Wenn & Wolf Tales

wwe0320

~~~ Unexpected Visitor ~~~

The moon was rising high. Wenn looked from there back to the shining white wolf and then toward the front gates. "Tis late and I am grateful for this evening's lessons, but I'm also rather tired. I think I should return to Camelot now." When she looked back to Wolf, he was padding toward the Keep doors, but he paused and turned to communicate with her, **You have seen that there is no one about but me and my staff. There is room for you to stay here if you wish.**

"I do appreciate your hospitality, m'Lord Wolf, but it would be highly inappropriate, would it not?"

The wolf snickered, **Yes, I suppose it would appear so to some. At least come in and rest a bit with a brandy or such. I'll have the chamberlain fetch the carriage around.**

"Well... alright." She would not admit that she was now coming down hard from all the excitement of learning to shift and was nearly ready to drop. She truly had no personal qualms about staying in the Keep tonight for she knew Lord Wolf to be honorable and assumed they would be quartered away from each other. Yet, such innocent circumstances often ended up as damaging rumors. So, she would follow him back into the great hall for a brief respite, then have him send her home.

Alas, the evening's activities plus a cozy hearth, a comfy chair, a spot of warm peach brandy... did her in. Wenndolyne set her glass aside and picked up a lovely peach-colored rose decorating the tray. She rested her hands in her lap and pondered the unusual color of the rose as she twisted it, then slowly her eyes drifted closed as she relaxed into a nap.

Wolf grinned, albeit a wolfish grin. He had still not changed to his human form but instead lounged on the rug before the hearth while watching Wenn give in to sleep. Very shortly, he lowered his own head to his paws and let his own eyes drift closed. The chamberlain did not disturb either of them, but informed the carriage driver that he may not be needed after all.

After napping for a good bit, Wenn slowly awakened and turned in her seat to see Sir Poet standing in the middle of Wolf Keep's great hall. "Poet!" she called out in surprise and rose from her chair to run across to him. He welcomed her in a warm hug, then walked her back toward the hearth, with his arm wrapped around her waist.

"I cannot believe you're here! What brings you? I mean..." she giggled as she stumbled over what to say through her shock.

Poet grinned and winked then whispered, "While the wolf's away?"

She quickly pressed her fingers over Poet's lips. "Ssshhh. He is not away. He sleeps there. See?" But she barely looked at the sleeping wolf before gazing back into Poet's soulful eyes. "What had you in mind, sir?" Now her own grin was decidedly sneaky.

He turned her and softly brushed her cheek then leaned forward to kiss the same spot. Wenn sighed against such a tender kiss which ended all too quickly as he leaned back again to speak. "M'Lady, my time here is limited as yet." He glanced aside to the sleeping wolf then back to a sadness in Wenn's eyes.

"But, I have missed you so."

"And I... I have missed thee as well, M'Lady."

She searched for something in his face, something unsaid by his words alone, but spoken in his hesitation. Wenn suddenly felt as though she'd assumed too much in thinking he was here to see her and that assumption had been in error. He seemed distracted, and despite his gestures... uninterested? Wenn stepped away from Poet and sat in her chair again. He turned toward the doors as he spoke to her, perhaps wanting to hide what was in his heart or perhaps not wanting to see the tears forming in Wenn's eyes. "I should not have come here."

Wenn's voice was choked, "Perhaps not, but... It is good to see you again." She watched as Poet lowered his head. His voice grew ever more quiet, "Aye, as it is good to see thee, M'Lady."

He had to have heard her short sob as she fought the tears threatening to roll down her cheek. In a mere second, Sir Poet came to her. He knelt before her and cupped her face in his hands. Her eyes glistened in the firelight as he leaned forward to kiss Wenn full on the mouth and she returned it in kind. Perhaps he did still want her after all.

Then suddenly, Poet was gone.

Wenn awoke from napping in the chair and looked down at the rose in her hands. Had he left it? Had Poet--- No, Sir Poet had not been here. The rose had come from the serving tray. She looked around at the shadowed great hall, with only firelight flickering across the form of the white wolf sleeping before the hearth. And Wenn, still sat in the chair where she'd had a brandy, a nap, and a dream which left tears on her cheeks.

As she wiped at her face, the wolf stirred, **M'Lady? Is all well with you?**

She tried to push away the dream and the sadness, while her coarse whisper lied, "Yes, m'lord." She turned in her chair, trying to hide the moisture sparkling on her cheeks and further tears welling up to spill over. Wolf lowered his head to his paws again, unsure what the trouble was or how to assist, but he could not sit and watch her sobbing.

As Wolf rose to his paws, Wenn jumped up from her chair and ran toward the keep doors. He padded after her, not chasing, but following, until she stopped out in the courtyard. He sat some distance behind her, scenting the air to see if there was danger or if all the turmoil he sensed was within the woman herself.

Wenndolyne dropped to her knees and stared at the rose still in her hands. Why had Poet come back, even to her mind? She looked out across the vague shapes in the moonlight, as if half expecting Poet to appear out there, but of course, he did not. She hugged herself, shivering from the cool night and the sadness that threatened to shake her apart. She whispered into the sudden wind that blew around her, and with her aching heart, she wished her voice could be carried to him, "My Poet...." Then, she curled over and sobbed aloud.

Behind her, Wolf's own eyes were glistening with tears and he raised his head to howl into the night sky, to sing her sorrow with her, to vent her grief.

She was somewhat startled by the sound and looked around at Wolf. He rose, padded toward her, then passed Wenn to turn and face her. His eyes were sparkling like jewels, she thought, as she wiped again at her face. She paused to look at her hand. The rose's thorns had pricked her fingers. Ancient Wolf gently leaned forward and nuzzled Wenn's damp cheek. Within her mind came the most gentle and compassionate of urgings. **Run with me**

(dp/dj)