We return to that previous evening…
Brigitte and the two recovering brothers watched the stormy exchange between the husband and wife. Ironically the espoused pair were the only two who never thought of themselves that way. Brigitte knew of this fact, and the two brothers were dawning on this realization.
Dimitri watched his friend's wife stalk off into the woods. Seeing him not dash after her he opened his mouth, "You should…"
The Sovereign stuck his hand up and he closed his mouth, glancing at his brother with a shrug.
The husband then disappeared into the forest as well, all three remaining hoped that he did so to find his wife.
Brigitte still stood, her eyes staring at the spot where both her Queen and Sovereign had left. Sighing inaudibly she knelt and stoked the fire.
"They do that often?" She looked up at the sound of Lord Dimitri's voice.
She regarded his question and shook her head, "Not often, my Lord, but occasionally."
He nodded and silence pervaded the area.
"You say that you escaped with the Sovereign and Queen, how?" Lord Ariston—whom she had nearly forgotten was there—asked.
She answered honestly and in a clear voice, "I am her majesty's personal maid, and I volunteered to go with her."
"That was very brave of you." Lord Dimitri said, awe clear in his voice.
Pinkness coloured her cheeks and she wrung her hands that sat on her lap, "I did not want her majesty to be alone during… this."
'But I had hoped that Hadok would be here.' She finished in her mind, her face sobering at the remembrance of the father figure.
"Why do you frown?" Lord Dimitri asked.
She glanced up, "I do not frown." Then recovering herself she added, "Apologies my Lord, I simply thought of something."
She stood wanting to busy herself and fetched a water-skin, "Do you need drink, my Lords?"
"Ah, thank you. I am parched." Lord Dimitri said enthusiastically.
She smiled warmly at his behaviour and carried the water-skin to him. As he drank she observed him closer; his hair was straight and brushed his shoulders, its colour was a dark brown that tinged gold with the firelight. His beard was thick and covered the lower half of his face. But through the dark coloured hair she could see that his skin was tanned and held an appealing golden hue to it. She knew that his eyes were black, like the jewels on the crowns that her Sovereign and Queen wore.
Being reminded of her Queen she tore her gaze away and her mind filled with worry for the younger woman. The Lord had now finished in quenching his thirst.
"Thank you." He handed her back the water-skin and she nodded, becoming mute out of chagrin for staring at his face.
The Lord then stretched out his limbs and held his hands behind his head, resting his head on them, "Nothing like pure Wanington water to quench one's thirst." He said closing his eyes seeming satisfied.
She bit her lip as she handed the skin to Lord Ariston who'd gestured for the object.
"I'm afraid it isn't Wanington water."
Lord Dimitri cracked his eye open, "It isn't?"
She shook her head, "No. We are in Crescent and I drew it from a small stream just south of here."
He nodded, "Well, it tasted just as well." Closing his eyes he soon fell to sleep.
Lord Ariston finished his drink and handed the skin to Brigitte who received it and brought it back to it's home.
"You'll have to excuse my brother. He does not know when to stop speaking." He said as she sat by the fire on the opposite side of the brothers.
She smiled gently, her teeth showing, "That is fine. At least his words are kind."
Ariston nodded, indeed they were. By his brother's words that night he could see that he had taken a liking to the maid.
The moon had now risen fully and the stars were sparkling brightly.
"Will you go after them?" He asked, watching the trees where the rulers of Cadarama had gone off into.
She shook her head, eying the same place, "No. I'm sure they will be fine."
When the maid still had not fallen asleep Ariston couldn't help but speak, "You should sleep."
Her eyelids were drooping and her limbs moved lethargically. Yawning, she answered, "I am alright. You sleep my Lord. I will sleep when I know they are safe."
He raised his chin, understanding her reason, "As you said, I am sure they will be fine. Sleep." He closed his eyes feigning sleep and soon heard the rustle of fabric. He slit his eyes open to see that the woman was fast asleep.
When morning arrived the three awoke with the sun and Brigitte began to tidy the camp, tend to the horses and began to prepare a meagre breakfast containing stale bread and some old grapes.
"Apologies my Lords, it's not much." She said as she split the loaf in half.
Dimitri flashed a smile, he was still seated with his back to the tree, his brother the same, "There is no harm, my lady."
Brigitte faltered in her movements as she bent forward to hand him the food, her blonde hair spilling over her shoulder, "I-I am no lady, my Lord"
"No? Then I am not a Lord." His white teeth shone beneath his moustache.
Her brows drew together confused, as did Ariston's. She pursed her lips and stood to hand the younger brother his food.
Sitting, she started another fire and waited for her Queen and the Sovereign to appear.
"Did you sleep well, my lady?" Dimitri asked.
She looked up, alarmed at his use of the nonexistent title again, "I…I did. Did you, my Lord?"
He nodded relaxedly, "Very well."
Footsteps alerted the group to the trees and they saw the Queen emerge from the greenery and behind her the Sovereign.
The Queen looked confused and angry. The Sovereign looked perplexed, but not angry.
Brigitte hurriedly stood, "Your majesty. Are you alright?"
The Queen paused, her fists clenching and unclenching, "Yes Brigitte. I am fine."
Brigitte nodded but knew that her Queen was not. Her eyes glanced at the two men sitting at the base of a tree and met the black eyes of a certain Lord who was smiling encouragingly back.