Bed, Bed-less, and Breakfast Inn

[Brewbury]

Neesa awoke, eyelashes flittering in the morning light. She sat up and rubbed her tired eyes as she remembered where she was.

Daerinnid was sitting rather uncomfortably in a hard wooden chair. The noise of his chest rising and falling was comforting to Neesa as she stepped out of the bed and let her bare feet scrape along the dusty floor. Daerinnid was so cute when he was sleeping, his mouth hanging slightly open as he snored softly. Neesa put a hand to her lips to stifle a giggle.

Carefully, she tiptoed past the sleeping Daerinnid and removed his book from the door handle. He was such a paranoid man, perhaps stemming from the events at what had been her parent's inn.

Her parents… Neesa brushed away a tear from the corner of her eye. She had loved them, even that sister of hers. The inn had been a fine home for sixteen years, but it was gone now, along with her family. Neesa quickly fled through the door lest her crying wake Daerinnid. She had to be conscious of his every need, now that she had nowhere else to turn.

For a stranger, Daerinnid was a marvelous friend. He had rescued her from the fire, from the river, from a life which she was sure was doomed to be hers. No longer would Neesa be forced to work in an inn, serving others as they chanced along. Perhaps they would go to the city and she could become a lady of the courts. That would be wonderful, thought Neesa as she tightened the drawstrings of a dress given to her by a kindly villager. Neesa giggled and practiced her curtsy. "How do you do, your Majesty," she said, carefully pronouncing each syllable. The strangeness of the false accent caused her to collapse into giggles once more.

Why had Daerinnid rescued her? She wondered as she headed down the stairs. There could be only one reason, that single reason touted by so many romantic books: love at first sight. Yet she, as the heroine, would have to work hard to secure those first glimmers of love, but in the end she would make her man her own. The stories always ended that way. Then they would be married and live together like king and queen in a mansion with three darling children…

The sounds of the kitchen interrupted Neesa' fantasy. The cook and her assistants were preparing breakfast, and it seemed Neesa was right on time. "'Scuse me," she said boldly, waving her hand to attract the cook's attention.

"Yah, garl, watcha wan'?"

"I need some breh'fist f'r me c'mpanyin."

"'Ark, wan sec." The cook hurriedly poured some form of gruel into a bowl and handed it over.

"I don' think ya unnerstand," protested Neesa. "I'm trav'lin' wi' mista Daerinnid, 'e's th' one that's protectin' th' town from th' Te'naaak'noa."

The cook looked at Neesa blankly, and had obviously not been at the lecture the previous evening.

"'Ere, does this make any sens' t'ya?" she asked, holding out a coin.

"Nah yah spakkin' me lengwaj," grinned the cook, snatching up the coin. "Masta's brekkist fah tha garl!" The cook's assistants went to work, preparing some eggs and meat under the cook's watchful eye. Neesa sat and waited for them to finish, gladly accepting the proffered plate and whisking it upstairs.

Unsurprisingly, Daerinnid was still sleeping. Neesa very carefully pushed the door open and set the food down on the table. Now, to wake Daerinnid up. Neesa straightened her dress and adjusted the front as she strode over.

"Daer…" she whispered into his ear, her breath tickling the sensitive skin. Daerinnid snapped awake instantly, a surprised Neesa yelping in surprise.

"Who--wha--whe--" he sputtered, trying to get his bearings. "Nah-- Neesa!?"

"I got ya some breh'fist," she smiled sweetly, indicated the table. It took a moment for Daerinnid to figure this out, so Neesa pointed forcefully in the direction of the table. "Breh'fist, breh'fist! Wake up, sleppy-head."

"Aah, my back," groaned Daerinnid, rubbing his bruised spine.

"Silly Daer, nes' time ya oughtta sleep inna bed wi' me."

"How about not," he replied groggily. "That was the worst sleep of my life…"

Growing exasperated, Neesa wailed, "Your breh'fist, Daer!"

"I know, I'm going." Groaning, Daerinnid peeled himself out of the chair and plodded over to the table. "Food… smells nice." He seated himself and began to eat. "Foo tays goo."

"Don' chew an' et a' th' same time, Mitha always said."

"Mulgh," agreed Daerinnid, shoving another forkful of food into his mouth.

Well, Neesa reasoned, even a man from a romance novel had flaws.