Chapter 11: The Painting

As Linwë and Inwë were walking back through the halls with Kaleb toward the main hall Linwë’s mind kept drifting back to the painting on the wall. Finally she couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Kaleb? Can you tell me about that painting on the wall, the one of the maiden on the unicorn?”

“Surely my lady. It is of an elf maiden who is said to live in the forest. She is riding her faithful steed. A lover gave the pendent around her neck to her and the lake that is shown in the background is where her and her lover would meet and swim. She is said to be the most beautiful in the land,” Kaleb said proudly. Linwë hid her face so they wouldn’t see her blush.

“Do you know who had the picture painted? And who painted it? I would love to have them paint me one,” Linwë asked. There was only one person she could think of that would have something painted like that, Brian. He was the only on e that had ever seen her.

“I cannot tell you miss for I don’t know myself. But it’s said that the person who had the picture painted did it himself. It’s probably a rumor though, I don’t believe somebody that beautiful exists and if they do…” At this Kaleb whistled. Linwë and Inwë laughed and kept walking toward the exit. They finally reached the door so they turned around to thank Kaleb. But he wasn’t there anymore. They just shrugged and headed down the stairs where they found Silvermist waiting for them. Once they mounted up they headed back to the city and away from the castle.

“Linwë, why did you ask about that painting? It wasn’t anything spectacular. It was just a painting.” Inwë said, but Linwë did not reply for she was to deep in thought to answer any questions. She was getting hungry and they needed to find somewhere to rest soon. They rounded a corner and saw a little tavern, so they dismounted and went in. The place wasn’t to packed but they choose a nice secluded seat in the back corner so they wouldn’t draw attention. It wasn’t long before somebody came up to them to take their order.

“Can I get you blokes anything?” The waitress asked. Inwë giggled and Linwë had to turn the other way to hide her grin. Linwë cleared her throat and ordered.

“I would like a salad please, with strips of chicken in it and a lemonade. She’ll take the same.” Linwë said as she studied the waitress. “May I ask your name?”

“It’s Jodilyn, people call me Jo for short. I’ll get your order in now.” She started to walk away and then turned back. “And sorry for calling you two ladies blokes. I’m so used to cloaked travelers being men.” She turned again and hurried away. Linwë and Inwë looked at each other and laughed.

“You never answered my question about the painting Linwë. What was so special about it?” Inwë asked as she looked at Linwë intently.

Linwë sighed. “Did you see the picture?” Inwë nodded. “Did it remind you of anyone?” She shook her head and Linwë sighed in exasperation. “Well, it reminded me of someone and that’s why I asked about it.” Inwë was just about to press her further when a man approached their table.

“No body comes in here and doesn’t take off their cloaks. Only people who have something to hide don’t take them off. Do you have something to hide?” The man said gruffly.

“And what if I do?” Linwë replied coolly.

“What did you say?”

Linwë, slowly rising from her chair, stood up to face the man. She was just barely shorter than he was. “I said,” she repeated loudly so everyone could hear, “what if I do? It shouldn’t matter to you. My friend and I are minding our own business and are not bothering you. We are just passing trough and stopped in for refreshments. If it bothers you so much we will eat and be on our way.” Just then another man stepped up, but Linwë didn’t pay him much attention.

“Do you dare mock me? I am Mortimer and nobody messes with me! Do I make myself clear?” Mortimer bellowed.

“You make yourself perfectly clear Morty.” Linwë replied in a taunting voice. Mortimer’s face started to turn purple with rage and Linwë prepared herself for what would come next. He took a swing at her head with his fist, she dropped down and brought a leg out, tripping him and causing him to fall to his back on the floor. She got up and kneeled on his chest. Pulling out her travel knife she put the tip to his throat. “You will soon find, Morty, that I am not someone to be messed with either. My companion and I are just passing through and getting refreshments. Do I make my self clear?” He nodded slightly. “Good. Now, if I were ever here again I would like to think that I would be invited to join you at your table as a guest. Can we agree to get along and be friends?” She said as she got off his chest and rose to her feet. He got up too with a grin on his face.

“Agreed. Can I know the name of my new guest?”

“My name is not important for now but just know that I am friend, not foe. That way I don’t have to kick your ass again and embarrass you in front of your friends, again.” She smiled and he grinned. “Maybe next time we’re in the city we can join you at your table, but for now we would just like to dine alone. Thanks all the same though Morty.” She shook his hand, he walked away and she waited until the crowd that had gathered had dispersed before she sat down again.

Right after she had sat down se heard, “Hey Morty, want another beer?” and, “DON’T CALL ME MORTY!” Linwë and Inwë started to laugh. Just then Jo walked up with their drinks and food. Linwë just shook her head and Jo walked away, leaving the food on the table. For a while Inwë and Linwë ate in silence, but not for long.

“I thought you were mental taking him on! I thought you were going to get yourself killed for sure!” Inwë finally said, breaking the silence.

Linwë laughed. “I wasn’t scared. If I thought I was loosing he’d find out exactly how fast I can run.” They both started laughing. “Excuse me for a minute, I need to go get air and use the bathroom.” She got up and walked to the back exit. She noticed that when she passed a table a man got up and started to follow her. He was far enough behind her that when she got out the door she was able to hide in the shadows and watch him step outside. He had taken two steps when she came out of the shadows and hit him between the shoulder blades, causing him to go to his knees. “Why are you following me?” He didn’t answer, and when she went to kick him he grabbed her ankle and pulled her leg out from beneath her causing her to land on her back and the wind to be knocked out of her.

The alley they were in was a narrow one and therefore very dark so it made it hard for Linwë to see her assailant’s face. But there was no need to, for shortly after knocking her to the ground he had sat on her stomach, pulled back her hood enough to see part of her face, and had started to kiss her. She didn’t need this stranger to tell her who he was, she already knew, for he was no stranger at all. He was Brian. She finally managed to get him to stop and to get off of her. He helped her up only to pull her into a hug, which she never wanted to end. A few minutes later he released her and completely removed her hood.

“You are just as beautiful as I remember. I was surprised to see you here. Isn’t it dangerous? Why are you here?” Brian asked, still holding Linwë by the waist.

“It is only dangerous if we are caught, and the only way for that to happen is for us to remove our cloaks.” She replied.

“Or for somebody to recognize you.” He said jokingly as he kissed her again.

“That too. And in answer to your second question, my friend and I are here to buy dresses for the festival tomorrow. What are you doing here? And how did you recognize me?”

“I come here all the time to see my friends. The one you call Morty, by the way, you are the only one he lets call him that but that’s only because he respects you now that you have taken him down. Mortimer is a friend of mine, and so is the group he sits with. And as to how I recognized you, how could I not recognize the one I love? I knew it was you when I heard you talk, when I saw you stand and walk, and especially when I saw you fight. After all, you’ve only done those moves on me a hundred times before.” He said with a grin and she blushed. He leaned in to kiss her again but she stopped him.

Pushing herself away she said, “Brian, we agreed that we shouldn’t see each other anymore. It’s not fair to either of us, not to mention dangerous. Please, you have a life here and I have a life in the woods with my kin.”

“Do you love me Linwë?” He said as he lifted up her face. He was shocked by what he saw in her eyes. They were filed with love and pain. It was as if there was a war raging inside of her and you could see it all through her eyes, as if they were windows to her soul. She blinked and tears started to roll down her face.

“That’s not the point Brian, the point is that we can’t be together! That’s the point…”

“The point, Linwë, is that if we love each other we should be together. Nothing should be able to keep us apart. I love you and I know you feel the same way. Please…”

“I can’t Brian. I have a commitment to my family, to my people. I am not free to make my own decisions, my path is already laid out before me.” When she looked into his eyes she couldn’t look away. It was like she was in a trance, loosing herself in the love she saw in his eyes. He blinked and she was able to look away.

“Fine then. I will tell my sons about you and have them tell their sons and it will carry down from generation to generation until finally you fall in love with one of them and can’t stand to not be with them. You will love them so much you will be willing to give up almost anything to be with them. He will remind you of me so you shall always love them. This I promise you.” Linwë bowed her head. If only he knew how much she was ready to give up for him. ‘If only he knew.’ She thought.

“Promise me all you like Brian. I will see if you can keep your promise. I need to go. I still have to get my dress and get home. Good bye.” With a final kiss on the cheek Linwë went back into the tavern, grabbed Inwë and they headed out, getting their dresses on the way. When they finally got home from the city and dropped off their dresses at Madam Fillé’s, it was late so they ate a snack and went to bed.