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While out on a snowy countryside ride with his rescued Belgian steed, James LightningSword notices a neighbor in need & offers his aid, making an elegant new acquaintance in the process.

The Widow
By Lonelyrider

James was riding his rescued mighty steed Diablo the belgian draft through the woods and countryside, he pulled his cloak over himself and donned a horse hood over Diablo as it started to snow steadily around them, the big beast's breath forming clouds of mist in the cooling air.
"Whoa boy, good boy, Diablo, good boy." James crooned tenderly, feeding the happy horse a fat beet, one of Diablo's favorite foods, James had learned. The huge musclebound man had rescued the giant stallion from a cruel owner months ago, and the strong horse had rewarded James' kindness with unwavering loyalty as a brave jousting mount and more, for Diablo was always willing to learn new things, James had been delighted to discover. James patted and kissed the steed on his mighty muzzle and left him to graze quietly on James' neighbor's lawn, she too was in possession of a lavish manor, but James had stopped their ride as he'd noticed the huge stack of uncut firewood and a rusted axe, and her manor sat silent with no smoke coming out. Clearing his throat, James knocked gently on the double doors.
An elderly human maid answered.
"Spencer residence." She announced formally. James swept his cloak and gave a polite half bow, seeing the old human eye his big wingspan and huge frame curiously.
"Good evening madam, I was riding by and I noticed some tasks in need of doing. Oh, how silly of me, excuse me, I'm James LightningSword, and I live just down the road, there. I wanted to offer my help, if it is needed in any way." James said gallantly, with another half bow.
"Well...yes, to be truthful. I'm Madam Iris's only remaining servant, after her husband died, and I haven't the strength to chop wood, or clear her yard of debris, or any of the tasks the male servants used to do. Her fireplace has been bare for a long time, now, though she's kept it swept and maintened. She's resting what right now, but if you really wish to help, I won't forbid you, I'm sure milady won't be offended by the offer, either. Here, take this coin, for your troubles." The servant offered a small sack to James, who shook his head and held out his hands in a refusing gesture.
"No ma'am, I couldn't accept, but thank you for your generosity. It'd be my pleasure to help, I'm truthfully a little bored, my girlfriend is away today with her church and I'm trying to stay busy as I miss her." He admitted, rubbing his hair and laughing self-effacingly.
"Ahh, I see, young man. Then we accept, with humble thanks." The servant bowed and closed the double doors to Madam Spencer's manor and James eagerly made his way to the woodpile, scratching his hair again and beard in thought as he surveyed it and the rusted axe as well.
"Ahh, perfect." He thought, James flipped out a tool he always kept on his belt, a blade sharpener as he was a gladiator by trade, and started to sharpen the rusted axe. It didn't take long before the axe was shiny and silver once more and James went to work, his curious horse nudging him and getting a friendly pat as James used his bulk to bulldoze through the woodpile; he hadn't split much wood before, but he was so strong his axe swing was able to cut the logs with relative ease, and he kept going until he'd split the entire pile. James took a long swig of water from the canteen on Diablo's saddlebag and gave the axe a leather cover from his own posessions, then he hoisted an enormous amount of wood onto his burly arms and shoulders and began to carry them to the door, knocking gently with his foot. This time, Lady Iris was having tea in her parlor when she saw the enormous mortal angel wipe his boots and carry in a massive load of firewood, setting them down by her fireplace and stacking some in the log holders.
"I'll build a fire right away." The servant said, getting to it, James gave a friendly wave and a bow to lady Iris, who was an anthro silver fox woman in her 70s.
He started to speak and she interrupted in a steady and calm voice.
"Mr LightningSword, I
presume. My servant explained. How very kind of you. Are you in the habit of rescuing old women?" Iris inquired, James felt his beard and chuckled shyly with a blushing grin.
"My mother raised me to always lend a hand, I'll admit, it stuck!" James admitted self-consciously.
"It's good that you listen to her, so many boys don't. You're welcome to tea when you finish."
"Thank you, milady." James said with another bow, and he went back outside, hefting more firewood and carrying it in, this time when he went back out he also shoved a large tree that had fallen in her yard up and dragged it to the woods instead with a heave. Iris watched the brute work until he'd carried in an impressive pile of wood, he took a break, breathing harder now.
"That's more than enough, eat, you must be starving." Iris indicated. "Lorna, bring him his own quiche, my tea sandwiches are too light a fare for a man his size."
"Yes milady." The servant said, James thanked Iris as she poured him a cup of hot tea and he slurped it, apologizing with a blush.
"Oh, where are my manners, I'm so sorry, they're usually much better." James gushed.
"You've been working hard, if the only thing I have to pay for that is an eager appetite from you, I'd say I was wrought a bargain. Lorna tells me you're a neighbor, James?" Iris asked, sipping her earl grey tea. James thanked her as she poured him another cup and he sweetened and added cream to it, downing it fast in his thirst.
"Yes ma'am, about a mile west of you, my father bought the manor there for me."
"And who is your father, James?" Iris asked with polite intrigue, her demanor steady and calm.
"Abaddon LightningSword, the mighty warlock." James said proudly, grinning boyishly at her. Lorna brought his red pepper and cheddar quiche and he thanked her and gave her a gold coin, she pocketed it with a bow and went to fetch more tea.
"I've heard of him, this area is a poltical seat for that trade, so I'm told. My husband wasn't involved in such things, but we'd often see them at our social events." Iris said, James gave her his full attention as he wolfed down his quiche, Iris passed him some tea sandwiches and he thanked her and downed those too.
"Mmm...so good, thank you so much! Yes, I'm planning to intern with an associate of my father's, in the dark arts. I must admit though, I'm nervous." James confessed between gulps, Iris nodded.
"You're more of a sword wielder than a spellcaster, is that right?" Iris inquired, clawed pinky in the air as she finished another cup of tea. James nodded big, Iris asked Lorna to make him a big sandwich as she could tell the huge male was still hungry, he thanked them profusely and downed a teapot in the meantime, as there were several at her table.
"You're exactly right! I'm a tanker in the gladiator games, I also inherited my father's magic abilities, my magical power is that of lightning, and my father, he favors fire." James told her with a big grin.
"I see, child." Iris nodded.
"Oh, and this is my girlfriend, Lonely. She's away helping her church with a fundraiser today, but hopefully I'll see her again soon." James showed Iris Lonely's smiling portrait in his magic mirror.
"Very pretty." Iris comented.
"Hmm, she is." James purred fondly, stroking the mirror and grinning wide at her picture, he thanked Lorna as she brought him a massive three meat sandwich and he demolished it ravenously, as Lorna delicately ate a salmon and creamcheese tea sandwich and sipped another cup of black tea.
"You look a little drowsy." Lorna commented; James had wolfed down the sandwich and finished off two of the four teapots, he patted his muscled stomach and sighed in contentment, his wings fluffing happily.
"Oh that was splendid, thank you so much."
"Thank you. You may rest on my sofa until you're alert once more, I'm retiring to my bedchamber for the remainder of the day. I have a book to finish." James clamored up and politely pulled out Iris' chair as she stood up.
"Oh, me too, I just love to read." He gushed.
"Good. Rest for ahwile, you're invited to stop by here anytime you wish, James. Lorna, give him a heavy quilt and pillow and let him rest until he's ready to ride home."
"Yes ma'am." Lorna called, James politely escorted Iris to the foot of her staircase and she went up on her own as Lorna prepared the couch by the roaring fireplace for James' post-lunch nap. He stretched and thanked her, and was out and snoring loudly soon as he lay down, to finish his snowy countryside canter with Diablo when he finally awoke, the beautiful cloudy sunset making him yearn for Lonely's company on that cold cloudy evening ride.