The Ivory Tower - Midlands

Isolation... It was self imposed for Terra... She did not wish to leave her ivory tower but for the banks of the nearby rivers, such as the one close to the entrance. She sat in the soft grass, the delicate tapered digits plucking away at the strings of a harp. Her eyes were closed, head slightly tilted, feet tucked into skirts while said harp rested gently against her shoulder. Soft music drifted upward, and the breeze gently tugged at golden hair that lay loose down her spine. Silver eyes would open to the skies as a few droplets of rain touched her cheeks.

With a soft sigh, she stilled the strings with her palms, stood with the harp and took it into her tower. She'd place the object in the foyer for later use, then enter the hall to go toward a window where she had pillows and cushions scattered about. She peered out the window, touching the cool glass with finger tips and trying not to wish for the things she could not have.

She heard the sound of the male voice, of the trotting horse, and perked up. She peered out the window and frowned... It had been a very long time since anyone had laid eyes upon this tower, let alone sought for life within. Terra unfolded and stood, padding to the door to the balcony and peering out, silvery eye finding her query with little to no effort.

He might hear the little gasp and then see the curious face peeking out from the door if he followed his ears. If he did look at her, she'd dart inside and the door would be left ajar in her wake. She wasn't sure what else to do!

Up to the very top of the tower she darted, up up up until she reached the tower room. She nibbled on her fingernails as she tried to see what the man was up to.

Princess? She blinked and peered again, this time down the stairs. But only long enough to see he was following her. Not knowing what else to do, she took a flying leap out the window, transitioning as she fell... She would have hit the ground with a sickening crunch, but beautiful wings of blue and pink lifted her, not as a girl, but as a winged horse, up and away from the ground. 

She padded out quietly, behind him at this point... "But I'm no princess," she said in confusion, "And I know of no witch or this... Prince you speak of." Oh, but that voice was as delicate as she was, very soft spoken and had an almost musical quality to her voice. She "I am in no need of rescuing, for my isolation is self imposed... I didn't wish to be found."

She was extremely pretty up close, and did fit the description of what most people might consider a princess looks like... But she was no princess. She'd long, golden hair, with silver eyes and a rather lovely shaped face. She looked young with wise eyes.

"Who is Prince Ryse?" She asked this in curiosity, a tawny brow lifting in question. She bit into the fullness of her bottom lip as she gave him a once-over as well.

The girl blushed and ducked her head. "I know no Prince Ryse and I'm no princess." But the flying bit had her alarmed... That meant that she wasn't as alone in this valley as she might have thought. She said, "I won't go." And then she whirled around, walking back to her tower. She paused at the door and said, "Please tell your prince he is mistaken." And then she was inside again.

It started to downpour within moments, so he had two choices... He could follow her into the unlocked tower, which would further solidify her claim she was never captured, or he could take shelter in the woods... But he'd get drenched before reaching them.

Inside, she went back to her pillow pile and flopped down, sighing and putting her hand on her forehead. She must not have been careful... She was always careful... She rarely ever changed in front of anyone... Ever... This was not good.

"I know what princesses get, I'm the bastard daughter of a king." She shrugged and looked toward him. "Think about this... My door was unlocked and you freely walked in..." She sat up, "Surely you are observant enough to see that I'm not captured, there us no dastardly villain keeping me here, nor witch, nor any force beyond my own. If I had wished to be rescued, do you not think I would go with you? I care not that he's a prince, I don't know him and I'm perfectly happy without all of those things."

But why did she seem so morose? Perhaps it was in tandem with the fact she had been by herself for quite some time... Precisely to avoid gaining attention with her unusual gift of becoming a pegasus. She stood up and moved to him, her cheeks a nice pink color as she reached to grasp the wet clothing he'd peeled off, "Come by the fire, you'll catch your death." She did all she could to avert her attention. If he let go of the clothes, she would lay them out to dry by the heat of the hearth.

"This is the home I chose. I cleaned it of debris and I sewed all of my tapestries. I wanted this." Only, she didn't like being alone. She was just... being safe.

"Come now... He sent you... He didn't bother to come on his own... Tell me why you would ever think that is love?" She lay the clothes out, then grabbed for the patch-work quilt she had sewn. "I'm happy enough," she continued, "I've a roof over my head and food in my belly... I've got my harp..." She trailed off and busied herself with draping the quilt around his shoulders. "Why would I be unhappy?"

Terra cleared her throat and padded to the kitchen to fill a mug with hot cider, served up a bowl of chicken broth with biscuit like dumplings, some bread, cheese, and fruit, then brought the whole lot to him. She set the wooden tray next to him. "You may sleep here tonight if you wish... The room in the tower has a comfortable bed. I cannot go with you, though."

She returned to her pile of pillows and stared out the window, then, watching as the rain drizzled down the glass. She pressed her forehead to said window and idly followed a drop with her finger.

He would be able to take in how comfortable she had made her little tower... How the stone walls were whitewashed and draped with colorful fabrics, there were Katashiman silks and rugs, tables carved from Usque woods, and beautifully embroidered tapestries featuring unicorns and pegasi... There were hand sewn quilts everywhere, too, which meant she filled her days somehow... And the place was so clean that one could lick the floor. For her being alone, she'd created something so very warm and welcoming...

She shook her head as she watched him walk with a swagger. "If you mean you and your horse, I bid you good luck." She blushed as he had neared, but deliberately kept her eyes averted. Then she stood again and quietly walked out into the rain with a pail for well water. She hauled several buckets full up the stairs, one by one, to fill a cauldron. She filled her tub halfway, intent on getting a hot bath in before bed, and also to distract her from the man who was causing her insides to twist.

"I've carried up enough water for two baths," she said eventually, setting the bucket near the front door... "If this is a mausoleum, then my tub is my coffin," she quipped too cheerfully, "Eat and make yourself at home. I'm going to soak." With that, she went back up the stairs, and he would hear a door close.

In her bathing chamber, she peeled the wet dress from her frame and eased into the hot water up to her chin. The scent of rose oil filled her nostrils, and she rested her head against the rim of the copper tub, wrapping her arms around her knees.

There was no way she was leaving with the man in the morning... She snorted at the very idea of leaving her safe haven. Hah! The nerve of the stranger to even think she would want to. A slow smile formed on her face as she dozed a little, able to think more clearly without his visage in her face. He certainly was good looking, though a mite cocky. And he never even bothered to ask her for her name!

Terra hadn't bothered giving it or asking for his... Oh well, it was of no consequence, for he would be well and gone come morning, right? She relaxed her legs and draped her arms over the rim.

She felt herself relax further and further as the smell of the rose oil drifted up to her nose. The water was so... warm... And because it was a copper tub, it stayed warm for quite some time... Ahh, but she was starting to doze as she gazed out the window... The rain had slowed to a soft pattering, and thunder rumbled in the distance. She started humming a song to the offbeat rhythm, pantomiming the plucking of the harp as she wrote a new melody in her head. She would have to play it later.

Terra dozed off that way, her fingers still plucking at invisible strings, the melody dying in her throat. Goodness, but she was so relaxed. She woke up with a start just as her head dipped under the water, sputtering and coughing. Then, with a yawn, she stood up and pulled the stopper out of the drain she'd asked to be put in by the one who built the tub, and the water drained into the groove in the floor, flowing toward the outside to the cistern she used for collecting gray water, which was used to clean her floors and clothing after boiling.

She rubbed a linen towel over herself and moved to sit on the stone bench. The towel dropped around her waist and she began to brush her long hair with a soft bristled brush, humming the tune again. If he came in, he would see that she had the curves of a young lady, and would bloom if she ever became a mother. She had twin dimples on her back, and the muscles of one who did all kinds of work.

Terra began to braid her hair for sleeping, as it tended to tangle if she didn't. If he was stealthy enuough, he might catch her unaware, for she was lost in her own world for the moment.