Maeve’s face remained impassive as the emperor was quick to insult her station. The place and duties of a handmaiden were different in Veridian then they were in Eskra. Women of Eskran nobility often employed several young girls to take up minimal and vain tasks. A queen in Veridian had but one handmaiden and she was exceptionally close to being a second-in-command. Maeve laced her fingers across her abdomen, her eyes lifting to glance at the dark-haired man over the emperor’s shoulder. She had pegged this man, who was not Eskran given his accent, as an adviser.
He seemed to be doing a poor job of advising.
Violet eyes tracked back and forth between one man and the other, and she tilted her head in response as he tried to smooth out the emperor’s obvious displeasure. Her neutral expression was broken by the appearance of a small smile; a forced nicety . She held her position as Lord Hartwydt’s men began to disperse at his orders. Movement from her periphery drew her attention the approach of the stable master and her apprentices. Perhaps Lochellan would have more luck with the emperor's steed than Maeve was having with the emperor himself.
Eskran soldiers wandering through the city, all but unattended. Maeve pressed her lips together, taking a long, breath through her nose. The given instructions implied that the men were to behave themselves, but Maeve knew men well enough to doubt it would happen. She knew Eskran men even better.
“Of course,” Maeve replied smoothly, as he challenged her with the mention of additional guests. “The more the merrier, of course. The queen would insist.” She would not, but once again Maeve was at an impasse. Her expression and her words did not necessarily match in that instance. “You will find more comfortable clothing, befitting the weather in your rooms,” she spoke as she turned to lead him towards the castle. A rough hand on her arm halted her steps as she was caught off guard. Maeve had grown to comfortable to Veridian customs, as they did not participate in such casual touch. Her sleeve lifted at the insistence of his pushing at it, and she resisted the urge to pull her arm from his grasp as he inspected the raised pink scars that accented her bicep. The circle near her shoulder indicated that she was a slave, the ‘X’ below it that categorized her as insubordinate and a half-moon shape that advertised her of breeding age and possibly fertile.
Her arm returned sharply to her side when he released it, an involuntary reaction as her opposite hand lifted to smooth her sleeve over of the markings. “I will personally see to all of your requests, Lord Hartwydt,” she stressed, aand continued moving forwards towards the castle. “I am sure the queen will be returning, shortly.” Maeve did not make an effort to imply that the queen would enjoy his gifts.
Or his company.
Maeve led the emperor and what remained of his entourage through the castle, upwards and towards the south wing. She did so silently, and while ignoring the gazes of servants whose tasks left them exposed to watching the arrival of the emperor. “The entirety of the south end is at your disposal. Your entourage may choose their rooms as they see fit,” she announced, pausing and gesturing a hand outwards towards the long hall which branched off into several impressive suites. “Your chambers, Lord Hartwydt are at the end of the hall,” she explained, turning briefly to look at him before she swept off towards the room in question.
She unlocked the doors with an ornate key that had been left in the keyhole, and pushed the double doors open and stepped into the room, just far enough to leave the key on a nearby table. Maeve continued to stand by the door, fingers laced in front of her. Her chin tilted upwards. The room was large. Another set of double doors opened out onto a balcony furnished with chairs and table. The bed was dressed in linens of dark green and gold. The black and gold curtains were drawn back on the canopy to reveal that it was piled high with pillows. A full-length mirror, a dressing table and several armoires also inhabited the space.
“I sincerely hope this pleases your majesty. Your belongings will be delivered in a timely manner. Is there anything else I can provide for you at this time?”
He seemed to be doing a poor job of advising.
Violet eyes tracked back and forth between one man and the other, and she tilted her head in response as he tried to smooth out the emperor’s obvious displeasure. Her neutral expression was broken by the appearance of a small smile; a forced nicety . She held her position as Lord Hartwydt’s men began to disperse at his orders. Movement from her periphery drew her attention the approach of the stable master and her apprentices. Perhaps Lochellan would have more luck with the emperor's steed than Maeve was having with the emperor himself.
Eskran soldiers wandering through the city, all but unattended. Maeve pressed her lips together, taking a long, breath through her nose. The given instructions implied that the men were to behave themselves, but Maeve knew men well enough to doubt it would happen. She knew Eskran men even better.
“Of course,” Maeve replied smoothly, as he challenged her with the mention of additional guests. “The more the merrier, of course. The queen would insist.” She would not, but once again Maeve was at an impasse. Her expression and her words did not necessarily match in that instance. “You will find more comfortable clothing, befitting the weather in your rooms,” she spoke as she turned to lead him towards the castle. A rough hand on her arm halted her steps as she was caught off guard. Maeve had grown to comfortable to Veridian customs, as they did not participate in such casual touch. Her sleeve lifted at the insistence of his pushing at it, and she resisted the urge to pull her arm from his grasp as he inspected the raised pink scars that accented her bicep. The circle near her shoulder indicated that she was a slave, the ‘X’ below it that categorized her as insubordinate and a half-moon shape that advertised her of breeding age and possibly fertile.
Her arm returned sharply to her side when he released it, an involuntary reaction as her opposite hand lifted to smooth her sleeve over of the markings. “I will personally see to all of your requests, Lord Hartwydt,” she stressed, aand continued moving forwards towards the castle. “I am sure the queen will be returning, shortly.” Maeve did not make an effort to imply that the queen would enjoy his gifts.
Or his company.
Maeve led the emperor and what remained of his entourage through the castle, upwards and towards the south wing. She did so silently, and while ignoring the gazes of servants whose tasks left them exposed to watching the arrival of the emperor. “The entirety of the south end is at your disposal. Your entourage may choose their rooms as they see fit,” she announced, pausing and gesturing a hand outwards towards the long hall which branched off into several impressive suites. “Your chambers, Lord Hartwydt are at the end of the hall,” she explained, turning briefly to look at him before she swept off towards the room in question.
She unlocked the doors with an ornate key that had been left in the keyhole, and pushed the double doors open and stepped into the room, just far enough to leave the key on a nearby table. Maeve continued to stand by the door, fingers laced in front of her. Her chin tilted upwards. The room was large. Another set of double doors opened out onto a balcony furnished with chairs and table. The bed was dressed in linens of dark green and gold. The black and gold curtains were drawn back on the canopy to reveal that it was piled high with pillows. A full-length mirror, a dressing table and several armoires also inhabited the space.
“I sincerely hope this pleases your majesty. Your belongings will be delivered in a timely manner. Is there anything else I can provide for you at this time?”
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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
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-24-2016, 04:01 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-24-2016, 05:11 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-24-2016, 05:57 PM
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
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-27-2016, 04:15 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-27-2016, 07:49 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-27-2016, 08:40 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-28-2016, 08:29 PM
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
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 04-12-2017, 08:40 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 05-01-2017, 05:59 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 05-07-2017, 01:59 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 05-07-2017, 09:28 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 05-10-2017, 11:49 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 05-15-2017, 06:25 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 05-30-2017, 08:25 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-12-2017, 08:55 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-20-2017, 07:46 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-22-2017, 09:00 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-22-2017, 10:08 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-22-2017, 10:37 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-24-2017, 05:36 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-24-2017, 07:29 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-25-2017, 09:11 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-25-2017, 09:57 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-25-2017, 10:18 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-26-2017, 10:29 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-26-2017, 08:02 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-27-2017, 11:32 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 06-29-2017, 12:12 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 06-30-2017, 06:01 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 07-17-2017, 07:45 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 09-07-2017, 07:37 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 09-10-2017, 11:21 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 09-14-2017, 11:42 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 10-17-2017, 04:18 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 11-02-2017, 06:36 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 11-29-2017, 02:14 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 11-30-2017, 04:02 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 02-03-2018, 09:47 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 10-14-2018, 04:46 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 11-13-2018, 01:11 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 08-24-2019, 10:57 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 08-26-2019, 12:19 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 08-26-2019, 03:55 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 08-27-2019, 01:28 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 08-27-2019, 02:34 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 09-04-2019, 05:21 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 09-05-2019, 04:40 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-17-2019, 01:33 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 12-17-2019, 05:29 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 12-28-2019, 08:44 PM
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
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-17-2020, 05:02 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 01-31-2020, 06:36 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 02-06-2020, 06:24 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 02-21-2020, 05:59 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 01-20-2020, 04:42 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 02-01-2020, 02:51 PM
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
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 03-10-2020, 07:28 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 07-04-2020, 12:48 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 07-25-2020, 12:57 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 03-02-2020, 11:19 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 03-14-2020, 12:34 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 07-23-2020, 09:57 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 08-25-2020, 11:02 AM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by saronym - 09-12-2020, 01:02 PM
RE: Love & War [Closed] - by megs - 09-25-2020, 01:11 PM