Complicated

Rossanna awoke to find herself in strange quarters. Looking around her she realized that she was in a bedroom, in the bed and the clothes that she had been wearing had been removed and replaced by a sleeping gown made of silk and gossamer, the color of the Mediterranean in summer. A matching robe had been laid at the foot of the bed. At some point a fire had been lit in a nearby fireplace, but had since burned down to coals, providing very little light.

She became aware of a presence in the room, her ears straining to hear any sound, eyes searching the darkness for movement, “Who’s there?”

“Ah, sleeping beauty has awakened at last.”

“Nokonis,” she said, breathing a sigh of relief, “What happened? Where am I? The last thing I remember…” Her voice trailed off.

“You fainted, my dear. Fainted dead away. If I hadn’t caught you, you would have fallen into the campfire. You were overwhelmed by all you had seen and done. Daylight was fast approaching, and I could not in good conscious leave you there,” Nokonis replied, “You are safe. You are in my home.”

“How long have I been here? Wh – Where are my clothes? My weapons?” feeling panic rising in her chest.

Chuckling Nokonis lit a candle and sat on the edge of the monstrous four poster bed, “Relax, Rossanna. We arrived just before dawn, and I turned the care of you over to my capable staff. I gave instructions for you to be brought here to my quarters and for your clothing and weapons to be cleaned. One of the maids is about your size and saw fit to give you the gown you wear now. Your things are hanging up in that wardrobe.”

“You must be starving. Come, put that robe on, I took the liberty of having a simple meal prepared for you. I trust that you will remember why I do not dine with you. I will sit with you while you eat, if it would please you.”

Nokonis rose from the corner of the bed. He placed the candle on the night table and reached for the night wrap. Face flaming, Rossanna slowly slid out of bed and into the robe, mind still awry from the previous night’s events. Without thought she tied the robe closed and put a pair of slippers on her bare feet.

She felt rather than heard Nokonis’s presence behind her as she walked toward the chamber door. Nokonis reached around her to open the door and offer his arm as though they were attending a ball, “My lady?”

Rossanna was led to the most enormous dining hall she had ever seen. The table itself stretched a hundred feet in length and glowed a deep red in the immense light hundreds of candles placed throughout the space.

Weak from hunger and sore from her captivity, she barely noticed the tapestries and paintings that adorned the walls. Instead she allowed herself to be seated and served.

A maid placed a covered dish in front of her and filled a goblet with a dark, fruity wine. The maid lifted the lid away to reveal an array of cold meats, cheeses and cubes of dark bread. Rossanna made short work of her meal, choosing to focus on filling her empty stomach rather than the scrutiny of her silent companion. Only once her hunger was satisfied did she sit back and refill her goblet.

She looked at her surroundings. Sipping her wine, she slowly took in the enormity of the dining room. The table at which she sat was nearly black with an intricate wood inlay of a Celtic design. All the chairs surrounding the table were high backed and were upholstered in deep emerald velvet save for one. The chair Nokonis lounged in looked more like a throne. Its top carved into elaborate thistles and upholstered in majestic purple. Nokonis looked like a negligent, dark god, sitting diagonally across the seat, with one leg flung over and dangling from the arm.