Post by Xiii on Jun 17, 2012 16:56:49 GMT -5
Three hours had passed since the sun had set beyond the horizon; three hours of long, arduous toil in drizzle that soaked her own skin and the beasts that stepped beside her along the dirt roads of Camelot. Despite her blatant dislike for exercising horses in rain, her generous boss had called upon her some time ago, sprouting some rubbish about a few extra coins in exchange for giving the two mares a nice long walk through the town. Most likely, their owners sat drinking at the bar, eager to leave or not spend another penny. But her boss, no, he would never let that happen. Take them out, he says, most likely to keep the men drinking for lack of their steeds.
It didn't much matter that she was soaked through to the skin, drenched from head to foot in mud and rain. The horses were in a similar state, meaning another job for her. More hooves and legs to wash, more blankets to clean as they became drenched with mud and sweat. She had tried her best to stick to the cobble stones, but a horse's hooves can only take so much of the harsh rock as they slip and slide on hazardous roads.
The stables themselves were quiet, as young Taillefer led the two bay mares to their stalls, but noise broke through thin walls and the shouts of drunken fools in the tavern resonated in her ears. They weren't quiet, men. But horses were. They understood how soothing the near silence could be, as they whickered and whinnied in their playful ways to one and other. The young woman could not help but smile at them, as she peeled her sodden hide jacket from her back, to reveal a dryer white shirt and cotton bodied waistcoat beneath. Dark and rainy or not, she still had work to do.
Most had been finished earlier in the day, such as the feeding and grooming of the other temporary stable residents, but her two walking companions needed a good clean before they closed their eyes. No doubt their owners would remain another night, too drunk to stand and too sober to venture out into the possibly dangerous weather. So, she got to work. Armed with a bucket, stool and a soft blanket, she slowly began to wash the forelegs of the first mare, offering soft reassurance as the thunder began to crack in the world beyond their thatched roof shelter.
It seemed it was going to be a long night. Whenever the weather turned, travellers diverted from their paths to seek shelter wherever possible. And the tavern was usually a good place to find refuge for those lost in the rain.
Tags: None, open to all.
Time & Place: Late evening, during a thunderstorm, in the tavern stables.
It didn't much matter that she was soaked through to the skin, drenched from head to foot in mud and rain. The horses were in a similar state, meaning another job for her. More hooves and legs to wash, more blankets to clean as they became drenched with mud and sweat. She had tried her best to stick to the cobble stones, but a horse's hooves can only take so much of the harsh rock as they slip and slide on hazardous roads.
The stables themselves were quiet, as young Taillefer led the two bay mares to their stalls, but noise broke through thin walls and the shouts of drunken fools in the tavern resonated in her ears. They weren't quiet, men. But horses were. They understood how soothing the near silence could be, as they whickered and whinnied in their playful ways to one and other. The young woman could not help but smile at them, as she peeled her sodden hide jacket from her back, to reveal a dryer white shirt and cotton bodied waistcoat beneath. Dark and rainy or not, she still had work to do.
Most had been finished earlier in the day, such as the feeding and grooming of the other temporary stable residents, but her two walking companions needed a good clean before they closed their eyes. No doubt their owners would remain another night, too drunk to stand and too sober to venture out into the possibly dangerous weather. So, she got to work. Armed with a bucket, stool and a soft blanket, she slowly began to wash the forelegs of the first mare, offering soft reassurance as the thunder began to crack in the world beyond their thatched roof shelter.
It seemed it was going to be a long night. Whenever the weather turned, travellers diverted from their paths to seek shelter wherever possible. And the tavern was usually a good place to find refuge for those lost in the rain.
Tags: None, open to all.
Time & Place: Late evening, during a thunderstorm, in the tavern stables.