. Sarah quickly left the manor and knew exactly who she was going to get for help and she would not be gone long, as help was not far away.
@sarahskyfall @araethius @aldreusreinhold @sparkling-adventurer for direct and vague mentioning.
