The Maiden and The Ranger, Part 4
Morning came to the cottage and Laurelin arose with the sun. She dressed and fetched a pail of fresh water from the well. Returning to her kitchen she put on a pot of water to make tea for breakfast. She then went to Strider’s room to see if he had awoken yet. She found him sitting up in bed, shirt half open, gazing out the bedroom window.
“Good morning, my lady.” Strider smiled at her as he attempted to button his shirt. “Shall we take that walk you have promised me?”
“First let me have a look at your wound as I may need to put a fresh bandage on it this morning.” Laurelin sat down on the edge of his bed and reached for the bandages on Strider’s chest. She examined the wound and determined it to be healing quite well. “Let us see if we can leave the dressing off today. I’ll give you a moment of privacy so that you may finish with your clothes. Then perhaps we shall have that walk.” She smiled down at him before leaving his side.
The water was now boiling on the kitchen hearth. Laurelin poured two cups and reached for her jar of tea leaves in the cabinet. Strider walked into the kitchen now fully dressed. “Are you hungry?” Laurelin asked. “I can make us some breakfast before we journey into the gardens.” She sat the cup of tea on the table and motioned for him to sit.
“Sounds wonderful, may I help you prepare the meal?” As he spoke Strider accepted the cup of tea Laurelin had prepared for him.
“Nay, it will only take a minute to ready our meal.” She quickly fixed biscuits and served them with fresh apples she had on hand.
Once they had finished eating and Laurelin cleared the table, it was time for her to keep her promise. Strider followed her to the front door of the cottage and they walked out into the morning light together.
Most of the morning was spent in the gardens with discussions on the many plants and herbs Laurelin grew. She was impressed by Strider’s knowledge in this subject.
Days passed and the two found much in common and a bond of friendship was forming between them. However Laurelin knew that the day would soon come, when Strider would take his leave. He was nearly healed now and no longer needed her care.
While tending to Golden late one afternoon, she suddenly heard the sounds of a horse on the road. Laurelin looked in the direction of the sound and a rider appeared. As the rider neared the cottage gate, Laurelin recognized him to be Andale. She immediately felt a sadness wash over her as she knew the day had come for Strider’s departure.
Strider greeted Andale at the gate as he dismounted his steed. The two men were indeed very pleased to see each other again. Laurelin approached them and Andale turned to smile at her. “It is good to see you again, my lady.”
Laurelin went about the task of preparing the evening meal in the kitchen as the two men continued speaking with each other in the front garden. She thought she had prepared herself for Strider’s departure. Yet Laurelin did not want to be parted from this man she had just come to know. Confused by her feelings for Strider, she began questioning her heart.
The two men entered the cottage and found Laurelin, in the kitchen, filling a basket with fresh biscuits. “I have been looking forward to eating one of those tasty biscuits once more, my lady.” Andale said with a smile.
“And you may eat as many as you wish then, kind sir!” Laurelin placed the basket full of biscuits and some butter on the table. “Please be seated as our supper is ready now.” She reached for a pitcher of tea and three cups from the sideboard. Strider assisted Laurelin by pouring the tea for the three of them while she placed the food on the table.
Once the meal was finished Andale parted from the cottage to tend to his horse. Strider remained in the kitchen with Laurelin. “My lady, I must take my leave by morning’s light.” He softly spoke the words as though he sensed she did not want to hear them.
Laurelin turned to face him and attempted a smile. “You are all but healed and it is time for you to return to your life. I do not deny that I shall miss your companionship. For it is a rare occurrence to be in the company of someone as engaging as you, kind sir.” And for a moment they looked deeply into each other’s eyes.
Laurelin then heard the front door of the cottage open signaling Andale’s return from the barn. Strider turned to greet him, leaving Laurelin to tend to the dishes from the evening’s meal. The two men seemed secretive about their impending journey: careful not to speak of their plans in her presence. She desperately tried to concentrate on the task before her, yet her mind was fixated on Strider’s imminent departure.
As the sun rose above the tree line, Strider and Andale prepared to leave Laurelin’s cottage. As they readied Andale’s horse, Laurelin packed biscuits, meat and drink for the two men to carry with them. Strider met her at the door and accepted the food she had prepared.
“My lady Laurelin, I must once more thank you for all that you have done for me. I will never forget the kindness and generosity you have shown me.” Strider said softly, bowing his head as he finished speaking the words.
Laurelin smiled sweetly in return “I wish you well, my lord. My only request is that I not find you on my doorstep in such a terrible way again!” Feeling a need to make one last connection with this man, she held out her arms to Strider. They embraced each other and she could sense her heart beginning to break.
“Farewell my lady. Perhaps one day we shall meet again.” He gently brushed Laurelin’s cheek with his fingertips as he began to walk away. Strider did not look back at her face as he walked to the front gate to the awaiting Andale.
All Laurelin could do was watch as the two men walked down the road away from her cottage. She waited until they were out of site before taking a deep breathe. Laurelin knew it was time to get on with the business of her daily life. She had a garden to sew and crops to tend to. Life must now return to how it was before Strider came to live with her. Yet she knew her time with him had changed her inside.