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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Jan 21, 2013 11:10:05 GMT -5
She had often dreamed about running away. Ever since that nightmare of a wedding. To be tested, where failure would mean beheading, and then her prize for her intellect be a stranger for husband.
A king. A king of fools. She soon came to realize exactly WHY this kingdom had begged the Dark One for a wise Queen... though she hardly would consider herself "wise". King Hans, who probably couldn't differentiate between a throne and a privy seat when it came down to it, would lead these people down a path of ruin due to his simpleness.
Perhaps she was being too hard on him. He couldn't help it... whether he had been born with it or a bull had knocked the smarts out of him... he was stuck with it. And the people were stuck with him. He did defeat the Ogre that had set up rule in this very palace... but HOW he did it, Else would never get a clear answer out of him. It made her wonder if it was even he that accomplished such a feat.
The man couldn't even figure out a simple Farmer's Bridal Knot on their wedding night. He fumbled with it for about an hour with his large hands and then gave up. In truth Else had been a little relieved. After the knot crisis, Else was able to persuade him that they were much too tired to do anything else that night. Reluctantly, he left to go to his own separate room... and the sleeping arrangement had remained thus for 6 months. Purity still intact, thank goodness.
Yes she had often contemplated running away... but she wanted to set things right in the kingdom first; it had been in such an awful state politically and defense-wise. But she was slowly, and effectively, beginning to change all of that... and so her plan to run away had been pushed back to a month, two months, three months and so on... until she found herself on her horse, escorted by one guard, looking for her husband, yet again. He always managed to sneak out into the local farm areas to help out. Farmers were always happy to have a big dumb brute around to do free manual labor...
...and, despite Else's rebellion against her forced marriage to this man, even she couldn't help but find his innocence sometimes refreshing. The farmers may take advantage of their King's strength, but they cared for him, as they would a prized ox.
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Post by Simple Hans/Fletcher Fitch on Jan 21, 2013 11:20:13 GMT -5
Hans had five large sacks of grain on his broad shoulders when he heard his name called by the soothing voice he recognized most.
He turned towards it. Broad Smile. "Hullo, Else!" Her hair was in a side braid today. "You look beautiful."
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Jan 21, 2013 11:29:59 GMT -5
It was the one default compliment that he ALWAYS said when seeing her after a long period of time. She gave a polite smile but didn't take his words to heart.
"Husband," She said, for she couldn't seem to keep his attention very well with 'my lord' or 'king': only 'Hans' and 'husband'. "...the chefs have prepared quite a lavish meal for tonight's supper. Will you be joining me?" The advisers had insisted that the two at least spend their morning and evening meals together, in hopes of the more time spent together would spur interesting conversation... and possibly attraction. Fat chance.
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Post by Simple Hans/Fletcher Fitch on Jan 21, 2013 11:32:19 GMT -5
Hans furrowed his brows at the question, as if the wrong answer would make Else angry. "...Do...you...want me to join?"
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Jan 21, 2013 11:38:00 GMT -5
Else had to restrain herself from rolling her eyes. "It is a meal prepared in YOUR honor... in YOUR kingdgom...so I assume that your presence is a bit of a requirement."
She could see that her words were confusing him.
"Yes, Husband," She rephrased. "...I want you to join me for supper."
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Post by Simple Hans/Fletcher Fitch on Jan 21, 2013 11:50:59 GMT -5
He gave a goofy smile. "If Else wants me to join for supper, I will join for supper!" as if this was a new concept and hadn't been the norm for six months.
"I will join now!" He proclaimed dumping his load on a cart and then strolling over to a nearby stone wall where his nice, kingly top and jacket were. He stripped off the soiled work shirt and let it fall to the ground.
Out of hearing range, the farmer Hans had been toiling with slapped the King on the back of his strong shoulder. "Only carrying five sacks instead of a dozen? Well... that queen o'yers must be keeping you pretty tired..." the man chuckled.
Hans thought about it a few beats. He could remember times, after a talks with Else, when she would sigh or fall onto a couch... exhausted looking, though he didn't know why. He liked his long talks with Else.
"I think...I make Else tired." Hans said, reflecting. The farmer burst out into laughter. Hans didn't know why, so he just laughed too.
"I'm sure you do, big fella!" The man said. "That I'm sure you do..."
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Jan 21, 2013 12:05:31 GMT -5
Else followed Hans with her eyes as he retrieved his nicer clothes, only to quickly look away... flushed and embarrassed... as he stripped of his work shirt.
And then she was even more flushed and embarrassed with herself as she took a second look. He was... well formed. Or at least Else assumed he was. She had a very limited knowledge of a man's naked form to compare it to anything else, but the amount of laborious work he did each day MUST have made him look the way that he did.
Else's eldest sister Eileen had once told her that a man shouldn't be too brutish in build... because it wasn't very comfortable for the woman to... Else blushed. And then of course Eva would have added something distasteful and giggle.
The Farmer had made Hans laugh at something. Else broke away from her gaze. Now her thoughts were on her sisters.
Were they alright? Had they rebuilt the cottage by now? Rumpelstiltskin had whisked Else way to this strange land without a goodbye to her family. She had not seen or heard from them in so long. She glanced at the forested mountains. It would be so easy for her to just set into a gallop and never look back. Find her family, and forget this strange detour that her life thrown at her.
But she had signed a deal. Her marriage to Hans for her family's land and safety. She bowed her head down and proceeded down the road back to the palace once Hans was ready.
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Post by Simple Hans/Fletcher Fitch on Jan 21, 2013 12:17:59 GMT -5
Once Hans and Else had found their way back, because Else always knew the way back to the castle (unlike Hans), and once he had been bathed and dressed nicely... the two sat down to supper.
There was so much food there; some of his favorites, and somethings he didn't recognize... but that he would usually be willing to try. Strangely tonight, after only merely three platefuls, he pushed his food away. His tummy didn't feel well. But he wanted to talk with Else...but he didn't understand why the table was so long, and Else so far away...
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Jan 21, 2013 12:26:27 GMT -5
Else had to wince as the violinist played over so close to her ear. The advisers' idea of creating ambiance for the young couple. It was grating on her nerves. She turned her attention to Hans.
She saw him push his plate away. Odd. He usually didn't slow down until the 8th serving. And they hadn't even hit dessert yet. Else neatly dabbed her napkin to the corner of her mouth, as her Court Etiquette Instructor had shown her how to do, and then placed it on top of her single, half-finished plate.
"Did you enjoy your day out?" Else asked. Same question she always asked. But the advisers would get on her case if she didn't at least try to engage in a meaningful conversation at this appointed time. "You looked hard at work when I arrived."
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Post by Simple Hans/Fletcher Fitch on Jan 21, 2013 12:31:26 GMT -5
Hans looked up at her. Why did his head feel heavy? "Yes." He answered. The same answer he always gave. That always seemed to make the advisers unhappy; Hans couldn't figure out why. He didn't know what else to say.
He then perked up slightly, as much as his foggy head would allow. "Else, do you make me tired? Or do I make you tired?" He needed to know the answer. Perhaps his farmer friend would find the answer funny again and they both could laugh again tomorrow. Or maybe Else would find it funny too!
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Jan 21, 2013 12:38:19 GMT -5
Else blinked. Well that was unexpected. She gave a polite answer, not wanting to hurt his feelings. Because sometimes he could be quite boring and make her 'tired', if that was the point of this query.
"I must make you very tired, husband." Else said at her own expense. "All I do is sew and talk." Well, she did quite ALOT more then that for the kingdom, but getting into all that would only confuse the simple man. "I can't see how you wouldn't get tired of me-"
The hall suddenly erupted with a loud, forced, pro-longed laugh from Hans.
Else only blinked. Had she missed something?
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Post by Simple Hans/Fletcher Fitch on Jan 21, 2013 12:44:30 GMT -5
Hans' laugh died away. Why didn't Else laugh like the farmer had? Hans' frowned at his failed attempt.
He felt very tired all of the sudden. He knew he should have excused himself like he had been taught... but he had to leave... NOW. His limbs felt very heavy as he clumsily got up from the table and walked away, leaving a very confused Else alone at supper.
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Jan 21, 2013 13:57:53 GMT -5
Her husband was odd. She had always known that. So she didn't dwell on that very long.
..But... only THREE platefuls??? Now that was a true mystery.
She continued her evening in the manner she had grown accustomed to since she had arrived: practice embroidery, practice writing legibly with her right hand (which seemed like a lost cause at times), review some ledgers, reply to distant associated kingdoms by letter, and then read a book on philosophy.
But before she changed into her night attire and go to bed, she would always make her way to Hans' room to wish him a good night. No one had told her to do it; it was just something that she had picked up. Something that she had done for her feeble father back home, to let him know that she cared and didn't see him as a burden. She didn't know if she felt EXACTLY like that about Hans, but she didn't hold any resentment for the way that he was. Only for the predicament she was in.
She opened his door, expecting to find him on his bed, cuddling a pillow. Blue eyes alert and and ready for her as if he had been waiting awhile for her.
But, to her shock, he was sprawled out on the floor, fully clothed in his Supper attire.
"Hans?!" she asked, rushing over to his side.
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Post by Simple Hans/Fletcher Fitch on Jan 21, 2013 14:00:22 GMT -5
Hans could feel someone attempting to turn him over. He helped them a little by rolling over. It was his Else.
"Else come to say goodnight?" Hans asked, smiling weakly. "Now that Hans is in bed?"
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Post by Sally Fitch/Clever Else on Jan 21, 2013 14:01:35 GMT -5
"Yes," Else said, slightly laughing. "... the only problem is: you're not IN bed."
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