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[Merleena]

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Merleena took the rolled up parchment from Elise. “What is this?” she asked. “It was delivered just now by a servant from the house of Goodman, M’lady”, Elise replied cautiously watching her Mistresses’ face for a reaction. “Lord Elrin Goodman the merchant?” she wondered aloud. Elise nodded and slipped away quietly. She had recently had Elise to take some of her things to Luna to sell them. She must have taken them to Goodman’s Merleena thought. Among those items, was her wedding ring. She had held onto it for such a long time, hoping that her husband would return to her. Since learning of his death a few weeks ago, the ring had lost its sentiment. It only reminded her of what she no longer had. So, she had asked Elise to sell it. She couldn’t look upon it anymore. Unrolling the parchment, she read:

Lady Eridani,

Forgive my boldness in writing you after all these years. I promised not to contact you, but I must take back that promise. I have learned of your husband’s death. There is nothing holding you to that castle now. I pray you’ll come to me. I await your word.

Goodman

Her heart raced as she read the letter. So many years had past since she had spoken to him. Her mind recalled the day they last spoke…

She and Syrina had gone to Britain to look for a dress for her wedding. They visited the dressmaker and left a deposit of gold after specifying a style and cloth she wanted for the dress. She was so happy then. So young and in love, back when the world was good and she did not know heartache. As they made their way back to the stables west of town to retrieve their horses, they were forced to move to the far side of the bridge to let through a small caravan. That’s when she saw him. He sat high on the black mare. His long hair hung down his back like a lion’s mane. She swallowed hard as he stopped abruptly and stepped off his horse, staring directly at her. He walked directly over to Syrina, greeting her warmly, but keeping his eyes locked on Merleena’s face. “And who is your young friend Lady Losstarot? Syrina smiled and introduced Merleena to him. He took her hand and brought it to his lips to kiss the back of it. She thought at that moment she had never seen a man so handsome and then quickly chided herself as she, somewhat reluctantly, remembered her impending marriage to Seldszar. She pulled her hand away and tore her eyes away from him. “Very nice to meet you Sir” she managed to get out. That evening, Syrina went with her husband to some social event and left Merleena busy packing her things in preparation to move in with Seldszar after the wedding the next day. His was a small home. Just barely big enough for her meager belongings and his together. As she walked from room to room looking for anything she may have missed, her thoughts went back to earlier that day. Oh but he was handsome! And his eyes….deep green that seemed to propel you recklessly into some utterly powerless state. She was suddenly startled out of her daydream when the watchman came to announce a visitor. “Lord and Lady Losstarot are not here. You know that Lewis.” She scolded. “Yes M’lady, I know. He did not ask for them, he asked for you.” “For me?” she asked incredulously. He nodded and told her the visitor waited for her in the garden. She saw the imposing figure he cast against the soft backdrop of flowers even before she stepped through the garden gate. He turned when he heard her approach. She felt rooted to the spot where she stood until he raised his arm and beckoned her to him with outstretched fingers, and then, before she thought to protest, she was moving toward him. He took her immediately into his arms and held her to him. His arms around her caused her to forget momentarily that she was promised to another. “You must belong to me. I can have it no other way” he whispered softly into her hair. She felt herself giving into that dream, but she pulled herself away from him. He looked at her in almost disbelief as she told him of her betrothal to Seldszar and her upcoming marriage. “Come with me, Merleena. Come live in my castle and be my wife.” Slowly she shook her head. “No, Lord Goodman. I am in love with my betrothed and cannot break my promise to him. Please leave me. This cannot be.” He moved reluctantly to the gate and paused to turn back to her. “A day will come when your promises to that man are for naught. I will wait for that day. When it is here, I will come for you.” She closed her eyes against the tears that cascaded down her cheeks and when she was able to open them again, he was gone.

True to his word, he had not contacted her and left her to her new life. She’d heard news of him over the years. He had done well for himself and to her knowledge, had never taken a wife. Pulling her out of the past, Elise drew near to her and asked, “Shall I have the stable boy ready your steed M’lady?” Smiling to herself Merleena told her that yes, today was a good day for a ride and she turned and rushed up the stairs to dress for travel.
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