[Forum Game] Agorath and the Maegi Prophecy

BlackBishop · May 8, 2014

Serpentine, Fifth Year of the New Age...

Scourge of Stronghelm

The anguished cries of the dying rose up from the blood soaked earth and grey colourless stone that formed the fortress of Stronghelm. The castle itself resembled the very bones of the earth, and the shadow that infested it now, the marrow. Upon the highest battlement, the primary feeler of the shadow stood, it's oblique eyes of utter darkness stared out at the fruit of its labour. The surrounds fumed forth with black smoke of countless fires, that wailing song of the soon dead feeding the ancient power. From somewhere deep within, holding on to one last bastion of strength, was the host, struggling to maintain one last sliver of consciousness while the shadow consumed all. The cracked and rotted lips curled up in a smile. Let the blasphemer remain to see the utter ruin that would be cast on this land. Let him witness true glory as his kingdom is rebuilt from the ashes.

"My King," a mortal with a voice laced with fear atoned. "The castle has fallen. Stronghelm is ours. The dead are awaiting last rites."

The shadow turned toward the mortal, looming over him. His thin menacing voice uttered through the dead mouth of the feeler. "Valhalla cries for the valiant dead... A cry I will not heed. Norseland is mine, along with the dead."

The withered hand of the shadow extended, the grey dead flesh began to tremble and boil, lacerations formed, and through the cuts a rush of maggots began to pour out, fowl wings bursting out of their worm-like bodies as they took to the air, the hungry children filled the air by the hundreds, seeking the dead. The mortal fell to his knees and retched, and somewhere within the decaying mind of the shadow's thrall, Bloodknot screamed.

Rumours have spread from southern Norseland that corpus has broke out near Stronghelm. The fortress itself has fallen to the Bloodknots...

Sneakyflaps · May 13, 2014

((This is a follow up IC for another IC that happened probably a month ago or so, to late for me to look for it to give a link, will try and remember tomorrow))

A drink and how I despise it
-----Year 9-----
-----Ra’Gru’s PoV-----

What hell it had been, this damn civil war causing more and more death but luckily it gave me a reason to get the final nobles in prison, I must admit that I had not expected there to be so many of them but now the plot was out and so was their lives. That they had been so bold to outright move against me like that, I would have Merton and Clayden’s heads on a silver plate when all of this was done, it was however the other nobles that where the problem, I can’t just kill them all nor do I want too so another solution would have to be found, perhaps it was doable to put them in enough debt that it would be unrealistic for them both economically and diplomatically to revolt against the crown again. But if this is to be done then a proper solution will have to be thought of, the right amount on each noble as we can’t bankrupt them either, just need to fine them enough so that it’s impossible for them to move against us again, I need to appoint a council for this, one that is properly made up of educated individuals to go over each and single one of the nobles and come up with a proper fine.

Another issue is Rodney, of all the times he tells me during a meeting with the Elves, of all the times to tell it was not one of them, probably for the best that he did. A rebellion can easily get out of hand but he could still have pulled me aside, had he not already prepared the army and had the nobles under control then he would be rotting alongside them in Tyburn for treason. That he lied to me in hopes of advancing his own goals is the uttermost treason there is, to lie to a sovereign no matter what reason is a horrible sin and by the gods it is one that I will make sure that he remembers and that Varian knows so he does not fall for the same. Yet I wonder if he was still mad, he had been getting better as of late but that trip home from Saxon had been a living hell, refusing to talk, just sitting quietly and eating or riding while looking at me like I had killing someone, I had enough of it in the end and just ignored him but at least he is loosening up now.

But now I needed to draw up another army to make sure that should they fail in the Southwest, the option was always there and I would prefer having another army ready should I need to march down there myself. The problem is that they are cheering for Rodney’s head to make sure that he will die, but I fear that I am not inclined to hand it over just as of yet, had they partitioned me and asked me to dismiss him then perhaps they could have made their voice heard, but as they rise in rebellion, a horrendous crime, this is disgusting and thus by wanting his head, they have saved it.

But at least I was able to have a bit of relaxation here, it was a nice cabin if it could actually be called that considering the size and grander of it. If I remember right then I expanded it about four years ago to accommodate more of the court at a time for proper hunts. I had taken Varian with me and had hunted with him for him to get away from Azeratii, his skills had improved and he still uses the bow carved from Lurien, I can’t even remember when it was that he made the thing but I know that he is proud and happy for it. I wonder if it is the feeling of making it himself, the thought of his mother or simply the thought of a life away from here that made him so happy to own the bow.

A groom entered the room and told me that she had arrived, good it had been some time since I last saw her and I wondered how this would go, how mad she would be or how she would react. I went out of my study and towards the meeting hall, as I stood there I looked at her, she was looking at a fresco, she almost seemed like she longed for something. "Hello"

"Hi." She said, slowly turning around. Her face steeled, unmovable as a stone. Ah, that face again, I wonder how long since I last saw that, perhaps you are overacting just a slight bit my dear, I honestly thought that we had moved past this but perhaps I was wrong.

"Care for something to drink?" I asked, I have a feeling it might help this, and that we both could use one, I went over to the side and took a glass and a goblet "How was the Chasm?" We might as well talk about something, I guess that this is as good as anything else to get it going.

"Growing." She said short, moving up to me. "I'll have some wine." If that is what you wish then that is what you shall have.

"That’s always good" I said with a faint smile before pouring us both a glass, and handing her one "Come with me" I need to sit down, my damn leg has been plaguing me again.

I walked into the other room, which was a study with several books and a table by the end, I went over to the table and sat down while looking at the her and the chair in front of him "Please sit" There is no need to stand, this is as much your palace as it is mine.

She sat neatly back on the chair, swirling the wine in her glass as she politely held it up in front of her face, before taking a sip. "I am seated." She said, sniffing at the beverage and wrinkled her brow from its spiced scent. Is something wrong with the wine or do you prefer you had asked for water instead?

"Indeed you are" I said before drinking a bit "How has Anwën and Narien been doing?" I ask concerned, we might have our disputes but they are our children and they do deserve better than this arguing, fighting and moving away from each other because we cannot keep the peace, I cannot help but worry and fear for how they are when they have a father such as I. I know I am different than my father, I don’t become drunk in front of my children, I don’t hit them or you my dear, I never laid a hand on any of you. I like to think that it is because I am so good hearted but I know that is a lie, you hit me plenty of times and I love you and you have a heart of gold, so I guess there is nothing wrong with it as long as it is not done out of spite or hatred, I know most families work that way but I don’t want mine to, I don’t want my children to fear me when they see me, I want them to love me and be happy when they do, not shiver in fear.
Perhaps the true reason I have never done it, the true reason I would rather kill myself than hit any of you isn’t because of love, perhaps its rather out of fear, fear of myself, fear of how I saw my father, fear of how I knew him and how he was towards me, fear that I am like him. Am I a better father than him or am I the same or worse? I know they don’t fear me yet do they love me, do they care for me at all, I loved the freedom that Rodney gave me, he gave me the time that I could spend with them and now I know that can no longer be, I know that I will be even less in their lives than before because I have to rule this sodding kingdom of ungrateful nobles who know nothing yet think they are the gods gift to the Kingdom.

She eyed me up and down. "Soothed. Anxious." I must admit that I wished that you had simply lied and said happy, yet would I have been happy to know that they were happy being away from me and Varian, I guess it would be a sweet lie that would come back to haunt me later. She lent her shoulder against the back of the armchair, taking a more informal position. "How is Varian?" He is better and upstairs, but I won’t tell you that yet, we need to talk first.

"He is good, but he misses you and he misses them" He missed you dearly, he wouldn't tell me but I knew it, I guess it is not that fun for a thirteen year old boy to admit he misses his mother. I know that he would never admit that he missed his sisters but I know better than that and I think he does as well, he loves them more than most on this world, I think the only he loves more are us, but I know he would give his life the save theirs if needed. I shook his head "He refused to speak to me during our trip back to Azeratii following what happened in Saxon, but we got past that" I said offering a smile.

"It gladdens me to hear." She said, sorrowingly staring down her wine. "I missed him dearly." She sighed. I already regret asking if you wanted something to drink, I hate it when you drink and yet I hide it for you all the same, you drink because you let yourself have fun and I won’t speak against that. But I cannot help feel hate whenever you drink, Wilhelm drinks as well and way to much at that, I have gotten reports of him drinking more than ever when he is not on duty, I wonder if I made a mistake by sending him to deal with the rebels but I needed to do it, but I cannot stand to feel the hate in me when I see him drunk, I find it so distasteful. Varian has also recently started drinking but at least he does not try to dull his pain, simply have fun so I hate it but I will allow it, and the same goes for Anwën and Narien when they become older.
But you my dear there is a special hate in me when I see you drink, I do not know why. Perhaps it is because I feel that I failed whenever I see you drink, you didn’t drink when we first met and it wasn’t until that hellish night when you first came to Azeratii that you began to drink, perhaps that is why or perhaps it is just that I hate alcohol. Yet I keep drinking it myself, I guess it’s the taste, the dulling of the senses, perhaps even that I might relax more when I drink but I keep myself within moderation, I have to.
When I get drunk during the night I feel like killing myself the following morning, I remember once I even got close to it. I remember it clear as day, I woke up after a night of heavy drinking and I remember that we had fun that night, felt at peace and yet when I woke up I felt dead inside, I wanted the feeling away from myself, I wanted to end my life there and then. I took the knife on the table next to me, I put it at my wrist and I held it down, I even made a slight cut, nothing more than a just piecing the skin. And then you made a noise that made me stop it completely, I turned around and I felt like a fool for even thinking of taking my life, I put the knife away and went over and held you tight but I cannot rid myself of my father’s shadow, it is there every time I do what he enjoyed.

"And I miss them, and you" I said staring into my own wine, I hate this drink and yet I like it at the same time, it has caused me so much misery and still "I was starting to doubt if you would show up" I say looking back up at her. I am glad you did, had you not then I do not know what I would have done, I have grown older, I have changed and yet I need you just as much as before, if not more now.

"Still waiting to hear for what I came in the first, my dear." She said with a frown, tilting the ruby liquid from side to side, toying with the surface to form gushing waves. I know I did wrong but there is no need to be cold, it is not you that suffers because I didn’t do my duty, because I took personal pleasure over that of the realm, it is the people under me that have suffered and I will make sure that they get it right.

"That I fucked up and I am sorry, that I am revoking the reforms" I shook my head, and I am not proud of it. "Truth be told, I ignored many of my responsibilities as King and ruler leaving them to Rodney, I believed what he told me and I was wrong to do so and therefore I now sit with you, mad at me once again and rightly so, a rebellion in the South West and many noble houses sitting on charge of treason in Tyburn" I drank a bit more wine, making it burn into my throat, but I didn’t mind this burning, I welcomed it as it made me think of something else. "It’s a mess, and I am sorry" Not just to you, but to everyone in this kingdom.

She sighed, leaning her head against her palm. "What was it that you said? It's the way of the future? To what destine trick befall you such insight where none were had at all?" She looked up at me with her probing eyes, taking another deep sip from her glass. "You blatantly lied that day, or are you simply lying now?" What did you want me to say, I believed what I had been told, I believe that the peasants welcomed it, I believed people where happy about what had happened, I did not know what had happened, I didn’t know that so many had taken up arms and desired Rodney’s head. Either I would yell at a servant for doing his duty or his failure and lies as I later found out, or I would stand against you and your queen and defend him, the option was clear, as long as Nienna was there I could not yell or demean him, it is a matter of face as much as anything else and had she not been there then perhaps it would have been different.

"Ignorance is bliss, isn’t that how it goes" I said while looking at her "I believed what Rodney told me, I believed that people welcomed the reforms and embraced them, I believed every word he told me and I was an idiot for doing so" There is not much else to it than that.

She made a high pitched scoff, turning into an immediate frown. "At least somewhere we can be in agreement. Too busy being king, to actually be one. Had you but stuck your nose out the balcony once to look at your common folks, you'd know. Aye. I've plenty heard of the Elf bitch queen, and the king with no name, the tyrant, upon the hill. Black blood of rape flow through his heir's veins, and his daughters the children of slaves.” I heard that from the other nobles, not the commoners, said nobles now sit in prison in Tyburn, so I worry not for them anymore “What did you ever do in those council sessions on your high end of the table? Fucking ate? Fucking drank?" She took another sip, heavier this time. "You've lived in a fantasy world for almost a decade now. Time to wake up soon?" Can you truly blame me for wanting a different life, a life where I was happy, had time for you and our children without having to worry too much, and is it truly such a bad wish?

"Amazing how closer and closer I became to Asharian, I can’t even blame him anymore for the way he lived" I said while looking down at the drink before up at her "What can I say, I enjoyed living in that world, spending time with you, being happy with my family, relaxing and trusting Rodney, he gave me that time to do that and I trust him because of it and I was a fool" So now I won’t have the same time as before but at least I will rule the kingdom, for what that is worth. "But yes I have woken up, I see that I need to take greater responsibility in ruling the realm even if it will cost me my private time with you during the days and can only spent time with you during the evening and night, I have a lot to fix and I need to do it" I shook my head "That is if you are even coming back" If not, well I don’t even know what to do then.

She made a deep and prolonged sigh, rubbing at her temple with her free hand. "I wouldn't have come here to treat with you, if my intentions were not as such in the first place." She drilled her deep blue eyes into mine over the table, still clad in a suspicious frown. To treat, I wish you wouldn’t speak as if we were making a peace agreement. I would much rather you spoke as if we were trying to make it work, or perhaps just pretend.

"Well then, I am not quite sure what else to say, I neglected my responsibilities and I now need to fix it, but I learned from it" I looked back into her eyes "I am sorry" There is nothing else that I can say, you must either forgive me and accept it or decide not to, but there is nothing else than I can do.

"Worse for wear I guess." She shrugged her shoulders. "Azeratii is our home now as well." I guess that is something, at least you do not see it as a prison or at least I don’t think that you do, unlike when you first became queen, I remember it so clearly. I was so proud to see you walk into the halls with our children next to you and so proud to see you all, my heart filling with warmth and yet within the matters of hours I had already ripped it apart. She tilted her head "And the thought of part from my son is too much to bear. Caught in an anvil, I am. You think blaming this councilor for your acts and edicts will make me trust you in any way? This is the third time you go behind my back. I wonder what next surprise would be in store?" Hopefully something happy than this. And no I do not think that it will make you trust me but that does not mean that I will blame him any less.

"I am blaming myself for the trust I put into him, I should have known better than I did and I was a fool" I looked at her "As in regards to the last part, I don’t know what to say, I could make a promises and promise to do better but I have done that in the past, and now we sit here, but I might as well tell what is happening" I leaned back in my chair "I have dispatched Saxon and Arckard to the Southwest to deal with the rebels, they have been given order to spare the peasants, capture the nobles and ringleaders that are partaking in the rebellion and bring them to Tyburn. From there they will be placed on trial in front of the three High Judges I installed some years ago, if found guilty then the punishment will be fitting of the crime and if found innocent they are released" I already know that there is enough evidence against the nobles to be worth multiple large books. Now it is just finding a fitting punishment for these nobles so they can best serve the realm once more, if not in death then in gold, but at least I had them where I wanted them now, a place where they couldn’t rebel and only hope for mercy, it felt good that I had them that I now felt secure with the noble rebels crushed.

She shook her head. "You tried to talk? You made this porridge, why not try salvaging what's not turned mould?" Would be nice to simply forgive all and come to an understanding so we all walk away in good spirit, but that isn’t how the world works.

I shook my head as well "I didn’t tell them to use force, but the nobles need to be put on trial" There is no other way even if I wished for it, but it has to be done and then we can move forward.

She held out her hands. "For what?! Do you think the Creator care for your beliefs? Think he wants their loyalty in a church? You think he expect his children’s faith and loyalty?!” If he even cared then he would be here, he would not have left and he would be here to help guide us, yet he is not so I will have to make do with that I have done and do what I can to move forward “Why not appease them? Apologize for trying to dictate their faith? I'm so sick of your regal assumptions! The way this crown got to your head!" Well it is something that you will have to live with, you may not like it but either you live with it or you don’t but I cannot and I won’t try to hide it either. She pointed out the door. "What example are you to sit with your son? To reward tyranny as well? Soak himself in wine, women, to have him believe he's someone he's not? And what of your daughters? You'd have them behave that way too?" I do not behave myself in such a way, I do not soak myself in wine or women and you know that very well.

"I will have my son behave as the person he is, he is my heir and firstborn son. I will have my daughters act as I expect them to, as I expect any lady to carry herself with dignity and grace, be kind and grateful and charitable." I looked at her while studying her "I am appeasing the people by revoking the reforms but the nobles will stand on trial" I took a breath "They plotted my death, my demise, but more importantly they plotted your death and the death of our children, they will stand on trial. The peasants are rebelling due to the reforms and I will address that, they are not rebelling or crying out for our death simply for their voice to be heard and it has, but I will not let the nobles go, that are for the courts to decide" But more importantly it is to send a message, every noble knows that the judges in Azeratii holds the kings peace, and with the amount of evidence that we have it would not be an issue in any court.

She darted to her feet. "And so you did, once! A time when you fought these same people to see them die, to see me die, to see your son die!" That is too far, I love you with my whole heart but don’t you ever dare to even suggest that I ever fought a war to see my son died, I have done everything I can to protect him, everything to love him as much as I could, I might have failed but don’t you ever dare to suggest I have ever wanted him dead.

"Don’t you ever again dare to say I fought to see my son die, not now and not ever" I looked at her with anger in my eyes at her comment before calming myself "I was a fool before, you helped me back to the light, and I fought these people yes, but not to kill them and you know that very well" I never wanted to see the world burn or people to die, it would never have served a goal, there is beauty in life and I have always wanted it to live even when I have killed, I gave orders to spare any man not taking up arms against me when I fought for the dark, so don’t you ever dare suggest anything of that sort again. I took another slurp ""I will tour the rebellious regions when this is dealt with and I will speak and meet with the people, I have neglected them for far too long and they have made their point and I will speak with them and address it and right the wrongs" I said with sincerity in my voice, let the people see who rules them and let them see that I do care about them and their complaints, that I am not just some lord that sits in his tower.

"And they keep piling..." She crossed her arms. "One by one, and don't you dare tell me to forget. I will never forget..." She walked across the room, and stared me in the face, bare three feet away. "You're here only because of I. I vouched for you, to my people, to the Lords. Who brought for you to see your son, and who kept him behind bars? You better start fucking humble yourself, husband... To the world you live in... You'd had nothing of it, if I hadn't been here... So tell me your pretty lies all you want. It's the actions that call us what people we are. Not your so claimed thoughts, buried deep in your mind, only placed before us when you find it most appropriate to do so..." I am here because I took a chance and placed myself here, you brought me back into the light and I would most likely be dead had you not done so, but it was not you that spoke with Asharian, not you that was there when his heir died, not you who were offered the crown, that was me so while I might owe you my redemption, it is still because of me that I sit on my throne, we are where we are because we reach for it and so I did as much as you have hated it, it is done. She raised a warning finger towards me. "And don't dare bring the children into your silly, redundant sphere. They're lords and ladies, of course, but they're your children first, you fucking cold arse!" They are indeed my children and I will take care of them, I will make sure that they will get a proper marriage, but politics will always be a part and you know that.

I stood up while holding at my left leg before standing right in front of her looking directly into her eyes, damn my leg its annoying me and it is not helping my mood "You are right, and those nobles plotted their death and I will make sure that the punishment will fit the crime, this has nothing to do with my crown, this has to do with my family. I know very well you vouched for me, that you put your life on the line in your trust but I fought for the light. I risked my neck time and time again and I have never regretted it, you brought me my son and I will forever be grateful for that no matter what issues we might have and there is never a reason for you to doubt that." Believe that if nothing else, but it is because of me that I now sit on this throne.

"And yet I am..." She poked at my forehead, are you doing that for pleasure or are you simply testing my limits before I become mad enough "That crown you wear, the name you bear, the same name I'm now to carry, once aimed to plunge a knife into your son's flesh, along with one of your vassals dear. Tell me, husband..." and yet when I first told then you told me that it was all lies, so what am I to believe when first you tell me one thing and then another, for clearly there is only one answer, but Asharian is dead now and he has been for years. She moved to whisper into my ear. "You still pride with those traditions? That family, that rule of law? By the Light, you love that name more than you love me. That is abundantly clear." I am getting so sick of this argument and we both know that isn’t true, or perhaps you don’t know it, I don’t know which one anymore, only that this argument is tiring me out. I love you and I always have but I also love what I am, I love that I can provide for my family in this role, I love that I do not have my children worry at night about food the coming days or if they have to steal or be beaten, yes I love that. But I love my family the most, you are my family and so are my children.

"Asharian aimed to kill my son, possibly I will never know, when I told you what the Dark One showed me you told me it was lies. If he truly wished to kill my son and his grandson then I wish him the biggest torments wherever he now is" I shook my head "Do you ever think that I considered the Krestarii family as my own, as my real family, never once have I done so and never will I. I chose you and our children as my family, your sister and her children as well, not the Krestarii bloodline. If you think that I truly love a name more than I love you then you are blind to the truth. If I truly cared more for my crown than I did for you then we would not be speaking here" If I cared more for the crown then I would have let you come back and not contacted you, but I need you more than I need the crown and I know that.

Eylinn chuckled mirthlessly, and a short length of maniacal laughter escaped her mouth. She stepped away and positioned herself behind her chair, her face turning hot and red, distorted with rage. "Then why do these things keep popping up time after time?! I am only just able to slow down and calm when the next bloated act of mad creep up through the crevices in the floor! You say one thing, yet acts another! You are never who you say you are! Why... Why are you hiding? Why do you try to fool me even now?! Dark is not a label... It is an act. All I asked was for some fucking peace..." Take it easy, you are clearly losing your mind right now and that isn’t helping either of us to any better. She glowered over me "You're no king. Will you have my head for saying such? Gutted and hung, then cut through my neck? Hang it on a pike to let the people tremble over the face of defiance?" Stop being moronic, of course I would not, are you absolutely insane?

"Eylinn, stop being foolish, you are my wife and I love you" I went over closer to her "What do you think I am trying to fool you with, I told you what will happen and I am hiding nothing. It’s true that what has happened in this Kingdom has gone too far and I will correct the faults done during the previous years, Rodney's reforms will be revoked and I will speak with the people and hear their complaint, no longer will I let my ministers have so much trust. I am human and I make mistakes, I am nowhere near perfect and I will not claim to be but I do learn from the mistakes that I make" and I can only hope that it will be better in the future but I can make no such promise, I am the king and it was a responsibility that I took and that I will now make sure is upheld, be mad all you want that I took this office, but I have done so and I will not neglect it anymore, because I have now caused the death of so many innocents.

She closed her eyes, and sighed. She stood silently for a minute to ease her flushing, her skin turning from its lobster red to her natural, spotless light hue. "If I am to return, I will but ask one thing of you more." I wonder what that is this time.

"What is it?" I asked as I looked at her.

She straightened herself, and brushed at her dress, letting her hands fall to her waist and held knitted at her front. "You'll let me follow your plans. Sit in by your side when speaking to your council or vassals at court." Of all the things to ask then you know that this will only enrage the nobles, it will not help, but I guess it matters not as the rebellion is almost over. She shrugged her shoulders. "If you're to pretend to be king, I should really pretend to be queen as well." And are you just trying to make me angry? For all your insults to what I am it seems that you care very little about me at all, I try to fix the mistakes I make and yet you constantly wish to make me see myself as worse than when I was a dark lord, perhaps it would have been better had I just died back then.

"Then there are parts that you will need to fulfill as well" I took a breath "You can sit at my side, follow my plans, and be there when I speak with my council or vassals." I looked at her sincerely and sternly "However, you will not speak against me in front of them, if you have objections to anything you can tell me at night in private, you will not oppose me in front of my vassals or council and you will never take their side against me, even if you think they are right" I looked at her for a bit "Tell me what you think then" these are terms that you will need to agree to, or I cannot let you on the council.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I'd lie if I'd said I haven't vented about you to friends before. But why in the world would I oppose you? I'm more inclined to say, I've supported and defended you more than you're worth." Well perhaps you should not have done that if you find me so unworthy, and you might have vented to friends before and maybe even friends who are in my kingdom and my vassals and if so I want it stopped, you will not vent about me to my vassals.

"Because decisions will be made one day that you will not agree to, may not be tomorrow, may not be in five years, may not be in ten but one day they will be there" I stood still for a moment "If you want to vent, then do it to your sister, but not anyone in this realm" I took a breath "And remember that while you might be Queen, you are a vassal of a foreign monarch, you are the consort and not the sovereign, you are not expected to hold political power in this realm other than your influence over me" and I fear that I cannot argue that it is not to great now that you seem to so spiteful.

She looked at me with a confused expression. "What I say in private is for private cause alone. What are you implying? That I'd try go and incite rebellion of some kind?" no but if you start to speak and the wrong people hear it then it can quickly spiral out of control. She looked at me dismissively. "You can spare the prideful tone for your courtiers, my dear. In quarters, I am your wife, and you are my husband. I'd prefer your bloated sense be kept in those cold halls than in these intimate settings. I'd very much distained you should burst and stain the carpet with the garbage out your mouth." She said with a menacing grin. Get that grin of your face, it does not help you and if you insist on being nothing more than spiteful then we are done talking, I have no patience for this and if that is your goal then you can return to Galadriel, I have no desire for more fighting, I hate this hell enough already.

"I am saying that you should not expect too much, and no I am not implying you would go and start a rebellion" I looked at her before going over to the window and looking while taking pouring myself another glass and drinking some more, I am going to hate myself in the morning, just great. "That grin of yours, is that really what our marriage has come to" as I said it I couldn’t help but feel a sadness and annoyance in my voice, is a marriage even worth it if there is nothing else than such a look for each other.

She took her glass of wine and sipped at it, folding her lips to take in its taste. "When you speak more of holding your so called status over the love we're supposed to share? You've deceived me one time too many. I will not soon trust you again, if that is what you ask." I am sorry that I cannot make you happy, I truly am but this love that we are supposed to share, my heart is full of love for you but when you never believe me then give me a reason to believe in it myself, you keep saying that I do not love and yet I do, you do not believe me at all and it saddens me greatly when I think of it. But if this keeps up I do not know what to do, I am sick of my life and as of late I have often wished it would just end. I don’t think that you have believed me for many years and I saddens me in such a way that no other thing has, I often feared that I would grow old, I often wished that I would die before I reached fifty because I know that you will live much longer than I and I wished for your memories of me to be that of someone who could walk on his own, be his own and someone that would be there for you when you needed it and that loved you, but now does it even matter? I think I am at the point of giving up.

"What I just said had nothing to do with status, it was about not trying to deceive you, making you aware of what to expect and how it will go" I shook my head, why must you always think the worst.

"And what makes you say I should brace for more bad behavior? I said I will not soon trust you, and that is how it will be. I'm tired of you playing king in our chambers... At least be honest of your intents." She frowned, leaning her back at the chair behind her. "Being king is more important to you than being a father, or husband. You say I am allowed to influence you? You've not taken it even once. Neither will I ever expect it to be." You are so wrong so often when it comes to me, you have more influence and I love you more than anything else, yet you throw it away so easily just to do what? Bring me down? Make me feel like hell? Hope that I will admit to what you accuse just so you can hate me or I can hate myself?

"You have influenced it more than you will ever know" I reached down my shirt and pulled up the golden droplet necklace that I had around my neck for the last ten years, always carried it next to my heart, always had you near me, always had your love, but no more for I have given up. I went over to Eylinn and gave it to her "Keep it, or give it back to me when you trust me or you once again think I love you" I said before walking over to the door "Varian is upstairs reading, if you want to see him" I already know that you want to see him.

Her face turned sullen. "You do any more insanity, husband, and I will not let him stay once more. I'm his guardian for three more years..." She laughed, mirthlessly, and turned around to face me, a sad smile over her face. "I couldn't bare myself to force him with. I wanted him to choose for himself." She poked her glass in the air towards me "And it's with you he stayed. He looks up to you. He'll emulate you, learn from you, and style as you." A tear fell down her face. "I'll just be the mother who could only love, never teach or bring up her child." Is that another reason that you seem to hold so much hate for me, that he chose me that he stayed with me, he isn’t your son, he has no future in Galadriel and his future is here in Ecclestius and he knows that, he didn’t like leaving you either, he loves you but he is also smart enough to know that Galadriel holds no future. She shook her head. "But as long as it's within my power, by law, that you hold and cling to so dear... I'll not make the same mistake again. You do any more outrageous tasks, I'll take them and leave. All of them, you hear? Spare them of all this." She nodded, wiping of the second tear forcing its way down her cheek. "I'll settle, and then I'll go see him. He shan't have to witness our quarrels more, or how they make us feel..." Eylinn, he cares more about you than you know, learn more from you than you know but you only see the bad, you only see me in him, do you hate me so much, is it not enough that I hate myself as I do, that I would at times rather see myself dead for what I have done than carry on. But I guess it is for the best that he does not see us argue too much, not after his reaction in Saxon.

I walked over to her and placed my hand on her cheek "Eylinn, he loves and he loves you endlessly. He is old enough to know that you are not his biological mother and he has known that for some time, he isn’t dumb, but he loves you just as much, to him it doesn’t matter in the slightest if you two are related by blood, you are his mother and he thinks so. He is learning from how you act and behave, you are teaching him and if you think that he doesn’t value what you teach then you need to speak with him, he is leaning from you just as much as he is from me and one day you will see that" I clenched my teeth "But he is also me, when I look into his eyes I see myself and that scares me" I shook my head "He wasn’t happy to leave you, he was just as sad about it as you have been, Eylinn he loves you and learns from you weather you believe it or not" In the end you will simply have to make up your mind and decide from that. "It is because of you that he thinks that Evhana and her children are as much family to himself as those by blood, due to your taking care of him, he does learn from you"

She sobbed, and wiped her nose. "I hope you're right, but it matters not... He's still and will always be my little boy. All his decisions still make me proud." A smile spread across her face.

"And you are his mother and always will be" Ra'Gru said in a warm voice before kissing her on the forehead and leaving the room.

Bards tale
The bards sing of the King going away from the capital, the return of the Queen and a rebellion in the southwest of Ecclestius

jcucc · May 14, 2014

Honor, Part One
-Third Year of the New Age-
-Perspective: Lord Kano Ryoshi

Waves lapped at the sides of my ship like hungry wolves drawing their prey into the murky blue depths. But the teeth of these wolves merely broke on the ship's stoat wooden hull as Wooden Typhoon cut through storm above and below. I stood, draped across the rear railing of the ship as droplets of water danced through the salty air and coated my face. I had to remain with my back to the wall lest one of my loyal crew shove a dagger into it. To be honest, they weren't truly my crew. My father had recruited most of them before his death and he was the one who earned their loyalty, not I. No matter what the great scribes and historians might claim; until you prove your worth, a family name is merely ink on paper or words spat into the wind. Luckily, I had a way to prove my worth by ending the threat of piracy on the seas. But the pirates were as smoke and while I could blow them away from citizens, if I tried to hold on they would slip through my outstretched grasp.

"Captain Ryoshi, there are two boats ahead" A call from our lookout interrupted my meditation. "It looks as though a merchant vessel has been attacked by pirates."

Good. This time I would not allow the filth of the sea to escape. "Full sail! The wind is on our side my brothers, fate smiles upon us this day." As the ships loomed closer on the horizon the smaller, sleeker ship detached from a much larger, burning vessel. We had gotten close to capturing a pirate vessel before, but they had always fled leaving behind civilians to distract me from my mission. This time it would not work, "Men, chase down that pirate ship. They dare to reject the natural way of things and so we will present their treasonous heads as a gift for Daimyo Kumo."

The screams of the burning sailors in the merchant vessel filled our sails with raging winds of righteous vengeance and we were easily able to overtake the smaller pirate boat. As the pirates came within range I held the string of my bow taught against my chest and waited. The string thrummed with anticipation and an oil-soaked rag hung at the end of my arrow. My men had become quiet, the only sounds cutting through the air were the creak and splash of oars until

"Loose arrows!" The soldier to my side grabbed a torch off the wall to out left and lit the rag. I released the burning arrow, which arced through the air until it embedded itself in the hull of the pirate ship. It was joined by dozens of flaming brother, who began to burn the ship to ash and foul memory. The ship slowed as men were forced to move from rowing to firefighting. This lack of rowers caused the ship to slow and we overtook them with ease. Soon, the archers reloaded and fired a volley of grapple arrows, linking the two ships and pulling the smaller one towards our hull.

The men tied lines to their belts in preparation for a boarding action as arrows whistled through the air on both side and the consuming flames and choking smoke grew higher. I saw the meager crew of the pirate ship scream in terrorized despair at the sight of our painted armor and blood-hungry swords. It would not be enough to offer their meager heads as tribute, for my mission to destroy piracy in the open sea would be finished until every last pirate hung by their feet from police ships, decapitated for their insolent thievery. But to do this I would need information. "Men! Whomever takes a prisoner from this ship gets first pick of the spoils. "

An arrow thudded into my shoulder and we dove onto the pirate ship.

"Lord Ryoshi, the enemy has been defeated."

The calm voice of my first mate shook me out of my post-battle daze.. I remembered killing three men, which I thought was pretty impressive for a first battle and one with only a few score involved. Flush with victory and soaked in the blood of lawless pirates foolish enough to challenge me, I stalked back aboard my ship after ordering my first mate to occupy and repair the pirates' vessel; it would be cleansed of their filth and then join the fleet trying to destroy the rest of the criminals.

The crew had taken two prisoners aboard my ship. One was likely a veteran criminal, an old man covered in tattoos and scars declaring his manhood to all observers. He looked impossible to break, a man who would die before betraying the lives of his worthless allies. The other showed more promise, as he was a younger man, untainted by years of crime and violence. Baby fat still hung on the young pirate’s face, and exotic blue eyes flickered below dark blond strands of hair. I could smell the fear oozing off his defeated body and so it was to him I spoke,

"Pirates, you both forfeited your lives once you took up the black flag and began slitting throats. However, today is your lucky day, because I need one of you alive. I know that you both know the location of the Pirate Base and I only need one of you to lead me to it. So, who wants to live another day?"

It was a rather weak attempt, so the "Not on your miserable life, boy" from the elder prisoner was unsurprising though disappointing. Luckily, the foreign pirate didn't have the same devotion to his cause and squeaked out a small "I'll never give up their location" after glancing sideways at his older comrade. Looks like I had found the weakest link.

I turned to the older pirate, "Your resolve is impressive, for a criminal. For your loyalty I will grant you the kindness of a swift and honorable death." I nodded to the samurai next to him, a flash of steel split the air, and red tears of blood coated the left side of the young pirates horrified face. He blinked uncomprehendingly at me "So... you needed one of us alive. d-Does that mean you're not going to kill me?" The youthful optimism that dripped from his voice was so pitiful I almost regretted that I was going to cut it out. But as the Daimyo willed it, so it must be.

"No, I still need someone to guide me to your secret base. But I can assure you that it was with respect for his loyalty I granted your compatriot the ability to redeem himself in death. I don't believe you are as loyal as your friend and so you, I, and my chief surgeon are going to have a discussion about the punishments for piracy. Men, take him to the brig and ready the instruments.I'd like this to be a proper interrogation. So, I will be joining you after I wash this blood off. "

Bards Tale
The Bards sing of Captain Kano Ryoshi's Capture of a pirate raiding vessel.

Sneakyflaps · May 14, 2014

First blood in a new age
-----Lord Arckard-----
-----Year 9-----

”Strap my armor on now” Damned servants not knowing how to put on simple armor, I should have them fired or whipped, I do not have the time to wait for this. I need to ready up for the battle, these damn peasants might actually be able to put up a fight despite having little to no armor, but they do sadly have weapons so let’s hope that this army knows how to fight or it may be a bloody day. We have been given orders to spare the peasants and I am sure that Saxon is overjoyed to do so, and I wish it could be different but I will not go easy on the peasants and spare my own men just for the peasants to live another day, I hope that I can limit the damage but my first duty is to secure the wellbeing of my own men.

About time that they got this armor strapped, I walk outside the tent and towards my horse, there are four horsemen in heavy armor behind, one of them carry my banner and another carry the banner of the King. This is the first battle in the rebellion, or at least I think it is unless Saxon has engaged the rebels, I wonder if he would try to speak with them instead of simply fighting it out, heck it might even work and we have sent a messenger to the rebels demanding their surrender but so far the only thing that has come back as no. I have gotten reports that a few of the nobles are with them and even commanding them, not really surprising that they decided that someone who knows how to wage warfare was given command but it does mean that I will need to capture their leader and he knows it, it makes it near impossible to make him agree to surrender under such terms.

I mounted the horse and rode forward, all of these young men standing in the front, why have I been given these unexperienced children. So many of them are so young, barely seen enough winters and I know that due to the peace they do not know real war, not the kind of war that I fought alongside Ares a decade ago. But at least these young men had armor, chainmail, parts of plate, helmets and proper weapons. I look down at myself and my own armor, full plate now but I remember wearing chainmail, even leather, it doesn’t give nearly as good as plate, but it saved my life a few times. But now with my father dead I took my inheritance and advanced myself all the way up to the Kings private chambers, the highest position that would be possible to get.

All of these young men getting ready to fight for their lives, many of them would die in the coming battle and all because of Rodney. If we get out of here then I swear that I will do everything I can to destroy him and make sure that none other of his wicked ideas ever get out, I also need to get him away from Varian, he is being a bad influence and I cannot allow Rodney to keep relations to the future king. After this revolt it has proved too dangerous, now he needed to be dealt with or this would happen again in the future.

I rode forward and raised myself on my horse before looking at the men before me “Soldiers of Ecclestius, we stand here today against these peasants that have risen in unlawful rebellion against our most holy and rightful sovereign that has treated us all with grace and mercy. On the other side of these fields stand the rebels who have taken up arms against our King, they have forfeited their right to live and yet in all of this the King has chosen to give them mercy if their commander just lay down his arms and they surrender. But in their blindness they have refused, they are led by cowards and weak-willed men and it is not their fault for they have been fooled by those that wrongfully placed themselves as their betters. Those men leading them now is nothing more than rebels, the true rebels behind this war and they will be punished for what they have done. This battle will be bloody and bad, it is our brothers who stand on the other side of us, but they are led by people who would proclaim themselves king, people who would usurp the Crown of our rightful King and must be stopped, we must stop them at all cost, we must bring our brothers back to the path of light and righteousness or surely we will all perish. Now my fellow men, we march into battle. For Ecclestius! For Ecclesiasties! And for King Ares!”

The men started cheering and my officers started to give them orders as I moved up on a hill, I looked out and over the enemy, there was a lot of them and I wonder if anything would be decided today. A whole province in rebellion, at such a time like this we are all in danger, on the good side they do not wish the death of the king, at least not the common folk, but the nobles in charge of it seems to want it and thus they will all have to be crushed, if I could just give them Rodney’s head and be done with it and return home but I know that Ares would never agree.

Both of our armies have formed up and the enemy start marching towards us, they have greater number and they will use it. I can see them all going closer and closer, they lack discipline and they will break when the real fighting starts. They come closer and closer and I watch the officers down below, our archers advance to the front lines, they took their arrows in their hands and drew the bow while looking up and aiming it. The officer looked ahead as the enemy approached and had the archers hold fire, they got closer and closer before he ordered them to release the arrows. As they fly over the sky before dropping it almost looks as they black out the sky, as they land the corpses drop on the ground one by one, they release another volley of arrows with the same result, each rebel falling so beautifully on the ground, a shame that this hadn’t had to happen had they only stayed loyal, but what a beautiful picture could be painted if the setting was right.

They move closer and closer and they smack directly into our lines, the fighting starts and it is very brutal, if I squeeze my eyes I can see limbs being cut off, men getting stabbed and other horrors of war. There is one scream that I can hear, going directly into my soul and heart and making me very unconfutable.

((A few hours later))

My second in command sits next to me on his horse and asking “How do you think it’s going down there?” Good question.

As I looked down and scout the view “It looks like we are winning and holding the line but honestly I have no idea, it turned more into one big brawl than a proper battle line” Could really be going either way. I look around at cavalry around us and smile before turning towards them and unsheathe my sword, pointing at them “On my command, charge” He looks at me confused before asking what I was doing, I offer him a grin “When in doubt” before setting my horse to riding “Charge!” as I rode forward the cavalry was behind me, we rode in from the flank and as we got closer I could see both our men and the enemy in front of me, the armor made it easy to differ between the two of them. As we ride into them I slash at the ones I ride past, cutting the head off one while the blood flies over me, we continue to ride forward into them, cutting and killing each one of them in the way. It wasn’t until we met some pikemen that we were forced stop and some of them jumped on us, dismounting us forcing us to fight on foot.

The battle kept going for a few more hours before we eventually reached the end, we were pushing them back and slowly killing the rest of them. The ground beneath us where bloody and wet with piss, the amount of bodies we would have to bury tonight would be horrendous.

Bards Tale
The bards sing of the first battle of the civil war, and that Lord Arckard is victorious.

GreatSlayer · May 14, 2014

The Other Sister

Part II

Taking place roughly twelve years after the battle in the Golden City

The hall seemed so much longer, so monstrous in size and comparison to before. Nienna were of too many assumptions, misinformed and pure, and the many ghastly events that had ensued left Evhana with short temper, and an even shorter fuse. What justice had befallen her to be set with such obstacles in her way? Issues followed by another issue, her grasp of chronology had fallen out of her hands. Unpredictable, unforeseeable, she could feel how her control was slipping out of her grasp. Of her family, of her titles, and even of her love life. She calmed herself as she arrived to the queen’s door, timed well to coincide by the guard change, to leave the corridor void of peering eyes. She had done this routine so many times before. Today was no different. Carefully she unlatched the door to her queen’s room, sneaking in through the gap, and closed it inaudibly behind. She didn’t know what for, until she saw her again. Sitting by her table, buried in interest beneath trade deals and treaties of a capital mind, laden over her fine features a simple white cotton dress, failing to live up to its wearers flawless skin. Evhana stood awestruck, her gaze longing and almost sinful, to liberate the red haired woman of her attire, and merge their warmth in-between. Alluring, tempting, she had even forgotten why she was mad in the first place. Having soaked in the sight in its entire, Evhana started to walk carefully over the floor.

“I spoke with your sister.” She said between her quiet steps, making Nienna raise her head in surprise, having not noticed her lover entering at all. She gave her a smile to melt mountains.
“Evhana, hello.” She said with a curious look. “Is that right? What did you two talk about?”

“The same to which I spoke with you...” Evhana said with her emotionless tone, walking over to the cupboard and meaningly aiming her hand towards a readied pitcher and two goblets by the side. “May I? Do you?” Evhana wasn’t one to drink, but lately her late husband’s habits had tempted her to lose her discipline and try just enjoying life. It was such a horrendous experience when young, but now, it’d turned even bearable. It would seem fermentation came to liking with age.
“Sure, if you'd like.” Nienna nodded, with a slight frown growing on her face. “You tried to convince her not to marry Varian then? She's a grown woman. This should be her decision, not ours.” Evhana poured them both wine, pursing her mouth deep in thought, weld and reticent, hiding her yet determined and... Unnerved state. She lent the goblet over to Nienna, the one woman in the world that needn’t ever worry of accepting it from Evhana’s hand.

“We need to proper talk, my queen.” Nienna took the wine glass and pointed to the other seat at the table.
“Ok then. Feel free to sit if you like. What is it Evhana?” And she sat indeed, contemplating to how best produce her sentences.

“As your lover, I am asking for permission to sire a child with your brother. It may bode ill for his reputation with the people that he has yet to reproduce with a twice fertile spouse. Or for my reputation for that matter...” Nienna but kept her frown, yet best to open it personal Evhana thought. Her peculiar issues with her heir had left her worried, that not long may her line endure at this rate, and Evhana was no woman to take unnecessary risks when they were easy to keep secure. Quicksilver’s threats meant nothing to her, and she knew already how to keep Elu’s hand still.
“Well... Elessar has assured me that he doesn't care about what the others say... I... I mean if it is something that you worry about and he doesn't object then I suppose I would be ok with it. Is it really so big an issue though?” Evhana stared at Nienna intently, taking a sip slow from her cup.

“Perhaps not in Coal. The Mirrorwater Elves aren't subject to such luxurious openness. A marriage is for consummation, is it not? Political security? What does our dear Therain do so wrong she can't even inspire the loins of her own husband? Is the male genes of our dearest queen not blessed with the Light that give life? Aye, it can sure be an issue, when added upon added with other qualms. I am getting increasingly busy these days, after all.” Nienna nodded, carefully, not as upset as Evhana’s self-flattery would have liked, levitated only by the relief to not see her dearest in too great an upheaval.
“Well... Ok then. I didn't stop you from being with Quicksilver, I can't really stop you from being with Elessar, can I?” With a small sigh she ended with a smirk. “Just promise me that I am still your favourite Coamenel, alright?” Amused thoughts filled Evhana’s mind, had she only known what amusing felt like. Her queen paused for a moment, while looking at her with some concern. “You're getting more busy? Is everything alright?”

“Everything I do is for the love I have for you, Nienna.” Was the simple truth, simple enough for her to hear and understand. “That is what love is meant to be, is it not?” Nienna took a sip of her wine, tilting her head slightly in confusion.
“I know that you love me, it was only a jest. But love doesn't have to mean that you do everything for the other person, even against your own wishes, all the time. You know that. You have to be willing to think of yourself at some point.” She responded, unamused herself. But of that she needn’t worry. That was the purpose of this whole visit after all, little did she know.

“I am...” Evhana said beneath a sip, putting the goblet back upon the desk. “Realise that your very scent of your very presence... Allures me. Keeps me whole. I adore you, Nienna...” She narrowed her eyes as she tried tasting the words in her mouth. So cold, so bitter, so like herself. A trait she hated, yet loved to be while being with her. Nienna raised an eyebrow, with a frown of her own as she walked over to Evhana.
“I believe you, you needn't worry about trying to reassure me. But please tell me what seems to be bothering you. It's clear that something is wrong Evhana...” Evhana took a few deep breaths.

“You can't keep doing this... First the guarantee for the Nords that the Hilmarsdóttir will stay compliant... Then this adolescent crush to affect the politics of the region... What doesn't bother your brother?” Since when had such petty luxuries ever accounted for their kind? To chose whom with to marry, a rarity much rarer than smooth ivy. “I love you, Nienna, but when are you going to stop to be so naïve?!” Nienna just kept at her frown.

“Is it so naïve to have a little bit of faith? Kalevala is a smart, kind-hearted girl, and that land should have been hers if Ainikki hadn't died helping us. Why can't I try to do my part to support her?” She sighed sadly. “And Linwë... I can't ask her to not marry someone she loves. Do you remember my reaction when you were told to marry Quicksilver? I can't put her through that, politics be damned. I'm not going to let a simple marriage change things here, I can promise you that.”

“Are you mad? You think there's any chance that realm is going to remain in peace? Attacked, or attacking, we're tying our fate to theirs now?!” She knew the sort that skulked in Azeratii, what originals and foul creatures whispered into the ears of nobles and kinds. Snakes more slithery than her, she would suspect. The only difference was in their bite, what poison that oozed from their teeth. And guaranteeing the sanctity for Nords were like trusting a tamed wildcat to sit idly by unloading fresh carcass from a bountiful hunt. They’d kill for that prey, no matter the cost, should opportunity befall them near. This path was leading them to war. Of that Evhana was certain. “You forgot how they even came to power? You seen the state their realm's been since? Our people will die for them! You ready for that just so your sister can have her little crush fulfilled?!” She shook her head. “This isn't how the world works, Nienna... And then...!” Anwën and Armas too, the thought equally taking her usual pale, fair complexion deep red. “That son of yours spending his time around my niece! Are you marrying the kingdom double now to the same cursed family?” But it was with a calm voice her queen addressed her, one Evhana was increasingly seeing incapable of staying feal to. It hurt, to admit, and scary the thought. What options was she soon left with, and how would she tell her people if worse came to pass? Disappointed, she spoke.

“Evhana please. I have no intention of letting our people die for the sake of Ecclestius' ambitions. You know that. I am sorry that I can't be so calculating about this, but if you feel this way and you've talked to Linwë then maybe she will agree with you. I'm not saying that this is an ideal situation, only that I won't be the one to forbid them from being together.” She put her arms out to the side. “And what is so wrong with Armas spending time with Anwën? They're children Evhana. I doubt either of them would even consider marriage. He spends time with Elu too, I wonder if they might be considering getting married.” She said, her face slightly flushing from annoyance.
“And that is how I first heard of it too. From my son. They're thirteen, Nienna! I do think the concept is at least remotely known to them.” In fact, she had been younger herself when boys were sent to marry her. She sighed. “Marriage is politics... And the more they run around unhinged, the more work I have to search out the realm. Keep it calm, keep it pacified, keeping warded against foreign intrusions... Unwanted eyes...” She stood up, and her face flushed in unison with her queen. “How am I supposed to serve you this way?!” Nienna sighed and took Evhana's hand in hers, trying to offer her some comfort.

“I don't mean to make things more difficult for you Evhana, I hope that you know that. I know how much you give for me and for Galadriel, so if it makes things easier I'll at least tell Linwë to consider what you've said.” She looked deeply in to her eyes. “But Evhana, you've taken on more work than I can even imagine in the past and never complained... Tell me, what's wrong? Have I done something to upset you?” The feeling was too inviting to let up, as Evhana’s face flushed in embarrassment and shame. Afraid, overworked, exhausted by worry and terror in her own home. She turned quiet, too quiet, and too quiet for her own good. She spoke in a low voice, her eyes stinging and hurting from blocking the grief that hid behind them.
“Because you're so kind...” Her eyes narrowing. “So good... So warm...” And thus the dams broke, bested by her lover and her care, to rid a truth she couldn’t possibly hide and stay sane. Tears started streaming down her face. “Because I want to keep you safe, but I have so much, I don't know how I can keep up... So much... So much now...” Nienna knelt down next to Evhana, embracing her and giving her a light kiss to warm her flesh. Their soft touch tempting, she would immediately respond eagerly. Nienna smiled again, melting Evhana’s heart.

“It's alright. I can look out for myself, I promise. Like I said earlier, maybe now's one of those times to put yourself first, and maybe I can actually help you for once. What is that you need done, that's pressing on you so heavily?” She wiped the tears from Evhana's cheeks as she spoke, and it broke. Her lips quivered, and her son’s sad state came crushing on her soul. Her dearest treasure, her flesh and blood, so far astray and hurting so.

“My boy is ill, Nienna! And I don't know what is wrong... He's so troubled, he's so weighed down... He wants my love, the love I hold for such as you...” What point was there left in hiding from those she held so dear? She remembered the hurt she had felt when Nienna’s brother was the one to reveal the horrible fate that had befell her queen, and not her queen and lover herself. How could she possibly do that to her? “ He wants to take his mother for his own... I don't know how to cure it! I don't know how to stop it! It just goes on, and on, and on, and... What can I do? I can't hurt my boy. I can't stop him if I want, and I can't lay my hand on him... I'm lost, Nienna. I don't know where to turn...” Nienna just stared at her for a moment, clearly shocked by the revelation. A moment was left to pass the moment, as she pulled Evhana in to a tighter embrace, bringing them closer together. Her heart echoing against her, while soft clothes pressed against her, and the warmth of her cheek upon her own set her calm.
“I don't...” She said, lost for words. “Evhana, you can't let him do that. I know you don't want to hurt him, but that... It would only make things worse...” Nienna ran a hand through her white hair, her fingers so soft to the touch, even when they weren’t touching her skin directly. Still looking slightly flustered, she tried more a soothing word. “Well, what if I tried to talk to him? Maybe I could make him understand that that's not appropriate, that it can't continue? I really don't know Evhana...”

“He'd...” ...hurt you. He’d kill you. But the thought was too painful to even fathom gracing with words. Evhana was frightened, cornered like a hunted beast, trapped and left for mercy of the most unfair means. To divulge the nature of her son to the world would keep her safe, but hurt her boy. To ask for aid would surely hurt the aiders, or letting herself out, hung free to kill by other predators in her weakened state. Like the Chasm vassals once had planned, that she’d sworn to never have to endure again. Ready to expose her throat to the wolves, severed and eaten, chanceless. The world was cruel, and this is what Nienna refused to fare. But she needed her, needed her so greatly. The thought of protecting her against her own son, was a fate worse than the Dark One’s torment. She gasped, taking Nienna in an embrace. “I'll find a way... Perhaps it's a proper woman he needs. A mistress, a whore, something... But I can't harm him with the hands that exist only for the sake of protecting him. How could I live with myself if I'd do?” Nienna nodded.

“No, I understand Evhana, I would never advise you to hurt your son.” She said, still deep in thought. Her brow furrowed though for a moment. “And perhaps you should have Elessar around more often, at least until this is sorted out. I can’t imagine Elu would try anything if he were there, with you.” Evhana clenched, desperately, around Nienna.
”I will... I will... But what if he caught me without him there?” Nienna pulled Evhana closer, rubbing her back lightly.

“I... I'm not sure Evhana. But I'm sure you know nothing good can come of this.” She paused, thinking. “You can have any guards you need, anything like that... I don't know. Perhaps he would stop if you told him that you would tell Elessar or I? Something to shock him out of it perhaps.” Yet the risk was still there. Evhana had taught him well. How to discard guards, how to discern threats, and worse, rid of them. Misaligned his thoughts may be, but what he might attempt to do could possibly hurt him as much as them. His mind wasn’t clear, his feelings mudded and in chaos. A broken heart could be more dangerous than any army in the world, after all.
“What kind of mother uses guards to get away from her son?” Evhana stated hopelessly. “Could you have done that to Armas?” She sobbed and whimpered, relieved and calm. What of it? What was the difference? She couldn’t really tell after all. Their children were both their weaknesses. Fate was cruel, or her just judgement was served to her in the end. Catching up to her sins, relentless and unforgiving. Nienna thought for a moment, gently stroking Evhana's hair as she did.

“No, I don't suppose so... But these circumstances are surely rather extreme.” She wiped the tears from Evhana's face. “You could always come and be with me when Elessar isn't available, if you wanted.” The proposal made Evhana chuckle mirthlessly, as she turned her head to kiss Nienna passionately on the lips. “Tempting you are in my grief... Yet I see no other way.” She wiped at her eyes, to clear some of the remaining tears herself. The matter needed attending in a more discreet way. She knew just of the kind, before this chaos had settled for good.

“It will be alright Evhana, I promise. We'll figure out a way to deal with this. And I'll be here for you, whatever you need.” She returned the kiss, softly, leaving Evhana to thoroughly enjoy the taste. What a divine creature she be, to but with a touch ease her soul from worry. What began as a meeting of dire and despair, had turned to measure of peace. Wiping at her nose, Evhana chuckled, as a sound was heard from the door... Evhana froze, scared out of her wits. Their awkward position left for any to see. Quickly they separated themselves. Evhana had forgotten to lock.

She never forgot to lock...

Jako473 · May 18, 2014

A Knight and his Queen

The Turiliyian Family Crest

Upon the island stood the Lúrien tree, solitaire and bare of leaves, but a shadow of its past length. Still impressive at its fifty feet in height, it gave but the impression of a cold memory struggling to warm again. A great tent had been erected for the feast, and surrounding it was a carnival of bazaars and scaffolds for music and dance for the commoners. The ferry over the river was crowded to the brim of dignitaries from the merchants, guild masters and residing lower barons. The guards had relinquished their arms for the evening, and as per tradition, one stood to collect any swords or visible weaponry as the people left the ferry.

A lone rider padded up to the scene his cape blowing as the sun rose, the armor gleaming, a light green trimmed with gold. An Phoenix rose on his helm, his horse addressed with his own finely-fitted armor, looking brilliant as the dark fur was met with the bright gold. His robes brushed against the metal, clanking lightly as his visor was over his face. His spear and sword visible as his squire led the horse

"Hail!" Aeron called out, best not to make your presence known, even if they can see you thought, he observed Narquin waving his hand and smiling at the excitment

The guard pounded his hand against his light leather chest-plate in salute. "Ser, I bid you welcome to her grace's summer festival. The grounds are open for anyone to adhere, and feel the peace to relinquish their arms should they so please. May I ask, are you here to visit, or have you been served an invitation?"

Aeron unlatched his spear and puts it down to narquin, taking off his sword belt and throwing it to the boy to catch as he went to the guard "Be careful, those are the only steel I have... And my father, Baron Hifian Turilyian was given an invitation.. Sadly, he could not make it, so he sent me in his stead. I am Ser Aeron Turilyian, an Ranger in the Outer Chasm." He flashed a brilliant smile, he was well known in some small towns, but this was the first city he had ever experienced. He felt strange presenting himself as so, could he compete with these legends? He stored the thought away as he looked at the man.

The guard nodded, and called over another of his peers. "Melanthríl, take my post while I show his lordship to the banquet." The other guard saluted and stood to greet the next coming batch of visitors, while the the old invited Aeron to follow him through the crowds of cheering men and women.

Aeron slid off his horse, giving it too Narquin "Narquin, go tie up Eclipse in the stables.." the squire nodded and Aeron followed the guard, thinking about what the cheers may have meant. They were certainly not for him.

The guard led him towards the high reaching tent of hard woven pelts and cotton wool. From the entrance allured the smell of roasts in all manners and kinds. Venison, boar, ham, beefs and even cone morsels chopped into stews. The tight air was filled with smoke and pleasant perfumes, as Elven lords, tall and small, were busying themselves with all matters of conversation in all sorts of varied moods. "You'll find her grace and the princess Anwën at the short table by the end of the tent. I wish you a good evening, Ser." The guard said as he offered Aeron a nod.

Aeron clasped him on the back and nodded "Good work, I hope you find your day to be a good one." he gulped as he entered the tent, making sure his armor was tightly on, and his visor shut as he looked around for any other new-found knights, the smell of such rich food making his senses focus on the smell rather then his surroundings, however, he did pick up that in a corner stood Coerthas, the Master of the Wheat Glade, deep into a focused conversation with merchants from the Northern Chasm. Indeed, the ruler of the North, Sidhion Sontessa, stood further up and in turn trading drinks with several well dressed and well fitted burgs from Luríen by the look of things. The table was adorned with the well made dishes, and even decorated with plates already served with portions of food, enough to feed a man for a whole day's worth. Aeron scratched into the back of his neck, totally out-of-his-element in this cascade of nobility and pompousness. Never in his life has he seen so much food, just staying still, he awkwardly tried to avoid anything he may not be prepared for as he absently began moving backwards, until running into a short table at the back of the tent.. "Oof.."

A short, well colored man stood chuckling by the side of the table as he followed Aeron with his gaze. Another more strunt young fellow came to join by his side."Your first time at the festival of Hallows, my lord?"

Aeron turned around in a flur, how foolish he had been he thought! Made a fool, the plume at the top of his helm bouncing around as he laughs awkwardly, trying to recover from his mis-step "Uhm... Yes, indeed it is." he held out a hand "Ser Aeron Turilyian, at your service my lord."

The young man took his hand, gently shaking it. "Nûral Sontessa, son of Sidhion Sontessa of Northern Chasm. I can see those lost eyes many a mile away, for once, I held them too. Take it for what it is, my lord." He took a long fork and heave a chunk of sliced boar upon a platter and handed it to Aeron. "Celebration, and nothing more. A good hunt, a good year, and gratitude for the luck to another year be bestowed."

Aeron's eyes fixed on the boar, celebration? For what? The year was like any other, but he supposed that those that devised this had a greater mind then his. Taking off his helm and letting his long almost white hair cascade down his armor, smiling slightly as he took the plate and put the armor down "Boar in the Outer Chasm is fairly common, however, catching them is another question.." he chuckled awkwardly again "But I don't deserve such things, I only came to pay homage to the queen.. My family has hardly a keep, if that's what you'll call a hall and a tower. This celebration isn't for me."

The young man chuckled, and brought a slab of gravy upon his own plate. "We all share in joy, even when we don't share in wealth. Her grace can be found by the far end, Ser Turilyian. I wish you good luck." He took on a rather upheaved expression, near fright. Much to Aeron's puzzlement "Be mindful not to bow... She's a terrifying woman from what I hear."

Aeron gulped and raised his eyebrow* "T-the queen? I'm sure she's fine.. However, being surrounded by imperials may change a person, I suppose. Good luck to you Nûral, may you have a fine day this day." he bowed and then put on his helm, walked briskly too eylinn's table, wanting to end this trip as soon as he could, not that he disliked this place, he just felt uncomfortable.. Perhaps if these were friends, he would feel different, but he had hardly any friends. Narquin was only with him to become a knight in his own right, and the other rangers only met up once a week. He was alone, and he liked it that way.

Eylinn sat with her daughter Anwen by her side, both wearing almost identical dresses in a dark green hue. The princess had dared a few shiny jewelled emeralds for the occasion, yet upon Eylinn there was none. They nodded politely as barons passed whimsically to offer their few, stale courtesies, while she instructed gently with her hand for the harpists to play a more cheerful tune. Their plates were oddly empty, yet their glasses were filled with water to the brim.

Aeron the knight, in full armor, was a sight much different then the rest, his slim figure gracefully making its way to their table, however the clanks and rattles of the armor was impossible to look over as he pushed a few out of his way, not to be rude.. Well, he thought, they wouldn't take it as an offense? It was too late now as he approached the table, standing just a few feet away from them as only a table separated them. He stood there, memorized as he had not practiced anything, his social anxiety creeping into his vocal cords, making him a silent statue infront of the beautiful queen and princess.

Eylinn moved her gaze towards him, smiling warmly yet her eyes perplexed. "Well, well. I cannot recall seeing such thick skin to shield one from festivities before. Will you pray tell your rank, soldier, at least? I promise to tell none of how you stumbled upon the Court reception through the ruckus outside. It's quite an easy mistake to make." She chucked sweetly, while get daughter gave the knight a polite nod in a welcoming fashion.

Aeron gagged as she mistook him for a guard, a guard! The bile rised in his throat, but shook his head, his plume shaking around yet again "Err, you're mistaken your grace.. Well, I mean.. I should have taken off my armour... Uh.. oh! I'm Ser Aeron Turilyian, your grace.." he tried to ease the cracks in his voice with a rushed laugh "A ranger of the outer Chasm, my father is Hifian Turilyian?"

Eylinn's eyes widened, and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "Forgive me, milord. I should have showed the courtesy to at least first inquire of your name. Lord Turilyan was one of my most entrusted commanders with the wood wailers from Hroniden to the very assault of the Golden City. Tell me, how does he fare these days? The Outer Chasm is no land known for their calm comforts."

Aeron smiled under his helm as she talked, his spirits lifted that he wouldn't have to explain who he was "He is well! However, several of the wounds he has experienced keeps him from traveling too frequently these days... That was his last war, you know, but he hopes.." he coughs "That I may serve you in his stead.."

Eylinn made a careful smile, pressing out her sleeves. "Let us beg for the Light that it was the last for many others more. Such horrors should be for all to be spared." She lent back in her chair, and invited him to sit while the sound of a staggering melody played in contrast to the willful pipers outside

Aeron coughed and was about too shake his head, but.. this was a queen, a rather beautiful one, yes, but she was known for her strength and discipline. Best not to anger her he decided "Thank you, your grace, however, I fear that I own the crime of not knowing the sweet princess' name" *he sat down, taking off his helm, his hair flowing down once again*

Eylinn raised her eyebrows, as her daughter rose and reached out her gloved hand towards Aeron. Making him silently squeak. "Anwen Krestarii of house Mindrilla. It is a fair and rare pleasure to be graced with the presence of an Elven knight."

Aeron recovered from his surprise, he knew what to do, he had done it enough times before.. He took her hand, kissing her hand lightly "And it is an even rarer pleasure to be graced with an heavenly beauty. But, such is the way of princesses." He smiled, and winked.

Anwen giggled, as she resumed her seat, while Eylinn crossed her arms and gave Aeron a bemused look. "A poets mouth hides behind the chivalrous fighter. I must admit, I stand in awe."

He blushed and flashed a smile at eylinn, he didn't intend to give an offense, often a compliment shrouded something far more sinister... But he would trust her words, for now. "You may never know where the next surprise may come, in truth, I was afraid to meet you your grace... But, I find quite to the contrary that your ravishing... It is me who stands in awe."

She snickered, giving him a mischievous smile. "Such as life should be, milord. Offering one pleasant surprise after another. Take this festival for example. A year after we returned to the Chasm, barely even finished with cleaning the ashes from the grass, fill the cracks in the mortar or dust the saplings clean from sulfuric stains, the forest would still bless us with life and food to feed a new future of Light. The Hallows, they called it. The redemption and rewards for the suffering they'd endured. They gave their food, one from another, to let the plates grow till they could grow no more." Eylinn motioned towards her own plate. "I found it fitting to follow their example. Every year, I will let their plates grow and their minds soar with leisure and carefree enjoyment."

He nodded, offering a small smile as he absently drew closer to her so they could talk more personally, his body reacting without his mind paying attention. "that is quite noble of you, my queen, more noble then I could ever hope to achieve. I now know what it's like to talk to a... legend." he smirked "I am but a knight, however, so I best not busy the queen's time any longer.." He stood, a rather imposing figure, with his mischievous features and mocking smile.

Eylinn rose with her daughter following suite as the queen curtsied and the princess offering a polite nod. "Give my regard to your father, milord, and takes with you my personal gratitude for your kind words. Feel free to enjoy my hospitality to your fullest extent."

Aeron looked back at her, laughing* "How many times have you practiced that line, might I ask?" He wiped a tear from his eye, having heard such a false pleasantry made him overstep his bounds as a knight speaking to a queen, but sometimes this knight lets his tongue slip...

Eylinn chuckled at the knight's boldness "It was quite improvised, of that you can rest assured."

He nodded and saluted "Well, to the outer chasm I return, you wheat's(the term sometimes coined to describe an elf with a cushy life) enjoy your festival. Your grace... Princess Anwen." he winked at the girl and bowed to the queen before stepping off and turning around, some of the others around them gasping at his action.

Eylinn raised her eyebrows, curiously as Aeron took his leave, while Anwen giggled at his approach.

Aeron lays against the grass, the morning almost coming to a close, all his armor piled up by the side of him while he is in fine robes, Narquin squire writing messages in the sand while he waits

From the mound came Eylinn, seemingly having strolled down by the river banks. In a more rough dress than yesterday, she wasn't dressed much for courtly affairs. Her hand clasped by her waist, she slowly walked over to Aeron and his squire. "Too much refreshments, milord?"

Narquin's eyes flashed open and he looked at the woman "Milord isn't in the mood for a courtly wench... B-begone!" he tried to look fierce, grabbing at his wooden sword, but he was but a boy, not even knowing the woman he was speaking too

Eylinn frowned, and walked over to the squire, poking at his nose. "For enjoying my wine for an evening, I believe I am entitled to ask if it was to his lord's satisfaction. Would you not agree?"

The squire's eyes went big as his jaw dropped, just at that moment Aeron shuffled, seeing eylinn as he squirmed to get up "Your grace! What are you doing in this ditch this day?" he stood and brushed himself off "I apologize for whatever Narquin said to you, he's a silly boy." He flashed an look of anger at Narquin and the squire put up his hands in confusion, having a silent conversation in a mere moment.

She chuckled, and nodded. "As many boys tend to be. What would the world be without them?"

He tossed his head back to her, his hair resting around him, perfectly asset "In a sad, dull place.." he smiled and strutted out his arm "Would you care for a walk, your grace? To wake up to such a beautiful sight is truly a blessing."

She nodded, and took his arm, as she let him lead her in a walk. "You seemed in such a hurry yesterday. I was almost under the impression you were sullen with me."

He laughed as he led her away from narquin staring "Whatever do you speak of? I could never be sullen with you, your quite charming, my lady."

"I try." She chuckled. "Yet here I am being sincere. I never even got to ask how the tending of the wild forests were underway, or if the pressure has been laid too heavy upon our folk. It was no little courage your father showed by accepting this great burden."

He guided her over a bridge as he smirked "I lead most of the rebuilding, while father helps some.. The people are more inspired then ever, for all your hard work my queen.." he looked at her "I know it was you who was layed with the largest burden.. We are simply doing our best to compare."

"It reminds itself, especially when spending so much time abroad." She sighed. "It's good to see there are people here to do work in my place, eclipsing the stamina I hold myself. Good people, upright men." She looked him up and down. "Knights, however? I never thought to see the day I looked upon an Elven knight. How many are there?"

He smiled and nodded as she spoke, but blushed at her question, taking him by surprise. "What? Well, I.. Uhm, my father started an military order after your victory... We follow the light, and justice, and while we are small right now, I hope that we grow! One day, perhaps to even serve all over Galadriel.. He thinks we need more then just rangers to protect the people.." he scratched the back of his neck and looked away "It's stupid, I know.."

"I wouldn't say so." She said with a smile. "A new era can certainly mean new tools to spread good, and protect from harm. Rangers, knights, Wailers, of what name you give them is of no consequence to me. If it's done with benign intentions, then why not seek to settle it abroad as well?" She chuckled and grasped his arm with her other hand. "Fret not, for I do not judge swiftly, milord. If it's what you like to do, then go ahead and do so."

He smiled and bit his lip, looking down upon her "You speak with a silver tongue, my lady, it is hard not to get swept into it's sweat melody. However, I do not think I am worthy to hear it for such a prolonged time.."

She shook her head, and scoffed. "Silver tongued? I speak not words I do not mean, and I ride no lies to a discussion. Do you really think of it that way?"

Aeron paled, blinking and shaking his head "No, I know you believe every word, it's just a figure of speech, I meant that you have a clever way of speaking that is smooth to the ears.." he frowns, saddened, remembering scenes of an execution block.. "Did I displease you? I didn't mean to give offense."

"You did, but are forgiven." She smiled mischievously. "It is the language my father insisted, and thus I speak it in such a way. I mean it neither as smooth, or that you impose upon my company. In fact, I very much find you intriguing I'm sure."

He raised an eyebrow and smiled "Me? But I'm hardly anyone important, if I died, no one would care."

She frowned. "That is a rather grim outlook, don't you think? No life could be considered of higher value than another."

"That is only the thoughts of some, but.. I will have to admit I agree. Alright, but you have danced around my question. I hardly think I'm interesting, why do you?"

"Well..." She stretched her head* "A mysterious knight returning from the front, humble and frightened by the sight of all the fragrant festivities. It's interesting." She chuckled. "Can you blame me for being curious?"

He blushed slightly and smirked "No, not at all. It seems we're quite infatuated with each other." he laughs " I would like to spend some more time here, how long will you be staying this year, my queen?"

"A month more. I would say that suffice for the construction of the lower mill works. You're free to stay within the Ironwork Guilds with us, if you so please." She said as she looked out towards the high cliffs. "I do have a few tasks of a different nature to attend, but I am sure you can find a myriad of ways to spend your time in Luríen even when I am not around."

"I thank you my queen, but... I would be willing to offer my services to a more.. Personal degree. Perhaps serving as a personal guard for your duration of the trip..? I can assure you, I am quite handy with a sword and spear." he stands stout, and confident

She tilted her head, and smirked. "Your offer is most gracious. I've swung a blade one or two times myself, in fact."

"Oh? Would you like to put that to the test?" his eyes lit up, getting excited at an challenge.

She shook her head. "Perhaps another day, milord. Until then, all I will offer is my hospitality, and free reign to view the city for yourself. Perhaps..." She swallowed, before widening her smile. "...I may actually ask for those services you offered myself."

He solemnly nodded, until widening his eyes and grinning "Oh? It would be my pleasure, nay, my honor to serve a beautiful vision as yourself."

Eylinn curtsied. "I deserve not such flattery, but I am grateful all the same. If you have any requests, do not hesitate to ask."

He stood, thinking, before speaking out. "Would you be willing to accompany me to the ferry some night then, my lady?" he stepped a bit closer "It is most gorgeous during the night... I swear, there are a thousand stars, but I'm sure you would outshine all of them."

Eylinn raised an eyebrow, hiding a blush "I am certain the nights carry greater events in the city, or even in the woods to the west, than the canals, milord. For I am sure you aren't asking for anything but a cordial diversion when the night has not yet caught your tire from the days long toil?"

"Of course.. I have not been to any parties or the like, all I have really seen is the sky, and I heard from a rather persuasive countryman that the ferry is excellent to observe the sky.. I am sure before we land we could do something... Perhaps, stop at one of the fine cookeries? I hear that The Rattled Pot makes the best stew in the countryside." he smiled, trying to convince her to come with him.

Eylinn chuckled. "Perhaps... Perhaps it can be arranged. I am bound eastward to inspect the lower quarries tomorrow anyhow. You may as well accompany me, and a few detours would hurt no one I am sure."

He took her hand, and kissed it softly "Then it is decided... Have a courier send for me, I am sure a Knight of the Illivian Order will be noticed around town.. Me and Narquin will find an Inn for the time being." he smirked "Until we meet again, my queen?"

She nodded her head. "I shall be delighted." Her eyes grew a bit harder, as she stood in profile to look at him. "I hope you aren't planning to bow again?"

he arched his eyebrows, before laughing, quite surprised "Oh! He was telling the truth, you truly don't like bowing? Why, it is only a sign of respect my queen.."

"Milord..." She looked at him. "No Elf should have to bow in the Chasm, and none shall have to bow before me. It makes me feel..." She sighed. "...uncomfortable."

He nods, putting up his hand to show that he need not any more of an explanation, he stepped forward and grasped both her hands with his, putting them together "I promise, Eylinn of Mindrilla, that I shall never bow before you again in all my years." he smiled and looked at her, to see if it re-assured her

She smiled endearingly, chuckling under her breath. "Thank you, for your understanding, milord. I shall keep you no more, and I must return to see to my daughter."

he drew out an flower, a rather beautiful red dragonflower that has just sprung "Give her this from me, I saw it last night and I knew I just had to pick it.. Tell her that I hope to see her again, for her laugh was more invigorating then then the mightiest of elixirs." he winked at her, before stepping away, putting the flower in her hands

Eylinn took the flower, and tilted her head, studying him. "I will, and I shall record them word by word for her to hear. I am sure she will be delighted."

"I am happy to hear!" he laughed and finally got out of earshot

GreatSlayer · Jun 12, 2014

The Other Sister

Part III

Taking place roughly twelve years after the battle in the Golden City

Her soft and flexible joints stiffened as light poured into the room from the hallway. Nienna’s lips near still entangled with her own, they quickly separated themselves from each other’s arms. Evhana feverously blinked her bloodshot eyes, to clear the tears as she looked upon the intruder. Elu had pushed the door open slowly, and was only barely missing their deviant activities. In a moment’s notice she tried on one of her many false smiles, as the idea of her son already so plagued, to be burdened by yet another worry to his mind. Unbearable, unthinkable, he watched them both with a curious gaze, surprised to find Nienna’s hand still comfortingly holding his mother’s shoulder in tears.

“What's going on?” He settled, after a half attempt at a courteous greeting. “Has something happened? Is everyone alright?” Evhana swallowed, finding it hard to keep a straight face under the circumstances.
“Mother just had a talk with her friend, and queen. The tragedies of the past. We lost so much back then. It is hard for it to not sometime return to haunt the mood.” Nienna was equally taken by surprise over the apparition by the door. At Evhana’s hint, she carefully removed her hand, leaving a hot trail of her soft grip behind for her to miss.

“Elu. Hello. Yes, like your mother says, everything is alright.” She managed. The poor creature wasn’t as accustomed to straight up lying as Evhana and her son was, and that he could see right through them both, there was of no doubt. His eye twitched, a trait he’d taken from her she had no doubt. The neural passages filling with darkness inside him, taking its trek to the most violent paths imaginable, of that Evhana was sure. He spoke slow, as he followed the movement of Nienna’s hand, a stale smile widening across his face.
“I'm glad to hear that you are alright. Is there anything I can do to help? To make you feel better?” Evhana looked down upon the floor, biting at her lip. It was too awkward a stance to stand, realising soon this had already developed into a game for him. A play on deduction, suspicion and schemes. He was studying her closely, and she couldn’t just keep the truth hidden from him. It was better he knew, that she knew, all to what her plan entailed.

“Son... Perhaps you should come in. So we can all talk.” His eye twitched again as he nodded, and moved closer through the room as he closed the door behind himself.
“Of course, mother.” Nienna shifted a little as he approached, stepping a bit closer to Evhana. She looked at Elu with an uncomfortable smile.

“So... How are you feeling Elu? How have you been? Spent any more time with your servant girl?”
“I have been well, Nienna, thank you.” He said politely, his eyes flickering from Nienna's face to Evhana's. The drilling eyes, the judging smile, the suspicious leading tongue. Evhana felt cornered, like an animal, yet, she couldn’t have claimed a better plan herself than the one playing out during this scene. “As for spending time with Milatha, I'm afraid I haven't had much of a chance. I have been quite busy as of late.”

“I'm sure it couldn't hurt to let yourself be occupied more with court. I think you deserve the time to relax and socialise with the castle after all the long hours of study I've put you through. See it as...” Evhana's smile widened. “...as a reward! For much proven diligence since we arrived.” She baited him in, took him by one step on the way at a time. He will not beat me in this…
“Thank you mother.” He responded with a cold smile. “It may be rather enjoyable to be able to go and talk with others that are the same age as me.” Nienna nodded, a small smile on her face.

“Aye. There are plenty of young ladies who I'm sure would like to meet you, even if things don't end up working out well with Milatha.” Evhana nodded, in unison.
“Aye.” She mimicked. “Such as that baron's daughter. What was her name... Trill, was it? She's such a young flower, isn't she?” Elu raised an eyebrow and chuckled.

“Am I to be looking for someone to court? I suppose I can do that. Trill? I remember her. A pretty young thing, if memory serves correct.”
“I think that's her name, yes. She's very sweet as I recall.” Nienna agreed, with just as plastered a smile worn by all three. “It can't hurt to begin looking, you're getting to be about the right age, and if you're to go to Highathar it might be good to look for a potential wife now.” Elu looked a bit uncomfortable, his gaze finally peer at Evhana’s dull, blank and joyless eyes, their endless depths of enigma. He was seeing it now, how she’d painted herself out of her corner at last. The queen knows, she thought to herself. Make your next move, only if you dare… Come at me now, and reveal us both, I dare you. Yet, his tone remained light, impeccably friendly.

“I must say, I wasn't expecting both of you to be suggesting I go a-courting. What has brought this on?”
“Indeed. And even if the match wouldn't fit, so to say... You are a young boy, my son. None would frown at the idea should you just... Wish to play around.” Evhana giggled. “Find some friends, or just nightly visits for a short while.” She feigned towards him a look most stern. ”I'm sure you know what to do to prevent any... Accidents from occurring, my son? When it is time to withdraw and recede?” Nienna blushed and looked down at her feet, her cheeks slightly redder than Elu’s to be sure.

“I... Well... I don't feel the need to go looking for other women.” He conceded. “But I shall keep your advice in mind. As for preventing any accidents, rest assured I would do my all to make sure they never occur.” Evhana made a sigh of relief.
“I am glad to hear. It's of course just as important for discretion. If you need any help in that regard, you know I will do the utmost to help you settle on your way. But it couldn't hurt to see if you'd find a future bride right here, or at least, make sure you are well rehearsed should you meet her later.” Elu looked uncertain, unsure, and most likely for the sake of the scene and appearance towards their queen.

“Thank you mother... But I am sure I will be quite alright.” He wasn’t dim. He was her son, after all. Nienna looked up at Elu, with a slightly forced smile.
“That is good to hear. I hope that you understand that this doesn't mean you should be going around having affairs with every girl in the court.” She shifted on her feet a little, still blushing slightly.

“Do not worry, Nienna. I am not my father, so I am sure that the women of your court will be quite safe.” He winced gently and touched at his temple, as Nienna nodded approvingly in return.
“I didn't mean to imply as much. You know, just make sure that you consider what they want as well... Not every girl in court will want to be with you, you just have to make sure you respect that. That's all.”

“Of course Nienna, of course...” Evhana made hard work to not roll her eyes at the innocence of Nienna’s soul. Just moments ago they had fought over the very same thing. She sought out Elu’s eyes as he cocked his head slightly to the side. “Would you mind if I speak privately with my mother for a moment? I have a rather... personal matter I need her help with.” And so Evhana smiled once more, bracing herself for the plot unveiling. Nienna looked over to Evhana for an answer, showing firm that she wasn’t leaving without her reassurance. Elu, did not take this kind, as his eyes narrowed while watching them intently. Evhana nodded, finally.
“It's quite fine, my queen. It is most rude to take up your apartments however. Would you wish us to leave? Or would you content with standing aside in another room while me and my son treat?” Nienna shook her head, waving her hand dismissively.

“No, it's fine, I'll leave you two alone. Only for a few minutes though, I still have more work to do and we still need to talk some more Evhana, so I'll be back soon.”

Nienna floated over to the side to enter disappear into the nearby dorm of her wing, closing the door behind her with a silent thud that marked the end of the polite, precise smiles of Evhana and her son. It was as if the turmoil in the air was shrinking the room, narrowing its pass with gritty crumble. Elu walked slowly up to Evhana, his eyes hooded and his voice low.
“You two have taken a very sudden interest in me being with other women... Why is that, I wonder?” Evhana made a gracious nod, as she turned her attention towards her son.
“Because we think that it is something that you need. Son... This cannot keep proceeding. It mustn't happen again, you must understand.”

“So you have told her?” Nienna, shaken, filled with pity for her lover’s sake, to be treating the affair as a matter of grief rather than the unnatural crime it was, had been Evhana’s way to clip Elu’s wings. He needed to learn to be subtle, needed to learn how to be cautious. Deceiving her son and block his movements left a dry, foul taste upon her palate, but she could see no other way. Patiently Evhana revealed what strategic is a move in the life of court, and in a twisted way, even now she was trying to teach him. The only thing worse, was that now it was Elu’s move, and she had no idea what that would be. Her children were ever her weakness after all. They clouded her mind, made it hard to think. Elu folded his arms as he stood before her, his eyes as cold as steel. “After all promises of how I could trust you, you betray me like this?”

“Betray you?” Her expression became grave, and harsher than he had ever seen her before. “Son... I am trying to help you. I don't know what is grieving you, but this path... That is one you cannot take. You know this. And if it's some sort of jest, then its humour ran out a long, long time ago. Nienna won't talk. She trust me, and I trust her, and so it has always been. We earnt that between us. Perhaps you should try harder to earn the same…”
“So now the amount of people I can trust falls to none.” Elu said flatly. “You think that by exposing me to the Queen will help me? And you think someone like her won't talk? You are placing a lot of faith in mere friendship.” His expression became softer and pleading. “Don't you love me?”

“Enough.” Evhana snarled. “Don't mind game me, boy. You know I love you, and that I am doing this for no other reason than that.” She stood from her chair, and placed a hand upon his shoulder. “No one is strong alone. It's a fool's way of thought, and I will admit that I followed it once in the past. You know what I am here for, and it is certainly not in the way you've shown you want me. That, my son, is why I needed help.” She clasped her hands at his cheeks, her face practically shaking as she spoke. “You need to become strong, independent, yet able to call upon me when you need. Your misdirected affections will spoil that last link, don't you see? I love you, with all my being, Elu! Not in the way you currently see.”
“Why not?” His arms quickly snaked around her, pulling her body close against his. “Why can't you love me like the way I need you? I need you, mother, and all you speak of is misdirected affections!” She could never have predicted this in her wildest dreams. Tears were appearing in the corner of his eyes. “Worse yet, when I try to show you my love, you call it unnatural, and go and tell a woman who could have me killed!”

“Of course she won't!” She tried to desperately plead. “I've told you, so many times, it's as important to know your enemies as it is to know who is your friend.” She carefully laid a hand upon the back of Elu's head, and pressed his forehead against her shoulder. “You'll have those affections for someone else! Horrible things come of mother and child in relation, for mothers are the beacons that shall lead their children into the world. Not spend its entire by their side. You're confused, dear child, so horribly astray!” She could take it no longer. His misway and misleading feelings aside, it was the tears that hurt the most. She sobbed, truthfully, and damnably so. “You'll be better! You'll find it, you will see! One day it will come, and you will know what I said was true.”
“But I want you!” His arms locked into place, he pulled his head back and kissed her on the mouth, tears running down his face. Evhana, still fearing of hurting him, settled with cringing, and turned her face away.

“Elu... Stop...” But neither would he listen or speak. She dreaded it as a plague, the fact he wasn’t scheming anymore. His feelings were so true, his disposition so sullen and depraved. His heart was filled with her, and there seemed to be nothing she could do to prevent it. Not her plotting, not her plans, not her calculations or her allies or friends. He whimpered as he staggered back clutching at his head. After a moment, he straightened and looked at her with a sorrowful expression, the timber of Quicksilver's voice suddenly appearing in unision with Elu's, in a way supernatural like she’d never had heard it before.
“Evhana... I'm sorry, I should've stepped in sooner. He's getting better at keeping me out. Not good enough, thankfully.” Evhana turned around, and held her hands upon Nienna's desk, grievously crying with her face turned towards the wood. She couldn’t just be left to mourn.

“Nienna!” She shouted, at loss on what to do. He was back, always back, to haunt her past and now even his and her own flesh and blood. She was tired, enraged, nurturing the fantasies of ending her former husband in the most painful ways. Sliced, slit, crushed, blunted, ravaged and reaped of his every bone… Every curse she laid on him to be forever in unrest, for the pain he had inflicted on their boy. A crime unforgiveable, injustice that couldn’t ever repent. Nienna quickly opened the door, and ran in to the room, looking around wildly.
“Evhana are you alright?” She said, while looking at Evhana with concern on her face, keeping an eye on the, unbeknownst to her, possessed husk of Elu. Quicksilver smiled awkwardly at Nienna.

“Err, she will be... Could you tell me what she has told you? Or rather, how much she has told you?” He always did think himself so careful, so impeccable and smart. As his streaks of luck came fulfilled, the tormented man had enjoyed far much more success than he had ever earned. Now he thought to outplay her queen? Her love? Of what madness this cursed ghost and silver tongued phantom could ever hope to accomplish, Evhana had no idea. She knew but only one thing, and that is that she didn’t care anymore, any at all. Nienna stared at him as she went over to embrace her lover, attempting to comfort her as only she could.
“She's told me enough... Elu this has to stop. She's your mother, you can't be doing this to her. That's why we were suggesting one of the girls at court.”

“She hasn't told you anything else?” Quicksilver said desperately. “Anything else of note?” Little spider, up the string, you cannot hide how false you sing. Is it with your dance that you try to impress? Then I must confess. All I see your petty insignificant size, one I must simply crush, as I scoff at your demise.
“Meet my late husband...” Evhana quivered, practically fuming between her tears. “Come to haunt me from the other side of the grave...” Nienna looked at Evhana with confusion before staring at Elu for a moment.

“Evhana, what do you mean? Are you feeling ok?” Quicksilver scratched his head, embarrassed.
“Nope, she's telling the truth. It's me, Quicksilver. It's a long story, which I will tell you later after... everything has calmed down. I'm in Elu's body. Sharing it, as it were.”

“I told him that necromancy was a foul practice he should’ve ended with rather quickly.” She chuckled, sadly. “He never listened much to my advice.” Quicksilver raised a finger in objection.
“I told you, it was an accident, and no fault of his. I don't know how it all happened.” His false, lying voice came putrid out of her pure son’s mouth. Evhana felt every shred of ire that could be mustered through her tiny body, and that was no small amount in any way. Nearly having forgotten her queen as rage aspired for her whole attention, Nienna was left to look between the two of them, apparent in shock, her mouth hanging open slightly and confusion clear on her face.

“Wait... You mean... Quicksilver...” She shook her head as she tried to make sense of it, still seemingly taking it much better than Evhana had done. “You're in Elu's body?” But her calm words were drowned under the voices shouting at her from inside her mind. They told her to kill, but where could she aim? They told her to drown him, rip him asunder by every limb, but what joints belonged to him and not to her flesh? She was powerless, and it only served to anger her more.
“Just stop this folly!” She roared at him, weary with worry of the loss of options. “I tire of it all! Leave my son alone, and get out there soon and begone! I'll hire every Light priest in Galadriel to see it done... You should be at rest, not haunting the flesh of our boy!” He took her outlet far too calm for a living, sentient thing, clearly a clouded curse more than a man. He nodded towards Nienna first…

“Yes, it is me in the flesh, as it were.” Until he proceeded to narrow his eyes at Evhana, who took it as nothing but yet more scorn. “I didn't exactly die at peace, Evhana. Resting, where I was, well... I have no intention of going back there. I'll get out of this body, and figure the rest out as I go along.” Nienna ran a hand through her hair and took a deep breath.
“Well... We need the priests, right? We can't have you in Elu's body. It's been looking like he wants to be with his mother!”

“All this madness started when you rooted in him...” Evhana threatened. “Your wild urges have poisoned my son's soul! You think I am that thick not to see the forest for all the trees? I see everything, my dear…” Quicksilver looked shocked.
“What in the nine hells gave you that idea?! My wild urges would have him chasing every women, not just you! Dammit Evhana, I am trying to help him! So stop placing the blame for his faults at my feet!”

“What else can I see but what my eyes are seeing... I am no seer, only knowing the facts as they shine clear before me. He was troubled before, but never close so greatly since you came along! I can't take it anymore, seeing him this plagued! I'm powerless! Can't you see?! What am I to believe? What am I to do?” Evhana felt herself drained. The lack of options, the many stuttering trails and snares had locked her down and drawn the last and only real affections she really had in this damned plane of existence. She wasn’t safe. Her lover wasn’t safe. Her children, wasn’t safe. Desperate, she was even ready to listen to the mummers and contemplations of the dead. Whatever worthless musings he held in for his theatric drama, it was better to hear than hear no words spoken at all.
“The way I see it, there are two ways we can go about this... Well three, I suppose. The first one, which isn't an option at all, is accept his mind is broken and live with it. I won't accept that, and I doubt you to will as well. The second option, one that I am also not fond off, is to redirect his affections. It could be his attraction is just to mother figures. In which case, Nienna here...” He nodded at the Queen. “…would make an excellent substitute. Problem is, I hate the idea, and I am sure you both do as well. The third option, and the only true one I believe in, is for you to send him to Yurdaest as soon as he is ready, and put distance between yourself and him. Hopefully during this time apart, he can be attracted to someone else, or at least have his... Fondness of you, subside.” Nienna nodded.

“It's certainly the best option of the three at least.” They couldn’t understand, or they just wouldn’t. How any of the three could be considered options by them was beyond Evhana. Her lip quivered, as she buried her face in her palm.
“How can I protect him if I do... How can I help him when he needs me by his side?” Quicksilver sighed and ran his hand through his hair, taking too many liberties with her son’s body for her to ever forgive him, placating and displaying inside him as if it was his body to use at all.

“If you accompany him to Yurdaest, it will simply be a matter of time before things get out of hand. Stay away from Elu, Evhana. You two love each other, albeit his in the wrong way, and it will be hard, but console yourself with that it is for his benefit. Yurdaest will keep him busy, and while I may only be able to borrow his body, I will keep him safe.” Evhana sat down in the chair, breathing deep, her eyes closed, exhausted and drained. Tired of speech and tired of hearing. Quicksilver looked at the two of them, and spoke in his so weaved cotton voice, softly tasting the words with her son’s mouth.
“Would you like me to give you two some privacy?” Nienna leaned against the table, placing a hand on Evhana's shoulder.

“Perhaps that would be for the best. Elu... He'll be alright after this whole... Thing?”
“Tired, disorientated and struggling to recall what happened... He will be fine. It is good to see you again Nienna. I am sorry it is like this though.” The phantom said with a forced grin, imitating the shadow which it was mimicking like a jungle ape trying hard to impress, while clearly having neither conscience, sentience or able to feel. Of this, Evhana was certain, and the sooner it would leave, the sooner she could rest. As it closed the door behind it, taking in its grip her blood under its mercy, all there was left was for Evhana to drown in her lovers arms. The only one she had left that could care for her still, she relived her scent and relived the hot, pounding taste of her pulse upon her tongue, the smooth skin as tender and soft it always been. It helped her thoughts, made her think, made the cogs spin as she worked in her innermost for a way to help her son. No matter the cost, no matter how many would die…

…if they thought she would leave her son as he was aching, they were sorely mistaken.

Minstrels sing of the troubled White Therain of Mirrorwater, skulking the capital in her neverending smile. Beneath locked doors, she pull her strings as Nightshade of Galadriel, yet has taken lengths to never converse alone with her son, the heir of Yurdaest, whatever reason for...

Tapscott · Jun 15, 2014

Heart to Heart

Elu groaned as he clutched at his head, sitting up in his bed, the bruises and markings feeling as if they were throbbing against his alabaster skin. Opposite him Milatha had already awoken, and had quietly slipped out of bed and into her working clothes. She worked silently at the bench next to the cupboard, pouring him his morning juice. Since being beaten by Quicksilver, who turned Elu’s own body against him, the young Elf had been suspicious of the silence his father had lapsed into. What he had planned for the young Elf, Elu could only guess at.

Smiling gratefully at Milatha as she walked over to give him his glass of freshly poured juice, and being rewarded with a tentative smile in return, Elu downed the contents of the goblet quickly. Milatha gently took it away from him, and returned it to its place in the cupboard, giving it a quick wipe down. Looking at the door, and back to him questioningly, he nodded at her. She seemed to speak not with words, but with her body language. Whenever she looked at the door like that, in the morning, she wished to leave and get on with her duties for the day, but was too shy to actually ask Elu’s permission. As she exited the room, the door closing softly behind her, Elu winced as the familiar voice of his father suddenly spoke in his head, I wonder, why do you not make her a lover, boy?

Elu had thought of doing that, had thought on it multiple times. But the prospect of laying with her, while having a certain appeal to him, felt like a betrayal. His love was reserved for his mother, and her alone. While she may have a lover, he would not diminish his feelings for her by getting one of his own. I am just not interested in her like that… He thought unconvincingly. The doubt in Quicksilver’s voice showed Elu how easily he had seen through his son’s half-truth.

That isn’t it, I can tell. If you won’t tell me the truth, fine, I will not press you on this. What I will push for, however, is you going to your mother this morning, and making amends.

He had been unsure at first, but was now fairly certain that his father’s supernatural abilities were waning. Elu did not know the source of his father’s unnatural powers, but figured that they must have been linked to that twilight realm he had existed in as a soul. Regardless of its source, it appeared that Quicksilver could no longer call upon his powers like before. In particular, his ability to read Elu’s mind seemed to have diminished greatly, only being able to pick up the strongest of his thoughts and feelings. This relieved the young Elf like little else. Finally his mind was his own again, or at least its contents were only truly known to him.

Hearing a grunt of irritation from Quicksilver in his ear, Elu quickly got dressed into his normal green tunic and brown breeches. Giving himself a quick glance in the mirror, he saw the bruises on his body were still prominent, in various shades of yellow and blue. He had already lied about them to a curious Elessar and a worried Milatha, as well as to a number of kind-hearted guards. The truth that these wounds were, however unwillingly, self-inflicted remained a secret of his.

Exiting his room, locking it behind himself, Elu strode through the corridors of the palace, casting his mind back to his conversation with one of his mother’s clerks. Today she should be in the reception hall, just near the dining room, filling out some documents. Heading down there, he spied a figure in a green dress, his heart giving a pang of longing as he recognized his mother.

Evhana’s spectacles were pushed high up on her nose, as she went over a roll of parchments, seemingly bearing the seal of Mountainshadow upon them. She was murmuring and mumbling to her clerk, a young Elf with auburn hair, dutifully taking notes for the princess. Elu did not recognize the clerk, but was suspicious at how intently the auburn-haired Elf was watching his mother speak. Walking up to them, Elu dipped his head respectfully, "Mother. I hope I am not intruding?"

She aimed her gaze up from the parchment, and her eyes went wide, "By the Creator! What has happened to you, boy?" The clerk gave Elu a careful look, before becoming tremendously busy, scribbling hard, as to avoid getting involved into the conversation.

He waved his hand disarmingly, and gave her an honest smile, though his eyes told a different story, "Sheer clumsiness, mother. Tripped over my feet, and rolled down a flight of stairs. It was quite painful to say the least." His eyes drifted over to look at the Clerk, smiling faintly, "I'm not distracting you both from your duties, am I? I wished have to quiet word with you mother. It shan't take long."

Evhana cringed, looking at his damage with apparent concern. She nodded at the Clerk, who proceeded to simply turn around on the spot, showing his back as he kept writing on another parchment, "He's deaf. If he can't read your lips, he cannot overhear. What is the meaning of this catastrophe marring your face?"

Elu nodded, satisfied, "An excellent choice for a clerk. As for this..." He gestures at his face, "...I did this, or rather your late husband did. He took control of my hands, and turned my own body against me. It was, as he lovingly put it, 'to beat some sense' into myself."

Evhana narrowed her eyes, leaning her elbows against the desk, as she hid her mouth while supporting her head. Elu chuckled grimly, and laid a hand on her shoulder, "I am loathe to admit it, but it worked. He wanted me to stop... harassing you, as he put it. So I shall do my all to do just that. I will love you as a son loves a mother, or try my best to. I will... contain my true feelings." It was a lie, but a necessary one. With Quicksilver’s threat still looming over his head, but lacking the ability to read his thoughts anymore, a simple lie and pursuing of more subtle ways of fulfilling his desires would be needed. And if this lie comforted his mother, then all the better.

She looked upon him with a slight frown, staring him down callously and cold. Her reaction surprised him, and Elu felt his face fall into its natural state, mirroring hers. Was she mocking what he was? Or was she attempting to convey something else? After a few moments silence, he said flatly, "I thought you would be pleased by this news."

"I've yet to hear an apology, admitting it’s false. All I hear is that you've been beaten like a misbehaving dog, and consent to avoid the cane. Is that supposed to make me pleased?" She tilted her head to get a clearer view, her skin flushing slight red, and her shoulders tensing. He decided she looked very beautiful like that, the blood brightening her skin. If she would only blush more often, then he would get to see more of her at her best.

"That is more or less what has transpired, mother." He continued to look at her with a detached expression, "My feelings for you are still... abnormal, as you would put it, however I have given my word to avoid acting on them. I do apologize for upsetting you so, and would welcome your advice on what to do about it, but my feelings have not changed. Perhaps in time, mother, if I redirect them as father suggested, I may be able to view you as you desire, but that is something for the future."

"As I... Desire?" She said, looking up over the needle thin silver framing of her glasses, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"That is the wording I chose, and yes it does sound rather... inappropriate when you say it like that. As you want, then, or perhaps I should say as the world deems proper." The lie was quickly becoming tedious, but he would keep at it. He must convince her that he was willing to not act on his feelings, which was partially true, and that he would listen to what she wanted, also partially true. Half-truths were much more delightful than outright fabrications.

Evhana rose from her chair, and took her spectacles off, "Son... You're ill... You don't thrash the sick to cure them. Yet here I see you completely ignorant to the fact how ill you really are, instead beaten into submission, as if this is from command."

"Feeling love is an illness, mother?" He studied her curiously, "My desire of expressing it to you may not be what most would deem appropriate, but I am simply not like most others." He sighed and held up a hand, "However, if you say this an illness that has some cure, I will listen. Regardless of how I express it, you know you have my love."

Evhana rubbed at her temples, and made a grunt of annoyance, "Why do you keep twisting my words? You know perfectly well of what I speak. I love my sister. Are you meaning it is natural for me to desire her, kiss her, or even lay with her?"

Elu chuckled quietly, "Mother, such things do not bother me. I could not care less about such matters, unless it were to affect me or my own. If you wished to do that with your sister, I would not interfere."

Evhana fumed, her face turning red, "I cradled you into life, boy!" She held her arms by her bosom, "I suckled you from these teets. In my womb you grew. If the Creator would see fit to make offspring between mother and son, He wouldn't have made the consummation come out misshapen or deformed. I love you, son! Like you should love your mother. I am purposed to see you grow, and manage on your own. These feelings mustn’t be beaten out, but embraced. Such feelings you hold are meant to be shared with women from whom you didn't already came, or with people that you didn't share a womb." She reached out and held at his cheeks, "It doesn't matter what you think! You cannot stop the rain because you do not care if it falls. Some things just are. Why do you keep rebutting these simple truths? Didn't I teach you to never go blind or unknowing? Yet here I see you stand oblivious with clouding eyes."

He rested his head against her hands, his expression softening, "I love you mother, and you are the only one who brings forth such a feeling within me... Maybe I am mixing love and lust, maybe you are correct. But I don't want to lose my love for you. You say it is abnormal, that nature itself rejects the union of two such as us, but what am I meant to do with these feelings?" He looked slightly confused, "How am I meant to make peace between what I feel for you, and what is needed?" The amount of emotions he had to pretend he was feeling was slightly overwhelming. What she needed, right now, was the apologetic son, and he could give it to her. Just because he may not feel anything near the sort, did not mean he could not pretend otherwise. One of his true talents, as he saw it, was his way with words. With his mother’s guidance she had helped him mask his true nature, and be able to present himself as whatever present company needed him to be. It was rather ironic that the skills she had helped instil in him were now being used against her.

She caressed his cheek, "Damnation, boy... I will always love you. That is what nature also decreed. You'll find someone else to urge these feelings towards, you will see. Everyone does in the end. Go out and experience, if that is what you need. You want me to provide some that can be discreet? Or have you aimed your sights on someone already?"

He licked his lips, and looked at her uncertainly, "Could you help me with finding those discrete, mother? I don't wish... I'm not..." He smiled weakly, "The prospect is rather daunting by itself." If he had to lay with another, he would do so reluctantly. Just once, or twice if she remained unconvinced, to present to her a figure working hard to cure itself. Being with a woman who was not her just… Didn’t interest him.

Evhana sighed, and nodded solemnly, "There's bound to be some tribals that have extinguished their rights to live through their heinous crimes. Some that can be disposed of, and corruptible by gold. I'd still rather you find someone on your own, however. You cannot marry or reproduce with the sort I am speaking of. Try to live out at court. Find some pretty thing to woo. It is a useful experience nonetheless."

"I do not wish to sire any bastards... It causes issues for the true-born, as my father's illegitimate scions do for me." He nodded a bit more determination clear in his voice, "I will also try my hand at court. See what I can learn."

Evhana smiled, "I am glad to hear." She sat back down on her chair, "Don't hesitate to ask of help when help is needed. Still... Try being polite, try being nice, and you will go a long way."

"I will do as you say." He nodded obediently. Hesitating slightly, he leant down to give her a firm hug and a kiss on the cheek, "I am sorry for how my... attraction has upset you, mother." A bit of candidness in his speech would help finish this farce. She believed him to be desirous of curing himself of this supposed ‘illness’, a term he found insulting, so he would present it to her. Things would be so much simpler if she would simply care for him the way he wished to care for her.

She kissed his cheek in return, "Worries are what mothers are for. One day, you'll understand yourself of what I speak of, I am sure." She tapped the clerk on the shoulder, and he dutifully turned around with a broad grin on his face, oblivious of their dramatic conversation, and stuttered a short Y-Yes, your H-Highness. through his deaf mouth as he eagerly awaited new instructions on what to note down.

Elu stepped back to give them both a short bow. Smiling at his mother, he spoke softly, "Goodbye mother. I will do my best." Turning around he exited the room at a brisk pace. As he wandered along the corridors, Quicksilver’s approval being murmured into his ear, Elu couldn’t help but feel slightly irritated. Basking in the bitter emotion for a while, he eventually decided to push it away. His mother’s insistence that he was ill was erroneous, and more than a bit insulting. It was as if she thought that he was unaware of the taboo on the two of them becoming one, though it was something he had read up on extensively, during his private time. Sleeping with one’s mother was an insult to the Light, but as he saw it, the old Deep Elf saying, of ‘Without Darkness, there would be no Light.’, fitted perfectly well here. What they would do may be an act of Darkness, but from it would be born Light.

Bards Tale

Elu Garhold lies to Evhana and Quicksilver about his willingness to overcome his desire of Evhana.

Tapscott · Jun 17, 2014

When the Mountains Call

Elu stalked along the garden pathways in the courtyard of the royal palace in Coal, his gaze flickering to any sudden movements. Deep in thought over what had to be done to cement his hold over his mother, and a genuine desire to simply see the woman who had birthed him, drove him to seek Evhana out. He had spent a night with the tribal woman his mother recommended, and felt dirty because of it. It had been a pleasant enough experience at the time, but he didn’t see the need for it to become something that drove his decision-making, or occupied his thoughts. The pleasures of the flesh, offered to him by those he did not care for, did little to excite him. Thoughts of being with those, or rather the one woman, who did interest him that way, however, did keep on coming back to trouble him.

Rounding a corner on the cobblestone path, Elu sees Evhana was walking by the pond, her deaf clerk dutifully following in her steps. A flurry of emotions filled his heart, joy, irritation, regret, disappointment, lust and affection all blasting through his mind. As quickly as they had arrived, they were gone, leaving him with nothing but the bitter-sweet memory of their passing. Running a hand through his long, white, hair, Elu licked his lips and steeled himself. While he was certain that nothing too… worrying or humiliating could occur, especially with her clerk being by her side, he nevertheless felt distinctly ill-at-ease.

Walking up to the quiet couple, his footsteps almost silent, Elu called out to his mother, while his gaze was locked firmly on the figure of the clerk. "Hello mother. Can I bother you for a while?"

Evhana turned around with a smile, nodding for the clerk to turn around. He smiled stupidly towards Elu before aiming his eyes out towards the forests, and Evhana adopted an expression most grave, "Of course, son. Have your manners increased since last time we spoke? Taken any of my advice to heart?"

He gave her a wan smile, looking suddenly uncomfortable, "Well... Yes. I have... spent some time with that tribal woman you suggested. It was... interesting, but I'd rather not do such a thing again, if it is all the same with you." The woman with the dark long hair, and penetrating black eyes. Tattoos had swirled across her body in fine, delicate, waves, and she had chuckled as they had begun. The memory of her smooth skin pressed against his, and the sweet whispers she had breathed into his ear filled his mind. She had been beautiful, she had been crass, but caring, and she had been expendable. The experience was pleasant, but there was no desire to seek out more like her, nor any reason to keep her around. That very night when he had lost his last vestiges of his childhood, she had taken her last breath. If he could feel pity, he was sure he would feel some for her.

Evhana raised an eyebrow, and seated herself on the brick wall circumventing the still pool, "Neither would I expect you to, but surely the experience would have given some thought. Has she been taken care of?"

"Yes, she has been dealt with. She had an allergic reaction to some of seasonings used on her meal that same night, poor thing didn't last long." He grimaces slightly, "As for... all of that... I think I would much rather only follow such an act if it is with someone I truly care about. How some men go out whore-hunting I don't think I'll ever understand."
Evhana chuckled, "That only means you can actually behave. Most men have urges that overcomes their wits, boy. It's nature, but still not very smart, and certainly not very civilized. With some training, and patience, you'll be able to treat that certain someone you may fall in love well, and perhaps... She'll even be of noble stature. But that, my son, is not a requirement. Marriage is most often not for love, but for the build of mutual strength. Urges, love, can still be held on the side with proper discretion considered and upheld."

"Yes, well, we shall have to see who I fall in love with I suppose. You may have raised me as a Deep Elf, but Yurdaest doesn't care about such things." He frowned as he mentioned his Underkingdom. The more he thought on the matter, the more issues seemed to arise. He had begun to doubt he could effectively take control of his Underking back from both his regent, and the Council of Elders. He would need his mother’s cunning and natural flair for intrigue if he was to take back control of what was rightfully his. She also may hold the key as to revealing a new path of power-seeking he could take. An Elf in the Dwarven lands of Highathar could not count himself amongst friends. "I wanted to ask you about Yurdaest, actually."

"Oh?" She said, tilting her head, "Any problems with your studies, perhaps?"

"No, rather I wanted to ask you on what you'd advise I should do with my Underkingdom. What do you think would best for our family?"

Evhana sighed. "Son... You know this, for I've mentioned it many times. To gain the favour of your High King, to make yourself both useful and indispensable. This is the way to gain influence, to become strong, and become safe."

"Did you suggest that while my father still lived?" Elu frowned at her, disappointed. She always gave the same advice, and every time he felt that she was being overly cautious. He could play the part of a sycophantic vassal well enough, of that he was certain, but he needed room to grow his own power and influence. As an Elf, he had no illusions of his weak claim to holding Dwarven blood, he would always be an outsider in the eyes of a number of his peers. "Dwarves hold grudges for several generations. I am an Elf, through and through, and worse yet, I rule a Mountainhome. An Elf ruling over Dwarves will always earn the High King's animosity. There are bound to be other paths I can take to secure my place in the world, and strengthen our family. Surely you know of some alternate means for me to become strong?"

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. But as a sworn vassal, Benthorn is equally sworn to protect you. I think we came to some rather cordial understanding last time we spoke." She smiled, "He knows well he cannot finger with the laws when there are eyes upon him to study them ever so diligently. With that you even have protection from the Elves, and he seems adamant at not receiving any cooperation in kind. That makes your status rather one sided, don't you agree? To hold and linger to the stronger cards, distressing you would be a futile exercise to say the least. And son..." She leant back on the stone, straightening her back, "...to stand with strong friends can be more rewarding than any fight for security that could ever be possibly undertaken."

"So if the opportunity to break away from Highathar emerged, you believe I should not take it?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "If he treats you well, and offer you the opportunity to exercise your ambitions, then why would you?"

"If that is the case, then I would likely continue to increase my power-base within Highathar rather than break-away. If I felt that breaking away was in my interests, then I would do so to preserve my power and increase that of my family. If I were to bring Yurdaest into Galadriel, my House would easily be the most powerful amongst the nobles, underneath the crown. Much easier for myself to extend my power and widen my influence in a Kingdom whose intrigues I was raised in, than to try and learn of the plots of a race of strangers."

Evhana nodded, "A sound conclusion, but there's one other conundrum you seem to overlook."

"What would that be?"

Evhana tapped at the bricks, drumming her fingers, studying him intently, "Would the queen accept your oath sworn? Would the Dwarves in Yurdaest?"

He chuckled, something which he assumed must be amusement briefly gracing his mind, "I have my own plans for dealing with the Dwarves. As for Nienna, well, despite the unsavoury knowledge she now can hold against me, I doubt she would deny me. After all, without a liege I would be doomed to a long and drawn out war for survival, and she could very well accept to preserve the life of the son of her dear... friend." He looked at her intently with a faint smile, "Plus I would expect you to use your own influence over her to aid me in such a manner."

"You expect, son. Gamble at this height in politics is dangerous to say the least." She rose up and walked over to him, laying a hand upon his arm. "Taking you in could lead Galadriel to war. You know very well how compassionate the nature of Nienna is. She'd be forced to send men to risk their lives to protect your exclusion, and her neighbours may see it as an act of aggressive expansion into a kingdom that isn't even her own. You cannot just assume that I will be able to convince her, sway her, or even control her."

"Aye, war could very well come from it. There is an alternative I am considering, but that path would forever earn the animosity of the Dwarves, and would require a gruelling war." He reached up to gently peel her hand of his arm, and take it into his own, "She listens to you more than anyone else, I know this. Even father, after I quizzed him constantly, finally admitted your hold over her is the strongest in the realm. And if she won't listen to you, maybe she will listen to me. I have become quite the orator, mother, and pleading before the Queen sounds like something I can succeed at."
Evhana stretched her head slightly, looking at him with a suspicious gaze, "I am sure, my boy. Makes me wonder what he has told you about my long fingers in Galadriel."

"He told me to ask you." He said with a slight accusing tone. Secrets and hidden half-truths, kept from his eyes and ears by those he was supposed to trust. Though, with the way his father had answered his questions, and the… rather unusual state that he had noticed between his mother and the Queen, he had developed some suspicions as to who her heart could belong to. "Wouldn't give me a damn straight answer. Made hints to one thing or the other, but always kept on saying that you and I should simply 'be honest' with one another. Was he as irritating in life as he is in death?"

"Endearingly so." She admitted, sitting down on the stone hedge, and leading Elu to join her by her side, "Fifteen years as Nightshade has given me some experience, my boy. The marriage to Elessar has given me some invaluable insight on military affairs. I'm well read, I'm skilled, and I have proven my loyalty countless times. Yes, the queen listens to my call, and I've been rewarded for doing so. When your aunt died, she took me into her home and protected me from the schemes of my vassals in the Chasm. She gave me responsibility, and the tools to uphold my new position to keep the realm safe from prying eyes. I sent agents to scout and clear our armies from the enemy in the Dark war, and she entrusted me with a hold of my own to rule. Mirrorwater. She did all this because I served the realm. What do you think would happen should I so blatantly ask for personal favours of my own? And what would she think of a vassal that would abandon his former liege at the sign of his weakness?"

"All that would need be done is the wrapping up such words in a prettier way." He shrugged slightly, "Rather than a vassal who abandoned his liege, I would present myself as the desperate young Lord, feeling under attack by his Dwarven master. That it was necessary, to keep myself and my people safe, to turn away from my former ruler and come to the person I care about and look up to, to protect me so I can in turn protect her." He nodded, his voice becoming more certain, "And you would just need to present my secession as inevitable and my incorporation into the realm a necessity. Not abandoning my liege, but forced away by his actions. Needing her protection, my lands could secure not just a stronger border for Galadriel, but would also give it direct access to the wealth of Yurdaest. With the right wording, she can be convinced of what needs to be done." He turned to look at her with a quiet chuckle and a crooked smile, "But remember, if I feel there is no need, or no benefit, to leaving Highathar, I would not turn my back on the High Kingdom."

She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, "You certainly have inherited some of your father's gumption, and I will not claim it is a vice." Her eyes folded in concern, "I just don't want you to get hurt, or put in needless danger."

His expression softens as he leans over to embrace her. Whispering into her ear, his voice was low and soothing, "I will not seek out anymore danger than I can handle, don't worry about that." He hesitated slightly as he held her, and took a shallow breath before talking quickly, "When I first leave for Yurdaest, could you come with me?"
She held him tight, leaning his head against her shoulder. "Of course, my son... I would have it no other way."

He turned his gaze up to look at her with a grateful smile, "I had thought... That after everything that has happened... Plus your responsibilities here... That'd you say no."

She strokes his cheek, "You'll come around, I know it is so. I will not abandon you for any inconvenience in the world."

"Thank you." He said sincerely. Holding her tightly for a few moments he suddenly stands up and coughs awkwardly, looking slightly embarrassed. Giving her a smile, he glances at the oblivious Clerk, "I've taken up enough of your time, mother. Thank you for the talk."

She nodded, endearingly, her eyes finally seemingly gleaming with hope after a long, dormant time, "Remember, three chapters by supper. Don't let too much brawn get in the way to cultivate your mind."

"Of course mother. See you tonight." Giving her another tentative smile, he turns and quickly walks away. He couldn’t tell if what was filling his heart now was guilt, or pride… He still wanted her for his own, and knew that he would go to great lengths to make that happen, but she seemed so… hopeful. So relieved, joyous even, that he seemed to be recovering from what she called ‘his illness’. When the time came, would he be able to claim her? Or would his heart break, and his desire for her be reduced to that of a son wanting his mother? He didn’t know, and it unnerved him.

Bard’s Tale

Elu Garhold prepares to leave for the Underkingdom of Yurdaest, accompanied by his mother and a sizeable retinue of Elven warriors and peasants.

Fingon888 · Jun 20, 2014

A New Addition to the Family

Wilhelm found himself walking into a reception hall with Nienna at his side. They sat down and talked of many things including the reason for Wilhelm’s visit to Galadriel. He was bored and lonely in that bustling city of Azeratii with no one to hold at night and a son who was much too old for a poor father’s doting. Wilhelm spoke of a strange idea that had entered his head regarding marriage. After a few moments Nienna spoke of someone she knew that was interested in getting married, a certain Kalevala. Wilhelm remembered that name. She is one of Ainikki’s daughters. Wilhelm enthusiastically agreed to meet Kalevala and they were soon walking to her room. Nienna knocked and asked if she was in there.

A girl with a soft voice spoke out of the room, “I’m here, the door is open Nienna!”

Nienna opened the door and entered with Wilhelm in tow and said, “I’ve brought along a friend as well, Wilhelm of Saxon, if you’d like to meet him.”

Wilhelm bowed to her, “Hello, my Lady of Hilmarsdottir.”

Standing in the room was a beautiful blonde of comely look. She seemed to be about 27 years old, give or take a few years. She looked much like her mother, with stark grey eyes and fair skin, tinted with a slight blush. She brushed her hair back behind her shoulder in a regal manner, however she wore a simple brown dress that fit her well. She stood up and put down her knitting tools to curtsy to him, “H-Hello sir…”

“You look much like your mother, but far more beautiful.” Wilhelm smiled at her.

A blush developed on her cheeks as she waved her face, “Oh gosh, hardly… my mother was the jewel of Norseland, when she entered a room, everyone took notice.”

“I remember her clearly. She was indeed the jewel of Norseland, but you are her worthy rival which I say surpasses her.” He walked up and took her hand, “Could we speak and get to know each other?” Kalevala made a squealing noise at this and looked at Nienna with a worried expression. Wilhelm interjected, “Oh Kalevala, I didn’t mean to excite you. It’s okay. I just wanted to talk to you. Would you like a glass of wine?”

Kalevala calmed down a bit and agreed while Nienna exited the room. Wilhelm poured her a glass of wine and motioned for her to sit down while he asked her how she was today. She sat with her hands in her lap and said, “Fine, just… lonely.”

He nodded and sighed, “Same.”

She blinked, slightly surprised, “But you are the Duke of Saxon… a war hero, how could you be lonely?”

“I lost a lot in those wars. The people I love mostly.” He took a small sip of his wine.

Kalevala gripped his hand tight and frowned, “Don’t speak like that… I lost my mother, but you don’t see me…”

Wilhelm saw what she meant in that and said, “Yes, we’re all affected by it and we always will be. I just hope we can continue on as best as we can.”

She nodded, “Aye, best to stay positive Lord Wilhelm… sorry for burdening you.” Her blush deepened at this.

“Oh please, how can we get to know each other if we use formalities. Call me Wilhelm, please.” He smiled at her and slightly blushed.

Kalevala smiled, “Alright Wilhelm, well, may I ask why you are in Coal today? This is a place for Elves not Men.”

“And yet you live here. But really, I was bored and lonely. So I came here.” He smiled.

“I have no other home…” She blinked and then laughed, “Is Coal the place to be to have fun? Someone must have misinformed me then.”

“No, that would be Azeratii. But I didn't come for fun. I'm just a strange man who gets strange ideas.” Wilhelm laughed. “Besides, I make no distinction in how I treat Elves and Men and so there should be no problem with visiting their fine city.”

“Ah, I have heard of Azeratii... but I have never been there. Is it as beautiful as Coal?”

“No not at all. It is filled with grime and poverty and parties. It makes me sick being there these days. I spend most of my time in Saxon now.”

She flinched at this, “I'm not good at parties... and I don't care much for the suffering of masses either.. Well, you can come here whenever you wish, I'm always free.” She giggled at this.

Wilhelm grinned and blushed at this, “I think I would like that a lot.”

Kalevala blushed and looked away, “Wilhelm, a man of your age should have a wife, such words aren't... respectable!”

Wilhelm stared blankly, “I don't have a wife because my previous father-in-law sacrificed her to the Dark One...”

Her eyes opened wide, “Kalare?” Wilhelm nodded at this. Then she lunged forward, pulling him into a tight hug. “I am so sorry…”

He held her in his arms and said, “Thank you.”

In a few moments she blushed from the close contact and pulled away. Wilhelm smiled and asked, “Releasing me so soon?”

Kalevala giggled, “Well, it’s not appropriate…”

“And why should we let such trivialities affect us like that?” He grinned.

“Well... because we are a lord and a lady… I shouldn't enter is anything too... emotional, besides with my husband.”

“Well that could be arranged.” Wilhelm smiled at her.

She squeaked and scooted away, before calming down and looking back at Wilhelm. “You wouldn’t want to marry me… I’m thirty.”

“And I’m forty, so what?” He stood up.

“I’m a nord, you’re an Imperial.”

“And?” Wilhelm shrugged and took a step towards her.

She scooted back slightly, but slipped over the chair and landed on the ground, blushes profusely. Wilhelm looked shocked and quickly helped her up. “Kalevala, are you okay?”

“What? I’m fine… It’s just a chair, but… you looked as if you were going to do something naughty.”

Wilhelm looked confused, “Oh I would never do anything without your consent.”

“Oh… how honorable of you, sir.” She gulped and sat back up.

“It’s not honor, just simple empathy.”

Kalevala nodded and smiled, “Well I think it is. So Wilhelm, would you like to go to my real room? This is just my knitting room.”

Wilhelm nodded and answered in the affirmative, at which she grabbed his hand and led him down the corridor and over a bridge to a lone tower. “Well… Here it is…” She sat on the bed, still largely blushing.

“It’s a very nice room.” Wilhelm said as he sat beside her on the bed, now blushing.

She absentmindedly scooted closer to him, all the while running her hand through his hair. “You have a pretty face for a man of forty…”

“Thank you, my lady. Your face is much more beautiful than mine could ever be.” He put his hand over hers.

She giggled and lightly slapped his shoulder, before leaning in and kissing him, “Oh hush…”

Wilhelm mumbled, “Of course.” And kissed back, leaning more into the kiss.

Kalevala pushed him down and kissed down his neck while Wilhelm untied her dress and soon they were both undressed and enjoying a night of good company to celebrate the unspoken agreement to their marriage.

Sneakyflaps · Jun 22, 2014

Children, hopes and expenses
-----Year 13-----
-----Ra’Gru’s PoV-----

I looked at her as I stood in the door way ”Hello my dear” I said as she was sitting at her desk, the new military reform had just passed which allowed the nobles to pay a tax instead of personally going to war.
She was filing out decrees over what seemed to be canal logistics of the Chasm, she had been talking about that for a bit of time so perhaps it was finally time when she did it. She looked up at me faintly, before returning to her scribbling. "Good evening, husband. You bless me with your company today?" I try to do that every day my dear, today is no exception. She ripped a parchment from the side. "Forgive me for not being able to attend the council today. These new issues demanded my attention rather urgently." Up to yourself, it was you who wanted to take part in the meetings.

"No need to forgive anything" I smiled as I stepped forward "You missed the new military reform that was proposed and accepted today" I said as I went over next to her, should be rather interesting to see how the nobles respond to the new law and if they will use it.

She laid down her quill, looking up at me with new found curiosity. "Oh? Was that today? I thought it was postponed in favour of the grain stocks after the insurgency?" The grain should be fine considering the rebellion was rather short and small, not to mention that we have plenty of it stored here in Azeratii and Varanu.

"Yes, or well it was as much an economic reform as a military one, now the nobles can now pay instead of taking up arms" I took a breath "Not much else happened other than that"

She crossed her arms, and looked up at me, slightly warded. "Is that such a splendid idea? What if the levies need replenished in a campaign, and none are ready to send soldiers but prefer the coin?" Easy, we gather the soldiers from the towns and the fields, equip them and send them into battle.

I chuckled "It will be fine, there are plenty of mercenaries around, there always has been and there always will be. There is no need to worry about that, and if enough nobles pay the money as I think they will then I can buy a professional army. They might be mercenaries but they will fight for the coin and they have fought all their lives, not some peasants where some can barely hold a blade" Not to mention that after the civil war, it would be useful to have a standing professional army so the nobles will think twice before raising swords again.

She raised an eyebrow. "What other choice would you have? The peasants as you so callously call them at least have a reason to fight. For their home, for their flock, for their family and children's health. Trust me, husband, when the lines break, it is the sellswords that are first to run. They take gold to fight, not to die." That depends on who it is that you hire, they have a reputation as well that they have to hold up, but it is not only the sell swords that will fight, we do also have peasants and they will continue to fight even with this new law.

"I need to call them something, it is not meant as an offense against them" I studied her "I know that, and there will be guards, soldiers and patrols still but you must surely know that wars are costly also for the economy, if the peasants, or common people or what you prefer for me to call them are not out fighting but instead attending to the fields and the earth then the economy keeps running around, where it otherwise wouldn’t" It’s not a bad system, in theory at least and I doubt it will prove bad in practice. "There are also mercenaries better known than others, who will stand and fight" If they are shown to be cowards and run away then they would quickly be out of a job.

She chuckled, mirthlessly. "Not even mercenaries pay for their own food... And even worse the strain should they decide the opponent is the more just when they start to win the war. Regardless of skill..." She pointed at me. "...their home is not your home. If someone else pays better..." She shrugged her shoulders. "That healthy land you speak of will be taken by someone else to be farmed." She returned to scribble at some of her parchments. "As for names, I much prefer to call them my people myself. You can call them whatever you need, as long their not within ears of reach. And besides..." She grinned. "I much prefer leading people I know, than strangers with some fancier swords. But that's just me." I am sure you do and I am sure you are very close with people in the Chasm, they love you dearly and you can lead them, but you also rule over less than a third of Azeratii city alone, I rule over millions of people and many miles of land, I can’t be close with them all, and most of them hate or dislike me strongly, the monarchy would most likely be in dire consequences if not for Varian.

"The worst case then the levies will be raised, as the nobles doesn’t want to lose land either" I said with a smile, it is not something that I consider a large issue and I doubt it will become one at all. "My people are most likely more fitting, but then again you always where better than I at the words" I stood there thinking for a moment "You do have good reasons, but there are issues to both models, this will give new issues that will need to be dealt with when they arise" And if they arise then we will need to address and fix them.

"Don't find too much fret in your idea, husband. It does certainly have merits of its own. I base my judgment on the fact that my soldiers have the skill of sword and bow from the start." She leant back in her chair, and arched back her head to look at me once more. "We're not that many, after all. We can't just expect to raise farmers witless of combat if hostility stood at our door."

"Indeed, the Chasm only has a very small portion of the people in Ecclestius, we have quantity and not quality" I said with a smile. Which is also why I know that there will be enough soldiers should the need arise.

She smiled, mischievously. "I dare say we're known for quality in many other areas as well."

I got a playful smile "I dare say you are, and I dare say I have seen it and felt it firsthand" Given, I would mind some now, I could use some fun.

She sighed, and looked over her desk. "I think you still need look over your vocabulary more. I think our son is getting rank thoughts over the worth of his subjects. All this..." She waved her hand around the room. "...taken so much for granted. Where else he'd get these ideas from? His frivolous behavior? Certainly not from me..." She crossed her arms, in a frown. There is no need to be in such a worry about him.

"Our son is me, every time I look into him I see myself staring back, but he is better than I am, he will be a much better king than I ever was and much more loved" Just walk among the people in Azeratii and the common folk in Ecclestius and you will see that they adore him as much as you do. I shook my head, but still "I think you are right in regards to the worth, but I also fear it’s too late" They love him, and he loves them in return and the fame and admiration he has from them. My mouth turned into a frown, but I will talk with him "Frivolous behavior? I think he has been starting to pick up on himself as of late, he isn’t even visiting girls anymore" For better or worse.

"The spending... The outskirts... If the latter is true, I hope for dear life it's true. Yet another woman came to seek upkeep a fortnight ago, claiming to have been blessed with his highness' child." She chuckled. Oh not another one, I hate those women who lie about that, now that he isnt going out anymore its even more absurd, he has cut down but I do fear his spending has increased. The other day he came to me, asking for a large amount of money, buying dragon scale, bone, claws and teeth not to mention hiring both Human and Dwarven en master armorers and weaponry, I finally saw the cost of it yesterday, it was massive, worth an entire hall in the palace. "But this one I didn't pay. Perhaps blue eyes and club feet can suddenly occur, but I doubt it'd hold for the risk of getting caught with the lie."

"How many women are you paying?" I asked curiously, and if it’s so many then it needs to stop, I will not be paying liars "But no he has not been with anyone, would risk losing the one he actually wants" I said with a smile, perhaps Linwë was truly what he needed to grow up.

She nodded, with relief. "That ease my heart to hear. Perhaps he will one day mature, and listen to what his parents have to say." She frowned at me again, tilting her head. "Rather than the king and his spoiled liaisons at court." You put too much into how badly those liaisons are, they are somewhat expected of him.

"Well he will still dress finely, eat finely, live rather expensively but at least he has made a commitment and sticking to it, I really had my doubts as he started courting Linwë but it seems like it’s working out fine between them, no arguments as far as I heard" I said with a chuckled "I would hate to explain to Nienna why her sister came home saddened by Varian messing up with another girl" Not quite sure how I could even explain that without it sounded idiotic.

"It would make for a rather sour gathering the next time my queen would call her vassals for a feast." Eylinn chuckled. "Nienna... Queen of queens. An impressive title you must admit it'd be? Even more impressive than the one you claim to have?"

"It would be a sad state indeed, would be a rather odd conversation" I start to chuckle "Queen of queens, well I am the King of" I start to laughing. Alright I have nothing "That does indeed sound much better" But I do have you.

Eylinn smiled, looking oddly tired still. She stretched in her chair. "You do seem in a pleasing mood today, husband. Something good served for dinner today?" Well no, for some reason there was an awful lot of fish.

"Nah, I am just happy, Varian seems happy and content for the first time in ages, you are smiling and I have nothing to worry about" I smiled "What is there not to be happy about" I looked at her with affection "So how have you been?"

She tilted her head against the desk and the row of papers and ledgers she had went through during the day. "Busying myself with ruling from a distant path. At least we have plenty of room to stack the paperwork as it falls in. I miss my girl though..." She frowned. "I hope she don't feel lonely in Coal... We should visit soon. Or at least have her come back south." I doubt there is anything to worry about with her in Coal.

"I heard that she was having fun and is taken care off, another month won’t hurt her" I said with a happy smile "But I am starting to miss her as well" We could use her back here soon, if nothing else than to lighten the mood a little bit.

She rubbed her temples, before walking up to the window, gazing out. "It's so strange to call this my home. The place of my first kiss... My first real feast... My first real appointment of command. And..." She chuckled, mirthlessly. "I've suffered here. I've given birth here. I even loved here. And all this..." She aimed her hand towards the window. "Yet you're so happy now, yet how you decree falls so ill with the man who stands before me. You kill people at scaffolds while we're drinking tea, having them shout out your name and rank. Husband... Who are you?" Her eyes took a sorrowful turn. It’s going to be one of those conversations then "I can't make heads or tails of it all."

I looked into her eyes before getting a frown "I am your husband, I am the King, I am the person, I am all of these things and I act differently depending on where I am needed" I took a breath "The one thing they all share is the love I hold and always have hold for you and our children"

She clenched her lips. "Perhaps it becomes a little hard to believe when you never know what role you've next in line. Perhaps it rings a little false." She flied out her arms to her side. "Or am I just being insane for thinking so?" Probably not, but oh well.

"The person connects the king and husband" I looked at her "I am not quite sure how to explain it, I am both of them and I must admit that while horrible things have been done, for once it does look like it is getting better for all of us, Anwën is happy, Varian is happy, Narien is happy all of that brings me happiness" It brings me a lovely sleep at night and makes the trouble that I face easier to handle.

"What of them? Out there? The people? The men they're supposed to look up to for protection and care? Does chanting your name or groveling before your feet before they die somehow ease their suffering? It's degrading! You can be a father with us..." She aimed her arms against the window. "Why not to them?!" Ah, is that what this is about.

"The executions. It is how it is, before I came to power and it is how it has been since. It a show of loyalty and by doing so also removes any hint of suspicion that might remain on their family, it’s not like they are forced as they will die anyway, it’s hardly like they can die twice" Though I am sure some madmen would love to give it a go to find a way to kill them twice.

She looked at me, bewildered. "Are you serious? That's how'd you want to pass? And if so, how does claiming one life really justify whatever crime they made? What gives you the right?" Multiple things but it depends who you ask and with what goal.

I studied her for a bit "Nothing gives me the right and everything gives me the right" I shook my head "Eylinn, it’s the courts that decide their punishment and the courts alone, I have nothing to do with that" And you know that just as well as I do.

She sighed, rubbing her eyes. "This is an exercise in futility... Cruelty by law or by whim... What difference does it make?" surely you cannot mean that as a serious question, the answer is obvious.

"Eyliin, we have the death penalty here if the crime is severe enough, by law makes all the difference as all must follow the law, and it is not by whim that people are executed. The judges make all the difference, it is people with an education in this, who judges them based on the law and if there is enough to find them guilty, it is nothing that I or another party takes part in" Which is why it is right, a crime cannot go unpunished.

She waved her hand to me. "I don't want to hear no more. No force on this world should have the right to levy punishment of that sort on anyone as far as I'm concerned. Even less so in such a shameful, public display. We fought a war to prevent murder. You remember it?" How could I ever forget.

I went over to her "Eylinn, I know that you frown upon this but it will stay, I know this is not so in the Green Chasm but we are in a different world entirely" We cannot compare our realms and they will never be the same.

"I know..." She rubbed at her arms. "I get emotional, I know. It feels like blood is feeding these carpets we walk on. The cribs my children slept in. The grass upon which they played. The very food that we eat, and the wine that we drink." Well that is surely taking it a turn for the more dramatic.

I looked at her while offering a smile before it turned into a frown "I know that you worry, but I sleep better at night knowing that blood where spilled against a few nobles during the rebellion, rather than a civil war that spilled the blood of tens of thousands of people" While it may be horrible to say, I cannot deny it, as to the people who steal and lose a hand, it is brutal but it is how it is. She kept rubbing her arms, as she went over to sit in the couch, bending her back forth as she studied the floor. I went over and sat down next to her "In an ideal world neither would be needed, but we do not live in such a world" And we won’t, at least not in my lifetime that is for sure.

"It's the world I fought for... The world I hope will be." She said, sadly, while looking up at me. Aw don’t be sad about this "Just my foolish dreams." Perhaps, perhaps not.

I embraced her "The world is built upon hope, and one day the world you speak of might come, but that isn’t the world that we are in now and neither do I think the world is ready for it, but one day it will be" I said with a smile, or at least I hope it will for the world we live in at the moment is not a nice one despite the gold we have on our walls.

"Let there be hope, then." She chuckled, sadly. Hope is all we can do.

"Do not worry too much my dear, there is beauty in the world that we live in, it is not all dark and gloomy, it’s not a perfect world but it is beautiful" Despite its flaws.

"We made such lights, husband. Such beauty exists because of us." She smiled. Speaking of that and speaking of how the light touches your face where you sit, you look so beautiful.

I chuckled "Perhaps it’s time we make another" I said with a warm smile before giving her an affectionate kiss, the sweet taste of your lips, the warmth of your skin against mine, it makes me want to just kiss you for the rest of the night without stop.

She chuckled. "Perhaps... Perhaps such is the consequence of intimacy. Yet, I think my stomach is sore..." She said, teasingly. Oh is it now, I think I know just the cure for such an illness.

I smiled before leaning in on top of her and starts kissing her lips more intensely, then moving over the cheek and down the throat and neck while holding my other hand at the other side her neck, saying in between his kisses "Perhaps it’s time I make that feel better" in a playful manner.

She giggled and groaned at my advance, laying a hand around my back. "You don't think a doctor preferred? Are you sure this ain't other aches that you're trying to cure?" She said, as she kissed him on the nose. Screw the doctors, nothing but liars and charlatans trying to earn money. Who knows, maybe I can do a magic trick instead.

"It might be, but no matter what I know the cure for at least one of the aches" I said in a lustful tone as I started pulling down on her dress. She laid bare her shoulders, and loosened the rope around her waist, placing herself under me on the couch. As she did I removed the dress quickly and started kissing her down her body before going up once again kissing her neck, while holding my hand by the side of her throat, letting my other hand explore her breast, hips and other body before starting to tease her.

An end and a burning rage

"What a morning" One interesting start, and here I feared it would be a boring day.

Eylinn rubbed at her temples, and made a quick sob. "Aye..." Could have been worse, it is only a bit of damage that can be easily repaired.

I gave her a comforting smile "Don’t worry, he will be fine, it will just take him a bit of time" I said as I went over and took her hand while caressing it "It will be fine" Let’s hope that he at least learned something from this.

She rubbed her thumb over my hand. "If it worked for me, it will for him." She smiled. "Wouldn't wish to spoil all the experiences and anxieties of youth, now would we." That would truly be criminal.

I gave a chuckle "Of course not, do you want to get something to eat" I said with a smile, I am starting to get rather hungry.

She stood up. "I do not wish for him to see any of those men again. And I will talk to Wilhelm about Friedrich, or in person if so requires..." Isn’t that taking it just a bit far?

I looked at her slightly concerned "Eylinn he is eighteen, he is an adult. He just got rejected by someone he deeply cared about, we can’t also force him to lose his friends right after" Nor would I ever force him to lose them.

"I don't care of his friends. It's the men that whisper poison in his ear, right there under your nose, that has obviously come too close to the crown. And I trust you'll take care to speak with him as well?" She looked at me with a stern look on her face. I am not going to dismiss or punish anyone for this, but I will admit I didn’t expect them to have such an influence on him.

I looked back at her "I will speak with Rodney and get him to stop it" Or at least tone it down. My face turned more sternly "But I won’t punish Arckard for wanting a unified army to protect the Kingdom" It is a goal that I also wish for and it is one that I do my best to see carried out.

"A unified army to protect is as much unified when aiming to assault. What signal will that send to our neighbours? Why do you think my sister had the nerve to bring doubt to Linwë in the first place?" She crossed her arms. Oh right I had almost forgotten about Evhana, I can’t say how much I despise your sister.

I could feel my annoyance in my tone. "The fact that she spoke made clear that she overstepped herself. That she brought up our marriage, it makes sure that I don’t doubt for a second that this is about me more than Varian, you know how we feel about each other" I shook my head "She overstepped herself and it makes me annoyed, do not for a second try to convince me there wasn’t something deeper behind it than Linwës happiness" And if she brings it up again to someone else, or if it involves my children's happiness and she ruins it with that then I will cut any ties I have with her, and that of my children.

"I'd never claim such a thing. But she has responsibility towards her own lands as well. No need for my son to have ill thoughts of his aunt still." Well I honestly can’t blame him if he gets any. She walked up to me. "Whatever is grieving between you two needs to end... Perhaps it is time for some family reunion?" Eylinn grinned, mischievously. Oh yes indeed now that would be a beauty without equal.

I gave a chuckle "Perhaps, I doubt it would achieve much. Just make sure that you are cooking, I would prefer not walking away from dinner while spitting out poison"

Eylinn frowned and narrowed her eyes. "Husband... She's my baby sister. Be kind." Doenst make it any less true. She followed me towards the dining hall.

Court gossip
The court speak about the pregnancy of the Queen, the hope for another Prince and Prince Varian’s grand expenses on a project.

Fingon888 · Jun 22, 2014

A Quest for the Heart
Year 13

Friedrich had finally found the girl he had been searching for. Sitting in a field there appeared Anwën of Krestarii. Friedrich sat beside her and greeted her with a simple hello. She turned and offered him a smile, “Ah... Lord Saxon. I cannot imagine the perils you went through to find this secret place.”

Friedrich decided to play along with her and smiled, “Aye, the giants threatened my journey, but I have made it through the tempest.”

She held her hand over her mouth, gasping, her deep blue eyes wide with wonder, “Did they try to catch you, throw you in a kettle, and make your meat settle, serve you for supper in their mountain lair?”

“Of course, my lady!” He pulled his blade, made of bright steel and the hilt made of oak. The cross guard was fashioned in the shape of a branch and the pommel in the shape of a wooden wolf. “Yet, I defeated them with my blade, Ulricaf.”

She gasped again, before feigning a posh young dame, her hand moving from her mouth to her chest as she stretched her neck, “A princess, my Lord. So goes the tale.” Inspecting the blade, from tip to hand guard, Anwën decided to lean back towards the grass. “And as any tale, a named sword comes along. What magic does it procure? What challenges to face, I wonder?” She grinned at him, while leaning on her elbows to gaze up at him.

Friedrich grinned and turned the blade in the sun, “It was smithied by my ancestors in the Saxon forges, it is sharp enough to cut through dragon hide and to cleave giant bones. It brings hope to the hearts of embattled men across the world and time itself.”

Anwën giggled, and tilted her head to the side, “And so the princess felt so much safer, beside the stout knight with his ancestral blade. Dragon hide you say?”

She stroked her hair, “How about Elven skin?”

The boy of fifteen years would not be stumbled by the shining beauty and wit of this girl. His victory depended on focus and appealing to his audience, just like all the things in his life. All the world is a stage and one man in his time plays many parts. He smiled, “It is said that Elven skin is softer to the touch, but tougher than dragon hide. It amazes me that any blade may pierce it.”

She chuckled, and rolled over to her stomach, ignoring the appearance of her fine dress against the grass, “You're good with words, I must admit. Feinting my every attempt to poke through your wit.”

Friedrich quickly lay down in the same position, his face close to hers, “And you as well my lady. Scarce can I think when I am in the presence of such a wordsmith, with beauty surpassing all.”

Her cheeks turned slightly pink, as she giggled at his remark, “I wonder how many girls you'd tell that this week. You've enjoyed the carnivals and fair? Any lecherous excursions with my brother dear?”

“Your brother is not a lecher, but no. I have not gone with him in his hunts this week.”

“Is it as you say?” She tilted her head, and poked his nose, “Not a single heart to sway?”

Friedrich smiled and poked her cheek, “Not one this week, here in Ordivantes.”

She blinked, and followed his finger with her eyes, “A dashing young man like you should surprise many if he'd leave a place without a basket of broken hearts behind. But admit...” She looked down the meadow with a content sigh, “This place itself is a country of beauty. Barely possible to describe.”

“Aye, the valleys of falling water and the pine forests make this place a wild imitation of my home. A place of more ruggedness where the calls of wolves feel more dangerous.” He stared into her eyes.

She peered her eyes at him in return, resting her head firmly upon her palm. “Or dragons, giants, and horrible tiger beasts. I remember but vaguely the lands of the Saxon folk. A luxury that means I can imagine it in any way I want. But this...” She waved her hand around, and looked up at the azure sky with her own sapphire eyes, “is something so different. I remember the forests of my mother's home. I remember the streams, the roots, the deer. The air was always pleasant, the green always clear. These lands are untamed... so expansive. It's weird.”

“The lands of the west seem to be a wild land. Here we see what the world once was, before the rise of man.” Friedrich looked around in turn scanning the pines and green hills with his verdant eyes which would cause a wet dream of the highest caliber in the soft summer nights of many a gardener from the smallest hamlet to the highest keep.

She frowned, “You say Elves couldn't keep the world before Man came to plough the soil? To keep the wild beasts in peace, or perfectly capable with such toil?”

“Oh excuse me, when I said man, I meant men, Elves and Dwarves. Even Galadriel feels more tame then the lands here.”

She twirled a lock of hair between her fingers, and looked at him intently with a probing gaze, “Such an eloquent save.” She said, with a wide smirk, “Protecting your image, from the slander you gave.” She giggled.

“I have no intention of saving myself, only that my words are understood. If I thought little of Elves, would I do this?” He leaned towards her and planted his soft lips upon the fair skin of her cheek, warm unlike any other that he had ever felt.

She lent her cheek to him as he kissed it, and chuckled, playfully raising her brow, “Inspect the target of your blade? Test the tale of Elven soft skin?” She grinned, mischievously, “A wise choice to know the lands of conquest before the battle's cast. You'll be a fine warrior, I am sure.”

“I hope so. A fine warrior in all aspects.” Friedrich looked her in the face, “Would you like to ride with me?”

Her eyes practically sparkled, “A quest? A destined journey to forbidden lands? Where, do tell, my Saxon Lord?”

“To the Valley of the Night Terrors! A place of falling water where daemons and giants live. Some tales even tell of a goblin king whose magic has caused more death and disease than anything else since the sun shined down on the glorious and embattled lands that we here dwell.” Friedrich stood up and put his hand down to her.

She feigned a gasp, “I'll have to muster all my strength, and will, but you'll see, my Lord, I shall endure. With sword, and bow.” She closed her eyes, “I will protect you, if only, you pledge to be my ward. Save me from dire peril...” She rose to her feet, “as we rid the evil, and banish it from its vicious hole.”

“Aye.” He held her close to him and raised Ulricaf, “To glory!” He took her hand and brought her to his horse.

She giggled and followed his lead, seating herself at the front of his saddle, “To loot, and treasure, beyond our wildest dreams!”

They rode over the rolling hills for a time and through the great pines that serve as spires thrusting into the sky and as temples for the Old Gods, for Ulric, for Wotan, and for all deities that deign on ruling and watching over these wild and untamed leagues. They entered a valley where the water, flowing from some unknown and mystical source, poured into a waterfall, pooling at the bottom. The cry of ravens and songbirds, held in the company of wandering beasts of the earth who eat only of the lush and green bounty provided direct from the bosom of our earth seemed to create the world in a new light, which upon being illuminated cast oneself into a joyous state of pure love and happiness.

Anwën, in an amazed yell, jumped off the horse and stared at the waterfall, “It's so pretty...” She said, turning around to look at Friedrich, “You knew of this place before?”

Friedrich nodded, “I found this amazing place yesterday.” He dismounted and joined her.

She went up to the pool, and stroked her hand over the water, “So warm, so clean. It's a real hidden gem.”

He smiled, “Aye, I am glad I found it. It is warm enough to swim in even.”

She chuckled, “A pity I didn't bring a change... I wonder, what aims and purpose did the young Lord think he had by bringing the princess to this wondrous glade?” She looked around and snickered, “All honorable in pursuit, I pray?”

“Of course, my Princess, But what do you speak of a change for? Everyone knows that swimming in nature is best done in our natural state.” Friedrich smiled, “Of course, it is up to you.”

She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, “Of that I am sure.” She looked to the side, and back at him, raising an eyebrow, “Perhaps some other day, when you are blind and I've grown natural fur.” She grinned.

Friedrich laughed and took off his shirt. He ran past her and jumped in the water, “You may join me in whatever fashion you like, my Princess!”

Anwën laughed at the display, falling down to her knees by the waterside, “How can you protect me from dragons, if you are down there? A bold plan by a bold man, let for naught to clean his sweaty brow!” Her face blushed slightly, at the sight of Friedrich's naked torso over the surface.

He came out and lay beside her, “Dragons will not come to harm us. And if they do, they shall surely fall to my blade.”

She cocked her head towards the horse, “To find it first by his mighty steed.” She looked at the water, rippling down his arms. She quickly turned away, and rubbed the back of her head, “I... the sun! The sun, my knight, is warm indeed. Cool winds couldn't bite, howl all they need. Such brilliance is rare beneath the canopies. You been to Galadriel much in your days?”

“Only once or twice, not enough for a man's life, but I have many days yet.” He smiled.

“I think you'd enjoy Azeratii more. A more livid state, but bustling with life of its own.” She pulled her legs closer to her as she sat upon the smooth rocks, “It's been a whole life it feels since I've been there. All these travels, and to Coal I go next. I'm starting to wonder where home really is.”

“Home is where you love to be, where your friends and your family resides with you. Ultimately, home is where your heart is.” Friedrich smiled and sat up, in the same position as her.

“Aye... but they don't see well to my kind there, it would seem.” She said with a frown, looking up at Friedrich to the side, “The palace is all well, I guess. But it's the marketplace all the fun is at.” She grinned, “Acquainted yourself much there? Come now... Tell of exploits, adventures and henious crimes! Perhaps tales of banditry, charleting and crime?”

“A little yes. I have both stolen things and stopped people from stealing things. One time I grabbed a juicy apple from a vendor and a group of city boys tried to take it from me. I fought them all off of course, only for the stupid vendor to take my hard won apple.” He laughed.

She chuckled, and rocked her head from side to side, “What must a princess do when she hears of such crime? Judge, condemn...” She grinned, “or join by his side?

He wrapped an arm around her, “Join, my Princess. Sometimes being bad is just so fun.”

She leant back against his arm, and looked up at his face, “To offer such comfort just after a bath? At least he's clean, and not smelly at all.” She giggled.

Friedrich chuckled, “And when would you prefer I offer comfort?”

She blushed, “I... I...” She stuttered, before clearing her throat, “What need am I of comfort, my Lord? Surely you know I am the princess of war? As fearsome with the blade, and the bow.” She said with slight hesitation.

“Of course, My Princess. We could conquer the world together, our skill in battle becoming saga for all generations.” He smiled down at her.

She chuckled, and nervously arranged her hair behind her ear, “I suppose...” She looked to the east, “To send the dragons in flight. I happen to be fearsome as few with a sword. They say I am my mother's daughter, and isn't that so?”

“Aye, a sword master of the Elven people, side by side with a Saxon warrior of no equal. Glory and crowns, gold and rings would we win in the west.” Friedrich kissed her cheek.

Her face blushed, and she giggled sweet, taking a pebble and tossed it over the pond, to bounce many a feet away, “Grand ambitions you seek. Perhaps when schooling be done. Statecraft and ledgers, philosophy and tomes... Mother even wants me to learn how to strike.” She looked up at him with her deep blue eyes,
"How is your father? Stern or kind?”

“More kind than stern. He trains me to fight and to learn. Books and blades were always his motto. If you have a mastery of both you may have a mastery of life.” He pauses and looks out over the pool, “Father always said that a man's heart hides love and hate plenty and that there is no point in reading or living if one does not learn of the nature of us all. He told me that our time in Agorath is made for us to love.” He looked into her eyes, “I'm inclined to agree.”

Her ears turned ruby red, as she made a careful smile, “It almost felt those words were aimed at me...”

“Your perception does you credit.” Friedrich smiled at her.

She looked over his chest, then back up to his eyes with a warm smile, “Is this the part where evil vanquished be?”

“Aye, the evil no longer lives, this land is cleansed.” He slowly connects their lips. She stretched her long and supple neck to reach his lips, the heat of her Mindrilla blood making her lips hot, full and smooth to the touch. Bliss overcame him as he pulled away to catch his breath after a few moments. He leaned down and kissed at her neck, planting love upon her thinly veiled arteries.

Anwën gasped and tilted her head away to clear his path, shuddering as his lips and tongue sensed at her beating pulse. She giggled, “It tickles...”

Friedrich laughed and held her close. He kissed up her neck and to her chin where he reconnected their lips.

She giggled again at his path up her soft, smooth skin. But when their lips reconnect, she started to behave less responsive, ultimately breaking away their lips,
“I... it's a bit too fast...”

He nodded, “Of course, my Princess.”

She looked down towards the ground, slightly abashed, the wind catching the grass in its flow. Yet... a short, almost inaudible growl could be heard whispering i
nto Friedrich's ear, “I doubt my mother would approve... and... I'm yet so young.” She chuckled, “But your lips exploring was quite the treat.”

Friedrich looked towards the direction of the growl, stopping her. He placed his hand on the hilt of his blade that lay beside him on the ground.

She shook her head, confused, “What's the matter, my Lord? Did I say something wrong?”

“No not at all. I heard something over there.” Friedrich motioned for her to wait and stood up, holding his blade. He moved toward the sound.

“I don't know. Something is here.” Friedrich walked closer, praying silently to his gods, to Wotan for wisdom, to Ulric for strength, and to Johanna for speed.

Any notion of sound or disturbance was gone, but for the anxious feeling in the back of Friedrich's mind, “Look, my Lord, perhaps it is time we go? Before it gets too late, or... predators come out to hunt the wilds. Please?” Anwën stood from the ground, “Can we just... leave?”

“Yes... let's go." Friedrich grabbed his sheath and put up his blade. He pulled on his shirt and helped Anwën onto the horse. He then got on and began riding out of the valley and away from evening sun who was determined to sink itself into the hills and caverns of the west.

Tapscott · Jun 24, 2014

Lord Undisputed

Elu rubbed at his eyes wearily, letting out a pronounced sigh as he did. It had been over a month since he had arrived at Yurdaest, complete with a large host of Elven soldiers and ordinary peasants, and despite his mother’s assistance and sharp mind he still felt boxed in by the regency council. He looked around the table in the cavernous chamber, taking in all the faces that had plied him with questions, requests and demands on a daily basis. Only several of the members present were truly important, with over a dozen faces being easily discounted as insignificant by the boy Elf. However, despite their lowly status, he knew his mother owned over a dozen of the lesser council members. It was the true members of the council, though, that occupied his thoughts. Seated to his right was his mother, Evhana Coamenel, her expression one of calm serenity. Despite the arrogance of his vassals, and the demands of his council, he was yet to see her break the façade for even a moment. To his left sat the High King’s appointee, Hagam Fistsilver, the Lord of Bol Ulhilm, and second regent for the boy-Underking. His loyalty could never be guaranteed, he owed too much to the King Under the Mountain.

Sitting next to his mother, his one good eye glittering with good humour and intelligence, was Elu’s chancellor, Dáin Blacklocks. He was one of the few on Elu’s council that the Elven boy knew he could trust. He had fought loyally under both Elu’s father and great-grandfather, being present in all of the major battles of the Yurdaestii Dwarves. He was a loyalist to the Clan, through and through, having happily agreed to work with his mother when she had first approached him over a decade ago. The other council members, however, were much less benign.

There was the steward, Benthilm Redclay. An oaf, but from a Clan that was nearly as old as the Garholds. He had been a vassal of Quicksilver’s, and had been given the position of steward just to keep the fool happy. He had proven to be inept, and worryingly rebellious. There was the Archmage, whose name escaped Elu. The position was new, made since the disestablishment of the Order of Light, and had never held a single member for long. No doubt the incumbent would be forced out of his position before long. The real threat, however, was Rundukr Iceeyes. Elu looked over at the ancient Dwarf, who simply met his gaze solemnly. The man was the head of the Council of Elders, given the honorary position of First-Elder on Elu’s official council, and held significant sway in Yurdaest. The man represented the old order, and Elu knew he would have to contend with the greybeard if he was ever to rule in his own right. It would be a difficult battle, but one he would have to win if he wanted to truly be the Underking.

“Now my Lords, and my Lady.” He nodded respectfully at his mother, “I do not see the need for this regency to continue. My mental capabilities are not those of a child, and I am already able to fulfil all roles expected of an Underking.”

“Be that as it may, you are yet to see your 15th name day.” Iceeyes intoned in his gravelly voice, his cold pale blue eyes locked with Elu’s dark blue, “According to the laws of this Underkingdom, your are not considered a Dwarf full-grown until you have seen 15 years. The regency was constructed to govern in your stead until you are a lawful adult. The age-limit will not be altered, and cannot be altered, just for you.”

Elu felt irritation rise up within him, but swiftly crushed it. While feeling emotion was a tantalizing experience, he needed his head to be clear when dealing with these people. Reaching over to his wine-glass, he sipped from it as he studied the old Dwarf sitting across from him. He had to fight the urge to gag on the acrid taste of the wine, but it was expected he would drink, and heartily. Iceeyes had the law, and the popular support on his side. He could also claim descent from several of Elu’s same ancestors, so his claim on Yurdaest was not entirely weak. If the greybeard pushed for his right to rule, he may just succeed. “Come now, my lord, surely this is purposeless?”

“The law is the law, your grace. We are all beholden to it.”

The old Dwarf did not seem like he was going to give in any time soon, and Elu wasn’t sure of how he could convince him otherwise. Admittedly he could just wait the next few months until his 15th nameday, but he wasn’t sure if he would be safe if he did that. He needed his mother’s advice. “As you say. Now my Lords, it grows late, and I would speak with my Lady before I retire for the evening. We shall see you all tomorrow.”

Without protest, the council members stood and bowed deeply to Elu and Evhana, before quickly exiting the room. As the door shut behind Dáin Blacklocks, Elu and Evhana were left alone. Turning his head to look at her thoughtfully, Elu couldn’t help but notice that she seemed to be even more beautiful than usual. Shaking himself slightly, he pushed the thoughts out of his head, and instead tersely asked her, “What do you think we should do about this regency?”

Evhana shifted at her seat, and raised her collar while taking a more lax position against her chair. She snorted, and aimed her eyes towards the very end of the high halls, before finally returning her attention towards her son, "I've kept it for you for thirteen years. Not much to say than there's no stopping us continuing this way. But I am not here to make choices for you, my son." She rested her head against her hand as she looked at him and smiled, "I'm here to assist, and teach you be independent. Your studies are done, and is as prepared as I could possibly hope you to be. The rest is experience, to which Mirrorwater and the rare duties to which you've been bestowed have little to compare. Dwarves and Elves follow not much alike, I digress."

A ghost of a smile flickered across his lips at her words as he nodded thoughtfully, "Yes, and my lack of Dwarven blood is well-noted by many. While my father may have been Underking, Rundukr Iceeyes' lineage mixes with several of my predecessors." His gaze become slightly more distant as he drummed his fingers on the stone table. Slowly, his voice soft, he began to speak, "I can wait till the regency is officially over, but I need to secure my position. Clan Rundukr and Clan Benthilm will need to either be wiped out, or reduced. Loyalists must take their place. Elves must be brought in. I cannot assimilate with these Dwarves, but perhaps I can breed them out."

Evhana giggled, "Dwarves and Elves both live such a dastardly long life. Breeding them out is not perhaps the sharpest plan..." She rose from her chair, looking visibly weary from the long travel, and went around the table seemingly deep in thought, "Perhaps these fine lords you fear could be complacent enough to accept more dignified positions, of much lesser influence. I think you'll find Fistsilver to be very receptive to your ideas. Remember, that me and the High King made a most firm agreement regarding his actual say in the Yurdaest regency. He does what I say..." She smacked at her tongue while tracing a finger over Iceeyes chair, "...how could this Elder ever contest that, or even dare so?"

Elu's gaze lingered on the chair that had held Iceeyes, his expression darkening momentarily. With a blink, his face had returned to its normal cool state. Turning his gaze upwards to look at Evhana, he nodded thoughtfully, "You are right, of course. I just worry about the sway that greybeard holds over my people. He has too much power." He stretched slightly in his seat, his voice dropping low, "Of course, all the popular support and power in the world is no use to the dead, and he is already so old..."

"Aye. But ending it now is too suspicious..." She scooped up some dust from the seat and wrinkled her nose in disgust, "You asked for the regency to end. Even without evidence, or chances to trace his demise, questions would arise. Questions you'd rather not have linger while you rule." She tightened her fist, raised her head and stretched her neck, studying her boy with a firm, dour expression, "How often do Dwarves slip in the crevices of their mines?"

Elu studied his mother with an expression as detached as her own, "Rarely, but among the younger or older ones, it happens enough to not be shocking."

She shrugged her shoulders, "To oversee the extraction of minerals, as Master of the Stone, is a prestigious title held by only the most keen and honourable of Dwarves. Our old friend seem to fit much of that description, or at least he seem the type convenienced by such a thought."

He chuckled as he rose from his seat, and wandered around the table to smile wolfishly at her, "I do so love the way you think, mother. Yes... I can see that working out wonderfully." Evhana always knew the best way to deal with any problems that confronted him, not matter their nature. He berated himself silently for not coming to such a conclusion by himself, he was almost full-grown, far too old to be so reliant on his mother.

Evhana pulled her lips into a sly smirk, turning around to look down the great entrance to the hall, "Patience is always an option too, my son. Do not forget it. All options must always be viewed, weighed, contemplated to the fullest. Threats cannot be endured, but not all threats are any threatening. It's up to you to see it for yourself."

"Patience? I will exercise that in the other issues, but I feel that your idea on how to deal with our beloved First Elder is too well-thought to be tossed aside." He looked at her out of the corner of his eye as he stood next to her, his hands clasped behind his back, "How have you been? I noticed that the journey here took its toll on you."

"I’ve fond memories of the war. We travelled much back then. Even with you residing in my womb. I've simply hated it ever since." She chuckled as she neated her dress, and pulled at the strap next to her naked shoulder on the left. "It wears off in a day or two. You needn't linger any more heavy thoughts on that."

His fingers rose to brush at the naked skin of her exposed shoulder, and his voice sounded strangely melancholy, "You suffer too much for my sake, mother." The sensation of her smooth skin against his sent jolts of fiery pleasure coursing through his veins, almost eliciting a gasp from the Elf. He had not felt something like that, not even when he had lain with the tribal woman. This sensation was much stronger, felt more primal.

Evhana froze slightly, as she stretched her back further, "Don't be silly, my son. It's what I do and do with joy. You'll feel the same when you have children of your own."

"Children of my own..." Elu's voice was barely above a whisper. Taking a gentle, but firm, hold of her wrist in his hand, Elu spoke softly, "And should I father them with the one my heart desires, as is Deep Elven custom?"
Evhana took a few deep and strong breaths through her nose, almost standing abnormally still, "Son, don't... Don't even start."

He turned her to look at him, his face looking weary beyond his years, "I know I shouldn't, but the heart wants what the heart wants. I'm sorry for hurting you mother, for failing you." A half-lie he was forced to tell her, to keep her hopes alive. He did not relish the suffering she seemed to experience from his feelings, but he didn’t wish for his feelings to go either. He could give in to his desires, and take her at any time he wished, even now, as he knew she wouldn’t, and indeed couldn’t, make herself fight him, but what would that do to her? Could she live with such an act? Would she tell others? There were so many problems with his desire, so many things that could go wrong. Maybe it would be best, for everyone, if he denied himself. It would bring her joy, like little else.

Her eyes were dark, hollow, with an expression of stone. Rigid she stood with her wrist held limp and uncooperatively in his hand, "No... I've failed you. Somehow unable to teach you the true meaning of the word, of the feeling, and the desire and to whom it should be aimed. You must let it go, my boy, even more so in these lands. You think the Dwarves would ever look with lenient eyes on such actions? You'd lose it all... Is that what you want?"

"All I want is you." He said simply, "I want you for my own, and I know that the mere thought of laying with you should naturally sicken me. Unfortunately it does the opposite. But..." He let go of her wrist and stepped away from her, "I don't want to hurt you more than I already have."

She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, wrinkling her brow as her face seemingly aged with worry right before him, "Whatever reason you embrace to avoid any mistake, is the right one to hold and the right act to make." She smiled at him, "I'm proud of you, my son. Always have, always will be. It will pass. You will see."

"I hope for both of our sakes you are right, mother." Giving her a crooked smile, he offered her his hand, "Shall we leave, mother? I daresay our presence will be missed at the banquet hall if we tarry for much longer."

She carefully placed her warm hand in his, and nodded slowly to walk up to his side, "Remember, in minority or not, stand always tall, and leave your authority open to no interpretation. You're king under the mountain, regardless of age or actual power."

He gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek and a rueful smile as he led them out of the room, "I will do all I can to honour you, and make you proud." One way or another, he would make sure he was the undisputed Underking of Yurdaest. When his realm was secure, then he could finally resolve his feelings for his mother.

Bards Tale

Elu, with his mother and their large retinue of soldiers and civilians, have arrived in Yurdaest and have begun to prepare the realm for the disbandment of the regency. Elu and Evhana conspire to kill the Rundukr Iceeyes, an elderly Dwarf who holds vast popular power both amongst the elites and the masses, so as to solidify the young Elf's rule.

Tapscott · Jun 25, 2014

Just an Elf and his Thoughts

Elu trembled as he intoned the words in the ancient tome before him, his father’s fury at his son’s treachery threatening to tear the young Elf’s mind apart. What had begun as a point of mild curiosity had exploded into a fight for control over the Underking’s mind. The Book of Dhurth, a thick and ancient book written several centuries ago, had been retrieved from the vaults of Yurdaest and brought to the quarters of the Lord of the Mountain. His suspicions had been correct, there was true magic to be found in the words in the Dwarven God of Death and Poisoning’s book, including on how to bind, and more importantly, how to exorcise the spirits of the restless undead. While Quicksilver had been dormant for the past few months, being either too weak or too disinterested to involve himself at all in his son’s activities, as soon as Elu had begun the incantation to banish him, the spirit of his father had awoken and flown into a fury.

Traitor! I will end you! The voice howled in Elu’s head. The young Elf shuddered, and forced himself to continue saying the words in front of him. His bones shook in his body as the spirit of his dead father sought to rip-him apart from within. His bones ached, his vision blurred, and he felt blood begin to pour out of his nose, ears and eyes.

As the final words left his mouth, Quicksilver gave an agonizing cry of defeat and a strange emptiness filled Elu’s mind. Trickles of memories and thoughts that were not his own filled his head, muddling his senses, and before he could grasp what was happening, the trickle turned into a flood. Falling to his knees, he clutched at his head and tried to steady himself. His vision swam and he slowly fell over. The sensation of falling seemed to last forever.

Elu's eyes snapped open, and he looked around in astonishment. Managing to make out his mother, who was sitting by him caressing his head, he also noticed her mute steward scribbling notes in the corner. Glancing at his mother, then to the clerk, then back to her, he groggily managed to mutter, "Where are we?"

"In my chambers, son. One of the grey beards found you in your quarters before the briefing last night, passed out in a bloodied mess. What in the world were you up to?" She asked sternly, yet a faint quiver heard from the depths of her voice, ill hiding her worried state of mind.

Sighing, he laid back down on the bed and closed his eyes, "Doing something I should have put more thought into. Exorcising your late husband." As he mentioned Quicksilver, he felt a stirring in his mind. Wary of his father’s possible presence, Elu cast around for the familiar sensation of the undead spirit occupying his mind. He found nothing, save for fragments of memories that must have belonged to the banished Dwelf. Recalling them, Elu’s mind raced with strange memories, entirely disjointed from his own. Looking through the eyes of his father he saw a burnt down village, with a strangely familiar Dwarf with pale-blue eyes helping him to his feet; pulling himself up from his feet, he wiped the blood from his brow, and growled a challenge at the Dwarven children mocking him. The memories flickered past, at an ever quickening pace, and he struggled to make them out. A sensation of overwhelming anger, and a red mist clouded his vision, as he swung a battle-axe at a group of scared looking Elven merchants, came to the fore of his mind, before being swept away and replaced with yet even more memories. Memories of a grandmother he had never known, a wizened Elf who looked so familiar with his sad face and deep blue eyes, dozens of women, of different race and colour, beneath him, a thin dirk against the pale skin of his mother’s throat, her eyes dark with cold malice, the Queen and his mother, locked in desperate embrace, running through the snow on paws, clad in naught but fur, and finally, of a sharp dagger coming downwards constantly, biting deep and cruelly into his skin. As quickly as they had swallowed his mind, the thoughts retreated. They sat, separate, deep within his mind. Elu took a deep breath, and tried to focus on his mother, aware that her lips were moving but he was not paying any attention to what was coming out.

Evhana pulled her mouth into a pencil draw, with a long drawn out breath of relief following in its wake, "Still..." She gave him a stern, hard look. A rather parenting, probing, accusing look, "...you could have been hurt! Dabbling in such dangerous acts! What were you thinking?! What if something had gone wrong?! Would I had been sensible, I'd strap you to this bed for a week, having you collect nourishment from a cup and a straw."

His mouth tightened slightly, but his voice remained soft and calm, "Had it gone wrong, I don't know what would've happened. But it worked." Elu opened his eyes to look at Evhana tiredly, "In anycase, I did it all out of a flight of fancy, stupidily enough. I remembered the Book of Dhurth, found what I was looking for once I retrieved it, and decided that I should do what it suggested immediately. I didn't think it would be so... difficult. Quicksilver had been so weak, so tired. He had not made a sound in over a month, how was I to guess he would fight me as savagely as he did?"

"He was a fighter, what did you expect?" She rubbed her temples, "And stubborn as a mule when he was even remotely susceptible for any kind of persuasion into common sense. This... Possession, by what foul shadow remained of your father, wasn't." She crossed her arms, and she glowered at Elu like no other ever had, "You should've come to me, ask me first. Ask for aid, ask for anything. I'm starting to think I've spoiled you with too much freedom, too much kindness. I thought that would have been wise to set for a coming ruler, but perhaps I was wrong in thinking so?" She produced a grunt of a concerned frown.

He glowered at her, sitting up with a grunt, "I did what I had to do, as stupid as it may or may not have been. Rulers have to make decisions, sometimes without hesitation, and I cannot hang onto your skirt forever, mother! Besides, have you forgotten my-" He paused to glance at the clerk, making sure he was turned away, before looking back at his mother with a resentful expression, "-problem? I have half a mind to order you to go back to Galadriel, for both our sakes." His struggle with his father slowly drifting from his mind, Elu became uncomfortably aware of how Evhana, being so close and dressed so enthralling, was causing his desires to become enflamed. He wanted her, but could not afford to have her. Too much would be lost if he made her his own.

"You're my son also..." She said, clenching her mouth as she looked back at him, "The throne here is yours, and there's enough of my contacts to reach for a stable and safe rule. If Quicksilver is truly gone, then perhaps my staying here has outlived its most urgent use." She looked over at her chest, filled with its many potions, poisons, alchemical brewery and leisure and formal dresses for court, in stark contrast to the more alluring one she wore to bare her shoulders now, undoubtedly to give off a harmless and alluring sight for the old Dwarves around the castle, "I've prepared you for this for many years, to try and teach you how to fly on your own. Never I imagined that leaving your little chick to fend for itself would be so filled with a solemn, sombre heart."

"Mother..." He rose from his bed and reached a hand out to her, before dropping it to his side, and instead turning his gaze to look at the chest with her, "I will fly or die, such is the way of things. But, you have taught me well, so I think I shall succeed." His need was filling his mind, so much so that he was thinking of how to rid them of the deaf clerk. A quick twist of the oblivious steward’s neck would end his life, and ensure that they would not be disturbed. It took a painful amount of effort to discard the thought, and try to resist giving in to the temptation.

She embraced him, tight, reaching on her toes to kiss his cheek, "Take care, child... If all goes ill, fly down the safest way back home. Send word as soon as you can, and I will be here at the blink of an eye."

He screwed his eyes shut, his limb stiffening and pushing against her. Her skin pressed against his, her perfumed scent filling his senses, and her warm breath tickling his neck, all served to drive him to grab her. Just as he was about to take a hold of her, he instead pushed her bodily away, his mind full of conflicting thoughts and desires. Taking a step back, he turned away from her, his voice hoarse and raw with emotion, "Hurry... I need you, but... Go. Soon. It is too dangerous."

Evhana backed away, her eyes wide, near filled with terror. Her face lost all colour, giving a new concept and name to the word pale, "I... I'll leave you to recover, and will send for my luggage. Good bye, son. I'll write... Your brother too." She walked over to her clerk, nodding for him to follow her out the door."

Sitting on the side of the bed, Elu dropped his face into his hands and shuddered. As the door closed behind his mother, and the Clerk, he began to cry quietly. He needed her so much it was painful, yet he could not afford to have, not if he valued his life, and hers. The best option was to send her away, but it left him with nothing but heartache, and a sense of bleak despair.

Bards Tale

Elu successfully exorcises Quicksilver, but retains a few scattered memories of his father’s. Also, in attempt to prevent himself from taking her, Elu sends Evhana back to Galadriel.

Maxwell500 · Jun 25, 2014

The Rise of a God
Year 11 After Battle

As Aegon entered the city he felt a chill run across his back, looking around he saw the streets were deserted and there was not a single soul out besides him and his retinue. He heard a quick movement of feet in the distance and raised his hand to halt his men. Alec rode up beside him, his face etched with minor wrinkles and grey streaks running throughout his hair, and leaned in closer.

"What is wrong Your Grace?"

"The city...it is deserted...and so quiet..."

"Aye, that it is. Shall we turn back, head forth to one of the castles in the mountains?"

Aegon rubbed his chin for a moment before shaking his head. "No, let us ride to the Keep and see what is going on."

"As you will Your Grace."

Alec turned his horse around and trotted back to the retinue and moments later they continued their ride up to the keep. Eventually they arrived at the main gate and found that it was open and that there was not a single guardsmen to be seen. Unperturbed by this they continued further past the second and third gates where they witnessed the same things and finally arrived at the doors to the actual Keep. Aegon dismounted and walked up two or three steps but before he could go further he felt a hand on his shoulder pull him back. Alec shook his head and drew his sword.

"I will go with ahead with a few of the men, you follow with the rest Your Grace."

Aegon only nodded and Alec walked ahead with five men trailing him, they pushed open the doors and disappeared into the darkness. Moments later Aegon followed with the rest, who had lighted a few torches so as to see. Aegon could only faintly see around him as they made there way through the Keep but he swore he could see some movements in the distance and some sounds, but they were weird and not human-like. Eventually they caught up with Alec and the other men who had stopped in front of the great double doors to the throne room. Alec shook his head as he approached Aegon.

"Your Grace, I do not know what is going on, but I worry...this is very very strange...the whole keep, deserted, not a single person...and dark...no torches..."

Aegon nodded and reached for his small sword. "We best find out if anything is beyond those doors..." He motioned to them with his sword and looked to some of the men. "Push them open."

The men nodded and walked to the doors, their hands tense and clutching the swords tight, and pushed them open to reveal the throne room empty except for a lone figure on the throne and another standing behind him. The room was also dimly lit by bright blue flames that seemed to materialize out of nowhere. Without thinking Aegon barged in and run towards the throne, with Alec and the men scrambling after him.

"Who are you? What are you doing on my throne? Where are my people?"

The figure on the throne only stood and walked slowly down the steps. It uttered something and the double doors shut with a huge clang. Suddenly multiple figures also phased through the walls and proceeded to kill off the retinue rapidly, leaving only Aegon and Alec behind. The other figure, a huge norseman covered in war paint, stepped forward and walked past the other to stand within a few feet from Aegon and Alec.

"Who is that? It is a God. A God unrivaled by any other! A God that is the rightful ruler of these lands, of all the lands of the darkness!"

Aegon stepped back and bumped into Alec. "W-what?"

"Yes, a God boy...and what has he done with his people? Well, they are here, but they are in their homes as instructed. Your guards? They just unarmed your little retinue."

The norseman let out a booming laugh and then proceeded to step closer to the boy, but Alec stepped forward and held his sword against the norseman. The norseman only laughed and grabbed the sword with his bare hands, snapping it as the cuts on his palm started to leak blood. He stepped forward and grabbed Alec by the throat, throwing him aside he picked up the boy and dragged him to the figure on the steps.

"This boy, is the one they call the Being. He once went by other names, as a righteous soul of Darkness, he was Koldun. As the misguided servant of Light, he was Berein. He was your father..."

Aegon just shook his head and screamed. Trying fiercely to break free from the norseman's grips, but the man just tightened his hold. The figure moved forward and removed its hood, revealing an old and scarred face with black black eyes. It placed its hands on the boy's head and whispered out a phrase and proceeded to vanish. The norseman let go of Aegon as he fell to the floor and struggled to stand. Alec, who had just managed to stand, looked towards him.

"Your Grace, are you oka-"

All of a sudden Aegon began to shake violently and grow in stature to resemble that of a twenty-year old man. His eyes turned a deep purple and a dark armor took form on his body, with a crown appearing and bearing a great red ruby in its center. He stumbled forward.

"Alec, what is happe-"

It shook its head and looked towards Alec, shaking its head.

"Aegon, my blood, is no more. Now stands before you a God in his fullest form. You were once my servant in my mortal years, so I offer you a choice: Bow or die."

Alec spat. "I will not serve you, you corrupted thing!"

"Very well." The Being walked forward and shoved its hand through Alec's chest, ripping out his heart and tossing it aside. Turning away from the lifeless body it ascended back up the stairs and looked down on the norseman.

"I have risen. Send word to all."

The nord bowed. "As you bid my master."

He turned quickly and stormed off.

Sneakyflaps · Jun 26, 2014

Peasants, Princes, Queens and injustice
-----Part I-----
-----Varian’s PoV-----
-----Year 13-----

We were riding far out of the city, far out the highway and where now into the wetlands and the grass fields in the north. It had been about a week since Linwë had left and I had been spending a lot of my time for myself, studying, reading and writing. I hated my own writing, whenever I sat down to write it felt as if I just couldn’t form the words correctly, like the true meaning was left to be desired once written. But more than anything else, I had been researching, researching for a way to stop the seizures from happening, someone needed to find a cure for I can’t just stand watching it happen again and again. I want to travel, not just for the sake of finding the cure but I want to see the world, my parents saw it just in a darker light fifteen years ago and I want to see what they saw, the battles they fought, the lives that where lost during the war. I want to go the Light Basin and see what it was, see why it was so important and find out why it is still not in the control of the Kings but yet in the hands of cultist, but more than any of that I want to go to Highathar, I want to see the cities that my father fought for, the city he once ruled and the place where he fell to the Dark, I am tired of just being in Ecclestius and Azeratii. It was awesome to travel to Coal to visit Linwë, to see the world and the people who lived in it, to see how they felt and followed what they did, and I know I need to do it before I become King. I looked up to at her on her horse "So mother, what did you wish on this beautiful day, any reason I have the honor of your company?" I said with a smile.

Shuffling in her side saddle, she turned her head towards me and offered a veign smile. "I think you know, my son. I thought some air would do you good after all that's happened. To clear your mind, to revitalize the soul. Nothing the city can properly offer..." She radiated towards the green vast. "...but that nature can." I agree, another reason I want to travel.

"Nature is good, relaxing and offers some stuff that the city cannot, but the city isn’t to bad either" I said with a chuckle, I grew up there after all, walked the streets, enjoyed the festivals, theater and other entertainment. "So how have you and father been doing, I hope you have forgiven my absence as of late"

"We worry, of course. Our responsibility after all. I thought you needed some time away from everything." She chuckled. I think you are more right than you might think, mother.

"I guess" I said as I looked down to the ground before up at her "Thank you" I said with a smile "I guess I could use a bit of time away from everything, but at least it is starting to get better" She no longer fills my mind to the same degree, despite the study I couldn’t get my mind of Linwë.

"Pain takes time. There's no shame to it, my boy. You need absence, you take absence." She furrowed her brow. "But you still cannot escape the thoughts, the feelings or the hurt. Those things linger... And I fear you are in no position to have the luxury of being gone for too long." I fear I might have too, I am in no need to be in the city, I can travel but I guess you have a point that I would need to send some form of communication back to the capital and the nobles.

"I fear you are right, I love my position but in some regards it sure does suck" I shook my head "But yet I still think it’s better than for the people, if they were to go away for longer time without family to take care of them, they would starve," I chuckled, luckily I had both the means and the want to be able to stay away "Oh well, I am not sure what to do anymore, the absences has happened so I guess it is time to return" For whatever short time it might last before I leave.

"I hope it did you well." She said, meaning it, scouting out the surroundings before taking us on a small dirt path to the west.

"Allowed me to clear my head, but I must admit that I am starting to miss the company of others" I said as I followed her, a good joust or feast could be well needed, have a bit of fun again other than the books.

"I wonder what company you missed, however. Those who'd see you ruined, or those that mean you well." She gave me a foreboding look, heavy concern beaming from her eyes. Is that the reason that you grace me with your presence mother? Worried that I might speak to the ones that you do not approve of?

"My family and friends" I must admit that I miss talking to some more than others, including Anwën, it had been a long time since we last spoke. With her so often in Galadriel and me traveling back and forth, and now planning on traveling even more, I wonder how she is doing. I looked at her with a concerned look "I had a feeling this would come up eventually" You are not one to forget something if it involves any of us and you disagree with it.

"For I mean you well. For your father is equally concerned." She threw me a piece of jerky, as she bit down on the meat herself and chewed its rough fibers. "To what merit could these ideas even offered? Does it not sound too well to be true?" If it sounds too well to be true, is it such a bad idea to have then, to want to see it come true?

"Is he now, perhaps he should be here then" I shook my head, it annoyed me that he was not more present at times, and it annoyed me even more that one day I will sit just as he does and won’t be able to do anything about it. "Sometimes I feel that Narien is right when she says that we have no father but we have a King" I took a breath "For everyone to have justice, does that really sound so bad, such tyranny, for everyone to be equal under the law and not to receive justice" I looked at her "The nobles no longer being able to get away with murder" Surely such thoughts are new, but hardly tyranny.

Eylinn snorted, looking down upon the ground as she measured the height of the hill. "Son, what say of what is justice, and whom? Would the Deep Elves see justice should the laws be written by Coamenel scholars? Would the Dwarf clans elevate Benthorn should they declare under the decrees of a Deagrin lord? What says that justice in Azeratii is equal in Saxon, or Wallachia, or Three rivers? And what of the Tudonii?" Nothing says it, yet how can we hope for peace with the arbitrary law the currently exists.

"The Tudonii are too far away for it to be even possible at a time like this." I looked at my mother curiously "What do you mean equal? Surely we are all imperial and surely a murder is wrong no matter where it is committed" If you are an Elf, Dwarf, Saxon, Tudonii, a murder is a murder.

"And what of the one's who murders not? Am I a murderer, son?" She studied me carefully. That is not a fair question, it depends what you consider murder, so let us find out why you ask.

"The one who does not murder would of course not be convicted of murder" I looked at her somewhat curious "Why are you asking if you are a murderer?"

"You speak as if I couldn't be trusted to lead my people, as you wouldn't trust the lords of your own realm. You speak in terms of relieving them from the responsibility to care for their people, and dictate it yourself. How could you even call the Tudonii your vassals, or even swear to protect them, that they shall not stand in equal grace from their king? It's arbitrary tyranny, commanding. Kings lead, but does not command. Generals, commands." She smiled, towards me.

"But if it is equal for all, surely the peasants would be better off to know that their local lord would not dictate terms to them, that they would be protected and not abused by an undeserving Lord" I look at her curiously "What do you mean not stand in equal grace, the nobles would still have privileges" I don’t want to remake the world.

"I'm not talking about privileges, my son. I'm talking of the burden. Who deem an undeserving Lord? Who says you are a rightful king?" She reined in her horse, to a halt, perforating my eyes with her gaze. The fact that there is no one else to rule the Kingdom than me when father is gone, no one else they would accept.

I looked in her eyes "We both know that certain lords do not deserve what they have, there will always be some and I am not saying that everyone is" I shook my head, it will protect the people, do you simply wish me to leave them at the mercy of a cruel lord "Why is it so wrong that I want a proper justice, instead of different laws in the realm" I looked away to the forest, we both know why it is my right to be king, I look back at her "It is me who will be the rightful king due to my inheritance, father is the current king and grandfather was there before him and thus I am the rightful king. Just like its Friedrich’s right to be duke after his father, Anwën's right to the Chasm after you are gone, it’s because it’s her birthright and as we both know then it is not my right to the Chasm due to who gave birth to me. It is also my damn sister's rights in the Three Rivers to rule there as much as her opinion bothers me" She dislikes me and thinks she has the right to the throne, and while her being my real mothers daughter gives her a claim due to blood, it does not mean that anyone wants her as Queen, she is nothing more than a pampered child who thinks she can rule a Kingdom.

"You still fail to answer what proper justice is, and to why it would be for all, and how that would be more equal at all." Her worried face was replaced with one of silent disappointment. “Your father is no more rightful than a forrester, son. He took it, and we live in a world of takers. What seem just today, will be unjust tomorrow. To replace a few rotten souls with one much greater, you deem the unworthy, but fail to acknowledge you may just replace it with another." So is it better not to try and improve the system out of fear for something worse?

"But isn’t my father more right then, because it was he who took it?" I looked at my mother curiously, if we live in a world of takers and he was the one who could take it, surely his claim is the greatest "To replace a few rotten souls with a much greater one, do you consider my soul rotten, mother?" I say while trying to look into her eyes "If I replace one, yes then I may put one worse, I am only human and I cannot be perfect, none of us can. But equal justice is that no one is allowed to kill or steal, to harm another person no matter if you are a duke or a farmer. Why do you find it so wrong for me to wish that no one dies because they are born in a lower class" Why is it such a horrible crime?

"Because that is not the perspective you undertake. What if your son is undeserving? What if his son is? You doom them to war, struggle, conflict with the vain illusion it’s their right or wrong that establish what's good. Of course I don't think you're rotten! I'm trying to protect you!" She said, shaking her head as she raised her voice. "And you are young, and you are naïve." Perhaps, but perhaps that is also needed to change the world, can anyone change the world if they are old, stubborn and unwilling to change?

"I meant no offense mother" I sat on my horse for some time looking around "If my son is undeserving or my grandson then they would fight wars, either win or lose, if they lose then they would be deposed and" I tried to get the word out of my mouth, but it seemed like they were stuck in place, unable to move or change them. "And killed" I finally said with a deep frown, it wasn’t a prospect that I liked to think about and yet it seemed so far away, my own children being killed due to me giving them power, children that I neither love or care for, at least at the moment, does it make me a bad person that I do not love my children already, or should I love them just knowing they will be my children.

Eylinn sighed. "When I first set for the Golden City, when my father died, I dreamed too. I dreamed that an assembly would mean my people, and your sisters people, could finally be free. That each man had goodness in their heart, and that anyone could be convinced of evil when it stood to stare them in the eyes. And you know what?" I have a feeling you are going to say you were young and naïve. She smiled. "Some heeded it so.” Or not “You may see a slaver rotten at first, but even a slaver can be turned from his path. A murderer can be saved, and a ruthless man can be turned to kind. If anything, son, remind them of their duties towards their folk. Don't save them the trouble by berefting them their burdens." She urged her horse forward once more. "Listen... I returned to life with hope that all could be redeemed, but it will never be a world made of liquid good. I wanted to punish the ruthless so grave, that I was ready to send the sword to them all in the middle of a war. Even when the Dark encroached, it wouldn't end. But... It wasn't for the wicked that we fought that war. It was to let the innocent live, to stay innocent and grow." She grinned. And yet the innocence have lived on, I believe my sisters still have it, unless I need to stab someone since I last spoke with them "Despite your little exodus into the taverns and theaters of the capital, innocents such as yourself." I would hardly consider myself innocent anymore.

"I wonder why you truly think I have lovers left and right mother" I said with a chuckle, I fear you might be awfully disappointed if you found out the true number of my liaisons "You are right that everyone can be redeemed but what about the ones that do not choose that part, what about the ones that keep what they are such as Kalare did, murder, rape, death, all the while the world was burning around him, or at least that is what I read" I looked at her curiously "What about the ones that no matter what never changes?" Just give them another chance and hope for the best? That is both foolish and reckless as a ruler to allow and you would only be digging your own grave. "And while you might have wanted to kill them all, I find that unlikely of my mother" I said with a warm smile, you have too soft a heart to actually kill so many people.

She scoffed. "You know your mother and her bleeding heart too well. Regardless of caste, you will find people that have strayed. My vassal Coerthas for example took to usurp me, and had bled his people of gold under the war. Still... He cares for his people, he cares for his lands. He did so for he felt treated unjustly, when I had treated with him as little as I had with my other vassals, and that led him astray. Should I be punish thus? Can you ever protect from a rotten barrel, once in a while? There always will be one... And never is justice always fair, always equal... They stray, then your duty is to set them straight."

"I see what you mean, but what of the ones that stray without being the fault of yourself, but ones you set them straight then then they stray again?" You cannot let a threat against your rule go unpunished.

She rode for a while without a word, following the movements in the grass of rabbits, foxes and moles. "We all seek the path upon to tread, my son. It's never easy to walk it proper always. Neither can I claim the same." And then how do we decide which path to tread?

"Very wise, mother" I said with a smile "I get what you are trying to say but yet you did not answer what to do with such people" Which I think is equally important. "What would you do, kill them, banish them?" Not in the Chasm, that wouldn’t happen there "I know you would not kill, against the customs in the Chasm"

"They either fall, or they prevail. Just like the ones that do good, that act good, that are good, and act in just ways..." She bit at her lower lip. Is it wrong that I fear a King who rules and commands cannot be good with the decisions he has to make? "My second betrothed were such a man. Punished and beaten for good deeds. Wrothiron, Benthorn's father, king of Highathar when you were a child sacrificed all, dead set and determined and confident, yet when he needed us the most, he fell. There is not clear justice, son. For one's justice is not for another the same. I saw the first unjust, and the other just, for our rear flank needed closed. I much doubt Benthorn sees it that way. Practically, what I would do... I've given them a chance before, and see no reason to not do so again. Trust can find strange paths by its own. Sometimes it leads to ruin, sometime to gems never found any other way." You want me to trust millions of people, such a large nation.

I looked at her “It sounds like you feel sorry for you old betrothed, almost like you miss him” Do you still miss unwalked paths, wonder what your life would have been like? I gave my mother a smile before looking ahead, it did however make me curious “When justice is not the same to you as it is to me, or to my father, then there is someone who must say what is just that all must follow, for if we allow people to follow their own way of justice then they cannot be punished as they did what they considered just and thus anarchy would follow in its wake. Therefore there must be a person who decides what justice is and what is not, and what the law is. Wrothiron might find it unfair and unjust what happened to him, but do you think he would have acted differently? I read a book about the generals during the war and allow me to quote him if you do not mind “War is not a duel, or a tourney. It is not a game with fair moves and foul. War is a horrible thing, only to be undertaken at the most dire causes. Once engaged, the leader who fails to strike every blow, to use every weapon against the enemy, such a leader is not honorable. In war the honorable thing is to destroy the enemy with the most speed and the least harm to your own people.” It is a good quote for a general, but more so a ruler.” Your own people come first, the rest comes second.

"It is a good quote, son." She reined in her horse and looked at the clearing to her side, watching as the black plumes of farmers culling the trees. "It is words as taken from the mouth of that same Dwarf we speak of." She eyed me hard and firm, and uncanny determination, with fiery pupils trying to protrude into my mind, making me stop and raise an eyebrow while looking at her and stopping my horse. "You, your book, they speak in black and white. Of virtues calculated in the midst of chaos, to ease their mind at night. When the battle is won, a harsh general will see that the enemy does not escape unscathed. Yet when they know mercy is left to the spared, what will they do? Like a cornered animal, faced with their impending fate, does not surrender. No. It will take down its enemy with every measure of strength, with every measure of brutality until its last drop has dried on the stone. He knows what fate awaits him, and no option is presented for him but kill your mean 'till he breathes no more. Yet... If you spare them, if you tend to them gently, then why would he still fight? For his liege, for his banner? You think that matters to the common man? Give a cornered animal a chance to route, and it will take it. It will take it swifter, more compliant, more benign, than any harsh strike you could ever plan. Justice, ruling, is the principally same. Except... Commanders..." She frowned to herself, with a menacing and furrowed shadow spreading across her light features. "...or generals, make not the best advisers to rulers, or even rulers for that matter." Why do I have a feeling that is a advise more for a commander than a King.

"I do not consider myself a general, so perhaps I will be the best ruler in generations" I said with a smile in jest hoping to lighten the mood “Mercy is good and it has its place, but it must also be looked to what is needed, to offer mercy is a good thing and it can help, but sometimes a strong message can do the same, or do you disagree?” I looked at her curious, after all there are plenty of generals that butchered a city and the rest surrendered “Tell me mother, is it better to be loved or feared, and if you cannot be both then what should you aim for? And I mean both as a general and a ruler”

She shook her head. "Son... A ruler shouldn't care of being considered either. I don't care if I am loved, or feared, or envied by anyone. I care only for the love that I have for my own. And never, as little as I would let any other meddle in mine, would I ever let meddle in someone else's. I'm not their mother, I'm not their Therain or queen. Would you wish that upon yours? For you seem too eager to set that example, they are in their fullest right to." Why are you a ruler and why are you needed if you do not take part, you might as well go and live next to them and plow the fields and herd the cows, for it seems that you do not want to or care to rule. She smacked her lips to urge her horse forward, bobbing her head signaling for me to follow.

I urged my horse forward and followed her "A ruler who takes no part in the lives of their subjects and cares not what they think or how they do, is an obsolete ruler who might as well not be one"

Eylinn laughed. "Who ever said you shouldn't care for them? But do not fret, my son. I shall see to that you'll get a taste of their mind real soon." She pulled a cowl over her long hair, tucking her curls to hide her pointy ears. She led them down a dirt path towards the culling fires with a small farmhouse erected on a hill, and a lowly hovel with displaced stones protruding from its walls. "Tuck in any jewelry, son. If it's their thoughts you want?"

I did as she said, and I am sure that you had this well planned and found a pair of people who cares just for what you want me to hear "Mother, I am sure there are people who think as you, and I am sure there are people who would argue against you and in favor of me, it is how the world works. But as you wish then I will see what you have in store" I do however doubt it will change much.

Sneakyflaps · Jun 26, 2014

Peasants, Princes, Queens and injustice
-----Part II-----
-----Varian’s PoV-----
-----Year 13-----

She led us into the courtyard where an old woman stood and churned butter. Upon the hill stood an man, his skin darkened and scaled from the many hours his back had stood aiming against the sun. He was flapping a cloth against the fire to fuel its intensity, licking up the long grass as it spread in a careful path. Eylinn whistled, and in perfect unison they turned to face them at the same time. The old man throwing water upon the embers, the old woman smearing the guttery cream from her hands on her apron.
"What manners be this? You went stray from the main road and got lost?" The woman cackled harshly, returned by Eylinn's long warm smile.
"Aye, it is so. We were on our way to the capital, when we feared to have lost our bearing. We've been riding for days, seemingly in circles! Hungry and thirsty..." The old man came trotting down from his work and wiped his ashed hands with another cloth. He looked at us both and gave away a wide toothless grin. By the Gods what a smile.
"Livia, don't be rude to them strangers. We've enough to fill two bellies and throats!" Eylinn bit her lower lip.
"We will not leave you empty handed. Our purse is not scarse, and we will do right by our intrusion." The man waved dismissively, while his wife as it seemed, rolled her eyes as she wobbled inside the house to prepare some tea. Making me stand there just looking at my mother while waiting for someone to say something.
The thin haired old man made a courteous nod as Eylinn dismounted her horse, peeling his eyes at the sight of her short size. "Such fancy silks and no carriage? Merchants? Traders?" He chuckled grimly. "Betrothed?" Mother giggled as her cheeks turned crimson. You got to be kidding me.
"Siblings. Isn't that right, brother?" She leaned in closer to the old man. "Forgive him his silence... It's rather me that speak too much, than him being in lack of care or initiative. Our mother calls me a hopeless case." The man laughed hoarsely as he licked at his bruised, ulcered lips.
"My condolences my good man. You'll have no easy way to marry her away! Indeed, my wife is the same, and that dreadful sow's been tearing my ears for a good fourty years." Alright I will give you that old man, that made me smile. Eylinn blushed and fell her eyes, a bit flustered, playing well at her role that she so picked.

I chuckled "I shall remember to hide away her worse qualities should our father try to marry her away" I looked at mother "Of course sister, forgive my manners" This feels rather weird to say.

"He fillin' ye ears with smut, or rubbish?" The old crone was carrying a tray of heated water, with simple lemon leaf in a bowl at the side. A few biscuits and some butter were at hand, and the old man muttered grievously as he obediently took a seat at the porch table. Eylinn but chuckled.
"It's too much effort, madame. We wouldn't want to intrude." She sat elegantly down on a chair.

"Thank you" I said as I smiled to the old woman before sitting down as I looked curiously at the surrounding "Do you live here alone? If you don’t mind me asking" but as I looked around I got the feeling that I already knew the answer to the question, no children around, nothing here that reminded me of children.

The old man took some tea beneath his blistered mouth and slurped at it carefully. "Aye. For fifteen years, my lord. Our two boys died in the war, and our daughters..." The old woman shook her head. Yes, I felt that was going to be this answer
"You be careful around that city, is my only word. They said that bloody civil war would come. 'We'll be safer in Azeratii, mama! There's both work and high walls!' Took them only a few days to be robbed, blunted, slaughtered like little lambs..." She took a long sigh, taking a long and large chunk of the biscuits she had brought. My mother was touching neither of their offerings.
"Couldn't blame them for trying." The old man said. "You know how it is. Barely a grain left in the barn once the bailiff claims the just fathom for the army. 'Want the king's boys to march hungry? Everyone need to pull their weight.' But barely enough to feed our own, or sell to pay even for common milk." He darted his fist in the table. What are you talking about, the bailiff is order to take only what is needed for taxes, nothing more "Blasted Orcs and their witch wives..." What. The old crone took to raise her finger in warning towards her husband.
"Mind yer tongue, you old, clotted root. These poor travelers aren't interested in yer rants!"

I bit my lower lib and I truly felt sorry for what had happened to them and their family but it is a rare thing for that to happen to the daughters, but the sons died in a war, it is what soldiers do. "I am truly sorry for what happened to your daughters" I looked at the man "Orcs and witch wives?" I asked confused "The nobility are humans, the Orcs are not that common in this land, surely you cannot blame them for what has happened in this land" I know that you mean my father, but with the feudalism that my mother so seems to love ruling in this land, it is unlikely that it is my father himself who is deciding what is being done here, and not some minor lord.

The old man spat a hard grain from the biscuit on the ground.
"There's plenty of 'em on the throne. No need for them to pillage in the countryside. Perhaps it matters not. It's always the same shit smearing down the palace walls." Perhaps if you weren’t such a mad old man yourself, you would see that is not always the case. The old woman rolled her eyes, while Eylinn rolled her thumbs, staring attentively down the table in silence. "Whatever business you have in that rotten city, good sir, mark my words. Get out there quickly, before it's either that raiding whoreson of a king that steals your purse, or the bandits in the marketplace. Light knows who'll find you first." You surely cannot blame the king for what has happened here, he didn’t kill your daughters or your sons.

I got an angry look in my eyes and I don’t believe what he is saying “The King wouldn’t steal your money and there are guards in the marketplace to protect the people against bandits” I shook my head “The King isn’t perfect but those palace walls also keep us all safe, control and provide defense against these bandits that you speak of, without that protection then the bandits would rule the city”

The old man scoffed jolly, taking another hard biscuit while suckling its fine grains in his mouth. "Poor boy, look at us. We've to burn down these patch of trees to make room for more farmland to keep up with the taxes, to prepare for the next war, to soothe his blasted bailiffs and soothe his family's never ending needs. A rape child with that slaver woman, and two bastards with a bloody Elf." What did you just say? He shoved down his crude ceramic cup into the table with an angry blow. "But at least they'll only come for grain and gold now! No more sons do I have to send, and it'll only be this old worn out ewe and her goat that'll starve when his army goes to pillage and whore!" The old crone's eyes went wide as she looked at her husband, yet mother did not even move. She remained silent, dutifully so, in her chair.

"A rape child and two bastards with an Elf" I could feel the anger inside of myself at his comment, who gave him the right, we didn’t insult him and his, but after a bit of time as I processed the words he said I started to became confused "But the taxes haven’t been increased in quite some years now, if you are being asked to give more then surely it’s not the fault of the King, bring a partition to him, ask him why you have to pay more money for they do not go to taxes" I look quickly at my mother, wondering why she is just sitting there, are you not going to utter a word, simply sit there and take it? before looking back at the man "I am truly sorry for your loss, but everyone partakes in the running of the kingdom and everyone has felt the loss of a love one, a loss is a part of life, no one is to blame alone for what has happened here" It is not just my father’s fault for what has happened.

The old man scoffed. "We lost our daughters for the sake of that Orc to exercise his will and whim! You measure my loss with the ones leading by milk and honey behind sheltered stones?" He hovered over the table to study me thoroughly. "Do you not know that the bailiff takes his due? What are you? Merchants? You speak so well of so little you know, as if you knew that place better than I who lives practically under the shadow of its walls. Didn't you say you lived far from here?" The old woman crossed her arms and stared down the old man.
"Argus, enough! You've been fondlin' the ale beneath the barn?" He looked up at her with a downtrodden grin.
"It's my ale as much as yours! I'm only speaking politics with this fine gentleman here, no reason to be absurd with either of us."

I looked at the old woman with a smile before returning to the man with continued annoyance in my voice, I was getting annoyed that he didn’t listen or understand that the King was not to blame “The bailiff is paid by the crown, he should not taking any dues and if he was to take any dues they were not to be decided by him but by the crown” I took a breath “I have walked the streets of Azeratii plenty of times, I know how it looks and how it is, I know the stones that fill the walls and the people who walk them. You cannot blame the King for the loss of your daughters, he had no part in that and had he known then then the guilty would have been punished for the crimes that they did, the King doesn’t exercise his will by killing children, and he is as much human as the rest of us” I could feel my anger increasing as we I spoke the last two lines, they made me mad and annoyed, and it angered me further that I had a hard time keeping in control of my anger, that it made me so bad. And at the same time it made me and proud of myself that despite this I was still talking to him, not wanting to hit the living shit out of him.

The old couple studied me for a while in silence, before breaking out in laughter. "What rock have you visited? Not the one you speak of I'm sure. Some old quarry perhaps with some majestic silhouettes?" The old man knocked at his table, suddenly flinging as he grabbed a hand at his back. "Trust me, boy. That place of which you speak do not exist. The bailiff take what he wants, and the king care not as long as his gold come just in turn. For the bailiff need to pay another, who pays another, who pays another. It's how it has always been. Them guards aren't there for us. They're there to protect the gold and wares, not us common folk. It was better in the days when he'd just leave us alone, and kept his black blood to himself." He stood and pointed out towards the road. "You're on the right path, I am sure. Take a left and continue east, then by the second turn you take a right to find the city." The old woman chuckled merrily. But I was rather angry at how this conversation turned out.
"Come now, you old skunk. I am sure they know the road well enough, the way he speak of that city. No doubt were they only eager to settle their throat and have a quick snack." Eylinn rose and curtsied deep.
"We will well pay our dues, I can assure... We didn't ever intend to abuse your generous hospitality." The old man gave her a benign smile, as he cackled under his breath.
"No need to haggle over biscuits and tea. It's always a small price for a few attentive ears from travelers, as long they don't come too often and many! But now we must return to our work, I'm afraid. That blasted wheat ain't going to grow by itself." The old crone were starting to clean off the table, as mother turned to me, and nodded towards the horses. I have had enough of it already, an old man with no one else to blame but my father for where he currently is, my father didn’t kill his daughters, it wasn’t just his sons who died during the war, had they not given their lives then so many more would have died.

I went outside and mounted my house and started to ride up, as I did then mother mounted her horse as well and rode up beside me. "They've had it hard. You should have heard what they talk of me just a few farms down, or in the Chasm outlet." You are so disliked amongst the commoners are so is my sister, what have you possibly done to them, at least I understand why father is disliked. I don’t understand what you have done to make them hate you so, why they blame you? All of these thoughts ran across my mind, but yet I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

I stopped my horse "You let him speak like that about father" I looked at my mother in anger, angry at her bringing me to such a farm, with old people who wishes nothing more than to blame others for their trouble, for you letting them speak about my father that way, my sisters "About my sisters!" I shook my head, I wonder, do you always let the people backtalk you, father, my sisters like that not to offend them? Do you simply let them insult our family, but still "They have it hard, but they can’t see past themselves, blames father for things that he doesn’t know about, for crimes committed by others" Why didn’t you defend anyone?

She leaned over her horse, and sought out my eyes. "You think you'd heard their true thoughts emblazoned in your fine clothes? Dash them with cotton words that won't ever even affect them? They pay for the things you wear, my son. What matters the words of which they have for us in store? Or did you think kingdoms were held up by the commoners love for their rulers? They care for weather, and they care for peace. Not crowns, parades or festivities." They should care for stability, the good of the realm, the commerce and the wealth.

"Do you think they are the only one who sacrifices, the only ones who lets part of themselves go, they live in peace because of my sacrifices and I live my life because of theirs" We all give something, not just them, not just me, not just you.

She frowned. "And what have you sacrificed? What have you left for wanting?" Do you really have no idea that I also give up things for my kingdom.

"Tell me mother, have you ever wanted to pray, have you ever prayed to whatever god, to believe that there is something after this hole that we are stuck in" I looked at her for a moment, it doesn’t matter who I ask, Arckard, Friedrich, Rodney. They all have a place they believe they will go to when they die, somewhere of happiness and rest because they can actually believe "Well I can’t! I can’t pray to anyone, I will rule over a Kingdom with five different religious that are native to this Kingdom, more if you count Elves, Dwarfs, Nords, Hronidens that I rule over. I can’t believe in the gods, I can’t favor any religion over another and I cannot show any faith, I cannot pray, I cannot call out to a god when I am in need! They have somewhere they can go if they pass, I don’t, I just have darkness!" I took a breath to calm myself but my anger increased "What if something happened to me, what if I was to die. Do you think I do not worry about that at all? If I died then what, who would inherit, Anwën? The nobles wouldn’t accept her, she is half an Elf and your daughter, father is already disliked and the chances of Anwën marrying another Elf is stronger than a Human. They would either dethrone father or kill you all together if you didn’t escape. Do you think I don’t have any worries!?" I won’t even know my own wife before my marriage, I will have to marry some person for the good of the realm! A person I don’t care about!

Eylinn chewed at her lower lip as she sat down in her saddle, looking straight forward on the road. "Son... The Creator care not for what you pray... He'll listen, and always will, and for all else..." She smiled at me. You and that damned creator, a person you speak about, that others speak about, if he is real and if he is as you say then why do we have five religions in this Kingdom "You have us. We can worry for your sisters together." She laid her hands upon her belly. "And for whomever is waiting to come next." What are you implying?

I shook my head "It may not seem a lot to you, but it does to me, to fear that one day I will just be in darkness, no light, no air, just darkness" I looked at her "Is someone waiting to come?" or are you just hoping?

She smiled warmly, a most serene wide of her lips to radiate upon her face. "The Creator have chosen to bless you with another sibling, my son." Is it wrong that I hope to that creator you seem to hold dear, that it is not another sister.

I returned her smile "Congratulations, mother" And yet wasn't I truly happy about it, or would it simply cause more issues, we both know how dangerous childbirth can be.

She took a deep breath. "Perhaps it can ease both your concerns. Fear not the darkness, my son, for that the Light will always illuminate. And with a brother, you may find soon your worries of state at ease." Perhaps it can, but a part of me fears that won’t be so, even if it is a son then I fear that what has haunted Anwën and Narien will also haunt him, to be half Elf, more Elf than human, it will come to haunt him.

But still "Let’s hope" I said with a smile, no need to worry for the worst "Mother I have been thinking of traveling away for some time" And after tonight I fear that my mind has been fully made up, to see the world, to see how others live and how to improve this kingdom.

She raised her eyebrows. "You going back to the Wilder lands?" I guess.

"Hroniden, Highathar, the Wildlands and the border to the Light Basin, Galadriel, Norseland" I looked around "Experience the world, its pleasures, its trouble, learn new knowledge, explore the land" But also find ways to improve what we have.

She gave him a grim look of worry. "How long will you be gone?" I haven’t really though much about that.

I took a pause "I don’t know, a year, a year and half, maybe more" Depends on how quickly I find out about what I want.

She made a feigned pout. "And leave your poor mother to worry at home, when her dearest son himself claimed possessing that very same troubled mind?" Yes, I want to find ways to improve these people lives, no matter what they might have said, who they might blame, they didn’t deserve this to happen to them.

"Do not fret mother" I said with a smile "I will see the world which we live in, see how different Kingdom works, have fun and enjoy myself, it might even help on some of the troubles. I can send letters hope and do not worry, I will pass the Green Chasm eventually, so if you are there we will see each other" I do hope that you do not force me to send letters as I fear much of what I will do will be the same, either searching or examining the finds of the search.

She nodded, yet the doubt and fear would not simply leave her eyes, as she passed on to ride in silence with me back towards Azeratii. Making it clear to me that thought she would not directly tell me not to go, it made no difference in my mind that she wanted me to stay. She wanted me to stay but I wondered why, after all then Anwën had been away for months in Galadriel, I know that she will one day rule there, but still. And yet a part of me still wondered, was it because of me wanting to leave that still left her worried or was it merely because of me. I know the reason now that she wanted to talk to me, it was to show me her way, to prove that her way was the best but was it? It had shown me peasants who had lost everything, is that truly the best way there is to rule. Was that perhaps your true goal behind this, making me doubt everything around me, my father’s rule, the peasants life, the way of the world, or was it perhaps just you wishing me to be more like yourself, I can’t make sense of it all.

Bard’s tale
The Queen takes Prince Varian for a ride in the forest, presents him to a farmer and his wife and their life, seemingly in hopes of influencing the young Prince.

Jako473 · Jun 26, 2014

An Evening at an Inn

The courier had brought message to Aeron in the early hours of the day, the dew still lying thick upon the long lush grass. The carnival was being deconstructed, its tents raised and the cheery musicians were packing their luggage to return to the same old life as before. The message brought word to meet the Therain Queen up west on the river side, not east like told once before.

"You cannot come!" "Oh please! I want to see the queen!" "No, you'll ruin everything!" "Come on Aeron it's not like you had a chance anyways, and where am I 'possed to go without you?" the boy frowned and him and Aeron bit his lip, until finally relenting "Fine. But stay out of sight! And only talk to her when she talks to you." the boy nodded and then they helped Aeron assemble his gear, eventually riding out to the west river bank in haste, he did not want her to wait for him

Eylinn sat upon her horse, dressed in a simple field dress of green, with her daughter riding close behind. The steward sat mounted next to Eylinn's side, speaking low and whispering about what was bound to be courtly affairs. She chewed at her lip before he even managed to end his sentence, when she discovered Aeron and his squire approaching, and turned her attention to them instead.

"Milord, it gladdens me you made it here so swiftly. I hope my message didn't reach you at an inconvenient time?"

He blinks at Anwën and nods at Eylinn, smiling "Never, even if it did, nothing in this world could stop me from your call. Forgive me for asking, but wasn't the princess bound northward? The journey is a dangerous one, my queen.."

Anwën smiled cautiously in return, shuffling slightly at her side saddle but stayed her tongue. Eylinn raised an eyebrow. "Danger? In my own Chasm? What side of the new age are you living in, Ser knight? There's barely resources to sustain Elves, less so predators or bandits or their likes."

He blinked, shocking images flashing through his memory.. terrible, terrible images "M-Your grace..." he stuttered, but quickly recovered "In the Outer Chasm, My Lady, there are creatures and things of darkness you would have never believed. I did not know how far we are traveling.. And please, you may call me by my name."

Eylinn shook her head. "You needn't worry. We're going westward, not east, far away from the Outer Chasm or its mouth. I know I fooled you, and I hope you take no ill with me for doing so. Will you still come, or does it clash and you'd rather leave?"

He tilted his head, was she trying to rid of him? No, never, besides.. He would not abandon her now. "My queen, I would ask but that you stopped trying to rid of me." he laughed and rode close, narquin staring at the princess, frowning "Of course I will stay, but why did you do such a thing?"

Anwën looked confusingly at Narquin, and snapped at her gloves as she skittered away on her horse ahead. Eylinn reined at her horse to urge it forward, a careful smile spreading upon her lips. "Come. Let me show what is the Deep Chasm, milord."

Narquin blushed before looking at the ground and following Aeron, who rode up beside her "I must admit, I have never traveled throughout Galadriel.. How did you know?"

"The way you speak, the way you walk, the words you say. Not very much liking that of a Deep Elf if I may be so bold." A mischievous grin spread upon Eylinn's face. "It's almost as if you weren't from the Chasm at all. In equal remark, I can't say for sure how life in the Outer Chasm stand either. The Three Day law makes it hard to possibly visit. It's hard to make it to its center before the time has already past."

He got red and laughed, scratching his neck "I spent most of my time on this earth with my father... He was an elf of coal, a wealthy merchant if I remember correctly.. he gave all that up to serve in the army.. Oh I am sure you would enjoy it, we have built so many alcoves and safe-towns, that it almost seems like a population of fortress-dwellers! Ha!" he laughed, remembering the outpost he visits everyday, several safe-houses and protected campsites.. His home, and he wouldn't give it for anything.

They came upon a bridge that was leading them over the river to the other side, the grass growing more scarce, and the cliffs coming sharper. Eylinn chuckled in league. "Are you saying you're turning our people into Men? A castle, a fortress, and watch-keep on every plot of land? Perhaps I should have to inspect it rather soon, see what in the world went wrong."

"Well, there are a lot more fortified towns then before, but for a good reason my queen!" he cleared his throat "Many Earthen Wyrms were spotted, and if those long-ago creatures.. Monsters have been terrorizing the civilians, what next may come out of the dark of the forest? My father has rangers and knights alike scouring the forest as we speak, searching for their dens.. and their eggs. He was so sure they would be successful, even let his head ranger go and speak with the queen.."

Eylinn clasped her chin, deep in thought. "Remnants of the Dark One's influence, perhaps? It used to be such a serene place... But what dark vortex must have hurled upon your homeland I wonder? I've never seen, nor sensed, any such thing before." She stretched back her head and made a long sigh. "Never will its claws recede, truly, from our world... Never can we be offered any such respite." She gazed over at Aeron from the corner of her eye, her bang bouncing in an even pace revealing her deep blue iris. "Tell me, is that why you've come? To ask for men on behalf of your father for these ravenous fiends?"

he stared at her beauty, his eyes widening, before shaking his head and blinking "Oh, uhm.. no! My father is a very stubborn man, your grace... I shouldn't have even told you.. We do not require an army, even then, more numbers mean more destruction, the rangers we have now are the most experienced with these creatures." he grasped her hand "I. will. defeat. them."

Eylinn was seemingly taken by surprise, turning her head as the curls of her ivory white hair fell down against her shoulder. "A vassal not coming to claim their right to extort me for blessings and rewards? Milord, I stand agasp, baffled, to be sure." She nodded forwards down the chasm's immense walls at a little cottage with a homey pillar of smoke retreating from its chimney. "Lunch?"

He smiled, looking into her eyes "Well, I am not like most vassals." he touched her hand for a moment longer, before getting too anxious and taking his hand away, steering his horse only a few inches away.. but to him, it felt like miles, looking towards the cottage he observed the shabby thing.. He supposed it would make due.. "Aye, I would enjoy a bite. Your messenger took me by surprise, so I didn't have much time too cook anything."

Eylinn's ears turned into a pinkish hot red, as she turned her head to look determinedly at the inn further down the road. "We've a long way to travel. Eat plenty, but not too long." *The inn was plain, invting wanderers with its dirt road and a worn old oaken sign only. The "Lonely Leaf" was its name, and from inside came the musty starch smell of roasted boar in a berry sauce.

"Ser, are you saying I may eat ANYTHING I wish?" Narquin looked up to him, and Aeron smirked, nodding as they walked in as he tied their horses. How the boy wished to eat.. He almost wondered how he wasn't an oaf, like his friend Terrance. "Aye, you may." He observed their surroundings, looking for any tells of being followed, but his eyes picked up on a fare maiden.. So sweet, so innocent, he shaked his head. Why must he always be fooled so easily by looks alone? However, they had not spoken yet.. Thinking of his flower, he walked over to the princess, and offered her a hand of help to get off her horse "I'm afraid we haven't greeted each other." he smiled "That just will not do."

Anwën gave him a soft smile, and took his hand gently in hers. "Ser Aeron, you are too kind." She clenched her dress and carefully tread down from her saddle. "Not only a knight's courage, but also its chivalry in you I will find?"

"My lady, there was never a knight as true as me." he snickered and held her arm, once he started, he always knew what to say.. "You will find many things in me, if you wish to know. Perhaps, however, what is the beautiful Princess Anwën doing on a routine coal-mine trip?"

5Her cheeks took a deep crimson, as she chuckled nervously behind her courteous facade. "My Lord, it is within my duties as heir to know the lay of the land. From every patch of green, to every grain of sand. Forgive me if I ask in return, what order of affairs you currently have?"

"To this mission? I shall serve as your mother's guard, who blushes the same way you do." he laughed as he teased her, opening the door for her as they closed in on the inn. "At home, I am the head ranger, and Commander of the Order of Irius, our little band of knights.. You must come to the outer chasm one day, my lady.. It is truly amazing." He thought of the Princess seeing him in all his glory, perhaps he could put on a bit of a show.. Ideas sprung in his head as he waited for a response, excited, but using all his strength to hide it behind his cool attitude.

"Perhaps I shall be so inclined. It wasn't that many years far that I spent hunting with my siblings as a child." Eylinn had jumped off her horse and made her way inside, currently standing to ease the tense innkeeper from the startled realization that his Mistress had arrived to his humble establishment. She held his hands soft and endearingly, reassuring him there was no cause for trouble or circumstance, and that all food would be paid with just due as was expected from any other guest passing through. Anwën leaned closer to Aeron's ear, and whispered low. "It's always like this when we travel through the Chasm, My Lord. They get confused whether the choice to pay their lord or lady is whenever they arrive, or if they only choose to pay at the end of the moon's shade. Was it the same for you travelling out of your father's lands?"

He stood a stone statue, unable to speak or even breathe, she was.. whispering in his ear.. he could feel her sweet breath against her skin.. He reviled in the feel, before a minute passing and narquin starting to making kissing-faces at them, Aeron turned them too look somewhere else nonchalantly, cursing the boy under his breath. "I... I was too shy to go into an inn... We camped on the ground, and I killed every animal I ate.."

Anwën chuckled. "Ser knight, in the night, he claimed his breakfast prey. A dragon's meal befall the careless hunter, or so they say." She responded whimsically, in her poetic high soaring dreamy voice.

He raised his eyebrow at her, as he laughed and smirked, a hidden secret he had uncovered, he thought? Or perhaps she always spoke like this, and he had just not realized.. "Who knew a poet and a beauty? There never was a princess more perfect."

Anwën giggled, and looked over at a table by their side, still of the appearance of being remotely clean. "I do try, My Lord. But words do not fill stomachs often."

Eylinn presented the very same table to her daughter and their guest knight and squire. "Yet true words have known to settle hunger of the mind. Please, feel free to sit, milord. For you, and your squire, nothing on the menu will be withheld." Eylinn gave the young Narquin a warm smile.

Narquin clasped his fist together, pleased with himself as he proudly ordered everything.. He fooled Aeron, who often makes him read the menu. He didn't like reading. Aeron on the other hand ordered a simple stew, and sat with eylinn on his right, with Anwën in front of him, making him blush and look down. He shouldn't think this way, he thought. A princess would never touch him, He contemplated leaving now, to shed himself of any further embarrassment.. But what knight would he have been then? He should keep his oaths.. but did he ever swear not to dream from afar? He did not.. He shouldn't restrict himself just because of his status, or should he? Oh by the light, he thought, why must he be tormented so?

Eylinn took a healthy nibble from the roasted boar that was served, drenched in its almond sauce as she gently lifted her cup to offer Aeron a polite greeting and toast. "To your order, Ser. May it serve all Elves for long and prosperous."

He blinked and tilted his head at her, his face firm, but he realized what was happening and came out of his daze. He smiled slightly and lifted his cup "I thank you, your grace." He observed her for a minute before looking back at his stew

She took and sip and studied him intently, suspiciously and near careful as to weigh her words upon her tongue. She looked over at the Steward who had occupied a different table. "Light knows we will sorely need it these days..." With a solemn sigh she continued to cut at her meat, whilst Anwën reluctantly was tracing her fork around the finish on her plate, seeming rather reluctant to partake in the rather spartan meal.

He blinked as Eylinn spoke, about to open his mouth and ask what she was speaking off... She hadn't worry, she was off in Azeratii, surely the realm couldn't have been as the outer chasm, but just as he was to speak he noticed Anwën, and her face entirely broke his concentration. Just like the knight, to get carried from important duties to rather focus on an girl in distress "My princess.. Is something amiss?" he leaned forward, but steadied himself, close enough for it to be noticeable, but not too close..

"I am trying to determine whether this roast is not still alive..." She said skeptically, drawing Eylinn to offer her a grim look.

"Do not mock the gifts you've been given. Some would be happy at being fed a meal every day." Anwën looked sour back at her mother, turning her head away as she rested her chin in her palm with an irate expression upon her brow. Eylinn rolled her eyes as she dug into her plate. "It is no feeble thing, milord. Even this many years since the Dark One's fall, the ripples of his desolation lingers to haunt us even today. Refugees arrive in varied amount in varied streams from what was once the Golden City, what was once Hroniden, Highathar and Ecclestius. Aye, even from the very outs of the woods, and this when times were hard to feed the people we even had. In the Wheat Glade and the Northern Chasm, pressure is kept upon Luríen to settle their state. All that remains is the West..." She swallowed heavy a large chunk of meat. "But there's a reason we never settled west."

he tried to cheer up Anwën by showing her him eating a mouthful of stew, before swallowing and tapping his fingers on the table Well... Mistre- I mean, your grace, what do you mean the reason you never settled the west? I have never even gone this far out of the outer chasm, but, it must not be that bad?" he turned to her, raising an eyebrow, a sorrowful speech, he thought, she always seemed to have something waying on her mind. He wished he could relieve it, but he knew it was probably out of his capabilities. "You seem very distressed. Where was the benevolent queen I saw earlier?"

She drummed her fingers against the table, a rather dreary look upon her face. "Life in the Chasm has always been about balance, and we've never had much to spare when the year turned around. It's how it's always been, how we always wanted it. The balance of life, one traded for the other. Still, peaceful, content. The guilds could process their trade to just settle demand, and hunting was enough to feed our people. But now... My vassals need more to cater for the new Elves that have arrived, and if life just meant meeting ends meet in the east, the west is even more scarce... Merchants, traders, new barons have been appointed to oversee the new inhabitants. New lands irrigated, and the canals have exploded and dug into a fine threaded system of contention, tariffs..." Eylinn took another sip from her cup. "You must have seen the many factions already deep in gathering at the festival, standing close, whispering... They believe land means bountiful, when room is getting scarce. But moving them west mean only one thing. More strife, more burdens, more hostility and schemes... Life is quickly changing for us all." Eylinn put the cup down and was glowering over at her daughter. "You'd kill to eat food like this if you'd live in the west, that I can assure..." Anwën's cheeks were growing red hot at her mothers words, seemingly mixed with frustration and shame.

Aeron sit silent as she spoke, biting his cheek "Now, you see that as a bad thing, Your Grace, however.. Wasn't the re-settlement our goal? Sure, the barons and the traders may own the land.. but that is just the way of life, it will all settle out I am sure. Why act so pessimistic, if I may be so bold.. I may not know the task of leading a realm, but the Chasm cannot be in such a state that you are saying we are being led into a era of strife?" He did not know much of politics, or of handling refugees.. He let his father handle that, but he did know that anything could be prevented, if you believed and worked hard.

Eylinn rubbed at her temples. "It's uncertainty I do not much care for, milord. What could come, what will come, what will not? Greed, despair, both may turn us most unelven like..."

he smirked and let out a hand for her to stabilize herself on "You need to worry less, My Queen, especially infront of the fair princess. She need not hear these things, when they are just thoughts, I am sure.. No, I promise that the chasm shall be safe." he let another re-assuring smile slip "Perhaps we should focus on the task at hand, rather then all these illogical musings over what will happen and what won't happen?"

"How ironic, you ask, Ser Knight." Eylinn gave Anwën a sorrowful look. "It's for her we are travelling to the west." Anwën's face was now bright red, as she beat her hands into the table, and dashed out the door.

his eyes went wide as narquin looked at her as she left, confused for having not heard the conversation, Aeron looked over at her "By what do you mean by that? should I go and relax her? She seemed quite mad. why would you do that?" He reflected on the many times he had left his father in a flury of rage.. But he was younger then, he wondered how old Anwën was.. Not quite younger then him, he hoped.. But he could at least relate, he thought.

Eylinn swallowed hard. "Old curses, milord. There is someone that moved into the deepest chasm." She shrugged her shoulders. "I wouldn't disturb her with it."

"that isn't quite an answer, your grace. What does this someone have to do with the Princess?" He was never quite told what something was or what they were doing.. He always learned after the fact, which, he quite despised truth be told.

Eylinn narrowed her eyes. "Are you really only here to escort and serve, milord? Whatever your angle, it is not for me to tell. Ask her yourself if you're that bold..." Eylinn laid down the coins for the meal prematurely, leaving half her plate uneaten. "We'll spend the night here. I await message from Luríen, and I hope it isn't too inconvenient."

"I may be a steel Statue to you, however, I still have feelings." he stood, and walked out, preferring to speak to her later rather then sooner.. It is not wise to upset and queen, and he also did not know what was happening, but damn the skies if he wasn't going to find out. He stepped out of the door, turning his head to look for the girl

Eylinn frowned as he closed the door. Anwën was standing by the pile of firewood outside the stables, her arms crossed, and her back against the door.

he gulped and wondered how he would approach her... breathing heavily before putting on a worried face "Princess..." he kneeled, showing his respect "May I enter your presence?" He did not know how to handle an angry teenage girl, but he would at least try..

She turned her head around, and gave him a short mirthless chuckle. "By all means, gallant knight. Bask me in your shining person, and light up the night."

He stood and saw the lily he gave her still in her hair, giving him courage "Princess, why do you care about the Western Chasm? I would like answers, if I would be following you on this journey.." he stood close to her, giving her a re-assuring smile"You can trust me." He had hoped she would.. She probably saw knights ten times as good as him on her travels, but he had hoped he would prove to be enough.

Her mood came gloomy, as she looked down upon her hands, carefully piling at her finger nails. "Believe me, Ser, you do not wish to further inquire." *She weighed her head to the side. "Instead let us talk about your squire. It's rare enough to see an Elven knight, but to have a boy to dress him in his armour? You're an original it seems of every shape and form?"

He frowned, she proved to be of the stubborn sort, but accepted it. Best not to displease a princess, his hands taking hers so she wouldn't damage her nails as He laughed at her question "Oh Narquin.. an Odd little boy.. He swears he'll beat me, one day, and I might just believe him if he ever starts to remember to feed the horses..." he laugh* "I bet he is bringing your mother to the brink right now with his endless lies and boast." He blinked, as he realized what had happened "Was that a compliment you were venturing under my noes, princess?" he blushed, and laughed excitingly

Anwën giggled sweetly, wiping a lock from over her face. "It's only to answer in kind for your many kind words, My Lord. Perhaps it'll leave you standing in a daze, for me to use you under my amazing whim!" She looked at him with a mischievous smile. "A young lady's only perk, in the company of such strong brawny men. With wits and swift humor! Worth twice the amount of any steel in land."

He actually stood in a daze, her flirting with him so blatantly, he blushed and looked away, trying to keep down his smile "My Princess, I am but your guardian, you hardly need to impress or even speak to me.." he squealed silently in himself, exhilarated. This was all moving so fast, he had never expected this to happen in a million years.

She sighed and lent back against the logs, looking up towards the sky where the sun were slowly taking to set. "If that is what you wish. I was sure you only wanted to head back east anyway. What changed your mind from the dizzy and lost soul we saw in the tent that other day?"

2He blinked as her attitude changed, he was about to take back his words before he frowned, and accepted his new fate.. What was he, to think he deserved even a little happiness? "I.. Well, I was just over-whelmed, I had not seen such festivities.. Well.. Ever, actually. And I always love a good quest, do your folk not accept a Maiden's call to arms? A Princess as fair as you, I'm sure you could get an army at your back if you chose."

Anwën's cheeks were recoloured, and she gave him a most heart warming smile. "Then perhaps it is time I finally gave you the gratitude you deserves." She nodded and offered a deep curtsy. "Thank you, Ser Knight."

He blinked, and smiled as she curtsied "My Princess, my name is Aeron, and for you to use it, just once.. Well, I think my life would be complete." he laughed and smirked "I hardly deserve gratitude for saying facts."

She laughed as well "Well, who am I to offer the small comforts of life to such self sacrificing soul..." She laid a hand upon her chest and closed her eyes. "...Aeron. Your facts shall remain to strengthen us both in this noble quest."

he blushed at her words and bowed "It is my pleasure, and my honour, my princess. However, does checking on the production of mine's truly count as a noble quest?" he laughed, he had seen mines in his day, and he would hardly call them anything but boring.

She tapped her chin. "It is for many a Dwarf, then why not Elf? I dare say, whatever gold is good for them, is good for any one self."

"I suppose. If all goes well, perhaps we could go on another adventure together as well? I mean, your mother doesn't have to watch over you for your entire stay..." he smiled "But I'm not suggesting anything."

She turned her head to the other side, her eyes widening in excitement. "To find the dragon's den? Or chase the pirates over frozen seas? Perhaps we'll be bandits, and force a rampaging wraith to its knees!"

He caressed her cheek, leaning forward "wherever you wish to go, anywhere in the entire world, and I will take you there." He was quite surprised to hear her say those things, he had dreamed of the same when he was younger.. And how he wished to be known now, for an spectacular quest.. With a princess at his side, who wouldn't know his name?

She straightened her back, slightly, looking from the left and right. "My Lord... So fast... So sudden and in the open here? If you care for my virtue..." She looked down upon her feet. "Or my mother's wrath..."

"Oh.. Ah.. I did not mean to advance on you.. If I were too, it would be far more romantic then by a traveler's hut right outside an shoddy inn.." he tries to awkwardly laugh it off and lean against the wall

2She giggled, and raised her hand for him to take. "Only a quick peck, and no one will bat an eye."

He looked upon her hand and bit his lip, his mind a blank as he closed his eyes from what was to come next.. He kissed her hand softly, taking it in his hands, but suddenly, his head moved swiftly to hers, stealing a kiss with his lips as his hand kept their heads close together.

Her eyes darted up and she chuckled while her face turned red. She moved her head to the side, as she combed her hair nervously with her hand. "Well... I expect you fight with twice the ferocity, after such a brute and blatant theft!"

He smiled and closed his eyes as he moved his head away from hers, before he smirks "Well.. I have no remorse for my enemies, but you were asking for it.. Tell me you didn't enjoy it, and I'll leave now." he looked upon her with a curiosity

She rolled her eyes, and lent against the fence once more. "That is hardly fair. First strike me down, then to ask me beg for mercy, by praising my better in his underhanded victory?" She laughed. "Fine, and well, it wasn't horrible at all."

"The victor may always bring down conditions upon the loser! You're lucky they weren't more harsh." he snickered "It was hardly all that bad for me as well."

She gasped "That was a modest compliment for a man who went through such great risks to take his prize! Very well." She brushed at her dress. "Shall we move inside?"

"Well, I cannot let you get too happy with yourself, how then would you ever look at me rather then a mask that shouts out praise?" he held out his arm for her to grab "After you." His mind was ablaze, had he really done that? Where was the guillotine? Would he live to tell the tale of kissing the fairest princess he had ever seen? She reached her arm around his, and followed him to be led inside, her sweet scent of lavender and rose filling his nose.

he walked forward, restricting himself from pushing her on the ground and fill her with passion.. a simply fantasy, he thought to himself, as he opened the door for her "Narquin? Where are you?"

The boy sprang from under a table, and tackled aeron, flinging him from Anwën's grasp, attacking him as aeron immediately started wrestling with him "Get off..!"

Anwën couldn't help but stop laughing, as she ended her squeal. Eylinn sat by the side, deep in discussion with her steward.

aeron stuck his arm under his chin until narquin cried uncle, letting him go aeron stood, winking at Anwen, bowing as he walked through to his room, fixing his tunic in a hurry. Tonight, he would have the best of dreams he thought, in love with a Princess he mused.. Maybe he was indeed a hero of legend?

jeeshadow · Jul 1, 2014

Late the 14th past the end of Golden City

It was about evening when the carriage pulled up to the Palace in Azeratii. Taria was initially taken aback by the Palace. While it was grand, it was very different from the Senate Chambers, or the Auspex Palace back in Pinaria. As the carriage pulled to a spot, several people exited the Palace to greet the carriage.

As they existed, a duke came out to greet them, bowing before them as he spoke “Honored delegation, allow me to formally welcome you to Azeratii on behalf of His Majesty, King Ares I”

The leader of the delegation bowed, “On behalf of the Auspex, and the Senate, I humbly accept your welcome. Let me introduce myself, I am Alexerdian Servoratius,” he bows, then gestures to Taria, a short teenage girl, with long blond hair tucked into a bun, and blue eyes, “and this is the lovely daughter of this most Excellent Auspex, Jennasitaria Veserianii.” Taria curtsied, “Thank you for this welcome.”

The Duke nodded “Follow me” He said as he spoke and the guards opened the door into the palace, as they entered they went into a great hall and at the end stood Prince Varian among several other lords to greet them. As they entered the room, trumpets in the background started playing for a short bit before they stopped as they walked.

The entire delegation bowed, and Alexerdian gasps, “Your Highness!” As Taria curtsies, her eyes briefly meet with Varian’s piercing green ones.

Varian looks briefly into her eyes before back at the delegation leader “It is a pleasure to greet you on behalf of The King, we are honored to have you here in Azeratii and delighted that our two sovereign states have taken this step towards diplomacy and mutual friendship”

Alexerdian briefly bowed again, “I thank you Your Highness. It is a great honor to be greeted by you in person. If I may humble myself Your HIghness, it has been a long boat ride, and we are all very tired. May I humbly ask that we be escorted to our rooms?”

Varian nodded “Of course your excellency” Varian turned and the nobles behind moved aside as he started walking next to Alexerdian through the halls “I must admit that I am surprised to hear from the King that you desired to honor us with your presence at such a time as this, but I suppose it is not that strange with trade rising”

Alexerdian nodded, “His most Excellent Auspex was elected on a promise to increase trade with our neighbors, and to seek greater relations with them. He believes the key to Pinaria’s success in this new world is a policy of friendship and trade, not of isolation, or fear.”

Varian smiled to him “We are happy to hear so, we also believe that the future lies in trade, wealth and relations, not simple warfare. Surely a state cannot exist solely on the greed of land which the state coverts, as trade is a major source of income we believe it to be vital for each state and we are happy to encourage the trade between our two nations”

Alexerdian nods again, “Pinaria is small, and does not have the manpower of the larger Kingdoms, like Ecclestius, or Hirondian. We believe our best chance at survival is to make friends with these nations, and make us indispensable to them.”

They walked for a bit more before they reached the rooms, as they did they stood in a hall with open doors into several rooms as well as grooms standing outside. “My Lords, these men will be your grooms for the duration of your stay and will be here to take care of you” As he spoke the grooms bowed “There are plenty of rooms for you all” He turned around to Alexerdian and Jennasitaria Veserianii “Follow me” Before leading Alexerdian to his room and saying an official goodbye before turning to Taria again “Come with me if you please, your room is around the corner.”

Taria makes a brief curtsey before following Varian, “Thank you Your Highness. You are most kind and gracious.”

Varian smiles to her “And you are most beautiful, if you do not mind me asking. What is the official title that I should call you as the daughter of your Auspex,” He asked as he led her into her rooms “Here, I hope that are to your satisfaction” She had gotten the rooms of a high official, plenty of rooms and finely decorated with marble, gold, silk and the like.

As she walked along, Taria stammered, “Th-th-thank you Your Highness. You are most han-handsome yourself. I guess my title would just be My Lady, since I am a noble,” as she saw the rooms, she was very impressed. It was almost like home!

Varian looked at with a nod before looking into her eyes. “I am happy to hear, and I am overjoyed that you have graced Azeratii with your presence, the city is truly more spectacular with you in it”

Taria smiled as she replied, “thank you Your Highness. It is a most wondrous city to be sure, more so as it is yours. It is far grander than Pinarian City, certainly more majestic. It is so large though, how do you keep it all straight?”

“Its easier than you might think, once you have lived here for some time then it becomes natural. Most of the events however happen here at the palace, after our initial talks tomorrow then we have arranged a feast and a ball in the delegations honor that I hope you will attend for”

Taria almost squealed in delight, “A ball and a feast! I do look forward too that. I will of course wear my best dress. Should I wear one I bought, or should I have one made in Azeratii style? Also, I can only hope that you would honor me with a dance!”

Varian chuckled “Of course I would happily dance with you” He looked at her for a moment “Does it matter what dress that you wear, you are going to outshine everyone in the room no matter what you wear”

She smiles, “You flatter me! I am sure there are plenty of women who are more beautiful than I am,” She turns towards her room, “well, it is getting late, and I must study our families finances. Father insisted that I learn them. He believes that all members of our family must know about them. I do so much prefer Pinarian government though, such intrigue and schemes. I am sure with a King, there is not as much intrigue in Azeratii, as everyone knows who will be the next ruler.”

Varian chuckles “I think that you would be surprised, there is not the same intrigue but there is just as much, people trying to gain favor from the King, positions, titles, wealth. All the nobles are fighting among themselves for honor and glory, it is just more stable from the outside and there are certain rules that are followed, but just as many schemes and intrigues”

Taria nods, “All the major families in Pinaria are rich, but we all wish that we were richer, and of course high government position grants you access to the treasury. Regardless, I must study, but before I go, which dress would you prefer, a white one with gold embroidered, or a green one, with red flowers?”

Varian looked at her for a moment “Pick the white one, I have a feeling that you will look like a goddess herself”

Taria blushes, “I am sure you are exaggerating Your Highness, but thank you regardless. I am sure you will look absolutely handsome.”

Varian bows and kisses her hand “Then we shall both outshine them all” He stood up for a moment and looked into her eyes “I wish you a goodnight, if you need anything then you need only ask the grooms and they will be of service” He said with a smile.

Taria stays blushing, “Goodnight Your Highness, I look forward to hopefully speaking with you again tomorrow, and for that dance you promised me.” With that, she steps into her room, making eye contact with Varian one last time as she closes her door. Once it closes, she leans up against it, smiling, remembering how handsome the Prince is. With that, she goes off to her studies.

Pinarian trade delegation arrives, and settles in.

iisbroke · Jul 1, 2014

Marked

Seemed like just a normal day, sunny with partial cloud coverage, and warm with a calm breeze kissing the western horizon. Aelhaearn, my cousin, walked beside me down the hall of the manor. In the corner of my eye though I noticed movement, it was a man wearing studded leather armor, with a hood and mask covering his head. We locked eyes and the man drew out a dagger as he charged forward. Barely managing to deflect his thrusting arm downward I countered with an elbow to the intruder’s face.

“Gaurds!” Aelhaearn yelled as he joined the fray tackling the stranger to the ground.

As this happened another person dressed similarly fell on top of me. We grappled for what felt like ages. “Were are the guards,” I grunted while I tried to roll him off of me. Then the intruder reared up in pain and slumped over with a dagger in his back.

Extending his hand my cousin asked, “you alright Einir?”

“Yes,” I said as he helped me stand up. Where in the world did these two come from I wonder.

“ARGG,” yelled a guard. The clashing of metal against metal came loudly from the other room. There are more of them? Aelhaearn looked at me than and I him, we nodded then rushed into the other room holding our assailants’ weapons.

Guards fought against multiple attackers in the main entry room. The fighting was quick as the guards began being overpowered. My cousin and I charged in and stabbed two unsuspecting assassins freeing a guard to help his comrades. Continuing to capitalize on our surprise joining we did so again and again. The assailants reformed as more guardsmen moved into the room the two parties glared at each other. Then we charged with the intruders fleeing to the eastside of the manor. As they fled into the larder they slammed the door shut leaving a few of their numbers to be cut down. “Break the damn door down.” I barked and a few guards used a bench as a makeshift battering ram.

The bench thudded into the door again and again for a whole minute before it crashed open. As it did a flurry of arrows shot out peppering the guards, and killing two of them. We returned a volley of our own with arrows and throwing axes, before raising shields to move in to the room. Wait there seems to be less here. I looked and saw a dead guard face down in a pool of blood, and an open window. A few of the attackers were climbing out still. “Die!” Aelhaearn shouted hacking an aassasin’s arm off keeping the intruder from escaping.

“Keep them alive,” I said as we surrounded the last couple of foes. Then they threw down their weapons, but both pulled out a strange vial from around their necks. Flicking the corks off they threw back their heads to chug it. Before the men finished their final drinks they fell to the ground.

A guard crept forward and felt underneath their necks. He looked up to say, “they are dead.”

Great now how are we supposed to get information out of them. Looking at the corpses myself I saw a strange symbol that of a dara knot on a ring. In fact upon further inspection all the assassins had the exact same pattern on them. Either as a piece of jewelry, tattoo, stitched onto the clothes, or on the hilt of their daggers. I asked aloud “Were did they come from, and why?” As if there was someone there who could tell me.

An assassin’s mark

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