Lord Wood Cutter

Lord Zevrion was outside just chopping a freshly delivered delivery of whitewood, it was a habit he has gotten into when is was thinking or when he was trying to trick a newcomer to think he was one of the hired help. Today was the former. He thought about his in laws, and the possibility of making a trip down to Riverstone. He would do anything for Anna if it was in his power, considering everything, and word that The Frosts were on there way to Riverstone, timing was crucial if they were to get to Riverstone before them.

He just needed word from Anna that they should make the trip, after all it was her family.

He grunted as he cut through another log of whitewood, he had been at it for a while and his shoulders and back were starting to ache.. he cursed the fact this made him think he just might be getting old.

Anna escorted her son to the chamber that served as the Maester's teaching hall, one hand clasping Ilmarinen's while the other clutched a book. Inside this book was a folded piece of parchment and every so often she would glance at it. The parchment was a letter from her mother, updating her on recent events and news from Riverstone. It was a troubling time for the Silvertongue family, and this in turn troubled Anna.

The Lady of House Greywolf paused before the door, turned her son to face her, and bent to meet her son eye-to-eye. "Mind your manners, and study well, mi'drazanti," she smiled.

Ilmarinen beamed at the term of endearment even though he scarcely recalled what language it was in - his mother spoke so many tongues it was hard to keep them all straight. The boy nodded eagerly. "Dinu helin prethdo, metta."

"Very good," Anna chuckled, the pride dripping from each syllable. She kissed the boy on the cheek, opened the door to the chamber, and gave him a little nudge towards the door. "Go on. I'll send for you at lunchtime." Anna looked up just in time to see the Maester do the same at the sound of her voice. "He's ready, Maester. Good day to you," she said, closing the door behind her son once the Maester nodded in reply and Ilmarinen went inside. Now, it was time to find her husband.

If Anna knew Zevrion like she thought she did, and she knew him well, he was either out posing as a wood cutter or conversing amongst the townsfolk. She entered the gardens through a side entrance typically used by the servants and wandered the grounds. An occasional sound erupted that sounded like a breaking of clay plates or the splintering of wood - the first of such a noise startling the woman. After a moment's thought and with a raised eyebrow, Anna walked toward the sound.

Sure enough, there he was: chopping a fresh supply of treasured whitewood, which would eventually be put to some artistic glory. Even from the side Anna could see the sweat on her husband's brow, and the aches in his shoulders were told in volumes by the posture in which he stood. "I don't believe we're expecting delegates today, love," she said, filling the air with a modest but slightly cheeky tone to match the smile on her face.

Zevrion paused in his chopping at the sweet sound of his wife's voice and chuckled as he put the sharp wood axe down and Rubbed his shoulder. " Not intending to trick anyone today Ma vhenan" he returned with amusement. With his own term of endearment for her in the native tongue of their neighbors which loosely translated to "My Heart"

"It helps me think" he said as he cleaned himself off with a cloth he had near by for that purpose. He still held some manners his mother taught him before her death.. Don't touch a Lady when you are sweaty, and he didn't plan to. "Debating what road to take to Riverstone.. if that is what you want to do of course? Any news from them?" he asked pausing to kiss her hand and cheek. "If we are to send help it must be soon, the roads to south will be snowed in any, day now.. he cautioned, yes the air was getting more chilled with the passing day.

Anna beamed at the term of endearment, knowing it instantly as the language spoken by the neighboring country. She could barely remember when she learned it, but knew it had to have been before she married Zevrion. Her selection of which language to learn in her yearly, self-made tradition was partially decided on whimsy instead of logic... but in the end all languages fascinated her in one way or another.

She listened to her husband, setting a loose gaze on him as he cleaned himself up. An ivory tooth bit into her crimson-tinged lower lip at the thought of which road to take. Anna swallowed and nodded. "Yes, I would like to... especially given the circumstances..." she said, leaning gently into the affection bestowed. She pulled out the letter from her book and with one hand opened the folded parchment. Her eyes searched hastily for the passage that had caught her eye. "Mother says she's invited Micah home... much as my brother tends to play rough, even if he does come home. one man does not an army make. If we can spare the help, Ma vhenan, my mother and I would be most grateful."

Anna hesitated, as though she wanted to say more. She always seemed to be just on the verge of giving him their good news, and then deciding that the moment wasn't quite perfect enough to make the announcement. As far as she knew, the Maester was being ever so respectful by not informing her husband of the news on her behalf. Anna buried those musings for the moment with thoughts about which road to take, absently cradling her book over her abdomen. "There is the road through Shadow Grove... it's quickest, and we would be through before the snow arrived... although it's a more dangerous road than most," Anna murmured.

Zevrion nodded, understanding her wish to help her family and protect them, from the dangers that now threatened them. He would spare all the men he could to help them, he'd even go himself if that made a difference. He felt for Elias, being young and inexperienced and put in a position such as that was very hard, he had been in the same position himself after all, and it very nearly destroyed his land.

"I will spare all the men I can to Riverstone, you know that" he said with a pause thinking about the treacherous woods that his people called Shadow Grove. Not only was it inhabited by robbers, murders, and all other types of criminals but it was swarming with poisonous animals and the fog that covered the Grove tended to play tricks on the mind and made men jumpy. It would take a lot of resources to travel that road safely. Good men died on that road if they were not very careful.

"Shadow Grove, it will take a lot to travel that road..But alright I know how important it is to you.." he said reluctantly.

Anna nodded, a small smile on her face. Her husband was a gem of a man, for other than her own departed father Anna knew of very few men who would be so generous as to supplement an ailing land's army with a portion of soldiers from their own defenses. "I know... and your generosity is but one thing among many things that I love you for."

She could hear the reluctance in his voice, and took his hand whether it was still sweaty from the woodcutting work or not. "I understand that road is not for the faint of heart. I just know the map shows that road as the shortest route. If you can think of any other way, I would gladly hear it..."

Anna paused. Dare she even make the request? If Zevrion knew, the chances were slim that he would allow it. But could she be so selfish as to neglect to say so much as a word? Her mother and siblings needed her... but didn't Zevrion and their people also need her as Wife and Lady? Anna bit her lip. "If it is not too terrible an imposition to you or the men you send to Riverstone, I've been considering the possibility of also making that journey. Mother has been holding off on a wake for my father and Connor, until Micah returns..."

Zevrion sighs and stroked his Ladies hand in thought, there were only a few Roads out of Whitewood, the South road was safer and passed through a land of a lord he was friends with, however the road went around the large Whitewood forest adding at least twice the travel time and distance to Riverstone.. Not the road to take if one was in a hurry.. the Shadow Grove road took a shortcut through the woods.. it was a old path, the original path into Whitewood some would say. It was the most direct road out, not just to Riverstone but to anywhere East of them.. But Shadow Grove was so Dangerous.. The people who lived in it saw them merely as prey, or intruders at best.. however if one brought a big enough armed force it was enough to give them pause..

"Anna... " he started he didn't want her to go, the thought of her getting hurt on that road a grim and painful one. "I can't keep you here if you wish to go, it is just as much your right to see your family as anyones.. I'll make arrangements if that is your wish. I think we can manage without you for a little while" he said with a small smile. Though the reluctance was still clear in his eyes.

Anna replied with a small, somewhat pained smile. She could see he didn't want her to go. Her secret made it all the more complicated. The Lady of House Greywolf sighed. "It's a difficult choice, Ma vhenan. I do wish to see my family, if only for a scant time... but by the same token, it is not my wish to cause you worry."

Deep blue eyes regarded the grass their owner stood on for several moments. "Give me some time to consider the options. If I choose completely that I wish to visit my family for a short while, I will take my crossbow... and you've assigned to me the most able of Lady-Guards as my lady-in-waiting, have you not? Between these things, the men you send on that road, and some clever trickery I could put together to resemble the famed abilities of the Higher Mysteries... am I not well-protected?"

Zevrion traced Anna's Jaw a moment considering what she had to say, he would worry about her regardless of how much protection she had. But he also knew just cause he worried didn't give him the right to keep her against her will.

"Well protected doesn't mean invincible Ma vhenanI will worry regardless, but I will live with it if you must go. I know you are capable of defending yourself and Aurora is the most capable fighter I have ever known.. You will most likely arrive in Riverstone healthy and unharmed.. I must remind myself of that." he said softly and kissed her forehead. It didn't matter how well protected something was.. nothing was ever completely safe.. his Parents and home were destroyed and they had a full army at there disposal.. they should have been completely safe and they were not.

Though it was true some places were more stable then others and shadow Grove what hardly stable at all.

" Whatever you decide.. you have my support" he said giving her a nod.

Anna leaned into the touch. She often took her time with her words, and as a result was patient enough to allow others that same time to measure their own responses. Zevrion always seemed to worry but Anna knew well that her husband had his reasons aside from the danger of the particular route she suggested. Anna had never spied a dragon... but something told her it was the last creature she would want to see in the flesh, regardless of any majesty they may or may not possess.

The woman smiled, and for her husband's support she leaned forward to place a kiss on his cheek, "I will give it more thought, and decide before evening." She thought a moment of Elias and his situation. Zevrion had also experienced similar dilemmas and situations. "Would you be willing to give my brother counsel on what it was like for you to begin ruling your House at such a young age? By my mother's letter, I get the sense that Elias may benefit from it and might find it a great relief he is not alone."

Zevrion thought of what he could say to young Elias and rubbed his chin in thought "Yes.. I imagine he isn't having the best time of it right now.. The pressure is immense for a young lord not fully prepared for the role..." he said thinking. "I certainly went through hell and back hmm" he said softly continuing to think.

"I could go with the men to Riverstone.. and yourself if you do decide to go.. I am sure the Castellan can handle the normal coming and goings around here.. and the Maester can look after Ilmarinen while we are away.." he said thinking perhaps he should go to Riverstone, help Elias out and help turn the Frosts around should they come looking for trouble. Of course it was still Elias's Manor he would help advise nothing more... and he would put is men under the commanding knights command.. With the exception of Aurora of course.. she was to stay at Anna's side

"What do you think?" he asked wondering her opinion on the idea.

Anna kept silent while Zevrion thought. It had been a considerable, new pressure for her to assume the role of Lady when she married her husband. The only difference between her and Elias, other than the gender and anticipated roles of their stations, was that Anna had been groomed to take up such a position. Elias, being the third-born son, hadn’t had much time or opportunity for such lessons. No one knew that Micah would be forced into exile and stripped of his title. No one knew Connor would fall in battle without an heir.

Deep blue eyes perked up at the thought of Zevrion also venturing to Riverstone. That would certainly alleviate the untold secret buried within the azure depths. Anna nodded, quickly following her husband’s line of logic. Ilmarinen would miss them, she was sure... but he was a bright boy and would understand. Anna could see Ilmarinen sitting in his father’s chair long after the Castellan saw to business, pretending to be Lord of a host of invisible subjects awaiting audience with him. The imagined scenario almost made Anna chuckle with amusement.

When asked for her opinion, Anna dispelled her daydream of sorts and took a few moments to think. “I believe the Castellan is an able man... and we should talk to Ilmarinen about this regardless of who does or does not make their way to Riverstone,” she said, pausing to consider what else needed to be addressed. Anna could think of little else: it wasn’t uncommon for the Lord and Lady to venture beyond their lands in certain circumstances, and they agreed on temporary replacements and a caretaker for their son. She wasn’t certain how receptive Elias would be to counsel... but if he hadn’t changed much since she last saw him, then he would find the added advice helpful. That seemed to cover everything...

“I’m confident you would lead the men well through the dangers of Shadow Grove, though like you I would worry while you’re away. However, in the event I do join the company to Riverstone, your presence would make the journey more enjoyable,” she added. Even after years of marriage to Zevrion, Anna felt a modest tinge of pink cascade across her cheeks.