|
Post by Chief Baliff Ealora on Sept 10, 2010 0:27:39 GMT -6
August 19th It seemed such a remarkable thing. A whirlwind of events that cascade into one another till the blur is so intense it is hard to know where it began or where it would end. Doctor Solar had asked for permission to study her and like a 'good' girl she had agreed. The reasons were many and none made sense except the small stretch of hope it would lead to something. There was something she was missing, of this she was completely certain, something was out of place. Of course she had no memory, but she felt out of place here, disconnected. An here she had been issued by Governor Mendoza to host a party for his friends in honor of making her his ward. This was what she thought about after breakfast and dressing in a gown that remained a little loose on her form while she waited for Magdelina and the Tailoress to arrive in the room. Mumba sat in his own little world, her constant shadow since the day before, all he did was scribble in his pad of paper notes she was never allowed to see and even now his attention was on the book rather then her. The door swung open and Lyra turned within her chair as the Maggie moved inward followed by a dark haired and tanned beauty. Was this the tailoress? Lyra brow perked upward and then fell as she smiled to the wayward looking girl who was followed by servants carrying bolts of fabric of varies colors and one with a trunk. All were set down in a corner and then the door closed to leave the four of them alone. For hours Lyra and the tailoress worked on designs, taking measurements, going through fabrics and gowns that had been pre-made that would need to be taken in. Mumba himself saw nothing causing enough for a note in the book as he watched the scene though the man behind his dark skinned blushed when Lyra got down to her skivies to try on each pre-made gown. The Doctor had been right in his assessment that she had no inhibition to be unclothed in front of other people. "What about this one? Oh Lyra with your skin tone, you will glow!" Maggie asked as she held up bolt of pink fabric and held it against her body then did a twirl and laughed. Lyra head came up from watching the woman working on pinning the gown of sunflower yellow that she had tried on. As her eyes hit Maggie, she seemed to feel fuzzy and lightheaded. Oh I like this one, see how it shimmers. The woman turned casting a flash of firey red hair in a blur as she did her turn. Lyra gasped at the memory, her first one seemed to sink right into her heart like an arrowhead, painful and exciting. She stumbled against the stand she stood not even feeling the needle that pricked her skin as the tailoress slipped in the surprise of the lady she was working on. "My Lady!" Maggie gasped in surprise as Mumba jumped up from his little corner. "What is it Lyra? What did you see?" He asked his pad of paper at the ready. "Red..red hair..." Lyra spoke in a whisper, her hand against her heart as if she had indeed been assaulted by an arrow. "Do you remember a name? A face?" Mumba asked scribbling in his pad. "No..." Lyra hummed all most in disappointment then noticing the worried and confused faces meeting her, her face flushed, embarrassment or anger, not really sure but she jerked back gripping the desk in the room as she tumbled to it. "Get out" She hummed in a stronger note and when they only continued to stare at her, her voice rose "Get Out!!" As the trio filed out of the room and the door closed behind her, Lyra sank to the floor, her skin crawling, her muscles spasming beneath her skin and she buried her face within her hands and cried.
|
|
|
Post by Chief Baliff Ealora on Sept 11, 2010 21:01:33 GMT -6
Senora Morales
The good benefactors of the water-found, memory-less waif deemed to give her the finest of everything. To make a lady was more though than the cut of fabric. It was in the breeding. How many years too late was she to the cause of molding youth? Youth was not a factor here. By all accounts the 'young woman' was beyond her gentle years and well to the point of having lived in her skin. It could be a scandal if it were any other woman but not every woman was under the protection of the Governor Mendoza. To this end Senora Morales had to release all of her preconcieved thoughts. It would not be worth it otherwise they wouldn't have summoned her. Morales - a noble of the finest houses, responsible for the most well bred young ladies marrying to the most influential men. Her own blood was blue by 3/4, the last 1/4 risen by sheer elevation. Having seen her own daughters well wed it would be no trouble to help the lost.
Or would it?
Senora Morales gave a flip of her still thick, black hair before offering a rat-a-tat-tat to the chamber door. "I expect each lesson will occur at the time given. Ten. Not a moment after or a moment before. A lady is nothing if not punctual. Well, see she is ready!" A wave of hand. tut-tut. Let us hope the student was more enabling to punctual practice's teaching than the staff. Tropical fever would take hold and cause her to die before they opened this forsaken door. What was Mendoza thinking? Lady Lyra
For the most part, she had enjoyed her day with the tailoress though the swimming memory of a red haired woman was still in her mind as she lay in bed that evening. She always dreaded sleeping as she never slept soundly, there was always something that held her back from sleeping completely as if she were waiting for sounds of restlessness that didn't come until Maggie showed up in the morning. Always she awoke with a start as if all most remembering something from her dreams and yet never able to once the roll of reality settled in. Inigo had said he had sent for a teacher for her, but of what she was not sure, she hadn't been listening the night before. Mornings always started early in the Mendoza home so by the time Senora Morales arrived, she was dressed and finishing breakfast when the rap on the door sounded. Maggie left her place to answer the door bobbing in a small curtsy at the woman as Lyra licked jam from her fingers. "Senora Morales my Lady" Maggie had been informed who was coming and knew the woman by reputation and nothing else as maid swung the door open further to allow the teacher in. Senora Morales
Senora Morales was not a woman to be kept waiting; the devil would skitter away from the full skirts of the woman who brought most to the proverbial knee (in homage to a superior of course.) "Good morning, where is the student, the one known as Lyra," her Spanish accent was thick, "I have come to fulfill the want for etiquette. Well?" The door was opened but where was the anointed? Obviously she wasn't going to be working on the maid who if anything was simply slow in the head. "With the required presenting only a little away it is tadamount we be prepared do you not agree, a good reflection outward and inward." Lady Lyra
Lyra russet hair had been left unbound swinging low all most kissing her behind, it moved like a curtain as she leaned forward in her chair as Maggie introduced Senora Morales. One foot was propped up onto the end of the table despite her green day dress she had been attired in. Maggie was quite used to the unladylike way Lyra sat in her solace. At least she had a head to sit more properly in public was the maids reasoning. "I am Lyra" Her voice seemed to purr in an accent that could not truly be placed, mulled as if years upon a foreign shore other then her homeland and the homeland was still a mystery. Maggie cheeks began to flush as Senora Morales explained why she had come and Lyra grinned, a delicate brow arched upward made it seem as if she had an inkling of being troublesome but it was anything but such a thing. "Etiquette?" She asked and then hummed in a small laugh. Celadon eyes swung to Maggie who stepped back further ushering the door back as far as it would go as Lyra spoke "Please come in Senora Morales" Senora Morales
Senora Morales entered the domicle in a dress that was high necked, for she was a matron. Dagger sleeves as if to indicate her piecing nature, and the color was a simple shade of beach sand. She was appraising everything from the way in which Maggie opened the door to the way her mistress sat in repose. Dear God, she thought, her work was cut out for her. "Hola, Mistress Lyra. As you have heard my name is Senora Morales. Your guardians have decided that you are to have lessons in etiquette, the social graces of the day to make the best presentation of yourself from this day forward. I will be coming, the next several days, promptly at ten. The first lesson, Lyra, a woman of grace and breeding shows this best in her timing. Peasants move in timing with sun, planting, so we move in timing by our events, our responsibilities. This means you should be ready, much sooner. What if a guest arrived early? What if more came. Timing. Breakfast, if I may say, is not for ten. The heavier morning meal is at nine. Some take early repast if they rise depending on what is before them. I suggest eight. You may eat unhurried, dress, and be prepared. For a married woman her life is before the sun, as is a dutiful daughter. Most of stores welcome patrons as early as six. he lady of a manor, a wife or a daughter, should subscribe to this. I say we first begin with 8. One must not rush these things, but take note. Time..is everything." Lady Lyra
"Maggie, close the door" She hummed softly as Senora Morales came in giving her speech of which Lyra seemed unheartily interested in and as Maggie started and closed the door with embarrassment at her obvious shock, blushed. "Your mouth to little one" Lyra hummed in a small note and then turned her attention back to Senora Morales. "You are my only guest Senora Morales and I had not been aware of what time you would arrive, my sincerest apologizes my breakfast was not completed before your arrival" She purred, at least she was trying to be civil. "I shall take your suggestion at hand." Her foot was promptly put on the floor and her dress smoothed down over her leg before she rose from her chair. "Pray, continue, I find this quite fascinating" The the tone of her voice and look on her face said she would enjoy vomiting more then lessons in being a proper woman.
Senora Morales
"Good, receptiveness is good in a woman. Essential. We must take much and do with it what comes from very little in this world. God made Eden from nothing, so the daughters of Eve must continue to make Eden. Men will blame a woman for expulsion from the holy garden for all eternity but they will surely sing her praises, as they have in the era of miracles as they do now, if we are but a taste of that Eden. " She looked at Maggie, paying her a cant of head as the door was sealed shut. With hands folded she walked over to see what she worked with. To..see..what sort of sow's ear she was fashioning in to a silk purse. "So..lift yourself higher, shoulders back, Mistress Lyra, women float, even if you are not a queen you must have the carriage of one little lower. Let me see." She waited, eyes with two blinks, a tilt of head. Lady Lyra
You've GOT to be kidding me. This resounded in Lyra head as she folded her hands in front of her. The woman clearly did not get that Lyra had been being a hypocrite. No matter. Inigo had obviously wanted this for a reason, what that was yet, Lyra was not sure but she had no doubts she would figure it out. She had lost her memories but not her instincts, not her intelligence. Celadon eyes turned as the woman walked around her then turned to Maggie who was giggling from her corner at the direction given to her mistress. Lyra head turned, first left and then right jutting her chin out her neck gave a sickening crack and in essence, released the tension in her shoulders before she was rolling her shoulders backward and in effect, jutting her breasts outward. She felt like a chicken in this stance. Senora Morales
"Better. Much better, now.." She gently took a hand to move it against Lyra's face to adjust her head just so, like an artisan with clay. She was certainly a pretty thing, if a little jaded. Ah, well what washes up on shore....hmm. Christian charity was a glorious thing "Perfect. Now, let us walk around the room together. Much as a lady has good carriage and stance, she moves with silent grace. In this way there is no question of her lineage, no question that she is among the elite. " She stood to the side of her, instructing her to walk with her. "How do you feel of this party, Mistress Lyra, I hear will be where you will be presented." Lady Lyra
Even as the teacher adjusted the students head, Lyra attention again turned to the giggling maid. Oh she was going to get it later. Maggie was increasingly learning to ease up in her mistress presence and lately the only fun Lyra found was late at night when the two of them goofed off. Her eyes turned as Senora Morales came to stand beside her showing her how to work and even Lyra could not help it, she burst out laughing. "You look like you are walking on egg shells Senora. It can not be comfortable to walk like this." In her laughter Lyra had lost the roll of her shoulder and forced herself to correct her stance. "You can dress a dog but underneath it is still a dog, likewise a pig in a dress will still wallow in the mud." She offered the woman about women moving with silent grace. There was a notion of someone who fit this, a queen who moved not like a queen and drank and laughed with her people as if a peasant. Who was this woman? Lyra awkward dance to try to walk the same way her teacher was stopped. She knew a Queen like this but she could not make out a face, it was a feeling, like knowing a name and not being able to see a peasant. Who was this woman? Lyra awkward dance to try to walk the same way her teacher was stopped. She knew a Queen like this but she could not make out a face, it was a feeling, like knowing a name and not being able to see a face though she could not remember either. "What?" She asked having lost track of the woman talking. "Oh..uhhmm" Realizing Senora Morales spoke about the party and she shook her head. "I'm not one for parties, although I am only guessing, it neither excites nor distresses me Senora." Senora Morales
"No child, it is not egg shells, it is breeding. A breeding you will need to display unless you would have it said your guardian is beyond himself in these expectations for you so you might have a life of means. So, it could matter less if it were pig or dog here, that pig or dog would turn into a dressage stallion. You are a woman, of beauty. So it is better to display that. Now..try again, keep walking. Shoulders back, head erect, chest up. fluid strides. It should please you perhaps for he will be presenting you, you as his ward, like a daughter. Does not a daughter seek to please her father?" Whom did she bring about in memory? Most every Queen in Europe save one? Senora Morales softly side as she sat at the chair now only to watch. This would require a firm hand. "You are getting better, speak not for a moment after you reply and concentrate, the trick is to make it effortless." Lady Lyra
Maggie had lost in the corner and was trying hard to cover up her laughing with both hands over her mouth, tears striking down the woman's face at the awkward movements of her lady, she had even slid down the wall to become hidden to be less of a problem. "You can't turn a dog or pig into a dressage stallion Madam, that's impossible." Her reasoning did not stand and Lyra had the urge to fight it and did. Sighing though, she let it slid from there and turned on the spot to head the other way as there was more room now that she had crossed to one side. "I wouldn't know about pleasing a father would I madam? I have no memories of a father." No the Queen in her memory was not proper, graceful at times, posed and elegant when she needed to be but her hands were calloused with years of work. Who had once ruled with an axe rather then a scepter of power over a nation. Who was she, this Queen in her head who's characteristics stood out far more then anything else. Again she strolled across the floor awkwardly as if she was testing the floor for water to slip on more then floating across it. "Don't speak for a moment after replying? That makes no sense." Senora Morales
"Amend your responses when asked, you needn't be so snippish. A dog or pig may be whatever it so chooses if it has the tools to become something else. It's base, its core so to speak fades as the other things shine out. So it is with a woman. Whom she is will be known yet the first impression is everything. You understand the metaphor, you have a guardian, you are his ward, you are as good as a daughter in some respects as he will be seeing after your future. Don't speak after your sentence is done is basically meaning to hush..and walk. Effective now. Walk about the room, then come to sit with me, where we might discuss table manners. Please instruct your maid to be silent, so you may focus?" Lady Lyra
"Now that is something I can agree with, a woman can be anything she chooses to be, despite how she walks or talks." Trust in Lyra to take something said and turn it around. Though it gave her pause when mentioned Inigo would be looking after her future. A future here in Barbados? It didn't seem right, it didn't fit. The puzzle pieces were scattered across the floor and just when she thought she had found the right piece, it turned out to be the wrong one, or the piece disappeared all together. The teacher had now become an annoyance in reminding her that all of this, from the first stem of grass to the mud based mortar holding the homes stonary together was all wrong. She stood for several moments in the middle of the room before her attention was turned towards her giggling maid. "She can't help it, she's nervous in your presence Senora" She continued her awkward new walk across the room and practically fell into a chair, there was no grace in the way she moved, she just merely, flopped down into the chair. Senora Morales
"Still, instruct her, por favor. A lady's maid is also the extension of her comportment. If I make her nervous god forbid what else will. No, no, senorita rise again, and then sit. It will take practice but rise again, then sit. Then once more. With slowness. You despite your talking are no dog or pig. You are a woman. Come.." she sat straight backed as if someone had nailed a board down her spine for always, held up her head on a string. Lady Lyra
"Maggie dear, how about going down to the kitchen for a snack?" She turned a smile on her ladies maid and Maggie who now sat horrified by the teacher rose with a new blush on her cheeks. Lyra gave her pause with a hand on her arm and then the maid was out the door leaving teacher and student alone. Letting out a heavy sigh, she pushed against the armrests of the chair to rise. "Being a woman doesn't mean I have to be uncomfortable when I sit, you look like you have a stick up you..." Lips pressed tightly together. "Never mind" And holding the armrests, she sat again only to rise and then again fall into her chair. Musical chairs anyone? Senora Morales
"It is not uncomfortable, your body is merely not trained for it, nor is my walk painful. One more time the last was better. I wish to see it completely executed. We will work on the walk again in a little while. When you sit, shoulders back, head up. You should be thankful. Backed chairs. When I was a girl we had none of this." She waved her arm at the contraption, making women weak backed and in her opinion weaked willed. How else did women have rigid spines for self if they did not have one in the physical. Tsk tsk.
Lady Lyra
"When I was a girl, we sat on dirt floors" Lyra spoke then stopped, her mouth open. Where had that come from? She looked like a fish out of water who had taken its last breath and died with its mouth open. Was that right? Yes, dirt floors..she remembered dirt floors but nothing else. Damn it all!! Her face flushed with frustration. Gripping the end of the chair she rose and just to spite the woman, she moved as if put on slow motion, a very slow motion even poking out her behind as she sat and ever so painfully slow rolling her shoulders back and sticking her neck out. "You can't enjoy sitting like this, you can't enjoy acting like this. I don't. None of this feels right."
Senora Morales
"I sit this way and it doesn't hurt. You will come to have your muscles adjust, your body favor it..it is like any exercise. Practice, it becomes natural." Dirt Floors? God on high what did they find to bring in this house? As if the Crown hadn't thought it of particular interest to settle on a nation of island heathens did they pick one up too? Alas. Alas! Ah well, it was not of her affair. "At any rate..at the party you will have to walk down the stairs, through the room, sit and stand. All eyes will be upon you, thus your guardian. So if you do not think it 'feels' right, just remember that si? Think of this as forming your body and mind as a living thanks to all being done for you. What do you enjoy discussing, Lyra? What are your interests since you've come here?"
Lady Lyra
"Whatever I used my muscles for before, it was not for sitting or properly as you would call it." She huffed in a sigh pinching the bridge of her nose. This was fast becoming a day she was not liking. How much time had passed? A glance at the window said it had not been long at all and how did it feel like she had all ready been in this woman's presence all day. Yet she could not help but laugh at the woman's return. Part of her felt bad, yes here the woman was trying to help but the other half of her reminded that senora Morales was being paid to do this and probably handsomely. "Senora Morales, I appreciate what your trying to do, I even respect it but this doesn't feel right to me, and I don't believe it ever will." Her back dropped, yes dropped into the back of the chair and she even went as far as to pull her legs up into the back of the chair. "I haven't been allowed to do anything since coming here, not yet at least and what would a woman with no memory enjoy discussing having no memory of sides she has taken both political and social? All I know so far, is that the relief I felt in simply waking up is fading. I don't like not knowing who I am or where I have come from. I don't like feeling as if I am a heap of clay that used to be something...someone."
Senora Morales
"Your muscles will be put to a new use, as this is a new life. I am glad you are appreciative but what feels right or wrong is only foreign. Allow me to offer: a woman is often a blank canvas at any sense of being. If you wish to find what you like, what you don't like in this new place than as well as recovering what you lost you need to give credit to what you've gained. You're reason for being here is as unknown to us as it is to you. If you want out of this room, you need the tools. Like a man going to battle. The social world for a woman is a constant battle. If you wish a say in it, you must learn to survive in it, and how to fight. Appearance is part of it. You don't like feeling like clay, child we are all being shaped all the time by fate, chance. How much of that will you take in your own hands?" She arched a brow, "Manners are the way by which women rule the world. Men think they are in charge .It sounds subversive, but it is truth. Behind ever king a queen. Behind every lord, a lady. If you wish to stand in front, first you must stand behind. It is a woman' slot in life. Not that it can not be used to her advantage." She stood up, walked, effortless. She may have looked uncomfortable but was not, and when she came to sit, she did so as if she were expecting Cleopatra to pay homage. "That is the art of being woman. See how it is done, learn, improve on it. A lady needs many things. Do well here, you can be taken out of the room. A lady has to learn to ride a horse, to make conversation, to host to do so many things. Do this, I can do that." pointed to the door, freedom. The key to freedom: Standing like a damned chicken. Ah well. Cluck, cluck! " There is a difference between a woman's silence and a woman's empty head. You need it filled with new things. The tropics are not so bad. "
Lady Lyra
Her hand raked through those russet strands sending them curtaining in front of her face as she listened to her talk. First impression of her had been a shrew with a stick up her ass but the woman was intelligent and there was much more to her then just her need to correct a sows ear into a silk purse. She had the best reputation on the island for turning a girl into a formidable woman. Lyra had the feeling that Senora Morales would of been a great addition to her life before, someone she could highly respect, something akeen to the opposite of who she really was. Rules and manners were Senora Morales deal but they were not Lyra and yet they seemed to be opposites of the same coin in some respects. Lyra could like the woman, if only somewhat, the whole rules and manner thing really was irksome on the whole but could be overlooked with practice. "Senora Morales, you are a very intelligent woman and much of what you say makes sense but even despite not knowing who I am, my body, my soul wields me to be as it was. I may not remember it but it is still there. My mind is not empty, just shrouded. Barbados is beautiful but I suppose it will take me time to warm up to it and I suspect it is because of who I am, though I don't remember it." She ran her fingers through her hair pulling the long locks back. "May we stop for now? I am beginning to get a migraine. Though I look forward to your visits in the coming days."
Senora Morales
"That is fine. When you wake practice walking, sitting, standing, and some silence. In silence a woman learns much. Maybe in silence you will remember some for private..not for everyone to notice si? " She stood upward, this woman with the reputation of being a titan among her sex, she flicked a soft smile before moving toward the door, "I will appraise you tomorrow. Perhaps I will arrange for you to go riding." She gave a cant of head before heading toward the door.
Lady Lyra
"I will do that" She hugged her arms against her body and offered the woman a smile before she too rose in her seat and followed the woman to the door and pulled it open for her, without Maggie, she was forced to do it herself but it was not such a big deal to her. "I would like that Senora Morales" Riding, somehow that made her heart quicken with excitement and not just to be out of the room but to feel the breeze on her face. Oh yes, she would enjoy that. She saw Senora Morales out of the room before crossing to the bed, dress or not, she flopped into it and pulled the pillow up to crunch up her neck and her head began to pound with the newest information she had acquired, both by teacher and by memory.
|
|
|
Post by Chief Baliff Ealora on Sept 11, 2010 21:03:42 GMT -6
August 21st
All of her free time had been taken up between etiquette lessons and planning the party that Inigo had wanted to show her off to his friends. Things had not gone well since the sparse memory of a woman with firey red hair. The woman lingered in her mind, her face a smudge, unrecognizable though she had trouble believing she would know it even it was clear. The woman danced in her memory constantly, twirling as she held the shimmering material to her body. How she was able to plan the party she did not know. Perhaps something from her past had sunken through the haze long enough to see the manor cleaned, the servants all given direction, the cooking done. Even when it was all done, she felt like an outsider who had watched herself do this without actually able to see her body moving through the scenes. Now she heard voices and music being played downstairs. She could play hostess as long as she was planning the party but Inigo would greet everyone downstairs while she had to come down later. The Tailoress had worked tirelessly for days to make her gown, the pale pink fabric that Maggie had picked out. Now she sat in front of her vanity with her hair done up with only a few cascading ringlets left to dangle. The door opened making the sounds from downstairs louder and she turned within her chair to smile at Maggie as she nodded her head that it was time and Lyra lifted from her place to follow the maid downstairs. Even here in the whirl and twirl of it all, even with Inigo leading her arm, the faces and names he introduced to her was as blurry as the woman in her memory. Her only memory now which she clung to while smiling and showing pleasantries to everyone she was introduced to. The dance was like her existence, a whirlwind of smudged faces that did not make any sense. She felt as disconnected to them as she did to herself. As if she had to much wine and was now nursing a swirling head. She sat within a corner watching people dance between furniture and others grouped together in conversation till the music and voices were to much and she closed her eyes to the scene. She smelled apples. The wind was cool and yet held a breath of warmth to it like summer still clinging to the coming fall. Leaves rustled the ground, torches danced in the night swaying to music that played. People laughed and talked, and here...here she felt at home, peaceful and connected to everything around her. Habibi...a low voice rumbling voice called. Lyra gasped her eyes flying open but the scene before her was as she had left it, the one she had felt disconnected to. Mumba was not far away, his face etched with concern quickly grew a realization, that she had a sensation, a memory of her past and quickly he was taking the notebook from his breast pocket. Lyra set her cup down on a table nearby and lifted up from her chair to fly from the room before he had a chance to ask what she had seen.
|
|
|
Post by Chief Baliff Ealora on Sept 11, 2010 21:05:05 GMT -6
August 22nd Dreams are often said to be a suspension of time, another reality all together or for some, dreams are the reality of the world that continues when you sleep. It is the world your soul experiences why your body is the grounding root to return to. This is why, many scholars say, you can often touch, taste and smell within dreams but not feel pain. Obviously no scholar had yet to dive into the Lyra's dreams. Often within waking she could remember scant details, a smell, a sound that would often melt away with the hours of morning. Yet the one thing that remained in waking, was the pain. Her heart ached with every breath of morning that she awoke, the dreaded sense that she was out of place in the Governor home. Breakfast was not waiting for her when she woke that morning. Odd, for it was there every day. Maggie strolled into the room whistling as she moved about to set out Lyra clothing for the morning. "Good Morning my Lady" she chimed with a smile. "Good Morning Maggie" Lyra hummed sleepily before letting out a yawn as she set up within the bed. "Where is breakfast?" "Oh the Master said your to take cooking lessons today. Come, we must dress you" Maggie replied pulling the covers away from Lyra body and flushing with embarrassment that Lyra was nude beneath the covers. Maggie seemed to dress her in record time this morning. It was barely a half hour since waking and she was leaving her rooms and moving down the hall to the stairs which lead to the lower floor and through the hallways into the kitchen. The cook was a stout woman who did not seem like she liked the idea of teaching Lyra to cook. Why should she teach the girl to cook when she was around. "Morning" The Cook grumbled. "I'm going to teach you to make hot cakes this morning. If you get that right, we'll move on to lunch. Bag of flour is on the pantry self, go fetch it." Lyra despite the gruff nature of the woman, liked her. She was one of a few who did not treat her like she was a Queen on a Golden throne and made of porcelain like she would break. Crossing the kitchen, she saw the bag of flour on the top shelf and strained to reach it. Finding her fingers could not clasp the bag, she did the unthinkable, she began climbing the shelf which buckled under her weight. She gasped as the shelf broke and she fell and the bag of flour went flying. WHAP! The cook open mouth face was hit by the bag of flour and the kitchen that had been spotless was now covered in a thick layer of flour and white thick flour fog. "What the.." The cook sputtered behind a new mask of flour and scowled even harder at Lyra as the woman began to laugh. "Are you crazy, look at my kitchen! Fine fine, no hot cakes this morning then, eggs. on that counter. The pan is all ready hot, it were for cakes but now you best fry up some eggs." This was perhaps the worst idea for Lyra not knowing what was to be cooked, threw the eggs, shell yolk and whites all into the pan and then stood there watching as the whites turn from clear to white. Soon the pan began to blacken and smoke began to seep out of the pan into the flour filled air. The cook let out a scream and knocked Lyra out of the way to pick up the pan and throw it into a bucket of water. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" She screamed at the girl then grabbed a rag and began hitting Lyra with it. "out of my kitchen before you burn us all down, out out!!!" Lyra, wide eyed, waved her hands in apology and began backing up to avoid the towel when she hit the counter, her hand came down on the cutting board and a bowl with mashed strawberry's for jam for the nonexistent hot cakes went flying. The cook face turned as red as the jam as the bowl fell onto her head covering her eyes and nose. "OUUUTTTT!" She screamed and Lyra ran from the kitchen not terrified but laughing.
|
|
|
Post by Chief Baliff Ealora on Sept 11, 2010 21:08:51 GMT -6
August 23rd
There was something about the market place. For the first time since waking up in Barbados, Lyra felt happy. Merchants were calling about deals for their wares trying to outbid a fellow merchant in grabbing a customer to make a buck. People were going from one stall to the other intrigued by one thing or another. For once, she felt happy for it seemed familiar, it sounded familiar and she easily wove through the throng of shoppers with Maggie and Mumba hot on her heels.
"Fabulous new colors. The best for any artist out there!" A merchant called and Lyra despite knowing why, stopped and turned towards the stall as the merchant grinned having caught her attention waved a hand at his wares. Paint supplies.
"I didn't know you liked painting my lady" Maggie hummed then blushed realizing the implications of hers words.
Lyra just smiled at the woman as she looked through the vast supplies. "I don't really know I do, yet there isn't harm in trying is there? Doctor Solar said to do activities that would spark my memory." Her attention turned from Maggie and Mumba who was again scribbling in his pad to the merchant. "How much for this?" An she pointed to a set that included colors, brushes, and canvas.
"Ah for a beautiful lady such as yourself. 30 gold" The merchant grinned, the woman looked as if she had deep pockets.
"Thirty Gold?" Lyra chimed in reply surprised and then laughed. "Oh no, look here, you've plucked some of the hairs from this brush and just made a second one, and this pencil has been turned around in the wrapping, I am betting because the other end is used up. No, I'll give you five, and that's being very generous." Lyra returned.
The merchant face flushed and he shook his head and waved his hand. "no no my lady, the brushes are just fine and that pencil is newly wrapped is all. For you though, I bring the price down to twenty-five."
Lyra turned an eye at Maggie who shrugged. "Maggie, look there, a beautiful broach, its so like you.." She chimed and Maggie turned her attention and was slowly and carefully moving off. When she was out of earshot Lyra moved up to the merchant and backed him against his stalls post holding it up. "Listen here, if you were to try these tricks in my homeland, your hand would be cut off for cheating. You cheat someone, we cheat you back. I'll give you two gold coins for the set and that's generous considering I would love nothing more then to dunk your ass into the ocean and leave you to the pirates to pick up." As she spoke she took out the coins and threw them down onto the table before closing the case and taking up the thin canvas's which she shoved into Mumba face stopping his scribbling.
Why had she said in her homeland? For a moment the notion was there that she knew the place and then it was gone like so many times before. 'Oh how about this one' The red haired woman hummed in her memory turning. Habibi...the voice rumbled and she fled the market back to the Manor, all of a sudden very tired of the market.
It was not until hours later in the darkness before midnight that Lyra room lit up with light and the lady stirred. It was better moving around in this hour. She felt comfort in this hour, where eyes could not see and judge her. She admired the case she had bought, there was nothing wrong with it, except the brushes had indeed been thinned and the pencil slightly used as she had said, it was otherwise perfect and worth more then the two gold coins she had thrown at the merchant. Folding the lid up, she flipped a latch and the top slid across the top and folded back against a board making an easel out of it.
Pulling her chair out, she sat so the easel was slightly above her then opened the draw on the case to take out the charcoal pencil. For several seconds her hand was posed over the blank canvas. For a moment she held her breath and then let it out as the charcoal touched the canvas and her hand moved of its own accord carving the outline of a body as she went.
What about this... She asked in her mind, to who she didn't know but she felt as if there was someone out there who could hear her. Someone connected to her. Who are you? Why do I always feel like you are near me? Why do I feel like you were supposed to come for me? Why do I hear your voice in my dreams? Her fingers worked clutched hard at the charcoal, her knuckle smudged the lines on the canvas as the outline of a form slowly began a body, muscular in the body. A beard outlined the pursed lips that formed neither a smile nor a frown. The hair had taken on a life of its own as well, large dreads hung down to shoulder length. Soon the charcoal was set away and she took up the paints.
Hours into the night she toiled on the painting, working without really seeing what she was doing, asking questions in her mind to someone she did not even know or even knew existed until finally she set her brushed aside, her fingers stained with paint, she left her chair to wash up her hands and throw open her window for a breath of air.
It wasn't for another hour that she finally went to look at the painting again. It was a muscular dark skinned male holding his hand out to her as she sat on the edge of a steaming pool of water She was laughing holding a towel around her but she frowned. In working she had smudged out the mans face. He had no face, it was just a body holding out a hand to her and yet she felt like there should be more to him. Hadn't she been drawing something in his face before? Behind them was a forest the leaves turning from green to golden and burnt ember. Slowly she touched at the canvas to test where the paint was still wet or where it was drying.
What do you think? She asked again touching at the mans nonexistent face. Was this our place? Was this where I existed? Who am I? Was I was happy...were we happy?
Her hand fell away from the painting as she let out a sigh. You can't hear me, can you? She felt an overwhelming despair taking over her as she gripped the painting and threw out of the window, An you never will....She thought as she fell to her knees before the window. Let someone else pass the painting off as their own. She did not care if she ever saw it again. Her memories would not return, they were just taunting her. She was stuck here. Into the midnight hour, Lyra began to sob.
|
|
|
Post by Chief Baliff Ealora on Sept 14, 2010 20:22:27 GMT -6
Here is the following entries of the diary of Lyra, ward of Governor Mendoza. August 24th I have taken it upon my self to keep a journal of my own. Mumba is increasingly secretive on what he writes within his notebook and so I am going to do a little investigation of my own, in this. I find since my arrival the strange sensation I am out of place. A feeling that grows with each passing day. Lyra is not my name, and I find myself questioning more and more as each hour passes, of who I really am. I find this in itself quite an oddity as upon arriving, I could very well live as Lyra for the rest of my days but since seeing the red haired woman from my vision and hearing that rumbling males voice, I am less content to be Lyra and feeling more of a need to find myself once more. Though I try constantly to be as they wish me to be, I find quite often I am less the lady they make of me and more of something else, each trial and turn I take seems to be the wrong way in their eyes and yet seems so natural for me. Today nothing was out of the ordinary except I could not stand the four walls of my room any longer, they feel more like a jail then a bedroom and took a walk outside. There were some village children playing kick ball in the street and the ball unfortunately came my way. Society dictates I should of stepped aside, turned my nose up at them but I found myself joining their game, laughing and smiling in its truest form. That such happiness could come from something so meaningless seems right and true to whoever I truly am. I found myself seeing children who were not there, one with dark hair who smelled of the sea and another boy, darker and with dark dreads like the faceless man I painted, there was also a little girl, fair haired and silent. These children did not have faces just like the red haired woman and I felt myself longing for them as I have yet to never feel before. Who were these children? Why do they still haunt me. August 25th Today was one of those days in which I have done something horribly wrong and yet had a feeling of it being right. The Governor suggested I go down to the beach for the day. The island itself was aglow with the sun and he thought it might be good for me. There were several other people at the beach, some of the wealthy had come out to bask in the glow of the sun. When heated to much, many of the ladies were in their undergarments ankle deep within the water. For a while I sat with Maggie....and Mumba upon a blanket upon the sand but the heat did indeed become unbearable. Without thinking about it, I stripped down to nothing and ran into the waves. The water felt so delicious that I could not imagine being anywhere else as I swam around. I did not even know I could swim but then again, I must be able to considering I was floating on the waters surface when I was found, if I could not, I would of drowned. By the time I left the water, I began to realize that everyone upon the beach was staring. Women were horrified while some of the men seemed intrigued. Maggie ended up fainting, it seemed a good thing the poor girl was sitting down and her body fell over like a sack of potatoes. It is strange to say, but I felt no shame, the same feeling as the Doctor examined me for a report. I strolled over to my clothing and began to dress with my head held high. Why did I feel no shame I find myself wondering now back at the Manor. Inigo did not take the news well and ordered me to my room even before the front door closed. Still sitting here, I feel no shame in what I have done but still am left wondering, what type of woman I had been that I feel no such thing. August 26th For how upset Inigo got at my antics of the day before. I was quite surprised when he showed up at my bedroom door and told me he had a surprise for me. Out in the courtyard was the most beautiful mare I have ever seen and he professed that this horse was for me. He reasoned that although this was a gift for me, it was in no way a reward for what I had done yesterday. I agreed heartily that I understood and would strive to not embarrass him any longer. The mare was a beautiful golden color with a white strip across the bridge of her nose. Her name is Contessa. Inigo went on to explain that she was temperamental and she proved this by bucking against the handler that held her. Inigo promised to have her trained for riding as quick as he could. Of course, something told me, this would not do and despite the voices calling for me to stop, I took the reigns from the handler mindful of the bucking beautiful and shifted them back over her head. Sans a saddle, I got onto her back and before I knew it, we were riding across the fields. It felt so good to ride, feel the wind against my face, something familiar and made me feel less of an outsider in a strange land. I rode her for most of the day and even put her into the stables myself. It felt wonderful, to feel so free for only a few hours in the day. Now late into the night, that sinking feeling has returned, that emptiness and displacement. I pray and hope that God is listening, let me know who I am, where I have come from. Let everything fall into place again. August 27th I cannot describe today. Like yesterday I had an overwhelming sense of freedom and attachment. I was allowed to go sailing today, a small schooner boat. The boat was big enough that Maggie and Mumba could join me but both seemed terrified while I laid out as much as I could and let my hand dip into the water so long my fingers pruned. My face is marred a bit pinkish by the sun but I lay for hours even with Maggie and Mumba huffing in sighs of annoyance that they would not voice. There is not much I can say in this, no memory came and while I am a bit disappointed I have not even had a smudge of a scent or vision of someone in my memory, I am content in the fact that I must of loved sailing or being on the water in my previous life feeling so free and lively laying there in that little boat. August 28th Inigo invited me to see a jousting tournament today. Apparently the island does it once a month at the end of the month and it spans several days while the streets are filled with special wares. He says it is called a Carnival and the tournament is the main event. There was something familiar in watching the men upon their horses battling back and forth with their lances. Apparently, one gains points by knocking their opponent off their horse and then the two battle in the sands with swords. Once one of the opponents looses their sword they then battle it out with staffs. The one with the most points at the end of the three rounds, wins. Impressive to my standards. I felt a familiar thrill watching such an event. A quickening of my heart and an antsy fell to the blood in my veins. Inigo was presently nervous waiting for me to do something wrong but I was to enthralled with watching such a display that I confess to being quite good natured in watching the event and doing nothing other. Inigo has decreed that my behavior is well taken and should I wish it, I can go tomorrow to see the joust again, apparently amateurs from the audience are invited to participate and he thinks I will find it quite amusing. August 29th I confess I have lost myself. In my will to be good, I find myself being horribly bad again, or at least bad in the sen of everyone else. I had every intention of just watching the amateur joust but found my behind lifting out of its seat and volunteering. The announcer found this quite hilarious until he realized I was not laughing nor that I was joking about it. Naturally he could not object as the rules are quite clear that anyone may participate. I was given armor to wear for the ride but found it to be quite loose, the boy attending me apologized and confessed that no woman on the island had ever partook in the actually event. I confess the helmets are not easy to see from and how I managed to attack my target much less knock him from my horse is beyond even my understanding. Round two was swords once again but I find myself wielding it in such a strange fashion, shaky as if such a weapon in my hands was not something I truly wanted. Staffs was infinitely easier and before I even knew it, my opponent was on the sands. I had won the match and yet refused to go on to the next level. I knew then Inigo would not be pleased but it was not for this reason that I reframed, it had been the need to prove that I could do it. That I am not just some wonton woman who takes her clothes off for cash as I have been pondering for days. What wonton woman can also joust, fight with sword and with staff and win? It is an odd combination that I do not find is possible to achieve. My life as I am coming to understand it in some sense, must of been of some intrigue. Even though I do not remember it, I am missing it with every fiber in my being. I still hope, still dream, still pray I may one day return to it. August 30th Inigo has been furious with me all into the evening last night and into today so it quite surprised me when he invited me to picnic in the gardens at his estate. Being Governor, he is quite capable of speech and gave me a long one about his expectations for me and though thoroughly displeased with my behavior at times, he see's in me a chance of reform even if I did not know my life before, he feels confident he can give me a right and proper life here on the land. This was when he most surprised me, for he asked for my hand in marriage. I confess I felt no elation at such a proposal even as he went on to say he could guarantee me a future even if I never found my past and that he was confident I could be a right and proper wife for him. He also expressed his hope that we in time, might have a fondness for each other then the sparse times we have encountered thus far. He said it would be in my best interest to accept his proposal and I find quite surprising that I see a threat in his words. That there is no need for my refusal and he expects my acceptance or worse consequences await me. Stunned into silence, I merely shrugged my shoulders and nodded my head. Now late into the night I regret my decision and yet cannot force myself to recant and see what fate awaits me after. For days I have had no need pinches of memory come to me. Perhaps I have seen only what is left of my memory and it is never to return. The red haired woman, I know her not know from the moment I first saw her in my memory. The voice that called to me in such a strange language and tone of voice, the man I feel can hear me, is perhaps just my feeble hope that should be let go. August 31st Another party. I find I am not able to write much, I am so tired. Faces I have met before have been reintroduced to me as I have now been reintroduced to them as the future wife of the Governor of Barbados. I find this title lacking, this is not me. It enrages me I am now to be called a title and yet I have held my tongue. Swirling faces, no more memories to obtain. I may not get the chance to write again, I suppose I shan't as I now have a wedding to plan. The truth is simple and plan, who I was, no longer exists, there is no one looking for me for perhaps who I was, did not matter to anyone, perhaps in loosing myself and becoming Lyra, this woman that I was has died. I resign myself to my new name, my new fate.
|
|
|
Post by Chief Baliff Ealora on Sept 19, 2010 13:30:13 GMT -6
Two weeks. Two weeks from the day he proposed to plan and host the wedding. It was a short timeframe and though Lyra had ever reason to question why so soon, she did not. She instead threw herself into planning hiring the tailoress Abella Sontiago to create her wedding dress for her. The theme of it was simple, elegance. She had chosen Red and White to convey this. The church had been alerted to the date, the ballroom and Dining room transformed for the guests. Everything went perfectly and without incident that could cause a bride to have a heart attack. In her spare time, she continued to take lessons from Senora Morales but these lessons were often short and consisted mostly of the two women talking, the most unlikely pair had become friends. When she was not planning the wedding, she was riding Contessa about the island or sitting on the beach. She should of been the happiest woman in the world, marrying the Governor of an island, becoming a wealthy and substantial wife but there was something missing, there was always something missing. When she awoke that day, she thought with some discontent, I'm getting married today. There was no feeling of elation, no quickening of her heart. Inigo was a good man who had given her the world in less then a month. She should feel something, but she didn't. The Manor was busting at the seams. All servants were moving like bees in a hive getting ready for the evening reception. Lyra gown hung by the wardrobe door covered in extra cloth to protect it. For a while she stared at it, hoping to feel as a Bride should. From there it was a whirlwind, out of bed, a small breakfast and a quick dress into something sensible before she and Maggie were out the door and on their way to the church where a room was waiting to get ready for the ceremony. Her make-up and hair had been done first before the gown was carefully placed over her head and laced up. Now there was nothing but waiting. She could hear movement in the hall, signs guests were arriving. Hours moved like minutes it seemed and soon dusk was setting outside of the room door a sign the ceremony was not far behind. Her jewelry was the last thing put on, a ruby studied necklace and earrings. She looked everything a Governors wife should, dignified and elegant. A rap sounded on the door and a footman opened it to announce it was time. Maggie and Senora Morales were dressed similarly as bridesmaids and both women smiled in way of comfort and support as the veil was affixed to Lyra head and the lace drawn down over her face before exiting the room. The church had not been decorated. There was an elegant beauty to it all on its own. A praise to God in the dark paneled wood and ruby red draping cast about the room with its stained glass windows. Lyra heart gave a sudden quickened lurk at seeing the stained glass windows though she had seen them plenty of times in the last two weeks. Something was familiar about them and yet the scenes depicting bible stories did not fully click in her memory. The music started and Maggie and Senora Morales glided down the isle before her. The isle itself seemed like it was miles long. She felt anxiety, finally, but it was not elation, it was fear and her hands shook so that she had to cup them in front of her as the assembly rose and the music changed to cue her decent down the isle. For a moment her feet would not move, a few people exchanging looks and then with a breath that was unseen behind the veil, her feet began moving forward. For every step she moved forward, the alter seemed further away. It was like a nightmare, she thought, an oddity to think such a thing gliding down the isle for your wedding ceremony but nothing could prepare Lyra for what happened next. She felt a headache coming on, her head pounding as the choir sung out cords of notes to the music being played slowly faded away and Lyra found herself stopping halfway down the isle. People gasped, Inigo jerked but she didn't see any of this. She saw flashes before her eyes as if the veil had been thrown away from her face. Bright red hot white lights flashed in tandem with her pounding head as one after another of blurry images became clearer. She could not focus on one nor the other for they moved to rapidly she barely had time to process them but she knew them. Images of her son Issa, images of Ra, images of Eppie, Anubis, Isis and Bast. Images of Shaden, of Maahes, of Bess and Adam. Images of Skye and of the sea. They say before you die, your whole life flashes before your eyes. Perhaps she was dying for her whole life flashed before her eyes then as a voice screamed out from behind the images "EALORA!!!!" The images were fast in coming, slow to fade and as reality came back around her, she found her hand was gripping someone else's hand. "Lyra?" The voice was calling in concern but this was not her name. Her head lifted to the face of the voice. Doctor Solar was asking, his face a perfect mask of concern. "Lyra are you all right?" He asked again. "I'm fine" She whispered and squeezed his hand for reassurance. The choir had stopped singing, the music had stopped playing. The church was perfectly and peacefully quiet. Maggie was halfway behind Doctor Solar, her face dazed and confused, even Senora Morales had stepped off the alter and was looking at her. Inigo looked slightly annoyed but there was concern there to. "Continue, please" She offered after a look over the others and doctor Solar signaled the choir and music again which started in a peaceful note as if to not tempt God again. Instead of leaving her, Doctor Solar moved to her side as Maggie rejoined the service at the alter. As she reached Inigo, Solar let go and Inigo took his place taking her hand and elbow and leading her up the steps to the priest who waited. The priest hands came up signaling to the gathered assembling who took their seats as quietly as possible yet there seemed to be rustling and scrapping no matter how quietly they tried to be quiet. "Dearly Beloved...." The priest began. "Stop" Her voice rang out and without turning, she knew all eyes were on hers. Taking Inigo hands in both hers, she lowered her voice to a whisper to best disguise it from the assembly. "Inigo, I cannot marry you...I'm not Lyra...my name is Ealora...I remember" She tried to get it all out in one sentence and found it ridiculous. "I'm not the right wife for you. I don't belong here and now I remember...where I do belong." She squeezed his hands and turned to look at Senora Morales and then back to Inigo. "You have overlooked the perfect wife for you, she is everything I am not. Not only will she do right and good by you, but for the island as well." Releasing his hands, she ushered a hand to Senora Morales and took the ladies hand and placed it Inigo before taking a step back. Ealora had never felt such elation and peace in that moment that she put those two peoples hands together and stepped back. She had never felt such peace and comfort in knowing who she was. Now she understood her madness, now she understood with perfect clarity, who she really was and why it had been necessary to take that away from her for a short time. God had a plan and he had worked it well. The assembly was not prepared for the marriage that would take place that sunset day nor the reception that followed but that was nobility for you, they went along without batting an eyelash. Instead of sitting as bride at the head of the table, she sat within the back watching Inigo and his bride dancing their first dance, receiving confused but well meant congratulations from guests and it was finally Ealora turn. Inigo and now Senora Mendoza waltz towards her as she rose from her seat. "I...."Inigo started and shook his head. It was clearly written on his face that he was confused but relieved in some way not to be married to the girl who had up until today, had no past. "You're welcome to stay with us for as long as you like." He offered. "Thank you but I need to get home. It's been to long and I am missing it each minute that passes." Ealora responded with a nod of her head. "Congratulations to you both." "I don't know how to thank you" Senora Mendoza spoke and smiled at Ealora. "There is no need" Ealora responded and hummed in a small laugh. "I'll have someone go down to the docks to secure passage for you tomorrow. An you may take the clothing and gifts I have given you. That is, if my wife approves." Inigo spoke and then remembered himself and included his new bride in on it who nodded without hesitation. Inigo paused in leading his wife away and turned back "I just have one question. Now that you remember, who are you?" "I'm Ealora" She responded and then dipped into a perfect curtsy for the both of them which seemed to make her old teacher and newly acquired friend beam with pride before being lead away by her new husband to see to the happiness of their guests leaving Ealora alone but she did not stay long, like a shadow, she melted into the night finally feeling that elation that had alluded her all day, elation to be going home.
|
|
|
Post by Chief Baliff Ealora on Sept 19, 2010 13:52:38 GMT -6
September 19th
No matter if it was a clash of swords or the sweep of wind. The lands were always in battlement. Battle to preserve life, battle to win freedom, battle to cling to the last rays of summer but in the end there was always a conqueror. Summer had lost its battle to fall. The wind was restless and unyielding as the sun had been in Summer. The sea which had once been a vibrant blue green had now turned gray and murky with the rapidly coming season of fall. At least the sails conceived and grew big bellied with the wanton wind carrying the ship smoothly through the water.
The land was changing. Vibrant greens were replaced with rusted orange, brown, red and gold. Leaves had long lost their luster of life but that was what fall was, a fall of the world, the death of it into a white winter and then rebirth into spring. The land was like a mystical phoenix, dying in flame and glory only to be reborn from the ashes.
The sails had been drawn in as land came into few past the gray haze of mist that swirled about the island in a signal that could only mean fall had arrived. It felt strange, to be standing on the bow of a ship watching it cut through the water towards home and yet it was not your ship. The Shadow Storm was dead, it had a glorious and rightful death as it should always of had but what of its crew? Was its Captain the only one to survive? What had become of the people she loved and had cared about when she left? She knew what she was doing when she went. Knew past the madness there would be consequences to her leaving. She came home to face them, perhaps not wholly the same woman as she had been when she had left. The madness was gone, there was a change but there something different and yet completely familiar in the woman who stood on the bow as the ship crested the water turning slowly as it came to kiss the edge of the dock.
She had not felt right in taking what Inigo had given her but he had insisted and so had Senora Mendoza and so she had packed each thing lovingly away cherishing the new memories that came with it. A reminder that once she had lost herself. Contessa was stowed away below. She had not thought to bring the horse but then Inigo had showed up with her and had commented she had been a gift. Even Maggie had been gifted to her, a concept Ealora had not sat with well but the maid had said it was her wish to go with her and so Ealora agreed but firmly held to the fact Maggie was her own person and could leave if and whenever she decided she no longer wanted to stay with Ealora. The maid stood at her side as the gangplank was lowered holding a black umbrella over Ealora head to keep the drizzle off though Ealora did not mind the rain, she knew the task would keep Maggie from feeling nervous about a new place. What a day to return home. The folds of her dress were thrust aside as she moved down the gangplank and the faces that turned her way were familiar to her but held confusion at what a regal lady was doing on the island.
"Excuse me Sir" Ealora called to the backside of a gentleman. "Would you mind helping with my trunks, there are only a few and I will pay you handsomely." She turned to usher back on the ship turning her gaze away from the man as he turned.
"Ealora?" The baritone voice ushered in disbelief.
Ealora turned and her heart sank and then rose into her throat as Taylor face looked into hers with stark confusion and disbelief. He was leaning heavily on a cane and her hand went to her chest. That was her fault. His injury. "Ty.."she hummed in way of apology and relief that his face would be the first she saw when she got home.
The cane rapped against the dock as he moved towards her and then threw his good arm around her and pulled her into a hug. Maggie blushed but Ealora ignored her as she hugged her friend moving in a sway from side to side.
"We thought you were dead" He hummed in her ear.
"Who?" She asked pulling back.
"Everyone" He responded.
Ealora was silent, her fingers pressed against her lower lip now. So she had not been listed as missing but dead. No wonder she had not been found, that was why no one had come. Was she really so weak they would think something like her ship being blown up would kill her but then again, who would of known to look in Barbados for her?
"I want to see my children.." Ealora spoke out finally leaving no room for question or argument.
"Hey boy" Taylor called to a passing urchin and a few coins were given to the lad. "Gather some of me lads and take the Lady Ealora things to her townhouse in Turas Lan."
"I'll go with them.."Maggie hummed and blushed when Taylor looked at her curiously.
"Magdelina, this is Taylor." Ealora hummed waving a hand at her old first mate. "Taylor this is Magdelina, my lady in waiting...close your mouth, yes I have a lady in waiting"
Taylor grinned seeing past the fancy gown and ruby studied jewels on Ealora throat and ears, the woman who had left insane. So she was home, and she was wholly herself again. "We need to find you transportation."
"I have it.." Ealora hummed as a neigh sounded and she turned to see Contessa strapped to a pully being lifted out of the cargo hold looking wholly unhappy about being in the air.
"All right, we'll find me transportation.." Taylor hummed with a laugh and offered Ealora an arm. "By the way, Welcome Home"
|
|
|
Post by Chief Baliff Ealora on Sept 25, 2010 12:09:21 GMT -6
Ealora hadn't even made it past the city lines when she turned them around and headed back to the townhouse in the city. Taylor didn't say a word, only wore the worried look on his face as he usually did but it was surprise nothing left his mouth. Ealora did not voice it, but it was strange that he was so silent, he who knew her all most as well as she knew herself and was always questioning her judgement and actions, was silent. Back at the townhouse she had changed into what people would consider normal of her, breeches and a loose tunic shirt. She left Taylor and Maggie to stroll around the city. She had ended up in the Market square sitting on the very fountain where Maahes and she had conceived the triplets. It seemed a lifetime ago and yet the market place was still one of her favorite places to be. For once she felt connected with the land around her, the people she had left behind though there were still plenty she did not know. Yet the feeling was short lived. As soon as she was back at the townhouse, she felt odd, disconnected all over again. Though her heart was overflowing with love of being home, she felt strange as if the whole world had changed while she had slept. It felt like one of her children's fairy stories, wasn't there one about a woman who had a spell cast on her where she slept waiting for her prince to give her true love's kiss. There had been no prince, no kiss to wake her up but here she felt the princess woken from her sleep to find the world around her different then when she had left it. Yet she had a sense the world had not changed, only she had. This was the feeling that was hard to believe. Even if the world outside had not changed, inside the townhouse, change was all around. Crates were packed up in the living space, the furniture covered with white sheets to protect them from dust. So this was what happened when you died, your personal items were packed away while furniture was covered up to hide any existence of you. Magdelina had offered to begin unpacking everything and cleaning up but Ealora had refused. Something told her, life was going to continue changing and the townhouse while just a house, was an item of the past she would have to give away, wanted to give away....sell it. That was the first thing that came to mind. She needed a bigger home to raise the children in. It was hard to go to sleep that night not having seen her children yet and her dreams were savage memories of the past months before she had left. It was not hard to believe Bess' words when she awoke now, knowing what she had been like then, knowing herself now. 'It seems as if you have found something you had lost' The sage and wise golden haired Queen had said to a friend she had thought dead. More made sense now then it ever had. She had not been going insane with blood lust but having lost a sense of herself. Yet it had taken completely loosing herself to realize that she had not truly lost herself but had evolved and with the acknowledgement came a new awareness, a new change. This trial would prove to be more harrowing then the last, one step at a time. By early morning she was fed, dressed and out the door with Taylor trying again to ride past the city lines and into the openness of the land leading to the Valley. She had waited on word to be sent back and none had come. Where the children really in the valley? Why had they not responded? It would take more then a few hours to reach the Valley, around noon time to get there and she used this time to engage Taylor in conversation about the island, what had happened in her absence, what he had been doing, and even of her. Of what she had been thought, what she had lost and how she had regained it. Taylor even found it funny that she should regain her memory when she was to wed someone else.
The time seemed to pass on an endless scale, what had taken hours only seemed to take a few minutes before they were at the gates of Red Wall. The gates themselves had been newly painted and the guards there gapped as if staring at a ghost. Only a new later since her arrival and all ready the scene of shock was getting old. Still while the old Ealora would of been annoyed and snappish, she sat patiently while they gapped and then moved hurriedly to open the gate for her. Red Wall in fall was beautiful, everything was painted in rustic and golden colors in nature, God himself having a hand for the grand scale and it was breath taking but none of this was more breath taking to Ealora then the sight of her children playing in the yard. Gripping the horn of her saddle, she swung down into the dirt and handed her reigns over to Taylor before turning.
"God in Heaven" She heard Nora breath even from across the yard, the older woman's face going stark white and Anubis in her arms whined as the old woman's arms tightened around him.
Issa was the first to spot her and he stopped from chasing Ra and Eppie, his chest rising and falling in rapid succession at the sight of his mother. They had told him she was dead! Was this a ghost?
Ealora took a step and then another one as the breeze wafted across the yard sweeping up dust with it and cresting her hair knocking it off her shoulder to dance within its invisible embrace.
"Mommy?" Issa asked.
Ealora fell to her knees, her throat constricting cutting off reply but none was needed as Issa ran first and the others followed, Ra, Eppie, Isis, Bast and finally Anubis who struggled till Nora put him down and he was the last to join the children as they practically attacked their mother nearly bowling her over onto the ground. Her arms not even big enough to encompass them all as tears streaked down her cheeks as she kissed and re-kissed all of their cheeks.
"Thank you..oh thank you God" She breathed as she continued to switch from touching and kissing all of them and then finally she laughed as she pulled all of them into a hug again. The sounds of the children laughing with her, was music to her ears. Finally the last missing piece in her heart, was filled.
|
|
|
Post by Queen Beathag Aberdeen on Sept 26, 2010 0:52:41 GMT -6
*The following takes place while Ealora was still speculated to be dead/during her time away.Discussions between the Royalty in Bracadale written by the creators of the monarchy The man who was King, listened to whom many people silently considered his better half. The wisdom behind the Crown many others thought. Adam knew!! No reason to think… to ponder. He knew his Queen, his beloved wife, his better half. She was commemorating Ealora in her own way. And now, she would use that same passion, that same drive to admonish him. For he had acted irrashionally, and forsook her counsel. He had signed the Letter of Marque and that action inititated the pirate’s death warrant. Why the pirate accepted it willingly, he would never know. There were others that he could have sent.. maybe ones not as good… but… Equal footing? Both wore crowns… and the decided equal rule… but like Bess said, was it really equal? And that equality was defined by her turning and exiting the room. Never before had she walked out… Oh they had ‘discussions’… more like disagreements… but didn’t every couple? They quarreled in the same fashion as they loved… with vim and vigor… with word and action… And now, Beathag, the Queen… and Bess, the wife… reprimanded him for not even solicitating her guidance… nor even allowing her the privilege of information… As soon as the shock of her words… and her departure… had subsided, Adam found himself alone… He did not even desire to look out the window, where he stood so many times in contemplation. Exiting the bedchambers, he found that all the servants had disappeared, as they had before when the royal pair ‘discussed isues’… Looking left then right, he walked down the hall, one way, then the other looking for her… then down the stairs, where he found a page bowing before him. “Your Majesty, the Queen, had left the Castle for a ride in the countryside… She said that should the court reconvene or an audience with her be sought, I was to tell them tha' Her Majesty is in a moment o' solace o'er news of the realm and can nto be disturbed. She said that she shall ride, perhaps, as far as Bracadale." Adam froze in his tracks… and the news hit him like a load of stone… The page refused to look upon the King… as was best, given the expression the King now wore. “Did she take the White Talons?” he did not wait for an answer “… ‘ave mae horse saddled at once…” then Adam returned to his bedchambers in a hurry, grabbing his sword and brown jerken jacket. Within the half hour, Adam was mounted, and riding out of the castle, the handful of Gold Talon riders not far behind him. The pace at which he rode would cause him to affectly catch up with his wife… that is if she did not ride equally to his tempo. A trail of dust would announce his haste, if one was to watch… and as he topped the knoll, he could see her riding alone thru the valley. “Damn… damin it all…” he would exclame and spur the profusely sweating animal into yet another run… On the far end of the valley, the Queen rode, her sword attached to to the saddle… in surety that none would molest her, envoking the fury of the White Hound… and not far behind her, the King and entourage galloped closer. In the near distance, Bracadale… Queen Beathag Aberdeen: The Queen was a woman who in her life had been many things: warrioress, merchant, ship's captain, dock walker. She laughed at wind or was tossed around by it as fortune decreed. Her majesty was a fickle piece of flesh on star sails, a fascination the God's had. Or God. At times she wondered if a hundred All-Fathers became one bold enough to journey down from heaven, picking one place on a map that fascianted him. She could be whatever man or God deemed her to be, but today she was seeking solace on the wind; it raced through unbound blonde tendrils, kissed her face in sharp stings as she saw if it or the horse would wind an imaginary race. To her credit, she had never been nor would be a true fool. Three of her personal guards kept her in sight, yet distanced in pace so she could have her privacy. It was more than a pleasure ride, for to journey out to Bracadale could take all of the day, perhaps part of another. Her pace was feverant enough to outrace the demons behind her. King Adam Aberdeen: The demons may be between her and her husband... or could be here husband! That is the way he felt now... Had he becursed his family by accepting the crown.... or was he just short-sighted... Belaying her advice for his own decision... It had cost many men... and one woman, their lives... And now he rode hard after the one life he did not wish to EVER lose... his wife's. The wind may be swift in a storm... but the storm was in his mind, and his horse was running... running for the man who was King... Such a steed it was... White... solid... muscled... covered in black and gold... The wind shuffling its mane in a rhythm as if God it self played the instrument... and upon its back... a man, tall, lean... crowned... and in love....fearing he would lose half of his life. Queen Beathag Aberdeen: Was that what spurned him on so hard to ride, to ride as if all depended on touching the one thing in his life that mattered above all else? It was a question that Beathag hadn't considered when she embarked out to ride Caldonhan. His array was neither as ornate as his majesty's nor lacking. His tack was well oiled beautiful black leather with gold inclusion. It was Griffin made, yet did not announce Griffin royal was the rider. She was not even in white, yet on the main road the White Talon guard would perhaps make her seem a lady of importance to her majesty. A reflection of someone or something. In due time they came upon a wooded area outside of the port town, stopping to water the horses, give them over to a stable, but not the Queen. One man would ride with her along an outer gate toward wear the world would touch the sea. She was not in a mood of people. King Adam Aberdeen: He would not catch her before he would enter Bracadale.... still he rode hard... The beast's neck was white with foam... its master riding it to the brink iof exhaustion... but the rider knew how much the beast could take... and would push him to the city... Close enough to holler... close enough to make her notice him... yet he would refrain... for his horse was too near exhaustion to cause her to increase her pace... The things he wanted to say richocheted in his mind... I love yu... I am so sorry… please forgive me... Yet there was a time and place to say those words... still what he did echoed in his brain... Queen Beathag Aberdeen: If she could turn her head over her shoulder and look, she might see the worry on a man's face. He had caused her an offense so he wanted to make amends. In her mind, she was not ready for amends to a quarrel. To her, it seemed to be beyond quarrel as it was merely a simple fact that continued on and on. How many times had she made decisions alone, yet told him for his knowledge or even sought additions so that it was in his complete approval? How many times had she avoided discussions for his benefit, for the sake of allowing him first words on a matter as King? It was hard to share equal power without one looking the part of a fool or cuckold. The role had expectations, expectations they had set to live up to. Compounded with the fact of feeling Ealora's life slip under the surface of foreign waves it made her think for all their effort would any woman truly equate to the worthiness of a man? She needed to her friend to fathom that it was not out of force she wished Ealora to respect such position, but out of necessity to like her, be respected. She thought, aye she thought. Long and hard on the nature of all that was done well or done poorly, not ceasing the horse until it touched the shores of a secluded beach. King Adam Aberdeen: The man upon the white horse, motioned his guards to allow him time alone with his wife… As she slowed her pace, Caldonhan pranced in the sand and Beathag’s experienced rhythm in the saddle… this was truly a sight to behold… and Adam slowed his own steed as he entered the sand. Both the Gold and White Talon guards began to discuss the past two days ride to one another, comparing notes as to the royal attitudes; though any discussion here would go no farther; especially to royal ears. *** Adam rode just behind beside Bess… each rider matching the horse’s pace; the big white horse snorting and panting. Moments later, he was riding beside her; spewed up sand was sticking to the white horse’s neck, where before, white foam slung in a hurried rhythm. “Mae Queen… Ah coom tae apologize… would thou hear mae plea o’forgiveness…” He had rode hard for nigh on two days… no eating… no sleeping… nor resting, only sufficiently to keep his steed alive… Having nearly outrode his own guards, forsaking Kingly safety, for the likes of just one word of forgiveness from his beloved wife. His sea-green eyes were bloodshot… from either the lack of sleep, tears, or both… none would know… With each step, his mount grunted and snorted… yet the rider said no more… Queen Beathag Aberdeen: Many things in the Griffin's reign were similar by eerie coincidence. While she was not the Lord Marshall, she could hold her own upon a steed as was represented by their father's devotion to horses. This fact was made simple in how hard they had to ride, how far, how fast to keep up with a woman whom herself had even found time to give pause on the journey of two day's ride to Bracadale. Was it disconcerting, that she'd gone from sight? Now in his sight again, Caldonhan moved along the sure with ease. It took a steady hand to turn a large draft beast in to a slick creature to carry his royal burden. Caldonhan had been many things - his breed could be use as creature of draft or as destriers, war horses. He had been both, like his mistress had been more than one thing. At his age he deserved his retirement from the heavy metals. His place was here, with her. In the sand the pair were comfortable. Her majesty was resplendid in the saddle the men would say, as the King was most admirable. So in this, as in all things, they belonged together. She was just about to let her mind drift away when the horse's snort shattered the image of ghosts quicker than his feet had. From the corner of his eye she'd seen the approach, but sought to pay it no mind. Her guard understood that when she wished no one, she wished no one. Adam? She spied him, wondering at his intense exhaustion. "Aye. Ah will hear it, though did nay expect tae see ye. Ye've near ridden yer beast tae the ground, poor thing. Ah just wanted tae see the water. Find peace." King Adam Aberdeen: The white horse snorted and jerked his head up as if he was listening to Caldonhan’s mistress. Adam just nodded and patted the horse’s neck, then wiped his hand upon his trousers. He rode beside her in silence. Communication is such a fickle thing, and the lines of communication can become blurred every so often, especially when feelings and action are involved. Even those who think that they are immune to the confusion of conflict can find themselves drawn into a communication breakdown when they least expect it, and chaos ensues. A marriage where communication is suffering is very much like being a visitor to country where you don't speak the language. The lack of communication causes resentment and resentment is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die. To Adam, he felt like a stranger, who knew not the language, in his own homeland… and her silence was deafening. He knew, the only person who he had true control over is himself. He could control the thoughts and actions of his spouse, but he could control his own thoughts and actions…. Or the lack of… and now he knew he should have consulted Bess, before, he took such drastic steps. It was THEIR land… THEIR crown… THEY were responsible… not HE… but even in the best of marriages, things happen that cause one or the other partner to be hurt. The difference between a healthy marriage and an unhealthy marriage is letting go of that hurt and moving on or harboring resentment and clinging to the hurt. He apologized again… “Bess, Ah know Ah should ‘ave consulted yae… ‘r even allowed yae the opportunity tae comment… silence is nae always golden… n’r ignorance ever bliss…” A world fit for both men and women starts from the perspective of men and women as citizens with equal rights and opportunities for participation in the decision-making of their society – from the household and community to the market place… and in all levels of public assemblies and offices. When women lead side by side with men, more alternatives are offered, more skill sets are used, and more out of the box thinking occurs from both sides. More opportunities are created by being at the power table of decision making and allocation of resources. Though he advocated this in Parliament, to get his laws of equality accepted, actual effecticity, he would learn the hard way… Was he as guilty as those who advocated against him, or was it a mental decision not to have any ill-affects of his decisions effect her… Should the people scream for his head, she would be immune, yes? He just chuckled out loud at himself. Was he a fool, or just a politician of emotions? Queen Beathag Aberdeen: Caldonhan tried to edge away from the over wrought beast the King rode on. Beathag's coaxing kept him still, but the animals were attuned to the mixture of emotion on the air. It was potent, the confusion tinged disregard that cast a shadow over the 'peace' she'd ridden so far to reach. Struan's shadow hung like the dark outline at five o'clock, standing too tall for good measure. All she could do beside the sea which was her desire and her husband, a man she loved was exhale ever bit of discontent. What good would it do? Was Ealora watching, perhaps, going to impart a lesson for the living on letting the small things escape notice? Adam apologized again. Her ears weren't closed, but her mind was unwilling to accept everything he said because years had gone by since she recovered enough of herself, enough confidence, to tackle the political realm. The indignity of what the poisons had done to her throat coupled with a fear of the wrong decision had tempered her hand. Why did he help beat down her belief without meaning to? "If yer tryin' tae spare me or save me, don't." as if she pulled a page from his thoughts, "I dun nay want tae be spared nor saved. Ah chose this alongside o' ye, n wish tae use this responsiblity, this burden fer the one thing it can day: enact change. Is it sae wrong tae wish tae dae this, tae wear the mantle we were both coronated with ,tae live up tae the vows spoke tae ye before others on our weddin' day? The only silence tha' be golden will unfurl itself, but nay tha'. Nay o' our realm n' its people. Without the other we run the risk o' playin God. I want tae forgive ye Adam, in hopes tha it will nay occur again. God, the laws ye speak on, e'en Ah helped ye write them. How will others understand wot it is tae be as one, truly as one, if we can nay be? How can I say a woman deserves equal right n' responsibility as a man when my own will nay e'en give me the chance. Tha' is how ye met me Adam. I dun want tae change tha'. I can defer tae m'husband without bein a fool." Part of her was almost pleading with him to see this, the other part angered he didn't. She shook her head. "I can nay believe ye did nay tell me o' tha' Adam. I can nay believe...ye did nay tell me o' where she went. Tha' is the mother o yer General's children. Wot will he dae now? They had ended their marriage, yet did ye e'en tell him, as both a sovereign n' a man… his friend? In the end twill nay be about me..twill be him, them. I pray ye prepare for a wrath worse than mine." She looked on the waves one more time. Blue churned green. Green turned to gray only to begin again. She loved the man beside her with the same beautiful fury as the ocean. King Adam Aberdeen: He pulled back on the reins... and the man looked at the wife. “Ah can promise tha’ Ah shall endeavor to consult yae… ‘specially upon the lifes of our people… and the land we are crowned upon. Ah nae bae God… nor a God… and Ah make no excuses for mae actions previous… Ah love yae more’n thy knows…” he slumped in the seat of the saddle. “Ah was wrong in asking Ealora to sea… baet yae need tae know why Ah did wot Ah did… She had many personal problems… and was asking the King for a divorce from the General… and leaving her children wit him… She would ‘ave went to sea regardless… an’ Ah would rather her be on our side thatn running again any ship asail, offering her life for just any reason… Sae, Ah made a bargain… Ah would grant her the divorce… and use the Shadow against the Moroccan and Spanish navies… Aye lass, Ah should ‘ave consulted yae… and Ah was wrong… dead wrong…” He shook his head a bit and looked at Bess as she and Caldonhan circled him. “Wot Ealora did was dessimate the Moroccan navy… and took pride Spanish ships outta commission… ships tha’ couldda kilt hundreds o’ our own men… Would Ah offer one hundred to save a thousand? Aye… Jack Flynn retired, de la Costas was sailing cargo in and outta the Far East… and Ah could nay afford our own Navy, and officers, tae sail where, officially Skye nay belonged. Ah was nay ready to commit our forces where surely international questions would be raised… Ealora, and her men, went volunteeringly… and they would reap the benefits o’ their efforts… Skye would bae blameless…” and he chuckled in disharmony. “Ah bae the blame… and naew Ah reap the effects… Nay court can dae as much harm as yae can…” He pulled back on the reins to keep his steed from pawing and digging at the sand. “Bid me leave… and Ah shall… though Ah would go begrudgingly…” and he looked down. Queen Beathag Aberdeeen: The circle was like a dance if only the man or woman on the horses made them shift. Forward, back. Another circle just like the logic exercised. Round and round! No matter the reason it always came back to the same conclusions, the same impass. The idea had merit, the idea was fair and right, but what if? Did the question of 'what if' have any baring when decisions were do or die? Question for more question, circle for circle. "Aye she had personal problems Adam. Aye she may have gone tae see but if it were nay glory gotten than Death ye put her at n'death she recieved! Was it the way she would 'ave preferred tae die? Perhaps. Aye she did a grand many things n' we have a man who be ready tae retire, Kievan Baron, leadin as the Admiral. Ye would commit our forces for Ealora was one of our own! Privateer or pirate, griffin colors or nay it matters nay how she went but tha' she went at all..Skye be blameless. Tis a little hard when the world sees us as the source o' sae many woes! God. Ahdam.." Her own steed tossed his head, so she shifted in the saddle to steady heself. To be calm. "Nay court can harm as much as me, aye? Well it cuts both ways m'lord, oh aye, how it does." She snorted at his want to leave but didn't make him go. She would rather finish this on the shore, in private, since her solitude would not occur. She would not wish to take this home before her children to bring a change they could se. " Yer mind is good, yer motives in the right place. Ah just dun nay see why it would take ye years tae seek me out. Years when ye did it in years before." Spikes that were under her tongue were put away in place of a hard, sad tone. He had made his apology, but was it genuine? King Adam Aberdeen: The white steed snorted and dipped its head, chomping at the bit. Adam irritated, yanked back the reins. “Wot tis dun, tis dun… I shall miss ‘er more’n yae knaew… and Ah bae sure Maahes will hold a grudge faer wot Ah dun… baet tis mae nae speakin’ tae yae ‘bout mae actions, Ah kin but apologize faer…” he looked down… “Ah bae e’r sorry…mabbe nay naew, but later yae kin forgive mae…” He dismounted, reins in one hand, his other upon her leg in the stirrup. “Coom home lass… Ah need yae…” No man nor beast could have given him a beating like he felt at this moment. Oh he could have been a “man” and commanded her… but he knew for sure that would do no good… nor would it be heartfelt… only words… They were a team… like matched, spirited wagon horses. He needed her… he loved her… Her coldness could be deadlier to him than any sword. At nearly forty and one, the baby-faced man could have almost any woman he desired… but the one he desired sat upon a steed glaring down at him. And he gave her that charming smile as he apologized once more. Queen Beathag Aberdeen: Was she supposed to open her arms and accepted that wall would be mended? Forbid, by his God or her own, that he ever try to command her lest he would be reminded by the Aberdeenian was the commanded by no man! He married steel fortified soul that yielded to his. Strike them together? Fine was the tune, until one went out of joint and the melody soured. "Ye need tae see the man, at the vera least. Take his ire if he has it or accept his blessin' if he has none against ye. We all will miss her. ye can nay undae tha hands o' time but ye can dae tha' much. He is our General. our brother in arms. Our friend." He came to touch her leg after he'd gotten down. A matched pair like them there had never been nor would the world desire it again. Aye, her eyes could cut a hole through the center of his head! "Ah will forgive ye, but m'senses need tae calm, m'ire tae pass. Ah've nay desire yet tae return. Gae if ye please, stay if ye please." Wind blew from sea water, causing her to ease. He could feel it, the muscles of her leg unwinding with but one breath of salt air. King Adam Aberdeen: See the man? Oh yeah, death was becoming for sure… “Ah shall dae wot bae a necessitiy..” And his hand slid from her leg… “ Take yaer time lass… Ah shall return tae Dun Darroch… their bae a trial tae dae… dun bae long… let us end the atrocities of all…” He was guilty of murder as those that were charged with treason for Sleat… but who would charge him? Some would call it subversive… some would call it sending a hero to do a job none else would even attempt… Condemned or lauded… he would face whatever music coming his way. He walked away from her and remounted his horse. With a bow of his head bidding adeaux… he turned the steed and rode back toward Struan. The Gold Talons looking between the King and Queen… in a state of slight confusion. Then the Talons divided, half with him, half with her. Queen Beathag Aberdeen: She stopped looking at the man so she could find solace in the sea. A part of her was indignant that he wouldn't stay while another part, the greater, understood what needed to be done. She could be spared from it, and had felt so inconsequential because of this fact. Now? Now she needed to take advantage of the air whipping around her. The guards looked twixt one and the other, with one of the remaining Talons leaning in to say, "Are you certain ye wish to remain, m'lady?" Beathag turned a weathered eye on the man seeking an answer. He thought maybe he ought not to have asked, accepting blind will when actions were obvious enough. She wasn't the sort to deny a simple question though. Her head gave an up and down, rise and fall. The steady signal of yes before green eyes fixed again on the water. She let Adam leave in silence because there wasn't much more to say. What was it that she needed? It was hard to pin sometimes. She couldn't tell if it was just to lay on the waters of the garden in the Cullins that waited within Turas Lan, rocked by the idle ripple of the lake water under a dingy, or to anchor the dingy to the cove on a stretch of shore near the castle few knew of, to listen to the sirens sing. A little piece of self, never changing could be the cure for the self that oversaw these times until she was near sick with the reality of how twisted some of the countrymen were, how vicious to their own blood and houses. Her own would be but the final end to some of the means. Things were easier when one's passions ran hard. She could come to the very step with no need of threat for her own hands would fill the promise. That part of her wasn't dead, by any means. It only translated desire in other ways, ways befitting a woman who had seen all the ends of violence and witnessed it at the same exchange from the waiting end. It was better, then, to let all aspects of self dissolve on the sea foam only to be returned better than how she'd brought them. King Adam Aberdeen: Adam’s return took longer… much longer than his arrival. The Talons accompanying him tried to break his silence… and his mood… but to no avail. Even the great white steed, the one that prances to cheers and huzzahs seemed to just lull along… But none knew what lie ahead… Silence around the King was nowhere as loud as the Silent revolt that awaited his and his beloved Bess’ return. The King would see the drawing and effigies as he rode back into the city… the gathering of people in whispers… still his mind was upon his wife and would linger there until she returned… and in less than 12 hours, Dun Darroch would be aflame with violence. Queen Beathag Aberdeen: It would be the longest stretch of time in years that they hadn't talked. Oh they had not spoken, indeed they had vicious quarrels but it seemed mended in shorter time than begun. Even in the stretch of time they would keep not one another's bed there was no lost love for look's expression. No love was lost here. Was it so much to want to be free of this place? A season lost on foolishness, lies, and ridicule. A season lost in what should have never been in the first place! More than anything Beathag simply wanted to go home She wanted to be in Griffin Castle again, to go to the shore or in the hills where she could be lost to people, save those important few, and come back again better than she'd left. Would he wait for her in that span of hours filled with many emotions? Or did he simply leave her to her own devices? King Adam Aberdeen: Back in the royal chambers of Dun Darroch, he sat in a chair with a drink… or two... or three… contemplating his err in judgment that caused the deathj of a friend… and his keeping his most trusted advisor in the dark. In the dungeons sat 4 people he would soon place judgement upon… Now he doubted that judgment… In the corridors of the kitchen and bakery, men were putting on masks and handing out swords.
|
|
|
Post by Chief Baliff Ealora on Sept 26, 2010 19:39:42 GMT -6
Ealora: The Valley of stars was always whimsical, mystical in nature but Red Wall seemed to be a ring of peace that had seen ripples of its fabric of discord, still the circle rippled in time only to band stronger so when one passed through to a solace you could not find anywhere else in the world. Even the sea seemed to hold second place to the solace one could find here. Perhaps it was because her children were here that this was so. Sitting amongst the wheat that had been freshly sown spreading its unique sent amongst the wind while the children laughed and played. Here was a slice of heaven on Earth to one who had been newly dead to this world. Anubis sat within her lap unwilling to leave, to weak it seemed to play with the others but Anubis reminded her of Eli, perhaps one day he would join his Uncle in his quest to spread the way of love around the world for he seemed a child of such ways, kind hearted, no mean bone within his body. Ealora arms were wrapped loosely around her smallest son swaying in time like a ghost of the high wheat that was now cut short, every once in her eye would catch one of her children looking at her and she would smile in a way that said she was not going anywhere soon.
Bess: It was time to move in to the realm on a mission that had nothing to do with writing the wrongs caused by man's vice or the indignity of what man couldn't afford to give another. It was time to see the beauty of the Autumn for summer had now slipped away so that the days of gold came from the trees who bowed to the weight of it, the fields of grain kissed with it. It'd been an old tradition of the Ladies of the court to accompany the Lady of the Isles on paces through the countryside to visit the estates of the court. It allowed one to witness an intimate style of life that living in a high castle did not, as the Lady did not move towards another castle of her own. Many places would have vyed for the honor to host Her Majesty with any number of her cohorts, but it was an honor the Bant Chan Ser received on no more than the woman's whim. Love formed every step toward the slice in the Cullin Hills that brought what Eden must have looked like if one believed in eternal paradise. Not far from Red Wall was the heart of the valley, the Arianna Hymerodraeth, The Silver Empire so aptly named because its keeper seemed to radiate the same sort of light. Everyone was possessed of it,no? Internal brightness waiting to be unleashed. She had come to stay with her youngest children, giving them the special time that was easy to deprive the young of, but cherished for they were so small. Blonde hair left undone seemed to shelter the hiding Prince Gabriel as he played hide-go-see with imaginary sprites while they walked between one estate and the other. His twin and his youngest sister were both enjoying a nap, thus their mother enjoying the chance to come to know the son who seemed every bit as intelligent and sensitive as his father, a peacemaker he'd be.
Ealora: "Eyes Mommy" Anubis hummed and covered his eyes and then moved his tiny hands to her own covering the scene of his siblings playing. Ealora's lips curled into a grin as his tiny hands moved away covering his own again. Ealora grinned "That's right, we have the same eyes." She hummed in that Egyptian purr of hers and Anubis giggled. All of their children except the adopted Eppie looked like their father with eyes of their mother, except Bast whose face curved in features like her mother and seemed to have her disposition as well but Ealora did not mind that most of her features were so absent of their children save their eyes. It had not been a common color of eyes before, now it lived on through their children. Had she of been dead, this was a singular thing that from any place her soul would reside, she would find comfort in. She would not wish them great wealth nor great honor unless they wished it for themselves, if such a thing would bring them happiness. How she had dreaded her return, fearing the wrath of her children, for she would of not blamed them, she expected it, they were her children were they not? There had been no harsh words and perhaps in the limbo of time where she had been dead, they had found the same peace that now instilled over their mother so when her return came, there was nothing but joy left to be had, the anger of madness passing away like the summer to the autumn. "Mommy!" Issa called and pointed. Tightening her arms around Anubis so he would not slip from her lap, she turned to see Bess. Tightening an arm around Anubis, she pushed the other against the ground and awkwardly stood with the added weight of her son. Anubis head ducked to his mothers shoulder as she crossed the distance of the field towards Bess. "Your Majesty" She purred with a wide grin, those Celadon eyes alive with mirth and a hint of danger. The madness was gone, seeped into the sea in the death of the Shadow Storm but always would there be that hint of danger, the panther stalking in the shadows of the jungle would never face. "What brings you out here my friend?" With one arm holding Anubis, her free arm opened for an embrace of welcome for her friend and Queen.
Bess: To see one generation in the one to follow was a gift many speculated on as a wonder of any age. It was considered nothing short of tragic if one could not have children; indeed it was an age riddled with the possibility of death by sickness or war. One never knew when the archangel would whisper your name, yet to see the likeness of yourself passed down was how one always stayed ever-young, fair, and immortal. It ensured that pieces of you would travel through the bloodline. She could not recount the many ways in which the Isle had joined pieces scattered across Scotland together again. She could see life in children never thought to be born, brothers,their wives, and their sons and daughters. The young boy was not too much weight to bear. Gabriel blossomed in the solitude with his matriarch, smiling through his own mess of platinum locks. He was justly named, the small one, for the patron angel. He turned out on his mother's hip, seeing the wheat field bending to the wind's kiss where other children cavorted with whatever imagination gave them. This was peace, this was beauty. "Tradition n' whim. Tis tradition tae have a progress us the Lady o' the Isle takes n' tis Whim n' blatant favoritism Ah favor all aspects o' this valley tae anythin else. A shame I dun intend tae be remedied of." She wrapped a free arm around the Egyptian woman. Whole, intact. Alive. The future? She could not speak of that nor knew what would become of the pair who once kept Red Wall together. There was room for new beginnings, room for all to be as one in a new way. So she hoped such a thing came to pass. Madness was a sickness, the Egyptian would have fear - yet - Mother is the name for God on the mouths of children. "Eirian be kind as always, openin her home sae the smallest ones n' Ah came on a tour aye. Gabriel, can ye say hello?" He grinned with Adam's boyish fop before curling his fingers in a wave only to bury himself against his mother's blouse. The attire was well crafted but far from the exquisite creations a Queen wears in court. The skirt was tanned, the blouse was pale white, and the waist cincher was the same shade as what draped across her legs.
Ealora: She held Bess against her side not coupled with her child hiding against her collar. A small hum of a laugh passed her lips. "An how is the lady of the valley? She is another I have to visit, one to witness ones madness, I wish to show her peace is restored. In some fashion." She pulled back and smiled down at Gabriel. "Hello your highness." Ealora flock of seagulls had stopped their play and were coming up in a small mass behind their mother. "Can you say hello Anubis?" Ealora purred down at her small son. "Say Hello children" Her head turned back to her flock who waved in unison but Anubis face only pressed further into his mothers neck warming it with his small breaths. "Issa, don't you want to ask the prince to play? Anubis you should join the, your getting to heavy for mommy to hold you all the time." An Ealora groaned as she set her son against the ground but he clung to her pantleg as a second skin. Her heart broke for the way he clung to her, was he afraid she would vanish like a dream? Her hand ran through the vast mountain of curls atop his head and she leaned to kiss his head before pushing a hand against his shoulder. "go play" She ushered again and reluctantly he let go and went to join his brothers and sisters. Her arm now free of burden curled around Bess shoulder as she came to stand next to her friend. "An how are you m'friend? We did not speak much last time. Still think I am a ghost?" Her lips curled into a grin.
Bess: "If you're a ghost than who be mad now eh? Rather disturbin, especially after this year's coronation tae start gaein senile. May the Gods let me be as m'parents, both possessed o' their faculties, m'mother until death, m'stepfather is still possessed on his where e'ere he sits himself n' he's a man well toward sixty n' beyond." Steel gray hair with steel gray wit would be fortune's blessing. Gabriel was set down. Shy though he was, the chance to play without his twin was rare. This way he could test his own boundaries without Murieall taking over! She was so radiantly dominant. With a nod of head the young boy toddle off to make good on enjoyin so many playfellows, leaving the women to discuss womanly things. "Eirian is well. Tis been a season fer the valley women o' toil n' change..but ye both have come through the other side o' it. ah see why one would heal here though, n' seek nay the court. Aye, indeed. Sae much perpetual beauty, n' e'ergreen trees in the hills when all the others have lost their the leaves. Aye. Radiant country." When the land was cut in to with heartache, mother earth closed it shut with nothing but open hands to give to the people what it needed no matter how mch it was raped. "N' as for m'self Ah be well. Tis good to be done o' things with malice in them."
Ealora: "Madness isn't a pleasant thing, my father lived it many years until death released him. I've yet to find a madness that is funny. I would worry so if madness took hold of you." She squeezed Bess shoulders and smiled turning her attention as the prince toddled off to join the Malory- Asad Aziem children in their play. Children were resilient, like rubber they bounced back from most thing and their logic while sometimes imaginative was more intelligent then a scholars speech. Oh there would be questions of her whereabouts, the children were taking their time deciding if she was real like a viking legend of ghosts in a mist. Once they were sure she was indeed real and going no where, the questions would start, of Issa she expected it of him. Her son of the sea, so much like her youth frightened her and yet frightened, she would one day have to let go for you could not hold wind in your hand. She listened when Bess spoke of Eirian and then nodded her head. "I shall go see her before I leave the Valley." She smiled at the way Bess explained the peace of the valley and again she nodded adding a hum of laughter. "I will miss it here that is for sure. I only came to see the kids and to talk with Maahes but he seems to be missing, no one knows where he is" She shrugged and grinned "But that is like him, and he always called me wind...here today, gone tomorrow" Her hand dropped to hug Bess around the waist, there was no intimate touch there past a friendship that had been long standing, her steps moved in tandem with her friends, slow and steady and a balance was maintained quite easily with such a graceful slow stride. "What things of malice have you endured?" Her attention turned away from the children and the autumn kissed landscape to her golden haired friend.
Bess: "How odd, Ah've heard he's ne'er far away. If he be gone perhaps tis only tae see after the servie o' the men n' then return. Men are great sulkin beasts nay matter their make nor race. Ahdam fore'er comes n' gaes. Ah've become used tae it, especially if e'er he makes voyages o'er seas tae the continent. Where will ye live then." she asked as they walked together, arms about the others waist like two sisters who looked over the land with talk of what would come in the next year "The valley hardly seems tae be lackin room, or is another place callin tae yea, near the sea, or elsewhere?" She had become accustomed to Turas Lan, for she could look from her home down below out toward the waters encircling the globe. She couldn't imagine being land locked. What did children imagine? The woes of adults were so foreign to them, deciphered once realized and then let go of. Pure emotion was what children possessed. Adults had to remember the lessons instilled by birth in earlier lives. "Men who wore among themselves o'er lost love only tae turn around n' war with those who are all the worse fer lettin gae. Sleat was ravaged by vendetta battles n' this year, n' we had tae try the accused for treason. People will ne'er grow tired o' it, ah fear, only for a little but ne'er for always. Did nay see much beyond Struan n' Waternish in the warm season." She replied to her raven-headed companion. "Listenin tae the talk o' England, done now, but the horrors visited on it by the Spanish who believe themselves superior enough tae sit on its throne. Contained things, yet in those contained places worlds o' ache. M'thinks after a visit here ah might endevor tae visit the former Lady-Govenor. Ahdam has nay dun sae yet, ah wish tae see, like ye, how she mends. Twas brutal. Tha' woman has a hide of steel beneath all the velvet o' her gown n' has had the many years ah'v eknown her. M'court has many more diamonds than it' does small pearls." Diamonds were beautiful, brilliant, and hard. Formed beneath infinite pressure. "Ah dun nay know how ye made it back in one piece, ah'm glad for it, when Ahdam finally told me where he had sent ye..n' the full details o' such. Mmm." She had been ready to do little else than slap him, to amend his senses. It was one thing to make a decision, another not to tell one's equal ruling partner where they sent their comrades, who were as family.
Ealora: "Oh I am sure he is around. Perhaps hiding" Ealora grin grew and for a moment it seemed as if she would laugh but she didn't. Ealora shook her head at the question "I don't know, but Red Wall is Maahes, I couldn't take any part of it even if he offered. I suppose its best if we both go our seperate ways. I did many things I can regret both in past and in my madness but I must live with such consequences and not wish them differently, else I would not be here now, as I am..I have all ready decided to sell our home in the city, I bought it, I should have rights to do with it as I please. I will look for a house outside the city perhaps, or something in the country. Somewhere with lots of room for the children to play, to grow. The sea is my past. I can revisit my love for it, but to live next to it." She shook her head and sighed. "I did not expect things to fall into place again when I came back, but I did not expect the road to be twice as long. At least now I have the peace of mind to take it one step at a time." Again she fell silent listening to the troubles Bess and Adam had been through. "The world will not seek utopia, it is not in our blood. Waging war, battles of words, of swords, of person, that is what we seek, not because we are cruel and we cannot live peaceful, but to much peace makes a mind idle and dull. Chaos or at lease squabbles keep our blood boiling, our veins pulsing with life." She shrugged and hugged Bess waist to her own, it was a surprise to hear Bess say when she had found out where Adam had sent her. He hadn't told Bess before asking it of her? Still she had to smile with Bess wonder that she made it back in one piece. "I did, but not before loosing myself, s'why it took me so long to come home. I lost my memories, myself but I finally realize, sometimes it takes loosing yourself, loosing everything you have known or have known, to find yourself again. I regained my memories on the day of my wedding, I was to be a Governor wife" Here she laughed, now the concept of her being such a thing was laughable. "I was literally walking down the isle when I remembered...I saw so many people, Shaden, Maahes, the children, even you..didn't know who you were until then and when I did, I knew my place was here. I'll not be taking to the sea again." Again she hugged Bess waist. "I am sorry his actions for me caused discord between you two though. I can understand, perhaps in some way why he did it. Would the burden of it been any less had he shared it with you sooner? I'm not making excuses for him. Lord knows you can't count on me for maritial advice when mine has all but disappeared. All I am saying, is I hope you have forgiven him and let it go. I pray it doesn't happen again. Married or not, each of you deserve to have your secrets, but secrets of yourself. Decisions of kingdom and persons in them, decisions that could change a nation, no I agree there, this should be both of you. Does not a wheel carry the wagon forward? Without the wheel, the wagon is just a square box on the ground. "Again Ealora shrugged, Bess had been right before, there was a change in the woman who stood beside her, as if she had indeed found something she had lost.
Bess: "Men dae tha' from women. Lord o' the battles n' lords o' their estates but will hide from a woman e'en if they dun admit it. Ahdam knows when tae leave me be o'er these years." In the six years they had together been, five of which had been married, a man fathomed the potent mixture that was the bloodlines of conquering vikings and Highland fire, with such a direct vein to the Norse weighs as to make her appear a walking Freya incarnate. "Ah'm glad ye will both figure this out amiably, n' on the other side o' it all friendship is a bond as eternal as your children. Everythin' has purpose. Ah can nay say why or when, but tha' ye have found yourself, your children have ye, it will shape ye anew. The road is long but it is nay as if ye have not walked hard roads. Ye, the others, have walked a long road with me just tae bring about this." She lifted one arm free to show the landscape, the pinacle of what any war was for. The reason. The ultimate reason as the grain told its secrets to their children, as they laughted. "Dun nay think any will e'er forget tha, they may for a little..like your memory. Some things are stronger than wot is dark. A light, ready tae come through tae carry ye home again from the other end o' the world. This, yer children, yer family n' friends were waitin for ye when the dark o' madness came. Many bonds are irrevokable, especially here. Tha' ye saw us, sae far away, tha' wa the light breakin in' Now it has flooded yer world oce more. Ye are a pretty lass," said the elder to the younger "With vim n' vigor enough tae challenge any man but tis the heart o' a woman tha' sets it apart. for only the heart o' a woman could tame the sea enough tae tell it where tae carry her n' have it bring her home. our hearts are the land n' sea. Wide n' vast. Men are the sky, tis why they are broad..long, but need somewot tae anchor them. Otherwise twould be all for naught." She grinned. When the topic of her arose and marital discord came to the fore, she did not spurn Ealora's words. They were right for small things ought be forgiven "ah forgave him. Ah know why he did wot he did, e'eryone will always have an inner heart, but o' the realm we are one heart n' mind. It is hard for him tae see tha', Ah think. Part of him will ne'er get o'er almost havin tae light m'pyre, or seein' me dead, or hurt, or any such thing men can nay bear tae see o' their women. We challenge the order, ye n' I..all the women here. O' wot a women must dae, can dae, n' will dae tae love, cherish, protect, n' e'en obey." The liklihood of them laying submission to any man was the sun rising in reverse, which is why it was special to any man that had them, friend or lover, to be listened to, respected. "The wheel can nay turn if the cart is tae burdened or the wheel broken, nay movin at the same time. He has had many fears more than foreign. He always has a good interest at heart, be tha' as it may twill be a long road yet, for all men..good interest and more tae see the full worth o' a woman's thought n' effort as equitable, sae long as Ah live, twill be strived for. At least ah know m'sons n' daughts shall grow knowin the worth o' one another, m'daughters shall nay be sold n' bartered like cattle n' markets n' their futures will nay be thrust out tae the darkness fer havin breasts, n' long hair. Nay one's daughter shall n' Gods be praised, some will look on tradition n' see the good n' it yes but remember tha' they have a choice."
Ealora: "I wish some lights had not been extinguished. Do not get me wrong, I love Maahes very much but if it must come down to us parting, at least our children will somehow always tie us together. This does not mean my love for him will not fade, but again, I face the consequences of my actions. Some lights fade, some bonds broken to a point only a strand remains." Celadon eyes left Bess to look out across the valley. "I can regret what has happened but I won't. If he gets even one measure of peace from this, then my prayers have been answered even in the most minimal sense. My prayers still ask for his continued happiness, even if it is without me. At least I have our children and with my memories all but restored, those to sustain me. Who knows, perhaps the warmth of another will one day grace my bed, I doubt it now but who knows what God wills. I'll miss the sex, Gods will I" She teased and laughed hugging Bess waist tight again. "Time has changed us all as surely as it changes the seasons as each one comes and the other must relent. Perhaps beginning off it was about being a title, the General wife. It was not a title I did not like, but it defined me in a way that was not me. Belonging solely to someone else, never just Ealora ever again. Mostly it was that I never realized how much I have changed, do you remember the pirate that came to your shores with a sarcastic hateful attitude? She died and I never really understood it, I mourned the freedom of her and the mission she had set out to complete and never really did. Justice for one but more importantly to set a woman aside from what men expected, to be more then just a child bearer. Women of our caliber must be hard and soft all at the same time. I never understood it and never embraced it completely. I'm no longer the pirate who touched these shores all most four years ago but nor am different. I don't fight for the simple pleasure of it. I fight for cause, or try to anyway's. The mission hasn't changed, likeness to your own, I don't want my sons and daughters given away like cattle. In many ways you and I have the same mission Bess. It took me time, but I know how to be both woman and warrior for cause." She turned a grin at her friend and once more hugged her waist hearing Bess had forgiven him. "The burden the two of you have taken on your shoulders is likely not an easy one. I have never ruled a nation, but I have ruled a ship which works much like a monarch. I have no doubts you will continue to toil and trouble it till you both find your balance but I have no doubts you will find it." She plucked out a strand of wheat and set the end between her teeth.
Bess: "A Kingdom ismuch like a boat, ah've had my time with boats. Twas a sweet time, tradin world things n' see the continent. Aodhan was but a wee boy those years agae n' we would oft sleep in a hammock on the deck, him tae m'chest, the wind n' sea rockin us both. When he was a bit older, twas his wee sister Edme tha' lived on m'chest tha' way n' he curled n' m'hip. Somehow we managed tae fit three people within tha' hammock. by the Grace o' Gods but it was done. Now it's like havin an armada, where I had but three ships, one can nay complain with the size n' gradeur o one's fleet." Not when the the Highland Duchess, the Empress and it's ther sister were joined by a great many others so they were not lonely stately madames in their late years. "Love like wot ye remember best ne'er fades, ye'll always love Maahes, nay one will fault ye tha'. ah certainly won't. Ye bear all of this with a great deal o' grace than the woman o' four years agae would ahve. Ye give meanin' n' stature tae the woman o' now n' the woman o' four years agae is in harmony with this day. It's hard tae marry the two together Ah had tae be taken under tow n' a battle n' nearly killed by m'own physicians tae know it. Tha' the woman in me deserved as much happiness as the warrior had recognition, tha' the fight would gae on..but tha' Ah did nay have tae fight tha' way anymore, with m'hands..with the steel. Tha' is wot solitude will dae tae ye n' a sense, n' tha' zeal ye feel with the steal n' yer hand n' the wind n' yer hair, bestin yer adversary. Sae much o' tha' stems from vengence. n' vengence comes from sorrow. It's nay sae bad bein a woman wot fights with her head. Her hands dae better things. They love our children." Ealora: With slow steps, Ealora turned them towards the blanket she had been resting on and she offered Bess a seat first before taking rest beside her, one foot was propped up, her hand around her upturned knee and leaning her weight into the limb. The wind was rustling through the trees as she listened to Bess talk, the coolness of the wind kissed at warm kissed and ruffled russet locks against her shoulders. A quiet smile curled at her lips for the sage words her friend spoke about the Kingdom, about her change. There was comfort in the words she spoke about change, about a love undying, of Bess own struggle to realization. Never had she believed she was the only one, but perhaps the only one to go mad to achieve the state of peace that both of them now saw. "I'm not sure I could not weild steel anymore, one of the things I need to speak to your husband and my King about. Since my ship is gone and I have no wish to rebuild it, I will need to find a position on land that suits me. I love my children but being just a mother would drive me insane again. I need to do something other then just raise them. One of the many things on this new road of mine I need to do." Fingers drummed against her legs. "I could never give up the fight, maybe I am not in it for blood now, but I still wish to be apart of this life, this ever changing world, somehow make it better. One person can make a difference, even small and unnoticeable, yeah I can settle for that...some small way." She let go of her leg and stretched out to lean back against the blanket on her elbows suddenly letting out a laugh. "Oh wouldn't it be wicked of us if I accompanied you to see the King, I had a sudden vision of being cloaked and hidden, pretending to be one of your ladies in waiting and suddenly uncloaked before him. I've never seen a King faint, think he would?" Her head turned to look at Bess and Ealora winked with a mischievous look on her face.
Bess: "Darlin we both be o'er forty now, dun kill us," she laughed as she sat down on the blanket ponderin the idea of Ealora dressed as the likes of Jelenah, Liliana, Rosalind, or her beloved Heather. Ealora in a meek, docile manner commanding the Aberdeen household, arranging hair, or lessons in language. Adam would faint and not wake up for ten years! "Mm, ye know m'thoughts on tha' matter would be tae inquire with Ahdam after the post o' a shire reeve or one o' the main baliffs themselves. Tis one where ye fight for the law tae be sure, but there is an honor Ah sae in it tha' makes bein landshod worth while. Our former Chief Baliff, Odis Scheiltz.." A friend, a companion worthy of being lauded in all the halls beyond this world. He had fought in wars, he had fought in the streets. Like Ealora he had stood by her side until God called him elsewhere. She wondered then what became of his daughter, Wilhemia Katherine, the young woman who'd sit with her in the gardens of the castle when she was not within the kitchens at her task. Whatever becomes of the past when it goes toward the future? Like the season changing so was Ealora, time to rebuild for what was now, not pay homage to what was done. "Ye would have liked him vera much. Such a position might suit ye. Ye could convince Ahdam o' it surely, he's nay tha' hard tae convince." She teased but she knew he made his thoughts from the right place.Her back edged further down along the spread until it touched it, her hair flairing out like a pinwheel as she arranged it from under her head. It was long, the fabled gold strands gone uncut but for small portions in these years. "Aye the time has come tae talk o' other things, they say, shoes n' ships n' sealin' wax, cabbages n' kings. Tis from a children's rhyme. Mayhaps Ah should feign distress, lure Ahdam out here." As if she could be in distress, that was rich!
Ealora: Her feet kicked laid back in such a position. Her attention again turned from the children who were popping out of the high grass at each other. One was supposed to be the seeker apparently that had not lasted long and each of them got a laugh to see someone popping out at them that they would run and then disappear themselves to be sought out. Ealora had grinned before Bess talked of position of Chief Baliff. She hadn't known such a position had existed having never known Odis. Silently she wondered what such a position would mean but her lips curled into a wider grin. "No I am sure his majesty isn't very hard to convince of such a thing. Maybe he would welcome it, no more threats of be dying at sea. The horror" She was teasing again and let out a laugh shaking her head. It had been such a wonder to her for people to believe she had died at sea. She vaguely remembered the death of the Shadow Storm. Cannon fire, the smell of smoke, even debree falling all around, some of the explosion but not much else, but that people would believe the pirate queen could die such a way. True people would of thought it a righteous death for her, the way she would of wanted to die, in some ways they were right, she would like to die, some day in service of a cause. Dying at home in bed was no way to go in Ealora mind and it wasn't for fame or the glory of a monument in honor of such a cause, it was going out in glory, knowing you were making a difference, whoever made a difference dying in bed? Bess rhyme only had Ealora laughing. "You sound like Perry, God in Heaven, hell must of frozen over if you begin to sound like him!" Ealora eventually dropped down herself resting her back against the spread, arms folded over her belly. "Ohhh lure him out here, Bess how could you" Ealora hummed in a tease before laughing. "I would love to shock his majesty with my return. If only to get a rise and a laugh from him, I daresay people are in need of such a thing. We may seek chaos but that does not mean we need to be deathly serious all the time. Sometimes a practical joke is in order."
Bess: "Aye, then again can be as simple as Ahdam come quickly there is an urgent matter tae attend..aye tha' may work...mmm.." Women were plotting the downfall of man's sense of security on a blanket by a wheat field. Laughing, living as those with life in their bodies had to do. War and fighting were the drum beats that pulsed in the blood but it was always for the vestige of a sweeter things. Death came to life and Ealora had returned to it. Why shouldn't they enjoy it? This was what made everything worth while to have! Gabriel was content to play hide-go-seek with the his new friends while his mother was happy to have time with a ghost no more. "If rhymin' makes me sound like Peregrine then Ah be really damned, because Ah've been rhymin quite awhile, bards dae tha'." To be like Peregrine she figured would require a score of lovers, constant adoration, and prancing about in things that made the modest blush. Adam was enough man to counter her overpowering woman. "Peregrine, tha' anyone could be like him would be a sin for there only be one Peregrine, world without end." Thank the Gods. Amen. Amen indeed!
Ealora: "I do believe keeping it simple would work best. Oh to see his face when he arrived. It t'would be one I would pay to see." She let out a laugh again as she rose her feet up if only to let her knees sway back and forth in time and ease the discomfort of having her back pressed against the ground. Long ago did it seem that she was able to enjoy days like this, where being on her back did not mean she had been knocked down and a sword was propelling through theair down at her. Peace, yes there was peace in death but there was also peace in rebirth and in awareness of self. The will for chaos dull and nearly lifeless now was replaced by a sense of purpose, a need for purpose and work. Though the road all ready proved to be long and tiring, she was willing to add to it and instigate change where before there was only madness. At Bess words of Perry, Ealora laughed again. "I meant the rhyme itself sounds like him, and God forbid there every be more then one of him indeed. World without end, houses would be upside down and men would wear dresses instead of females. World without end, no it would be a world turned topsy turvy but I have to admit, last I saw of him before I left, he seemed much changed that pirate friend of mine. No longer a pirate himself, he has matured, if not by much." Her hands left her belly to cup underneath her head like a small bony pillow. "I am glad to have come back when I did. With the fall there is surely to be festivals and all of us can be together again. So far, you and Taylor are the only company of adults I have seen thus far."
|
|
|
Post by Lord General Maahes Asad-Aziem on Sept 27, 2010 8:53:07 GMT -6
The sky seemed to be more then willing to understand his desire to feel the sun once more before the autumn stole the warmth, and the winter was on the outskirts of the season. Red Wall had been his home now long before he ever moved to Skye, and now the people here were his kin long before he was born. Maahes, had never felt so connected to a land that gave as much back to him as he gave to it. He bled for these lands, and in return they gave him back life—shelter, and now in the last of the days food to last the winter. It had taken many years to raise these fields, and in the last season it finally took him a summer to perfect. This land had always been enough for him, and it broke his heart it never was for her.
In the time of her return, he had been there; he had always been there, and would until the last breath left his body. However, even then his spirit would argue against the spirit in which followed through with the heavens—it would watch over Red Wall. It simply was not Maahes’s style to run and be as excited to see her as it was their children. In truth, he had wished to never watch her walk back up that path for she would only walk away again. One day it would be for her last, but he was thankful he had not witnessed it yet. Somewhere in his heart of hearts he knew her to be alive, and even though there was a large part of him that wanted to protect their children from the heartache he could not deny them their mother. However, they were beyond the point of return, and for this he was ready.
In her time of fire, he too had come from the ash, but this was where destruction always met Justice. Everything about him had changed, and as amber eyes settled on his ex-wife she would see how much. In the start of the season he had cut away his dreads, leaving behind what hair could be salvaged as it now touched his chest, and decorated with feathers of a falcon. It was a sign of defeat, but now the placement of the feathers would show sign of his rise. A new year would start, and his hair would return. Though..now he could get a helmet on. She had never been happy living in his shadow, and he had constantly been at war with her. This was his greatest change, in his own rebirth was falling away from battle slowly. It would start at home. He was finished fighting with her, and vowed to God to never do it again. This was why he had not come out to see her. He just needed to be reminded why it was their time to part. His days of being up all night worried, sick to his stomach from the fear of not seeing her again, and their constant battles were over.
“Look what the storm blew in.” He said with a smile standing on the porch with his arms crossed over his chest.
|
|
|
Post by Chief Baliff Ealora on Sept 27, 2010 20:16:36 GMT -6
Red Wall had been much more then a land. It was a feeling, a spirit that lingered around, a circle of protection and peace that had embraced the wild heart of a pirate and made her feel more at home then she had ever felt anywhere else, even the deck of her ship. For years she had tended to the land beside her husband bearing sweat more then she bore blood and bringing more discord to the lands then she had ever intended.
Red Wall would always sing to her heart and beckon her to its peaceful ring but it was not unrest that made her resist but that the wondering of this last journey of hers had left to much damage to be tended and sown into new life. Scars could be bared in pride or in shame but the verdict of it was still out on which one it was. She knew she why she had left, and through the madness had understood what it would seem like that she turned her back, that she was giving up her home and her family as if they were not enough for her. Yet that truly had not been the case at all. She could not be half a wife or half a mother, that was the simple truth of it and she had needed to find herself again if ever she wanted to be truly a wife and a mother again.
It had never been easy living in his shadow but it had not been something she detested. She had not wanted to live behind him but beside him. Maahes was a good man who had never raised his hand to her and only asked of her the hard things like her staying behind only because he feared the loose of her. She had not understood this before but with perfect clarity now, she understood it and accepted that it had been both right and wrong of him it ask of it just as it was wrong of her to bend to it all the time. They were threads of the same fabric, both willing to give up their lives for the land they loved so much.
As much as her journey had been about loosing herself only to find herself again, he had changed just as much as her. His outward appearance more different then her own. Her face was the same, the same scars remained but there seemed to be an outer appearance of peace, of a sense of self. His voice was just as rumbling as it had been when she had not remembered him but there was no Arabic endearment in his voice when he spoke this time. She released the children to lift from her kneel, the tears of joy wiped from her face but not out of shame of them.
"No, the storm is dead, its grave beneath the waves. The skies are finally open and clear" She responded as her lips curled into a grin of her own, her hands swung at her side as she took a step towards the porch and paused and then decided one more step before finally resting within the yard.
"Maahes...I..." She stopped, her hands spread wide, palms up in gesture before her hands dropped to her sides. For several moments she was silent thinking. For a few days she had thought over what she would say and now everything she had wanted to say was as shadowy as her memory had been only a week ago.
"For the things that have happened and the things I said when I was sick, I am sorry. I am unbelievably sorry. I couldn't stay, I hope in some way you understand that. Like that, there was no way I could stay. I had to fix myself, you couldn't do it for me, though I know now, you wanted to. I am not going to say I didn't want to leave, I did, but it was always my intention to come back, come back whole, come back me. I've done that." She stopped clasping her hands together.
"That doesn't change things I know. I'm not here to take anything from you, only ask for your forgiveness in hurting you so. Red Wall is yours, I am not asking part of it. I have actually decided to sell the townhouse and find a bigger home outside the city so we can share custody of the children without problems. I...there are a lot of things I see clearer now, I can't explain it, a sense of self really and I've hurt you for far to long. I love you to much, to continue hurting you."
"You look good. Different, but good" Her hands unclasped and arms crossed beneath her breasts as she fell silent to give her words time to sink in and to appraise him of his looks. God above, his hair was straight, it was odd. It made his face look completely different. She hummed in a laugh, not used to the look of him, it was comical to her. The battles were over between them, there would be no fights, no harsh words, no naming calling nor finger pointing. They had both grown in this time, had both found their sense of self again, when such a thing occurred, there could be no fights, only calm.
|
|
|
Post by Lord General Maahes Asad-Aziem on Sept 28, 2010 9:54:44 GMT -6
It had been such a change, one that seemed never enough to showcase the extent of his hurt. He had been without her for so long it was hard to imagine a life with her again. He loved this woman dearly, but he loved his children more. It eased his heart to hear of her change, but with the feeling of remorse falling away he couldn’t help feeling lifted. “It is good to see you so rested. Welcome home.” Red Wall would always be her home, even if his heart was not. Moving from the porch then he would go to his Queen first with a warm embrace and a bow of his head, before closing the distance between he and his ex. It would be his arms that would take her, hugging her close some would call him insane, but it no longer hurt to do so. Taking a step back he would give a look to Bess to excuse her, not wanting her to leave, but really they needed to talk.
“Walk with me?” He gave a heavy sigh, uncertain of how he felt towards the entire subject, but knowing from here on out she couldn’t hurt him any more. “It is no longer about us.” Maahes held up his hand, “It is about our children. Who will continue to live with me. Ealora, you have to understand when you left you left a mess. You left blood on the streets, and me on my way to war.” It was not easy being a General’s wife, there were so few who could. He would not ask that of her ever again. “I have hired new hands as Nora is getting too old to handle them all properly. My son Galen has returned, and is giving them proper education. I will not see them split between two homes until you have in fact given them a home. If you will, I will buy the Townhouse from you. They can stay with you during the day, or you can even come here. I just need to know I can trust you now, because this is twice beautiful words have come from your lips of being done. You took holds in the Underdark, are they still there?” His days of war were numbered, as most hardly made it through 2, and this last was Maahes’s 7th. Signs of his body ache have been around for years, but his ability to hold the hilt of his blade was falling away. Someday that would be his death. Too many blows to the shoulder, too many cuts on his arm had destroyed the nerves, and no matter how much Jean-Claude worked it would never be enough. He was the first in to battle and the last out, but this was a fight he no longer wanted between them. Though she had in fact left him, he would be the first to bow out of this fight. “You wanted a life of your own, now go make it.” He would still be here.
|
|
|
Post by Chief Baliff Ealora on Oct 5, 2010 19:07:42 GMT -6
"That's what a few months of being in Barbados with no memory will do to you" A smile curled at the edge of her lips and then fell at his welcome home. Red Wall was always going to remain a special place in her heart, like Alexandria which was her pearl, Red Wall would be her ruby, the bright red color always calling her back. It would be the place she had known love and known even for such a short time, a home. It would always remain the first place she had ever felt accepted, because of this, it would always be somewhat of a home for her. Though he hugged her with ease, Ealora tensed and it was mechanical that her arms gave a pat against his back before she was wiggling back out of his arms feeling oddly out of place within them. She gave a simple nod of her head when he asked her to walk with him, for a fraction of a second her attention turned to Bess offering her apologies for the interruption of their day and then she was moving along beside Maahes, her hands behind her back, head down to listen to what he had to say. At his words, the old her would of flown into a rage having taken his words as views that he thought she was a bad mother and though she felt some ire towards what he had to say, she was thoughtfully silent for a long while when they came to stop in their walk and he turned towards her. "Whether you think so or not, our children bind us Maahes, whether you want to believe this is or is not about us is indeed irrelevant, I didn't say anything I did not mean and I did not say it in need to make you feel guilty or relieved or to point fingers. It is about the children, but I have done nothing to harm them so I find it unfair of you to label me a bad mother in so many words without coming out and saying it. I left with reasons, I have said this, but I have not left blood on the streets and though I left with you in need of war, that choice was yours. I agree quite plainly to leaving with things in a whirl but the children....are happy with my return. I will agree that they will live with you, for one week, while I gather home enough for them, I agree to this only because the Townhouse is packed and no place for them now."
Her feet shifted in the dirt as she gave a moments pause."I appreciate your offer to buy the Townhouse, but I must decline the offer, though it is appreciated even if refused"
Her head lifted, she gave pause enough for breath and continued. "After one week, I will have a home prepared to share custody with you, but you do not get the right in announcing it proper or not. I have never lifted a hand to my children, I have never harmed them with words or with item. I have been there, for the whole of their lives up until a few months ago. Until such a time, I have given no cause to any to doubt my judgement as a mother." Her hands found her belt, thumbs jabbed into her belt "I have no connections with the UnderDark anymore, I barely remember my time there"
She answered truthfully and turned in the dirt to face him, her chin fully lifted. She had left in sickness and she had left to get better, she had not left him but as he bowed out now, she would back out. This was a fight she would not enter. What had been between them was severed and now all that remained was a sliver, their children connecting them. strange that she felt no pain over it. "You don't get it, do you?" An she smiled, this was not a fight, she was not edging towards one, it was only part of her found it humorous that he still did not understand. "It was never about having a life of my own..." There she stopped. It was futile to explain further, if ever he was going to understand, he would need to do it on his own. Whether he came to understand or not did not matter. She knew who she was, who she wanted to be both as a woman ands a mother. Now she could seek it. "If you'll excuse me, I have a meeting with the Queen tonight at Lady Eirian Estate and I must depart now if I am to make it.."
She backed up a step and then another. Slowly she bent forward at the waist, offering him a stiff but formal bow of respect. A curtsy would of been out of place with her in pants and she felt no need to show him of what she had been taught in Barbados but she still offered him the respect of a bow in loo of a curtsy.
"General...." she hummed before turning to go and join the children for goodbyes so she could be on her way.
There had been many wounds between the two of them, none of them that she could think of that either of them had inflicted upon the other except pain of the heart, but wounds had a funny way of healing. Pain was an annoyance that people begged relief off for days that it continued and then one day suddenly, without expecting it, the pain was gone. As surely as the sun rose and set each day, wounds would heal if given time.
|
|
|
Post by Chief Baliff Ealora on Nov 27, 2010 21:10:14 GMT -6
Adam:Once again, the King roamed the halls of Blue Castle… the atrocities of Sleat and Dun Darroch behind him… the turmoil of friends in the Tamazgha still raged in the background… and news of Spain continually concerned him. The one thing that made him smile was his children… and he was still attempting to reconcile the erring of his ways regarding decisions of certain nature made without her… Having finished Parliamentary affairs, he dismissed his horse for a stroll thru the city. He wanted to walk back to Griffin Castle… to mingle amongst those he now ruled. It was a recommendation Bess had offered him… and now he was wandering aimlessly thru the streets. Of course, his trail was shadowed by three Gold Talons… Shaking hands, returning bows with courtly nods, Adam was smiling… and then he was interrupted by a messenger… his personal horse-handler behind the messenger, the white steed, and three others, reined in close. Standing patiently, the two men waited for the King to break away from the crowd. Adam finished with this group and before he could move on… the messenger informed him that the Queen needed him at Bant Chan Ser as soon as possible. Concerned, he attached his sword to the saddle, then mounted the white steed. “Talons, we ride for Bant Chan Ser… we shall be swift…”[/i] and the three men quickly mounted the steeds the two men brought. Meanwhile, the messenger could not relay anymore information to Adam. Nodding, he turned the horse toward the main gate. Four riders departed the front gate of the city… Less than half a day’s ride to Lady Eirian’s estate. Many thoughts crossed his mind along the way… Bandits? Spanish insurgents? Avarian renegades? Skye had several large enemies… all too intelligent to attack the Griffin interior… Lady Claramae had not informed him of any active insurgents… and it seemed any country had their bandits. Sea-green eyes watched the road, whist his mind deciphered what could be urgent at the Valley of the Stars…[/font][/color]
Bess:The world wasn't in Struan. It wasn't in the confines of the Waternish province. The island had the ability to isolate, define, and capture if one stood in a place long enough. How much of the seasons were taken in the pursuit of justice Beathag elected not to think about. It was time to begin anew. When everything else began its descent to sleep, to cease to grow, Beathag would flourish. She always flourished best under adverse conditions. Couldn't the same be said of any woman in the court, let alone its proximity? Imagine being crushed under ocean waves. Devoured by fire only to return from the shackles of forgetfulness. Being forgotten, forgetting. That was the worse prison that no hands of man could ever construct in a dungeon. Ealora had conquered and returned from the depths of her own mind when it had thrown her half way around the world. To a world that was still exotic, still being touched by the foreign powers by a gentle graze.
"Then we shall 'ave tae remedy tha', shan't we," she said in regards to the lack of elder company, "Ahdam will be entertainin'." Changeling, indeed. Nothing with eyes that bright could be human, nothing wanting that sort of a trick could be merely mortal woman. "Fetch yerself a dress, dae up yer hair n' get a good cloak tae hide yer face n' then come tae Eirian's. Tha' is where he knows I am stayin. Eirian will be vera happy tae see ye alive n' well again. Give her somewot tae laugh at. I get the impression she is rather like a hermit these days herself." Her arms reached out to take Ealora in them, fingers brushing over her face as a mother or proud elder sister might. These were the ties that binded, and forever. She knew what it was to be locked inside of her head, your identity stripped from you. Ealora had come to the otherside of it, and like Beathag, found better. "Ah'm gaein tae gae change m'self. Perhaps braid m'hair in pin it aloft."[/i] Oh wouldn't they be so pretty for this little trick? A little trick that would stop his heart only to start it again. "Wouldn't ye know it, Ah've found somethin out before Ahdam did!"[/i][/font][/color]
Ealora:Once upon a time Ealora would of prayed to be crushed by the waves of the sea, to die a glorious death upon the salted waters. Times changed so swiftly, as surely as each took its turn upon the earth passing the years like a knife through butter. The years had moved swiftly these past few years, it seemed like with only a blink of an eye she was a pirate, another blink of an eye she was a wife...and then a mother. Now she was simply a mother of six, former wife and woman looking for a new place within the world of Skye. Skye was indeed a world of its own. Each place held life and meaning far removed from its sister sitting just at its side. Each providence was a gem all its own. Ealora had missed Skye for it had held a hum of life that no other place would ever have. Here she had been made whole again only to be crushed and then again made whole and returned. Never would she wish differently. The smile that curved her lips was dangerous as she laid plans with her Queen and Friend to trick and surprise her King and other friend. Hugging Bess to her, she hummed a note of mischief. "Go, Ready yourself and I will be along shortly"[/i] She kissed Bess cheek as one who was a sister, for these were indeed ties that bound them. Maahes voice drew her away and she gave a final hug to Bess before stepping back. It was dusk when she would see the Queen again, riding into Eirian estates upon Contessa upon a side saddle, the flow of her gown not permitting her to ride astride the beast. Her hair had been swept up into a elegant pile behind her head except for a role of her hair left to curl about her shoulder. Magdelina had even helped to powder her eyes in dark shadows of gray leaving her own Celadon eyes smokey but what need of smoke was there in such eyes that still breathed a life of fire. The red and golden dress hugged her forms to perfection, the best thing about it was the hood attached to the back of the dress which was drawn up to hide her face, it could be detached later but for now served its purpose as she was hidden away in the sitting room awaiting Adam and Bess with a secret smile, the only thing on pale kissed lips that showed out of the hood illuminated by the fire while the shadows of the corner hid everything else about her away. [/font][/color] Adam:The entourage of 5… the King, his page, and three Gold Talon guards… his shadows upon every venture, all travelled down the cobblestone road toward the estates of Lady Eirian… The mind of the King upon his wife and Eirian, a long-time friend… and what circumstance would require the immediate attention of the regal of regals in the Gaelic Nations… The sight of the entourage… a white steed, covered in black and gold, the tall man, who was King, rode upon the beast, settled into an ornate saddle… behind him, a page with a black tunic, the gold gryphon upon his chest, armed with the staff and banner of Skye, and three King’s talon guards armed with sword and lance, behind him… was seen by the guards of Bant Chan Ser long before the King saw them… At the gate, the King demanded immediate entry, even as the gates were opened… and the entourage entered… their steeds, immediately handled as the men stepped down… “Get settled, eat, drink… Ah shall see wot bae the situation…”[/i] he spoked to the guards and page… Looking to the Steward that met the King in Eirian’s stead… “Take mae tae the Queen…”[/i] Adam knew not what was transpiring… with all that had occurred in the past several months, his head was swimming with concern. Little did he know what his favorite lasses had in mind. The Chamberlain knew only to bring the King to the Queen’s private quarters… those not far from Eirian’s. With a sure stride, he followed the Chamberlain thru the corridors… bootheel thudding against stone floors were much heavier than the chamberlain’s and announced to all who knew them he was approaching.[/font][/color]
"The King Approaches, make way, make ready!"[/i]
Eirian:The call resounded through the encroaching twilight. Streaks of violet split across enflamed shades of orange as the battle of the sun was always lost when it was time for it to set. The West looked beautiful, so too did the estate craddled between the hills where the first light of morning or moon rise never failed to illuminate the fable aura of the house named for the shade of Silver. Good eyes the guards had indeed. It helped, too, when you're guard now consisted of Welsh longbowmen, Avarians, and a few remnants of the English armies more powerful contingents. Once the estate was said to have been guarded by Robertsons. Wasn't that a twist of fate? Whatever had changed the guard, be it the acceptance of one heir over the other or familial ties, it was a contented thing that each left the other alone. No doubt the company that surrounded the small woman from Wales gave any enemy a great deal of pause.
"The King Approaches!"[/i]
Eirian:In the small room where Ealora sat, Eirian had passed by on her way to see how the Queen was faring for their little surprise. Did she mind being a part of the affair? Not by any means. All of them were heir to some part of her heart and soul anyhow, and what was a family if it did not laugh when laughter was able to be found? "Will this be habit?"[/i] She asked of Ealora, surveying the red gown, "even the most fiercely respectable among the servants is having intense trouble not staring at you outright. I think you in such attire will become more legendary than the fact you live. At least you have lived and do live now very well."[/i] With the arrival of his majesty and instruction from Her Grace, his wife, she had relinquished the simplistic robes of her portrait work for the construction of her court attire. Eirian did not often wear such things in the country. Her servants would often stroke the beautiful dresses as pieces of art with no canvas to hold them. Tonight the Lady Tabitha must have been quite pleased to attire her mistress in the beautiful violet gown. At first there was protest, but Tabitha insisted. Such a color belonged on royalty regardless of any law saying that any could wear such shades for the baring of station was oft seen in the more obvious choice of cut, fabric, and outward symbolism. Eirian, she said, would always be royalty. Royalty should dress to entertain the same! The heavy purple silks were acceptable for the season as she wore a soft chemise of only the best spun wool from her own sheeps underneath of it The long, billowing sleeves revealed the puffing up of the stuff so soft it could have been mistaken for cotton. A design of cala lilies was embroidered in to the bodice, the skirts full and generous. All of her hair was taken up and placed inside a golden snood. "Welcome home."[/i] There would be time later for embraces, for stolen moments, for adventure sharing. [/font][/color]
Ealora:For the moment, the hood was pulled back a bit to reveal her face as Eirian swept through the room. The corners of her mouth pulling up into a grin at her old friend. It seemed like another lifetime in which she met the woman. Besides Maahes, she had been the first person Ealora had encountered in Skye. She remembered Eirian had been outside when Ealora had rode past on a stolen...albeit what she called a borrowed horse and had been invited inside this very castle for dinner. There Maahes had been under the table but the reason why now escaped her. Her impression of the fair queen had been contempt, she had seen weakness in the woman's kindness when really it was one of her greatest strengths. Ealora could not imagine what Eirian had thought of her then, of course with Eirian supreme kind and gentle nature, she had never had a bad thought of anyone, least of all a likely pirate of the times. The smile on her face now was for the words her long time friend spoke that shamed the world beautiful a thousand times over as she surveyed the gown Ealora wore. One of many that had been a gift from Lord Mendoza and his new wife. Fingers stroked lovingly over the fabric, Celadon eyes dipped downward and then up to Eirian. "I'm not quite sure, ask me again some other time"[/i] She teased with a wink of an eye in the woman's direction. Ealora did not miss the call that the King was there. For a moment her heart did a hop and a skip in beat that he had felt remorse for sending her off, that his life had been up heaved apparently by Bess words and turmoil had come between them. If anyone had ever accepted a woman for a former pirate turned good, it had been Adam. Adam in his friendship as sporadic as it had been, had seen past a pirate to a woman beneath the Titles, he had seen her potential and though he had used it to work his agenda, she had gone along with it. She had needed it. The Shadow Storm was at the bottom of the sea, it had earned a glorious death and had received its just rewards. Now there was only the future, baby steps towards it but a bright open future if ever there was one. Celadon eyes swept to the windows were light was rapidly disappearing and then swung to Eirian as she appraised Ealora for her beauty in the dress and her life she had lived...that she lived and her lips curled into a smile again. "Eirian, you are truly such a poet at heart that you do words a misfortune when you speak them, for you shame them by speaking them so beautifully"[/i] She hummed as her eyes followed Eirian as she swept from the room to greet the King and paused long enough to wish Ealora a welcome home. This time the smile reached her eyes sparking the Celadon colored pools with a light much different then the fire that had occupied them of late. "Thank you"[/i] She mused in return and pulled the hood back into place hiding her face away, her attention turned to the window to occupy her time in waiting. Yes, there would be time in the near future for hugs and stories of adventures past and to come. [/font][/color]
Eirian: It was said that in the season of the sun Eirian had her own misfortune to have an adventure too. No one here discussed it much.
Within the suites arranged for the Queen, Eirian watched Tabitha attack the task of preperations with the Lady Heather. Both of them were victorious, having brushed the golden mane until it shone. "The sun hasn't set I see,"[/i] she crooned. Just as they were setting to arrange braids, Eirian would bid them cease. "No no, he is always the most distracted when her hair is down."[/i] Heather acknowledged this for fact, where Tabitha would abide by any request given her. She merely looked at her lady with a bit of a shy smile. "not even a ribbon?"[/i] Before her heart could break Eirian would give it some thought. Every vanity of a lady guest was well stocked with adornments. "Aye, a ribbon Tabitha. The Queen is wearing her white I see, with this black overdress that will bring the color that will brush the floor. Braid her hair only a little..let them rest here, just behind her ears. Bind it in golden chording. The contrast is always lovely..and let the rest hang in these soft curls you have formed. The effect will be quite dramatic."[/i] The Lady Heather couldn't help but to smile at the conspiracy in Beathag. All of them in royal colors. One the fire of a phoenix burst back to life, the other the sedate, regal evening, and beathag? She was all that was light and strength entwined. The unification and at once absence of color. The beginning and the end. [/font][/color]
Bess: "Will ye nay come tae court Eirian, if only fer a little? Can only imagine how much a young lady would flourish under such instruction or patronage. Rosalind would be sae pleased tae see them educated, Liliana and Jelenah tae, n' they would be exceptionally pleased with the honor maidens who could embrace such style n' wit n' humor as they endevor tae be such women as would please the world n' please the Queen's favor. Consider it? This is quite a jest fer ye tae. Later the great business will be drinkin wine n' bein' about friends. Ah've e'en seen the returned dead before thyself."[/i]
The Queen insisted the Welsh Woman think of it. She would also have no less of an invitation be made to Ealora. Oh wouldn't the world simply go crashing on its ears to see the woman so refined, not General's wife nor pirate Queen, but simply Lady Malory, her future open, waiting? At her age one stood to need amusement often yet the interests of the older women, the more seasoned and the closer to her, close at heart. [/font][/color]
Eirian: Eirian would emerge in the hall then, lowering herself before the King with no less grace than he could ever remember from the woman. Like with all things, age only seemed to magnify it. Eirian was at the beginning of her thirtieth decade. "My Lord and King, welcome. I see that our Steward has received you, and Sir Thomas, thank you."[/i] The middle aged man bowed before leaving the King in the Lady's company. For all of his troubles, the Artisan had taken advantage of her station to knight him and his son herself. For this he was able to live in even more comfort. Given the care taken to preserving the estate, it was well worth it."Your wife has requested you to her chambers, they are just here. When you are done we may all speak together on whatever manner you see fit."[/i] Somber, contained. Whatever was the matter? Hardly a smile? Hopefully no one had died! As she left Adam alone at the opening doors, she went to the sitting where where Ealora was waiting. Being the room was rather spacious, this particular sitting room hadn't doors. It looked as if it were formed from the strait, ram rod roots of envisioned trees. There were many such open rooms and halls in the estate, which gave it the appearance of having been here with God's wish, not mans. Eirian leaned against one of these supposed roots with a whispered laugh. Conspiracy pinkened her cheeks, so it was good to have it! "He looks as if the world might topple upon him. I do so think that if Beathag commanded him to worlds end he would sail the ship right yon, if to fly he would surely attempt if only to please her! Such has been the love between them. As stubborn as he is he would do anything to see her remain ever softened and pleased."[/i][/font][/color]
Ealora:When Eirian reappeared in the sitting room, Ealora attention flickered to the woman, one corner of her mouth turned upward into a grin that was as mischievous as it could be considering one of her slender eyebrows also flickered upward in amusement. Her amusement was at Eirian willingness to join in on such a prank, her whispered laugh. "Why Eirian, I must remember to drag you into such pranks more often. Just look at the color in your cheeks, it has been a long time since I have seen it thus."[/i] She let out a laugh before turning her head back to the window. Now with night upon it, she could see her reflection in the glass but somehow she managed to look past her own reflection to stare at the darkness beyond. It was easy to see past your reflection, if you looked long and hard enough but she did not ignore Eirian, her lips again curled into a grin. "We would all be so lucky to be loved thus, to have a man sail to the ends of the earth all for love is something everyone should aspire to. Not that I ever had it so unlucky in love. I much prefer my men large...and in charge, or trying to be in charge anyways. There is something about a tall and big muscled man that sets my blood to boiling."[/i] Her attention turned away from the window to look at Ealora, the grin was wide and even more mischievous upon her face but when her attention went back to her reflection, catching it for a split second before she stared back into the darkness, that her face was somber again, the mischievous grin was gone. Had it ever been there? Who knew.[/font][/color]
Bess: Bootfalls came closer, closer. The door creaked ajar as the pages assigned to it left enough room for the royal entourage to emerge. Adam's page would prepare to announce his presence while the ladies in waiting lowered themselves before crowned excellence. Oh it could not have looked better if it were scripted! He was shown, by somber faces and lifted pretty hand just where his wife did wait for him to a woman in the center of the room come out from a place of preperation. With every year that came saw his wife find more ways to remind him that she indeed was woman, no matter how many scars she had, or how thick some of her scars remained on her hands. No one could wear the shade of white as she could with the golden lacings, no one could wear the black with it as she could, pinned shut by a single griffin shaped clasp as the animal rose in majestic opulence along the train of the back. Why, the Lady of the estate had even seen to it that a coronet was put in place lest his majesty forget. No doubt the diamond dangling from the piece of artistry in the center of her head made him wonder if this was indeed the dock merchant who laid no claim to her past before him. She seemed as if she might weep yet remained resolute. Only when he came closer..when the servants were gone..when they were seated. Only if he should take her hand did she design to say.
"There be matters we can nay attend in the capital, m'laird, there is someone here tis most urgent for us tae meet with, a story they 'ave tae tell us."[/i][/font][/color]
Adam:The pageantry, or protocol, that accompanied the King’s arrival, or if the lack of, he cared not… for his wife had summoned him with no excuse, save her sealed message… He had made his way from Tursa Lan accompanied by only three Talons, for no enemy regardless of how large could keep him from going to his beloved wife and Queen. Now as he entered Eirian’s estate, he was met by Sir Thomas, Eirian’s steward and given the Talon’s his leave toget food and drink… but the page stood behind him still… As Eirian approached and lowered herself deep, Adam would automatically offer her his hand… “Rise Yer Grace… tis Ah who should be bowing tae yae…”[/i] He had bowed to the woman upon many occasions as a landless knight… and now, as King, he would offer her such respect upon high. As she rose and gave Thomas his leave… he extended his arms outward to embrace her. “Tis goot tae see yae M’Lady… been far tae laeng indeed…”[/i] As he released her… “Ah would be more than happy tae sit and talk about much o’late…but bess summoned me with haste… and no explanation… Is she well?”[/i] To her indication of Bess’ chambers, Adam smiled… and the look upon Eirian’s face displayed neither deceit nor trickery… for if there was, he knew not of its presence. At wellover six feet, his stride was lengthy… and weighed bootfalls gave way upon stone… The page opened the door for his sovereign, and the tall man entered seeing women, garbed as courtly subjects bowed before their King. Seeing Bess well, and rising to meet her husband, he smiled…finally… dire concern was alleviated, and he let a heavy exhale of breath, as if he had been holding it since Turas Lan… She was beautiful… as usual. But her golden hair caught his attention first and foremost, because of the strands that lay upon her shoulders and chest… He loved her hair unbound… save for the coronet, and a simple binding of gold… His attention focused solely upon her… the other women simply an added attraction yet undiscovered. “Yae are well, Ah see…” In the meantime, the servants had gone, including the page that was almost dragged away… He noticed that her facial expression was bland, somber, almost to the point of tears…and then she looked at him and spoke… “Ah came as soon as Ah could…” He would go beyond the stars for her… Heaven nor Hell could nay keep him from her… She only had to beckon… if not in word, but sight… “Matters o’ state? Someone?”[/i] he glanced briefly at the bowed subjects behind his wife… the oddest of expressions torquing his boyish facial features as he looked back at her. The familiar cant of his head re-defined his confusion…[/font][/color] Steward: The Steward turned the King's men over to the capable keeping of one of Eirian's ladies. She would lead the men to the kitchens, thus to be sat down for sustinance while the King handled affairs with Lady of the Estate and then his own wife, the Queen. By now, Eirian was in a room with Ealora waiting for the revelation to be made known to Adam, but in a moment's silence she recalled how he had greeted her. Does anyone ever set out to do what he did if given a choice? Life, she thought, was half choice and half predestination. "All will be told by your Lady wife, I am under instruction it is she who wishes to speak of it."[/i] No deceit, no trickery. She would never set out to do so in a harmful fashion, but did not the women of the realm often earn the comparison to sprites and pixies? Bess:Now he would look on his wife, the King, and inside of her heart she smiled. The way she captured his attention was exactly as desired. A correct amount of hair had been pulled away but the illusion of endless light was fostered by the amount of gold on her head, and the gold of the coronet on her brow. Beathag turned to the servants lowered in respect just behind her. "Ye all may leave, ah must speak with the King now alone."[/i] No one would hear what would be said, no one would repeat the words from her mouth. As they fell away her face lifted to meet his. Ever gentle, she captured his hand, kissing it. "It would take mortal fear tae move the King from the Parliment, which holds him captive in his own realm."[/i] His heart looked to break in half if she told him the world were falling apart.Coming to her feet she brushed at his face. "Tis a matter o' state after a fashion, e'en the state at large though it would be sae. There is someone Ah wish fer ye tae meet. Ah feel she would ought have a high place in my household... our household, thus court o'erall. She's petitioned tae be as one o' m'ladies but m'thinks she may do more. Will ye come with me tae meet her now? Ah'm sorry tae have called ye sae thusly, but it is important."[/i] A silent sigh was given before she loomed somber again, "Sae long is it tha' we are asked tae hear, tae judge, tae hear tae judge tha' we were able tae take nay summer with one another when it ought have been a time of peace. ye will fergive such tactics."[/i] So flippant! Any other husband would have admonished his wife by word and deed but he was not any other husband, just as she was no simplisticly adorned wife. Always a motive, always a reason to every action. It was merely many women hadn't such tools to her advantage. "Twas a horrible thing tae dae, but..."[/i] A kiss, to appease him? A gentle pull on the hand, to lead him.[/font][/color] Adam:Before approached by his wife, Adam responded to Eirian with silence… a mere nod of his head. Had it been a halo, he was sure it would have slipped a bit… for he always stayed attached to Eirian’s words… no matter how menial… Alas, she was no menial person… not to him. If anyone, besides the Queen, had any respect from the King of the Gaelic Nations, it was Eirian. As the Lady spoke to him, he took a brief glance to his beloved wife, a questioned expression upon the boyish face. Women of the realm? Sprites? Pixies? There is no comparison… all were creatures of beauty… mischievous beings with no harm intended… and this circumstance was no different. All had conspired against the King… the man, moreso… for his actions previous had set the stage. Revenge? Retribution? Vengeance? Eirian? Beathag? Ealora? Synonyms all… But for now, the man who was King had no eartly, nor heavenly, clue… but soon all would be revealed. He looked at bess oddly as she spoke. “Love, tis the time to meet someone? Here? Whay nae at Court? T’would be proper, aye?”[/i] His flurry of questions only forced her to restrain the pixie grin even longer… With a heavy exhale of air, he nodded… “Aye, I shall meet this mystery person… especially since yae deem tis important enuff tae bring mae ‘ere…”[/i] Oh, inside his mind, intelligent thoughts were broken down into strategic pieces… but how does one think logically against actions of a pixie… a sprite? Battles won and lost… this battle of wits, he was losing… and with the brush of her hand… then the light kiss of appeasement… then a gentle tug upon his hand… he succumbed… and followed her into the realm of pranks unknown. Oh, the confused expression upon the kingly, boyish face…[/font][/color] Ealora: Time was a fickle and funny thing. An hour could seem like a minute, a second could seem like an eternity. It was only a matter of occasion that such a thing occurred. This trick of theirs had only taken seconds to plan but seemed to play out over an eternity. How long she sat she did not know but she was patient, more patient then she had been before leaving the island. She was content to let Bess and Adam have a moment together. She did not understand nor know all that had happened on Skye while she had been gone but she suspected much in her talk with Bess that it had been trying for the both of them, what should of been a time of peace had been a trial all most soul tearing. For now she was content to sit and think. Even with Eirian there, she was silent. She had hundreds of memories to choose from. At thirty-six, she had lived a life well beyond her years. Some memories were more pain wrenching then others and yet she had learned that there was nothing to regret from the life she had lived, at least she had lived it. At least she could say she had lived, titles be damned; Lady, Pirate, General's wife. She could of been called many things in her life, of those three, she could be proud. When finally the hall was alive with the sound of the King and Queen coming, she set aside her water goblet and rose from her chair. Her hands moved slowly to smooth down the golden fabric of her skirt, the overcoat red swayed with the movement and she dipped as she heard their steps turning the corner, her head dipping as she lowered into a regal curtsy, one that made every breath of her body move with such a fluid movement it would shame the way even water moved gracefully downstream, as her body dipped low, her right shoulder fell back an inch as her left shoulder fell forward two inches, her head dipped low, her chin nearly kissing her shoulder and the hood of her dress fell forward hiding her features away in shadow and there she rested, perfectly at easy in such a royal curtsy. Adam:His questions would be met with a disconcerned look from his wife… Those emerald eyes looking back at him. If evil was evident, it would be inside those eyes… if wickedness abound, t’would be in her smile. With his wife upon his leveled arm, he escorted her thru the protocols of entering the room, the women before him bowed in reverence for their King… “Rise…”[/i] he commanded, only to have Bess step forward at the last minute. Once again, he mind set into confusion… “What matters of state?” he thought silently…[/font][/color]
Bess: If evil was evident it was not intention nor was wickedness. Still, a certain amount of dark attribute lived beside the light everyday that they themselves had lived. A jest was the act of the presentation but the true nature was one of reunification. As they walked and as she smiled, she felt comfortable in the forgiveness she would recieve for the extremism used to lure him to her side. The matter of deciding women in the household he so often left to the judgement of the fairer sex but now he was asked to assist. Did a tale come with this woman? "Wot house she is from may serve us in good contact n' alliance, which is why Ah thought it important for ye tae see her for yerself, hear her tale."[/i][/font][/color]
Eirian: Eirian watched Ealora after a moment of laughter passed from her mouth to be met with silence. She didn't think it rude, though. Of all the people in the world to understand the power of thought it was her. So she smiled instead, letting the weight of an expression to someone thought long gone hold an impact for it could be received by someone in this world, not looked on from heaven. The year had proven long for Ealora. Even before this on was to end she wished it to grow better so that what would come next transpired only to grace in all years to come. When the corner turned produced royal pair, she lowered herself following Ealora. It was like a ballet, with the Egyptian taking the center of the stage and the Welsh content to join the chorus of others. "Your Graces, I leave you with the lady now. God save you, and fair well until later in the day."[/i] Ah what was about to play out here! She would be told no doubt by the maids that remained in the shadows against the walls to see to whatever need might arise for the three of them.[/font][/color]
Bess: When Eirian passed the royal pair she dipped once more. Beathag looked at her with tender eyes. How many years had gone by, how much time when she watched innocence grow the radiance that flourished before her eyes now? If one thing she detested, it was that the woman's love of the pastoral life took her from a place where she could gaze on her every single day. Ealora had been around her for her entire reign. Adam didn't know the secret of who was before them, but she did. Time changes everything. Instead of a gruff woman challenging authority with humor and ruing its use, she submitted to it in such elegance as to steal the Queen's breath. Here was beauty, here it was. Always living within but untouched for fear it would make her appear weak. Giving themselves to the work of the body feminine didn't make them weak, it made all the more beautiful the strength inside that glowed. Adam: Adam’s attention turned from Bess’s word answered by a simple nod, to Eirian’s departure… “Madam…”[/i] was all he said… and a slight bow of his head, with the truest of respect for the woman… and he briefly watched her departure. Refocusing his attention upon Bess, his quick glances to the bowed woman still before him. With a step forward, his hand extended out and down to the covered woman… “You may rise M’Lady… and tell me of your story… Yae ‘ave the King’s attention fullest…”[/i] and he gave a brief side-glance to Bess.[/font][/color] Ealora: Ealora saw their feet before she saw their faces, a flash of her hood when she bowed her head but there had been no sign that her face had been seen. She felt Eirian behind her, she always felt the woman when she was near. Some day she would ask her forgiveness for her silence of late, some day they would talk again, their last longest talk was one of Ealora's madness. One day she would hear Eirian tale of it, how it had looked to others for the only way to remain in the point of sanity, was to relive each moment, no matter how blissful or painful it was, to feel was the only thing that reminded her that she was alive and indeed, human, not some demon spit up from the mouth of hell to torment those that loved her. She felt Eirian move beside her, offering another bow as she passed their majesties excusing herself. It was perhaps in this moment, this fraction of time when wonders happened, for three women perhaps all held the same thought just how would the King react to such a jest? Just how would the King react in Ealora' rebirth? It seemed as if time itself stood still for this moment, to better preserve it for even given the command to Rise by the King, she stood posed in her curtsy, holding the move with seeming relative ease. The woman as it was to the King, waited a breath to give the Queen chance to speak but Adam was commanding her to rise again, tell her story. Ealora always had abnormally large lips, but there were not unpleasant, surely many men had dreamed of kissing them, very very few ever enjoying kissing them in reality. These lips pulled up into a grin behind the shadows of the hood as she slowly she pulled her body upright in the same regal and perfectly smooth motion that she had gone down with. "My Story?"[/i] Ealora's voice hummed in a note not her own. A breath of silence followed and then she laughed, her chin poking out for a moment as her head went back just a fraction and then dipped again as she bobbed into a curtsy of compliance. "I have...tasted from the cup of madness; drank deep the thick redness of blood lust. I have swam deep the waters of lost identity; nearly drowned in the regrets of my past and have yet emerged, given a chance to see life through the eyes of another only to be merged with my former self, my past regrets may never be forgiven, but they are no longer regrets, and my fears? Mmm my fears better hidden. My actions more focused, but I can think of no gift greater then this...Your Majesties..."[/i] Here she paused, taking a step back and then another putting some distance between Adam, Bess and herself and slowly her hands reached up to pull her hood back, revealing in one swift moment the fabric left her head and came to rest on her shoulders that it was in fact Ealora that spoke such things to the King in the red and golden gown, teardrop pearls dangling from her ear lobes which swayed with the movement of her head as she brought her head up to look at him, those Celadon eyes were unmistakable. Her eyelids were painted in powder to shade them in a gray shadowy look. Her Russet hair had been combed, heated around a cylinder to curl it and then two strands at either temple pulled back to create a curtain hold against the rest of her hair and set with a hair pendant to keep it in place as the curls flowed to the middle of her back. The dead had arisen. "Life....Your Majesties, the greatest gift any one of us can have, and one I presently share with you."[/i][/font][/color] Adam:The woman finally rose as the King had commanded… and his ears eagerly awaited the words his wife had requested him to take note upon. And as she spoke, the story seemed all too familiar… despite the voice being slightly different… Had past returned to present to only haunt his future? Had his fateful decision, which at times, plagued his dreams, twisting them into nightmares… sent specters to remind him? For less than a mere second, he prayed to God that the demons he had incurred would depart and let his life move on… How could this woman live a similar life as the dear departed had lived? Was life, and God, so twisted as to allow humans to suffer as they did? The woman stepped back, her hands pulled back the material… and as it rested upon her shoulders, Adam was taken back for a moment… beautiful brunette hair, full lips, those celadon eyes… so familiar… yet his mind did not immediately register… Was it his belief in the Almighty, or lack of, that allowed ghosts… spirits… to invade his daylight consciousness? The heart of a well-formed warrior normally beats at 60 or less per minute… but in this instance, his accelerated to much more… his breathing doubled, nay, tripled… for all he could do was swallow… His tall form began to quiver inside… and tears formed in the corners of the eyes. “You are alive…!! How could this be? Had God given her, and me, a second chance? How….?” Those words never left his lips… but were caught in his throat… and blurred by tears that slowly moved along the boyish cheeks…. So many questions, so few answers… but only silence reigned… sea-green eyes blinked in the time that had passed… and a quick glance to his wife and back to the woman, to be sure he was not imagining ghosts. His hands went to her arms… as if in slow motion… and drew the woman to him, then wrapping around her… No crown… no King… no royal protocol… only friends… friends born in peace, baptized in blood… now reunited by only the Grace of God… Ealora:When his hands reached for her, her hands came out. He quivered so that it broke her heart and alarmed her all in the same instance. For a moment, for one split second this joke seemed not such a good idea. "Your Majesty"[/i] She hummed with a grin pulling at her lips as his hands found her arms, her fingers tightening on her flesh as if he expected her to be a ghost who would vanish the minute his touch would find her. She was solid how much would this surprise him? Her hands found his sides and then his back as he drew her into a hug. Would he remember her madness and the time in which he had opened his arm for a hug and she had denied it with that darkness so evident in her eyes? It seemed a lifetime away and yet she remembered it more vividly then she did yesterday. There was nothing intimate in the way she hugged him, they were friends born from times of both peace and war, each having bled for this land that they had loved. Adam and Bess ruling it while Ealora though sometimes quite heatedly against actions, always followed the ways of freedom. It had been a common dream of theirs. One they had always shared.[/font][/color] Adam:Was that a cry of joy… or a heavy sigh of relief… or laughter of friends united... that she, alone, would hear? Kissing her cheek, he would release her to arms length, and looked at her, a smile crossing that face. From the moment the woman pulled back the hood, to what Adam was able to see before him, was no more than a second… but periods of his life flashed in that instant of time… would she live that mere moment in time with him, or would it be lost only to him? But for those around, would see a man smile, hug the woman, and welcome her back. “Ealora !! By God, yer alive… an’ looking well tae…”[/i] he would finally speak aloud… “When no one could find the body, Ah pray’d that yae were alive, somehow, somewhere… but after so many months, I began to fear you were truly dead. An’ now, sae many questions, lass. Nay… nae questions o’ the past… only o’ yer future.”[/i] He would turn, taking her, and his beloved wife by the arm… “Coom, we celebrate !!!”[/i] as they headed for the door, all he could say… “Oh wot a GLORIOUS day !!!!”[/i] the words sounded like a boy, not a man of almost one and forty.[/font][/color] Ealora:Whatever it was, a cry of joy or a heavy sigh of relief; Ealora was smiling when he kissed her cheek and then released her to arms length to take a look at her. With her hands in his, her arms rose as if to display herself to him in a 'here I am' gesture and then she laughed with him. It was one of the truest and purest forms of laughter she had given in the past few months. He had not been alone in sharing a single span of time to relive a life, for she had seen her lifetime flash before her more then once in a single month were others were lucky to ever have the experience once. How far she had come, how far all of them had come, and to have seen so much change. The saying had been true, what did not kill you only made you stronger. They were all testament to that. "I am alive, Adam...Though I leave the looking good part for others to judge, not that it makes any difference, I never did live by the opinions of others."[/i] Leaving behind the courtly appointment for how they should be addressed, she teased easily with a wink, all her past worries and madness was evidently behind her. Adam and Bess had been two of her truest friends in life. They were her friends as sure as they were her sovereigns. Her attention turned to Bess to give her a wink of an eye and she laughed again as Adam took them both by the arm to head for the door. Just where were they going? "Indeed, the past should be behind us and one day when we are all old and want to relive memories, I will tell you of just how I came to be alive, but for now, let us live...let us celebrate and talk of the future, for the Queen has posed a good position for me and I think it just the ticket, for a bright and happy future for all of us..."[/i] Ealora meant the position of Chief Baliff, now having faced a few hours to think about it, the position was one she was looking forward to. That was, if Adam was in agreement to give such a position to her. For now, she laughed with friends of past and now a bright future as Adam proclaimed it a Glorious Day in a voice belittling his true age and making Ealora let out high peeling and true laugh.[/font][/color] Adam:“Ah see th’t bae true lass… alive bett’r than Ah e’r seen ya before…”[/i] he smirked… “An’d nay one body deny my words of yer beauty lass… nay one… for fear of death…”[/i] he chuckled and winked… He looked to Bess and closed his eyes momentarily to acknowledge the trick was one well worth the effort. No words needed to reassure the instigators of their success, for it was evident in his expressions, emotions, and word… In the corridor, he called to Lady Eirian to prepare a feast… as if he did not know she had already… As usual, Adam was moments behind Eirian’s already planned agenda… He would look to his beloved friend of years… and how she had changed… Gone were the months of her madness… Gone were the sorrowed eyes that appeared deep socketed with pain… Here was the radiant beauty he had known prior… Here, anew was Ealora Mallory… “Aye lass, Lady Bess an’ Ah ‘ave been discussing the Baliff position…”[/i] he glanced at her… to Bess, then back to Ealora. “Are yae sure yae want the position… tis nay good as it stands naew… the Crown has its concerns in the constabulary system… It seems that from, and since Dun Darroch, Ah learned of greed, power-seeking, and near traitorous acts against the Crown. If’en yae accept the position, yae may ‘ave tae choose yaer own Constabilaries… Sheriffs, if’en yae please… and replace all th’t bae in position naew…”[/i] he squeezed her hand a bit as he guided her to a seat beside him… with Bess upon his right.[/font][/color]
Ealora: "Well I am not sure of the better then ever part nor the beauty, I thank you for it. I am glad to be back and only sorry of my actions that caused those I love pain. I tease about it but our mortality is very real and not one many fathom very often. It is easy to forgot how fragile we really are. We are all, only human and prone to mistakes, heartaches and a life cut to short. I count myself lucky to be amongst the living still and with a high need to put the past behind me and start over again."[/i] She strolled easily on Adam's one arm, Bess on his other. Easily she snuck a peek behind Adam head to give Bess a smile and a wink that their plan had gone off without a hitch and brought the King and Bess beloved husband such joy.
She held Adam hand a moment as she took her seat and then leaned causally to the side, lounging against one of the arm rests. For several minutes she was silent as Adam stole a glance at Bess and then looked back at her, explaining the position had been corrupted, or at least those around it corrupted with greed and power. It was not hard to imagine such a thing happening. It was far harder to follow a righteous path then it was to lead a life of sin. This was proven time and again, year after year, the situation never changed. This was the balance in the world, good and evil, righteous and sin, life and death.
Finally she sat up and heaved a sigh. "In truth, it was not a position I would of ever seen myself in before. I never fathomed leaving the sea but here I am. I am ready to leave the sea behind, to look to a life upon the land."[/i] Just the thought of the seas again made her palms sweat. No one had any clue that Ealora who had once loved the sea, was now deathly afraid of it. She barely remembered the battle that had nearly took her life and had taken the life of many of her men. Sure there were some thing she remembered but a lot of it that she still did not remember. Once more Ealora fell silent as dishes of food were laid out on the table by Eirian's servants, occasional Ealora's eyes swung to them and she offered them a smile in thanks before her attention would turn to Bess and Adam again.
Slowly she leaned forward to catch Bess's eye. "In truth, Bess, I often pitied you for ever giving up on it. I know you lived a life on the seas before. I've often pitied people who experienced things I had not, marriage for one; never a path I had ever seen myself partaking of, yet here I am, divorced yes but if I was given the chance to go back and change it, I wouldn't. It is true to say it is better to have loved and lost to never have loved at all. The same goes for children, and my piracy. I regret none of it. How can I? Look what life has brought me, look what experiences it has brought me, look which situations it has lead me to. I have known a life of sin and I have known a life of semi righteousness. I can never promise to be completely good, I can never promise to be a nun but I know the world of greed, power and traitorous acts. What pirate has not?"[/i]
She paused again and offered them a smile. "I have also known a world of justice, a better world then piracy. The question of the position is an easy one, can I weed out the greed power seeking individuals and make the position one of respect again? The answer is yes."[/i]
Here she smiled and laughed. "Sounds cokey does it not? I light the fuse to my own cannon of greatness. Was I good as a pirate? Enough to earn me the title of Pirate Queen, oh I doubt not that I was very good. Was I good as a privateer of their majesties naval force? My ship survived for years, the enemy defeated, I do believe that proved my worth there. Do not get me wrong, I do not think you question my abilities in any way. The question isn't can I do the job but is it something I want to take on."[/i]
Again she paused, this time letting the silence reign a minute or two before answering though she knew what she wished to say. "My answer there is yes. I cannot promise you will always agree with my decisions not methods in the position but you may trust me and trust I will do nothing to jeopardize my life here nor that of my families. I have built a home here, a life here, my children are here and I daresay, for the first time ever in my life, my loyalty was pledged and is kept here. I wish only to have this be a land my children can be proud of calling their own and if they should go out into the world beyond Skye, to speak of this land with pride. If you are offering the position to me, then I accept with the knowledge it will not be easy and may need much changing, but I prefer that. An who else to undertake such a change, having gone through it herself so recently. I daresay with high mighty attitude that the position was made for me."[/i][/color][/font]
Adam:The crowd began to stir with the procession that now entered the Great Hall… Many saw the woman thought once dead… now upon the arm of the King… and soft discussion erupted, filling the halls. People thought the lady dead, and heard rumors of the King’s grieving her death… only to see the Lady upon the King’s arm.
Friends forever more… this woman and the man now called King… Adam’s head titled at Ealora’s words, a simple smile crossing his features as they walked. He glanced to Bess, the expression clear. He agreed with Ealora… and was ever proud of her. She was bold speaking and defined his own thoughts. She was a student of hard-knocks… and knew he had offered the job to the right person.
He pulled the chair out for his wife and Queen, then lent Ealora to her seat and finally seating himself. The plates, platters, goblets, and mugs were placed before the gathered people to eat and drink. He realized he had placed the question improperly, for he knew she could do the job… moreso if she wanted to… and when she finished speaking, Adam smiled and stood up.
With a goblet in his hand, he raised it in a toast… “M’Lords…M’Ladies, Ah ‘ave an announcement…”[/i] he waited for the crowd to settle down and focus all attention upon him. “Tis mae honor tae announce… with undue procession and protocol, the position of Crown’s Baliff being bestowed upon Lady Ealora Malory… The lady has defeated the enemy and death, to return to us anew. And in doing so seeks a new life… and as the Crown’s Baliff, she has received my desires for the future. So as to henceforth Lady Ealora Malory shall be known as the Crown’s Baliff… After the meal, ensure you welcome her to Court.”[/i] Adam shifted the goblet toward Ealora with extended arm… “Welcome to Court, Lady Malory…”[/i] and then he took a drink of the wine to the hazzahs and cheers for his friend.
Adam was not ignorant to the fact that some would welcome the new baliff, and some would scorn the fact that the Pirate Queen was now the Baliff… many would chat about the circumstances of her position… and some would spurn rumor as well… and he was ready for all of it, good and bad.[/color][/font]
|
|