Harndall feels out of place
Harndall pushed open the heavy door and entered as quietly as he could. He knew he was running very late for the meeting but he had found himself unable to leave the distressed peasantry that was residing in the chapel. Valeriya had been right, the people needed him. He had no right to be wallowing in his own misery in his room when such troubled times were upon them. He had put all thoughts of his own inadequacy as a priest from his head and thrown himself into his work. Still, there were nights when he woke up sweating, his limbs twisted in his sheets after dreaming of the touch of her lips.
And now the King had called a meeting to discuss the latest developments. Harndall had already been to see Goodwife Rawtharn after her frightening meeting of the night before. The peasant woman had seemed distant somehow, not terrified as he would have imagined. She had sat and listened to him talk, cradling her small child in her arms, her face blank, answering his questions in a dull voice.
The men had not noticed his entrance yet, so involved in their heated discussion where they. The King had insisted that all the nobility be present for this discussion. Harndall’s stomach turned slightly, seeing Radomir sitting in place between Sir Inbar and Lord Murchadh. He seemed to be the focus of the conversation.
Eallair looked up noticing him standing awkwardly at the door and weakly smiled at him.
“Ah… Father Harndall. I am so glad you could join us. Please… take a seat”, the strain was evident in his voice, which was bordering on exhaustion.
They were all of them tired, he thought, all had spent the day searching for the vagabond that had attacked the poor woman.
The room went silent at the sound of the King’s voice and he felt all their eyes upon him. His hand reached out shakily and found the chair left for him.
He carefully lowered himself into it, glad for its solid wooden build beneath his trembling hands. He felt out of place, he was a man of the church, not used to being involved in discussions of the court. He knew the King had invited him because he had been the last to see Sister Mella before she disappeared and also he had been the only one to get a sensible answer from Goodwife Rawtharn and her distraught husband.
When he looked up Sir Inbar was looking at him expectantly. He felt sorry for the man but wished he wasn’t putting so much faith in him. This was not his domain. Sigurd was someone who came to see him on a regular basis, almost weekly. He had spent many hours pouring his heart out to the priest and weeping on his shoulder for his lost babies. His wife by contrast, came to see Harndall only occasionally and when she did it was simply to recite a list of small indiscretions and receive her penance. He wanted to help the man but he did not know what to recommend to him.
“I just do not understand how we can be so sure that this woman is telling the truth”, Radomir was saying loudly.
Harndall had not seen the man for a long time. He had heard the Earl had been ill and in truth his face looked gaunt, his dark eyes sunken and his cheek bones protruding slightly.
The King and Eallair were staring at him in astonishment.
“Are you seriously trying to tell me that this woman is making this all up?”, Lochan asked incredulously.
“Why would she lie about this?”, Eallair asked obviously confused.
“Perhaps she wants the attention”, Radomir replied, waving his arms in annoyance, “I don’t know… all I’m saying is that we can’t necessarily take what she says as definite truth”.
“I know she is one of your subjects Radomir, but I think we can definitely take her word on this. She may have been confused but why would she have wounded herself in such a way. I don’t think it would even be possible to be perfectly honest. She had a human bite mark on her neck. Unless her husband bit her, which I seriously doubt, we are dealing with an unknown killer on the island”, Lochan retorted, “And even more worrying is it was almost identical to the wound on the dead peasant girl, Nell’s neck”.
“Fine, whatever you say, Lord Murchadh”, Radomir said, with emphasis on Lochan’s title.
Harndall was suprised by his reaction, it was not like Radomir to back down in a fight.
“Do you think she could possibly have been attacked by the same creature as I was?”, Cordell asked earnestly, “I mean she was wandering out in the forest alone and we know there is a violent black dog out there somewhere”.
“But Cordell”, Alexis cut in, his voice dull, “Goodwife Rawtharn was inside the house which makes it unlikely that it was a wild animal. And unless she is totally delirious then it was a man that attacked her. You may be right about the death of the peasant girl though”.
Harndall gazed at Alexis’ face as he spoke. His face was pallid, only serving to highlight the dark bags underneath his eyes. The sparkle that had always danced in his eyes had died, doused by the waters of despair. There were whispers that his wife would not make it to the end of her pregnancy, so ill and swollen was she now. Harndall had spoken with Goodwife Cade who had told him that he should be ready for her when she called, he would be needed straight away. Still Morven struggled onwards, her heartbeat thready and irregular, so weak and exhausted she could not move from her bed. And Alexis sat there by her side, holding her pale hand until he had been summoned by the King himself.
“Are we seriously discussing this!”, Radomir almost shouted, “Violent black dogs! Strange men! We know there is noone else on this island, we have been around the whole place. We would know, especially if there was some nobility hiding themselves here! Where would he be living!”.
He noticed a beetle crawling along the table and squashed it beneath his thumb and gesturing angrily, “You sound like a bunch of snivelling women!”.
“Now Radomir, I think you’re going a bit far, everyone is just putting forward their ideas. There’s no need to get angry”.
The King’s expression was one of open concern, and it was obvious to Harndall that Eallair was having a great deal of trouble controlling the passions of his men.
Radomir made a snorting noise and was silent.
“Do you know what I think”, Garrick added, slurring slightly.
Harndall thought it was odd for the large man to be drunk at such an important conversation. It was not like him, but then again it had been many months since Garrick had last visited him for confession. He had no concept of what was going on his head.
“I think it was one of Faldorn’s men”, he continued without waiting for encouragement, “I think it was a scout sent here and if we don’t find him he will be paddling his way home and the first thing we will see when spring comes is Faldorn’s flotilla on the glowing horizon”.
“And then”, he said sighing melodramatically, “it will all begin again and we will be doomed”.
“This is a good point Garrick”, Lochan mused, “But I think you might be overreacting slightly. If it is one of Faldorn’s men we will find him and make him talk”.
“But it really doesn’t explain why he would have bitten her on the neck”, he said with a puzzled expression on his face, “Actually… why would he have even gone to see her at all. If he was a scout for Faldorn wouldn’t he already be heading back with the good news that he has found us. No I don’t think he’s one of Faldorn’s men. But where he’s from then I do not know”.
“No Lochan, I think you’re wrong! He was definitely one of Faldorn’s men and every moment we sit here on our behinds is more time he has to gather information and leave the island. We should be out there searching for him right now!”, Garrick glared at him through squinted eyes.
“Men, men… you all have excellent, valid points. But there is nothing we can do right now. It is pitch black outside and there is a blizzard raging. If he is one of Faldorn’s men he won’t be going anywhere tonight and we will find him tomorrow. If not then he won’t be going anywhere anyway and we will still find him”.
“But your highness”, Sigurd piped up timidly, his eyes wide like those of a startled deer, “Should we be worrying about our wives… it seems to be the womenfolk that this man, if that’s what it is, is going after”.
“Ha…”, Radomir chortled, “You’re worried about our wives being eaten by some strange creature eh? Don’t you think given the current company you should be more worried by the danger posed by your own little creature that likes to come out in the dark. It seems like that’s what’s doing the most damage to our womenfolk these days”.
He looked pointedly at Alexis who reeled back as if he had been punched. Harndall had often spoken with Alexis, the young man seeming to find it humourous to regail the Priest with all the sins he had commited each week. Harndall knew from these conversations that Radomir despised Alexis. Alexis had often laughed about this, claiming that he had stolen Morven’s heart from the blackened claws of the beast. In reality both men had asked for her hand in marriage, but Morven’s father, unlike most had given her the choice of the two and she had chosen Alexis. Wisely, Harndall though with a sigh, an image of Valeriya’s sad face appearing in his mind. She was a lucky girl to have been given the right to choose.
“Oh… oh Alexis… oh my goodness. I am so sorry. I… I really didn’t mean anything by it. I didn’t mean to say anything wrong. Oh… I am so very sorry”, Sigurd turned to Alexis, wringing his hands with a distressed look on his face.
Harndall wished he would be quiet. He had not said anything and perhaps Radomir’s comment could have been ignored, but Sigurd with his bumbling was making it a million times worse.
“No… don’t be silly Sigurd. It’s fine… you haven’t said anything wrong. It was just a joke. I am sure noone meant my Morven”, his voice cracked when he said Morven, and from where Harndall was sitting he could see Alexis’ lip trembling underneath his neatly trimmed mustache.
“Sorry… I… I think I have something in my eye”, he said, rubbing furiously at his eyes with his sleeve. From where Harndall was sitting he could see the tears welling up in Alexis eyes.
“Well”, Eallair said stonily, “I think this conversation has gone on well and truly long enough. We will spend tomorrow searching again, the same groups as today. We WILL find this man. I am sure of it. Now go and get some sleep. I will see you all in the morning”.
HI guys. Sorry it took so long for me to get this post out. I had quite a bit of trouble writing it. I knew that the men should be having some sort of meeting but I didn’t quite no how to approach. Hope it’s okay… I’m off to bed
That happens to me sometimes, Verity, whenever I decide to do a chapter merely because I feel like certain people need to be talking about something. Then I just start writing without a goal, and sometimes I don’t even finish, and other times I get so much time invested that I finish it anyway, even if I don’t feel like it adds much to the story.
My recent chapter where Finn went to Egelric’s castle for the first time was one of those. I knew he *had* to go there and I would *have* to write about it, but it really fell flat, because I had no idea what I was meaning to do other than a bit of foreshadowing.
Other times, however, such chapters turn out great. *shrugs*
But I have the most success and the most momentum when I start out knowing that someone needs to say this thing and that thing, or I need to impart Important Pieces of Information X, Y, and Z. That at least gives me a framework to build the chapter around.
Also, I don’t know why, but lately I have noticed that my ability to produce a chapter that I consider a success is inversely proportional to the number of people taking active part in it. It may be partly due to the logistics and the “so-and-so said” overhead of keeping track of who is talking, or maybe it’s the difficulty of building a mood or theme out of a series of small glimpses of different people. Having this chapter firmly anchored in Harndall’s head helped in that respect.
That said, while In terms of a meeting it was a complete waste of time (poor Eallair) I actually liked the chapter… it was another “look around the room and see how everyone is doing kind of post”, but it was good to get one of those from Father Hardnall’s eyes. Lots of Important Info X, Y, and Z here — We learned a lot about quite a few people.
Also, (assuming it was your intention) it was a good way to show the unease that has taken hold of everyone. Not a man in that room was feeling good, not even devil-may-care Alexis. In fact some of them were acting quite strangely, like men strained past their breaking point, or perhaps altered by some outside force.
I want to spank some of them and slap some of the others and try to wake them up — they are supposed to be the leaders here. But maybe I should withhold judgement… perhaps a serial killer in their midst will do that to people, or perhaps they are under the influence of something evil.
I do wonder whether that’s to blame for Father Harndall’s dreams, however. Naughty, naughty! But I’m glad to see him back in action. They don’t know it yet, but they sorely need him. Also, with the possible exception of Eallair, he is the most attractive man in the room at the moment. Everyone else looks like hell!
I definitely agree with you about the number of people thing. I find it so much easier to write when there are only a couple of characters… I think two is my optimum number.
I think it is really hard to actually force yourself to write something when you’re not into it. Much easier when you are really excited about what is happening in a post or the pictures have really inspired you. I couldn’t get the lads to make really good facial expressions actually. It took me ages to take the pics as well… waiting and waiting. They weren’t up to their usual standard. Maybe the lack of ladies deadened the mood somewhat.
Pretty much all of the men are feeling stressed in some way. Lochan and Alexis both have very ill wives, Sigurd is upset about Varda losing the baby, Radomir is still freaking out slightly about Mella and Valeriya, Garrick’s still having nightmares, Harndall is wrestling with his guilt over Mella and Valeriya and Eallair is beyond stressed with having to deal with all these freaking out men and also the fact that Madlenka is going to pop any day now. Actually Cordell is the happiest of the lot of them, although he is still not entirely well. Funny… since he used to be the most miserable. Well maybe not quite as miserable as Lochan but pretty unhappy.
As far as attractive goes… Lochan and Garrick are still my favourites although they are looking a little hagged. Eallair is pretty cute too and Harndall after him. Alexis is a bit to well-manicured for me and I can’t help but think Cordell has a tendency to look a bit Ken-dollish. I think Radomir and Sigurd are really ugly… I don’t know what I was thinking when I made them. Oh the genetics *wrings hands* I can’t imagine what awful chins Radomir’s children are going to have (if he gets to have any that is… *making those shifty eyes*). I think the new guy I made… Arran was pretty cute. I really need to work him into the storyline somehow.
Oh gosh I really meant haggard… not hagged. Sounds kind of horrible too though… maybe more a descriptive word for the ladies
Cordell may be the happiest, but he was bitten by the dog, so I am still scared for him.
Do you want to know what I think of your men? (I know you do, and anyway I’m trying to procrastinate here.)
I like Garrick (especially shirtless) but I am just not that crazy about red-heads. (I still don’t quite see what makes Brude so attractive… I like Sebastien better, nose and all.)
Ummm…. I agree Alexis is a little too pretty-boy, but that’s his mustache doing it for him. His bigger problem is that he has no nose in profile, poor guy.
Sigurd reminds me of one of those girls who would be attractive-ish if she got her hair out of her face, put on some make-up, and took care of herself a little. He has that sort of personality too. I just know he bites his nails.
Father Harndall still looks like Jesus, but so did Jeffrey Hunter, and he looked pretty good.
Harndall gets bonus points for the full beard. I haven’t kissed a good beard in ages.
In my last comment I meant to say Lochan was looking better than everyone, not Eallair… heh, Eallair is looking a little punch-drunk there. Lochan always looks good, especially when he snarls. Cordell usually looks pretty good, too, except when he’s all battered.
I saved Radomir for last because I almost admitted in my previous comment that I found him somewhat attractive here. Yes, he has a face like a Neanderthal, but it suits him perfectly. I think he has Egelric’s same chin there. He is the only one of the nobles with a really rugged face, and I like a little of that. I am totally turning Team Radomir here, I fear. *sighs*
Uh, maybe I will get to peasants at a later time and stop spamming up your comments here.
Too bad about Arran… kind of difficult to introduce new characters on your deserted island.
I just totally have a thing for redheads. I have no idea why so I guess that’s one of the reasons I liked Brude so much.
Poor Sigurd! But man you made me laugh with that comment. Maybe I should try it one day and see what he looks like. Ack… I don’t think I could… I’d never be able to take him seriously after that… I have trouble as it is now.
I honestly never though there would be a team Radomir when I thought up his character. I was planning to make him so destestable but I am kind of glad I actually made him a bit more real than that. I think he is looking better with the new skin and I have to admit I did make a few plastic surgery adaptations to his face. I wanted to change him a lot but my boyfriend told me not to and I think he was right. Maybe if he has children they won’t be monsters… *sigh*.
Luckily I have already introduced Arran
but I can’t remember if I actually used his name. He’s the guy with the dead wife (whose name is unfortunately Arran Barran … how dumb am I when it comes to naming… his last name is definitely going to change 
I am not sure exactly how to fit him into the storyline. He is very cute though 
I was by no means suggesting that you should put Sigurd in make-up. However, the pulling-back of the hair might still do him some good. That particular hairstyle tends swallow up the face and make even sexy men look kind of lame if they don’t have the face for it. I just took some pictures of Cian with it, and meh… It takes a jutting Egelric chin & nose to wear it well. And think of the difference it made when Dunstan stopped “hiding behind his hair” as his bride said! Though now that I look at Harndall, it’s not so bad on him… it still makes him look kind of shy, but the beard helps maybe.
The only thing wrong with Radomir’s face now is that his eyes seem a little close together to me, though that could be the effect of his Neanderthal brow. In drawing we learn that the eyes are one eye-width apart and he doesn’t look like he quite gets there. It makes him seem a little beady-eyed, though, which might not be bad for his persona. I think he looks just like Radomir should look, so I agree with your boyfriend.
Ah, it’s true you have a little leeway with turning anonymous peasants into characters. I forgot about Arran Barran, which is a shame because it’s so funny. If he weren’t such a tragic character, it would be funny to keep the name, and make him the butt of everyone’s jokes. Might be even more interesting to keep the name and still make him a tragic character.
I actually moved Radomir’s eyes out a bit and made them a bit bigger if I remember rightly… I think they were even closer together before! I tried moving them a bit further but it didn’t look right.
The whole Arran Barran thing is made even more horrible by the fact that his wife actually was barren and that’s why they were having a fight and she ran off into the woods. I don’t think I could bear to call him that now
it seems too mean. Poor old Arran Barran… I am such an evil creator.
Actually I think you’re right… Egelric is the only one that really suits that hairstyle. It looks pretty good on Harndall but not excellent but it seems like it is the best look for him now.