Have you heard tell of the Lady Greensleeves? Who cast off discourteously those who would make advances?
*** My name is Bray Brewster, son to Adam Brewster. I am the latest in a long line of brewers, the best in all the country, and I am in love with Lady Kelly Cloris. She is the daughter of the Count of Dyfed, and is said to host marvelous soirees at her home, Ty Dol. I saw her when she was riding her lovely green carriage through our lowly town. She pulled back the curtains and looked out, and I swear she looked me right in the eyes. That was when I fell in love. Today, her father has decided to give an audience to suitors who wish to marry her. I am going on my da’s white pony Ffion, and bringing a bouquet of green lilies, her favorite color, and a keg of our best fermented ale. *** On the road now. I see many other suitors, but none of them are on ponies. The only one not in a carriage is riding a sleek chestnut stallion, and is followed by a manservant. I arrive at the dazzling mansion and leave Ffion in the stables. I enter into the lavishly decorated foyer, in which suitors are lined up, waiting to enter the reception room and speak to Lady Kelly. They are all much more finely dressed than I, and many bring chests full of treasure, under which their servants stagger from the weight. I feel underprepared. *** I enter the magnificent room to see Count Cloris sitting on a red armchair, while Lady Kelly splays out on a green couch. Her darkest brown hair, the color of bitter chocolate, is falling out of its careful style, adorned with pearls and a net of gold, while her mint-green dress complements her pale skin perfectly. As for her emerald-green eyes, they stare into my muddy brown ones as though boring into my soul. She is resplendent. I struggle to get my bearings. The bright green that stares derisively at my face, my muddy tunic, is making me dizzy. “S-sir, I-” The lady scoffs. “This, is what you brought before me? And you expect me to marry it?” It, she says. As though I am nothing more than dirt on her shoe. I feel a surge of anger. *** She cast away the beer I presented with a sniff. She sighed through my offer of marriage. The only thing she paid attention to was the butterfly that had landed on the flowers I brought her. When my audience was over, I left the room to hear her complaining of peasants. And now, the only thing anyone in the village will talk about is that she is marrying the Earl of Clwyd. No. Not if there is anything I can do about it. Her favorite color is green? What else is green? Arsenic. *** I have gotten a job as a delivery boy, to bring large swaths of lead white and arsenic green fabric and gold beading for her wedding dress. She does not know of the dangers of these materials. Once again I arrive at Ty Dol, this time through the servants’ entrance. The seamstresses are immediately called to collect the fabric, and once they leave, a kitchen maid tells me of the state of stress that Lady Kelly has been in since starting to plan her wedding. “Everything,” she says, “has to be the perfect shade of green, and the Lady’s arguing with the Earl’s mam about including their family colors.” She giggles. “Bit ridiculous really,” she says, then goes back to pounding her bread dough. *** On the day of her wedding, Lady Kelly collapsed. Three days later, she died. The doctor said it was from lead and arsenic poisoning from the fabric of her dress. The kitchen maid told the police about my fabric delivery, and they’re coming to the house now. I won't go to jail, I won’t. I pick up a letter opener with a green handle, and only hesitate a second before driving it into my chest. *** Alas my love you do me wrong To cast me off discourteously; And I have loved you oh so long Delighting in your company. Greensleeves was my delight, Greensleeves my heart of gold Greensleeves was my heart of joy And who but my lady Greensleeves. I have been ready at your hand To grant whatever thou would'st crave; I have waged both life and land Your love and goodwill for to have. Greensleeves was my delight, Greensleeves my heart of gold Greensleeves was my heart of joy And who but my lady Greensleeves. Thy petticoat of slender white With gold embroidered gorgeously; Thy petticoat of silk and white And these I bought gladly. Greensleeves was my delight, Greensleeves my heart of gold Greensleeves was my heart of joy And who but my lady Greensleeves. This story was loosely based off of an Old English song called Greensleeves. I’m sorry if I offended any Welsh people with my poor geography and use of Google Translate! *woks away*
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Wow, it's been a while.
S., couple announcements. 1. Nightshade Poisoning. I GOT WRITER'S BLOCK. I'm sorry, I just have no inspiration to keep writing that story! I like the plot, but I just. can't. do it. 2. New posting schedule. I'm going to start posting every weekend, maybe on Saturday, maybe on Sunday, maybe both. It's probably going to be mostly short stories, because the thing about those is, they're short! And I don't have to commit to writing the same thing every time! (wait... do I have commitment issues?) 3. Video I'm leaving the link to a very interesting and important video here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ Yeah that's it! I'm going to post a story-thing later today, so see you then! *woks away* |
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