Post by King Adam Aberdeen I on Aug 19, 2008 12:31:28 GMT -6
Ignia Ferroque: Adam halts the large white stallion and dismounts... up the stairs to the castle doors that were opened upon his arrival... handing the servant his sword and cape... the black robes flow with each stride.
Set In Her Way: Caldonhan moved in his stall; snorting, he seemed to give cast-off looks to his caretakers as he grew embittered with the restless touch that seemed to inspire a hardship in his muscles to remain still. He mirrored in stature and countenance the mistress who reluctantly climbed down from him an hour earlier to attend a black business. How do you listen to plans for a blood rain on a land too holy seeming to ruin? The quiet, mist filled valleys in themountains, the craddle of the hills were set to be torn apart. War was not a new enterprise, in fact, nothing was new under the sun. If there was one thing that the Duchess wanted to will into novelty was the ideal of leaving the sacred alone. Pagan platitudes were many for the valley, and she felt as if she were desecrating the burial sights of Pictish Gauls to allow war upon it, but what else could be done?
Ignia Ferroque: Adam had conferred with the Talon Commander, and the Outriders were already trained and ready... King Apollo's suggestions were now being realized... Adam finished the discussion, and the Talon Commander saluted and departed the castle... Adam huffs and enters the library, Sitting down, he begins to write out orders to his commanders.
Set In Her Way: The Order of the Talon Knighthood. It was not meant to be a mirror to what the Avarian allies had arried with them over the sea to Skye, yet the Lord Adam instilled many powerful suggestions made by King Apollo. "M'Lady, your husband is in the library, he is home now." The page reported the evening's news with a newfound sense of importance. Thomas had been on with them since the inception of the Griffin Year, and a meager by of twelve now found better feet since the coming of his thirteenth birthday. By fourteen, God willing, he would be chosen to be the valet of a knight who might share the skill with him he learned with the other lads of the household in the courtyard most mornings. She looked to the bright eyed, determned young man with a soft smile. "Thank ye, Thomas. Will ye send word to his lordship tha' I am on my way to him? Arrange for Kendrew n' the other men, when they arrive, to bring their maps n' plans to the library."
Ignia Ferroque: The wine was brougth to him in a silver chalise... with a humorous huff, he smiled at the servant... then tasted the sweetest of red spirits... then set upon his writing again... until...until Thomas coughed slightly waiting for his Lord and Duke to respond... Adam set the pen in the well and looked up... A smile crossed his face when Thomas spoke... "Ah Thomas... yu fared well upon the delivery of the message... I have high hopes for ye boy... now be gone and see tae yer Lady..." then back to writing orders again, he would wait for his beloved Bess.
Set In Her Way: "Thank you sir, thank you." The boy lapsed into an almost child-like smile. He strove so hard to be older than he seemed, but praise still delighted the simple part of him seeking approval from his betters. Shutting the door he didn't go far until he came upon his Lady in the hall. " Your Grace, his lordship is expectin' ye." Be brief, be quick. He followed instruction to find that a hand to his shoulder was the reward. Beathag moved beyond him with signature step of long strides. No hitch, no pause. The injuries of battles passed now knew a cease of pain in their scars. More times than not she could move without limping. Her hand came to curl into a fist, knuckles wrapping gently on the library door.
Ignia Ferroque: The orders written, the seal heated and set... the scribe took the parchment and rolled them... Adam and Bess would sit this war out... they had seen enough battle first-hand in their lives... He would order troops readied and make haste to the Valley of the Stars should Eirian require them. Sir Caden and his troops were already there... even Apollo's men...
"Enter" he said, as the rap rsounded upon the heavy door... he looks up to see Bess... "Dammit m'Lady... yae need nae tae knock upon anything we share... tis ours til dying's day..." he teases her... "C'min... tell mae wot transpires these days..." then he smiles... "Oh by the wayyae look radiant my luv..."
Set In Her Way: She would sit more than this one, but those beyond it. Sleat had been the swan-song. A longing for the battle, for blades, for the aftermath of seeing the banner strike the morning air was soothed by Jonas Robertson baring the wisdom of a sage. No, he said, it may never leave you. The want for what you know is always going to be what you taste, but there is better. To live in what you have done is far better than the chaos that surrounded the creation. So they would live in knowing they had shed their share of blood, paid a pound of flesh to the merchant.
"Och, m'lord, m'apologies fer knockin' pon our doors. I'll be rememberin' tha' dammit, as ye say, tis ours.." she smiled and came behind him, kissing his cheek as hands slid over his shoulders. "The regular wot tha' goes on in our world, husband. Securin' the reign we have with a share o' blood n' a pound o' flesh." Her smile remained intact as she deeply sighed. This time it was no tent that would house their affection but walls of stone. There was a peace, too, in knowing that she would not be a woman waiting.The wait of the Border Wars at Inverness nearly killed her.
Ignia Ferroque: As her hands caressed his shoulders and the tenderness of her lips, he leaned his head and pressed against her. Then taking her hand in his, he pressed moist lips upon the back of the hand... his kiss upon old scars as he had done since the first time they were together. "Tis standing orders for troops to the Valley should Eirian or Caden call... and I have dispatched the Outriders to the Valley already..." He had explained what the Outriders were over pillow talk a few evenings ago... "We shall sit this out M'Lady... we have other problems to contend... Sae yae knaew mae dearest Father 'as remarried... and is bringing his wife wit him... but Ah 'ave delayed them until we return from Aberdeen..." he shakes his head... "Why must we deal wit personal problems as well as state??"
Set In Her Way: "They will. Iffn they will nay, there are those already tae call for them. The General n' Sir Kendrew have made the Valley o' Stars a mission, a campaign tha' they are capable enough tae lead. Aye, sit it out we shall. We have other wars tae wage tha' dun involve a single sword. Politics. Though I daresay...we are better at swords," They had advanced well by moving blindly on wit, the expert advise of advisors, and the hearts thus far. Breathing inward she came to sit sit beside him on a nearby chair brought closer to his desk, their desk. "Aye, I heard he is tae bring his wife. They say tha' she is e'en younger than the Lady Eirian. If it is nay bad enough we contend with the Adivsor tae teh Lowlands, tis bad enough he is yer father. He knows not we are here, n' now we must content with his child-bride." Yes, childbride. Fashion of the day or not, a man his age to take on a woman that much younger was by no means a matter of some great love affair. Oh no, it was often because one could exert influence over the other. Fingertips laced together. "Ye know what he comes here for, don't you? He comes here tae look for King Edward."
Ignia Ferroque: Adam felt relieved that they had made the right choices in Kendrew and Maahes to lead the campaign... the orders he wrote gave total control of the Outriders to Kendrew... A soft chuckle emitted from his throat as he took a drink of the wine, and near spit it out... "Aye M'luv... politics is all sae difficult... sometimes, t'would be better to demand justice at the end of a sword... then ah would be nae bett'r mae Father..." his head bowed a bit as she sat next to him... then sea-green eyes looked at her blues... "Aye, tis a young one he takes... there must be something there besides love for his to marry again... tis naet his style..." pausing... "Aye, Ah knaew why he comes... but for King Edward, Ah think naet... he may be thinking higher than that... if'en he could, he'd cut Edward's throat, and take the crown faer himself..." pausing again, his hands interlace fingers... his index tip touching his lip... "Ah feel that William is up to something else..." tapping his lip... "Knaewin' mae father as ah dae... he comes here to size us up... wot he dunnae knaew is that I am still alive... that kin bae a problem for him... and he may take drastic measures..."
Morgen Grey: By word of mouth he had heard that the Duke and Duchess were in residence, so directly after work he had dinner with his family and got ready. He rode his beautiful black Arabian back to town and through the streets to the castle, wearing clean back breches, his black leather boots that were polished to shine, and a white blouse that had a frilled collar spilling the navy blue doublet he wore. His hair, as it always was, nearly combed with not a strand out of place and tied in a low pony tail by a dark blue satin ribbon. Arriving at the castle his reins were handed to a stable boy and when addressing his business to the guards, they directed him to a servant who lead him through the doors, down the corridors, and to the library. There he was asked to wait, hands clasped behind his back, as the servant would pop in and bow to the Royals saying, "A Master Morgen Grey has arrived to inquire on a Ambassador position."
Ignia Ferroque: Adam looked to Thomas... "Thomas, ask Master Grey to wait... I and her Grace is busy..." Thomas bowed and exited back to Master Grey... "M'Lord, the Lord and Lady are engaged at this time, could yu please wait or return later?? "
Set In Her Way: "The ambassador position. Gods above. Months, months tae find one willin' among many. I wagerit can wait a small portion longer." She huffed air in a long gust while gazig out to the window. It had become night, a dark nnight with black shadows hanging on the edge of every star.
Ignia Ferroque: Adam looked ot Bess... "The man shall wait…Ah'll be glad tae get to Aberdeenshire... to close yet another chapter o'our past... We must yae know... unless it catches up tae us... like my Father closing in... soon he'll know and that we will have to contend with..."
Set In Her Way: "I''d rather him be ignorant o' it, but tha' will not happen. I would rather m'past..our past, be irrelevant but tha' will nay happen. I want the Bruce tae take back his kingdom but for him to go 'pon the edge o' his sword he will worry o' riskin' a marriage between children. Children...but we must dae wot we must dae." The brogue of the Highlands was as thick as stew, as long as the length of their troubles but softened with age. "We can only do wot we can do. Learn to make change with our hands n' minds in new ways. Oh Adam." She kissed the back of his hands as scarred, as hurt as her own had been. A mile of scars, they were...
Ignia Ferroque: Adam leaned back in the chair... "Bessie Eve... Ah knaew wot yae mean... but we take it day tae day... an' if the Bruce won't dae wot he's s'pose tae, then Skye will bae there tae pick up the pieces... if'en he thinks Edward will leave Scotland be, he is sadly mistaken... we do wot we can to protect wot we 'ave..." Yes...a mile of scars... but what has these two warriors of old seen in their days... hate... war... hurt... now the Duke has sworn to provide for his Duchess... even if it means throwing out the old ways and inventing new ways for the future... the Gaelic Renaissance takes yet another step...
Handing her his wine, he smiles... "Soon bed will take us to our own world... away from all..." he smiles and knows they shall try once again to fertilize the barren fields... maybe someday... thoughts filter thru...he just smiles at her.
Set In Her Way: "The future o' many rests on the shoulders o' those too young tae understand wot it means. Put it in law Adam tha' our kin ought not wed their children afore they walk, afore they speak or can fathom the contract made with their names 'pon it. " She took the wine chalice and sipped the sweet liquor of the vineyards. The soil of Scotland yielding grapes. It wasn't something that she percieved as true yet, but so it was. Turas Lan ought not have been real but they lived in it, yes? Now she came to the role of wife and was cared for instead of doing all of the work alone. Marvelous strange..yet beautiful. Now they could institute truly in the coming season the labors of the Renassaince, perhaps even to realize a dream of their own.
"We live in our own world now," she whispered, "Away from all, sae long as I be with you precious little matters." One hope. One dream that one might say was greater than all others: To see the best of them in the small form of a child.
Ignia Ferroque: "I had considered the law before but the Scot-Ainglish marriage took it all... that was rediculous..." he took a hefty drink after her... "Tae Aberdeenshire we gae... to end yet another chapter... soon we shall be caught up... and then start our own history..." he winks at her...
Set In Her Way: "I won't give our son, our children...tae tha' law. His Majesty can look on his mainland for sacrifices." She wouldn't even entertain an arranged match for Aodhan among the local women. No, she'd had a choice. Adam had a choice, and he or any other children after would not be given like lambs to an ancient slaughter. "To Aberdeenshire..To Aberdeen..tae the place o' our name...m'birth.." Her green eyes clouded over with mingled anguish and trepidation. What would it be like, she wondered, to see home after so many years. Would it still be home? To think on it made her drink a little deeper of the wine. "He couldn't 'ave found another place. But ah, tis a royal burgh..."
Ignia Ferroque: He leaned out of his chair and neared her, his head to her lap... dropping to bent knees, his hands slide along the chair to her arse... "Ah luv yae Bessie Eve... wit all mae 'eart and soul..." he said, muffled by her lap.
Set In Her Way: She watched him lower before her as if he were offering a petition at the feet of a velvet clad queen. A soft, loving sigh came from the warrior's mouth as she drew her hands across his curls, "Ah love ye tae, m'Adam. M'sweet Adam..."
Set In Her Way: Caldonhan moved in his stall; snorting, he seemed to give cast-off looks to his caretakers as he grew embittered with the restless touch that seemed to inspire a hardship in his muscles to remain still. He mirrored in stature and countenance the mistress who reluctantly climbed down from him an hour earlier to attend a black business. How do you listen to plans for a blood rain on a land too holy seeming to ruin? The quiet, mist filled valleys in themountains, the craddle of the hills were set to be torn apart. War was not a new enterprise, in fact, nothing was new under the sun. If there was one thing that the Duchess wanted to will into novelty was the ideal of leaving the sacred alone. Pagan platitudes were many for the valley, and she felt as if she were desecrating the burial sights of Pictish Gauls to allow war upon it, but what else could be done?
Ignia Ferroque: Adam had conferred with the Talon Commander, and the Outriders were already trained and ready... King Apollo's suggestions were now being realized... Adam finished the discussion, and the Talon Commander saluted and departed the castle... Adam huffs and enters the library, Sitting down, he begins to write out orders to his commanders.
Set In Her Way: The Order of the Talon Knighthood. It was not meant to be a mirror to what the Avarian allies had arried with them over the sea to Skye, yet the Lord Adam instilled many powerful suggestions made by King Apollo. "M'Lady, your husband is in the library, he is home now." The page reported the evening's news with a newfound sense of importance. Thomas had been on with them since the inception of the Griffin Year, and a meager by of twelve now found better feet since the coming of his thirteenth birthday. By fourteen, God willing, he would be chosen to be the valet of a knight who might share the skill with him he learned with the other lads of the household in the courtyard most mornings. She looked to the bright eyed, determned young man with a soft smile. "Thank ye, Thomas. Will ye send word to his lordship tha' I am on my way to him? Arrange for Kendrew n' the other men, when they arrive, to bring their maps n' plans to the library."
Ignia Ferroque: The wine was brougth to him in a silver chalise... with a humorous huff, he smiled at the servant... then tasted the sweetest of red spirits... then set upon his writing again... until...until Thomas coughed slightly waiting for his Lord and Duke to respond... Adam set the pen in the well and looked up... A smile crossed his face when Thomas spoke... "Ah Thomas... yu fared well upon the delivery of the message... I have high hopes for ye boy... now be gone and see tae yer Lady..." then back to writing orders again, he would wait for his beloved Bess.
Set In Her Way: "Thank you sir, thank you." The boy lapsed into an almost child-like smile. He strove so hard to be older than he seemed, but praise still delighted the simple part of him seeking approval from his betters. Shutting the door he didn't go far until he came upon his Lady in the hall. " Your Grace, his lordship is expectin' ye." Be brief, be quick. He followed instruction to find that a hand to his shoulder was the reward. Beathag moved beyond him with signature step of long strides. No hitch, no pause. The injuries of battles passed now knew a cease of pain in their scars. More times than not she could move without limping. Her hand came to curl into a fist, knuckles wrapping gently on the library door.
Ignia Ferroque: The orders written, the seal heated and set... the scribe took the parchment and rolled them... Adam and Bess would sit this war out... they had seen enough battle first-hand in their lives... He would order troops readied and make haste to the Valley of the Stars should Eirian require them. Sir Caden and his troops were already there... even Apollo's men...
"Enter" he said, as the rap rsounded upon the heavy door... he looks up to see Bess... "Dammit m'Lady... yae need nae tae knock upon anything we share... tis ours til dying's day..." he teases her... "C'min... tell mae wot transpires these days..." then he smiles... "Oh by the wayyae look radiant my luv..."
Set In Her Way: She would sit more than this one, but those beyond it. Sleat had been the swan-song. A longing for the battle, for blades, for the aftermath of seeing the banner strike the morning air was soothed by Jonas Robertson baring the wisdom of a sage. No, he said, it may never leave you. The want for what you know is always going to be what you taste, but there is better. To live in what you have done is far better than the chaos that surrounded the creation. So they would live in knowing they had shed their share of blood, paid a pound of flesh to the merchant.
"Och, m'lord, m'apologies fer knockin' pon our doors. I'll be rememberin' tha' dammit, as ye say, tis ours.." she smiled and came behind him, kissing his cheek as hands slid over his shoulders. "The regular wot tha' goes on in our world, husband. Securin' the reign we have with a share o' blood n' a pound o' flesh." Her smile remained intact as she deeply sighed. This time it was no tent that would house their affection but walls of stone. There was a peace, too, in knowing that she would not be a woman waiting.The wait of the Border Wars at Inverness nearly killed her.
Ignia Ferroque: As her hands caressed his shoulders and the tenderness of her lips, he leaned his head and pressed against her. Then taking her hand in his, he pressed moist lips upon the back of the hand... his kiss upon old scars as he had done since the first time they were together. "Tis standing orders for troops to the Valley should Eirian or Caden call... and I have dispatched the Outriders to the Valley already..." He had explained what the Outriders were over pillow talk a few evenings ago... "We shall sit this out M'Lady... we have other problems to contend... Sae yae knaew mae dearest Father 'as remarried... and is bringing his wife wit him... but Ah 'ave delayed them until we return from Aberdeen..." he shakes his head... "Why must we deal wit personal problems as well as state??"
Set In Her Way: "They will. Iffn they will nay, there are those already tae call for them. The General n' Sir Kendrew have made the Valley o' Stars a mission, a campaign tha' they are capable enough tae lead. Aye, sit it out we shall. We have other wars tae wage tha' dun involve a single sword. Politics. Though I daresay...we are better at swords," They had advanced well by moving blindly on wit, the expert advise of advisors, and the hearts thus far. Breathing inward she came to sit sit beside him on a nearby chair brought closer to his desk, their desk. "Aye, I heard he is tae bring his wife. They say tha' she is e'en younger than the Lady Eirian. If it is nay bad enough we contend with the Adivsor tae teh Lowlands, tis bad enough he is yer father. He knows not we are here, n' now we must content with his child-bride." Yes, childbride. Fashion of the day or not, a man his age to take on a woman that much younger was by no means a matter of some great love affair. Oh no, it was often because one could exert influence over the other. Fingertips laced together. "Ye know what he comes here for, don't you? He comes here tae look for King Edward."
Ignia Ferroque: Adam felt relieved that they had made the right choices in Kendrew and Maahes to lead the campaign... the orders he wrote gave total control of the Outriders to Kendrew... A soft chuckle emitted from his throat as he took a drink of the wine, and near spit it out... "Aye M'luv... politics is all sae difficult... sometimes, t'would be better to demand justice at the end of a sword... then ah would be nae bett'r mae Father..." his head bowed a bit as she sat next to him... then sea-green eyes looked at her blues... "Aye, tis a young one he takes... there must be something there besides love for his to marry again... tis naet his style..." pausing... "Aye, Ah knaew why he comes... but for King Edward, Ah think naet... he may be thinking higher than that... if'en he could, he'd cut Edward's throat, and take the crown faer himself..." pausing again, his hands interlace fingers... his index tip touching his lip... "Ah feel that William is up to something else..." tapping his lip... "Knaewin' mae father as ah dae... he comes here to size us up... wot he dunnae knaew is that I am still alive... that kin bae a problem for him... and he may take drastic measures..."
Morgen Grey: By word of mouth he had heard that the Duke and Duchess were in residence, so directly after work he had dinner with his family and got ready. He rode his beautiful black Arabian back to town and through the streets to the castle, wearing clean back breches, his black leather boots that were polished to shine, and a white blouse that had a frilled collar spilling the navy blue doublet he wore. His hair, as it always was, nearly combed with not a strand out of place and tied in a low pony tail by a dark blue satin ribbon. Arriving at the castle his reins were handed to a stable boy and when addressing his business to the guards, they directed him to a servant who lead him through the doors, down the corridors, and to the library. There he was asked to wait, hands clasped behind his back, as the servant would pop in and bow to the Royals saying, "A Master Morgen Grey has arrived to inquire on a Ambassador position."
Ignia Ferroque: Adam looked to Thomas... "Thomas, ask Master Grey to wait... I and her Grace is busy..." Thomas bowed and exited back to Master Grey... "M'Lord, the Lord and Lady are engaged at this time, could yu please wait or return later?? "
Set In Her Way: "The ambassador position. Gods above. Months, months tae find one willin' among many. I wagerit can wait a small portion longer." She huffed air in a long gust while gazig out to the window. It had become night, a dark nnight with black shadows hanging on the edge of every star.
Ignia Ferroque: Adam looked ot Bess... "The man shall wait…Ah'll be glad tae get to Aberdeenshire... to close yet another chapter o'our past... We must yae know... unless it catches up tae us... like my Father closing in... soon he'll know and that we will have to contend with..."
Set In Her Way: "I''d rather him be ignorant o' it, but tha' will not happen. I would rather m'past..our past, be irrelevant but tha' will nay happen. I want the Bruce tae take back his kingdom but for him to go 'pon the edge o' his sword he will worry o' riskin' a marriage between children. Children...but we must dae wot we must dae." The brogue of the Highlands was as thick as stew, as long as the length of their troubles but softened with age. "We can only do wot we can do. Learn to make change with our hands n' minds in new ways. Oh Adam." She kissed the back of his hands as scarred, as hurt as her own had been. A mile of scars, they were...
Ignia Ferroque: Adam leaned back in the chair... "Bessie Eve... Ah knaew wot yae mean... but we take it day tae day... an' if the Bruce won't dae wot he's s'pose tae, then Skye will bae there tae pick up the pieces... if'en he thinks Edward will leave Scotland be, he is sadly mistaken... we do wot we can to protect wot we 'ave..." Yes...a mile of scars... but what has these two warriors of old seen in their days... hate... war... hurt... now the Duke has sworn to provide for his Duchess... even if it means throwing out the old ways and inventing new ways for the future... the Gaelic Renaissance takes yet another step...
Handing her his wine, he smiles... "Soon bed will take us to our own world... away from all..." he smiles and knows they shall try once again to fertilize the barren fields... maybe someday... thoughts filter thru...he just smiles at her.
Set In Her Way: "The future o' many rests on the shoulders o' those too young tae understand wot it means. Put it in law Adam tha' our kin ought not wed their children afore they walk, afore they speak or can fathom the contract made with their names 'pon it. " She took the wine chalice and sipped the sweet liquor of the vineyards. The soil of Scotland yielding grapes. It wasn't something that she percieved as true yet, but so it was. Turas Lan ought not have been real but they lived in it, yes? Now she came to the role of wife and was cared for instead of doing all of the work alone. Marvelous strange..yet beautiful. Now they could institute truly in the coming season the labors of the Renassaince, perhaps even to realize a dream of their own.
"We live in our own world now," she whispered, "Away from all, sae long as I be with you precious little matters." One hope. One dream that one might say was greater than all others: To see the best of them in the small form of a child.
Ignia Ferroque: "I had considered the law before but the Scot-Ainglish marriage took it all... that was rediculous..." he took a hefty drink after her... "Tae Aberdeenshire we gae... to end yet another chapter... soon we shall be caught up... and then start our own history..." he winks at her...
Set In Her Way: "I won't give our son, our children...tae tha' law. His Majesty can look on his mainland for sacrifices." She wouldn't even entertain an arranged match for Aodhan among the local women. No, she'd had a choice. Adam had a choice, and he or any other children after would not be given like lambs to an ancient slaughter. "To Aberdeenshire..To Aberdeen..tae the place o' our name...m'birth.." Her green eyes clouded over with mingled anguish and trepidation. What would it be like, she wondered, to see home after so many years. Would it still be home? To think on it made her drink a little deeper of the wine. "He couldn't 'ave found another place. But ah, tis a royal burgh..."
Ignia Ferroque: He leaned out of his chair and neared her, his head to her lap... dropping to bent knees, his hands slide along the chair to her arse... "Ah luv yae Bessie Eve... wit all mae 'eart and soul..." he said, muffled by her lap.
Set In Her Way: She watched him lower before her as if he were offering a petition at the feet of a velvet clad queen. A soft, loving sigh came from the warrior's mouth as she drew her hands across his curls, "Ah love ye tae, m'Adam. M'sweet Adam..."
