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Love & War [Closed] - Printable Version

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RE: Love & War [Closed] - saronym - 02-03-2018

Renton gave the troublesome bird a horrified expression. He could tell the creature was trying to toss the blame back at him. Interesting thing. His ears pricked at the mention that the bird had a master. Renton made a mental note of this. Perhaps he would have to seek out said master and have a little chat about a rude bird. Until then, he would try not to burn anymore tables.

Renton flushed crimson in embarrassment. “Yes of course Lady Maeve. Thank you for the advice. I will take my work to the courtyard. Perhaps I’ll find a more private place there.”

That last comment was for the benefit of the bird who had harassed him.

____

It was no coincidence at all that the Emperor took his entourage of guards and his battle maidens into the market place for a tour on this particular day. It wasn’t the perfect tropical weather. The normal oppressive heat was interrupted by a sea breeze that had graced them for the past day or so. It wasn’t the small artisan festival either. It wasn’t the food. It wasn’t any of that.

The Emperor and his soldiers and counselors were there to intercept the arrival of the Price of Delenveaux, Jean-Etienne, who was making a visit to his betrothed, the Queen of Veridian.

“Why do we bother with this… lowly third-son Prince, eh?” Rowena complained at her Emperor taking quite the familiar tone with him. She spoke in Eskran without fear of being overheard by the locals. Their tongue was foreign enough that it wasn’t likely anyone in the market within earshot would be able to understand them. Only the battle maidens could speak so casually with the Emperor. He wouldn’t tolerate it from anyone else. They were the pride of his military and often his company in bed.

“You know nothing of the war of love, Rowena.” The Emperor scolded her with a sly smile. She looked at him questioningly so he explained further. “This meeting is very important. It’s the first battle in my war for the Queen. If I defeat him here today, I’ll have all of the momentum. He’ll be scrambling to catch up.”

Rowena looked increasingly bored. “Why don’t you just take her if you’ve decided on the Queen?”

Owen tsked at her and affectionately fingered the ends of the braids that decorated one side of her hair. “Because Master Rivers says I have to stop just taking things that aren’t mine for a while. It’s drawing too much attention to me. Besides, I haven’t decided on the queen." He lied smoothly. "I’m deciding and I can’t have a little weasel get in my way while I make my choice.”

“What if you destroy her engagement but don’t want her for a wife after all?”

“Then I would say, perhaps, a queen should have been more careful with her heart. A wild foreign Emperor is risky to bet on.” He smirked.

Rowena looked intrigued by his answer. She didn’t know the queen at all but the idea of betrayal among powerful sovereigns and war as a fall out sounded fun to the warrior. “And what do you know about the war of love? Have you been in love, Emperor?”

Owen’s eyebrow arched up and his smile turned sly. “Perhaps. Ah - look - they’re parting the crowd to clear a path for the Prince and his men. Let’s welcome him, shall we?” He gave a curt nod to one of his guards who gave a signal to the other and the Emperor and his entire entourage gathered. They made a formation akin to a welcoming party with the Emperor and Master Rivers at the helm. Their company was large enough that the gathering effectively blocked the road leading back to the palace. The blockade meant that the Prince had to meet them.

RE: Love & War [Closed] - megs - 10-14-2018

Jean-Etienne was behind schedule. Aside from the fact that it was unbecoming for a prince to be late, it was annoying. The young prince hated traveling, and having been delayed four days because of a fallen bridge did nothing to quell his usually unpleasant demeanor. He remained slumped in his carriage, feet resting upon the opposite settee and glowering out of the opened curtain of the window. He tsked under his breath, thinking of the poorly maintained Veridian bridge that had put him behind. Not simply in disrepair but wholly burned to the ground. He had sent messengers ahead as to save face with the queen that was expecting him, and to deliver a missive that properly portrayed his disappointment with his bride-to-be.

The third-prince of Delevenvaux was a handsome man, with short-cropped dark hair that left his masculine features bare. Blue eyes shone bright from a backdrop of golden brown skin and a fringe of black lashes. Handsome, but surly. He would look entirely more approachable if he shifted through more facial expressions than a deep frown, and looking as if he had smelled something sour.

He was making the second face now. He knew they were nearing the capital port city of Eryra within Veridian. He could smell the strange and vibrant street foods that lined the open market and he didn't care for them. The spicy and fragrant staples of Veridian never settled well with the prince. With a sigh, Jean pulled the curtain closed and sank further into his pouting position. He closed his eyes, knowing that he would be arriving at the castle soon enough and he would be able to get this whole messy treaty business over with and leave once again with his prize.

That prize of course being the whole of Veridian. Promised to him by the king and queen in a trade agreement before his passing. More accurately, the young queen Julianna was to be his wife, but as far as he was concerned it was the same.

A few moments later, when his carriage jostled to a sudden stop, Jean pushed himself into a sitting position. They couldn't possibly be at the castle already. He could still hear the bustle of the ports market. Ripping the curtain back open, Jean glanced out the window to see if he could find the immediate cause of interruption. "What's going on," he snapped to one of his guards that rode nearby on horseback. The guard wore full armor, with the tabard of Delenveaux over it. White lilies on a field of stark violet.

"A blockade, your highness. Eskran, by the look of them," the man explained, recognizing the whole of them, but not necessary the Emperor of the nation in question. While Emperor's Hartwydt's reputation preceded him, his visage did not necessarily carry along with the rumors.

"Tell them to disperse," Jean demanded. "I have business with the queen. I will not be delayed by northern...barbarians."

Snapping the curtain closed again, Jean could hear muffled conversation through the hindrance of fabric.

"The Prince of Delenveaux orders you to stand aside. He has arrived on urgent business with the Queen of Veridian and he will not be delayed."

RE: Love & War [Closed] - saronym - 11-13-2018

Those in the foremost of the Emperor's company had mounted their horses and aligned themselves in an arrow shape with the Emperor at the point. The rest of the men stood by at attention. The Emperor was perched high atop the restless Cimmerian, who snorted and shook his head sensing the excitement in his rider. In contrast to his stallion's fidgeting, the Emperor was quite still, one hand casually rested on his hip as he observed some moments of confusion among the Delenveaux men as they signaled an unexpected stop.

A subtle motion of his hand called up Master Rivers who nudged his horse forward to be in line with the Emperor who leaned towards him and whispered. “Which one is the Prince?”

Holland had never seen the Prince but knew his description and it should have been fairly easy to spot him among lesser soldiers and the entourage. There was no such man that would match the Prince among the company. That left the carriage or the rear of the company. Certainly the Prince wouldn’t ride in the rear. So he nodded towards the carriage. “There, My Lord.”

Indeed they observed a rider receiving orders from the widow of the carriage. They couldn’t see inside but it was a reasonable conclusion that the Prince was there. The rider was dispatched the remaining distance and hailed them with a message - orders - from the Prince.

The marketplace had gone silent except for the occasional clink of armor or creak of leather from fidgeting men while everyone waited for the Emperor’s response. It was Rowena who broke ranks, clattering forward on her horse to face the guard acting courier. “You are addressing The High Emperor of Eskra, Owen Reinhold Jorn Avald Hartwydt, Arbiter of Desdemona, and Son of Orelia who does not take orders from couriers on behalf of third-son Princes who hide in carriages! You will address the Emperor in a manner that befits his station or I will bathe in your blood and the blood of--”

She was cut off when the Emperor gave an order in Eskran. Her look turned sheepish when she became aware of her outburst.

“You will excuse my Battle Maiden her passion for her Emperor.” Owen said this more to chastise Rowena for speaking out. She urged her horse back into position as Owen continued on addressing the guardsman more directly, “There seems to be a misunderstanding. We’re not barring your Prince entry into the city. On the contrary. we’re here to provide escort to the castle. I haven’t had opportunity to meet the Prince. I was hoping he would ride alongside me and that we would have an opportunity to become acquainted with one another as I am an honored guest of the Queen. However, if he is unfit to mount, perhaps he would be amenable to me joining him in his carriage?”

“My Lord that would be most inad-” Holland’s speech was cut off when the Emperor raised his hand for his advisor to be silent. Owen preferred to wait for an answer from the Prince than to hear Holland’s opinion about propriety.

RE: Love & War [Closed] - megs - 08-24-2019

Most of the posturing from the emperor and his entourage was wasted on the prince who did not exit his carriage to see it. He thought he heard a woman speaking, briefly, which was ridiculous. What woman thought she had the right to speak for or out of turn to a man. Especially those in such high stations. Jean-Etienne sighed and rubbed his temples. He was not in the mood for grandstanding after such a long and stressful journey. Delays and other inconveniences already had him so behind schedule. He should be well into negotiations with the treaties by now.

Ideally, he would already be on his way to marrying a queen.

Hearing the suggestion that he was unable to ride set his blood to boiling. A subtle insult that implied there was more to the Northern emperor than the reputation of violence that preceded him. "Bring me my horse," he said to a footman waiting near the carriage. With a curt nod the young man darted off. After a few passing minutes, a brilliant white stallion was brought forward and situated near the carriage. Though he was not interested in games, he would not lose at them either. This grandstanding was a challenge, and Jean-Etienne mounting his horse was an acceptance of said challenge.

The prince put on his best smile as he directed his horse towards the blockade at a leisurely trot. Charming and handsome and entirely full of shit. They were just putting on a show. Jean was dressed simply but elegantly in a silk tunic over fine leather breeches. Polished boots. A half-cape in brilliant purple - the color of his kingdom- was draped over one shoulder and held in place by a braided gold cord. Dark hair was styled away from the sharp and handsome features of his face. "Emperor Hartwydt," he acknowledged the other man as he approached. "I'm honored that you have taken the time to come escort me to the queen's castle." Jean was not pleased, nor was he honored. He had been under the impression that he would be courting the queen alone. His molars ground together but the smile didn't falter.

"An impressive retinue you've brought to receive me."

RE: Love & War [Closed] - saronym - 08-26-2019


The Emperor and his company held their position, blocking the procession of the Prince through the Veridian capital city. Owen enjoyed watching the Prince mount up. He enjoyed that he forced it and that he stood in the way of the Prince. That he stood, literally, between the Delenveaux Prince and the Veridian Queen.

In contrast to the elegant but breezy style of the prince, the Emperor's outfit was of much heavier cloth in garnet and black. The colors of Desdemona with gold details for his station as Emperor. Owen made a mental note to have himself fitted for something more in the Southern style. He was aware how out of place he would look at the Queen's court in his rather severe wardrobe. Plus, it was wildly inappropriate for the oppressive heat.

The smirk on the Emperor’s face advertised that he was tickled by the whole charade. The leather saddle creaked as he leaned towards Master Rivers. “He’s rather pretty, no?” Though Owen leaned towards the other man, he didn’t lower his voice. He spoke loud enough in Eskran for those nearest the pair to hear. A few of the Battle Maidens giggled knowing how their Emperor loved pretty things.

Master Rivers frowned deeply at the comment. “This is not a game.” He counseled his Emperor with the barest whisper so the others wouldn’t hear his scolding.

Owen straightened in his saddle again.

It was a game.

The Prince complimented his company and Owen turned his head to glance at Rowena. Their eyes met and she all but preened for him atop her horse, turning just so the light would gleam off the hilt of her sheathed sword.

“I couldn’t help myself.” Owen spoke loudly in common tongue so that the men of the Prince’s company could hear. “I had to see what kind of man would keep the Queen of Veridian waiting.”

A chuckle from his company. A hiss from Master Rivers.

“Dangerous to keep a woman like that waiting.” He laughed as if it were all a big joke between men. His smile was good-natured but his calculating eyes passed over the Prince’s company, a quick count of the men. Was that all he brought? Were there more camping outside the city?

Master Rivers gave the Emperor a keen stare knowing he was envisioning running through the Prince’s men in an outright brawl. Not that he would do such a thing, but Holland knew what his leader was thinking.

“Besides, a long time has passed since Eskra and Delenveaux had relations.” Owen’s smile darkened. He obviously meant the double entendre. It had been a long time since one of their nations fucked the other. “I came to change that. Ride with me and tell me the news from the road. What kept you?”

RE: Love & War [Closed] - megs - 08-26-2019

Jean-Etienne's life was a series of pretending that things did not bother him. He was the third born son of a powerful nation. He'd have no claim to his family's throne unless he suddenly became interested murder. He was just as educated and well-read and well-trained as the rest of his brothers, but all that was unremarkable by the third time. Insofar in his life his only recognizable achievement would be marrying the queen of Veridian. Therefore he made a show of being nonplussed and insouciant on the surface. Inside he was annoyed at the intrusion and bitter at the gossip he shared with those nearby.

From atop his horse he could see more of the bodies in the emperor's company. There was some chittering women in the forefront. His brows lifted briefly, but he did not linger on them for long. The emperor certainly had a fancy set of whores to flaunt.

"I've yet to meet a woman that was good for much more than waiting for a man to come," he replied dryly, his indifferent blue gaze returning to bounce between the emperor and his dark-haired advisor. Jean considered Holland for a few moments, determining him not to be of Eskran birth. He vaguely remembered that the queen had an Eskran woman as her handmaiden. He wondered if there was some benefit to keeping foreigners nearby.

Jean didn't particularly trust Maeve. He made a mental note to have her removed when he was king.

"It's been entirely too long since Eskra had a stable rule," he returned. Meaning, too long since it was considered worth fucking with. Jean ignored the shadow in Owen's smile. "It would be nice to see it put back into something resembling order. It's too large of a country to be so out of sorts like that." Jean kept pace with the emperor while the rode towards back towards the castle. The bustle of the market returned to normal in their wake. "There was a burned bridge," he explained. "An alternate route had to be taken."

RE: Love & War [Closed] - saronym - 08-27-2019

The Prince was a goblet of fine wine but he was a shallow pour. Or so was the estimation of the Emperor after a brief observation. People saw fit to call Owen a simple man, a commoner. The truth was that so many of the what he called Blood Lords, those born to rule, were the ones who were truly simple and so like one another as to be almost indistinguishable with one another. Owen felt as if he knew Jean already just by watching the way he carelessly glanced over the Eskran company as if they were beneath him, especially the Battle Maidens. He felt as if he had met him a dozen times over already.

Owen gave Jean a snorting grunt in acknowledgement at his vulgar commentary. "Can you be so sure she was waiting on you?"

Master Rivers kept silent but kept a steady and pointed gaze on Jean’s face, easily meeting the haughty Prince’s eyes when they came to him. He wasn’t one to fawn at the feet of foreign royals though he showed his respect with a slight incline of his head.
Owen’s second grunt was more hearty as he considered Jean’s criticism of his homeland.

But it was Holland that spoke up.

“The Eskran people refused to accept the mediocrity and corruption of those who’d grown too comfortable in their rule. Let our instability be a less to southern lords…” He paused knowingly, “and ladies.”

Owen raised his brows but didn’t show any displeasure with Holland’s addition to the conversation.

“Master Holland Rivers, my Lord. Advisor to the Emperor.” Holland added his introduction.

“Now, what has Delenveaux to teach a new northern Emperor?” Owen asked of Jean. “Master Rivers says I need a wife. Perhaps, you have some advice on that front?”

RE: Love & War [Closed] - megs - 08-27-2019

"I can't imagine she'd have much better to do," Jean said with a self-satisfied chuckle. He lifted one hand from the saddle horn to inspect clean fingernails. His arrogance was palpable. Ignorantly he made his misogynistic commentary without realizing that he was not among friends. In that or in any regard. Jean-Etienne was a man who did not perceive many things outside of his own, disgustingly small worldview. "She's been without a husband for too long," he continued. "She needs a man to keep her in line. They should have married her off a long time ago."

The prince wondered if he hit a nerve; or perhaps the emperor was too stupid to formulate a clever response past those barbaric grunting noises. He was surprised when it was not the emperor but the man who had been riding beside him that spoke up. He barely his a smirk behind a cough. So he had smarter men to speak for him it seemed. "A lesson, indeed," he agreed. "In how not to properly run a country. I don't envy the challenge ahead of you."

They were coming up on the castle now. It wasn't a particularly long ride, as the Queen's residence was nearly in the center of the capital city. If nothing else about the southernmost territory, Jean-Etienne was impressed by the architecture. Veridian's had such an interesting way of building things, to keep them cool when they needed to be cool and warm when they needed to be warm. He grinned appreciatively at the structure. Constantly daydreaming about how it would be his one day.

He could see Julianna waiting for them - for him- on the castle steps.

"My advice?" He leaned on his horse towards the emperor as if they were speaking in confidence. "Get yourself a charming little princess from a more established nation. You can profit on them while you pull the north out of the mud."

RE: Love & War [Closed] - saronym - 09-04-2019

As the Prince continued his misogynistic remarks and commented on the relative struggles that ruling Eskra would entail and how he ‘did not envy’ the Emperor’s position, Owen snorted derisively. He brought his horse closer to Jean’s and clapped the Prince hard on the back. “You southern men have lost your sense of adventure. It’s no wonder you want your women meek and mild! They’d have to be for men like you to keep them under your boot.”

His laugh wasn’t the hearty and good-natured one he employed when he was telling jokes. No, the Emperor laughed at the Prince with cruelty. “My Battle Maidens could show you how to fuck and fight like a proper man.” The acerbic commentary earned chittering laughter from the women that rode with them.

Owen nodded towards the fiery little queen that awaited the entourage. She stood with obvious impatience and displeasure. Chin in the air and her hands on her hips as she observed their approach from the castle steps. “Maybe then that little queen would let you have her.”

With a guttural sound of instruction to Cimmerian and a kick from the Emperor, the stallion surged into a gallop as they passed under the castle gates. The stallion’s hooves rung loud over the stone walkway. Owen surged past the tense guardsmen that lined the steps as Cimmerian galloped with surprising grace for a horse his size up the steps to the landing where the queen waited. He pulled Cimmerian to a stop and turned the horse to stand at Julianna’s side with his back to the rest of them. He rested his hands on the pommel and smirked down at her entirely pleased with what he imagined to be a gallant display.

“I have brought you that tardy third born prince, my Queen.” He said in a voice low enough that only the nearest guardsman would be able to hear. He turned Cimmerian again so that they stood in profile to the audience below. Owen gazed down at the company.

Holland moved up next to Jean on his horse and was now speaking to him.

Owen jerked his head to the dark-haired men below, “What do you think they’re saying?”

In the courtyard below, Holland leaned close to Jean. “You are a fool, Jean-Etienne,” he whispered boldly to the Prince, “if you think a Queen waits for a prince -- third born at that -- when she hosts an emperor. I hope you have your wits about you. If you want to win the hand of a Queen, you’ll need more than a paltry treaty and the threat of enforcement.”

RE: Love & War [Closed] - megs - 09-05-2019

Julianna felt exactly as described. Impatient and displeased. She had been told that the emperor and most of his company had taken leave of the castle in the morning, but for what, she was unable to discern. She did not think he would have been so bold as to greet the prince himself at her gates. The queen was impressed and livid, and-

She observed their approach with a passive expression. Even as the naughty emperor surged away from the group on his giant mount. Julianna help her ground as he trotted right up to her. Her guards did not react to his approach without a signal from her. Today, she wore a long green dress made of some light and airy fabric meant to keep her cool and dry in the oppressive southern heat. Gold detailing and decorate swaths of fabric fell off and over her shoulders showing off the dark spots that trailed over her arms. Green jewels glittered in gold settings at her throat and on her fingers and in her crown nestled into dark tumbling curls. She had been notified of the princes' arrival and had dressed to the occasion.

The queen did not look at the emperor because she refused to look up at him so much. It was bad enough that he towered over her on the ground. It was ludicrous how high he was atop the horse. Julianna broke character long enough to gently pet Cimmerian's snout and she couldn't help but glance up at Owen when he referred to her as his queen. She sighed loudly. "Did you have to bring him with you?" She complained, as the horse snorted and sniffed at her empty palm. She reached into a pocket on her sash and produced a brown sugar cube that she offered to him. Cimmerian accepted the treat and licked her hand clean until Owen redirected him. She dropped her hands, ears twitched with amusement.

She looked down to where Master Rivers and Jean-Etienne were speaking in confidence. "It's hard to say," she mused. "The prince isn't happy about whatever it is. You can tell by the pinched face he's making. As if he just smelled something sour." Julianna laughed, like were sharing some private joke, moving to descend down the steps and meet the prince as he dismounted.

Maeve was also watching Holland speak to the prince with curiosity. Such a bold man to speak to a prince in such a way. She considered whether she thought him brave or stupid.

The queen was not wrong. Jean-Etienne was fuming over the verbal insults he had just endured in the company of the Eskrans. He couldn't believe that a servant would be so bold as to suggest that he was in competition with the other man. He had confidence in the treaty, and no barbaric northerner was going to get in the way of that. Yet, he eyed the emperor suspiciously as he spoke closely to the queen. He did not care for the way she smiled at him.

Jean mounted the steps to meet her halfway as she came down to greet him. That little smile she had worn for the emperor was fading. "Julianna, so wonderful to see you," he greeted, arms out as if he would embrace her. "You look, lovely," he complimented lamely as she stopped just before his outstretched hands. Fingers balled into fists as she bowed politely instead.

"How wonderful of you to finally join us," she replied. "I suppose I must thank Emperor Hartwydt and his company for greeting you in my stead. I found myself surprisingly indisposed this late morning."

RE: Love & War [Closed] - saronym - 12-17-2019

Holland’s mask of composure broke for a moment and he seemed to sneer at the Prince’s back as he walked away.

Attentively, Holland watched the greeting between the parties on the steps, but he became aware of a gaze on him. He glanced away and found his eyes meeting that of the Queen's Handmaiden, Maeve. Holland realized that sometime during the ride, he had pushed his sleeves up. The damned heat. His forearms boldly displayed the tattooing that was so often seen as an abomination. The willful destruction of the body. He quickly pushed his sleeves back down again and neutralized the expression on his face.

He inclined his head serenely to the Handmaiden before folding his hands carefully before him. “Lady Maeve.” He greeted her somberly moving closer to say, “These will be complicated days.” His eyes went to the trio on the steps and then to the mixture of armed men and women in the courtyard. Veridians, Eskrans, and Delenveaux.

“Your queen has a choice to make, it seems, yes? And consequences to weigh.”

Meanwhile, the mischievous Emperor smirked at Julianna’s description of the prince’s puckered face. “Ah! I thought perhaps his soft asshole was not used to the abuse of a saddle. He was riding in a carriage before.” Owen was apparently not worried that his use of profanity would offend the Queen, he had already learned that she was rather spunky. He thought it might make her laugh.

Owen perked in his saddle, rising up again as Jean began mounting the steps to greet them. Owen turned Cimmerian once again so that he flanked the queen. He thought the two of them must have made a sight to those below. The Emperor on his stallion with a gleaming onyx coat. He in crimson and black the colors of war. And the queen in her finery standing with haughty confidence.

“It was my pleasure, Your Majesty.” Owen announced as he dropped down from the saddle at last. He still towered over the both of them. One of his guardsmen without requiring instruction moved up to take the reigns from the Emperor to lead Cimmerian back down the stairs and to the stables.

“Travel can be slow with such a company. And a carriage.” His expression was neutral as his gaze looked beyond the prince and down at the people gathered in the courtyard below. The Emperor seemed keen on reminding the Prince, or poking fun at the Prince, for his relatively small force in comparison to the Eskran force.

So many of the faces in the courtyard below were Eskran. They were easy enough to spot with their light hair in elaborate braids, new sunburns, full armor, looking intimidating. Owen hadn’t bothered to ask the Queen permission to populate the castle with his deadly retinue. He had simply done it.

Owen pulled his hands out of his riding gloves and tucked them into his belt. His hands were red from the heat. It was brutal. Unlike anything he had experienced.

“I would certainly like some of that delightful chilled wine. None of the rum, it makes me much too bold.” His eyes twinkled at the Queen and he was obviously referencing the debacle of their first meeting when he had been drunk on rum. “Oh, and I’d love some of that little fruit covered in brown fuzz.”

RE: Love & War [Closed] - megs - 12-17-2019

Maeve had not been interested in Julianna's being reunited with the lowly prince. Even less so in the disruption Lord Hartwydt threatened to bring to it. Which was not very responsible of her, but for now her attention was on Master Rivers. She had gotten a taste of his clever manipulations while she visited with him about the matter of the forged invitation. It seemed he had already begun his work on Jean-Etienne. Which was effortless, really. The sensitive prince was easy to rile up. It was likely her low chuckle smothered by closed lips that drew his attention to her. She'd caught him with his mask off for a moment. He interrupted her spying on his elaborate tattoos by pulling down his sleeves and her violet gaze darted to his face.

"Master Rivers," she returned, as propriety dictated with a gentle smile. She turned her face to where her queen stood, observing in the same way as he. She took note of how Julianna still stood closer to the emperor than her supposed betrothed. How the smile she wore for the Eskran and his antics was absent in the presence of the prince. "You may be surprised to find that they won't be as complicated as you might think," she mused back to him. The thought did not please her, but she knew Julianna well enough to be confident in her words. The queen was breaking her engagement to Jean-Etienne, she knew that was a fact.

It was starting to occur to the handmaiden that the queen had some idea of who would replace him.

"You are not wrong, however. When you speak of consequences."

Julianna hid a chirrup of sharp laughter behind a cough. A hand raised to her mouth to smother a smile. "Stop it," she hissed at the vulgar emperor between her fingers. Her eyes shined with amusement. She couldn't have him making her laugh by teasing the prince when he was standing right in front of her.

She cast her eyes over the crowd. It was then that she noticed just how many Eskrans occupied her courtyard. Naturally, they did not outnumber her own guards and servants, but they easily swarmed the travelers from Delenveaux. A touch of concern gripped her suddenly. Her stomach fell. Such a large force had moved in right under her nose, and she knew that the emperor had more troops at the edges of her city. Julianna glanced at the emperor in her periphery.

Mindlessly, she twisted a small ring around her finger with the opposite hand. Did Eskra have plans to invade under the guise of peaceful accommodations?

With her head elsewhere, she took one of Owen's hands with her own. "I will have to have one of my servants bring you a lotion for your skin," she told him, observing the redness. "The sun can do much damage if you're not careful."

Jean-Etienne cleared his throat.

Julianna glanced at him and released the Emperor quickly. She had gotten to used to his over-familiar touching that she forget her own sensibilities. It was doubly noticed by Jean who had just been snubbed at his approach. "Perhaps, we should all retire to our chambers, before this heat gets the best of us all." She smiled, politely. "Lady Maeve will show you and your men to your accommodations Jean-Etienne. I trust my servants will be able to treat you both to whatever you desire."

"Your Majesty. Julianna-" Jean-Etienne interrupted. "I had hoped to spend some time with you upon my arrival-"

"Understandably so," she replied. She did not look sympathetic when she said, "but there are matters I must return to, and I have already postponed too much for your late arrival." Which made Jean frown.

"As queen I have many duties. I'm sure you understand by shadowing your father and brother." She couldn't resist not so subtle jabs towards his status beneath her. "Another time. Soon. I'm sure."

Julianna turned to curtsy sweetly at Owen, and then back to Jean-Etienne to repeat the gesture. Another slight to the prince.
"Enjoy your evening, gentleman." Maeve remained behind while a entourage of guards and maidens accompanied the queen back to the castle.

RE: Love & War [Closed] - saronym - 12-28-2019

Holland folded his hands behind his back returning to the perfect image of a neat servant to his Emperor. He inclined his head agreeing with the Handmaiden’s assessment. “Sage observation, Lady Maeve. We can only hope the Prince’s wrath does not bring with it ruin.”

It became clear as they observed the royals talking that Julianna was taking her leave. “That is our cue.” Holland observed. He inclined his head to her, bowing almost deeper than was customary for her station. “Lady Maeve.” He took his leave with just the utterance of his name and joined the Emperor on the stairs.

The Emperor and his advisor disappeared into the castle, Holland glancing once more over his shoulder at the Handmaiden.

“You’ve found a new sport in humiliating that Prince.” Holland observed, ignoring that he had done the same.

Owen’s usual playful smirk was absent. “He reminds me of the Lords I cut down in Harleck Moher.”

Holland remembered the river of red in the throne room. Beheading after beheading until the rest bent their knees. “You can’t kill all the entitled Lords in the world, Owen.”

“Can’t I?”

“You left many behind in Eskra.”

“I will deal with them when we return.”

“Make quick work of that Queen if you’re going to have her for a wife. Surely those Lords and Ladies remaining at Court aren’t dallying in their plots, diverting themselves with fruits, fine wines, and flirting...”

Owen turned and grasped Holland by the neck, shoving his advisor against the wall. “I will do as I please!”

Holland’s hazel eyes flashed with gold and he smiled, calmly under the brunt of the Emperor’s childish rage. “She’ll lend you a legitimacy those plotting Lords can’t argue with, Owen, but not if there is no throne to return to.”

Owen released Holland and turned on his heel, stalking away from his advisor and his advice.

The Emperor spent the remainder of his afternoon in the rooms provided to him. He was fitted for some lighter Veridian clothing. He took his dinner and drink there. In the evening as the sunset, Owen grew restless thinking of the queen. He licked sugar from his fingers as he leaned over the balcony watching the sinking sun cast molten orange over the ocean. It was much cooler on the balcony at sunset, especially with the ocean breeze.

It was in such idle moments that Owen concocted almost all of his ill-advised plans. Without Holland anywhere to caution him against his newest thought, Owen tucked his checkers game into the waist of his pants and began scaling down and around the side of the castle. He had a fair understanding of the layout to the castle and whereabouts the Queen’s balcony would have been.

Owen didn’t need to guess which was hers as he wound around the castle, because he spied her, lounging on a divan brought out to her balcony and reading a book. She didn’t seem to notice him until he dropped down onto her balcony.

“Pardon the intrusion, I didn’t mean to frighten you, Your Majesty.”

RE: Love & War [Closed] - megs - 12-29-2019

Julianna had had no intention of spending the rest of her day being 'busy,' but she had tired of the boys and their petty games on the castle steps. She had no interest in their posturing and their dick-measuring. As far as she was concerned, they could do that on their own time. The Queen had decided it was too clear and mild a day for her to waste.

She retreated to her own chambers, and treated herself first to a nap. She took all the pins out of her hair and let the loose curls hang over her shoulders. She traded her fashionable gown for a light and airy dress with a short hem that was reserved for her private moments. It was meant to keep her cool, more than modest. Starling snored next to her as the dozed on top of the covers of her large canopy bed. The curtain were drawn wide to allow the breeze from the open balcony doors to flow freely.

Maeve bringing her a light supper woke her. Julianna enjoyed warm bread and sharp cheese while Maeve aired her grievances about Julianna's obvious preference for Lord Hartwydt.

"I just don't think it's while to be so personal with the Emperor in front of the prince," the handmaiden advised. "You've only just met him, and you're still Jean's betrothed at present."

The Queen knew her handmaiden's words were true and well-meaning. Clear green eyes searched the worried lines of her friend's pale face as she chewed thoughtfully. It wasn't until the Emperor arrived that she had started to see Maeve as Eskran. They looked alike. Fair skin, and light eyes. Long blonde hair.

Julianna smiled at Maeve, but it did not encourage her to smile back. "You are right," the Queen replied. "Until the treaty is nullified I need to be careful."

Maeve seemed to be satisfied with the answer, because she left her shortly after. She cleared the dishes and left Julianna with a bowl of strawberries for snacking and a pitcher of wine, as she retreated to the balcony to read a bit before the day's light had faded.

The queen made herself comfortable on the padded settee lined in silky green fabric, opening her book to a page she had marked with a leather cord.

She was too fully engrossed in the novel to notice that an emperor was scaling the castle, determined to find her, until he dropped onto the balcony with her. As if falling from middair. Though he was quick to apologize from his intrusion, she shrieked at the surprise of his appearance. Julianna clapped one hand over her mouth to stifle the noise too late, while the other flew to her chest. Her heart beat rapidly under her hand.

"What are you doing?" she hissed at him. It was not unkind, she just didn't want to be overheard. On cue, the sound of her chambers doors being opened drew her attention and she left the balcony and the emperor to stay her guards that inquired after her noise. Her tail had fluffed up big and defensively.

"A bug startled me," she could be heard explaining to them, even though she had never been frightened by something so silly in her life. Julianna just didn't want them to know that Owen was there.

She returned to him quickly. She was smiling at him now, ears twitching. If her state of dress bothered her in his presence she did not show it. "What are you doing?" she said again, laughing at him lounging in the seat she had abandoned.

RE: Love & War [Closed] - saronym - 01-12-2020

Owen rose from his crouch with a grin on his face. The queen had clapped her hand over her mouth to stifle the noise of fear she'd made. He heard her guards asking after her wellbeing, and he ducked backwards flattening himself against the balcony railing as far out of sight of the bedroom as he could manage to be. He jerked his head indicating that she should see to her guards.

The last image he had of the queen was that of her shapely ass under the sheer fabric of her lounging dress. And that of her fluffed up tail.

He smiled to himself as he eavesdropped on the queen putting her guardsmen at ease. He stole her place on the comfortable settee. He set the game he'd brought on the table and stuck his fingers into the bowl of strawberries. He picked up the book she'd turned face down and stared at the foreign words on the page.

He could tell it was written in the common tongue as he recognized some of the smaller words. The gr...great-st... gl---. Owen struggled to comprehend the words. But he was acutely aware that the Queen would be returning soon, so he stared at the page attempting to look as studious as possible as he ate a strawberry.

He looked up from the book when Julianna addressed him. His brow arched. "I brought an Eskran commenter's game." He explained, lowering the book again. He opened the wooden case of the game revealing a checkered board and circular pieces made of obsidian and marble. "It's called Gurra Ora. A game of war."

He smiled at her and took another bite of juicy strawberry. "Would you like to play?"