She looked around her and found Will squatting next to her looking concerned. “Are you okay? They have had people out looking for you for hours. “ Seline scrambled to her feet. “What do you mean for hours? I must have fallen asleep. “. Seline was holding her head. She had a pounding headache and getting up too fast made it worse. “The captain came and found everyone in our company and sent them out looking for you. He said it was a training exercise. I take it that this was not a training exercise?” Will looked at her and had a smirk. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her on the forehead. “Are you okay?” Seline nodded slowly and snuggled into him. “I was supposed to meet with the captain before my shift at the hospital. I was feeling sick and came out here. I threw up and then decided to sit just for a second then I would go back. I must have fallen asleep. Other than a headache I am fine.” Will held her at arms length to look at her. “You have been sick to your stomach a lot l
Seline spun around at the voice and it made her head swim and her legs go weak from the vertigo. She grabbed the nearby tent pole to steady herself. The Captain rushed over and grabbed her arm and helped her to the chair meant for Henry to keep watch in. He was asleep in the cot at the far end of the tent. The Captain took a seat on the end of the cot next to her that was vacant. He looked at her expectantly. Seline was not sure how much to say or even what to say. How much had he guessed and how much had she given away? The Captain followed Seline’s gaze to the sleeping Henry. “Don’t worry about him. We expected him to sleep. He always does, and this way we can talk frankly. I need you to tell me what is going on.” Seline continued to look away from him. Afraid if she looked him in the eye that he would see right through her. She slumped in her chair. Recognizing her body language, the Captain sat back and folded his arms. “How about we start with how you got in this state.” He wa
Frozen in place for the second time tonight, Seline did not move. “Name yourself sir.” Seline Answered the firm hand on her shoulder. The hand dropped down the side of her arm and spun her around. To her great relief it was Will. She quickly looked around and seeing everyone was asleep, stepped forward to wrap her arms around him. Will grabbed them in mid motion and shook his head. Instead he took her by the hand and led her to the side of the tent. Will lifted the flap and ducked under pulling Seline behind him. “Come back to the tent with me. “ Will beckoned. Seline followed him in the dark to his new tent space. Once inside he pulled her to him and wrapped her in his arms. “I have missed you.” He said with a squeeze. Seline snuggled into his arms. She could tell that he had even bathed and shaved. He smelled of soap and leather. He released her and leaned down and kissed her oh so gently on the forehead. “ That doesn’t hurt does it?” He asked looking at her forehead with some con
He was bare chested and only wore his britches, as Seline was laying on his shirt. He had taken it off in a fit a gallantry for her to lay on so the hay would not be so uncomfortable. After that they had lain in the hay and talked for hours. They talked about her sisters’ up coming weddings, they talked about his brother expecting his first child and the constant nagging of his mother for him to court and of the eligible young women in the county. Finally Seline got Will to make up a story for her as a bed time story. It was a wonderful fantasy in which the brave knight goes off to battle to save the kingdom but in the end the fair princess must travel to a distant land to outwit the dragon and she her brave knight who had been captured. Just as Will was finishing the story Seline had fallen asleep. Will looked at her as she slept. She had won his heart long ago, but he was too afraid to tell her for fear that their wonderful friendship would change and he would loose her forever. He
Seline and Will got up and said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. Seline went to the hen house to collect the eggs so she would have an excuse for being outside this early. She had taken a few minutes behind the hen house by the pond looking at her reflection trying to get the hay out of her hair and clothes. Seline was the middle child. She had two older sisters and two younger sisters. Both were sets of twins, and as such each pair were inseparable. Seline had always been the lone child. She learned to do things mostly by herself. That was the main reason that she and Will got along so well. He was a middle child also. His father took his oldest brother under his tutelage right away and the his youngest brother was the baby and his mother’s favorite so he was always with her. Will was left to find his own way and so he and Seline became best friends. Now that they were older the friendship remained but it had to be more secretive because the adults all had their own pla
The rest of Seline’s Day flew by. When Supper time came and the family gathered at the table, everyone was quiet. They all hoped that father would announce who Seline would be betrothed to the next day. Father was unusually quiet. He ate quickly and then left the table abruptly, which was not like father. He normally liked to take time over a meal. “To have the time to savor your food was a luxury only the rich could afford.” He would say.Mother too seemed on edge. In truth she did not touch a thing on her plate. Seeing her parents this nervous made Seline worried. Was there something wrong? Was her father not able to make an advantageous match? Did all the suitors that father bragged to his friends about, turn him down? The bothered Seline. The day before her two older sisters’ announcements, her parents were so excited they were bursting and Papa was so proud that he gave the secret away prematurely. Seline’s mother got up from the table and excused herself saying that she had a h
Seline knocked on the door of her father’s study and wait to be told to enter. There was a loud sigh from inside, and then “Enter”. Seline stepped in and closed the door behind her. She was nervous now. Her father had never allowed any of the girls in here unless he was calling them in here to scold them.“Have a seat Seline” Papa motioned to the studded leather chair in front of him. Seline sat down and looked at her father who had leaned his elbows on his desk and steepled his fingers in thought. He pressed them to his lips and began to speak as he pointed at her. “You, no doubt, are wondering why I have called you in to talk on the eve of your engagement announcement. Out of all my daughters, you my dear, I thought I would be able to make the most advantageous match. For all intents and purposes I had. Until this morning, when I received this. Her father reached down and handed her a hand written note on a small square of parchment. The note read...Master Herron,One of you young
Seline woke in the early morning to intermittent taps on her window. She had fallen asleep in her clothes instead of laying them out by the fire and she did not brush and braid her hair so it was sticking up in all directions. In short, she was a mess. Another tap at the window brought her back to her senses, and she sat up and looked out the window.It was Will standing below. He saw her in the window and waved for her to come down. Seline bounced out of bed ran a brush through her thick hair as quick as she could and smoothed her dress. She opened the door to her room and snuck very quietly down stairs. She reached the back door and very quietly went out. She took the egg collecting basket with her when she went. Will was waiting for her when she came out. She put her finger to her lips and grabbed his arm and dragged him to the chicken coop with a rather confused and surprised look on his face. Once inside Seline whirled around and asked “What are you doing here so early? You can’