The trip is otherwise uneventful. There is once again a Captains Dinner. Only this time the Captain refrains from throwing everyone out afterwards, as it's not his sleeping room this time.
The provided food is of really good quality and the meal Gwen prepares from it is wonderful.
As the ship comes towards Magnimar in the afternoon of the next day the remains of what once was the Irespan comes into sight. A small bridge in the mist far away at the coast. But as you come closer it grows bigger and bigger. Once you're close enough you recognize a tiny tower standing under the bridge and then some tiny houses about a fifth the size of the tower. And finally you realize what a gargantuan building this Irespan was and still is, even with only these remains of it.
The Pequod arrives at the harbour and is tied to the docks. Mrs. Heidmarch pays a coachman to bring all to her home in the alabaster district. The Heidmarch Manor is surrounded by a stone wall, but the door stands open all day.
Mrs. Heidmarch brings you to the biggest of the four guest houses. "This house is free for you to use. I'm sorry I can't offer every one of you a single room. You are free to lodge somewhere else if you like, but for the first time at least I will provide you with lodging."
"I have to check what I missed in the two weeks I was away. I'll come back to you later when I have an idea what's going on and maybe there will be a quest for you already."
Mrs. Heidmarch leaves you there and retreats to the main house.
"Well lets figure out how many rooms there are so we can sort sleeping arrangements?"
The house has a common room with a kitchen in a niche. From there four doors lead to the four bedrooms of the house. Every bedroom featuring a bed, a chir and a small table.
The common room has a large table for taking meals together with eight chairs around it, a fireplace and some closets, a chest or drawers and a cupboard with the dishes.
Looking into one of the rooms and putting down her stuff in it Tauriell comments "It looks like someone has to sleep in front of the fireplace."
Watching if there is some reaction to that she adds "Or are you two lovebirds willing to share a bed?" towards Jimmy and Gwen.
Gwenhwyfar hopes that a hole opens up under her so she can disappear.
She is quite uncomfortable with Tauriell's double entendres. Still unsure if it would be appropriate to sleep in the same ROOM alone with Jimmy Tauriell's comment isn't helpfull at all.
But it isn't because of Jimmy, he would for sure be quite the gentleman. It is just a feeling she can't put her finger on. Seeking Jimmy's eyes she conveys a 'sorry' with hers and shyly says to Tauriell "I would prefer to stay with you if it's ok."
Chuckling Tauriell replies "Sure, but I'm sleeping in the bed. Also I'm going to organize a bath tub for this room. So the same conditions as in Mary Poppin's Inn apply."
Niamh walks into another room. Closes the door behind her and heaves her backpack onto the bed and sits beside it. She packs out her journal and the transverse flute she gets on with learning how to put the fingers to play a designated note.
Tauriell leaves to get a bath tub somewhere and after quite a while she comes back with a heavy wooden tub she balances on her head. Carefully putting it down she disappears again to arrive a few minutes later with a bucket full of water. She fills that into a large pot and puts it on the hearth.
"Abomentolor, would you please make a fire under that?"
With a smile he replies "Consider it burning."
He throws some of the dried wood lying under the hearth into it and with a ray of fire he lights it.
"I'll take that room to the west." the gnome states and moves his stuff there.
Tauriell leaves to fetch another bucket full of water. Pouring it into the tub she recognizes how many trips that would take and lets out a loud sigh. Then she has an idea. She goes outside again and asks everyone she can catch if there is a druid around. After some tries she finally is pointed to Darthdy.
Approaching her straightforwardly Tauriell asks "Hello I'm Tauriell. You are by chance a druid who can cast create water?"
"Yes, why?" Darthdy replies.
"Would you please come with me, I'm in need of your help." Tauriell inquires pointing the way.
"Yes, but why?" Darthdy answers but in her face you can see a bit mistruce.
Jimmy takes his things into the remaining room and lays it out on the table. He takes his spear back into the main room and props it up in a corner of the common room. "I want to have a quick walk around the grounds, who wants to join me?"
"I want." Gwenhwyfar replies exitedly.
"I want to take a bath and I don't want to haul all that water with this bucket over from that well over there to my room." Tauriell explains to Darthdy.
"Then let's go." Jimmy says offering her his arm, and walks outside with her. He wants to find the perimeter wall and to look at the outside of the house to see if there are any security weaknesses
The estate is about 50 by 50 meters large and is surrounded by a 10 foot wall. The interior is park like with the manor to the west, the meeting house to the east and the guest houses spread over the estate.
In the center is a large carp pond with a bridge over it and a small isle in the middle. North of the pond is a topiary maze.
The only way in would be through the gate house or over the walls. But as this is a monor in the best district of Magnimar that is rather unlikely.
"This is a beautiful estate isn't it? What on earth is that over there? Is that a maze?" Jimmy says looking around
In the center of the grounds sits a large topiary maze offering
fun and amusement for guests. In the spring it blossoms with
sweet-scented flowers, and not surprisingly, more than a few
guests have used its seclusion for private conversations and
romantic trysts.
Or so I heard. Cough, cough.
"I don't know. Why would one build a maze in a garden?" Gwenhwyfar asks.
"Why don't we go have a look at it and see if we can figure that out." Jimmy says giving her a wink and trotting off to the maze
Grabbing Jimmy's hand Gwenhwyfar follows him a bit anxious.
Jimmy and Gwen approach the edge of the maze next to the bridge. Jimmy leads Gwen between the hedges. They round the first bend and soon can't see the buildings above the walls of the maze
"OK" Darthdy says to Tauriell and comes with her.
Tauriell leads Darthdy back to her room and showing the bathtub states "You see my problem. I need that to be half full and hauling that with this bucket is really a pain in the behind. Would you please solve that problem for me?"
Darthdy goes to the bathtub and casts 15l water in it."Is that enough?"
"Oh, that's uncanny. It's like we disappear out of the garden." Gwenhwyfar tells Jimmy.
"It is indeed, it's private... Secluded... Peaceful." Jimmy says smiling at her, turning her around and holding her
"So you lead me here on purpose!" Gwenhwyfar exclaims a tricksy smile on her face.
"I haven't been able to have any time with you alone for the last two days. There were to many people on the boat. I wanted to ask how you are doing, how you are feeling?"
"I'm feeling nervous?! Is something special? You are not as laid-back as usual." Gwenhwyfar replies.
"Two days ago you decided to leave home. I just wanted to make sure you are truly ok. I promised to protect you, that's not just from guys with pointy swords you know."
Relaxing Gwenhwyfar answers "Everything is new here. We are now in a town where you can travel almost an hour in a coach and haven't left the town. We are to lodge in a small guest house five times as big as my mum's cottage. It's overwhelming. All these new things."
"But I'm still with people I know and like. And you are with me. So I think I'm gonna be ok." she says holding herself at Jimmy and leaning back.
"I am glad you are ok my dear. I am here for you if you ever need to talk to anyone. Now come here!" Jimmy says picking her up and swinging her around
Gwenhwyfar lets out a short squeal and holds tight onto Jimmy.
Jimmy stops spinning and just hold Gwen, looking up into her eyes. "You really are beautiful."
Gwenhwyfar lays her head at Jimmy's shoulder enjoying his affection with a smile.
Jimmy just stands there, enjoying the smell of her hair, and the feeling of her so close to him.
Gwenhyfar takes her head from Jimmy's shoulder to look at him. She then comes closer opens her lips a bit tilts her head and closes her eyes.
At the house
______________________
Tauriell thinks to herself 'Ok, she is a bit slow' and replies to Darthdy "Uhm, nooo." and shows with her hand up to which hight she would like it to be filled. "Fill it up to this height please. I'll go fetch the hot water. By the way, can you create warm water?"
"No problem." Darthdy casts create water again and makes the water warm .
"This becomes better by the minute" Tauriell says feeling the temperature. "What other spells can you cast?"
Jimmy tilts his head towards Gwens. Parting his lips, he kisses her gently. His teeth brushing her bottom lip as he stsrts to kiss her more strongly. Becoming intoxicated by the taste of Gwens lips.
"What for spells you want to see?" Darthday smiles.
"Levitation?" Tauriell replies.
Gwenhyfar gives in to the kiss and melts in Jimmy's arms, her knees trembling. As he releases her lips she lies limp in his arms. Like a reverse sleeping beauty.
"I'm afraid not."
"So what spells do you have prepared?" Tauriell asks again in other words hoping to convey the question this time.
"You may well be the best thing to ever happen to me Gwen." Jimmy says burrying his face in her neck as he gives her a big squeezing hug