Spencer and Penny - A Royal Tale - POW Entry

Pensively, Penny stares out of the window, missing her husband Spencer. She touches the expensive pendant Spencer gave her before leaving. Spencer wasn't penurious and he knew her penchant for fine jewelry. She can see the open grounds, the moat and the dependable castle walls, beyond that nothing, but deepening snow mounds. The aspens stand open to the winds' chill, looking barren, as if they had never worn a delicate dress of new green leaves.

The winter has been long and boring, for nothing happens in winter, as if life is suspended. She has been pent up in her apartment in the castle. Spencer has been at war for a year, his war pennant flying high. When gone, Spencer prefers Penny stay safe within the castle grounds. The suspense of the war's outcome worries her.

She tends the herb gardens of pennyroyal, pennyworts, pennycress, penstemon and others she uses in her salves. She practices her penmanship and sharpens her needlework skills. Winter weather suspends outside activity. She hears reports from the animals pens, the castle guard presents wappenschawings, monthly, to keep in practice and to raise her spirits.

The days pass, spent in quiet activities, Penny penning letters to Spencer, penning entries into her journal and repenting of her rebellious nature for she is independent. Penny wants to be astride her black stallion, Pennyroyal, spending the day racing Spencer up a steepening hillside, across a meadow, lunching upon crackers with tapenade for Spencer and ripening cheese, ripened pears and fresh bread for Penny, while laying on a soft rug under the trees, laughing up into his deep blue eyes and feeling his dependable strong arms about her.

This won't happen soon. Not until the war is over. Penny perpends the events of the future and suspends her worry. She is filled with purpose. She sets her ladies to sewing night clothes for the pensioners, and layettes for new babies. She designs a pennon, to fly from her apothecary, with a penstemon blossom behind a mortar and pestle.

Penny sets the carpenters to building her apothecary. The winter passes, and before she realizes it, spring has come to the land. Trees, once barren, are clothed with green leaves, flowers are blooming and children are running around the grounds.

One early morning when Penny, hearing shouts from the main gate, steps out of her small apothecary, finding her ladies saying, "Oh Milady, they are home! Lord Spencer is without the gates and begs you attend him!"

Penny gathers her skirts and runs to the open gate! There, at the head of his army, rode her dear Spencer, astride his horse, the beautiful white Strider. He grinned at her, stepping down from his steed, gathering her into his arms.

As he lay his lips upon hers, Penny knew the pendulum had swung back. Spencer whispered, "I am home Lady Penny, no more war for me!"

Penny tilts her head to gaze into his eyes, grins and sighs, "Yes Milord, as you say."

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Words that might need explanation.

Wappenschawing: an inspection or muster of soldiers formerly held at various times in each district of Scotland.

Tapenade: a seasoned spread made chiefly with mashed black olives, capers, and anchovies.

Perpend: To weight carefully in the mind.

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The words that are highlighted show the challenge word for this week, it is PEN. The word limit is 500. So if you like this story and think you would enjoy this kind of a challenge, please join our group. Play on Words. We have a great group owner, Ernie, who makes this so much fun! There are prizes, awards and just plain old writing fun! Just click here and give us a try. You won't regret it! http://playonwords.gather.com/