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Love & War [Closed] - Printable Version

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RE: Love & War [Closed] - megs - 12-28-2016

Lochellen waved to the handsome guardsman as he dashed off. She did not voice any obligations to join him at the next event, but she did look forward to see him again in some capacity. Her tail swayed happily at the way he'd called her ‘lady’ as she turned back to tend to her charges. She had a stable full, now that the emperor was visiting.

Julianna was unmoved as he rose from the chair. Hands had found their way back to her hips and she watched him approach. She was aware of his reputation, but she refused to be intimidated by him. Especially in her own banquet hall.

Her first motion was to push his hand away when he touched her braid. A swift and automatic gesture, and honestly she looked caught off guard. He'd successfully brought her tangle of hair back across her chest, but that was only because she’d not expected him to actually touch her. She had been stunned for a few moments. People did not touch and they most especially did not touch her.

“Intelligent negotiators know when a product is not worth their time,” she replied, keeping up with the metaphor. Despite the sass of her words, she'd noted the path of his hands and her eyes had darted towards the ceiling. “I’d hate for you to embarrass yourself in mixed company.”

Maeve was also aware of the direction this conversation had turned. “Your majesty, please get down,” she pleaded over the commotion of the emperor’s counsel rushing to keep him out of sight. Sairus and Coltrane also appeared, taking point on either side of the queen lest the disturbance get violent. Eskrans and rum sounded to them like a volatile combination.

Julianna’s continued refusal was noted by the way she did not get down. As the emperor was being removed from her company, her eyes left the ceiling to settle on the man who was apologizing on behalf of his lord. Her smile was bemused, as if she'd won something and she nodded her head in response to his hurried bow. Her genial laughter echoed as the Eskran’s dispersed from the room.

When she finally turned to look at Maeve, her handmaiden was frowning at her. It wiped the smile from her face. “What?”

“Was that necessary?”

Julianna shrugged. “Not sure. It was fun though.” The queen looked around the hall once, before hopping down from the table in the space the emperor had left with his absence. “Oh don't look at me like that,” she suggested to Maeve who was still displeased with her. “It could have been much worse,” she explained, as if that made it better.

Maeve sighed. An exasperated sound though her nose. “I will meet you on your chambers when I am done assisting the staff with this mess.”

Julianna breathed a sigh of her own. “Very well,” she muttered, half-way towards a whine since she was still being scolded. Maeve could get away with such things because Julianna considered her a friend more than anything else.

As the queen disappeared towards the exit, Sai and Coltrane following her Maeve snapped the meandering staff to attention.

RE: Love & War [Closed] - saronym - 01-01-2017

In the morning, the emperor rose early despite the intoxication of the previous evening. He found himself in the ocean at sunrise enjoying the cool morning air and salt water. His valet was rather pleased with the effect that the salt water had on the emperor’s hair and left the wanton curls to do as they wished. After his swim, the emperor allowed himself to be dressed much the same as he had the previous evening in a gauzy white tunic and fitted breeches. It was cool enough in the morning with the sea breeze to warrant his dress cloak which he had pinned at his throat with his crown brooch.

Having heard that fruit grew in the gardens, Owen refused breakfast and strolled the gardens instead. His guardsmen assumed posts at the castle’s garden entrance and allowed the emperor to wander the path through the foliage alone.

Owen wandered the gardens in a wash of golden sun that had just begun to burn away the moisture that settled over the plants during the night. The sea breeze kicked up pollen and loose petals from the numerous species of blooming flowers that flanked the path through the gardens. He found a patch of red fruit he recognized - ripe strawberries. Owen picked a handful and ate the juicy fruit as he continued through the gardens.

He began to sense he wasn’t alone and turned to find that a curious dog was following behind him. It stopped to sniff at the strawberry stems he’d tossed down. When he knelt down and whistled at the dog to come to him, the animal bounded over with little hesitation. He let the dog sniff at his hands before he ruffled it’s fur.

“Get me something for the dog.” He commanded to a guardsman hovering nearby. The man nodded and dashed away. He returned bearing strips of jerky for the animal.

Owen fed the strips of dried meat to his new friend and allowed the dog to nip and lick the taste from his fingers. “Good boy.” He praised as his hand landed hearty pats along the dog’s side. It’s tail wagged furiously shaking his entire body glad for the treats and petting. Owen laughed at the animal’s enthusiasm. He had a natural love for dogs being the current owner of a pack of devoted Akitas.

RE: Love & War [Closed] - megs - 01-02-2017

Julianna had slept later than usual. Which really was not saying much for a woman who usually rose before the sun. Starling whining and pawing at the door had woken her, he was eager to be freed from the room to investigate their foreign company. She had risen to let him out, though not without complaint. Grumbling to herself all the while as she stretched and decided she was awake enough to dress herself for the day. She chose a gown that was mostly red with a gauzy beige inlay that was decorated with a filigree in the shape of flowers. Matching slippers were hidden by the length of the skirt, and she did not bother herself with what to do with her hair, because Maeve would figure it out for her.

She sat at the vanity while she waited for her handmaiden, looking over the letter that had been left upon it for her inspection. The forged invitation to the Eskran emperor. She frowned at it. It was well done, but still fake nonetheless. The door opened behind her and she let the parchment slip upon the table.

“Good morning, your majesty.”

Julianna mumbled her own greetings, brow furrowing over the matter of the invitation. She sat upright as Maeve appeared behind her in the mirror. Pale hands immediately disappeared into curling ebony locks. She watched slender fingers expertly twist sections into intricate braids, one of her own tapping rhythmically on the letter. “Will you find out if whoever forged this letter is currently in the emperor’s company? I would like to speak with them.”

Maeve leaned over her shoulder to pluck a decorative pin from the vanity. “Of course, your majesty.” When she was finished smoothing Julianna’s curls into something resembling order, she settled a tiara in the delicate whorls of hair. It was silver and diamonds molded into the shape of leaves on a vine and decorated with small rubies like berries. “The emperor is in the garden,” Maeve informed her.

The queen hummed her disinterest, rearranging her bangs to her liking in the mirror.

“Perhaps it would be best for the two of you to attempt a reintroduction while you’re both a bit more level-headed?” The handmaiden’s voice had a lilt that expressed that her words were less of a suggestion. There were times when Maeve subtly attempted to order the queen around like an unruly child, and most of the time she got away with it.

“I am going to look for Starling,” Julianna announced as she stood, smoothing her hands over the velvety spirals on her bodice. “If I happen across the emperor then so be it.”

Julianna looked for Starling everywhere but the gardens. The wolfhound refused to show himself everywhere she looked. She whistled lightly and called his name as she roamed the castle halls. Starling knew better than to stray too far from her, but that didn’t not mean he couldn’t be easily distracted in a short distance. With a huff the queen decided to check the garden.

Which is where she found Starling.

With the emperor. Of course he would be with the emperor the little traitor. Clearing her throat she stood across the garden path from the duo. She observed Lord Hartwydt as he knelt on the ground and showed a generous amount of attention to the over excited pup. Watching them threatened a small smile at the corner of her mouth, but she smothered it. It was almost endearing the way he seemed to be enjoying the hound’s company. Were she feeling a bit more out of sorts about their interaction the night before she would have called Starling away from him, but she was content to let them be.

There was also the matter of Starling choosing to ignore her in favor of spoiled and she wouldn’t risk that happening in front of the emperor.

“Is he bothering you?” she called, pleasantly, taking a few steps forward. Starling turned to look at her, but only rolled onto his back to give Owen access to his tummy.

RE: Love & War [Closed] - saronym - 01-05-2017

Owen was aware of a figure approaching at the top of his vision, but he didn’t look up until he was addressed. The dog rolled over and Owen obliged the animal by scratching his tummy vigorously. A bright smile lit his visage, “Ah, no! Of course not.” He responded cheerfully.

He indulged the dog for a few more moments before he took his hand away and rose to greet the queen.

“Your Majesty.” He indulged the queen of her rightful title almost the same way he’d indulged the animal with the pets it demanded. A bit of pampering for them both from the Emperor was the least he could do after all the trouble he’d caused.

Owen made his sauntering approach to the woman dressed fetchingly in red. Towering in front of her, he placed his hands on either of her shoulders in a solid, yet familiar grip. He bent to brush a kiss of greeting in the Eskran fashion on either of her cheeks. “You look lovely. Could this be the same woman I saw wearing dusty riding leathers last evening?” He complimented her with ease, letting his hands trail away from her. Physical contact was an important aspect of greeting and paying respects in Eksran culture, particularly among the nobility.

“You have an air of ...radiant, forgiveness about you.” He jested with a smirk at her, calling to memory the way they had greeted one another the evening prior. “I should hope.”

RE: Love & War [Closed] - megs - 01-07-2017

There was something contagious about his smile. The one she had been avoiding moments before pulled her lips back in a gentle curve. The last thing Starling needed was another person to spoil him, but it seemed he had found one. When the attention ceased, Starling flipped back over panting and gazing up at the emperor. Begging for more with big puppy eyes. As Owen stood, the canine shot up and trotted over to the queen’s side. He sat obediently at her feet.

“Lord Hartwydt,” she returned, her smile softened but didn’t fade. “A pleasure to see you this morning,” she continued, since they were being so pleasant to one another currently. It was a refreshing change. And a surprising one, she had presumed the behavior she had witnessed was simply the way he was going to be.

She watched him approach, eyes tracking across the whole of him until he was too close for her to do so. She noted a raking trio of scars across his torso and she momentarily wondered as to the cause of them. Without a table to aid her the emperor towered over her. She lifted her chin, to look him in they eyes. She was not intimidated by him, and didn’t need a table to prove it. Julianna startled when his hands met her shoulders, the cut of her dress left her with the feeling of work-roughened flesh on her own. Her mouth curved into a perfect ‘o’ as he leaned to kiss her checks.

Starling jumped to attention, barking loudly and pushing his way between them. He nudged the emperor away from the queen with a heavy lean of his body, turning to bark at him again. Julianna blinked out of her shock, she perhaps should have expected him to touch her again but she had not. Regardless the contact still shook her, Veridian people did not share touch outside of close contacts; family members and lovers. The emperor was still a perfect stranger to her. She shushed Starling, placing a hand on his head and he ceased in his noise. Her brow furrowed as she cleared her throat, placing one hand on her abdomen to still the strange stirring feeling in her stomach.

Her surprise shifted into a crooked smile. She looked down at herself and hummed before returning her eyes to his. “Yes, surprisingly I do clean up well. I could say the same for you. You have adapted to Verdian style quite nicely.”

Julianna laughed lightly, her hand falling back to her side. Starling settled again, head pressed against her thigh. He had calmed from his earlier outburst which had been a marvelous show of his loyalty and training. He gazed up at her with a panting grin. Julianna swept an arm forward, insisting that the emperor join her on a tour of the garden. She laced her hands behind her back as she walked.

“Forgiveness?” she parroted. She hummed again. “I suppose I can spare some forgiveness. For I do believe it was our fantastic rum which left you in such...high spirits. I am just as at fault it seems.” She tilted her head to follow the curve of another half-smile as she kept her eyes forward. Amused by her own pun.

RE: Love & War [Closed] - saronym - 01-11-2017

Owen was acutely aware of the change in Julianna’s expression from something open and defiantly meeting his gaze to uncomfortable. He felt her frame jump beneath his hands when he touched her as if he were acutely hurting her, or surprised her. Still, Owen completed the ritual greeting to the clamoring barking of the hound dog that had greeted him so playfully earlier. Its as if the pair were destined not to enjoy a normal greeting of one another.

At the insistence of the animal which pushed at him to give the queen space, Owen took a step back. Just enough to allow the dog to maneuver in between them. He spread his hands and looked askance at the animal which would be unable to give him any answers.

“Jumpy thing.” He commented, returning his gaze to Julianna. Whether he meant her or the dog, or perhaps both, he didn’t indicate. Why the dog behaved so aggressively towards him, the Emperor didn’t ask but rather assumed it was due to poor training. His own dogs never behaved that way towards a non-threatening guest. It never occurred to him that his cock-sure demenor, towering prescence, and close physical contact with the queen might have been construed as threatening to her safety. Or that her little jump had conveyed to the animal her discomfort.

He accepted her compliment of his dress with a perfunctory nod. “Yes. Eskran clothing is much too heavy for wear here. I’m afraid I must go around in a state of partial dress, since that seems to be the custom.” A heavy shrug of his shoulders suggested that perhaps he wasn’t a fan of being so exposed, even if he was confident in his appearance. He father liked the additional bulk that heavy Eskran furs added to his already muscular frame. The thin, airy tops in the Veridian style made him feel smaller somehow.

When she gestured for him to walk with her, he obliged by taking the first steps forward and folding his hands behind his back. Though he kept his hands off her for the moment, he did walk close beside her as if they were speaking in confidence. Typically, he would have taken her arm so as to escort her. A gentlemanly Eskran custom which he forwent for the moment given the dog’s response to his previous touching.

Owen grunted acknowledgement in response to her pun but withheld a smile as if they were in some competition of wit and he wouldn’t let her have a victory. “You are generous in giving me the benefit of the doubt.” He acknowledged as he stared down at her by his side while they strolled along the garden path.

“Tell me, if I have your exquisite rum as an excuse for my off-color behavior...what’s yours? Were you drinking and riding? Or are you just a naturally unwieldy woman?”

He smirked at her then and turned his face forward while he awaited a response to his gibe.

RE: Love & War [Closed] - megs - 01-12-2017

Julianna assumed he was referring to the dog, even though it had been she who had jumped beneath the weight of his hands. She continued to feel an impression of the contact across her shoulders, only because she was so unused to it. She didn’t think to apologize or explain Starling’s behavior. In her mind he was only doing as he’d been trained to do. Just as the emperor was not aware of the Veridian custom regarding contact, she was unaware of the Eskran opinion. Though his greeting made it appear as if they were a bit more lenient. She pushed the dog behind her with a gentle nudge with her knee. The canine stood, circling to her back and following behind the duo as they walked.

“Impartial dress as it were, you’ll find it much more tolerable as compared to heat sickness. Though, I hope you do not have the displeasure of finding out.” She didn’t say it but Julianna may have envied the simple clothing that the emperor and other men were able to don. Less suffocating than her dress, which felt as if the corset was tightening around her with step. She kept a slow pace through the elegant gardens. Canopies of towering trees kept them mostly shaded from the sun, which bared heavy with hot rays even in the still early morning.

Though he kept his hands to himself she was still aware of his closeness as he matched her steps. “I am naturally unwieldy,” she replied, without missing a beat. Still smiling she turned her head to look up at him, catching the sight of his smirk before his own gaze left her. She was not oblivious to the way he was taunting her, but she did not take offense to it. Unyielding seems mild compared other possible turns of phrase. To her, it could very well be a compliment.

“As you will continue to discover the longer you are in my presence.” Julianna stopped walking, turning her body to face the emperor. She moved her hands from her back to clasp them at her front instead at the level of her abdomen. “And how long will that be exactly? I believe my...invitation left the details of your stay rather open ended.”

RE: Love & War [Closed] - saronym - 01-16-2017

“Just as I expected.” Owen tsked playfully in response to her admission that she was unwieldy. He leaned towards her as he did so, pushing against her lightly with his arm in jest. “I don’t need to spend another moment in your presence to reach this conclusion. Only an unwieldy woman would readily insult the manhood of a notorious conqueror.”

The hands that were clasped behind his back released one another and he lifted his hand to run his fingers down her arm. Fingers curled around her forearm coaxing her to give him her hand. “Luckily for you, I, too, am in a forgiving mood.”

When he had captured her hand he stopped and turned towards her. He brought her hand upwards to his lips and pressed his mouth to her knuckles, maintaining steady eye contact as he did so. Such a sign of affection intending to signal his ‘forgiving’ mood. A floral smell, thick, yet refreshing, and new to him gave him pause. Lips that lingered pressed against soft skin curled into a devious smile before he lowered her hand.

“Forgiving enough indeed to accept your generous open ended invitation”

Keeping her hand to himself he curled his arm around hers and pointedly pressed her fingers against his forearm signaling that he wished to escort her in their walk.All of his actions demanded that she yield to his touch and allow him to maneuver and direct her, even though she had admitted to being unwieldy. A man could hope.

“Your generosity abounds as I have been placed in the best suites. I hope I have not displaced any other guests? I have heard the Queen of Veridian entertains a number of amusing and intriguing guests at all times of the year.”

The emperor knew full well that his timely arrival at the castle had indeed earned him suites that were promised to another guest This other guest that the Eskrans had deliberately delayed on the road.by burning a bridge crossing a deep river forcing the rival company to go a longer route around.

RE: Love & War [Closed] - megs - 01-17-2017

Julianna was able to curb her reaction to his playful nudge. His earlier greeting was more than enough to imply that Eskrans were more comfortable with touching. Or at least, the emperor was. She smiled crookedly recalling to herself exactly what she had said the previous evening. It had not occurred to her at the time that he was indeed a notorious conqueror, as he put it. She had just known she was mad and sometimes her mouth worked more quickly than her brain.

As she went to apologize, his hand skirted down her arm. Her mouth shut so quickly her teeth snapped together, and she jumped in surprise. Just barely able to keep herself from pulling her arm away from him. Goosebumps rose down her arm, following the trail his rough fingertips drew over her spots. Julianna was left blinking up at him as he kissed her hand. A flush crept upwards from her collar, and settled in her cheeks in an obvious rosy blush. “How noble,” she replied, quieter than she would have preferred. The usual authority in her tone lost to her surprise.

She cleared her throat, and was ready to reclaim her hand, but he seemed keen on keeping it for himself. She allowed him to do so, even though the idea admittedly made her nervous. The rumors that could quickly spread from something as innocent as letting him escort her through the gardens. Walking so closely to another person felt strange, but not unpleasant. She was at the mercy of his pace and his direction, also not unpleasant. Still strange.

“Displaced,” she parroted the word with a tone of shock, tail swaying quickly near the ground. “Of course not.” A lie. He had done just that, but she wouldn’t admit it to him even if he had correctly assumed. “There is plenty of room in the castle for all the guests I would choose to entertain. Even the surprise ones.”

Her fingers tapped once, idly and in thought where they rested against his arm. Her ears twitched like something had bothered them before they swiveled to attention and remained still. “A prince from Delenveaux will also be joining us at the castle,” she explained, stopping to admire a clutch of dahlias as they came upon them. She reached out to poke layers of petals with her free hand. “He should have arrived nearly the same time as your company, but was unfortunately delayed.” Her tone, though pleasant, managed to convey the accusation she wasn’t voicing. She sighed once, and turned away from the flowers to smile at him once more and resume their walk.

“No matter. The more the merrier as I am apparently known to say.” Maeve had informed her of that little tidbit as she’d recounted the tale of the emperor’s entrance. “The castle will be bustling with company just in time for the Harvest Faire.”

Maeve looked as if she were on a warpath. There was a hard set to her expression that gave the appearance that she shouldn’t be bothered. She went about her chores with the same care and efficiency as any other day, but that did not stop her from looking mad about it. Other servants skirted around her, exchanging glances as they tried to figure what had gotten the Queen’s Handmaiden in such a mood.

After she'd relieved herself of the laundry, she changed into a lavender gown and pinned her seal to her bodice.

The focus of her ire could easily be attributed to the emperor and his entourage. Maeve signed her name to a kitchen receipt with more force than entirely necessary leaving a blotch of dark ink at the end of her ‘e’ and staining her fingers. She scoffed and rubbed her fingers together which only made the mess worse. She snapped the staff back into attention in the easy way she did. Pointed glares and sharp orders. Snatching a stray rag from the counter she worked at the ink on her fingers as she made her way to the southern wing.

She deposited the rag with a passing maid and interrogated and Eskran guard about which chambers Master Rivers had taken residence in. She rapped twice on the door, unsure of whether he was still inside. She frowned at her bluish fingertips as she waited.

RE: Love & War [Closed] - saronym - 01-17-2017

Grey eyes made nearly imperceptible saccades over the queen’s countenance noting carefully the change in shade on her skin. He rolled his lips inward for a breath to avoid smirking at her anymore than he already had. His pride was as readily on display as her modesty seemed to be.

With her arm tucked between his side and his own arm, Owen guided the queen farther into the gardens. As Julianna wove fictions about how her prince hadn’t been displaced by him, Owen was left feigning surprise and concern.

“A prince!” His tone turned to faux excitement. He teased at her nudging her side again. “How exciting for you.” There was a hint of sarcasm in his syrupy fake elation for the honor of her princely guest. “I hope I haven’t cast a shadow on his arrival. I know my presence caused quite a stir.” In fact, the Emperor hoped indeed to have outplayed the prince who would no doubt arrive in the usual manner, free of controversy. How boring.

He feigned an expression of remorse paired with a concerned hum in the back of his closed mouth. Shaking his head, he patted her hand, “Delayed? You don’t say.” His sarcasm was thicker now. They both knew who was responsible. Or she seemed willing to cast accusations. “Our party made our journey timely. I believe we should have been on similar paths to the capital.” Owen shrugged it off as if he had no idea what could have happened to the unfortunate prince. “So long as he arrives safely, I suppose.”

Owen stopped to sniff at white blooms on a tree as Julianna mentioned an upcoming event. “Harvest Faire, how charming.” He muttered pleasantries he’d learned on his marriage tour. He certainly liked parties. He liked going to parties, more than talking about parties.

____

Holland had busied himself that morning with getting settled in Veridian. That is to say, ensuring the Emperor got settled in Veridian. He was mortified to learn that the Emperor had picked over breakfast, refusing to eat anything but fruit from that meal forward. The man had been taken with the fresh fruit so readily available in Veridian and so rare in Eskra. He would have to discuss the Emperor's dietary demands with the kitchen staff and somehow ensure the man received proper nourishment despite his impractical demands.

He could have tolerated the fruit, if the Emperor hadn’t insisted on also swimming naked and alone in the sea despite untold, unknown risks. The Emperor of an expanded and unsettled Eskra, with no successor, and no heir taking unnecessary risks set Holland on edge.

And to further make his day worse, Lord Hartwydt had outright refused to respond to correspondences sent from several of the outstanding matches, including one that Holland was arranging after their visit to Veridian. Holland was left reading the love letters of expectant noble women the Emperor had lazily and unemotionally courted. He had learned Owen’s hand and painstakingly taken to responding on his lord’s behalf, when a knock on his door drew his attention.

Unlatching the door, Holland opened it to find Maeve much to his surprise as he was certain some other messenger was sure to deliver him more work. He inclined his head in a polite show of respect to the woman in a dress that emphasized the fetching color of her eyes. “Good morning, Lady Maeve.” Moving away from the door, he gestured for her to enter his chambers.

“To what do I owe this -” his eyes flicked to her fingers which had her attention, “...visit?” Just as he finished his question, Holland reached for her hand to inspect her fingers. His thumb ran over the ink stained pads of her fingers before he released her. “Come, I have a serum for ink stains. It’ll take that right off for you.”

He turned away from her to crouch before a large wooden chest. “I’m sure you didn’t come see me for stain remover.” He chimed pleasantly as he pushed aside books stacked inside to retrieve yet a smaller box. Holland waved for her to follow him to the desk. He moved the letters aside to make room for the smaller wooden box which he opened to reveal a number of vials with liquids. Holland inspected several bottles before opting for one with a viscous blue liquid in it.

“Almost positive this is it. If it’s not, well, I’ll be sorry about your fingers.” He winked and smiled to indicate he was kidding as he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to dab with the blue liquid. “May I?” He held his hand out and waited for her permission before he cleaned her fingers with the serum.

RE: Love & War [Closed] - megs - 01-18-2017

The emperor’s sarcasm grated on her. Especially given the fact that she had been remarkably hospitable, acquiescent, in the face of his unannounced visit. He nudged her again and her figure swayed with the contact, and she rolled her eyes at his continued teasing. One of her ears fell lopsided and her tail curled upwards to sway above her shoulders. “Exciting enough,” she replied, not sounding the least bit excited. Which was more insight on her position with the arrangement than she should have allowed. Further explanation of the prince’s visit was privileged information that she kept to herself.

A revision of Veridian’s treaty with Delanveaux. A clause of an engagement. The more she thought of it, the more she suspected that the emperor may already know. Hence his sudden arrival in her country.

“Yes, there was an unfortunate incident I am told. One of the bridges across the Jadeson River was burned to ash and the prince was forced to find another way around.” She explained this, still suspecting that he knew of the transgression. And the cause of it. He had stopped, so she stopped with him. She slid her arm out from his and returned it to her side, the other lifted to hover near her abdomen, a regal posture that came upon her thoughtlessly. Green eyes leveled on his features. “I believe your party would have crossed that same bridge, correct?”

Julianna didn’t speak any more on the festival even though it was her favorite event of the year. Owen didn’t seem interested, so she bit back further comment and watched as he leaned into the tree. Her eyes shifted upwards to inspect the branches above, searching through leaves and blossoms to find any of the fruit it bore. The fruiting foliage in the garden was well maintained and usually picked over by the kitchen staff, but luckily she spotted two kiwis bunched together that had apparently been missed. Lifting up on her toes, she stretched out her arm to twist the hanging fruits from their stems and claim them as her own.

She handed one of them to the emperor. A small, round fruit with a thick and fuzzy brown skin, protecting sweet green fruit beneath. Julianna neglected to give Owen any information about the fruit whatsoever, and continued on in her leisurely pace around the garden.

The handmaiden returned the respectful gesture with a nod of her own before stepping inside the room at his offering. They looked down at her fingers at the same time, and she quickly curled them into the palm of her hand, but the stains had already been noticed. Maeve allowed Holland to take her hand with no resistance, trying to not look embarrassed about the unsightly marks highlighting the curves if her fingerprints.

“I’ve come about the invitation,” she explained. Her hand lingered where he released it. Holland had a certain energy about him that had caught her off guard, already across the room with offers help her with the ink. Eyes tracked him as he moved, and she took steps to close the distance between them and join him at the desk. Maeve placed her hand, palm up, in his when he asked for it. His joking pulled for a smile. An upward curl at the right corner of her mouth that brightened her features.

She continued to talk as he worked. “The queen’s invitation,” she reminded him, needlessly. “Her majesty was interested to know if that hand that forged it was in your entourage. She would like to speak to them.” More accurately, Maeve would be speaking to them as she had the queen’s permission to speak for her on this matter.

RE: Love & War [Closed] - saronym - 01-19-2017

Owen massaged the coarse hairs of the beard that grew along his cheek as if in thought. “The Jadeson River, yes I believe we did cross it.” His index finger punctuated his play at recalling a crossing he had not even forgotten. He tsked and nodded his head as if remembering the incident in question. In reality, he was stalling to think up an amusing lie as to the fate of the bridge.

“We did cross it and camped on the nearside of the river one evening. My men get a bit rowdy at camp and one particular soldier found himself amused by the thought of pissing off the side of the bridge into the river. He tripped on the way back to camp and dropped his torch. The timber was dry and poof up it went in flame.”

Owen watched her reaching for something in the tree. He thought to assist her but quickly discarded it as he preferred to admire the line of her body as it lengthened out in her struggle to reach. He accepted the fruit wordlessly and made a cursory inspection of the odd fruit. The outside felt coarse under finger.

“Don’t worry. I’ve instructed my deputy to send timber and stone and our best masons to erect a new, grander bridge for the crossing. A covered stone archway.” His free hand made an arc to demonstrate the structure. “Hartwydt Bridge.”

He grinned at her and bit into the fruit given to him with no further inspection or request for how it was eaten. The skin was tough but his teeth broke through it. He secured a modest chunk of the fruit. Though it was sweet he found the coarse feel of the skin in his mouth unpalatable and spit the bit of fruit out. He wiped angrily at juice on his lips.

“What is this?” He demanded. “It’s hairy and awful.” He complained ungratefully.

____

Holland did not respond or possibly did not hear when Maeve first stated that she was there to discuss the matter of the forged invitation. He was caught up in assisting her to remove the ink from her fingers. He felt a desire to serve the handmaiden in some way. Even if small.

Carefully and gently, Holland rubbed the serum soaked handkerchief over her fingers. Only a little pressure was needed to lift the pigment from her skin and onto the cloth.

There was no guile in the smile he presented her. “Ah. Yes. Well. Presently speaking.” He folded up the dirtied handkerchief and placed it on the desk. Holland folded his hands in front of him as if to wait for how the subject of the invitation was to be discussed.

Something occurred to him. “Ah! You might find a slight oily residue on your fingers. There’s a basin of water just there and some soap.” He pointed to an open door that led into the interior most chamber - his bedroom. “I’m afraid the water’s gone cold by now. I had it brought up to shave this morning but time got away from me. You’re welcome to it.” He gestured with his palm that she might excuse herself to wash her hands if she wished to.

RE: Love & War [Closed] - megs - 01-20-2017

Julianna listened to his explanation of what happened to the bridge with a neutral expression. She didn’t believe a word of his story. It was perhaps her bias that kept her from taking him seriously. She had already attributed the act to a deliberate measure taken to stall the prince. Though she couldn't pinpoint the emperor’s reason for doing so. She pointedly ignored the insult he laced into his farcical retelling.

She snorted when he claimed the new bridge would be named after himself, rolling the kiwi she had kept between her palms and watching the way his hands imitated the new structure. “Why was I not informed immediately of this incident?” she demanded, brow furrowing. She pulled a small paring knife from her sash and sliced off one end of the fruit, letting it fall to the ground. “I’ve already sent supplies of my own to take care of the damage, and now it seems as if the effort is wast-”

The queen paused in her task. She’d not been paying attention to him in the moment that he had bit into the fruit. She looked up when he complained noisily. She laughed, she couldn’t help it. Holding the knife between thumb and forefinger she pressed the back of her hand to her mouth to stifle the sound. “I’m sorry,” she managed to say between chuckles. It was unclear whether she was apologizing for her laughter or for not explaining the proper way to eat it. “You were just supposed to hold it,” she explained, with some difficulty, her entertainment still shook her spotted shoulders. She dropped her hand and took a deep breath to compose herself. “You have to peel it,” she explained, still smiling. “I was going to give this one to you,” she gestured with the fruit she had already started to skin.

“I’m sorry, truly. I wasn’t trying to trick you.”

Maeve waited patiently for Holland’s response. She kept her eyes on his face, though he seemed keen on attending to her fingers. She almost pulled her hand away from him, to force him to stop until he answered her question. She wouldn’t admit it, but she sort of liked the way he was determined to assist her, so she let it be.

“Oh,” she breathed. Her surprise obvious to find that he was responsible for the letter. She didn’t have a moment to address the issue further; she rubbed her fingers together, feeling the slickness that he was warning her of. She glanced over her shoulder, surveying the direction in which he indicated, even though she knew the layout of the room by heart. With a polite smile and quick thanks, she stood. She was inclined to acquiesce to his offer, hoping she would be able to get the answers she wanted from him if she did.

Her steps were silent as she crossed the room, still worrying over her fingers. Even though they were clear of the offending ink, she could still feel the warmth of his skin on the back of her hand. She looked up once more as she stepped into the other room. The basin was where she expected it to be, so she walked towards. Movement from the corner of her eye caught her attention, so she quickly looked over at the bed.

What she saw lounging languidly on a nest of sheets drew a small surprised scream from her. A sound she quickly bit back, be slapping a hand over her mouth. It was a very large tiger. In a different context, a magnificent creature with vibrant orange fur marked with ebony stripes. The tiger made no threatening moves, and Maeve made no moves at all. Finding herself frozen in place in the face of an animal three times her size.

The cat rolled over and lifted its head to look at her. It blinked slowly, before yawning. It stretched out it front paws and made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a complaint, as if Maeve had woken it. She dropped her hand and cursed in Eskran.

Holland could have warned her about the tiger.

RE: Love & War [Closed] - saronym - 02-14-2017

Owen half-turned away from the mirthful queen to spit a few more times to ensure all the little bits of fuzz had been expelled from his mouth. When he turned back to her she was demonstrating her peeling technique and seemed all too amused at his misfortune.

He pursed his lips as he stared curiously at the bright green fruit in her hand which had revealed from beneath the brown skin that she had pared away. “I’ll give it a try.” He produced a dagger from his own boot and attempted to mimic the work the queen had done with her fruit. His own efforts wasted more of the fruit, but he found it easy to shed the skin of the fruit.

Using his knife he sliced of a section of kiwi and frowned at it before taking it from the knife with his mouth. He chewed slowly, frowning still, until his face softened and he nodded his approval.

“It’s sweeter this way.” He observed. “Much nicer.” Owen glared down at the small fruit in his hand which had almost been entirely consumed with just a couple of bites. “It’s rather small though.” He remarked as he turned to continue their walk and continue removing skin from the fruit in his hand.

“Everything seems smaller here in Veridian. The women especially. You are all rather...petite.” He looked down at the short queen as if to emphasize his point. He left the commentary at that and didn’t reveal his preference for the small, tanned women of Veridian whose features he found both curious and alluring.

____

Maeve moved away from him to wash her hands in the other room, so Holland took the time to reseal the serum and replace it in his chest. He discarded the soiled handkerchief in a place the linen maid would easily find. No sooner was he returning to his desk than something akin to a squeal sounded from the other room.

He realized his mistake and jumped up from the chair his bottom had not quite met to rush to Maeve’s side.

“I see you’ve met Kenna.” He said as he sidled past Maeve to hold his hand out to the tiger lounging on his bed. “The Emperor’s favorite pet.” The animal sniffed at Holland's hand and turned her face away. Something like a snort sounded from the animal’s nose and her head lowered to her paws folded in front of her. She glowered back at the pair as if deciding whether to let them live or die.

“Lord Hartwydt charged me with … caring for her while here in Veridian as his attentions will be elsewhere.”

The tiger lifted it’s head enough to lick at one of its large paws. The appendage turned over for her tongue to work at the pads of her paw, long, sharp claws splayed out in her efforts. Or display.

“She’s quite friendly, I assure you.” Holland promised.

RE: Love & War [Closed] - megs - 02-18-2017

Julianna’s head cocked to the side as she watched him handle the fruit with her new instructions. Amused smile still playing on her mouth. It was somewhat endearing, the way the stately emperor had been momentarily disarmed by the unusual fruit. Ears twitched as she nodded in agreement as his voiced his approval; her tail swayed at her feet as if she were pleased that he was pleased. She laughed again, before biting into her own kiwi, careless for the juice that ran down her fingers. “Not all of the fruit is small,” she countered, though she could not say the same for the women. She noted the way he stared down at her, ears pinning back briefly as he accentuated the height difference between them.She lamented that the occasion did not lend a table for her to stand on. “We will have to go to the market sometime. So you can see the variety.”

“Petite,” she repeated, almost as if she disapproved before licking the syrupy liquid off of her fingers. She trailed somewhat behind him as they continued walking, she watched the way his cloak shifted with his movements. “I’ve heard as much.” Many times over, from many foreign visitors. Many of her guests had delighted over her stature, as if she were more doll than woman. “Surely, not all the women in Eskra are tall and sturdy?” They could have been, certainly, she had yet to meet one. So far there had only been men in the Emperor’s company. Now, she was truly curious.

Maeve inhaled deeply behind her hands, brows furrowing as she turned her attention to Holland. “Kenna,” she breathed in disbelief as her hands fall to her sides. The tall blonde looked very close to livid. Eyes tracked the adviser as he crossed the room to greet the animal. The tiger seemed unamused at best, deadly at worst. Maeve paced a short line, nervous gaze flickering between Holland and the beast, listening intently as he explained himself.

“You can not be serious,” she complained, pausing in her motions to glower at him. Her concerns about the forged letter were immediately replaced with concerns for the oversized jungle cat. “You can not be serious,” she repeated, more emphasis in her tone. Kenna began to lick her giant paws in a way that seemed almost menacing, and Maeve found it difficult to remain in the room with her.

Stepping back into the adjoining chamber, finger still slick with the oily residue rubbing together in a show of her nerves. “She can not stay in the castle,” Maeve explained. Her pacing began again, in a longer stretch of floor this time. One hand lifted to her mouth, unthinkingly, she chewed at the cuticle of her thumb. How did they even manage to get the creature on the grounds. How had she not heard reports of a tiger being lead through the city, the courtyard, the halls. “You will remove her,” the anxious handmaiden informed him. “I will not have the Queen’s safety risked for...for a pet.” The word was spat in such a way that implied the easy term seemed unfitting for the beast.