Nimue stopped in mid stab<br/>.<br/>“Engaged? Betrothed? To that giantess?” she blurted out as she brought the knife down on the deer haunch with a thud.<br/><br/>Faren chuckled at her response and stayed away from her good right arm.<br/><br/>“Well, of course he had a life before he met me. I was married before.” She said as the blade slid through the meat, leaving bloody streaks upon the table. At Faren’s look, she snapped,<br/>“He died. I’m not still married, you ninny.” The word has no sooner escaped her lips then she put the knife down and turned to him.<br/><br/>“I’m sorry. That was rude of me. You are not a ninny. I didn’t say I was a widow and you are right to worry about Maric.” She forced a smile and turned back to her cooking.<br/><br/>The meat was sizzling in the pan and the tangy scent of onions tantalized the tastebuds. Nimue deftly cut up some potatoes and carrots while water was boiling in the kettle. These done, she washed her hands and set out cups for tea. The fresh bread and butter from the Tor, she arranged on a plate and brought out the small crockery jar of apple butter.<br/><br/>With the mess of cooking put away, and everything finally in the pot, she asked Faren,<br/><br/>“Please keep an eye on this and see to it that the water stays right here,” she pointed to just a knuckle’s length from the rim. “I will be right back.”<br/><br/>She climbed to the loft where she shared a bed with Maric and hastily stripped off her soiled work clothes and washed with the leftover water in the basin. The rose scented soap the acolytes made was a welcome break from sweat, dirt and horse manure. When freshened up, she slid a clean, fairly new kirtle over her blue gown. While she did not have the status that the Lady of Avalon had, her best dress was trimmed in gold embroidery and scarlet roses. She started to cover her head in a proper head dress but thought of that rich hair that the knight had flaunted so she brushed her hair and anointed it with oil to make it shine. Once down in the main room, she noticed Faren staring at her with a blush upon his face. Nimue winked at him.<br/><br/>When Maric and the woman, whom no one had bothered to introduce to her, had arrived, Nimue was a vision of shimmering beauty, fully in charge of her home. She smelled of sweet roses and the house was filled with the aroma of mouthwatering meat and potatoes.<br/><br/>“Come, Lady, take the best seat in the house. We welcome you to our home.”<br/><br/>And with a knowing little smile, she slipped her arm through Maric’s and kissed him sweetly on the cheek.