EIVOR HAGEN ;
Ah, yes, so he had been correct in placing her face. Eivor wasn’t too surprised. The funeral they held for Marquessa’s aunt had been quiet the affair. Before that, Eivor had never attended a funeral such as that. He was much more used to how his people did things. Which normally involved building a pier and burning the body of those who had passed. That way they could travel to Asgard or Valhalla respectively. He could remember his daughters pier and his wife’s. Even if he pushed those thoughts aside quickly, the memory still hung on till he closed his eyes. How long had it been since he had a night of rest without thinking of them?
Thankfully Marquessa spoke up and pulled Eivor from his mind. His attention snapped to her and her words right away. “Yes, King Edward had myself and my men make sure that nothing went to the wayside during your aunts funeral.” He explained before being handed another glass of wine. He’d always thought those hand maidens that scurried after their misstress’s were a bit useless but that one seemed rather in tune with the needs of others. Eivor took the cup gladly and swallowed a rather large gulp from the top of it in order not to spill more. “You will find, in due time, the gods normally bless those around me with nothing but pleasure and satisfaction.” He assured her, although his tone was joking as well.
Taking other sip of wine, Eivor watched Marquessa as she spoke. A small smile pulled up at the corners of his lips as she went on. “Oh gods, pity me. I must accompany a beautiful woman out on an evening walk through the gardens. How ever will I live?” He asked gripping his chest. “Yes, of course I will walk with you Marquessa.” Eivor drank from his wine goblet and tossed it away before rushing to her side. “Come, let us get away from ears that wish to hear what should otherwise be a privet conversation.”
†
“Then I thank you dearly for you and your men’s service at my aunt’s funeral.” Marquessa bowed her head peacefully, ignoring that Lianor’s funeral was many years ago now, however her passing still left a harsh sting upon the young woman’s heart. Although her gaze glistened with intrigue at his next words. The Gods. Marquessa had only ever known one God, the one she prayed to both morning and night. While she did not entirely disagree with other religions, it was rather that she knew very little about them, and that almost made her naïve. “Pleasure and satisfaction of the mind, I hope.” the Crown Princess had a teasing lilt to her words, as she knew it was entirely out of sorts for a woman of her stature to speak of the satisfaction of the body.
She almost scoffed in amusement, ah yes... This was exactly how a foreign and to be quite frank, bizarre man had managed to work his way up through the English court. By wooing and flirting with every passer-by until they were so flattered that they just had to give him what he wanted. They exited the raucous of the main hall with her ladies not far behind and escaped into the stagnant silence of the courtyard, only lit by the moon and the occasional torch.
“I hope I am not speaking out of turn, but... I have never met a man quite like yourself before.” all of the men in Marquessa’s life were either of royal or noble birth, or scholars and advisors, which meant Eivor was an outlier. “I am a woman who seeks knowledge as if it were an oasis in an unforgiving desert. I wish to know more of your home country, your... Gods that you speak of.” she delicately frowned at the mention of multiple Gods, not in distaste but in confusion for it was a topic she was so entirely unfamiliar with. “Only if you would wish to.”
