sighnotso, but let them go--

[fair_hero]

Hero is sitting on the steps of the porch of the Mansion, her baby clasped tight in her arms, and sobbing. The man her mistress loves is dead, and she's not half so upset about that--although she is enormously upset at death--as she is that her mistress is bereaved. It is so terrible. The Lady was so calm and stern while they buried him, and

Comments

[mancalledspade]

Augh, girl crying. Spade doesn't really want to get involved, but can't really help it either. "Hey there. What happened?"

[fair_hero]

She looks up, concealing her bare breast with her arm quickly for modesty's sake, and chokes and sniffles for a moment until she speak. "The Lady's gentleman is dead."

[mancalledspade]

"Which gentleman is that?"

[fair_hero]

"Sir Sagramore. O, I know not what had been done! He was bloodied over!" She buries her face in her little hands at the memory.

[all_that_grace]

Courfeyrac stops short as he comes upon her, boyishly dismayed. "Madame--?"

[fair_hero]

Holding Leonato closer under her arm, "O, sir!" Fresh tears.

[all_that_grace]

"Are you all right?" He crouches on his heels at a little distance, as if talking to a small child.

[fair_hero]

Which is really the best way to talk to her, especially in this state. She wipes at her eyes with the back of her free hand. "My mistress' gentleman hath died," she says.

[topofadmiration]

"O! Art ill, dear friend?"

[fair_hero]

Hero nods, sobbing.

[topofadmiration]

She kneels down beside her. "What has happened?"

[fair_hero]

"My Lady's lord is dead!"

[permanent_blur]

quiet and small, "miss?"

[fair_hero]

Looking up at him, seeing him there, only makes her cry anew, and harder.

[permanent_blur]

"miss --" it's hard, goodness knows, hard to see her like this, and he falters. "you're crying," he says, as if to be sure of it.

[fair_hero]

"Ay, ay, forgive me--" wiping her face on her sleeves.

[phedre_25]

Phedre passes by, but cannot be indifferent to tears.

"Oh, Sweet Naamah," she whispers softly as she sits next to Hero, but at a respectful distance.

"Why so sad?" Her lips are offering the question caringly - as though she wishes she might take the weight on her shoulders. Wordlessly, she offers her handkerchief. She has no other, but has no reason not to perform this kindness on a distressed young mother.

[fair_hero]

"The Lady is. Her gentleman hath died." She takes it gratefully and wipes at her eyes.

[phedre_25]

"A time of sadness indeed," she replies softly. "The news are fresh, are they?"

[fair_hero]

"Only this night past. He came to us sore wounded, and died by my lady."