Post by Jesse on Apr 21, 2007 12:34:04 GMT -5
(It's odd, very odd. And subject to massive changes and/or replacement but it's a start.)
It was a cold spring, even in the castle of the greatest king in the known world. Furs and blankets were piled so high atop the bed that one could barely tell there was a girl under them all, sitting in a pocket of warmth within the bitter cold of the room and the world outside. Softly, barely even within her own hearing, she sang to herself. Nothing in particular and not very well, but she sang, simply to keep the silence of the world at bay.
“My lady! My lady!” The call echoed from outside, shortly after a knock sounded on the thick oak door.
“What does the king demand this time?” She called, getting reluctantly out of the warmth held in her bed and pulling a long, thick robe around her tan shoulders. For a woman of such high rank she looked to have seen her share of work and weather, leaving the normally pale skin of noble ladies tanned and muscles flexing just beneath it’s surface.
“He said that you would ask that.” The messenger called through the door, a new one if he didn’t already know of the ongoing fight, “He also said to reply that he demands nothing, only asks the presence of his daughter-in-law at a meeting, as a representative of her own Duchy.”
“And you may tell him in return that I’m not yet his daughter-in-law and do not intend to be at all, if he still wishes me marry that foul boy he calls son. And second son at that.” She returned through the door. Though even as she protested she moved around the room, getting ready. When the messenger had no reply she spoke again. “Don’t just stand outside my door man, go find my maid. Tell her to hurry and draw me a bath and when you’re done go to the king and tell him that I’ll join him in two hours.”
“The king anticipated that as well,” The man sounded nervous, the lady’s wrath was infamous, “You are to make it one or it’s your marriage next week and no protest will stop it.”
She sighed, “That’s to be expected also, and he can do nothing without protest of my brother. That is a war he will not start, not today at least and for nothing so minor. Don’t sound as though you expect me to kill you for delivering a message man, I’m no witch, not like the ones you hear of at least.” Magic was something the commoners feared more often than not, at least when women had it. That fear could be laid at the feet of the last queen, the current king’s mother, who had ruled for almost fifteen years after the passing of her husband and terrorized the land with her dark magics. “Now, my maid, and tell her to run.”
There was a scraping on the other side of the door as the messenger left to fetch the maid as ordered, leaving the lady in peace for a moment. Shivering she gathered her robe tighter around her shoulders and leaned against her windowsill to look out at the city bellow the castle. Everything was gray, a change from the bright days of early spring only a week ago. But even in the gloom and early hours of the morning the city bustled, vendors in the market setting out their stalls, owners unlocking shops, and the guard changing on the wall surrounding the city opening the gates for the day.
“We haven’t been down to the city in a long time.” She commented as the door creaked open and her maid entered.
“You’ve had no interest since the youngest prince left, lady. Without him to accompany you many things have gone without your attention.” The servant said, moving into the next room and starting the water. That was the one of best things about the castle, running hot water thanks to the Mages and the underground springs.
“Yes, well, he has been my friend for longer than I can remember. One loses interest in things when their chosen company for it is gone.” Moving away from the window the lady entered the side room and began to shed her clothes.
“While that does make sense there have been rumors, you must do something to discourage them if you are to marry his brother.”
“Let the court have it’s rumors, it matters little what they think of me. None of them would dare anger me for fear of my brother, though I doubt he would do much for me at this point.” A faint hiss escaped her as she stepped into the hot water of the bath, a shocking change from the cold of the air.
“Or for fear of your own power.” The maid pointed out, gathering the lady’s clothes off of the floor and exiting the room.
“Idiots.” The lady muttered, her power was nothing but a few simple spells but it still inspired fear among many. “Sarri,” she called to the maid.
“Yes, lady?” The reply was muffled as the maid, Sarri, returned to the room with a pile of clothes in her arms.
“The Prince is coming back today and I have a feeling that I’ll be going into town this afternoon, when you’re done here go down to the stable and tell Allen that he’s to bring Domi in from the pasture so I don’t have to go chasing after him when I want to leave.”
“Of course, do you have anything else for me to do this afternoon?” Sarri held out a towel as the lady stepped out of the bath.
“No, take the rest of the afternoon for yourself. Go see that blacksmith in town if you like.” She smiled when Sarri blushed scarlet. “Hurry now though, I’ve got to be at that meeting.”
‘CAUSE IT’S A LONG TRIP ALONE
With a quick knock on the door the lady hurried into the king’s private library, she always met him there when he called.
“You’re late.” The voice came from behind a high bookcase across the room.
“I said two hours you said one and we’ll both settle for halfway between.” She snapped, very few people would dare to address the king the way she did.
“For once I thought you may have reason to hurry, was my threat not good enough reason to arrive on time?” A tall, commanding man with shoulder length hair more gray than brown came around the corner of the bookcase with a thick novel in hand, snapping it shut as he spotted her.
“You wouldn’t dare marry me to that foul boy, whether it has been arranged since my birth or not.” The lady said, leaning against a plain round table in the center of the room that served as a desk.
“I don’t see why you throw such a fit about the arrangement, Jayden, Nathan is a fine young man, one you should be proud to marry.” The king walked past her toward the door. “Shall we?” He turned at the door and held out his arm for her to take.
“Of course, your majesty. You have yet to inform me of what this meeting is for?” Taking his arm Jayden let him lead her out of the room, deciding to drop the constant battle of her marriage for awhile.
“To meet with the representative of Amrt that has come to inform us of his king’s desire to take back Asal from us. We, of course, will have to refuse as that hold allows us to defend from two of our enemies and that may just start a war. As your brother, Duke of Narit Cove, is absent I wish you to provide an opinion on how this will affect his holdings as the closest to Asal.” The king informed her as they walked swiftly through the castle, heading toward a meeting chamber of the Council of Lords.
“You must know that I can provide no opinion for my brother, our views are far from similar.” Jayden replied, there was no way the king could have missed the falling out between the siblings several years ago. The whole court had known by the next morning and she was sure that as her guardian the king had known long before most.
“Perhaps you cannot, but you can tell me how a war would affect his holdings and how many troops he will be able to supply. Anything further can be asked in two weeks, when he arrives.” As he said that he threw open the doors of the council chamber.
“He’s coming here?!” Jayden demanded, “Why was I not told of this earlier?” she hissed it under her breath and kept a smile on her face as they walked arm in arm towards the head of the table at which many of the council already sat.
“Because I myself did not know until yesterday. It seems his latest crusade has faired well and he returns early while Baron Salnon of Carya Pass finishes hunting down the rebels.” The king told her just as quietly, also smiling at the lords. It wouldn’t do for to of the most powerful people in the country to appear fighting at such an important meeting.
“I would have congratulated the army in person if they managed to kill him.” Jayden muttered as the king pulled out her chair and she sat.
“You shouldn’t be so sour, fight or not he’s still your brother and someday you will value him again.” With that the king turned to address the gathered lords before their guest arrived.
(So, what'd you think. How does it suck and how can I make it better?)
It was a cold spring, even in the castle of the greatest king in the known world. Furs and blankets were piled so high atop the bed that one could barely tell there was a girl under them all, sitting in a pocket of warmth within the bitter cold of the room and the world outside. Softly, barely even within her own hearing, she sang to herself. Nothing in particular and not very well, but she sang, simply to keep the silence of the world at bay.
“My lady! My lady!” The call echoed from outside, shortly after a knock sounded on the thick oak door.
“What does the king demand this time?” She called, getting reluctantly out of the warmth held in her bed and pulling a long, thick robe around her tan shoulders. For a woman of such high rank she looked to have seen her share of work and weather, leaving the normally pale skin of noble ladies tanned and muscles flexing just beneath it’s surface.
“He said that you would ask that.” The messenger called through the door, a new one if he didn’t already know of the ongoing fight, “He also said to reply that he demands nothing, only asks the presence of his daughter-in-law at a meeting, as a representative of her own Duchy.”
“And you may tell him in return that I’m not yet his daughter-in-law and do not intend to be at all, if he still wishes me marry that foul boy he calls son. And second son at that.” She returned through the door. Though even as she protested she moved around the room, getting ready. When the messenger had no reply she spoke again. “Don’t just stand outside my door man, go find my maid. Tell her to hurry and draw me a bath and when you’re done go to the king and tell him that I’ll join him in two hours.”
“The king anticipated that as well,” The man sounded nervous, the lady’s wrath was infamous, “You are to make it one or it’s your marriage next week and no protest will stop it.”
She sighed, “That’s to be expected also, and he can do nothing without protest of my brother. That is a war he will not start, not today at least and for nothing so minor. Don’t sound as though you expect me to kill you for delivering a message man, I’m no witch, not like the ones you hear of at least.” Magic was something the commoners feared more often than not, at least when women had it. That fear could be laid at the feet of the last queen, the current king’s mother, who had ruled for almost fifteen years after the passing of her husband and terrorized the land with her dark magics. “Now, my maid, and tell her to run.”
There was a scraping on the other side of the door as the messenger left to fetch the maid as ordered, leaving the lady in peace for a moment. Shivering she gathered her robe tighter around her shoulders and leaned against her windowsill to look out at the city bellow the castle. Everything was gray, a change from the bright days of early spring only a week ago. But even in the gloom and early hours of the morning the city bustled, vendors in the market setting out their stalls, owners unlocking shops, and the guard changing on the wall surrounding the city opening the gates for the day.
“We haven’t been down to the city in a long time.” She commented as the door creaked open and her maid entered.
“You’ve had no interest since the youngest prince left, lady. Without him to accompany you many things have gone without your attention.” The servant said, moving into the next room and starting the water. That was the one of best things about the castle, running hot water thanks to the Mages and the underground springs.
“Yes, well, he has been my friend for longer than I can remember. One loses interest in things when their chosen company for it is gone.” Moving away from the window the lady entered the side room and began to shed her clothes.
“While that does make sense there have been rumors, you must do something to discourage them if you are to marry his brother.”
“Let the court have it’s rumors, it matters little what they think of me. None of them would dare anger me for fear of my brother, though I doubt he would do much for me at this point.” A faint hiss escaped her as she stepped into the hot water of the bath, a shocking change from the cold of the air.
“Or for fear of your own power.” The maid pointed out, gathering the lady’s clothes off of the floor and exiting the room.
“Idiots.” The lady muttered, her power was nothing but a few simple spells but it still inspired fear among many. “Sarri,” she called to the maid.
“Yes, lady?” The reply was muffled as the maid, Sarri, returned to the room with a pile of clothes in her arms.
“The Prince is coming back today and I have a feeling that I’ll be going into town this afternoon, when you’re done here go down to the stable and tell Allen that he’s to bring Domi in from the pasture so I don’t have to go chasing after him when I want to leave.”
“Of course, do you have anything else for me to do this afternoon?” Sarri held out a towel as the lady stepped out of the bath.
“No, take the rest of the afternoon for yourself. Go see that blacksmith in town if you like.” She smiled when Sarri blushed scarlet. “Hurry now though, I’ve got to be at that meeting.”
‘CAUSE IT’S A LONG TRIP ALONE
With a quick knock on the door the lady hurried into the king’s private library, she always met him there when he called.
“You’re late.” The voice came from behind a high bookcase across the room.
“I said two hours you said one and we’ll both settle for halfway between.” She snapped, very few people would dare to address the king the way she did.
“For once I thought you may have reason to hurry, was my threat not good enough reason to arrive on time?” A tall, commanding man with shoulder length hair more gray than brown came around the corner of the bookcase with a thick novel in hand, snapping it shut as he spotted her.
“You wouldn’t dare marry me to that foul boy, whether it has been arranged since my birth or not.” The lady said, leaning against a plain round table in the center of the room that served as a desk.
“I don’t see why you throw such a fit about the arrangement, Jayden, Nathan is a fine young man, one you should be proud to marry.” The king walked past her toward the door. “Shall we?” He turned at the door and held out his arm for her to take.
“Of course, your majesty. You have yet to inform me of what this meeting is for?” Taking his arm Jayden let him lead her out of the room, deciding to drop the constant battle of her marriage for awhile.
“To meet with the representative of Amrt that has come to inform us of his king’s desire to take back Asal from us. We, of course, will have to refuse as that hold allows us to defend from two of our enemies and that may just start a war. As your brother, Duke of Narit Cove, is absent I wish you to provide an opinion on how this will affect his holdings as the closest to Asal.” The king informed her as they walked swiftly through the castle, heading toward a meeting chamber of the Council of Lords.
“You must know that I can provide no opinion for my brother, our views are far from similar.” Jayden replied, there was no way the king could have missed the falling out between the siblings several years ago. The whole court had known by the next morning and she was sure that as her guardian the king had known long before most.
“Perhaps you cannot, but you can tell me how a war would affect his holdings and how many troops he will be able to supply. Anything further can be asked in two weeks, when he arrives.” As he said that he threw open the doors of the council chamber.
“He’s coming here?!” Jayden demanded, “Why was I not told of this earlier?” she hissed it under her breath and kept a smile on her face as they walked arm in arm towards the head of the table at which many of the council already sat.
“Because I myself did not know until yesterday. It seems his latest crusade has faired well and he returns early while Baron Salnon of Carya Pass finishes hunting down the rebels.” The king told her just as quietly, also smiling at the lords. It wouldn’t do for to of the most powerful people in the country to appear fighting at such an important meeting.
“I would have congratulated the army in person if they managed to kill him.” Jayden muttered as the king pulled out her chair and she sat.
“You shouldn’t be so sour, fight or not he’s still your brother and someday you will value him again.” With that the king turned to address the gathered lords before their guest arrived.
(So, what'd you think. How does it suck and how can I make it better?)