A sudden knock on the door awakened Serena from her deep sleep. She turned back the warm quilts and shivered as the early morning chill nipped at her body. Morning's pale light filtered through the grimy window and lit up the room with a greyish glow. The sun obviously had no desire to show its face after such a beastly storm.
"Serena, are you awake?" a voice called and she recognized it as Peter's. Serena padded to the door and answered, "Yes, I will be ready shortly."
Hurriedly Serena dressed in the same golden frock and ruby red cape. She ran her fingers through the mass of raven curls that loomed and hung to her waist. She spun the thick tresses up into a loose bun at the nape of her neck and secured it with several small hair pins. Before exiting the room, Serena noticed the basin of water that sat atop the wardrobe. She splashed the icy water onto her face and used her cape to wipe it dry.
Peter watched in awe as Serena descended the crude wooden staircase and met her at the bottom when she tiptoed to the main floor area. He was dressed in a maroon colored velvet doublet and dark brown breeches that ended at the knees where his shiny leather boots began.
"You look radiant!" he exclaimed taking her hand into his and drawing it to his lips for a gentle kiss. Serena blushed and smoothed the loose curls that spiraled down the sides her face, framing its oval shape.
"Shall you join me for breakfast, yes? You cannot travel without sustenance." Serena looked unsure and would have declined had her stomach not growled in protest demanding that she eat.
"Of course." she smiled and allowed Peter to usher her into the already crowded tavern-like dining hall.
They were seated at a small table and a tall thin waitress appeared to take their order. She wore a pale blue dress of worn cotton, the neckline a bit too low and too revealing for such a young woman. Her thick auburn hair hung loosely down her back. She smiled at the couple and handed them a poorly written menu.
''What would ye two like to drink?" she asked politely. Peter looked at Serena then to the waitress, trying not to let his eyes gaze upon her decolletage.
"I'll have some hot apple cider."
"The same please." Serena said nervously. The young woman nodded and made her way to the bar to fill their drinks.
She soon returned with two large mugs full and nearly overflowing with fresh mulled cider. Peter and Serena placed their order and waited in awkward silence for their food to be prepared.
Serena glanced at Peter and smiled shyly then averted her eyes, taking in the dining hall. Thankfully, there seemed to be no drunken men and no sign of the burly Scotsman from the day before. All of the tables appeared full, she noticed men, women, and children all seated, breaking their fast together, laughing and carrying on in pleasant chatter.
When the waitress finally appeared bearing a wooden tray that contained their meal, Serena was greatly relieved. Her eyes widened with hunger as a thin wooden plate of ham fricassee, two eggs over easy, and a slice of bread that was smothered in onion gravy was placed before her.
"Hope ye enjoy it. If ye be needing anything, just call me name. It be Evergreen by the way." the woman smiled then set about tending to the other tables, refilling mugs of cider and fresh brewed ale. Serena immediately began slicing through the ham and eggs with the side of the crooked wooden fork that she held in her hand. She was grateful that the ham was smoked perfectly and not heavily salted.
"What a strange name!" Peter said breaking the silence as he tore off a hunk of bread and stuffed it in his mouth.
"Yes. I have never heard such a name." Serena raised a cloth napkin to her mouth, dabbing the corners of her lips.
"I wonder what on earth possessed the girl's mother to bestow to her that particular name."
The young couple continued their meal in silence and after they had wiped clean both of their plates, Peter payed for their meal and they wandered off to the stables to retrieve Serena's mare, Aerionna. Peter payed the stable hand and turned to face Serena. He watched her with sparkling eyes as she rubbed her horse's neck, whispering a quaint 'good morning' into the animal's ear.
"You are very fond of your Shire." he observed. Serena whirled around a bit embarrassed.
"Yes. Aerionna is truly my only friend." Peter nodded and walked towards her, his boots making little crunching noises in the soft snow.
"Well Serena Noelle Huff, consider me your new friend!" his handsome face beamed into a wide smile that revealed his glistening white teeth. Serena smiled.
"Thank you, Peter Longstride, for everything...." she turned to Aerionna and in one graceful step, she swung herself up into the saddle and sat up straight and poised.
"...I shall never forget how you rescued me in my time of need. You..." she paused, unsure if she should say the words that her heart compelled her mouth to speak.
"...you are my hero." she said finally.
Peter, taken back by this woman's spirit and grace was speechless. He fumbled around then opened his mouth to speak.
"I am obliged, Miss Serena." he smiled and pulled the hood of his ebony black cape over his head, hiding the bushel of golden curls that graced his head and framed his handsome face perfectly.
"If the need ever rises, I shall rescue you again and again- a hundred times more even!" Serena let out a little laugh that warmed Peter's frozen cheeks. Even on this grey and gloomy day, this young damsel had the power to sparkle and shine like a diamond that sat directly in the light of the sun.
"And I shall gladly stand back and let you rescue me a hundred times more.'' she said happily then clicked her tongue motioning her mare forward. Peter stepped close and halted the horse by taking holds on the reigns. He looked up into Serena's face, taking in her rosy pink cheeks, soft red lips and dazzling golden eyes. He stood breathless in her presence. She surely had to be the most beautiful maiden he had ever laid eyes upon.
"Until we meet again." his voice was low and held such promise and certainty. Serena said nothing but returned a polite smile. She tapped Aerionna's sides with the heels of her leather boots and the Shire mare took off at a gallop, slinging clumps of fresh snow behind her.
Peter watched as the horse twisted and turned through the snow covered streets of the town, Serena's red cape floated in the breeze behind her. Her hood fell from her face and the wind loosened the bun that her hair was tied into. The mass of raven black curls danced in the wind along with the cape behind her.
Peter shook his head and smiled. There was a woman with a spirit that no man could tame, he was sure of it. She may have grown fearful in a dire situation but she still possessed bravery and courage unlike any woman he had ever known.
And she's one bloody good rider!" Peter thought to himself as he watched the red silhouette of Serena's cape fade into the distant hills. Deep down inside, he hoped with all his might that some day fate would bring them together again.
"Serena, are you awake?" a voice called and she recognized it as Peter's. Serena padded to the door and answered, "Yes, I will be ready shortly."
Hurriedly Serena dressed in the same golden frock and ruby red cape. She ran her fingers through the mass of raven curls that loomed and hung to her waist. She spun the thick tresses up into a loose bun at the nape of her neck and secured it with several small hair pins. Before exiting the room, Serena noticed the basin of water that sat atop the wardrobe. She splashed the icy water onto her face and used her cape to wipe it dry.
Peter watched in awe as Serena descended the crude wooden staircase and met her at the bottom when she tiptoed to the main floor area. He was dressed in a maroon colored velvet doublet and dark brown breeches that ended at the knees where his shiny leather boots began.
"You look radiant!" he exclaimed taking her hand into his and drawing it to his lips for a gentle kiss. Serena blushed and smoothed the loose curls that spiraled down the sides her face, framing its oval shape.
"Shall you join me for breakfast, yes? You cannot travel without sustenance." Serena looked unsure and would have declined had her stomach not growled in protest demanding that she eat.
"Of course." she smiled and allowed Peter to usher her into the already crowded tavern-like dining hall.
They were seated at a small table and a tall thin waitress appeared to take their order. She wore a pale blue dress of worn cotton, the neckline a bit too low and too revealing for such a young woman. Her thick auburn hair hung loosely down her back. She smiled at the couple and handed them a poorly written menu.
''What would ye two like to drink?" she asked politely. Peter looked at Serena then to the waitress, trying not to let his eyes gaze upon her decolletage.
"I'll have some hot apple cider."
"The same please." Serena said nervously. The young woman nodded and made her way to the bar to fill their drinks.
She soon returned with two large mugs full and nearly overflowing with fresh mulled cider. Peter and Serena placed their order and waited in awkward silence for their food to be prepared.
Serena glanced at Peter and smiled shyly then averted her eyes, taking in the dining hall. Thankfully, there seemed to be no drunken men and no sign of the burly Scotsman from the day before. All of the tables appeared full, she noticed men, women, and children all seated, breaking their fast together, laughing and carrying on in pleasant chatter.
When the waitress finally appeared bearing a wooden tray that contained their meal, Serena was greatly relieved. Her eyes widened with hunger as a thin wooden plate of ham fricassee, two eggs over easy, and a slice of bread that was smothered in onion gravy was placed before her.
"Hope ye enjoy it. If ye be needing anything, just call me name. It be Evergreen by the way." the woman smiled then set about tending to the other tables, refilling mugs of cider and fresh brewed ale. Serena immediately began slicing through the ham and eggs with the side of the crooked wooden fork that she held in her hand. She was grateful that the ham was smoked perfectly and not heavily salted.
"What a strange name!" Peter said breaking the silence as he tore off a hunk of bread and stuffed it in his mouth.
"Yes. I have never heard such a name." Serena raised a cloth napkin to her mouth, dabbing the corners of her lips.
"I wonder what on earth possessed the girl's mother to bestow to her that particular name."
The young couple continued their meal in silence and after they had wiped clean both of their plates, Peter payed for their meal and they wandered off to the stables to retrieve Serena's mare, Aerionna. Peter payed the stable hand and turned to face Serena. He watched her with sparkling eyes as she rubbed her horse's neck, whispering a quaint 'good morning' into the animal's ear.
"You are very fond of your Shire." he observed. Serena whirled around a bit embarrassed.
"Yes. Aerionna is truly my only friend." Peter nodded and walked towards her, his boots making little crunching noises in the soft snow.
"Well Serena Noelle Huff, consider me your new friend!" his handsome face beamed into a wide smile that revealed his glistening white teeth. Serena smiled.
"Thank you, Peter Longstride, for everything...." she turned to Aerionna and in one graceful step, she swung herself up into the saddle and sat up straight and poised.
"...I shall never forget how you rescued me in my time of need. You..." she paused, unsure if she should say the words that her heart compelled her mouth to speak.
"...you are my hero." she said finally.
Peter, taken back by this woman's spirit and grace was speechless. He fumbled around then opened his mouth to speak.
"I am obliged, Miss Serena." he smiled and pulled the hood of his ebony black cape over his head, hiding the bushel of golden curls that graced his head and framed his handsome face perfectly.
"If the need ever rises, I shall rescue you again and again- a hundred times more even!" Serena let out a little laugh that warmed Peter's frozen cheeks. Even on this grey and gloomy day, this young damsel had the power to sparkle and shine like a diamond that sat directly in the light of the sun.
"And I shall gladly stand back and let you rescue me a hundred times more.'' she said happily then clicked her tongue motioning her mare forward. Peter stepped close and halted the horse by taking holds on the reigns. He looked up into Serena's face, taking in her rosy pink cheeks, soft red lips and dazzling golden eyes. He stood breathless in her presence. She surely had to be the most beautiful maiden he had ever laid eyes upon.
"Until we meet again." his voice was low and held such promise and certainty. Serena said nothing but returned a polite smile. She tapped Aerionna's sides with the heels of her leather boots and the Shire mare took off at a gallop, slinging clumps of fresh snow behind her.
Peter watched as the horse twisted and turned through the snow covered streets of the town, Serena's red cape floated in the breeze behind her. Her hood fell from her face and the wind loosened the bun that her hair was tied into. The mass of raven black curls danced in the wind along with the cape behind her.
Peter shook his head and smiled. There was a woman with a spirit that no man could tame, he was sure of it. She may have grown fearful in a dire situation but she still possessed bravery and courage unlike any woman he had ever known.
And she's one bloody good rider!" Peter thought to himself as he watched the red silhouette of Serena's cape fade into the distant hills. Deep down inside, he hoped with all his might that some day fate would bring them together again.