Lochellan was aware of the approach of another mounted soldier, but for the moment she ignored him. Focused on coaxing the enormous black stallion into following her instructions. She sighed a hopeful chuckle when he leaned down to take the treat from her, and risked a pat to his nose. Cimmerian dodged her touch to lower his head and drop the cube. Loch frowned as she watched it be crushed to dust beneath his hooves. Her ears swiveled forward, honing into the sound of laughter, probably at her, from the mounted rider. She took a step back to frown at him instead. Her dark gaze slid over him as Cimmerian’s foot continued to scrape the ground, determined to make his displeasure known, by reducing the sugar to nothing. Loch liked his beard, and the curve of his mouth even though the shape of it was suggestive of amusement at her expense. Her tail swayed slowly behind her knees.
“Yes,” she replied tightly to his statement, which was becoming more obvious as she was in the stallion’s company. She was forced to walked with the horse, or be dragged by the reins as he wanted to move closer to the grey speckled steed. “He is proving to be quite...difficult.” Not being aware of the man’s station, left her unwilling to insult the emperor's mount in such a casual way as he.
One of her ears fell lopsided as he dismounted. He was tall and she was forced to look up at him. She was used to men being taller than her and she had gathered that Eskran men were just as tall as Veridian ones. Not that she minded. When he was closer she could see that his eyes were a very lovely shade of blue. She may have been staring. Quickly she averted her eyes.
“Thank you,” she said, as she followed him and the two horses in tow. She nodded thoughtfully as he pointed out the relationship of the two horses. She was secretly miffed that it had been so easy for him to turn Cimmerian to compliance. She followed, also not wanting to be left behind. “I’m Lochellan,” she offered. “The stable master here.”
The queen’s handmaiden spent what she suspected to be her last moments of peace, tending to preparations in the kitchen. She did not know what the challenges that the emperor’s visit would present. Though, from what she’d learned of his attitude she did not think positively on the possibilities. She continually instructed the staff to comply with anything that the emperor and his entourage wanted. Her options were limited. Her hands were tied. As long as the queen was absent, she could do nothing despite the authority she carried. An emperor, even a foreign one, left her with no choice but to abide. Especially, if she wanted to avoid the risk of insult.
“Lady Maeve.”
With her thoughts interrupted, she blinked away from the roasting pig she’d been staring her annoyance into. She turned to the steward with a sigh. This was it, this was the exact moment where her peace dissolved. “What is it?”
“The emperor is making his way to the banquet hall.” Maeve tsked. An annoyed snap of her tongue against her teeth. The hall was already filled with food and drink and whatever specific requests had been made. It was fully staffed with men and women that would cater to their whims more easily than she.
“Wonderful,” she replied in a monotone. She turned away from the steward and rested her elbow in her hand she she could rest her chin on the back of her knuckles. “I hope he enjoys himself.” She did not sound as if she hoped he enjoyed himself. When the young servant did not immediately leave, Maeve turned sharp violet eyes on him.
“What?”
“Well. The emperor. He has….”
“He has what?” she snapped.
“He’s requested that you join him at the banquet, Lady Maeve.”
Maeve was quiet for a long time. A deep frown tugging at both corners of her mouth, still hidden by the back of her hand. Of course he wanted her presence. Why wouldn’t he? As if he couldn’t be content by just being haughty, he also had to find new and inconvenient ways to flaunt his power. “Of course. I would be honored.”
She took her time doling out the rest of her instructions, and even a few warnings. Precautions for the emperor insisting on her time and taking her away from her duties. She did not prepare herself quickly for the feast. Her green dress was traded for one in light blue. There was little difference in the cut of it, but the flimsy sleeves were longer and cuffed at the wrist. Hopefully to dissuade any impromptu gazes at her scars. She removed the comb from her curls, letting them fall down her shoulders however they would. Once again, her only accessory was the symbol of her station.
Maeve arrived at the hall, late and unannounced, just as the emperor was toasting to himself. She policed her expression, taking great effort in stifling the urge to roll her eyes. She was directed to a seat next to Lord Hartwydt, and she silently prayed for the queen’s swift return.
Food and drink were presented to her, but she only ate and drank enough to not appear rude. She was in no position to snub the subtle generosities that were being shown to her in that moment. Very pointedly, she had kept her sights off the the emperor. Her gaze flitted between the block of ice that was being carved on the table, and also melting over its polished surface, and the two advisers that sat across from her. Most especially, the one who’d presented her with the forged letter.
When the emperor addressed her, she was forced to look at him. To observe the easy way he’d taken over the spaces offered to him. How very like a conqueror to want more than he was given. She sipped at her water as he spoke, surveying him over the rim of her goblet. Maeve had suspected that he was displeased with her, and she had correctly surmised that her service to the queen was the reason. Eskrans were a proud people, and she wondered if he would even care of the circumstances that led her to her current position.
An adviser interjected. She took note of his name. Given or surname, she wondered? A question for another time. He was silenced, though his information seemed correct.
“I have been with Queen Julianna for four years,” she explained, setting the intricate cup upon the table. “But I am not enslaved to her. I am no longer a slave to anyone. I attend to my duties freely.”
“Yes,” she replied tightly to his statement, which was becoming more obvious as she was in the stallion’s company. She was forced to walked with the horse, or be dragged by the reins as he wanted to move closer to the grey speckled steed. “He is proving to be quite...difficult.” Not being aware of the man’s station, left her unwilling to insult the emperor's mount in such a casual way as he.
One of her ears fell lopsided as he dismounted. He was tall and she was forced to look up at him. She was used to men being taller than her and she had gathered that Eskran men were just as tall as Veridian ones. Not that she minded. When he was closer she could see that his eyes were a very lovely shade of blue. She may have been staring. Quickly she averted her eyes.
“Thank you,” she said, as she followed him and the two horses in tow. She nodded thoughtfully as he pointed out the relationship of the two horses. She was secretly miffed that it had been so easy for him to turn Cimmerian to compliance. She followed, also not wanting to be left behind. “I’m Lochellan,” she offered. “The stable master here.”
✥
The queen’s handmaiden spent what she suspected to be her last moments of peace, tending to preparations in the kitchen. She did not know what the challenges that the emperor’s visit would present. Though, from what she’d learned of his attitude she did not think positively on the possibilities. She continually instructed the staff to comply with anything that the emperor and his entourage wanted. Her options were limited. Her hands were tied. As long as the queen was absent, she could do nothing despite the authority she carried. An emperor, even a foreign one, left her with no choice but to abide. Especially, if she wanted to avoid the risk of insult.
“Lady Maeve.”
With her thoughts interrupted, she blinked away from the roasting pig she’d been staring her annoyance into. She turned to the steward with a sigh. This was it, this was the exact moment where her peace dissolved. “What is it?”
“The emperor is making his way to the banquet hall.” Maeve tsked. An annoyed snap of her tongue against her teeth. The hall was already filled with food and drink and whatever specific requests had been made. It was fully staffed with men and women that would cater to their whims more easily than she.
“Wonderful,” she replied in a monotone. She turned away from the steward and rested her elbow in her hand she she could rest her chin on the back of her knuckles. “I hope he enjoys himself.” She did not sound as if she hoped he enjoyed himself. When the young servant did not immediately leave, Maeve turned sharp violet eyes on him.
“What?”
“Well. The emperor. He has….”
“He has what?” she snapped.
“He’s requested that you join him at the banquet, Lady Maeve.”
Maeve was quiet for a long time. A deep frown tugging at both corners of her mouth, still hidden by the back of her hand. Of course he wanted her presence. Why wouldn’t he? As if he couldn’t be content by just being haughty, he also had to find new and inconvenient ways to flaunt his power. “Of course. I would be honored.”
She took her time doling out the rest of her instructions, and even a few warnings. Precautions for the emperor insisting on her time and taking her away from her duties. She did not prepare herself quickly for the feast. Her green dress was traded for one in light blue. There was little difference in the cut of it, but the flimsy sleeves were longer and cuffed at the wrist. Hopefully to dissuade any impromptu gazes at her scars. She removed the comb from her curls, letting them fall down her shoulders however they would. Once again, her only accessory was the symbol of her station.
Maeve arrived at the hall, late and unannounced, just as the emperor was toasting to himself. She policed her expression, taking great effort in stifling the urge to roll her eyes. She was directed to a seat next to Lord Hartwydt, and she silently prayed for the queen’s swift return.
Food and drink were presented to her, but she only ate and drank enough to not appear rude. She was in no position to snub the subtle generosities that were being shown to her in that moment. Very pointedly, she had kept her sights off the the emperor. Her gaze flitted between the block of ice that was being carved on the table, and also melting over its polished surface, and the two advisers that sat across from her. Most especially, the one who’d presented her with the forged letter.
When the emperor addressed her, she was forced to look at him. To observe the easy way he’d taken over the spaces offered to him. How very like a conqueror to want more than he was given. She sipped at her water as he spoke, surveying him over the rim of her goblet. Maeve had suspected that he was displeased with her, and she had correctly surmised that her service to the queen was the reason. Eskrans were a proud people, and she wondered if he would even care of the circumstances that led her to her current position.
An adviser interjected. She took note of his name. Given or surname, she wondered? A question for another time. He was silenced, though his information seemed correct.
“I have been with Queen Julianna for four years,” she explained, setting the intricate cup upon the table. “But I am not enslaved to her. I am no longer a slave to anyone. I attend to my duties freely.”
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Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-16-2016, 02:18 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-18-2016, 04:25 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-23-2016, 08:42 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-24-2016, 06:58 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-24-2016, 03:04 PM
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RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-24-2016, 05:11 PM
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RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-26-2016, 01:17 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-26-2016, 03:15 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-27-2016, 02:41 PM
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RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-28-2016, 08:51 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-01-2017, 05:23 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-02-2017, 11:48 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-05-2017, 10:16 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-07-2017, 02:21 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-11-2017, 03:46 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-12-2017, 11:36 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-16-2017, 09:41 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-17-2017, 11:16 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-17-2017, 10:39 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-18-2017, 10:06 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-19-2017, 09:08 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-20-2017, 02:11 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 02-14-2017, 09:10 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 02-18-2017, 11:30 AM
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RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 05-07-2017, 09:28 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 05-10-2017, 11:49 PM
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RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-12-2020, 07:10 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-14-2020, 07:14 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-29-2019, 02:17 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-14-2020, 06:11 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-17-2020, 02:35 PM
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RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-20-2020, 04:42 PM
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RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 02-07-2020, 02:26 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 02-21-2020, 09:46 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 03-01-2020, 05:47 PM
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RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 07-25-2020, 12:57 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 03-02-2020, 11:19 AM
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RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 09-12-2020, 01:02 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 09-25-2020, 01:11 PM