Post by Lady Eirian Gwenyth Apollius on Jan 2, 2011 23:58:40 GMT -6
Lady Eirian Apollius
It was not a thing of notice when the Lady Eirian came down to her knees; prayer for the Welsh woman was as common place as the wind playing in the trees or over the grasses. What had changed was that the trees were without leaves, the grass was dry, and Winter replaced Autumn. What had changed was the place, too. It wasn't the private chapel on the estate or even the church attended by many valley parishoners, it was the Great Cathedral of the capital. Her reflection was bathed in the soft, holy light of flickering candles as she offered up thanks in the light of the waning sun. To the right of her a shadow was cast, but it didn't frighten. No, instead she felt safe. Protected. Inside of the line of gray was her inner light, cloaked by the figure of her husband. The Bible spoke of how women should cover their heads in modesty when in worship, but that her husband was her covering at all times.
Years on years went by never to really find Talion at her side this way. On the steps of a church, perhaps. In the background the ever watchful eye over his family, but never to join her at Mass or the holy hours she kept in prayer, until his eyes couldn't doubt the darkness in the world. Christ he called to, and it was the Lord on high who heard him. To this day she still could hardly believe the world opened up to where she guided him in these practices. He was like a child again, so curious. As he learned these things though, one sacrament was missing. The first that would purge him of his sin, and she believed, give him a true sense of peace he was starting to feel already. He slept deeper, the world looked richer to him, or so Eirian believed. He looked so long at the newly fallen snow or the footfall of a deer when they took to the woods. So often that was. What did he think now? She curled her small fingers inside of his hands as prayers were coming to a close.
Lord Talion Apollius
Apollo became the shadow Eirian always wanted, the constant that understood and embraced her belief. Talion had mended the only difference they shared, and corrected the discrepancy many men of the cloth saw with their relationship. Even the children noticed how his act had cleaned up, or how he attended mass and read the bible in his study. It wasn't been the first time he'd read it, but given what he believed now, and what he and his wife witnessed, the words all made sense. Aspects of life became much more brighter for him, and he took notice behind an expression of optimism that even Eirian picked up on. Generally happier to be home, he rarely made pilgrimages to the woods which had often kept him separated from his family.-- The day stretched to noon when Eirian and Talion exited the large cathedral in the capital. Talion felt like a new man every time they finished mass together. He willingly curled his fingers around his wife's and pulled her close to share the warmth of his large coat. Talion had stepped away from his normal ranger like attire to appear like a Lord, and stylishly so! "This winter's snow is beautiful." He admitted while stepping down the stone steps. He looked back toward her, grinning from ear to ear. "The snow also compliments you, I think. When you're surrounded with white, your eyes shine all the brighter, and I love the shade they make."[d]
Lady Eirian Apollius
The chapter wherein the Lord reached Talion Apollius was one still being written in many parts, each more grandiose than the last if it were possible to do so. What was seen by his eyes in the faded Autumn was undoubtedly replaced with the light of Heaven in the winter time. All of their arguments echoed in distant caverns until the snow fall silenced them. Eirian liked to say that in their beautiful home, the evergreen trees stood as silent sentinels to the ones who were now naked, vunerable to the elements. The purity of the season with it's white blanket and deep, mystic silence made the anger of the past, all of the sins, easier to examine before the North Wind blew them away to be scattered in infinity. She had never seen him so happy, so assured of himself as he was now! Before they came to the capital for the winter, the men of their little country parish were astounded to find the Lord on his knees in prayer. The children, frightened at first of the sudden change, came to embrace the fact that now they could ask their father his thoughts on God. He could like Christ, be the head of his family as he was the head of the Church. It was not the shadow she always desired, but his utmost peace. God in all his wisdom knew that he was the answer, and she'd prayed for his salvation all along. "You are too kind, husband," she laughed as she took the last step down to the street. The brocade of his tunic beneath, the jacket over..Eirian held no thought of high men until she saw him arrayed this way. She felt as if she were nineteen again, at her first joust! "I have heard it said it is because winter is the season of my birth, come the turning of the year, in that month of January it shall be my thirty first bithday." She tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ears, a piece that had escaped from the veil that covered the rest under sky blue fabric whilst in Cathedral. Of what he could see? All of the night stars, the winter snowfalls, came here to live. "And you? I can not begin to say..I feel so shy about you now, as if we have only just begun to court. You are very handsome in what you wear." She allowed her body to go against his warmth. Each step taken was akin to that taken toward a new world. (d)
Lord Talion Apollius
Eirian made Apollo laugh when she drew close, and he wrapped his arm about her shoulder gingerly, intending to keep her close. Others left the church too, walking by or around them while quietly discussing business or politics. Talion paid little mind to it all and stayed focused on Eirian. He loved when her hair fell over her face because it reminded him of a day when they were both younger and upon the shores of Orkney. She had been so youthful, her allure so drawing yet forbidden. He remembered watching Eirian during her time as Regent, and her eternal struggle to keep that beautiful hair from out of the crazy Orkney wind.-- He blinked and peered down to look at her thoughtfully. Pausing in step, his gaze darkened slightly as something crossed his mind. "Eirian.." He said, unceremoniously. "Would you like to grab something here in the city to eat?" He hadn't asked her about what crossed his mind, but he intended to when they had a moment to themselves.[d]
Lady Eirian Apollius
Memory. It was a collection of images printed on the brain. For some, it was an idle thing, but for each of them memory lived on in a way that kept the years viable. When she stood long enough to see Talion be still, he never had ever appeared his age to her. Not once did she see the effects of war, strain, and the march of the hours on him. She saw diligence, purpose, every scar begotten of a survived set of scenes or something he won of his own devices. Talion had always been an ageless being to her.Even in his most brash of times with gaul unmitigated, he was every bit the emblem he cherished: a phoneix. Rising constant from the ashes. If she might tell God one thing when her time came it was that she understood: To live as the wife now of two men who claimed such an emblem to be prepared for what life would do, for the deaths and the rising again. To be forever with one as the other passed through the mists to a different world. She had gone to the ash with one, and risen with him. "Yes, I am famished. What shall we have? The Bannockburn, or the Briar? Perhaps one of the smaller eateries?" (d)
Lord Talion Apollius
"The briar sounds great." Apollo admitted, glancing her way. They traversed to the Briar where Apollo made himself at home in one of the booths. They both had ordered something warm to combat the bitter cold outside. While waiting, Apollo appeared to be thinking. His face was scrunched in that ever familiar way, telling Eirian his thoughts raced about something important, or what he considered important. He began to divulge, leaning forward to place both his elbows on the surface of the table. It illustrated just how well he had paid attention to the etiquette classes in Avaria, but Apollo rarely played noble well.
"How many people notice me?" He asked, being vague intentionally. "Me.." He said, reiterating. "By that, I mean my uncanny ability to avoid aging." His hand slowly trailed over his face as he watched her with his rich blue eyes. "Cause, I think it's beginning to rub off on you. Your skin stays smooth, and your hair without a hint of gray while others your age start to show it. I know I'm old, others know I'm old; yet I find it unlikely that they wouldn't be perplexed with my appearance. What say you?" Their soups arrived, and Apollo nodded to the serving lady, appreciative of her endeavor.
Lady Eirian Apollius
"My Lord, I am glad you think so." Eirian adopted a moment of grave face as if the decision determined a serious matter. Her head would nod, her gait attempt to match his in whatever way one so small could step three times per a Lord's every one.It didn't last long. Her soul was too colored with rainbows to live always in the shades of gray despite how common it was to find her in modest colors. "To a meal then, to a meal after many prayers given and many more answered."
The Briar Rose felt like an elegant home instead of being a simple inn. The use of a booth was not a common practice, nor was it so common to have some of the booths able to know the privacy of a closed curtain. What had they to hide from the world though? There was nothing wrong enjoying a plate of warm food; she ordered a plate of the day's bird, chicken turned over on a spit in a glaze of pepper and honey, with hot bread and vegetables. The orange of the carrots were bright. So bright in fact that when she took a bite of them she longed for summer. All of her body appreciated the warmth of food cooked with care. "How is your food?" Talion displayed genteel manners. Many would have no idea what they looked at, but to the contrary he had seen his genteel wife, covered in rain and mud, breathing in the thick Avarian air while teaching children in hidden caves. Everyone was full of sides and history. This was just another phase of acceptance and putting to use old practices. What she appreciated the most about it was it gave them time to be together in peace.
"What do you mean how many people notice you, husband? It would depend on the reason. For your achievements? Many. For your simple sense of being? I would say our valley people know you as much as your Avarian people, and in the court you as well as myself have faded to seclusion." Vague response with obvious thoughtful answer. Wasn't that it? Then he redefined the question, reframed it, "You...." She shook her head before drinking her cider. He wasn't making any sense! Ah, but to wait for the sense to settle pricked at her reason. Eirian's cheeks turned red and if he wasn't careful he could have mistaken it for anger. The more he went on the more the red became a settled shame. "Well, in regards to you husband," She cleared her throat and found her smile again. "No one has really noticed of the court for none have cause to look long at us, all save the Jean-Claude, and Peregrine. But the speculation over the reasons why are among our people, as simple to deduce as when you are in no longer in pain, when you are no longer scraping for your life with a question of survival being each minute your body may repair itself. Good food, good water and air, a good life. Our people say that is the reason your face and wounds mend, and love. Love they say keeps young an old man as it does a woman. You are flattering," he hadn't meant to be, but it still was nice to hear "But gray hair may be some time away yet, I am only thirty and one. Enough has happened to make winter my whole head." Laughter laid down a bridge, a little soft laugh as she rubbed gently at her face before tucking a hand through her hair. The imperfections under those hands still rendered nightmares now and again. The summer, she hoped, would fade away with each hour that went along ."If anyone looks at you long enough this winter they will be perplexed and you will become another one of the slow aging miracles of Scottish Skye Island life, and I along with you. I have always aged slower. Remember when you saw me at eighteen? Did I not look fifteen times? And by twenty-three, did it not I finally looked a maid blooming, and now I pray I hope to look twenty and four at least as to mirror my experiences! Talion.." her mood suddenly changed, her voice a low whisper.."I should like to think it is our country life, and God's blessing and nothing more most times. While so many had no idea a man would have killed all of us to find out a secret that is quite false in origin, at least what he thought. I am glad, everyday, it was me he cut and tormented and not our children or you. He threatened it so often.." She bit in to her lip, so hard it began to bleed. "I'm sorry, I know ..." Knew what?
to be continued
It was not a thing of notice when the Lady Eirian came down to her knees; prayer for the Welsh woman was as common place as the wind playing in the trees or over the grasses. What had changed was that the trees were without leaves, the grass was dry, and Winter replaced Autumn. What had changed was the place, too. It wasn't the private chapel on the estate or even the church attended by many valley parishoners, it was the Great Cathedral of the capital. Her reflection was bathed in the soft, holy light of flickering candles as she offered up thanks in the light of the waning sun. To the right of her a shadow was cast, but it didn't frighten. No, instead she felt safe. Protected. Inside of the line of gray was her inner light, cloaked by the figure of her husband. The Bible spoke of how women should cover their heads in modesty when in worship, but that her husband was her covering at all times.
Years on years went by never to really find Talion at her side this way. On the steps of a church, perhaps. In the background the ever watchful eye over his family, but never to join her at Mass or the holy hours she kept in prayer, until his eyes couldn't doubt the darkness in the world. Christ he called to, and it was the Lord on high who heard him. To this day she still could hardly believe the world opened up to where she guided him in these practices. He was like a child again, so curious. As he learned these things though, one sacrament was missing. The first that would purge him of his sin, and she believed, give him a true sense of peace he was starting to feel already. He slept deeper, the world looked richer to him, or so Eirian believed. He looked so long at the newly fallen snow or the footfall of a deer when they took to the woods. So often that was. What did he think now? She curled her small fingers inside of his hands as prayers were coming to a close.
Lord Talion Apollius
Apollo became the shadow Eirian always wanted, the constant that understood and embraced her belief. Talion had mended the only difference they shared, and corrected the discrepancy many men of the cloth saw with their relationship. Even the children noticed how his act had cleaned up, or how he attended mass and read the bible in his study. It wasn't been the first time he'd read it, but given what he believed now, and what he and his wife witnessed, the words all made sense. Aspects of life became much more brighter for him, and he took notice behind an expression of optimism that even Eirian picked up on. Generally happier to be home, he rarely made pilgrimages to the woods which had often kept him separated from his family.-- The day stretched to noon when Eirian and Talion exited the large cathedral in the capital. Talion felt like a new man every time they finished mass together. He willingly curled his fingers around his wife's and pulled her close to share the warmth of his large coat. Talion had stepped away from his normal ranger like attire to appear like a Lord, and stylishly so! "This winter's snow is beautiful." He admitted while stepping down the stone steps. He looked back toward her, grinning from ear to ear. "The snow also compliments you, I think. When you're surrounded with white, your eyes shine all the brighter, and I love the shade they make."[d]
Lady Eirian Apollius
The chapter wherein the Lord reached Talion Apollius was one still being written in many parts, each more grandiose than the last if it were possible to do so. What was seen by his eyes in the faded Autumn was undoubtedly replaced with the light of Heaven in the winter time. All of their arguments echoed in distant caverns until the snow fall silenced them. Eirian liked to say that in their beautiful home, the evergreen trees stood as silent sentinels to the ones who were now naked, vunerable to the elements. The purity of the season with it's white blanket and deep, mystic silence made the anger of the past, all of the sins, easier to examine before the North Wind blew them away to be scattered in infinity. She had never seen him so happy, so assured of himself as he was now! Before they came to the capital for the winter, the men of their little country parish were astounded to find the Lord on his knees in prayer. The children, frightened at first of the sudden change, came to embrace the fact that now they could ask their father his thoughts on God. He could like Christ, be the head of his family as he was the head of the Church. It was not the shadow she always desired, but his utmost peace. God in all his wisdom knew that he was the answer, and she'd prayed for his salvation all along. "You are too kind, husband," she laughed as she took the last step down to the street. The brocade of his tunic beneath, the jacket over..Eirian held no thought of high men until she saw him arrayed this way. She felt as if she were nineteen again, at her first joust! "I have heard it said it is because winter is the season of my birth, come the turning of the year, in that month of January it shall be my thirty first bithday." She tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ears, a piece that had escaped from the veil that covered the rest under sky blue fabric whilst in Cathedral. Of what he could see? All of the night stars, the winter snowfalls, came here to live. "And you? I can not begin to say..I feel so shy about you now, as if we have only just begun to court. You are very handsome in what you wear." She allowed her body to go against his warmth. Each step taken was akin to that taken toward a new world. (d)
Lord Talion Apollius
Eirian made Apollo laugh when she drew close, and he wrapped his arm about her shoulder gingerly, intending to keep her close. Others left the church too, walking by or around them while quietly discussing business or politics. Talion paid little mind to it all and stayed focused on Eirian. He loved when her hair fell over her face because it reminded him of a day when they were both younger and upon the shores of Orkney. She had been so youthful, her allure so drawing yet forbidden. He remembered watching Eirian during her time as Regent, and her eternal struggle to keep that beautiful hair from out of the crazy Orkney wind.-- He blinked and peered down to look at her thoughtfully. Pausing in step, his gaze darkened slightly as something crossed his mind. "Eirian.." He said, unceremoniously. "Would you like to grab something here in the city to eat?" He hadn't asked her about what crossed his mind, but he intended to when they had a moment to themselves.[d]
Lady Eirian Apollius
Memory. It was a collection of images printed on the brain. For some, it was an idle thing, but for each of them memory lived on in a way that kept the years viable. When she stood long enough to see Talion be still, he never had ever appeared his age to her. Not once did she see the effects of war, strain, and the march of the hours on him. She saw diligence, purpose, every scar begotten of a survived set of scenes or something he won of his own devices. Talion had always been an ageless being to her.Even in his most brash of times with gaul unmitigated, he was every bit the emblem he cherished: a phoneix. Rising constant from the ashes. If she might tell God one thing when her time came it was that she understood: To live as the wife now of two men who claimed such an emblem to be prepared for what life would do, for the deaths and the rising again. To be forever with one as the other passed through the mists to a different world. She had gone to the ash with one, and risen with him. "Yes, I am famished. What shall we have? The Bannockburn, or the Briar? Perhaps one of the smaller eateries?" (d)
Lord Talion Apollius
"The briar sounds great." Apollo admitted, glancing her way. They traversed to the Briar where Apollo made himself at home in one of the booths. They both had ordered something warm to combat the bitter cold outside. While waiting, Apollo appeared to be thinking. His face was scrunched in that ever familiar way, telling Eirian his thoughts raced about something important, or what he considered important. He began to divulge, leaning forward to place both his elbows on the surface of the table. It illustrated just how well he had paid attention to the etiquette classes in Avaria, but Apollo rarely played noble well.
"How many people notice me?" He asked, being vague intentionally. "Me.." He said, reiterating. "By that, I mean my uncanny ability to avoid aging." His hand slowly trailed over his face as he watched her with his rich blue eyes. "Cause, I think it's beginning to rub off on you. Your skin stays smooth, and your hair without a hint of gray while others your age start to show it. I know I'm old, others know I'm old; yet I find it unlikely that they wouldn't be perplexed with my appearance. What say you?" Their soups arrived, and Apollo nodded to the serving lady, appreciative of her endeavor.
Lady Eirian Apollius
"My Lord, I am glad you think so." Eirian adopted a moment of grave face as if the decision determined a serious matter. Her head would nod, her gait attempt to match his in whatever way one so small could step three times per a Lord's every one.It didn't last long. Her soul was too colored with rainbows to live always in the shades of gray despite how common it was to find her in modest colors. "To a meal then, to a meal after many prayers given and many more answered."
The Briar Rose felt like an elegant home instead of being a simple inn. The use of a booth was not a common practice, nor was it so common to have some of the booths able to know the privacy of a closed curtain. What had they to hide from the world though? There was nothing wrong enjoying a plate of warm food; she ordered a plate of the day's bird, chicken turned over on a spit in a glaze of pepper and honey, with hot bread and vegetables. The orange of the carrots were bright. So bright in fact that when she took a bite of them she longed for summer. All of her body appreciated the warmth of food cooked with care. "How is your food?" Talion displayed genteel manners. Many would have no idea what they looked at, but to the contrary he had seen his genteel wife, covered in rain and mud, breathing in the thick Avarian air while teaching children in hidden caves. Everyone was full of sides and history. This was just another phase of acceptance and putting to use old practices. What she appreciated the most about it was it gave them time to be together in peace.
"What do you mean how many people notice you, husband? It would depend on the reason. For your achievements? Many. For your simple sense of being? I would say our valley people know you as much as your Avarian people, and in the court you as well as myself have faded to seclusion." Vague response with obvious thoughtful answer. Wasn't that it? Then he redefined the question, reframed it, "You...." She shook her head before drinking her cider. He wasn't making any sense! Ah, but to wait for the sense to settle pricked at her reason. Eirian's cheeks turned red and if he wasn't careful he could have mistaken it for anger. The more he went on the more the red became a settled shame. "Well, in regards to you husband," She cleared her throat and found her smile again. "No one has really noticed of the court for none have cause to look long at us, all save the Jean-Claude, and Peregrine. But the speculation over the reasons why are among our people, as simple to deduce as when you are in no longer in pain, when you are no longer scraping for your life with a question of survival being each minute your body may repair itself. Good food, good water and air, a good life. Our people say that is the reason your face and wounds mend, and love. Love they say keeps young an old man as it does a woman. You are flattering," he hadn't meant to be, but it still was nice to hear "But gray hair may be some time away yet, I am only thirty and one. Enough has happened to make winter my whole head." Laughter laid down a bridge, a little soft laugh as she rubbed gently at her face before tucking a hand through her hair. The imperfections under those hands still rendered nightmares now and again. The summer, she hoped, would fade away with each hour that went along ."If anyone looks at you long enough this winter they will be perplexed and you will become another one of the slow aging miracles of Scottish Skye Island life, and I along with you. I have always aged slower. Remember when you saw me at eighteen? Did I not look fifteen times? And by twenty-three, did it not I finally looked a maid blooming, and now I pray I hope to look twenty and four at least as to mirror my experiences! Talion.." her mood suddenly changed, her voice a low whisper.."I should like to think it is our country life, and God's blessing and nothing more most times. While so many had no idea a man would have killed all of us to find out a secret that is quite false in origin, at least what he thought. I am glad, everyday, it was me he cut and tormented and not our children or you. He threatened it so often.." She bit in to her lip, so hard it began to bleed. "I'm sorry, I know ..." Knew what?
to be continued
