Chapter Seven: Talk of War and Cry of the Innocent

 

            *The day was another scorcher. Hiiro glanced at his field. Now it was well into the first week of June, and today was the first day Hiiro could breath freely since his father had died. The last seed had just been sown. Meaning the planting was finished. Meaning the first step of the crop season was completed. He could rest slightly more easily until the fall came, when he would have to harvest. Sitting mounted on his horse, Hiiro gave a slight nod and allowed a smile to cross his thin lips.

            From the western window of her room in the main keep, Serena watched Hiiro’s face lighten. For a moment she saw a rare scene: Hiiro Yui smiling. And truth to tell, she was happy he could finally relax a bit more. Perhaps now that his crop had been planted he could let lose a little more. Perhaps the stress would stop pressing him into lashing out in such violent and odd behavior.

Rachel saw Serena’s gaze drift out the window for what must have been the fifth time in the last minute. She couldn’t understand what had Serena so enthralled. It was just landscape. And not even that. It was the fields and the mill. She supposed it really wasn’t fair to keep Serena inside when it was obvious the young girl wanted to be outside.

“Serena would you like to save this needlework for another time and go outside?” Rachel asked her. Serena eyes widened and she smiled widely and laughed.

“Oh Rachel, I would love that more than anything! But I have responsibilities to the house and all, I simply couldn’t…”

“Go outside child. If my son and your husband can be outside, I don’t see why you can’t be out there for a short time as well. I’ll take care of the house, I’ve surely had enough practice doing it before.”

“Oh thank you Rachel!” Serena beamed. She quickly moved away from the window and threw open the door.

            “Lady Serena?” Molly gasped as she was startled into standing by the sudden movement of the door.

            “Sorry to have frightened you. I’m going out.” She told her, giggling.

“Lady Serena, are you sure that is such a good idea? The heat and that scare with you fainting only a few weeks ago…” Molly warned.

“Nonsense Molly. I’m healthy as an ox. I’m going to go outside.” Serena laughed.

            “Besides. It’ll be good for her to get out. Can’t keep her locked up forever.” Rachel added.

“What ever do you plan to do in such wretched hot  weather my Lady?” Molly asked her.

            “I do not know. I only know that I was suddenly inspired to run. I’ll be alright, I promise!” Serena called as she rushed down the stairs. Soon she was outside the main keep and dashing out of the main gate of the house courtyard. In the open field, Serena felt stirred to just run. So she did as her heart asked and ran. Running wildly about the garden, she woke the dogs sitting near by. They sat up to play chase, and she gladly joined them.

            Hiiro heard a foreign sound and knew immediately what it was. Serena laughing. But where was she? When he had last seen her it had been for his apology. Since then she had still not left her room. But now, he did not see her face in the window of her room as he usually could during this hour. And yet her laughter told him she was near, drawing closer every second. Soon, over the ridge came his dogs, barking and running playfully. And in tow was Serena, running just as wildly as they. Her blue dress was hiked up, revealing shapely legs and bare feet. Her long golden hair had fallen from its confines and was fluttering behind her in the wind. With the smile on her face, the sun didn’t seem as bright to him any longer- it was vastly outdone by her happy face. She and the dogs were running and playing as if they had no care in the world. What was she thinking?

            Serena, now sitting on the ground and petting the dogs, sat up when she heard hoof beats approaching. The dogs, too, heard the coming horse and scattered. Turning to face the arrival, she quickly realized why. Their master was right behind her, with a very unpleasant look upon his face.

            “What are you doing Serenity?” He asked her darkly. She tried to keep her happy face, even when she realized he still referred to her by her full name. She really hated that.

            “Well, at the moment I’m sitting on the ground, and I was petting your dogs, but they seem to have run away for some reason.” She replied as politely as possible. Of course she knew that was not what he had been asking, but it was fun to see him get mad over such tiny things. He needed to lighten up.

            “Allow me to rephrase my question. Serenity, why are you outside of the house, playing as a child might when you have other obligations within the house?” He held back, not wanting to upset her as much as he had before.

            “Oh. Why am I out here? You know, I really have no reason. I was inside looking outside, and I just felt inspired to run. So I came out to run.” She told him very seriously.

            “And your obligations inside?” Hiiro continued pounding her with questions.

            “Hiiro, I know I’m supposed to be inside, baking or sewing or cleaning, but I just can’t. Not when..”

            “You can. And you will.” He replied darkly.

            “No, I really can’t. You see, when you and my father made this pointless arranged marriage, he neglected to mention I’m very bad at chores.” She laughed slightly.

            “How ‘bad’?” His eyes narrowed.

            “Well, the last time I sewed, my friends saw the poor piece of cloth and decided to burn it instead of show it to my father. And as for cooking, well, there was the time I accidentally dropped the spoon into the bead loaf and it was baked… it ended up alright I suppose, because  the bread tasted alright, even if it was a bit woody. I also once set fire to the meat… I poured some wine over it for flavor and was lighting a candle near by it. Suffices to say the meat became a flaming ball of…”

            “Enough.” Hiiro stopped. He had had to smirk. “You really set fire to a piece of meat?”

            “Yes… it really was an accident! I just don’t have the talent for domestic things such as other women like Rachel do.” She smiled when noticed his smirk. Wasn’t that a good thing?

            “Well.” He straightened his face and darkened his eyes once more. “Even so. You should be inside learning to have the talent.”

            “Well, I was inside sewing. But I suppose Rachel noticed I wasn’t really paying attention, because she told me I could come out for a bit. She said she would take care of things while I was out here.” Serena told him, slightly disappointed by the loss of happiness in Hiiro’s voice. But she was not to be deterred.

            “Rachel?”

            “Yes, Rachel. Though Molly was worried about my health, she told Molly it would be good for me to get out.”

            “I see. Well…” Hiiro couldn’t think of anything to counter the words of the mighty Rachel, so he was forced to let it go.

            “Hiiro?” Serena asked in a tiny whisper.

            “How is the outlook on the crop ratio this year? I’ve never seen a three rotating field before. My father did two.” She asked. Hiiro looked at her sharply.

            “It is not your place to question my crop.” He scoffed.

            “Well excuse me. I just wanted to know if we would be fed this winter. But I suppose it would be all for the better for your crops to fail. Then you might be able to kill me off with starvation.” She raised her voice. Hiiro looked at her again and sighed.

            “I expect a good crop this year. If the winter frost doesn’t come early. If it does, then we might lose a sixth of the crop. Usually the three rotating field works just as well as the two, save the fact that I can grow slightly more crops than your father.”

            “That’s good. A sixth isn’t a bad loss.”

            “No, in fact, it’s almost an ideal loss for these conditions.”

            “Now that you’ve finished with the planting, what will you do during the day?” Serena asked.

            “Supervise the weeding and such. And try to break in the new pony in the stable.”

            “So, in other words, you’re not going to relax?”

            “Why the sudden questions?” Hiiro asked her.

            “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I guess I just felt like asking one after another today.” She blushed.

            “Well hold your tongue. Women should be seen and not heard.” He smirked.

            “ That’s a horrible statement! I completely disagree! Women, any woman, should be aloud to speak her mind. After all, what makes you so very different from me?”

            “Quite a few things actually. Would you like a list?” He snickered.

            “No.” She huffed.  “Don’t you ever get bored just supervising?”

            “No.”

            “Liar. You have to. Everyone does at one point or another.”

            “Well. I don’t.” He claimed. “Why were you running before? Were the dogs chasing you?” He asked, suddenly filled with a strange concern.

            “No, no, nothing like that. I just felt like running. Haven’t you ever just wanted to feel the wind, ever just wanted to feel free?” In that one statement Hiiro had a revelation. The world around him spun and he no longer saw any color, any shapes, any light. Pitch black surrounded him. He was lost in the depths of his mind. Free? She had run because she had wanted to be free. It was the same reason he had raced his horse the other day. It was a rush of pure bliss in which no one could harm your soul. You were one with freedom during those brief moments. That’s what she had been doing, searching for freedom? Shapes began to appear again. Black and white at first, then splashes of color and floods of light over filled his senses.

            “Hiiro?” Serena asked. He was just sitting on his horse, staring directly at her, unmoving and unblinking.

            “Yes. I’m sorry.” And he truly was. This little girl, his wife, knew the same feeling he experienced almost constantly. The want for freedom. That was dangerous.

            “Good. For a moment I thought you may have had a heat stroke. And we were just getting better acquainted too.” She giggled. He gave a half smile. Just then a messenger walked up to join them.

            “Carl. What news have you brought me?” Hiiro started in.

            “Hello Carl. How are you today?” Serena cut him off.

            “Fine, thank you Lady Serena. And yourself?” the man stiffly bowed his head to her. She laughed.

            “Quite well, thank you. Is the weather being kind to you?” She asked.

            “As kind as it can I suppose my Lady.”

            “Carl? The message?” Hiiro asked annoyed. She never failed. He didn’t see how Serena could have all of his serfs so willing to listen to her and ignore him.

            “I beg your pardon my Lord. A messenger from the King awaits you in the main hall.”

            “Well. I had best be off.” Hiiro nodded to Serena and Carl. Then he wheeled his horse and began to trot off. Pulling back on his horse’s reins, he stopped and turned back. What possessed him, he could not say.

            “Serenity, would you care for a ride back?” He asked. He watched as her eyes went from wide and happy to completely surprised and grateful. It was a nice feeling to make her feel that way, he had to admit it.

            “I would enjoy that very much Hiiro. Thank you.” She blushed slightly.

            “Very well. Let me adjust the saddle for you to ride side saddle and…” He stopped in mid sentence as he watched Serena take hold of the horn in front of him and hoist herself up to ride western behind him.

            “You were saying Hiiro?” She laughed at his face. “Yes, I know, I’m unconventional. But it makes life so much more interesting this way, don’t you think?”

            “Occasionally.” He stuttered.

            “ Good day Carl!” She called after him as Hiiro set the horse into a canter. As the couple rode into the main hall, they made quite a stir. For them to be seen together in such a position was interesting enough. But the fact that they were both equally content with the arrangement was even more of a surprise. But a welcome one nonetheless.

 When the messenger saw the couple ride in he blushed incredibly red at the glimpse of Serena’s long bare leg and foot. Without looking, he gave Hiiro a scroll. Expecting him to need a monk to read the scroll, the messenger pointed to a monk who had come with him. Hiiro simply ignored him and kept reading the note.

“Hiiro? What is the news?” Serena asked happily.

“We’re going to war. King John wants his vassals to ride to the castle and gather for an attack.” He explained to her under a low breath. She gasped and drew back slightly in disbelief.

“Oh my…” She spoke. Quickly dismounting from the horse she moved over so Hiiro too could dismount.

He sent the horse off with a serf and speaking to the messenger more. Nodding frequently, Hiiro and the messenger finally broke after hours and the messenger mounted his steed and galloped out of the citadel.

By now it was dark- the sun had set two hours ago. Hiiro had missed dinner. But he felt it was more important to explain what was happening to Rachel. And Serenity as well. And he knew both women were probably together in Serenity’s room. Making his way towards the main keep, Hiiro fought back the urge to yawn. He was tired. And his day was far from over. Reaching the blue room’s door, he knocked. Molly answered, and she and Rachel made as if they were going to leave.

“Girl, leave.” Hiiro addressed Molly. She scampered away. Hiiro shut the door with Serena and Rachel still in the room.

“What’s this I hear about war?” Rachel cut straight to the point.

“Now Rachel. We can be patient. Hiiro must be hungry. Here!” Serena beamed, holding out a plate to him. “We saved you some supper.”

“Thanks.” He nodded in appreciation, but the lack of emotion in his expression jolted fear through both women’s hearts.

“Don’t thank me. Thank Serena.” Rachel pointed out, trying to rekindle the conversation. “Now, the news of war?”

“ Foolish King John has declared war on France and Philip the II.* I’m required to leave tomorrow to report for military duty.”

“Tomorrow?” Serena asked gently.

“Tomorrow. Don’t make me repeat it.” Hiiro nodded. Serena shuddered, knowing it was just his nerves speaking. “Rachel. Serenity is new here, and new to her responsibilities as well. I need you to help her. Take care of my fief for me. Of course I’ll leave the monk Benedict in charge, but I need you to make the real decisions. The serfs and I trust you. Serena. I would like to speak to you privately.

“Alright. Rachel?” She flashed a worried look in the older woman’s direction.

“Don’t you worry Sere-girl. I’ll be back when he’s finished with you.” Rachel told her, giving her a motherly smile. This girl was a woman. She was married. Yet she was so young and innocent, almost as a child. Rachel felt the urge to protect her.

“Thank you Rachel.” Serena smiled widely at her. Rachel turned and left, leaving her son and daughter in law in privacy.

“Serena. I realize you don’t know me. And I don’t know you. What I do know is this: this is my home. I lived here all my life. And tomorrow I leave to invade another’s home at the will of a foolish and greedy King. While I am away, I wish for you to care for my home as you would care for your own. Rachel cannot do everything. She is getting on in her years, and while she puts on a easy front, she is not as agile as she once was.” Hiiro spoke. He felt as if perhaps it was said with too much emotion, but then retracted that thought. It was his home. And for this place, his home, no emotion was too great. His grandfather, his father, and he now, had put their sweat and blood into this land, and he was as much a part of it as anything. He needed to make Serena understand this, however. She needed to know how important it was to him. Even if she did not like him, he knew by now that she would at least have the dignity to follow through with such an important request made by her husband.

“Hiiro.” She began. How would she word this? “I have only been here for a month and a half. And hardly that. Yet I have come to love this place as much as my own. I love your grand kitchen, I love your sweet gardens. I love your stables and I love your mill. I love the people here, and the animals just as much. I promise with all my heart to take care of your home while you are gone. Be assured it is safe, for it is not only your home anymore, but mine as well.” She hoped that had sounded as she wished it to. All she had wanted to do was convey that this land was more than just another fief to her. It was now her home too, and while he had to leave to fight, she would love it and care for it while he could not.

Hiiro looked at his new wife. She was sitting in a the windowsill once more. Her golden tresses spilled down her back wildly. Her bare feet were tucked under her soft dress. Her small stature and thin frame gave her the appearance of the child he had thought her to be. Yet her eyes held more wisdom and truth than he had ever imagined she might be capable of. He could see she truly cared for his home as much as he, and that she was being as honest and serious about caring for it as he had been. In the fleeting moment of silence that passed between them, he realized she was more of a woman than he had given her credit for.

“Thank you.” He stood. She, too, stood from her comfortable position by the window.

“No need. I owe it to you.” She winked and giggled. “After all, you did save my life, husband.” He rolled his eyes and turned his back to her.

“While I am gone, I expect you to grow up. You are no longer a child who can play games all day long. You are…”

“A woman who needs to learn to handle her responsibilities thoroughly and dutifully. I know, my father used to give me that lecture when he found I was training with knives and swords but neglecting my beadwork and cooking lessons.” She told him seriously.

“A woman with a sword?” Hiiro sneered.

“I’m probably as good as you, so you stop taking that vile tone with me this instant. You have never seen me in a match before, so you cannot necessarily say it is an impossible thing.” She pouted. He whirled around and looked at her.

“I laugh because no woman should be using a sword. You are made for the home, creature. Just as no woman should try to swim across a lake.”

“You are a cruel man for saying such things. Insulting me will get you nowhere Lord Yui. I command you leave my chambers this instant.” She cried in disbelief and disgust.

“You cannot force me to do any such thing child. I am your husband, and as your husband I shall leave when I deem it fit.” He answered, narrowing his eyes.

“Very well then. Perhaps I cannot. Yet I know of one who can. Now if you don’t leave, perhaps I shall have to call her.”

“I will leave. But only because I do not fight with children. I find it to be a waste of time.” He finalized. With that, he turned and stormed out of her room. Serena, in a fit of her own passionate anger, stood, boiling with rage. Tears spilled over, and she broke down, crumpling to the floor and sobbing hard.

“Serena?” Rachel was sitting beside her. Serena could not answer, she only had the power to throw herself into Rachel’s arms and let the older woman rock her into a calm.

Hiiro listened to the distant sobbing. He couldn’t help it. Standing outside surveying his fields, Serena’s window was just above him. Her anguished cries echoed through his head. Guilt began to bubble in the pit of his stomach. His conscience nagging at him for making such an innocent child cry. But he shoved it down. Now was not time to think of the girl. She would have to grow up. He needed to focus on his departure tomorrow. Which of his swords should he bring?*

 

~~~ ‘*’ Means: There was no real war between King John of England and King Philip the II of France. I made it up. What is true is that The Pope told Philip to be prepared to invade England should John not follow through with… well, whatever it was… k, that’s all. Gotta be historically accurate.

 

Reminds me: Real Quick guys! I wanted to mention that Hiiro may seem sexist, almost like a Wufei, but that’s just how men of the era were. No offense is meant, and I’m doing my best to keep Hiiro in character from both the anime and the time period. I kept Serena almost true to her character because, well, I like her that way!