The Grim Keep

A clear knock on wood caused Adelia to jerk awake, blinking blearily as she cast a quick look around the dimly lit room. The fire in the fireplace was almost entirely burnt down and the sky outside was only just starting to gain a first, faint glimmer of the approaching dawn.

A single candle was lit inside the room, allowing Adelia to see Lord Morrow standing by one of the bedposts. His knuckles rested against the wood and he offered her one of his mild smiles. "My apologies for the rude awakening. We are preparing to leave, you are welcome to join us, though alternatively I can ask our mage to pick you up later if you'd like to rest longer."

It was a little startling to find that Lord Morrow intended to vanish so early, usually, after a big wedding event like the one yesterday, many guests stayed overnight and there was a big breakfast before the married couple saw everyone off.

"I will accompany you," she said, her voice a little sleep-rough and she sat up further. She wasn’t going to be left behind and she most certainly wasn't going to be stuck answering the questions of the wedding party by herself, such as how the night had gone and where her husband was. "Does King Harold know?"

"I’ve informed him last night, he wasn’t particularly happy about our early departure, but he’s sending his regards." Lord Morrow stepped back. "I’ll wait outside, let me know when you’re ready to go."

With those words he left, his steps barely audible despite the boots he had put back on and he closed the door softly behind him. Adelia slid out of bed, taking a moment to let her clinging exhaustion and sleepiness recede.

He had kept his word. From the looks of it he hadn't even slept in the same bed as her.

Taking care of herself quickly, freshening up and washing up with the prepared water in the basin, she took off Lord Morrow’s tunic and slid on her linen shift, followed by a warm, dark-blue woolen dress she had embroidered herself with silver leaves up the bodice and little silver cats running along the bottom hem of her dress.

Lastly she fastened her cloak around her shoulders and pocketed the jewelry she had worn previously.

She gathered up the wedding dress and veil and Lord Morrow’s tunic and opened the door, finding him waiting in the hallway beyond.

"Ah, I knew I had forgotten about something," he said, holding out an arm. "Allow me to carry all this?"

He was certainly taller and he'd have a far easier time carrying the dress so the hem wouldn’t brush the ground. Adelia handed the bundle over, along with his shirt.

"Ready to leave?" he asked and when she nodded, he offered his free arm, leading her down the hallway once she took it, hand tucked into the crook of his elbow.

It was downright eerily quiet in the palace halls and while Adelia had only visited King Harold's home a handful of times in her life, there had been a huge celebration during each visit, leaving her with vivid impressions of noise and movement and bright colors and cheerful music and decadent food.

In the silence of the approaching dawn everything looked a little washed out and gray now.

Lord Morrow led her through empty hallways with lavish decorations and down a set of stairs into the palace courtyard, where an old, dark skinned woman was waiting. She was leaning on a wooden staff, the top holding a fist sized piece of polished amber.

Her long curly hair was streaked with white and gray and she wore embroidered, sunflower yellow robes. A necklace with a silver amulet hung about her neck, depicting a rising sun. She had curious, golden-glimmering markings drawn on her cheeks, right below her eyes, and on her hands. She looked up when they appeared.

"Finally," she grumbled. "I have experiments waiting, Rowan. Any longer and I would have had to fetch the two of you myself."

Lord Morrow smiled, soft and amused. "My apologies for my tardiness. Iva, meet Adelia, my wife."

The woman gave her a smile, the wrinkles around her eyes showing she had laughed plenty in her life. "Pleasure to meet you. If he ever gives you trouble, call for me, I will gladly put some sense into him for you."

It sounded more like a joke than an actual threat and Lord Morrow huffed a soft, amused noise.

"Oh, the horror," he answered with a downright dramatic sigh and Adelia was genuinely baffled that they were jesting with each other. Father would have set any mage who dared such a thing straight, no matter how much he would have paid to afford their services. In his eyes he was owed respect and deference by everyone in his employ and especially by those he considered beneath him.

"It’s an honor," Adelia said in greeting, falling back to her manners and the sorceress chuckled when Adelia dropped into a polite curtsy.

"You’re already more pleasant than he is, you’ll certainly do great with us. Come on, gather close, the sun will be rising any moment and I have an enchantment to get back to."

Adelia complied when she remembered something important. "My luggage," she said. "Will that be taken care of later?"

"It already got delivered last night, worry not," Sorceress Iva waved away her worries and snapped her fingers. The world around them became a swirl of dark, streaky gray with hues of dark blue and a faint stripe of the lightness of approaching dawn, as though their surroundings had turned into liquid, shapeless color.

The color surrounding them shifted to something darker, as though blackness got poured into the pool of color, the hint of dawn getting replaced by something silvery, and then it was over as quickly as it had begun, leaving them standing in front of a foggy, dark keep.

The sky showed no signs of the rising sun yet, instead, the full moon was still offering light to see by. Its low position in the sky told her sunrise was three or four hours away.

As Adelia cast a look around, feeling faintly disoriented, she found the keep they had arrived at to be unexpectedly... discomfiting.

A deep chill permeated the air, there were no flower boxes by the windows and no banners hung from the crenellations. The keep was plain and imposing, built out of slate gray, heavy stone and it looked far more formidable than Father’s castle did. It also looked a lot more grim.

"Call me if you need anything else," Sorceress Iva said and snapped her fingers, disappearing in a displacement of air that caused some dead leaves to tumble towards their feet.

An icy breeze blew past them, while Lord Morrow turned towards the entrance gates, giving her another mild smile. "Please, follow me."

He pushed one half of the heavy, iron-enforced doors open and Adelia stepped through, finding the fog even thicker in the front courtyard. Some lanterns were lit, however, casting a nearly eerie glow that made them look ghostly in the fog. Even the round moon above was barely visible anymore.

She managed to make out the shape of stables to the left and a massive walnut tree in the middle of the courtyard. It looked bigger and older than any such tree she had seen before, rising high and spreading it's branches far, as though it wanted to shelter the entire courtyard beneath its boughs.

"Welcome back, Master Rowan," a cultured voice drew her attention as a spindly man emerged from the fog, carrying a lit lantern, which swayed softly with every step.

He was tall and lanky with a pair of thin glasses on his thin, straight nose and while he did not look a day past forty, his hair was snow white and there were some more pronounced wrinkles around the corners of his eyes. "And the Lady Adelia, welcome to my lord’s humble home. I am Steward Lambrecht, it is an honor to meet you."

Adelia would not have called the keep humble. Creepy, in all honesty, but that was most likely because it was cold and foggy and very quiet. That would change once the sun had risen, or so she hoped.

She made sure to dip into an appropriate curtsy as she answered, "The honor is mine." Steward Lambrecht offered her a polite, respectful bow in return.

"If I may, I can take over the tour," Steward Lambrecht said, addressed Lord Morrow, then glanced back at her with a polite smile. "I fear my lord will be very busy this morning, he’ll most likely be unavailable until later tonight."

In all honesty, some time away from her imposing new husband sounded like a good idea. Adelia hoped to regain some equilibrium and getting to know her new home without casting subtle side-glances at her husband the whole time was very much welcome.

"I’m certain we’ll make do," she settled on answering politely and Lord Morrow smiled, looking amused.

"I don’t doubt that," her husband said and turned to her, dipping into a respectful bow and once more, it was a little deeper than she would have expected. "Please excuse me and that I cannot help you get settled in myself. If you have need for anything, Lam here is going to help and provide for you in my absence. May I see you tonight for dinner?"

Did she have a choice, truly? Or was he merely offering empty courtesies and the illusion of choice?

"Certainly, my lord husband." The words were somewhat unwieldy in her mouth, but she managed to get them out without a hitch. She would have had to address Tirn in much the same way, had they gotten married instead. At the very least, she would have to do so in public and around the staff.

Lord Morrow tipped his head, a strange intensity to the way he watched her, before he offered a mild smile.

"No need for such politeness, My Lady. We are strangers at best and while I’d be happy to get to know you, don’t feel pressured to return the sentiment. I am certain we can figure something out to make this situation pleasant for you." He briefly glanced up at the sky. "But Lam is correct, I am quite busy today. We can discuss this further over dinner if you'd like."

Adelia found she could only nod and Lord Morrow left with long strides, disappearing into the mist.

"If you’d please follow me, My Lady," Steward Lambrecht said and Adelia made sure to stick close enough to not lose him in the thick fog as he led her across the courtyard, dead leaves crunching beneath their feet. He led her up a couple of stairs to the large entrance doors of the keep.

The doors were plain, made of thick, black wood, reinforced with iron and small spikes rose from every crossing section of iron bands. It looked foreboding. Adelia glanced up the walls and just barely made out the shape of hulking gargoyles above.

"I promise the inside is more pleasant than the outside at this time of day," Steward Lambrecht said, pushing the doors open and stepping aside to let her through first. "This keep is called the Grim Keep for a reason, I suppose, though it is a warm home to all of us."

The sounds of her feet dressed in soft slippers were usually quiet enough to be rather subtle, but in the utter silence of the entrance hall her steps almost seemed to echo.

Lanterns and candles were lit, illuminating paintings on the walls, one depicting strange creatures that seemed to dance through a field of flowers, silky strips of cloth fluttering in their wake. Another painting showed a pack of wolves in a forest, ravens sitting in the branches above them, glowing eyes staring right at the observer.

There were two portraits as well, one of a woman who seemed to be Lord Morrow's mother, or perhaps his sister, her face was kind and sweet and she looked like she was happy and hopeful, her back straight and a subtle confidence to the angle of her head.

The second portrait was of a snow-pale, elegant woman with equally white hair and lake-dark eyes. She had the same mild smile as Lord Morrow, but there was something to her gaze, as though she was quietly laughing at the painter.

Steward Lambrecht closed the door again and stepped past her, motioning around the entrance hall, the thick carpets and a few set-up decorative pieces on little stands, from vases to small statues.

"The keep is almost four hundred years old," he explained. "It had been built by a rather paranoid warlord, but it went through many hands since its creation. My master took it for himself some years ago after the previous owner had proven himself unfit to rule."

Steward Lambrecht appeared proud as he added, "It had been rather run down at the time and we managed to not only restore it to its former glory but add to it. You are welcome to wander anywhere you please."

He paused briefly. "Though I would caution against entering the eastern tower without Sorceress Iva's permission, she has many experiments running up there."

Adelia nodded, carefully shelving the information. She listened attentively as Steward Lambrecht began to explain the keep and its history to her, leading her down hallways decorated with beautiful tapestries and yet more paintings, many of them strange and perhaps a little unsettling. There was something fascinating to them, as well, however, and she couldn't help but feel drawn in a few times.

They walked past rooms with sturdy, thick doors and up and down a number of stairs, as Steward Lambrecht told her what was beyond each door, encouraging her to look if she so desired.

Adelia quickly realized the place was bigger than she had thought, though, with the thick spill of fog surrounding it, she hadn’t been able to see much in the first place.

Lord Morrow really had done well rebuilding everything, the floorboards were smooth and polished beneath her feet and the hallways perfectly clean. None of the carpets or tapestries showed even a hint of faded colors or having been in danger of getting eaten up by either moths or the tooth of time.

"You are welcome to view the gardens once the sun has risen, if you'd like, My Lady," Lambrecht said as he led her towards the personal quarters of the nobility. Her new quarters. "Our cook and gardener are quite proud of them and they will certainly offer to show you around, as well, should you desire to know more about the plants they cultivate."

"I would like that," Adelia was quick to reassure him, though she also genuinely meant it. She hoped that she might befriend the staff a little. "As long as I don't disrupt anyone's work."

"I will speak with them to let them know in advance, though they would also be glad to make time for you spontaneously. The library is through here," Lambrecht said, briefly opening a big, wooden door to reveal a large room with numerous shelves, each filled to the brim with books.

Adelia’s breath briefly caught. Books were a truly valuable thing indeed, not even Father’s library had been half as big as this one and he had been quite proud of it. Steward Lambrecht gestured at the room, "You are welcome to read at your leisure."

Adelia bit the inside of her lower lip to keep silent. Father hadn’t allowed her into his library, citing that there was no need for womenfolk to read about things that didn’t concern them. He had always guarded knowledge jealously, like a bitter, old dragon.

If she ever had to learn something, he had provided the materials, but never anything more. Never anything that would give her or even Mother the opportunity to be better or be more knowledgeable than him at something.

If Lord Morrow had no such reservations she wasn’t going to question it. If anything, if he allowed her to read freely, she was going to take this opportunity and run with it until someone stopped her.

"Here are your personal quarters," Lambrecht said as he led her further down the hallway, motioning to a door that looked newer than the others. It was also the only decorated one she had seen so far, with flowers carved into the wood, growing up and around a strange symbol near the top. "My master’s chambers are down the hall."

She paused at his words. "We are not to share rooms?" Some nobles only shared a bed as often as it was necessary to create heirs and otherwise slept apart, but even then it was expected of the woman to make time should her husband wish to visit her at night.

"No, My Lady," Steward Lambrecht said, utterly calm and polite. "My master will not bother you and you are free to do with your space what you will. We haven’t furnished it much yet, for we wish for your input on what you'd like." He motioned at her to go ahead.

Adelia reached for the door, finding it unlocked and swinging it open. The windows were bigger compared to other rooms in the keep, which would allow a lot more light to fall through once the sun rose. The sitting room she stepped into was mostly empty, with bare bookshelves and a heavy wooden desk awaiting her.

Walking forward, it was hard for her to imagine that this would be her home from now on. She would dress, sleep and keep busy here while finding a way to arrange herself with her husband.

Poking her head through the left door first, she found a bathing chamber. There was a big bathtub and she felt positively surprised to see that Lord Morrow had installed plumbing, most likely with the aid of Sorceress Iva.

Her bedroom awaited her through the right door and held a bed that was honestly a bit too big, though it looked very soft, along with a closet to one side and two chests at the foot of her new bed. Her luggage was here already, as well, carefully stacked in one corner. There was even a glass double-door leading out to a balcony, reminding her starkly of her bedroom at home.

She suddenly had to bite back tears, wringing her hands and breathing carefully, the way she had taught herself over the years, to keep her emotions in check. She had never loved her home, but she had known it and there was safety in knowledge. She had made a place for herself there, finding ways around her father's rules and expectations, carving out freedoms for herself away from his pityless gaze.

The air smelled cold and faintly like lavender, but nothing else. Turning slowly, she realized that her personal quarters were truly left empty, aside from the most important furniture that was immediately necessary. She returned to Steward Lambrecht, who had waited out in the hallway.

"We have quite a few things in storage," he said when she closed the door to her chambers quietly. "And anything else you require we’ll be happy to have commissioned."

"That is quite generous," Adelia said, a little surprised. She honestly could think of very few nobles who would be willing to spend so much money on a new spouse right away, especially with plenty of serviceable furniture already available.

Steward Lambrecht offered a polite, though warmer smile. "We wish to make you feel welcome and comfortable, My Lady. We're all happy to assist with anything you need."

"I see, thank you." She was honestly a little relieved. The texts she had read about the Wilds had left her rather worried if she was going to fit in, but so far her arrival here had been quiet and uncomplicated and Steward Lambrecht was nothing if not perfectly well mannered.

Her new home was strange and new and, truth be told, a bit unsettling, but so far, she had been spared the humiliation and discomfort, if not outright pain, of her wedding night.

Lord Morrow wasn't anything like her father, either, who had always made sure she knew the length of her leash and what was expected of her. At least so far he hadn't said anything to her yet. There was still plenty of time for things to change and for him to tell her what she ought to do.

Steward Lambrecht led her further down the hallway, pointing out the door to Lord Morrow's rooms, and to her surprise, she saw that this one was painted on. It showed the view of a night-dark valley, a full moon below making a winding river shimmer and a bat flew through the night sky, a multitude of stars glimmering faintly, as though the paint had something shimmering added to it.

The doors to the guest suits were next and lastly he led her to a tower at the very end of the personal quarters of the noble family and their visitors.

"Up there is Iva’s domain," Steward Lambrecht said, stopping at the bottom of the stairs. "You can always approach her if you need anything, though I advise against startling her. She's always working on something and even a small mistake could cause things to turn volatile."

"I would never be so rude as to barge into her rooms unanncounced, but I’ll be careful anyway," she answered, earning herself a small smile from the steward.

A mage’s work was not to be trifled with, she knew that much and even nosy, entitled nobles had learned to grudgingly accept that.

Steward Lambrecht showed her the grounds outside the keep last, since the sun had now risen enough to chase most of the fog away. Only a bit of mist remained, swirling in their wake as they walked.

The main courtyard was a little overgrown with vines and bushes, most of the plants having lost their leaves to the approach of winter. That the plants looked dead didn't really help with the genuinely unsettling and downright creepy air of the keep at large.

There was a little building off to the side and considering the herbs carefully cultivated in pots around it, it must've been the home of a herbalist of some kind. A strange thing to have right on hand, she thought.

Back home, the herbalist had lived in town, not her father's castle, though he had to come immediately if there was need for him and a room would be made ready if he had to stay for any length of time to support her father's physician with any necessary treatments.

The stables housed a handful of gorgeous, sleek horses with warm, dark eyes and two draft horses, all looking ready to be let out into their pastures outside the keep. To her surprise, other animals waited in a built-on part of the stables, a handful of cows, sheep and pigs, all chewing contentedly on their breakfast.

There was a chicken coop nearby as well, with chickens that had a strange grey sheen to their feathers. When she pointed them out, Steward Lambrecht was happy to explain, "They’re a breed of the Wilds, they can easily handle our temperatures and they deal well with the fog."

"Does it get foggy often?" she couldn't help but ask.

Steward Lambrecht nodded and cast her a rather serious look. "Please get used to it, My Lady. The fog is a part of these lands."

That honestly didn’t sound overly pleasant, but she would deal with it. The fact that it was autumn probably didn’t help much and she hoped that spring and summer was going to be more pleasant, even with fog.

Lastly they ended up where they had started, near the walnut tree in the front courtyard.

"There is a town half an hour’s ride from here," Steward Lambrecht said, gesturing at the gates. "If you wish to visit the market or explore the surrounding area, you are welcome to take one of our horses. Are you well versed in the art of riding?"

"I am," she admitted and had to viciously bite down on the bubble of grief that enveloped her heart, digging sharp claws deeply into her, her throat tightening. Her voice was just the faintest bit raspy as she added, "I used to own a horse."

"My condolences for your loss," Steward Lambrecht said and he sounded like he meant it, his voice softening in a way that had her suddenly fighting the urge to tear up and she carefully had to breathe through another wave of grief. "Feel free to choose any of ours for your trips, they're all well behaved and well trained."

Steward Lambrecht tucked his hands behind his back as he tacked on, "Should you feel unsafe in the saddle we’re happy to provide an accompanying handler."

"That’s kind of you, though I doubt it will be necessary." She had to admit that she had missed being around horses, having carefully kept her distance from her father's animals lest she love one of them again and be the cause of its death.

Adelia had to admit that she did wish to explore the nearby town, mostly to familiarize herself with her husband’s lands and a little bit to get away for a little while.

There was just something about this keep, despite all the amenities it offered, that made her slightly uncomfortable. There was a constant chill in the air that had little to do with the frosty cold of approaching winter.

She couldn’t put her finger on why, but sometimes a small shiver raked down her spine out of nowhere. The mist, as light as it had gotten, made the leaf-less plants look like gnarly, ghostly figures. It made her feel as though she had to keep looking over her shoulder just a little.

Lambrecht gestured at the keep. "That concludes our tour for now, we will show you our gardens later. Breakfast will be done in about an hour I believe, do you wish to eat in the dining room or shall we bring it up to your quarters? Oh, and do you wish to select furniture before or after your meal?"

"I’d like to eat first, please, in the kitchen if possible," Adelia requested. She wanted and needed to get to know her husband’s servants and household, to figure out what her role here was going to entail and how they were being treated.

Lambrecht bowed his head in agreeing acceptance. "Certainly, My Lady. Do not hesitate to voice any requests or wishes and we’ll do your utmost best to fulfill them."

"I will," she answered, though she wasn’t sure how far that offer extended and what the limits were. Either way, she had no intentions of asking for too much.

They went back inside and Adelia returned to her new quarters to get a little bit of unpacking done before breakfast. As she closed the door, she was pleasantly surprised to find a key in place so she could lock it from the inside. She did so, some tension easing from her shoulders the moment she heard the tell-tale, metallic click of the lock sliding into place.

Heading for her luggage she dug out her hidden sketches first. Everything was still where she had put it and she hid her work behind the bookshelf in her sitting room. It was made of heavy, dark wood but since it was still empty, she could move it just enough to slide the sketches in place.

Since she had only brought four books with her officially, she doubted she was going to get it filled up anytime soon. There were other books, though, hidden in the folds of a fur cloak. Gifts from her friends and from Tirn that she hadn't wanted to leave behind despite the bitterness she felt towards him now. Books on clockwork inventions.

She didn't really need those books anymore, she had studied them front to back many times when she had taught herself how to create, but there was a certain comfort in having them around.

They were silent teachers, windows out into a brighter, larger world that her father had tried and failed to bar shut. She had no idea what her new life held in store for her, but she was determined to keep that window. To build something out of it, to perhaps even have a better life than before if she played her cards right.

The books got hiding spots as well, though Adelia was going to check for better ones once she had the rest of the furniture brought in. She could look into building false bottoms or secret compartments, so long as she got her hands on tools and materials.

The metal horse was hardest to hide and she kept it carefully wrapped in fabric as she tucked it, for lack of better options at the moment, into the drawer of her writing desk.

After putting away a handful of her other possessions, the sun had risen far enough that she was certain an hour had passed, and she left for breakfast. She didn’t have much of an appetite, but she had already eaten very little the night prior and skipping out on breakfast wasn’t only rude to the cooks, it would cause her to feel faint sooner or later as well.

The kitchen was a place of pale grey, solid stone and burnt bricks, with only two people working inside, which surprised her. There had always been a good handful of servants busy in the kitchen at home, preparing meals for the noble family as well as the staff and any visitors they might have.

Did that mean her husband didn't feed his servants? Or was he the cruel sort to give his servants impossible tasks, like expecting merely two people to cook for an entire keep only to berate them when they failed inevitably, basking in their despair and fear?

She did not know him well enough yet to be able to tell for sure. Just because he had shown her some consideration last night did not mean he offered the same to others, especially those who he might view as beneath him.

The head cook was a rough looking, stocky woman with only one eye, the other side of her face scarred badly and whatever remained of her other eye covered with an eyepatch. She looked up when Adelia entered, giving her a quick once-over as though to take her in and then she offered a smile.

"Welcome, My Lady," the head cook greeted her, voice a little raspy and she offered a slightly clumsy bow, as though curtsying wasn't something she did often. "Come on in, we hope you are pleased with the meal we prepared."

The kitchen aid, the only other person present, was a willowy, tall girl who honestly, at first glance, did not look strong enough to even fetch water from the well. Her long, wispy hair was braided and her wrists looked so slender Adelia genuinely worried for her for a moment.

The girl led her to one of the solid, heavy tables at the side of the room and the head cook brought a heaped plate with a truly marvelously made breakfast over. Had the staff already eaten and she was the last to show up for breakfast? Or was she the only one afforded this luxury and the rest of the staff sustained themselves on bread and water?

She was going to find out, with careful questions at first to test the waters. She needed to know her husband's character and it would help to see how loyal they felt to him or if they feared him.

If her mother and father had taught her anything, it was the art of inquiring delicately and asking unassuming questions in order to learn what she wanted to know. Carefully kept secrets especially were best unveiled this way, as was the nature of men who liked to hide their dark hearts behind a veneer of gentility.

"Thank you for your efforts," Adelia said as she accepted the food. Freshly baked bread rolls awaited her, with little jars of butter, honey and jam off to the side, along with nuts and fruits and a bowl of steaming porridge. "This looks wonderful. I take it I'm the last to eat?"

The cook snorted and waved a hand. "In a manner of speaking. The rest of these rascals come in whenever they please and Lambrecht is a weird one who never eats breakfast."

Adelia blinked, noting the utterly unconcerned and very unafraid tone of the woman. Her father's servants would have never spoken badly of the steward, especially not where he could hear. The man was loyal to her father to a fault and no one else ever got to enjoy his regard.

"I hope I was no trouble then, I imagine you had your hands full cooking for everyone," Adelia answered and the woman laughed.

"There is night staff, don't worry, they are kind enough to make all the bread and get the prep started and my apprentices come in later. We held a moon celebration last night, so I don't expect them in before noon."

That sounded quite strange indeed, though Adelia perked up a little. She had read about some of the deities of the Wilds. "To honor the moon goddess and her spouse, the stars? I heard people dance the night away."

The head cook grinned, crooked and pleasantly surprised. "You've studied up on our lot, I see. Yeah, we dance and sing and drink, and later, the ones of us who are wild souls run through the woods to our hearts content."

Adelia wondered how safe that could be in the dark, or if the full moon illuminated the world well enough that people did not fear tripping over roots and injuring themselves.

"Did you celebrate with them?" Adelia asked, curious about the whole thing. In the kingdom celebrations were held at the temples, and while there was dancing and drinking, it had seemed tame in comparison to some of the stories she had read about the Wilds and their worship of unruly and old goods.

The head cook grinned, secretive and amused and answered, "I went out with the other wild souls, but I'm an old hat at nights like last night, so I know how to get out of bed bright and early even if I was on my feet until near-dawn."

At Adelia's surprised, startled expression, the head cook softened. "Worry not, I'll sleep more later, so this doesn't bother me."

"Would you mind telling me your names?" Adelia asked, glancing between the rugged woman before her and the thin slip of a girl.

"I’m Ada," the head cook introduced herself. "This one here is Vera, we’ve been hired by Morrow when he first claimed the keep. I can introduce you to the others later when they arrive, if you'd like."

"That would be lovely, thank you," Adelia said and reached out to take a first bite of her food. It tasted as delicious as it looked.

Adelia found her appetite returning with a vengeance once she had mixed fruits and honey into her porridge and buttered a bread roll, the insides pillowy-soft and the outside holding a pleasant crunch. The head cook and kitchen aid were quiet as she ate, exchanging murmured words on occasion and otherwise seemingly doing their best not to disturb her as they worked.

"This was delicious, thank you," she said as she finished eating what she could and Ada offered a glad smile.

"I'm happy to hear that. Lam mentioned he hasn't shown you our gardens yet, would you like a tour?"

Adelia nodded and Ada left a pot simmering over the fire as she led the way out a door at the side, Vera drifting silently after them. Ada seemed more than happy to do most of the talking as she showed off what plants could still be harvested this close to winter and the kitchen aid only occasionally chimed in, her voice lilting and musical.

The gardens were made for practicality rather than than beauty: there were numerous vegetable beds, though many laid barren at the moment, fruit trees and berry bushes grew along the cobblestone walkways and a massive bed for kitchen herbs, medical herbs and edible flowers had been built along one wall of the keep.

Adelia learned that Lord Morrow had claimed the keep ten years ago, a year before Lord Morrow had saved King Harold’s life. When he had renovated the keep, he had asked for their input and ideas and had even left them entirely in charge of designing the garden they wanted.

They briefly met the gardener as well, a tall, bulky woman who wore a strangely shaped, big hat and who pulled the brim down so her eyes couldn't be seen. All her hair seemed to be shoved up into the hat as well.

"Don't mind our Sera," Ada said, waving Adelia along. "Some shitheads were mean to her during her childhood and now she thinks everyone hates her looks."

Adelia found herself frowning and straightening as she addressed the gardener, the woman's head ducked down, "Beauty takes many shapes and forms, and yours is just another way it expresses itself. Just like all flowers are different, are they not?"

Sera shifted, shoulders hitching up slightly, and then she let go of the brim slowly, gaze downcast before it flit up quickly to meet Adelia's, as though she was bracing herself for something bad.

Adelia had never met someone with golden-green eyes before, as if someone had poured actual gold amongst a sea of emeralds. It was surprising and quite unusual, but it was far from ugly.

Unbidden, she remembered the books on the Wilds and the rumors of the monsters that lived here and she wondered if it was true at all. If maybe the people here just looked different to the stuck-up, visiting nobles of the kingdom, and that was how all those rumors came to be. No one back home would have had eyes like this gardener, that was for sure.

Adelia's smile came easy and was genuine. "Eyes like the sun and spring, I think you have every right to be proud of them."

Sera's golden-green gaze widened and then she was blushing and ducking down, grabbing the brim of her hat anew to pull it down, but not even the hat could hide the trembling smile that appeared on her face.

"Thanks, m'lady," the woman whispered and Adelia found her incredibly endearing in that moment. "You want me to plant anything for you?"

"You're too kind," Adelia said, still smiling. "I wouldn't wish to trouble you." When Sera shook her head insistently, she found herself adding, "I'll tell you if I can think of anything."

Sera accepted that with a small nod and then she turned to tend to her plants again. When Adelia glanced at Ada, ready to continue the tour, the head cook had a downright sweet smile on her face.

"You're a good one," the rough looking woman said kindly. "Come along, allow me to show you the last of our still blooming flowers, though I doubt they can rival your sweetness."

Adelia couldn't help but smile back at her, as they continued on. Ada picked up the stories about the keep and Lord Morrow where she had left off, and Adelia learned that Lord Morrow had rebuilt these lands after the previous warlord had bled everyone dry, leaving many places destitute and people fighting over scraps.

Ada talked about how he had found ways to haul them out of poverty and hopelessness, how he had supported them without asking anything for himself.

People really liked to serve Lord Morrow, it seemed, and he regularly received tribute wagons from neighboring countries, who hoped to put themselves in his good graces. To maybe even negotiate for an alliance or a peace treaty.

The other warlords received much the same offers, Ada mentioned, though none of them had ever signed any contracts with any of the other kingdoms. The Wilds remained apart and independent and very rarely shared their power with anyone.

This, at least, Adelia was familiar with. There had been many instances where nobility had sent goods and riches to another king to foster as non-aggressive a relationship as possible, or even to garner favor.

She could remember that Father, as well, occasionally, sent King Harold gifts, as much as it galled him to spend his money unnecessarily. She herself had handed gifts over to the king's children at her parent's urging.

"He’s not a bad sort," Vera murmured softly during a lull in the conversation. "The master, I mean. At least not to us. He keeps those under his protection safe and he is a loyal friend to some of the other Warlords."

"Though he could do with stopping his early morning violin practice," Ada grumbled.

Vera laughed softly, a sweet sound. "He is getting better every day, let him keep learning and soon our ears won't suffer anymore."

"You're right, he's busy enough as is, taking care of these lands," Ada sighed. "I suppose we shan't take his joys from him."

They spoke freely of their lord, both in praise and in admonishment, even if the latter was fond and gentle. It... it gave her hope, she had to admit. That, rather than being married to a monster like Lord Emmertal, she might have found someone good. Someone who could be a friend one day.

Perhaps, to get to know him better, she could offer to teach him how to play. Adelia, like most noble ladies, had learned some of the arts along with her regular education. It was one of the reasons why she was so good at sketching flowers and her clockwork ideas.

Hope hesitantly blossomed in her heart. Maybe she really could be of use here and if Lord Morrow did not object, perhaps she could support him in his ruling of these lands. Maybe, if fate was kind to her, she might even be able to do some of the things she had dreamed about back before Tirn had ruined everything.

Dreams about properly taking care of her people, about raising them up and being a lady worthy of the wealth and power she had been born into.

"I see," she said, her tone thoughtful. They reached the end of the gardens and circled back to the keep. "Thank you for your time, this has been very educational."

Ada chuckled, while Vera drifted at her side, moving with a sort of weightless grace that would have made many a noble lady green with envy.

"We’re honored, My Lady," Ada said and offered a lopsided little grin. "If I may speak so boldly: you will be a very welcome presence in this keep."

It heartened her a little to hear her say so and she hoped that Lord Morrow agreed. She still did not know why he had married her when he hadn't shown interest in anyone before, but she was here now and she'd make the best of it.

Adelia excused herself when they returned to the keep to look for the furniture Steward Lambrecht had mentioned. She found another servant along the way, who was happy to guide her and said he’d make sure anything she chose would be brought to her rooms promptly.

"I’m Lukas," he introduced himself with a bow. He was maybe a decade older than she, his wheat blond hair cut short and a little wind tousled and he had hands made rough from hard work. "The master said to give you anything you like."

So far, Adelia hadn’t noticed any sort of uniform for the servants, as he wore a pale blue woolen tunic and warm dark trousers along with sturdy boots. Both Ada and Vera had worn different, simple dresses as well.

He opened the door to a large room, filled with a surprising amount of furniture, from simple, sturdy designs to intricately carved and painted pieces. She had more than enough options to choose from. It was all perfectly lovely too and clearly well taken care of.

She selected what furniture she needed for her rooms and Lukas briefly left to fetch more servants to carry everything. Adelia met a gangly teenager, a portly woman and twins so big and built they unwittingly reminded her of sturdy oxen, capable of pulling and carrying anything.

They were all as polite and friendly as everyone else so far, and helped her readily. Lord Morrow had apparently been very clear that she was to be made welcome, and they were rather curious about her, asking her questions about the kingdom she hailed from and how she was settling in.

She answered to the best of her abilities and asked a few questions of her own, learning a few more things about her new home. They were downright eager to tell her everything, eyes brightening and lips pulling into smiles, pride making them stand a little taller. It was easy to see that they loved their home.

At last Adelia stood in her fully furnished rooms, the staff excusing themselves, and took a moment to breathe. In the silent stillness, she could not help but grow a little anxious again.

Everything was new, despite the friendly welcome, and she wished she knew where she stood with Lord Morrow. What sort of marriage he expected and what he would require of her and what would displease him.

Wringing her hands, she turned to unpacking the rest of her things to try to keep busy. Her thoughts weren’t helping, the opposite quite in fact, and she'd rather focus on what tasks she could do.

The more she knew of his expectations, the better she could navigate her new life. She could then carve out what secret freedoms she needed to find at least some happiness in her life.

By the time her luggage was fully unpacked, it was time for lunch and Adelia found herself strangely at a loss. Lord Morrow hadn’t told her what kind of duties he expected her to take on and neither had Steward Lambrecht mentioned anything.

Adelia visited the kitchen once more and found that it was bustling with life now. Men and women flitted about to get a big lunch going and she was greeted with kind friendliness and slightly clumsy bows.

As Adelia was seated at the table, the rest of the servants were all too happy to introduce themselves and answer any and all of her questions as they kept working, only a handful joining her on the table for a quick meal. The people around her also, and happily at that, told her the story about how Lord Morrow had saved them.

The previous warlord had demanded for everyone to go on their knees whenever they saw him, servants hurriedly dropping down as soon as he rounded the corner and townsfolk kneeling in the dirt, their heads bowed to touch the ground.

He had been a man too powerful for them to fight back against and any who had tried anyway had gotten strung up on the road up to the keep, some decapitated, some torn apart, some with their guts hanging out.  Some had died on the stakes rammed through them, mounted like grotesque decorations.

Things had been grim and they had felt hopeless and helpless, until Lord Morrow had appeared one night.

"He just melted out of the dark," one of the cooking apprentices said as he swiftly chopped vegetables. "This lone guy without a single weapon on him and no army behind him. To be honest, I don't remember too much, I was still a boy back then, but I remember thinking that he seemed scary even dressed in simple traveler's garb."

"He walked right into the keep, all on his lonesome, not a single stitch of armor on him," an older woman continued as she kneaded dough for some sweet cakes. "We all thought he'd be dead come dawn, but lo and behold, not even an hour later he came back and tossed our warlord's head down at our feet."

"He was talking about giving us back all the hoarded gold our previous master had hidden away," Ada said. "That he'd move on afterwards, leave us to decide who would be warlord next. We declared him the new warlord then and there, instead of him claiming the title." She added the last part with a cheeky little grin.

"We would have been mighty stupid to let him get away," a grizzled servant said with a sage nod. He was the oldest of the group and despite his slightly shaky hands, he was quick to fetch what was needed before he was even asked and he cleaned up just as swiftly, leaving pots and pans downright sparkling.

It was the strangest story to Adelia. No noble had ever been chosen by the people, at least not to her knowledge. However, it was strangely reassuring to hear everyone speak so well about their lord. To find out that they had chosen him and, seemingly, not once regretted doing so.

Adelia was all the more surprised to find out, after some careful questioning, that everyone around her could read and write and do at least simple math.

"Our master funded a school in town," Vera answered, a soft smile on her face. "Everyone is welcome, be they young or old. It was his first project after helping us get back on our feet."

"We're not weak people," Ada said, her voice firm and slightly gritty as she reached for the spices. "We wouldn't have survived our previous master if we had been, but we learned that it is nice to be supported. To have someone we can count on when times get tough."

She sounded as though she truly meant it. It gave Adelia hope and she resolved to speak with him. If he truly was as invested in his people as everyone thought he was, she wanted to aid him.

"But enough of that, tell me, My Lady, what sort of sweets do you enjoy?" Ada asked and when Adelia tried to say that anything was fine, the head cook pinned her with a mock-stern look and she couldn't help but smile and admit that she was particularly fond of fruit cakes.

Ada grinned and promised she'd have some ready for dinner.

As soon as Adelia finished her lunch, she was kindly ushered out, her dirty dishes joining the others to be cleaned.

Adelia found herself flush with warmth and a quiet, tentative kind of hope that maybe this marriage wouldn't be so bad after all. That perhaps she could find joy here, in the Wilds, with a warlord who frightened even evil lords. Returning to her rooms, she wrote letters to her friends.

She did not know if Lord Morrow preferred to read them like her father once had, to ensure she wasn't trying to give away information he didn't want her to, but she'd rewrite the letters to remove anything too personal if he did.

But for now, writing her friends gave her the chance to put some order to her chaotic thoughts. She told Izabel and Katrina about the people she had met, that her new husband had, so far, been nothing but courteous and that her new home was indeed quite a bit chillier than her childhood home.

The fog, whenever she glanced out the window while writing, never quite disappeared. It had receded enough to not directly impede any plant growth, but it clung to the walls and corners of the keep like strange, formless cobwebs, and as the day grew late, she watched as the mist began to spread out once again.

It crawled across the ground until everything was covered and then it grew thicker and thicker until the courtyard could no longer be seen. Adelia didn’t know why, but a cold shiver crawled down her spine once more at the sight, something unnatural to it all, and she fetched a shawl she had brought, wrapping it around her shoulders.

A knock at the door caused her to jump in surprise and she called for the person to enter. Steward Lambrecht stood at the threshold after opening the door, offering a polite bow.

"My Lady, if it pleases you, my master asked if you were willing to attend dinner with him."

Nerves immediately dug into her stomach, but Adelia made sure to offer a polite smile and agreed, "Of course, I will freshen up and meet him in the dining hall."

"I will inform the master, My Lady." Steward Lambrecht closed the door again and Adelia heard the faintest of sounds as he walked away.

She exhaled heavily and went to the washbasin, washing her face to calm down and she fussed over her clothes for a long moment, before she made herself leave. She gained nothing but worries from stalling.

Adelia still remembered the way to the dining hall well enough, since Steward Lambrecht had been quite thorough in his tour, and when she stepped into it, Lord Morrow was already waiting for her, dozens of candles lit around him.

He stood by the windows, looking out at the faint, last shimmer of quickly vanishing sunlight on the far horizon. When she closed the door behind her, he turned around with one of his signature mild smiles.

"Good evening, My Lady," he said, dipping into a polite bow and gesturing elegantly towards the large, already set table. It could easily seat many a visitor and dignitary, though the room lacked the sort of adornments Adelia had seen in other noble homes. The room, like the rest of the keep, was rather cold, making her glad to have held onto her shawl. "Please, take a seat."

"I take it your day went well?" she asked, while Lord Morrow pulled out a chair for her. As soon as she sat down, he pushed it in with ease. Adelia folded her hands in her lap, unsure of herself, as he took a seat across from her.

"Most definitely," Lord Morrow answered leaning forward with curious, dark eyes. "I hope you managed to settle in at least a little?"

"Yes, you were very gracious and everyone has been quite kind to me." Adelia wondered if all new brides felt so wrong-footed when speaking to men they barely knew and who were their husbands now. She imagined that some surely did.

Lord Morrow tipped his head slightly to the side, a small furrow appearing between his brows. "I was hardly gracious, anything you want shall be yours, as far as it is within my powers to give."

Adelia genuinely had no idea how to respond to that and dipped her head in acknowledgement. "Thank you, my lord husband."

At this Lord Morrow’s face briefly shifted into a wryly amused smile. "No need for such a weighty, useless title. Call me by my name, if you please."

Adelia hid her surprise at his words. The times Mother had said Father’s given name could be counted on one hand. It felt wrong to speak with such a lack of courtesy, but she couldn't deny him a direct request either. "As you wish, Rowan."

He smiled at her. "And how may I address you, My Lady?"

"However you wish." She wished she knew better how things were done in the Wilds and hoped that he forgave her any inevitable missteps as she learned his customs.

At her words he sat up straighter and made a low, disagreeing noise before speaking, "No, My Lady, you will tell me what you prefer and it will be what I will adhere to. I also wish to discuss our situation after dinner."

Worried she might have upset him and even more worried about what he wanted to talk about, she hurried to answer, "My name then, My Lord."

"Very well, Adelia. And if I may make another request of you tonight, please drop the lord as well. I’ve not been born into nobility and I’m no noble now, either." Hadn’t he gained the title by becoming a warlord?

She must've looked confused despite her best efforts to uphold her polite mask, since he added, "King Harold was the one who decided I was a lord, but things don’t work like this here in the Wilds."

"How do they work?" she asked, hoping he was willing to indulge her and didn’t point out her lack of knowledge. Despite her best efforts, she heard her father's voice hissing in the back of her mind, scolding her for appearing stupid in front of someone she ought to try to impress.

"Anyone can become a warlord," Lord Morrow answered, not so much as a hint of reproach or disappointment over her lack of knowledge in his voice. "There are two ways to gain the title, you either kill the previous warlord, or you get them to agree to a wager and then best them in a chosen field."

A brisk, sharp knock made him pause and Adelia glanced towards the door. Ada and Vera stepped inside a moment later, carrying two covered trays of food. They set the trays down and removed the domed covers, revealing meat cooked in plums, spinach pies and steamed greens. And a little fruit cake.

"Thank you," Adelia said, genuine and heartfelt, and both women sent her quick smiles in return.

Vera drifted to a cabinet at the side to return with a bottle of wine, while Ada turned to Lord Morrow. The cook raised a very expressive eyebrow and he offered a chagrinned smile after a moment. Ada rolled her eye and sent him a pointed look.

Adelia didn’t know what to make of their silent exchange and murmured another thank you when Vera filled first her and then Lord Morrow’s goblet. Both women excused themselves and left, Ada sending Lord Morrow one more look along with a gesture he seemed to be able to understand, for he tipped his head slightly at her.

"Eat as much as you like," he said, grasping his goblet and taking a sip. "I don’t have much of an appetite tonight."

Adelia put some food onto her plate after a moment, taking a bit of everything since Ada and the others had worked so hard to make these dishes.

She had never been a particularly picky eater, nor was she in the habit of demanding the most decadent meals possible like other nobles. Still, the moment she took a bite, she knew this had been expertly cooked and wonderfully seasoned and it was quickly becoming one of the tastiest meals she had ever had.

Ada must be worth her weight in gold.

Lord Morrow cleared his throat. "I have to admit that I don't often have new company, is there anything you'd like to know?"

She had so many questions she thought she might fill an entire book with them, but her nerves felt a little frayed at the moment and so she asked something she hoped was harmless, "The fog around the keep, is it always this present?"

"I’m afraid so," he answered, a slightly sardonic twist to the wry little smile he offered her. "It comes with the territory."

How curious, she had never heard of such a phenomenon, but then again, Father wouldn’t have let her read any research books anyway. As long as she could be a proper wife for her future husband and no embarrassment for his house, that was the extent of the education she needed in his opinion.

"What can you tell me about the Wilds?" Adelia asked, swallowing her bite and  reluctantly admitted, because her ignorance would be noticeable sooner rather than later, "I fear I couldn't learn much, despite my best efforts."

Lord Morrow hummed softly in understanding. "The Wilds are a large land, spanning the entire northern coast, along with a handful of islands and its governed by different warlords."

"How many are there?" And most importantly, were they an enemy or friend to her husband and therefore, to Adelia herself?

"About eight, though there has been a debate over a particularly large island and whether or not it needs its own warlord." He took a sip of wine. "We're mostly leaving each other be, though we have a standing agreement to work together if any surrounding kingdoms intend to conquer us."

His smile was as mild as ever, but his eyes seemed sharper as he added, "No one will take our home from us."

"Of course," Adelia agreed. No one wanted their land stolen or to lose the power and prestige they currently held. That was probably about the only thing all nobles could agree on, even if they couldn't agree on letting others keep their land, too.

"You can, of course, read up on the topic as much as you like," he said, waving vaguely in the direction the library was located. "I have collected plenty of tomes in my time."

"Which of the books may I read?" she asked, because she had to be sure. For as polite and unexpectedly kind as Lord Morrow had been so far, she did not wish to test his temper. Not unless it was for something very important.

He paused, as though surprised, then frowned slightly. "Any you like. If there are more books you wish to have, I’ll see to it that they are acquired." He set his goblet down, an expression of intent seriousness on his face. "Anything in this keep that is mine is yours as long as you wish to stay, and as long as it is not locked away, you are welcome to it."

"Are there things should I stay away from?" she asked. Adelia hoped to find out what he would not tolerate so she could definitely avoid doing that.

"I would prefer if you would not rifle through my office without me present and to leave any locked cabinets or chests in there alone," he said. "Aside from that, ask either myself or Lambrecht if you need anything, we can help you find things faster than if you were to search around by yourself."

His gloved fingers flexed, before he added, "The dungeons should be avoided as well. It is a rather unpleasant place."

Adelia had never liked dungeons much to begin with, so this would be no hardship. "I won’t go there." She hesitated for a brief moment and decided to ask one last important question for tonight, "My friends and family, may I write them?"

A strange expression flit over Lord Morrow's face, something faintly bewildered before it tipped into utterly unreadable. When he took a deep breath, he seemed strangely grim.

"Of course," he answered, perfectly calm and downright soft spoken. "Hand the letters to Lambrecht and he’ll ensure they’re delivered. If you have something that belonged to your friends with you, or they can send you such items, Iva can teleport the letters directly to them."

He paused a moment, as though remembering something. "Actually, I believe she has been working on little delivery boxes that send letters to a connecting box as soon as the lid closes. I will speak with her and see how far along her project is. If it is finished, I will request she make some for you, as well."

That was... that was far kinder and far more than she had ever expected. Magic resources were usually carefully controlled and highly coveted by everyone. Sharing anything a mage or sorcerer had made was only done for gain and prestige.

"Thank you," she answered, feeling a bit baffled and rather grateful and Lord Morrow waved her off. Now that she took a closer look, she could see that the tips of his gloves stretched a bit away from his fingertips. He really wasn’t fond of cutting his nails.

Either that or he had some sort of illness and was hiding it, maybe some kind of rot or infection. Only, shouldn't a mage be able to help with that? Maybe it was something rare or something that couldn't be cured. Magic wasn't the end all for everything, sadly enough.

Silence fell and she felt a little awkward since she was the only one who ate, though when she glanced up from beneath her lashes, Lord Morrow was looking out the window, seemingly lost in thought. When she was done, her plate empty, he glanced at her and offered a small, mild smile.

"If you are ready, please accompany me to my office," he requested.

When she gave him a nod, he got up and Adelia followed swiftly. They walked in silence, though Lord Morrow was in no hurry and Adelia wasn't forced to try to keep up with his longer stride. She still felt a little nervous. What did he wish to discuss with her?

His office, when he opened the door for her, was simply furnished but packed with books and ledgers. Adelia felt secretly relieved to see such a clearly organized space and it gave her hope that Lord Morrow was as good at governing his lands as the staff had said, or, at the very least, kept proper track of everything.

To her surprise, she spied her dowry chest beside his desk. She was quite familiar with it, since her parents had made sure she knew what she was worth in the eyes of the gentry and she had made a few delicately embroidered pieces to add to it over the years. Something to show off and later be passed down to any eventual children she would have to have.

A neat set of papers laid on his desk and he stepped behind it, pushing them in her direction.

"I offer you an annullment of our marriage," he said and Adelia felt sharp shock slice through her. He was quick to add, "You are of course welcome to stay and call this place home or, if you prefer, Iva could take you anywhere you like. Whatever you wish, the choice is yours. I will also return your dowry to you regardless of your decision."

"Why?" she couldn't help but ask, her hands feeling strangely cold and numb. "Did I do something wrong?"

He had specifically requested to marry her and he had gotten the king himself to refuse one of his vassals, so he could have her hand instead. What had changed? Had she messed things up already, somehow? She hadn't been a wife for a full day yet and he was going to get rid of her already?

He grew serious, but there was a soft kindness to his face and voice when he spoke, "You do not know me, Adelia. I am a vertiable stranger and I know you didn't wish to marry me, either. You don't have to sign if you don't want to, of course. You could go back home right now without the annullment if you prefer to stay married and I would merely ask if Iva could take you to spare you the long journey."

It was utterly befuddling and entirely unexpected and Adelia found herself floundering like never before. "Why did you marry me if you don't want me?" she couldn't help but ask, nervously wringing her hands.

"I know of the rumors surrounding Emmertal and I did not wish for you to face that kind of fate." He was quiet for a moment, then added, "You don't know it, but you once did me and one of mine one of the greatest services a person can offer and I would be a poor soul indeed if I did not seek to repay you in kind."

The man was mad, Adelia couldn't help but think. She had absolutely no idea what he was talking about, and no noble had ever simply given up their new wife, while simultaneously still offering all the amenities they could.

He held out his quill to her and she hesitated for a long moment, before she ultimately shook her head. He was right, she did not wish to be married to him, but she couldn't return home, either.

No matter what she told her father, he would consider her a disgrace and might yet marry her off to Lord Emmertal, should he still want her. She didn't even want to go back to her parents, truth be told, she had looked forward to escaping her father's grasp for years, after all.

No, she was safer if she remained married to Lord Morrow, even if she didn't know the man before her at all. If Lord Morrow was speaking true, however, if he truly was the sort of man everyone said he was, this might be a better outcome than she could have hoped for when he had asked for her hand. Or rather, when he had demanded it. There hadn't been much asking involved.

Lord Morrow offered one of his mild smiles and it had a soft kindness to it. "Keep the documents," he said, folding them neatly and handing them to her instead of the quill. This time she accepted.

"If you ever change your mind, you can sign them whenever you want," he added. "Either way, I would prefer if we acted as though we weren't married. I think that will make things easier and more comfortable."

For whom, she almost asked, but bit back the question.

"What now?" she asked instead. "If you didn't want me, what is my place here? What do I do?"

"Anything you want," he answered, simple and easy, as if there was no question about it. "I wouldn't mind some help with my ledgers if you're amenable, or you're welcome to pick up any trade you like." He gestured at the keep around him. "You are welcome to spend your days in leisure, I know this keep can look a bit plain, but it still offers plenty amenities and space to create more."

Her mind immediately went to the sketches in her room, the little toys she had so very carefully built in secret, but she wasn't quite so daring as to mention them. "I would help with your ledgers, if you'd have me."

"Wonderful." He offered her another mild smile, though this one seemed a little warmer and a littler bigger, still without revealing his teeth. "We can start tomorrow evening, if that works for you. I'll be too busy before that."

"Of course, I will do my best to be of aid," she said and he nodded, then glanced at the door behind her.

"Forgive my rudeness, but I still need to take care of some things," he said. "I'll have Lambrecht deliver the dowry chest to you, so you don't have to carry it."

She probably couldn't even if she wanted to, it had taken two of father's footmen to lift it after all.

"Of course." She turned to leave and to her surprise he stepped past her to open the door for her. They inclined their heads at each other, polite even now, though she understood him even less than ever before.

She returned to her rooms, mind spinning and it was only when she washed her hands after putting the divorce documents away, that she remembered the wedding ring on her finger.

Taking it off, she set it down beside the washbasin and stared at it for a long moment. It sat there innocently, made of solid gold and decorated with emeralds. The colors of her father's house, not the red and gold that Lord Morrow so clearly preferred.

What a strange, strange man.

Taking a deep breath, she reached for the letters on her desk, adding a quick note to all of them as she requested that her friends send her little things in their possession. If Sorceress Iva was indeed willing to teleport the letters, Adelia would gladly take her up on the offer.

As soon as the ink dried, she carefully folded the letters in a way that would rip the corners once unfolded, letting her friends know if anyone had read them before they had gotten delivered.

She was ready to present them to Steward Lambrecht when he arrived a few minutes later, carrying the chest like it weighed nothing. For someone of his stature, he was certainly far stronger than he looked. It was honestly a little baffling.

"Thank you," she said and he offered a polite smile and a little bow. "Would you mind having these letters delivered as well?"

"Most certainly, My Lady. They will be sent out come morning with our fastest rider," he promised, taking them from her hands. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"No, thank you, you've done gracious plenty already," she reassured him and he left a little silver bell with her, telling her that it was enchanted and should she require anything else, all she had to do was ring it and the closest servant who was working would hear it.

Once he was gone, Adelia closed the door behind him and rubbed her hands over her face, mind spinning anew. Wandering away from the door, through her newly furnished chambers, she briefly considered signing the documents and going... well, home, for lack of other options.

She discarded the thought just as quickly, however. Her parents had proven more than sufficiently enough that they would sell her to death itself if it gave them a leg up. She couldn't go live with her friends either without word getting back to them and then she'd be in just as much trouble.

In the kingdom she was her father's property, to do with as he pleased. No one would or could protect her, not the law and no other noble would either – unless they intended to wed her, of course. King Harold was the only one who had any say and he certainly didn't care enough to do anything.

However, if Lord Morrow meant it, if she was welcome here, if he wished to work with her, then she was willing to stay. She certainly wouldn't have had a better marriage had she married Tirn. A more comfortable one, perhaps, because she knew him well, but not a better one.

She reached one of the windows and glanced outside, the sky covered in stars and the full moon shone brightly, the grounds of the keep filled with a thick fog. Thick enough she only saw the faintest shine of lanterns and a vague outline of buildings down in the courtyard.

She opened the window and took a deep breath of the frosty air. Somewhere, a raven squawked and she heard the sound of wolves howling in the distance. Aside from that, the keep was silent and there was only a faint breeze brushing by, icy and smelling of the approaching winter.

And suddenly she felt tears prick her eyes, as tension seeped from her shoulders. Everything was going better than she had expected. It made her hope, hope for a good life where she might find ways to be happy.

It was good to have some hope after all the fear and worrying. She leaned against the windowsill, pressing her face into her hands as she took deep breaths until her emotions waned again and she could wrangle them back under control.

She remained like this for a while, taking deep, relieved breaths until she began to shiver from the cold. She was about to close the window and retire to bed, to rest after a very long and emotionally exhausting day, when she noticed movement down in the courtyard.

The mist swirled and the sound of hooves on cobblestone and the creaking and clattering of wheels made her lean forward. The mist almost seemed to lighten as a large, night-black carriage was pulled to the front door by steeds even blacker than the carriage itself, driven by a person with a black cloak and hood.

The animals threw their heads and stomped their hooves, their breaths misting in front of them. The horses were large like warhorses and even from a distance and through the mist still remaining around them and drifting beneath them, she could see that their eyes were red. The color of spilled blood that had gained a faint, inner glow.

Those were no ordinary horses, not at all, and one of them lifted its head to stare right at her. It snorted a loud exhale, it's breath misting in front of it and a little shiver went down her spine. Still, as strange as these horses were, animals had never scared her. They had been loving companions instead, a solace in a home where she always had to watch herself.

The front doors opened and Lord Morrow and Steward Lambrecht left with brisk steps, dressed for travel. They entered the carriage and a moment later the horses lunged forward, the one staring at her turning away at long last.

They left quickly and she got a glimpse of them on the road moments later, the horses running far too fast, the carriage downright flying towards the horizon like they were straight out of a fairytale, gone within a few blinks of an eye. It seemed there was some truth to the rumors that monsters lived in the Wilds.

She couldn't help but wonder, though, had something happened? She did not know if someone would think to inform her if there was an emergency, but she hoped to at least receive a message if anything had happened that required the lord of the keep and its steward to leave for a time.

Or, perhaps they were merely visiting someone in town?

She stepped back when she shivered again and closed the window at last. Despite her exhaustion, her mind was churning still. She took a moment to ring the silver bell, but the servant who was quick to answer did not know why Lord Morrow and Steward Lambrecht had left.

"Knowing them, they'll be back soon, My Lady," the stout woman reassured her with a gap-toothed smile. "Our master is likely taking care of a dispute in another town. He sometimes has to leave for that."

"In the middle of the night?" Adelia couldn't help but ask and the servant's smile looked a little forced now.

"It happens," she said and Adelia knew when someone didn't wish to tell her the truth. She could try and needle for an answer, but what would that bring her? The servant would likely keep lying and she'd only upset her and that would not help her in gaining the trust and loyalty of the staff.

"Thank you, apologies for summoning you over nothing," Adelia said and the servant was quick to reassure her that it was fine, the woman's smile looking warm and genuine once more.

She left a moment later and Adelia sagged a bit, the exhaustion gripping her more intensely now. There was nothing to do but rest and try to find out more in the morning. Perhaps she could get some information out of her husband once he had returned.

Getting ready for bed she crawled beneath the blankets and found that the bed was downright perfect, the blankets and pillows soft and sinking into it was almost like a dream. Curling up, she tucked the blanket around herself as much as possible and noticed they smelled faintly like a mixture of fresh, cold air and lavender.

A part of her almost looked forward to tomorrow. She hoped to gain answers and that Lord Morrow would show her his ledgers as he had said, that he might even let her help in governing his lands.

He seemed... kind. Strange, certainly, but also kind.

Closing her eyes she no longer felt quite as alone and tiny and almost unbearably vulnerable as before, but she still wanted to be useful and she still felt a little worried and unsure about her place in the keep.

She never wanted to be a burden to anyone and she wanted a purpose. She wanted to help make things better.

She fell asleep to those thoughts and the muffled howling of wolves in the nearby woods.