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Post by Lady Eirian Gwenyth Apollius on Feb 22, 2009 13:28:36 GMT -6
" Death is only the beginning."
- an enlightened soul -
" I will return then, 'pon the next afternoon," her voice would be remembered for how simple it was. Not too high nor too low as it conveyed a respect for the time given as proper. The household was a household in mourning as was the Lady still recovering from birth. The tones mirrored that. Still, the woman who answered the door would recall something that sang in the Lady Apollius. Lyrics to a song; poetry spoken in a common thing. "God keep all and bless the Lady Aramoire." Eirian would take with this time to consider everything she might say to the Lady, why an artisan might come with tools to relieve grief. God bestowed his mighty angels with flaming swords. Alas, the simpler sort of the mortal world were given far less with greater adversity to overcome. As she turned back to the streets, she gazed out toward what had inevitably brought her here:
"So it was later in the afternoon that The Lady Apollius would come across the procession for the Children.. Not only Joy Aramoire Stryker.. But all the victims of the tragedy of Winter of Wolves and Roses… now before and after the procession blood red roses were scattered to the crowd… as incense pots, perfumed the air.. A choir lamenting the death of those.. Who had no final resting place. In the next few days there would be a flurry of Masons beginning the monument to those who were victims… and in the months to come a bronzed statue of and avenging angel… sword raised to heaven.."
She looked out on this not one afternoon, but numbered six. In the streets where choirs had lamented children came carts of the dead, the ones who wanted vengence, and of refugees seeking shelter from the countryside. War was at hand. The world seemed to be frozen in a bleakness that made the remnants of the rose petals in the cobblestones stand stark against it. Hope was kept in her arms while Tabitha sewed. The Hall that had let the Lady Apollius in required the days numbered six to see fit to put her to the streets again. It was not a world fit for the woman they recalled.
That woman, like the innocent, had been buried.
On the afternoon of the sixth day she appeared again on the steps of the Gilded Lily. Those who saw her would remark on the goods across her back not matching the noble visage of her face. No one appeared as they ought anymore. Still, it took six days for God to make order of chaos, to form Eden. So it was the sixth day.
"Hail to to the household, is the Lady Aramoire able to speak? I apologize for not returning but many things have happened since."
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Post by Sir Nicholas Stryker on Feb 24, 2009 0:13:04 GMT -6
Stryker: The baby had been found and while that had brought quite an elation of emotion for the Stryker/Aramoire home, even the girls of the house seemed to breath a sigh of relief and yet the turmoil wasn't over. Rumor spread that the baby had been found in a ship nearly rotted out on the rivers edge in a basket, with wolves, but no sign of Ealora. No doubt to those who knew Ealora, knew she would never leave her babies side unless...well no, never would she leave the child, as surely as Maahes held the baby in his arms, unyielding to give the child up to anyone. Shaden had become even more frantic to find Ealora and with it, his tension increased. Not without a friend, or at least acquaintance. Alendral was sent for, by Shaden's hand but for Ni'c purpose. He was by no means a tracker and neither was the magician slash...well..but the clues Alen had proved into Malice proved the man knew how to use his head. when the man had arrived, he was hardly given a minute to say hello before Nic was ushering him out the door followed by the guards he had hired for the Lily and torches. "I'll not go into much detail..."He offered the man beside him as he took up a fast walk towards the outskirts of town and the edge of the woods. "The baby was found...at the river edge..I'm beating if we follow it south, we'll at least find more clues, if not the woman. Shaden demands her sister be found. So I'll be bringing her back tonight, else I might not be welcomed back home. Besides, it puts me at ill ease. The baby found but no Ealora.."Silvery blue eyes passed from one of his men handing over a torch to the magician."What do you make of that?" for him, it didn't sit well.
Alen: The[/b[ fact was Alen had what little agents he had scouring Skye for Ealora, but things were rarely so simple. With the word of a Gottschalk attack and the impending war, Alen found his own responsibilties scattered, and thus was forced to reply on what little Vance and Janice could dig together, all with limited success. It was just as well Nic knew not of Alen's true identity. If he had any idea what he was--or indeed, what he would be asking of Shaden, any conversation between the two would be decidedly less pleasant. When he appeared to the missive sent from Shaden, it was again stark to the garb of a mere magician--a deep earth cloak, with suitable dark fabrics and leather designed for ease of movement and concealability, a thin sabre slung at side, carefully set so as to minimize the noise of metal on metal. He'd offer a few short platitutdes to the Bodyguard before the two set off, nodding his head at the suggestion to move south. "It seems our best course of action, but we'd best move swiftly if we wish to find any trace of it." Though he said nothing at the fact that the child was found with no mother to guard her--every possible reason for it spoke of a black ending to this. "I'd be lying if I said I believed there to be any fortune in the news. There are... a few possibilities, but speculation on them will be fruitless without more clues." At least he hoped the rationality would fend off any more pressing on the issues--far as Alen was concerned, it meant that either the Mother was murdered and the child was useless--or, entirely more probable, that this was the groundwork for a trap, that they were meant to follow.
[Stryker: "I'd be inclined to agree. I just went to fetch the General a few days prior to finding the child. The General himself says its some..male interested in Ealora. But..give me one man on this island the General does not believe is interested in his wife and we'd still not have a clue worth the following. Until now...I hate to say it but with the child's arrival and still the disappearance of the mother, we have a better way in which to go. Whether Ealora thought the river would lead the child to civilization, or she was leaving behind a clue of her own. I am not sure." The wind whistled through the trees, moaning even then a sad tune which seemed to weep the dulling winter and the rapidly approaching spring. There was only one thing the change in weather told to him, he would leave for War soon, which made finding Ealora all the more important. The leaves and twigs of the forest crunched underneath his boots as the torch sang and crackled into the nights wind. Gloved hand rose and pushed through dark locks as he heaved a sigh. "The babies arrival proved a report that crossed my ears only two days ago, I hope...the other report, is not true.." The river sung in the distance, a slow bubbling tune against the wind of the night. An odd melody against the ebony darkness. "At least we do not need to worry about rabid wolves..only the sane ones now.."Was that a joke at a time like this? of course not, his voice was once devoid of any humor, dry and dark. His chin tilted to the sound of the bubbling water not far off and his arm waved to his men which followed close behind. "Fan out. Follow the river south and whistle if you see anything." His attention turned to the magician again. "This wasn't Malice, as you all ready told Shaden and I, so the question begged is..who the hell is cunning enough to keep Ealora hidden all this time but stupid enough to allow her baby to get away?"
Alen: "The only reason she would have abandoned that child is because she was dead or dying. But this is too much trouble merely to end her life, something else is afoot." The magician replied grimly, side glancing him with an expression that suggested that whatever it was he might have thought was going on was clearly haunting him, taking a glance to the rapidly spreading men, before picking a direction to move in, fully expecting the Bodyguard to follow while remaining alert, scanning the brush with swift motions, analytical and cold with every sweep of his eyes. "The General thinks as a general should, Sir. In terms of enemies at the gate and the largest threat. Whoever we are dealing with here... does not operate in ways that he could imagine anymore than I could tell a bunch of soldiers how to win a battle." His eyes narrowed subtly at the reminder of Malice, already digging deep to try and ferret out just who would go to this kind of trouble--but he had so damningly few clues. He paused then. "...Someone not stupid at all. Someone that knows when we find her where we're going to have a place we can start looking... " it was baseless speculation--perhaps it was a stupid mistake from a sheer novice--a novice that left Ealora's personal guards dead and was able to subdue a capable, if drastically pregenant woman. He stopped, mid-stride for a moment, frowning briefly as he scanned about before continuing in another direction, seemingly caught on to some subtle clue.
Stryker: "The General is a jealous ass..."He mused back at the magician at his side. He respected the General but the fate was plain and simple. "I'll say one thing, he damn sure puts up with a hell of a wife.." His head shook as he shifted to follow the magician though a few paces off to the side. The torch sang in his hand as he lowered it, blinking against the harsh heat from the fire as it illuminated the forest floor. "Malice teased Shaden into an early birth... taunted her to no end in that hell..said she didn't mean to grab her...meant to grab Ealora. I know she is dead...but it makes me wonder, if she set up something before her death. This thing with Ealora..but then, I can't help but push that theory aside. Whoever this is, faces the wrath of not only that pirate queen, but the General and one damn firey headed courtesan... So this person...could not be in his right mind." He could not help but mull over the facts he did had, which were not all that much. Taken from Red Wall, family drugged, hallway a mess but from there, clues grew cold. There was one simple fact remaining, Ealora was nothing like Shaden who had left clues, just in the right place, ones he followed her into that hell. The torch sang once more as his head turned to find Alen moving in another direction all together. A thick brow rose in question before he turned to follow after him. "If what you say is true, if we find a body rather then a live person. How do you deduce that will lead us to more clues?" Nicholas was no idiot, he could sit for hours watching someone and perhaps get more from a few hours sitting then the person handing over a manuel of their whole life story. He could weed out people as surely as a weed from a garden, but this person they were talking about, he had never met. Had he, perhaps things might be different but an unknown force was something new to him. At least with Malice, there was an idea..this was different by far.
Alen: "This from the man pursuing Lady Aramoire." He snorted pithily in response to that little comment about the nature of the wife, which given the nature of Shaden's independent streak he would have found terribly ironic if he wasn't distracted elsewhere. "But you may be correct." He stopped short of contradicting it--if Malice was truly repentent in the end, she would have warned him about it, or so he would believe, but to give voice to his doubts would be to reveal what transpired, and far as Alendral was concerned, nobody needed to hear that. "Then we know he's succeeded and that are hunt is at an effective end... And we get exactly what the kidnapper wants us to get, if this were his plan in the first place. " He sighed then, rubbing at his eyes briefly as he tried to put to words the various nascent ideas floating in his head. "Death provides clues as much as anyone. How she died, where she died, how long was it dragged out? Hmph.. even the way the bloody corpse is displayed with us." Sensing that he was becoming more morbid for the moment, he let his expression fall into an inscurtable mask and slipped past the river, grunting in idle frustration. "The timing on this was too good to be Malice's last gasp. Whoever this is, they took advantage of our distraction to strike when she was most vulnerable. Associated with Malice, mayb, but this is no mere underling..."
Stryker:"Shaden...is nothing like her sister.."He retorted and that was as far as it was going. Not that he had problems talking of his relationship with Shaden but he was of the mind that a private life, was meant to be just that. Private. Period. He fell silent, listening to the morbid twists in the mands mind of what it would mean. Even the knight, who had seen far to much blood in his time, far to much death, gave a shudder. The truth of the matter was, this brought on to much in old memories. Had his deceased wife had the notion to send their son away to safety, things might of been near the same in mirror image. Yet Alen's words also brought a deep shudder as the same questions rang in his head for his wife. Had she died by the volcano's hand or had smoke lulled her into a sleep? Had she been holding their son? Had they cried? Had they looked for him for rescue? Was it peaceful or painful. His knuckles turned white upon the torches end. Would Shaden of died had he not followed her clues? He couldn't bear to think on that one and forced the questions from his mind. "I pray to God..we are wrong, or if we are, that she did not suffer."He offered finally before inhaling a sharp breath, holding it and then releasing it. He could not imagine the agony it must of been for Ealora to send her child down stream...evidence it was her was in the necklace found with the baby and one he had seen on her at all times. He clamped his mouth shut then, for once putting himself in the General's shoes, the thought of a wife missing, lost, hurt, or dead, all most to much to bear. He had been blessed to find Shaden, to bring her out of it alive, if completely heartbroken, alive. Able to kiss and touch her one more day, able to smell her, to hold her. To live one more day albeit praying for endless days in her grace. Time seemed to tick on in slow torture, the howling of the wind in the trees as little comfort as the crunch of boots against the foliage floor. It was a tune that grated on his knees, not for the sound of it but for the crawling of his veins as each second seemed to tick on with nothing...nothing to show of what felt like an endless search through a pitch darkness that would not break.
Alen: Alen passed a mere glance in nic's direction at the short, but direct response, stopping just short of offering his own observation on the matter. instead he responded, gravely enough. "Pray you should. There may be little else to be done." It was agonizing and cold, but from a Spy's perspective, it was final enough. Whoever the attacker was, he held all the cards. He had the advantage, and was controlling the pieces. Forced to react, and not act, put them at such a disadvantage that he could only see it ending one--he stopped, dead in his tracks, adjusting the flickering torchlight before pointing in the direction of a nearby clearing. "There. Over there, I see something. " almost instinctively he drew his the sabre and broke into a quick advance, as fast as he could while remaining careful, alert, spotting a swathe of white picked out admist the dark greens and earth tones of the forest. At such distance, there was no detail to give away what it was.. once they closed however... well, his pace slowed a moment, as if drawing any closer would make what he saw true, and thus condemn it to reality...
Stryker:Silvery blue eyes lifted to meet the mans face at his words but for him, he had nothing to say in return. A devote Catholic, he prayed every day but more for others then himself, so what was asked of him, it was not difficult. As Alen gaze focused elsewhere, he followed before the torch was shifted to the singular right gloved hand, fingers lifted to his lips as he gave a shrill whistle and waved the torch back and forth. Six torch lights spread out through the darkness wavered and then drew closer as the men advanced on the billowing canvas of white. He stopped a breath away from Alen, his chest rose in an inhale and then a deep exhale. Lids slid closed as he prayed that wasn't what he thought it was. Six torches had hovered in, bearing the faces of the men he put his trust in to protect the Lily and each more then a foot away from the moving cloth. Thrusting the torch at one, he shifted his feet as he moved around Alen. As the white sheet billowed and moved, a pale hand was revealed, making him pause, heart thundering in his chest as he prayed to God, not to do this to the Asad Aziem family. Old knees cracked out in protest as he kneeled down, a hand reached out to pull back the head of the sheet revealed the pale face of the pirate queen. Sliding against the leaves that coated the ground, his knees hit the ground hard as his head sunk and his heart cried out for the General...for Shaden. "Colin.."He breathed in barely a whisper but one of the men jerked forward. "go find the General..."The man didn't move and Nicholas voice broke the stillness with a growl "NOW!" The man jerked and then took off into the darkness, his fading torch less then a comfort. "Better get your clues before the General gets here Alen.." His hand released the sheet, leaving the womans face open to the elements of the night.
Alen: So it was. His expression grew cold and Alen withdrew in the face of things, tightening his grip on the sabre subtly but saying nothing else, pointing to a handful of others. "You, you. Fan out. If you find someone, anyone, I want them alive. Do it now. " he merely assumed Nic would follow up on the order. Stepping lightly over to Ealora, he'd crouch beside her, raising a hand to hover briefly over the sheet, a terrible moment of emotion seizing his nerves and staying his hand before control reassertd itself and he pulled it back to inspect her full on, narrowing his eyes in cool motion--he'd begin to inspect every detail--even going so far as to check her vitals (he was familiar enough with how often near dead was mistaken for dead) but finding no faint heartbeat beneath it to take on other matters. To try and discern what it was killed the woman. He did it all with almost mechanical precision, only a strange franticness in his actions betraying any hint of emotion within. He had to find something--anything, a hint, a mere suspicsion. It was an almost giddy need. If nothing else, let it no be in vain perhaps the closest in words he could come to.
Stryker:His head lifted as Alen spoke to his men, who in turn did as was told. More then the two he pointed at three left to fan out and see what they could find while two stayed behind to illuminate the body for Alen to look over. "Keep an eye open, I want no one around but the General and us..." He offered to the others before his attention returned to Alen. A shudder ran through his body as the sheet was pulled back further. Inside, he begged her to move, half expected her to sit up and yell at Alen for disturbing her rest. He just didn't get it. Couldn't understand how this woman...died. She just seemed so strong. One sign was perfectly clear, her body hadn't been cleaned from birthing her baby. A thin drop of crust clung to the edge of her mouth but from that, the woman looked asleep. She looked like she was asleep without her chest rising and falling. He had seen death...and he had seen blood but this, there was just no words. Nothing he could do and no way to describe it. Jean Claude had been right...he hadn't listen and if he had..perhaps she would be alive now? Was this all his fault? Because he didn't listen. "How long...has she been like this?" He spoke between clearing his throat of the ruff and tightness within.
Alen: "Hours..." the body was too pristine to be out here for even a modicum of time--it hadn't been ravaged by neither scavenger nor had it shown signs of decay. He grimaced moderately as he turned her head, this way and that, observing for telltale bruising or other signs of strangulation, finding none. Which made almost no sense. The conclusion he came to flew in the face of the rest of it. "She's been... she's been poisoned..." each word came distant , a thousand miles away, talking to the air itself instead of him. "There's no sign of injury--at least not as a cause of death. If she were strangled or drowned you would see it... " but why would they leave her here? to be found? why leave the child behind? None of it made sense. His eyes flicked slightly as he continued a visual inspection--the immediate area even provided clues--had she fallen here or was she merely placed? she was made to rest, suggesting a 'peaceful rest'--or that she had been moved here, deliberate. "Doesn't make sense. None of this makes a damn bit of sense..." he muttered, a tone of desperation entering his voice. "Why leave her here...? Why leave her for us to find like this...?"
Maahes: "He did not mean for her to die.." Came the raspy sound of a beast's growl from the shadows played well within the night. "He did not mean to kill her." The men behind him stood in complete silence as even with the face of death at door, the soldier remained. Had he no feelings? Did he not care? All of Skye knew of their horrible fights, the many nights he slept in his barracks to be free from her wrath. Would this be the ease Maahes had wanted when he prayed to the Lord. "If he had wanted her dead, he would have killed her before my son was born." Lowered eyes bore into the pair before falling to the body of his wife, and he eased a heavy sigh. The broad shoulders of the man rolled when pulled the fabric back further, he closed his eyes to show the only proof that he did in fact feel the pain...however short it was lived, "His name is Atlas, his ship is tied to the harbor, he has been missing for weeks." Came the thunderous sound of his voice from deep inside his chest, but when amber orbs of blazing desert fire turned to sink inside the magicians he knew very well what he would be asking, "You find him, bring me his head. Nothing else." The Black Order were quickly growing a name in the secret society, and to the heart of the order he spoke.
Stryker:Hours...it only tugged against his heart even more. So...he could of done something and did not. All because he was jealous of the affection the woman he loved had for the man who gave him the news. "Poisoned? Why would..."His stopped as a hand rose to rake through his hair as Alen continued, on into muttering and even Nic was inclined to agree. None of it made any sense. His head turned at the sound of the General's voice. Pushing up from his kneel on the ground, he took a step back and then another watching first the man and then the body and then back. "Are you suggesting he didn't mean to kill her?" A name was put the culprit and while he inclined to agree in wanting the man to pay for what he did. When would the killing then end? Would it end there? "General..I agree the man should pay, are you sure he was he? Would you have an innocent man killed because you believe he was interested in your wife?" Colin had returned to stand with the three other remaining guards and his attention turned to them. "You three...go into town, fetch a horse and cart, and some more blankets and some pillows quietly and do it swiftly.."
Alen: Alen didn't bother to respond--if he had any idea that he was the object of some man's jealousy he would have been faintly surprised, but doubted he would have blamed the man for becoming distracted--he himself had nowhere to look, no place to lurk. He seemed to carefully scan his surroundings, taking in each little detail, the odd silence broken by the booming voice of the General himself, heavy with meaning and accusation. He gave him a name--a possible lead, even if Nic protested. but still, something about this smelled strangely. ... seeing things in a sudden, different light, he stood slowly and turned back to the man, scrutinizing the man's expression--both fierce and defiant, one like ice, the other burning with fire. "...As you wish, Lord." and with a subtle nod he began to stalk off, stepping lightly around a faint trail he'd found in the grasses. There was nothing more he could do here-- words would have little comfort for the Grieving General. Being an instrument of vengence in this case would be... all he could offer. and the very least he could do.
Maahes: Turning on Nic, he lowered his gaze with the shorter frame of the man, as almost all were below eye level with the Beast, "This is the third time you have questioned me, soldier. Should it happen again it will be your head." His word was law, for any who served under his flags. Though Nic could not back out of his draft, he no doubt knew the man would wish it. As Nic ordered the cart with all the comforts a body should have moving into the afterlife, Maahes turned to take into his arms, the shell of his wife. "They are not needed..I've carried her this far." Spoken much quieter as the childless figure was so much lighter. Down the path he would walk pressing his cheek against the cool forehead of her face, and whispering his prayers to the only God he served.
Stryker:His lips turned into a tight frown, oh how he was itching to respond but he wouldn't. His attention shifted between both men. Silent eyes begged Alen to see reason. If this Atlas confessed, then sure, his life was void but were he not the culprit? He was a man who would not spill innocent blood. Alen moved one way as Maahes moved the other while Ealora in his arms and for a minute, he stood still. chyt, he was like a puppy whom two people called to, to see who's affection he sought more. "Colin..." The man stepped forward, having stalled when the General took the body into his arms. "Follow the General, tell him, from my offer, to contact the church to bury her...if he agrees, do as he bids." The man nodded and took off while Nic turned to follow the steps of the Magician. Order or not, he wanted to make sure the right justice was installed upon the right criminal despite the General's words.
Stryker:Colin's steps moved slowly behind the General, holding the torch high so they both could see where they were going. "General...Sir..Nicholas has offered for me to contact the church for you, for burial for your wife..should you wish it. Sir..."
Alen: Alen gave nothing in response, passing his gaze briefly to Nic a moment, passing by the general without a word. What could he offer? my sincerest apologies that your wife has passed, General? You poor thing? the man would suffer enough as is then bear the words of pity from strangers and spies. He knew the man would mourn on his own. All he could do was see some measure of justice in the meantime. Justice... but was it Justice for this man, or did Maahes simply need, in his grief, an enemy destroyed? until he had his answer, he could not be certain. So he set about, following the faint trail, noting carefully that no attempt was made to hide it--whoever moved the body had no concern at all for being caught--and given how few clues that had been so far, he'd take any one he could get. But as it was.. Atlas was the only name he had. Once the two were suitably out of earshot, Alen asked. "...Tell me what you know of Atlas. " to Nic, his voice taking a dangerous, merciless edge.
Maahes: "f**k off." He growled to the man over his shoulder, "And tell him the same." Breaking free from the forest, perhaps he should have gone home. Perhaps he was crazy to seek out the path of the docks, crazy to see a light upon the docks of the rocking ship. Music could be heard well over the firepit upon the Pirate's ship; laughter rising up with the smoke as the band of Gypsies crossed forbidden territories. Like a king upon his throne the scoundrel captain displayed his body across the arms of the golden chair he 'acquired' from the ship of riches that waited beside his own.
Perry:"Lord General...such a surprise to see you." He lied through his teeth narrowing a careless gaze upon the man as idle hands bounced in time with the beat of his drumming heart. "Oh why oh why have you come tonight?" He would eat this alive, knowing that the man held his wife, knowing that Maahes was about to do something that in other terms would have killed Ealora first. His head was pressed over one arm of the chair lazily watching the heavens, and his crew would still.
Maahes:"Why is it that no matter how many times I run my sword through your chest, you still return." The hiss of the fire could be mimicked in the gasps of the crew as they all fell dead silent.
Perry:Peregrine would only let out a taunting laugh"Luck?" His eyes sparkled like a cat batting it's mouse, just as he teased Maahes. He rose his face to look at the man, who still waited for his answer. "Bury her in the ground, Maahes and we'll see if your God will bring her back." Laying his head back again fingers would wave to start the music again, "Put her to rest, Child."
Jean-Claude:"Don't patronize him, Peregrine." Jean-Claude's voice boomed from the cabin returning to the night, he gave a cool sweep of his head in the direction of the Beast, but Maahes would miss it as he turned for the city once more, "You are a heartless coward." His monotone cold voice carried well as he returned to his work.
Stryker:He walked beside the magician in silence. Of course in this moment, he knew better then to take the title at face value. Really his mind was on the Pirate Queen's face. She looked like she was sleeping..of course he had thought it before, it was a reoccurring thought but the second that crossed his mind was telling Shaden. Perhaps he was more of a soft hearted fool then other men in Skye, but how he knew his heart would break as Shaden sobbed. He knew she would, the woman loved her sister. Had nearly fallen over in grief at the news she was taken. He didn't perceive to know the heart of the General, perhaps the man just grieved differently but Nic shed tears and without fear of what others thought of him and yet, he did not know the pirate woman well enough to shed tears for her. More feel the ache for her family who undoubted would weep, and hard for the lost woman. His fingers looped within his belt as step for step he followed Alen, silvery blue eyes following after the trail. A thick brow arched and could he, he would of laughed at this moment. "You're asking the wrong person there...the most I know is rumors, of a golden ship in the harbor, a lunch meeting which ended in thrown items, someone calling whore...poor guard on duty at the doors was fired, put in jail s'far as I heard for allowing Ealora there. Most I know, is the man is someone from her past..and with a past such as hers, the possibilities are endless."
People of Skye:Of course attention would turn upon the General as he moved down the docks into the city, heads turned, mouthed gapped open as their General carried the body of his wife away from the ships into the city. Mouths gapped open in shock and confusion.
Alen: "Were I to ask the general all I would get is certainty of his villainy." He replied coldly enough. For Alen the loss was not distinctly personal--he had only met Ealora once before, a playful bit of banter when she was still the unobtainable Pirate Queen that had very nearly bore him passage out of this place, it was the loss of vow. He had, as he had said before, used Ealora marvelously in the catching of Malice, but he was aware of no other villian, no monster to look out for. He ended up failing his promise to her utterly. Damn it. For all his supposed intellect, his skill in subterfuge, and not once could he do anything but murder. He knew the words that would pass from other lips. You are but one man. You can only do so much, small comforts from people who put their safety in his hands. Perhaps that made him a fool, to think such tasks could be used to do anything but sow chaos, anything but kill. He kept all his musings silent, internal--he mourned for the child and her father, who would undoubtly be lost without her, but he would show no sign of it--not until his task was done. The woods finally gave way at the end of a trail to a cabin, and his eyes narrowed subtly. "...This is where they kept her." He passed another look to Shaden and began to cautiously approach, straining his ears to hear the faint sound of someone--anyone inside...
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Dame Danae Galanos
Respectable
Evil Prevails When Good Men And Women Fail To Act
Posts: 137
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Post by Dame Danae Galanos on Feb 24, 2009 8:41:16 GMT -6
By the time Danae received the message to join the others, they would have already found what they were looking for. Unfortunately for Danae, she would have to bare witness to such a sight. The death of a friend's wife, the death of a sister in the making. She would pass Maahes on her way in as he was on his way out. She would offer her condolences, tell him he knew where to find her should he need her later. Doing what she could to avoid tearing up at the sight in his arms.
In the meantime, she would send Balian off with him, her third in command to see to any orders personally should the General make any in the near future. However, she and Merick would continue forward, coming to join the others a short distance up. Arriving just in time to see a few of Nic's men move off while she took note of a few familiar faces. Theodren, her brother trailed behind her, tailing her and the others as a precautionary. A nod was given to all others gathered as she dismounted Majesty and let him stand off with Merick's own horse who did much the same.
She'd not speak just yet, seeing that her newest friend Alendral was already at work on piecing together something that was undoubtedly very important. Instead, she would close the distance between herself and where Ealora had been found, squatting down a moment but not touching or disturbing the place the woman laid moments ago. A slow shake of head was made as she frowned. Yes, Danae was a warrior, a fighter, but even more so.. a woman who had now lost what was considered a dear friend. Danae silently said a Greek prayer, hoping that her friend had a safe journey to the after-life and join her fore-fathers before standing to her full height then moving behind the others. Merick of course following and behind him Theodren.
Danae was quiet, very quiet, more so than usual. Few could guess as to why and though she did her best in hiding the pain that would normally be etched across her face, the copper skinned woman's expression was stoic. Though, if any were to truly take the time and look deeply into those normally cold icy blue hues, they would see something else for a change. Eyes did drift to Perry, having heard what he had said to Maahes while the man carried his wife. A disappointed look was made instead of the usual glare.
What would he have done had this been her? Especially had it been on that island once upon a time. However, not a word was said, not anything was done in ill nature. She hoped he would perhaps re think things later and make up for it. She looked to Jean Claude then, thankful that someone had stepped in to say something that perhaps he would listen to. Danae felt she no longer had a voice that would hold his attention in any case any more. Friend or not... even if they had came to an understanding and their friendship was on the mends.
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Post by Sir Nicholas Stryker on Feb 26, 2009 0:17:29 GMT -6
Maahes:They had pulled into town, from the long battle though short lived seemed to carry even now. Maahes was the last to leave, his tired body ached, but his heart ached for his child more. Eppie would be fast asleep by the time he rode into the town, and stood upon the doors to the Lily. Galen had taken over for his tired father, and letting the beast return to rest. There would be a great day a head of them, a countryside that needed cleaned. He held up so well, or so they said as watching the knights return to their ladies, delicate arms wrapping around the necks of warriors he showed no sign of pain. Though what they could not see under the dark of night, was that he was a man in denial. Maahes scanned the faces of the crowds, the women all with wanting eyes. Where was his Ealora? Had he forgotten she was six feet under? No, he had not forgot just refused to believe it. Dismounting off his horse his hand clasped his chest, the reins of his companion barely able to be held as the pain shot down his entire arm and seemed to beg for release from his finger tips.
Nicholas:With the General, he was one of the last to leave the battlefield. Not to upshow the General but to stand beside him as he swore he would. He was a man of his word, despite his personal feelings of Maahes. The man really stood on a pendulum with him, one side of Nic respected him, the other thought him a complete ass. It really depended on the day which way the pendulum fell, which side rose higher then the other. Even Nic knew the only time such a pendulum was in balance was in the company of the mans wife. Nic's rage in battle stemmed from two things, revenge for what had been done to Shaden both past and present and secondly, his own guilt at not finding Ealora sooner, not heeding the warning Jean Claude had given. Though he hadn't voiced such reports to Shaden, the General knew well he had disregarded such a report but both of them had been ill pressed to believe such reports. Grunting as he shifted in the saddle, his leg had been stabbed by the tip of a blade and he refused to go see a healer, refused to leave the side of the General. He owed the man now, in his eyes. Bandages had been wrapped around the wound before armor was pressed on again to keep pressure against the wound. There was only one moment of pain before it was masked behind a perfect calm, his face scanned the crowd as they moved and always turned back to the General. He wouldn't presume how the man was feeling. A hand shot out to take the reins of the General's horse in his free hand as the other held the reins of his own. "General.."Both question and statement as his head tilted in silent question if the man was all right.
Maahes: His breaths came in short forced sounds, as they puffed past his lips and a hand would come to clasp the man's shoulder; in both a gracious gesture, but as well for the support. "I'm just tired." The blood splattered face came to catch the man's eye as a very rare, position fell around his lips--a smile. His hand squeezed the man's shoulder as he regained his composure, "You did very good, Nicholas. I was very proud tonight." In the heat of the battle it had not taken him long to realize who his true warriors were, "Well enough to make you a captain by the time this is over." His promotion of the battle would come in stride, but little did Nic know he handed out the first. What would that mean for the Knight? A salary, a set place in the army, and the respect that he earned.
Shaden: Disbelief, a suspension of reality had claimed Shaden's mind since she had been delivered from the hell of the Labyrinth, nothin seemed real, each day brough new heartache and sorrow.. as if her heart could bear more than the death of her own child. Secrets were revealed that made her question her own sainity... her own ability to reason from right and wrong.. When the news had come of Ealora's death... it was like a final blow.. she found her heart could take no more, as it pounded in her chest threatening to stop.. taking little leaps... then silences.. surely her twinsoul was not dead.... for her own heart still beat... dead and buried before she could even lay eyes upon her sister.. to say goodbye.. it was an event without closure.. She had ridden out to Red Wall to see Maahes only to find him gone... war beckoned.. and He was the General.. Nicholas had gone too.. they were protecting.. what was left to love... in Skye... what was left of their family... At Red Wall she had been greeted with the almost frantic Nora.. who held a tiny baby boy.. that screamed out his rage that his mother would never hold him, never watch him grow...into a man.. and defied the wetnurses that came to feed him, turning a stubborn cheek and belting out even more.. his anger.. this dark haired boy that was so like his parents, little fist raised to the Gods.. shaking out his discourse.. all the while Nora soothed and cajoled , to no avail.. It was a sister and a mothers heart.. that took the child.. cradeling him soflty against her chest... a soft voice that calmed him, when no other could... She dissipeared into Ealora's room.. and Later when Nora came to check on them, the babe was feeding.. sleeping... in Shaden's arms.. as she rocked him quietly singing...The next day would find, Shaden, Nora, that baby Ra, and Eppi all back at the Lily... safe and sound... for the next few days. When the General and Nicholas returned to Turas Lan, the CLan... would be upstairs in SHaden's Suites...Issac, and Eppie playing like old chums by the fire... Shaden rocking a cooing and well fed Ra..
Nicholas:Both reins were clasped in one hand as his hand rose to pat the General against the back"Then lets get you inside, get you rested up and with your son.." He lead the horses towards the yard, handing them over to Albert before joining the General again. "I appreciate the good words but I didn't do any more then the man next to me.." Captain? Did this mean Maahes actually WANTED him in the army now? Would the man understand if he declined? For now he remained silent, not accepting nor denying the offer for when the war was over. It was hard to return the grin but he managed. It was just odd, coming from the bull beside him. "Though if you wouldn't mind my making a suggestion, to clean up first."A half hearted chuckle left his lips as he pushed the door to the Lily open and ushered a hand to let the General pass first.
Maahes: "You did very good Nicholas, but again you doubt my judgment." He spoke out of habit as another habit was well to go. Boots would be taken off at the door, outside just as Ealora had broke into him over and over again. It felt strange as this felt so normal, so routine that any minute Eppie would come bounding, Ealora not far behind. Perhaps that was her he heard in the distance. She was not dead, just busy somewhere. That had to be it..."I have not held my child, and I could not wait any longer." Though they were both covered in blood..mud, and other body fluids from their battle. Silence fell over him, as the warmth of the fire purged over aching flesh and he would move to stand opposite the courtesan with a look of 'hello' written across darkened brow, the light of the fire a warm glow against the orbs of his eyes. "How are you?" He spoke softly asking the woman who held his son, and Eppie would stand wide eyed at her father--grinning all the same. When the toddler would close the distance, she was almost afraid to get close having only seen him like this once before..the day he saved her. But her arms would be quick to wrap around his legs and he would bed with a laugh to hug her back, "Hello Jonina," His eyes closed as she tightened her arms around his neck, "You have been a good girl?" Broken English to one who didn't even speak it.
Shaden:Glacial green hues turned up to the beast as he entered, the babe's dark head nuzzling at her breast, displayed for a moment before quickly covered with the edge of the blanket that swaddled him, glacial green hues lifted as if expecting rebuke from the General at finding her nursing his child.. considering that he had been against her having anything to do with their raising and preferred Lilianna and Kendrew. Her lips parted as if about to offer defense.. when she saw Eppie fling herself into his arms... Issac's brows drawing together... at the little girls abandoment, until Nicholas, filled the doorway behind the beast of a General... the small dark boy jumped up, and mirrored Eppie's actions.. running to Nic, arms akimbo almost tackling him... though not silently like Eppie... " Papa..!" he launched himself at the old Knight...A smile came over her face at the sight, of the little boy they had taken in, hugging NIcholas so...lovingly... her face was graced with a loving smile as she rose from the rocking chair.. moving toward the Men.. " I am well Maahes,.... and I have someone here who wants to meet his papa... " The baby was held out toward the beast gently... though she managed to cover herself in the transfer, a soft loving look passed from son to father.. then over their shoulder to the man she loved... there was no need for words.. between them.. the look was enough... Your home.. I love you...
Nicholas:"I don't doubt your judgement General, I only do not wish it misplaced in me. I would not be who I am otherwise." He retorted with a grin as he shut the door behind them and they moved to Shaden's Suite. His heart began to pound against his ribcage, he hadn't told Shaden of Jean's report, that he had known beforehand that Ealora was..or was going to die. It was a heavy weight to bear and he masked his guilt behind a calm face that quickly melted of masks into a chuckling grin as the little boy launched himself into his arms. "ommfff" His face twisted in pain as he rocked back on his wounded leg but masked it as celadon green eyes of the boy looked up at him. "Issac!" He retorted in a light hearted manner as he bounced the boy against his arm, positioning it just so under a small bottom as tiny arms wrapped around his neck. "You been good for your momma?" He bounced the boy against his arm before silvery blue eyes found Shaden. The smile jerked and twitched against his lips. Hello my love.. Gods how it hurt especially as the tiny baby was shifted into the massive arms of his father. Of course he wanted to wrap Shaden within his arms and kiss her silly but given the presence of the General...and guilt, he just couldn't. That did not mean he loved her any less but guilt was a powerful enemy and it threatened to rob him whole. "Should we give you some time alone... General..?" No doubt he didn't need an audience while connecting with his son. Even his own son, he held without his mother, and was unable to put him down, shut away from the world while he marveled over the little babe in his arms that was half of him, half of a woman he had once loved. Did the General feel the same way? Even a strapping old Knight like Nicholas could wonder.
Maahes: He would have to sit down..his heart beat out of his chest, as there he was. This beautiful child that was his mother made over, and how quickly his breath caught in his chest. He couldn't speak, and this was clear as his arms wrapped around the child as if he had held him for a thousand years. "Hello.." He whispered turning his back to the pair, having no need for privacy now, but he would in fact come to sit upon the footstool as Eppie would be quick to stand at his side, "Is he your brother? Hmm?" A smile as the girl would nod her head, Maahes was wearing his strength then more then ever, and when Eppie would grin so too would he. Though tears would fight their way forward, he would not allow them to surface, for what kind of man would he be if he broke now. Balancing the infant in one arm he would wrap his other around the little girl and press a kiss to her temple, but instantly his eyes would fall back to the sleeping child in his arms. "He looks Ealora yes?" He spoke to the pair over his shoulder as Eppie would return to her toys. "Her lips." Coming from the expert.
Shaden: "He is a perfect blend of you both... " she spoke softly as she handed him over watching tenderly as father and son met for the first time... tears however were not shameful in their trek across her cheeks as she moved toward Nicholas.. her eyes drifting from his beloved face, down to his obvious injury.. " Your injured.. come.. sit and let me look.. " she took Issac from his arms motioning for the child to return to his play with Eppie as she guided Nicholas to the end of the bed.. " Off with them while I get.. some water to cleanse you.." She moved to the door and spoke with a servant, soon afterward two copper tubs would be brought into the room, and summarily filled with steaming water, but before that.. a bowl of hot water, rags, and a medicinal bag was brought in and settled beside the Lady... who attended her love.. " Both of you need a bath.. and you should have had a healer look at this already " she scolded him, as she knelt before him... surveying the wound.. though her eyes drifted back and forth to the baby.. every now and again.. she was already falling in love with the child.
Nicholas:"He is..a perfect blend.."He forced the words out. This was his punishment, his torture for not listening when he shoudl have. To watch the small family both prideful and joyful over their new addition, and heartbroken though it did not shine through the joy. He followed Shaden to the bed and pressed down upon it but began to protest as soon as she said off with the clothing. "No no, not with him in the room, no no, its fine. It will heal on its own. I've had many wounds unattended by healing hands." He grasped her two hands into his own. Lowering his head, he let out a sigh, pressing his forehead against her hands. He couldn't do it, couldn't keep it in. "General..I can not accept your praise...Shaden I am so sorry..I knew..I had reports a day before her death that she was dead or dying..I didn't do anything..I didn't think..she would die..I didn't want to believe it.."He squeezed Shaden's hands in his own before releasing them to rake through his hair.
Maahes: "Nicholas, her death is over. She is resting now, her body is but a shell in the ground. You could not have prevented it." Eppie would ushered upstairs as the tubs would come into place, and Maahes would stand placing his son in the bed of suite, "Tomorrow I will return to Red Wall, live my life as so should you. Do you not share her bed?" He asked the man with a raised dark brow, "Then she is your wife, and if your wife says to lay down, take off your clothes then you do as she says, for it could be the last time. You will never know what fate will bring you." He had moved around the room, speaking as he stood over his son and eyes would not move from the boy's gentle face. "Shaden, you do not need to tend to me." Though in true Arabic cultures she would, "You have enough on your hands, just.." He would curl his arms to try and reach the center of his back, and the massive muscle would prevent it..."Unbuckle that." Turning then to would give her his back, taking hold his dreads and pulling them over one shoulder. Lord..that bath sounded so good.
Shaden: "You are both my family.. and I shall attend you both.. " she rose from her kneel at Nic's feet.. and moved to the General.. unclasping the buckles at his back.. and helping him with his armor, once that was accomplished she turned her back so he could finish without her eyes upon him, now intent upon Nicholas... " Please.. let me see.. I could not bear to loose you to.. for your stubbornness.. let me tend your wound.." her voice was small..soft.. and full of love.. though her heart broke for both her sister's death, Maahe's pain, and Nic's guilt... as well as her own loss.. but there was nothing to do but carry on with Life... it's what Joy and Ealora would want.. to see their Family survive and thrive... and somewhere it gave her peace to think that Ealora was with Joy... as she was taking care of Ra... " Do not deny me Nicholas... " she knelt befor him once again, soft green skirts belling about her knees as she took up a washcloth steaming into her hand.. waiting paitently
Nicholas:While both the General's words and Shaden's were meant to soothe his guilt, only he in time would be able to soothe it, perhaps with prayer to God for forgiveness. It was simply the way the man was built. "We...are your family General..."Yes he was second guessing the mans judgement yet again! "You can not tend your son on your own and he is...my wifes newphew..she still has milk to give and your child needs it to grow strong. I would beg of you to reconsider, stay, and continue to head this family as you have always done." The General's words stung, for once he had received favor in God's eyes were the General, had received only scorn, to have a son but loose his wife as they were to have each other but loose their child. It made no sense. The will of God never did and at times, did he scorn God for his judgement, for his actions. With a groan, he rocked back against an elbow and wiggled his pants open and downward to the gash against his right thigh were the sword had impaled. Hey, should of seen the other guy..no balls, no head. A right fine stroke to what was done to him. "In a minute, I will have Gerda take Joy's crib into the room you always occupy here.."The man seemed to have forgotten it was also the room he shared with his wife here"So that you may have your son close..and a tub brought as well..you need a bath General.." In this house though, HE was General and his voice booked no refusal, though silently in some way begging the General of Skye himself to see reason. His hand found Shaden's wrist as he spoke, squeezing gently. I love you..
Maahes: "I will do as it is best for my son..I would asume it would be better the goats milk." Though of course he could argue that no doubt, "You will be wise Nic to leave that crib where it lay..He will sleep with me. You save that for your child that I have no doubt you will make soon. " Careful steps winded through the room, and once his bare chest was exposed he would sling his armor over one shoulder and collect Ra in the other. "Send me the tub, and someone to wash my back. I will leave you to your marriage." With that he would move to place a tender kiss to Shaden's temple, "I will send for you when he wakes?"
Shaden:"Of course..." she leaned into the soft kiss " we have much to talk of Maahes... and I will take care of him as my own.. I will be in shortly as soon as I've stiched up this wound and seen to Nicholas..." her hand squeezed his forarm gently... as he took his leave... Once the door closed behind him she turned to Nicholas' wound... cleaning it gently, silently... her eyes trained on the task at hand as servants filled the tub near the fire, others hauled water to the Generals quarters... " You'll need some stiches... would you like something to dull the pain?"
Nicholas:Silvery blue eyes followed the General's movements. He respected the man perhaps more, for the bravery he put up in the face of both children and family. Especially for Shaden no doubt. He could not bare the womans tears, if only because he wanted to fight away any reason for her to cry and knowing, that was never a possibility. "No, I can not stand anything to dull my senses right now." He shifted to lean against the other elbow, to keep his weight going back and forth so he would not tense up nor seize for being in one position to long. "He is right Shaden..we have talked of this, I don't know how much more grief will come to this family, but I wish to bring some happiness back into it. I want to marry you Shaden, and damn it if it needs to be kept secret for the Lily and for your position to the Duke, then I am more then willing."
Shaden:the needle stilled in her hand.. as he shifted back and forth.. then settled.. she took a deep breath and begin to slowly sew up the wound, careful precise stiches that might have made Avery jelouse.. in their delicate yet professional way... her jaw set she seemed intently focused on his wound until finally it was sewn shut.. cleansed.. " You need to bath.. your water will be cold..." she stood.. washing her hands , then drying them... on a towell.. as she moved to Issac and hustled him out the doorway and into Gerda's Arms... a few words to Gerda to send up dinner for both Maahes and Nicholas.. and at last they were truly alone.. she leaned against the door as it closed and reguarded him for a long moment.. "I asked you for time... so that you would never... I would never doubt... that this grief.. was the reason I said yes... I love you Nic enought to want you to know.. that I do not want to marry you out of grief.. or fear... that the next day will be our last... cannot you understand this? What you and I have is constant... and safe.. not that.. like Maahes and Ealora had that passion that makes everything go red... and wrong... I don't want that for us... I want our marriage to be a choice.. made in the light of day, with clear hearts and minds.. without war looming over us like a specter... I want a promise that can be kept.. and now.. neither of us... can promise.. tomorrow... You will go to war... and I will do what I have to ... to see this country put right.. 'so that we can... be married... have children and Live.. without fear... without regret.. and free.. and I cannot do what I must as your wife...if you love me and trust me you will understand this.."
Nicholas:He gritted his teeth against the needle digging into his flesh, the thread being pulled through the pinprick wounds to pull the gash itself closed. His head turned, he stared at the wall. Bearing the pain as a good man, with no grunts or cries but gritted teeth and determination. As she finished and ushered him to bath, he rose and did as she commanded, sinking into the water, leaning back against it to watch her usher Issac out and then shut the door. Of course he was prepared for a tongue lashing but a lecture of love and rights and wrongs he was not. For a long moment he was silent, dipping hands in and out of the water. "I know it was hard enough for you to admit you love me but you did so also in the fear, that I would die in battle and never know...I've lived in a world where it was wrong to love your partner, then in a world were love wasn't enough to stop grief and pain from coming. I finally learned, you love someone, you say it, right then, right there, right now, else the moment just passes you by. Each day...might be the last day Shaden. If no one else can testify to that, we can. After everything we have seen, after everything we have been through..." His hair was thoroughly soaped as he spoke, wanting to get out of the tub all ready, his blood boiling in a need to move. He paused long enough to sink down to rinse his hair before he was up out of the tub and wrapping a towel around his waist. "Look at your brother, brother in law...whatever...do you not see his grief even if he hids it? You think their passion and rush was doomed because they rushed? Go red and wrong..I praise them for it, damn it, I envy it for them. They allowed no one and nothing to come between them and their love. Hell be damned, people be damned in their thinking. They allowed love to shine despite the consequences, despite EVERYTHING. Can I not understand? Your damn straight I don't understand. I love you, I'd elect to tell the whole damn world but I respect your position as Mistress of this house, as a spy for the Duke. You think what we have is constant and safe but never are we safe Shaden..I could fall asleep tonight and not wake up, then where would you be? Heartbroken all over again, you could fall down the damn stairs and I would be the one left heartbroken and alone. Nothing is ever safe.."He moved across the room to grip her arms and pull her tightly against him. "I love you with a fire and passion I've never felt for any woman. I don't want to marry you to only bear my heirs or cook my meals or clean my house, I want to marry you for love! There is no confusion or fear in my decision to love or want to marry you and my only reget in this life would be if I did not at least once a day make it known to you, that I love you and wish to marry you for love. Neither of us can promise tomorrow, or the next day or the next, do you know how much it pains me, how the guilt rips me at promising you, your sisters safe return only to find her body cold and alone in the woods. How nightmares haunt me, did she get to hold her son, did she tell her husband she loved him before they parted. Did she hold every happy moment they had together as she died and these nightmares haunt me in my own hell as well, if I die in battle, will I die never telling you, at least a thousand times a day, my love for you, my passion for you, that I must keep in check in public when all I want to do is make you soar, and the only comfort I find in these nightmares, in this hell is knowing if I die, I take every passion filled, passion embracing moment between us and hold onto it so that it lives, forever in you when I am gone." By the time he was finished, he was panting, as if he had run a mile without sucking in a breath though his grip on her never tightened painfully, he was not willing to release her.
Shaden: " YOu think I wouldn't be as heartbroken if you were my husband..?" she turned on him like a lioness, not even realizing in her vain attempt not to be the passionate, arguing complex raging couple that Maahes and Ealora had been that now they stood nose to nose, arguing in the same passionate manner and over what.. how much they loved one another? it was laughable.. truly... unless you were the couple in the room..." You could not have known that she was dead Nicholas.. no one could have.. She lived and loved fully this.. her death was not your doing.." tears fell down her face.. as she melted into his arms pulling her arms about his waist... "I love you... oh how much I cannot express Nicholas... would Marraige change that love... make it better ? or worse.. what if I spoke vows to you... that I had to break.. for the sake of the word I gave to another before you.. for the sake of doing my duty? would you hate me... then... am I afriad... yes... I'm afraid I will watch you walk away hating me... and until I am free of my duty I cannot.. promise you anything... is that something your willing to accept... is that something I'm willing to let you accept..? " her breath drew in raggedly as she pulled away... " I've struggled with this.. Nicholas... so very much... I want to be your wife... I want everyone to know.. that I am your wife... but.. for now.. I need to stay as I am.. in public... it serves a greater purpose.." she looked down and away... then... moving to the window... "I'm in his service.. and I recived a currosy letter... to see if I was willing to take on a mission... soon... I replied yes "
Nicholas:Had he a second to look over the situation, he might of laughed at them argueing over how much they loved one another but he was enraged, impassion, inflamed by her and guilted..ever guilted by not being able to give her what he promised and probably should not of promised. "I know you would be.."He spoke in a more quiet voice, his hands raising, fingers forced open with the glove gone and stroked the tears from her face. "What pains me the most, if you are not willing to give me the chance, to prove how far my love for you can be pushed. Can it be broken? Neither of us know, but I would bet my life, my very soul which rests in your hands on no. Nothing you could do or say would break my love in you Shaden..give me the chance to prove I am not budging. I am unwavering in my stand beside you. Not to rule over you, but to walk in this life beside you. Even if we have to hid it, for you to do your duty, I am gladly willing to accept it, because I would know, I would feel, I would live in passions embrace at night, in dark corners and stolen moments that you were truly my wife. You accepted an offer...I can not say it does not bewilder me, worry me, you put to much on yourself but I will stand by you none the less." He released her to watch her move to the window, turning to slowly follow with a slight grimp to on his bad side. His hands rose, fingers forced open again as he took hold of her shoulders and dragged her back against him. "To stay as you are in public, would serve the greater public, but if I asked it of you..will you marry me in private Shaden...in secret, without regret and with clear mind and heart? Do you truly need more time or is your heart open for this?"
Shaden: It would be long tortures moments before he received his answer, her body pulled back against him seemed to relax, as she took several deep breaths.. his arms folded about her middle, now her own lay atop them... nails gently caressing the backs of his hand... "Father Lonaghan would marry us.. without a crying of the bans... without a publication..." she spoke softly... almost a whisper... as if to voice it aloud would perhaps make him rescind the offer " I told you next time you asked me I would say yes... though I had though... it would be longer in coming..." she chuckled slightly and turned in his arms... her fingers caressing his cheeks up to the crinkles at the corners of his eyes.. " I will marry you... I will trust you... with my heart and soul, because you already own it... I will be your wife... and God willing we will make a family.. and live to watch them make families of their own.. but if not... know... This Nicholas Stryker... I could not love you more... than I love you now.. no matter what words are spoken over us, nor bands of gold on our fingers... You are my love.. My husband... as surely as if we have already walked the asile..
Nicholas:His head fell, lips moving against the shell of her ear as the long torturous moment seemed to linger into eternity. Was she going to deny him? He prayed, she would not. His hands tightened against her stomach as she spoke, visibly his body relaxed and he let out a mental and physical sigh as lids slide closed over silvery blue eyes, reveling in the words she spoke. She said yes! He let out a chuckle, letting his arms loosen as she turned in his arms, lids sliding open to take the firey haired beauty in. The woman he loved more then he had ever loved in his life. "Shaden.."His hands rose to take hers into his hands, kissing her fingers, her knucles before his arms wrapped around her and his lips captured her own in a pull of a long passionate embrace of love and fire. "Gods I love you woman..you'll never know..never understand how much.."Mentally he was doing a fist pump and for once in a very long time, singing Gods praise. "If any promise I can make and vow never to break, I will hold your heart sacred and never strike in any form to break it. I will see our souls weaved together and never parted. I will love you my whole life and no other. My wife..my darling..."Bending, he lifted her into his arms, despite protests about his leg and carried her to the bed. Tonight in her acceptance, in his, he would show her what words could not describe in loving not only her heart but her body as well as her soul. Tending to each tender portion of skin upon her body, soothing not only passion, but spirit. Begging each part of her in body, heart and soul to soar into the heavens along with him.
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Post by Sir Nicholas Stryker on Feb 26, 2009 0:22:43 GMT -6
Shaden:Shaden was curled about Nic like a favored shirt, arms and legs tangled beneath the covers, she had dressed in a light gown, to fall asleep in his arms, a padded wrap about breast that were heavy with milk, from feeding Maahes and Ealora's son, it was no possible to sleep nude.. lest they wake in a puddle... the fire had dimmed down to few glowing coals, sheltering the pair in a sweet dark cocoon, where finally they had found a moments respite from the hateful sad happenings in their lives, and just reveleed in one another.
Nicholas: His arms wrapped about her, her body tangled to his own and for once the man slept peacefully, or seemed so. Left sans shirt, he opted for an old pair of slacks near falling apart but breathed that he did not swelter and die from heat. Turned just so, his head rested atop her own as he leaned up against four or five pillows. Giving her an angle so she wouldn't be squeezed to the point of spraying them in breast milk. He let out a groan in his sleep, face twisting as his bad leg jerked under the covers and poked out from beneath the shirt. Grunting, he pushed against the covers, keeping one arm curled about Shaden to readjust his weight before he was sliding down into the pillows again and sliding into the darkness of sleep once more.
Maahes:It had taken him a long time to fall asleep with his son at his side. Eppie was asleep in her bed, but shared the room. However, there was so much of him that was afraid to close his eyes. He feared for the dark coming to take away sunlight, but more importantly he was afraid he would miss something. So much of him thought of his wife then, had she struggled long? Had it hurt her? Did she suffer? Did he cry? Did she cry? It had only seemed he had been asleep for a matter of seconds before he felt the little hands start to paw, and feet kick in his cry. With the battle in the back of his mind, the death of his heart, and now the excitement of the birth he had pretty much slipped outside of his mind. It would be second nature to wake with a start, his hand closing in around that little waving arm he would roll closer to the child, "Shhhh." He tried to soothe his tears, with eyes glazed still from his slumber. Rising from the bed, Maahes had never been one to wear clothes to bed. Ealora had always worried that their children would see him, and that Eppie would wonder...but tonight he had at least enough sense to pull the sheet around his body like an old Greek robe, the infant swaddled within his blanket; Maahes made his way down the hall. Without knocking--without waiting--he pushed the door open and swayed with his steps as they carried him to Shaden's bed. "He's awake ..hungry." Muttering under his breath he would simply slide Shaden over, crawling in beside her, and not carry whose feet would fall victim to his own cold pads..he hated the feeling. Poor Nic, his toes would just rub against the smooth skin of his feet.
Shaden:It might have dawned on the General that men and women in bed need a bit of warning when roused, but it had not apparently, at the sound of the creak of the door she roused a soft moan of waking to turn.. half asleep her arms reached for the fussy baby... " Mmmmm he usually wants to be fed several times a night.. " she moved to sit up... pushing back now shoulder length copper curls, as Maahes slipped into bed beside her... beneath the covers.. she held a finger to her lips.. " shhhhh Nic still sleeps.... " already her hands worked inside her gown to loosen the wrappings.. then cradling the babe to her breast.. soon enough the sounds of suckling were heard, as the gown fell open over one shoulder... the dim firelight casting the pair in maddonna and child relief... as the baby settled her fingers smoothed over Maahes forehead soflty " Rest.. I will tend him you need to sleep.. "
Nicholas: Snort, snoorreee and then quiet. He was not a man who liked to be disturbed and did in fact disturb others when pressed from sleep but it seemed Nic continued to sleep even as the bull of a General slid into the bed and Shaden from his arms. Groaning in sleep, his hand rose to scratch at his head before thumping on the bed beside Shaden as he turned to his side. His toe caught the cold underside of a foot and he let out a groan. The man even moved in his sleep, jerking up with eyes still safely hidden beneath lids as he jerked the covers down over the cold feet before he was falling again against the pillows again, his arm thrust out, over Shaden's legs and touched at Maahes arm. A dark brow slowly lifted as fingers moved against a muscular arm. Since when the hell...Slowly eyelids fluttered as fingers gripped and poked the muscular arm. Through the darkness of night and the haze of sleep, he looked at the General on the other side of Shaden. "Sweet Jesu'!"His hand jerked back as if scorched by fire as he wiggled from the bed, falling right over the edge and out of the sight. "What the hell?!" Came the groan from the floor.
Maahes:The hand that touched him would fall victim to his own as he held it. "He is my boy." Was he holding Shaden's hand? Probably not, but at the moment all that could be kept in his sight was his child in the arms of another. Shaden would be a beautiful mother, she was so natural. Rolling his face into the pillow his words could almost be missed had it not been for the rumble of his voice, "In my lands if my wife died her family would send a replacement if they could, or face being stoned." A barbaric nation, that he mused over to himself. "Did Nic leave for the night?"
Shaden: His words shocked her, sometimes the odd customs that Ealora and Maahes had lived by, really stretched her imagination.. it was then that she felt Nic turn roll, grasp and then fall from the bed with a Thud.. Carefully Leaning Toward Nic's side of the bed.. she couldn't help but chuckle.. the babe presented fully to the fallen man's sight.. " The baby was hungry.. Maahes brought him in.. get back into bed before you tear your stitches " she held back the laughter that threatened at the sigh of Nic dumped half dressed on the floor.. in shock he had been holding hands with the Beast in his bed.. It dawned on her that was the first time in weeks.. she actually had found something amusing.. as she settled back, flipping the quilts back to usher her beloved in again... she looked down at the little one in her arms, such a perfect child.. dark mop of hair that was so thick.. with highlights of russet a perfect blend of her sister and Maahes... " He's so beautiful..." she murmured... as she adjusted him in her arms to suckle from the opposite breast.. completely unabashed at the nudity she displayed, it was natural.. after all.
Nicholas: "Do the whole family share one bed as well"He retorted as he seemed to rise up from the floor rubbing at the back of his head with a scowl. "Yeah I see that now.." Slowly he pushed himself up and slid back into the bed, curling his arm around Shaden's backside as he leaned against her, yawning heavily and not hiding it. Well he was awake now...holding hands with the General. Nicholas gave a shudder, he wouldn't be able to look the man in the face for weeks! He let his mind wander for a minute, dwelling on the General's words. Would he do such a thing even though he wasn't in his lands? Was he essentially asking Shaden to be a wife? He yawned again, pushing the questions from his mind as he ushered to the babe suckling from Shaden's completely exposed chest. "You chosen a name for him yet?" and yes Nic was adjusting the covers as he spoke to cover HER up.
Maahes: "Ealora does not have any true surviving, so you would take her place, nd be expected to bare a child within the first phase of a month." Letting go of Nic's hand, he would move it to touch the silken fire of his Wife's most beloved sister. Sitting up then in the bed his chest would come to brush her back as he looked over the shoulder of the woman, "Good thing you and I hate each other." Was he making a joke? It was hard to tell with Maahes, but the man that sat beside them was clearly fighting sleep..and his sanity. Pressing his cheek against her shoulder he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Perhaps it was the maternal instinct that rose from her, or the fact at heart he was simply begging to be comforted, but Maahes did not want Shaden to pull away. Reaching around her, he let his arm fall in line with her own to touch the hair of his son. The pads of his fingers would brush lightly, and the baby would close his eyes.
Shaden: Now she was practically sandwiched between Nic and Maahes, the Baby in between it all.. as Maahes spoke, she opened her mouth to refute him, then smiled softly " Yes it's a good thing, that we know we are better suited as in laws than spouses... " glacial green hues caught with Nic's as lashes dipped in a wink toward him, letting him know that she was okay with Maahes taking a small amount of comfort...in her nearness.. she was after all the closest thing to a sister Ealora had.. had... such a sad word... she hated it .. the very sound of it.. the brawny arm wrapped about her and helped to cradle the baby.. gently caressing his perfect little brow... " I will help you raise him.. Maahes... him and Eppie... Nicholas and I will be your family... you will always have us... and your son will know love and warmth.. from you and us... " her hand closed over his forearm soflty squeezing.. " Besides I would make a terrible wife..." her head leaned foreward to press a soft kiss upon the baby's brow.. then gave Nicholas a small sweet smile of both love and respect for his patience in the matter.
Nicholas: Silvery blues seemed to bear down into the man like daggers. The hell he was marrying Shaden when it took him this long to get her to say just YES. He had yet to get her down the aisle but it seemed a joke and so he bit back any retort, letting a grin slid over his lips as he leaned back against the pillows and watched Shaden with the baby, even Maahes with his son and yes the mans heart still ached for what they had lost. Joy...and Ealora. It was unfair, unright and still he reveled in how it brought the family together.
Issac:"Daddy..."The small voice at the door pulled his attention away and there stood Issac with a sleepy Eppie, holding hands. Now if that wasn't cute...he didn't know what was. "She got in my bed!" The little boy seemed hard pressed in assuming this was a GOOD thing.
Nicholas:Biting back a chuckle, he gave a pat to the bed. "Well come on you two..Eppie your daddy and brother are here, you all might as well jump up here. The two scrambled across the floor quick as lightening and jumped, quite gently on the bed before crawling up between their parents to see the sleeping baby. Issac wiggled down into Nicholas lap while Eppie wiggled down in her Daddy's.
Issac:"Hi baby" Issac whispered to the slumbering child as his tiny hands curled around Nicholas which held him and slowly rocked as Nicholas rocked him. "Hush now baby...sweep now, do no cry...sweep like you rocked by the river.."The little boy sung to the baby and Nicholas turned a look to Shaden, if grief gripped their hearts once, was this not a moment to let happiness grip them. "dift on a river, that flows to my arms, dift as I sing to you."The little boys sweet little voice continued to sing to the bundle in Shaden's arms. It was a song he had carried with him his whole life. Hummed before he could talk, sung without anyone teaching him the words from thereafter, his source of comfort, he know returned now that he was in safe arms.
Maahes: Eppie did what!?!?! "No no no, Habibi you do not get into bed with boys." He spoke sternly as he settled her upon one leg. The little girl would back against her father, and like Ealora it went in one ear and out the other. However, when the boy would start his song he would settle his gaze upon the child..that song..Narrowed eyes would search this child before him, having seen him once before--in dreams. "Who is that?" His voice returning to that brash demand, that Maahes was known for. It would be when the child met his eyes did his heart still..sea glass. Breaking from the boy only to once again settle his eye upon his son he waited patiently for him to be finished. He was beyond thankful for Shaden, and would ponder for a very long time on how to repay her.
Shaden: "Maahes.. shhhh you'll wake the baby and Scare Issac with your bellowing.." she scolded over her shoulder.. " Issac was in the caves... when I was taken... his family is gone..." that should be enough to suffice, without retellin the tale, and causing her soon to be adopted son... Her's and Nic's adopted son Issac... anymore distress than he already suffered... " Nicholas and I plan to formally adopt him... he is ours" she spoke softly leaning back against the beast chest abit as she shifted the now sleeping baby, from her...breast to her lap... tying the laces of her gown... then moving more.. centered between the two men.. " He should sleep a few more hours before he hungers again... we should all get some sleep... his howling can wake the household..." the child was checked for soiled diaper and finding it still dry, was rebundled in the blanket... " Is everyone sleeping here?" she gave Maahes a skeptical look.. then over at Nic.. the bed was very large after all.. and it was practical since in a few hours time this would be repeated once again..
Nicholas:Issac song continued until floating off in a yawn from the little bow who lay his head back against Nicholas chest, unfazed by the bellowing man though the little boy did have trouble holding eyes with the man and rightly so as Maahes stared him down. "You sing that all the time Issac, where'd you learn it?" The little boy's shoulders shrugged lazily."I dono, always knew it.." Little Celadon eyes rose to Nicholas then over to Maahes. Was the big man mad at him for singing to the baby? Shifting the little boy in his lap, away from the stitches which pulled with the small weight of the child. Shaden explained who Issac was and what was going on and all Nic could do was grin. "You all right General? Looks like you've seen a ghost.." Though Shaden looking around to see who was sleeping here, he could only chuckle and kiss her cheek. "Albeit traditions of the General, looks like it my love.." He would have to get used to it right? The General's son needed Shaden's milk...so really he couldn't refuse.
Maahes: And there he was. Maahes; returning to his brash hurtful self, "I'll be fine if I never hear that song again." With a rise he sat Eppie down, and would gather his son from the lap of the Courtesan. "No, my wife is still very alive in my heart, and even if it was my tradition..I could not be able to reach out and find another." Curling his hand around Eppie's, he..of course in typical manner would try and lighten the dark mood he set, "I am a cuddlebug as she said." And with that he would move down to the room they once shared, thankful for the heart of family; and this Isle.
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Post by Chief Baliff Ealora on Mar 9, 2009 12:19:48 GMT -6
Shaden: It was midmorning, most of the Lily's were still abed, though while the house was in morning the more festive and party like atmosphere was gone, the girls relegated to private meetings, for while Shaden was a business woman, she was also grieving and had little patience for the happiness and gaity of others. She was not a harriden, and had not turned heartless and cruel with her loss, but there was a sense of modicum and respect for both the losses of daughter and sister, and it was in these quiet times, that she was healing, aided greatly by the balm of love that she felt from Nicholas and the children.. Eppie, Issac and little Ra whom filled her days with childhood innocence and love freely given, like little angels blessing and healing her heart. This morning found them in the conservatory, a glassed in room with what seemed it's on little jungle of exotic plants, some culitvated for their perfume qualities, some for their more deadly attibutes, and some for their beauty, a small hearth warmed the bricked side of the room raidianting warmth over the small family gathering, of the three children and Shaden, who rocked with Ra in a wicker swing suspended from the gabled ceiling, the infant feeding contently as she read to Eppie and Issac, from a book of Arabian Nights, the tale of Alladin.. and the genie.
Ealora: The truth was, she had been back for days, back in the sense of the island. She had been dug up only a month ago, treated, cared for, given a special gift, one she had, without shame begged for since she was not ready to leave her family. The fact of the matter was, she had gone home, to Red Wall, only to hear rumors whispered upon the wind as if whispered within her ear of the General's move into the city, back and forth between the castle and the Gilded Lily. More importantly, her son, her Ra was with Shaden and while that did fill her heart with some glee, it did not keep a mind still rocky with memories from wondering what had happened in her absence. The sun began to creep over the horizon, spilling light upon the graces of home and the pirate queen as she had once been, lay in wait, spying really upon the home of her sister. Listening to voices within until she singled out a particular voice, that of her sister, reading a story. Her lips curled into a grin as she folded herself into the shadow, seeming to melt between two worlds into the conservatory, were it not for the singular brick wall, no shadows could dwell within which to hide but she found the shadows along that wall inviting, soothing her into it as she kneeled to listen to the story told. "Hush now...my baby...be still love don't cry..."Her voice broke the stillness of Shaden's voice in the soft droll of story telling as she moved rose from her kneel, peeling about the shadows like a demon till she seemed to 'pop' out into the light with a smile painted on what seemed to be ruby lips, arms folded behind her back, seemingly as if this were any other day and she had just come home shopping.
Shaden: The book clattered to the floor... at the voice... Eppie was the first to notice the look of seeing a ghost on Shaden's face, the pale white pall.. of shock... up silently from her spot on the floor playing and listening to the story, she leapt arms akimbo for her mother.. meanwhile Shaden Rose.. hesitantly.. tears of joy coursing down her cheek as she moved to embrace her sister.. the sleeping, nursing Ra, between them "My gods.. Ealora... my prayers have been answered... it's a miracle... your here" it was a whisper as if a prayer, fallen from soft lips... as her hands gently caressed her sisters face.. " are you a dream.. ?" it was wonder, amazement, as if the blessed virgin herself had shown up for tea... " Maahes... god does he know.. he's been so devestated... he will weep with joy.. " again she hugged her softly, Eppie being crushed between the skirts of her aunt, and the legs of her mother.. as Issac backed away looking on with a curious suspecious glance, at the sound of Maahes name he scowed, that was the angry yellin man.
Ealora: One arm snaked around Eppie as the little girl launched herself at her mothers leggings. the other curled around her sister though she did not press tight as the baby between them was not one she was going to crush. "I'm real..."A honeyed laugh fell from her lips as she pulled back to smile at her sister before her celadon eyes turned down to her son. Her hand moved from her sisters shoulders to cup the tiny head. Her heart squeezed painfully in her chest. For once, she had done something right, God had answered her prayers for the safe delivery of her son from the river. She had only seen him...but once...then he was lost to a memory cast in darkness, now looking upon him, she could not think of how she ever forgot him. Maahes had grieved, for that she felt pain...and no doubt the pain of hurting her sister so, but it had never been by choice. Her hand rose to brush the tears from her sisters face. "I'm real..."She uttered again then smiled. "Where is Maahes? I did not hear him inside..He does not know I've returned yet.."
Shaden: The baby was lifted slightly from her breast, it's tiny mouth making a popping sound, as the nipple was dislodged from it's lips.. a few attempts at finding it's nurishment, suckeling sounds, and tiny cherubic lips parted in a fussy wail... as she pressed him into Ealora's hands... " Your son... " she whispered... though her heart pounded, and ached as she handed him to her sister... she had known all along he was not hers, told herself that each day when she held him, nursed him from her body, yet she felt a blow to her heart anew.. the confusion of a prayer answered that was also... a heartache waiting to happen.. stepping back she turned, buttoning her shirt quietly, her back presented to her sister while she forced her face not to betray her pain, and the guilt that came with it.. how could she feel sorrow, and pain at Ealora's reappearance.. mixed with Joy and pure love... her voice cracked softly as she finished the last few button, Ra's fussy crying rising behind her.. "Maahes is with his men on patrol.. as is Nick "
Ealora: Her arms moved, ever so gracefully and gently to take her son as she had when he was born. Her mouth formed a perfect O as tears swimming within celadon depths. "oh..oh ho..shhh, hush now little one.."She cooed softly before her voice floated in a gentle whisper of a lullaby. "hush now...my baby...be still love, don't cry..."Shifting the baby in her arms, she lay him against her chest as she gently began to pat his back to burp him for his feeding. "Shaden..as joyful as my return must be...this must be hard for you, do not hide it my sister..you have nursed him, looked after him, I could never....repay such devotion to our family.." Her face pressed to the side of the small head filled with dark hair like his papa. He even smelled of Maahes, that desert breeze that clung to his skin. "Why would he need to be patrolling? What's happened?" She frowned as Celadon eyes turned on her sister.
Shaden: " The English invade, in past weeks there have been several battles upon the hills... outside of Turas Lan... all won, but barely by Skye and her Soldiers..." avoiding the question lest she fall apart... she took a deep breath and turned.. about a gracious hand offering Ealora a seat in a nearby wicker chair, covered in plush cushions and pillows... unable to look at the baby in her arms she braved a beautiful smile.. as she sank into the swing, as if on Cue Issac, sensing his new mother fragility, moved to climb in beside her, his small hand slipping into hers as he leaned against her.. for a moment she had felt as if her feet had been kicked from beneath her, but slowly her color returned.. and her breathing regained a semblance of normalcy... " I should send.. a messenger to him... to come right away..." her voice sounded so far away.. as if it may break at any moment.
Ealora: Her mind seemed to struggle with the concept of war. Really some of her memories were still like looking through frosted glass, there, but hardly recognizable. "Several weeks..?" Her lips pulled into a tighter frown, as if she didn't understand the time that had passed as she sank gratefully into the chair, a strong burp followed the babe and she couldn't help but let out a laugh as she shifted him within her arms again. "Hello my little one...oh your so perfect.." Her thumbs stroked at sun kissed cherub cheeks. "No...no...no messenger, he doesn't need to hear from a messenger of me..I'll find him..." A smile was turned up at her sister as she shifted in the chair to settle back. "And who is this?" Her head nodded to Issac. "What have I missed in death hmm?"
Shaden: This is Issac... he was in the.. Caves with Nicholas and I.. when.." her voice trailed off looking at Ra for a moment, her jaw clenched, as she watched mother and son... " Nicholas and I are going to adopt him.. formally soon.. " she smiled and leaned down to press a lingering kiss to the dark haired little boys head, closing her eyes softly.. to recompose herself.. " Issac this is your Aunt Ealora.. Eppie's mother" she spoke softly breathing out.. before turning back to her sister with a soft smile.. "I'm so very glad you are home... Please.. let me send Maahes a note.. asking him to come home... I mean.. here... I know he will want to see you...now".
Ealora:Eppie had settled at her mothers leg, clinging as if her life depended on it. No one knew for a fact what the little girl thought, seeing her mother put in the ground only to appear now, but it was clear, she didn't want to let go. "Hello Issac, it is a pleasure to meet you.."She smiled at the little boy before turning her eyes to her sister again. "I am happy for you...and Nicholas.." Her smile faltered, whispers, rumors on the wind, urgent voices that perhaps Shaden could not hear, but she could. "No...no note.."Shifting in the chair, she moved Ra from her arms, albeit reluctantly to Shaden's arms before leaning down to kiss Eppie head. "You stay with your aunt Shaden." Though it broke her heart, she untangled the little girl from her legs before rising. "Watch over our family once more Shaden...there is trouble, I will return.." She stopped, long enough to kiss her sons head, to embrace her sister before she was gone, disappearing into shadows as easily as she had come into them.
Shaden: Her eyes widened at Ra being pressed into her arms once more, certainly she had not expected it, expected Ealora to take both Eppie and Ra home.. away to red wall.. not.. leave them with her once more.., both Eppie and Ra, as well as Issac seemed to cling to Shaden, Issacs hand reaching across to sooth the tearful Eppie.. as she cried silently as her mother left.. he scowled at the retreating form.. then looked up at the woman who had become his mother.. nodding softly.. as if saying.. I like you better.
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Post by Chief Baliff Ealora on Mar 9, 2009 12:37:54 GMT -6
Maahes:The fight had been difficult from beginning to end, but still Skye remained victorious. Why had they come for the art? What purpose would it have been to deface so much that could be replaced? Why not the castle? Were they simply testing the response of the military? So many questions ran through his mind, as he moved down the halls of the healing ward where Eirian had been taken. None had been able to pass so Ealora would be forced to wait, and Maahes's mind was hell bent on getting his Queen to safety. However, when she was dropped off he would be quick to turn and head for the door. "M'lord, you're bleeding.."One healer spoke out softly, but it would be too late. Back out into the halls he moved swiftly coming to stand very sternly at the black night's side, and barreling her over with his arms. No amount of armor or padding could keep her from fitting so perfectly. His arms held her tightly lifting her from feet with his embrace he would as well bury his face into her hair. Words would not find him, but the raw anger..happiness..fear..relieved passion that crossed his face would be proof..they would not be far behind.
Ealora: The battle had been fierce, unyielding, unforgiving and somehow Skye seemed to come out on top. How many fights had she been absent from? How many had fallen? As the hushing calm of victory settled in, these were the questions she asked of herself. Waiting within the main hall of the infirmary, she was not allowed to pass as Maahes saw Eirian settled in and for once, she did not play with the shadows to follow. The truth was she didn't know and the truth was, she had had the armor made months before finding she was with child, always expecting to be at her husbands side in a fight. Though she knew very well she needed no armor anymore, it stood to reason that she wasn't going to come back and just spill everything over in one single sentence and expect a good response. The Black Knight...she rather liked the name people were whispering of her as she stood stock and silent. The smell of blood assaulted her nostrils and she fought hard not to shudder, fought hard not to follow it. Her arms were thrown over his neck as he barreled her into his embrace, a new chylde or not, she always knew when he was near, always knew where he was despite how far apart they were. Well...for a while she had not but that was not of her doing. Memories were still fussy but he was a solid standing she swore never to forget again. People stared as the two embraced, but did she care? Not one bit. Lifting off her feet into the embrace, she just held on tightly, burying her face against his neck as he buried his face against her hair. "I'm real.." She finally breathed against his ear, the same she had uttered to Shaden hours before, yes her sister had seen her first, but only because Ealora had wanted her to, to see her son, to find her husband and to put to ease the agony in Shaden's heart over her loss.
Maahes:His arms held her tighter then he ever had and refused to let go. It was easy to keep her against him, she had gotten so small..so fast. Where was that round stomach so full of child? Had it gone away so fast, "I killed them all.." He whispered back from behind closed eyes, "Every woman, man and child on his ship. I killed him, I sank the ship." Releasing her enough to allow her feet to return to the floor he would still keep her tight, but he had to see her just as he felt to; making sure she really was real and not another dream. "I cut off his head, so he would not go to heaven." Something Maahes never did, "He told me he killed you, I didn't believe him.." It would be then the held in tears surfaced and ran freely down his cheeks, "Ealora, I found your body! It was cold..I put you in the ground.." His arms released her as he felt the room sway only to hold on to her shoulders as his head fell with eyes closing "But I was not to believe him." Shaking his head he rose his eyes back to her, "You wouldn't leave me..Not again." His hand would snake once again over the back of her neck and fingers laced through her russet silk, "Don't do that again." He cried now openly, and those watching would try and make themselves busy..however what a sight this was. Maahes was so torn, so much of him wanted to kill her..but at the same time take her beyond those doors and prove how much she was missed.
Ealora: Even she missed the feel of life within her, moving with her, feeling what she felt. Her stomach now flat and toned seemed so empty within the shell of armor. Her feet were slowly set to the floor and yet she clung tight. He had killed them all? Atlas...deserved to die, no matter of self righteousness would cure that thought from her mind but the slaves? He continued to speak, it took a few minutes for the words to sink in. Her hands moved, grasping his arms as he swayed before moving to his face, gloved hands brushing at the tears that cascaded down his face. "Maahes..." She sighed as her heart lurched painfully. Taking his hands into her own, she pulled him towards one of the rooms. She all ready knew no one was in there but a healer quipped as wife dragged husband towards the room. "My lady you can't go in there..." Ealora turned a dark stare on the woman"Watch me.." she snapped back as she pulled Maahes in an shut the door behind them. Slowly she ushered him onto the bed within the room before she moved to remove the gloves from her hand and toss them beside him on the thin bedding. "Oh Maahes..I'm so sorry, I never thought..but then they never told me.."She sighed as she cupped bare hands against his face, even confined within the gloves, her fingertips were cold against his face. "I wasn't dead..only..made to seem like it I guess, I floated, in and out of consciousness, but...unable to move...unable to open my eyes. "She couldn't tell him now that the very people he had killed, had helped her, and add more burden to his shoulders? No she wouldn't do that. Slowly, she turned his face up, to look at her. "When I really awoke...I was dying..but now..I am back..and I can promise you, with all clarity, with ever certainty within this world and the next, that I will never leave you again, I will not die again and leave you alone.." She slid down slowly to sit upon his lap, her fingers brushing against his cheek as she brushed her lips against his own. "Gods...I have missed you so.."
Maahes:His hands fell against her hips holding tightly her body even over the armor. Maahes had been without his own, having never in his wildest dreams have thought they would attack so soon. His tunic was in shambles, blood stained and torn. It would be his turn to press his face into her neck and whisper, "I could do it alone. I have been alone. I just had to remember how." Curling his fingers in the fabric of her pants the hardness of the armor was surprising but the chill in her flesh was more then he could handle. He grew very silent as she spoke his head still resting on her shoulder would then raise to meet her eyes, and when her lips touched his own--he pulled back. Amber orbs fell into her own, trying his hardest to find fault..was this really his wife? "I don't want to remember.." He pressed away any question or doubt then and kissed her all over again. Every part of his body longed for her, just as it had the very first time they met. Yet..somewhere..he knew. He knew that the pirate had done this even though he vowed he would not; Maahes was thankful. "Don't scare me like that again." Finally he chided, and along with that the release of a smile.
Ealora: She moaned against his lips as he pressed them against her own, hands pulling his face into the kiss. Gods above she had missed him! With the singular draw of his name from Perry's lips, she had felt him, had remembered and demanded of home. Just as Perry knew she would. A smile pulled on her lips with his chiding words "I promise, I will not.." Shifting against his lap she began to remove the armor, bit by bit, if to distract her more from the smells of the infirmary then anything else. "I have seen Shaden...and our son" Each piece fell to the floor with a dull thunk of metal until finally she rose to pull the last of it off, leg guards and chest plate. As she released the chest plate to the ground, she caught the torn and tattered tunic, more importantly the cuts beneath it, still drawing small lines of crimson, as if tempting her. Slowly, she slid to her knees before him "You're bleeding..." fingers pressed the sliced edges of the tunic open to view the wounds beneath.
Maahes:"Then be gentle.." He spoke quietly his meaning very clearly written over his face, as he let both hands fall to still her wiggling body. They would live a happily ever after from her on, as he made love to over and over again in walls of the infirmary with soldiers and nurses passing by. The cuts did not run deep, and were not in danger of tearing open. However, in their rise and fall of passion he would cry out only to muffle his lips against her own. As time rolled on, the voices in the hall quieted with the night now at rest, and Maahes rest beside his wife he would pull the covers up and around her--afraid she was too cold. Moisture collected in the curves of his body as he supported himself with one arm, the other draped over her protecting her from the chill. "This war is almost over, I will take you and our children home." He whispered against the fall of her neck as he settled beside her. "He cries so much in the night." A comment seeming to come from no where but the truth with the heavy circles under his eyes. "At least three times.." He purred then with a smile.
Ealora: "Since when have we ever been gentle?" Was the last thing she purred before her lips found his again. She had no shame in loving her husband over and over again even with the sounds of the infirmary around them. Their time was always stolen, had always been and why their son was conceived in the barn! Even with the time they had lost, their bodies united, hers rising and falling to meet his own, cries silenced in lips meeting in a firey passionate embrace until passion was sated, if only for the time being. A humm of a laugh passed her lips as he pulled the covers around her but to her credit, she did not move them as she rolled her body to meet his own, her head turning upon the bed to meet his those beautiful eyes of his. "I miss home..I went to Red Wall when I came home but I didn't see anyone..then I heard rumors that you were in Turas Lan between the Lily and the castle.." Reaching up, she captured one of his dreads and rolled it between her fingers. "He only wants to be like his papa, hmmm?" She teased as a grin curled her lips. "three times, oh well, no doubt with mommy home, he might cry more?" There she teased again but in truth she was questioning as well. Could their son of missed her when she had been gone? It seemed as if he knew her, when she held him only hours before only to put him back in Shaden's arms to come to the defense of her husband.
Maahes:"There is a big difference between crying in the night, and drowning our pillows like his father." He captured her hand, "We should return to him.." A kiss placed then to the back of her knuckles he rose with her still in the sheets and with every intention planned to carry her naked home. With ease he wrapped one other sheet around his own lower body and out into the night they would go...leaving the armor behind he was. Wouldn't want her to keep that now would he? It was the witching hour, where fires burned at midnight and down the streets he would go, blood covered..love covered..couple that they were. He longed for his son, and longed for a bath, but more importantly longed to to see the both of them together.
Shaden: Witching Hour indeed, where most civil folk, are at least those who didn't stalk the night were sleeping soundly, inside the bedchambers, Shaden and her little family were tucked in snug as a bug one might say, upon the large bed, She Nicholas and Ra slept soundly, Ra, curled within her arms, and she curled within Nicholas's arms.. as if that were not enough to her and the babies side, were Eppie and Issac, soundly sleeping the innocent sleep of little ones, dreaming no doubt of playing in the coming spring meadows full of grasses and flowers, sweet summer sun and days of unending bliss.. Eppie had be overjoyed, then almost crushed at Ealora's appearance then sudden disappearance.. fretting and crying half the evening, until finally Shaden had soothed her to sleep.. Ra fed and happy snuggled warmly against his fostering mother smiled in his sleep.. there was only a glacial green set of eyes that still refused sleep as she silently contemplated what Ealora's homecoming would bring. Deep in her heart she had fallen in love with both Ra and Eppie.. thinking them as much her own as Issac, and now her heart was a painful reminded of why, before she came to this realm, she did not get attached, had no family, trusted no one... She was elated that Ealora had returned to them, she loved her sister, with all her heart, and it was a guilt riden Shaden that closed her eyes praying silently.. " Lord forgive me my envy, and my pitiful jealousy, but I cannot help but feel as if.. I will be...the one who loses everything in this..." dark lashes kissed pale cheeks as a finger traced down Ra's soft cheek... then her eyes turned to her beloved Issac.. oh how he had taken a place in her heart, as any natural born child could... he would be her and Nic's son soon... there would be two important ceremonies upcoming in the Aramoire Stryker household.
Ealora: "I've got much to learn then..."The smile curled deeper on her lips as he kissed her knuckles. "Maahes!" She hissed with a laugh as she swept her from the bed, wrapped in the sheet though naked beneath. "At least let me get.."She pointed over his shoulder to her garments before they disappeared out of sight as he carried her from the room and the infirmary. "Wicked man.."she purred against his ear with a hum of a laugh. Oh no doubt the armor would be sent back to her, for no one would forget the black armor covered knight who was revealed to be Ealora in the end. Not that she intended on using it again, not unless he asked it of her. How funny, where once she had protested of being the little wife who sat at home, how she longed for it now. A family to tend to. A newborn son and a daughter to sooth fears away from. A sister, a brother and father to sooth and love though she was regretting seeing her father and brother. What heartache had they endured at her 'passing'? How would her return effect the state of her fathers mind? Witching hour as it was, the scarce people that were out within the night could only stop and gawk at the half naked General carrying the naked but sheet wrapped woman down the street. No doubt stunned by the look at the return of a woman named dead. It didn't matter, each face that passed was unnoticed, unnoted as she curled her face into her husbands neck, breathing in the scent of him. It wasn't until the door shut to the Lily did her head raise at a gapping Gerda. "Oh praise be to God, oh praise be!" The old woman cooed as she made the sign of the cross over her chest. Ealora's lips twitched in a grin. "Hello Gerda, tell me, where's our children?" Gerda could only continue mumbling her thankful prayer as she pointed to the stairs. Ealora in turn pointed. "That way my handsome husband!" Honeyed voice held the tint of complete and utter happiness again. It was not that she did not think of how this would effect her sister, nor that she did not care. One son had been taken from her though and she did not intend to let her family be without her, needed or not. She wanted to be apart of it, wanted the embrace of them.
Maahes:"You will not need that..at least not tonight." He spoke with ease as he carried her through the streets. The weather was getting better..still cold but at least the chill would not be their death. When they passed through the door Maahes had left all formalities behind, as now the Lily was just as much home as Red Wall was. Those who lived inside had taken such great care of him over the past few weeks that he felt them all part of a very..strange family. "Ra sleeps with Shaden, when I am gone so he can be within arms reach." When Maahes was there the boy slept with him, and he would walk back and forth between each meal--falling asleep sometimes with his head pressed against Shaden's bed. "She has been a blessing," Maahes whispered as he pressed Shaden's door open, "Shhhh." He grinned, quickly moving to put Ealora smack dead in the center of Shaden and Nic--climbing in not far behind. Though as the dried blood started to flake he then would worry Shaden would have a fit...woman that she was.
Shaden: As the Door creaked open, her eyes did so,, she lifted slightly shaking her head not to wake Nic, but Maahes being Maahes.. dropped Ealora practically on poor Nic, separating the couple with a ommph and a grunt.. Shaden Slide over slightly. Cradling Ra protectively so he wouldn't' get smushed , as Maahes and Ealora bounded into bed like two ill mannered puppies in need of a good smacking from a news paper.. " Maahes Dammit, now they are all awake " she grumbled as Eppie, and Issac both woke at the commotion, Eppie's squeals, rousing the sleeping Ra who begin to fuss and protest his sleep being disturbed, as Issac merely narrowed his eyes at the LOUD man and the WOMAN who made his new mother Cry... earlier today.. fiercely protective over his newfound parents he glared.. at the intruders.. waiting for Nicholas to bash their heads in or at least throw them from the bed. Shaden's laugh however seemed to sooth the young boy somewhat as she scootched over... pulling him into her embrace as Ra was handed over to Maahes.. and Ealora... now it seemed she and Nic were separated by the Aziem Family.. he on one side of the bed and her and Issac on the other.... portent? and omen?
Ealora: "Never a better blessing we could ask for.."She whispered as he pressed Shaden's door open. Oh they were asleep. Her mouth opened to protest waking them before he was dumping her on the bed, practically on top of Nicholas, her wiggling to get away from the mans lap only served to help wake up the sleeping family as the pair 'snuggled' in. Ealora bit her bottom lip as a look of 'opps' crossed her face though marred by the grin that quickly washed away any guilt of the disturbance. Eppie dashed into her Daddy's arms as the baby was handed over to Ealora. Curling her arms around the rousing Ra, she couldn't help bit grin wider. "oh shh shh shh, it's all right.." Her head dipped as she rubbed her nose against the little point of their sons rocking her arms to sooth his cries at being woken up.
Nicholas:"When the hell are you moving back into your own home.."Nic grumbled behind closed lids until the woman wiggling on his lap began to sink in that it was not Shaden. "Ah hell!" He grumbled as he put his hand to her waist and shifted her off only to find himself snuggled between the General with Eppie and Ealora with the baby. "ok ok...enough..."Shifting again, he placed his knee between the gap in Ealora's legs and carefully maneuvered himself around till he was snuggling in beside Shaden before pulling her and Issac as well between the gap in his own legs. "You know..in my country, this would seem more then weird...your country General, this would seem a picnic...there is something wrong with this picture though.." No words were spoken of seeing Ealora there. Shaden did not keep much from him and though he had been resigned to believe grief had made the woman appear, he was happily wrong but no reason to dwell now on what had been incorrect, she was not dead, she was here. No big thing right? Actually it unnerved the old knight quite a bit but was carefully hidden behind a calm exterior.
Maahes:Eppie would be fast to fall asleep as always safe in the arms of a General. The strength of his exterior could not be missed, but the puddle that was his heart rang clear. "This is my country, Captain, as it is now yours. We are a family, and all we can give is each other. Though...In my country you would have your hands removed for touching my wife." He rose a dark brow as he stood watching very carefully where that man put his hands before heading out to put Eppie in her own bed. Returning a moment later he would carry in now clean hands Ra's blanket, a Sari that had once belonged to his wife in ocean blue that fell over his shoulder like a waterfall. "He has your eyes.." Maahes spoke again coming to stand beside the bed where the women mostly rest, and touching the shoulder of his wife. Brushing back her hair from her shoulder he smiled to the pair, having waited so long to see this before him, "beautiful. We will not be able to move far until my son can survive without the milk of your love, Nic so do not look for it to be soon."
Shaden: She tried hard to hide it, the longing look of envy as Ealora took Ra.. her son into his rightful mothers arms, instead dropping her gaze to place a kiss upon the dark curled head of Issac, sighing softly as Nic's arms enfolded both in his embrace, it was all she could do to drag her eyes away from the infant, until Maahes, while not joking brought a moment of levity to the situation.. " Nicholas hands touched her because you dumped her in his bed, you silly brat " she rolled her eyes as Maahes left then came back bearing blankets and a sari for Ealora, for two people who had such a problem with whoredom, they sure didn't' mind crawling into other beds half dressed, or not dressed at all.. At His statement about Ra needing her milk.. her eyes lifted to Ealora... " Has your breast dried up?" perhaps not the most delicate way of asking, but hey.. they were the ones that pounced into her bed, naked, so delicacy was out of the question.
Ealora: Captain? She had missed a lot and was still fussy on just how long she had been gone. Her eyes swept from Maahes down to Ra who had quieted and was fighting sleep to look upon the woman who held him. Ealora smiled and Ra...smiled back. The curve of his tiny lips alone brought tears to Ealora's eyes. Her head lifted as Maahes returned with the blanket and slowly she turned to place Ra within the blanket in his fathers arms. "He is perfect...and besides my eyes, he looks like you.." She leaned to press a kiss against the babies forehead. It was not that she did not want to hold her son longer but how long had it been since his father had held him? "I see some things have not changed. Still bickering like two siblings should.."a smile curled her lips as she settled back into the bed, why more now right? and ushered with her hand for Maahes to sit down with her so she could look on the baby more. At Shaden's question, her head turned then moved back as she shook her head from side to side. Two sons unnursed from her breast? Did this make her less of a mother? Both times, taken from her sons, or them taken from her...though Issa had been a choice, it still ached. Folding her arms around Maahes waist as he sat down, her chin ducked to his shoulder, watching Ra with a quiet grin of pure bliss.
Nicholas:Yawning, he sent a sharp look at the General. I didn't WANT to touch your wife...YOU did it. The look clearly stated before he yawned and rose a hand to cover his mouth before letting it drop to the bed. "Yes yes, my country too and all we can give is to each other. Family...but did you have to wake us up...again and again an again an again..should I keep going?" A teasing grin curled the side of his mouth as his hands found Shaden's side and pulled her back against him. Was he the only husband who could sense his wife's distress? All of them had become attached to little Ra and now him leaving? It was a heartache all over again, not as much as loosing Joy or Ealora to begin with, but an ache all the same. Dipping, he kissed the firey red curls of her head before pulling back to yawn again. "Goat's milk, its a little more fat in it then mothers milk but it is nutritional enough..."How did he know this? Because he had had to do the same with his own son when his mother 'died' in childbirth. It was more a happy reminder then sad, reminded him of being a first time father, as Maahes was...in a way. Well, Ealora was saying no now wasn't she? Lord he didn't want to have to ask again. Let them deal with breast feeding? Even the man gave a mental shudder. That was just not..appealing to him, though he was sure as a babe, he had done it but he was a man now, and men didn't talk...of that!
Maahes:"It would not matter if it has.." He started in his brash tone, but softened as he took a seat realizing how harsh it would sound, "..She was poisoned. I will not take that chance." They all knew the truth but him, all of them, but would any bring that before his demand? "Besides, my son will not drink from an animal..not when he is happy. He has been put through so much, from his making..I will like to bring him peace." The darkened flesh of his father's arm was still a deep contrast compared to the baby's skin, but that would change in time. "If my prince is happy with Shaden, and she is willing I would like to keep it that way." Reaching out he took Ealora into his free arm letting his hand fold around her own, "But I will leave that decision up her you." What?!?!? Someone quickly check his head!
Shaden: Issac shifted uncomfortably in Shaden's lap a moment switching his arms trying to scratch an itch in the middle of his back, and failing to get the spot, he suffered from dry skin in this cold weather and required a soothing balm of lotion, chuckling at his antics she reached down and drew the thin nightshirt from his small form and the lightly scratched over his back with her nails to sooth the itching, her head nodding toward the lotion on the nightstand for Nicholas to hand to her, she began to apply it as the boy giggled and wiggled ticklish little thing, it would be then that the birthmark was revealed to Ealora, the dark hair with hints of russet highlights, the celedon eyes that matched hers so closely.. looking up at Maahes the young boy would suddenly find his voice " Missus Shay.. loves that baby.. like her own.. it's not just your baby it's all ours... She loves us all.." he almost dared the General to deny him with a look that seemed born of pure Ealora bravado and Courage, it was a good thing that Shaden was seated behind the small boy, or she might have seen it as well.. as it was she just shushed him, pulling his shirt back down over his head " Enough from you young man I think it's time you found your own bed.. come on " awkward moment from hell yet she seemed to abandon it as she picked up Issac and shifted from the bed... heading next door to his room.. leaving the General and his woman, and their son with Nicholas.. and getting the hell outta there before she had a breakdown before them all.. It was so hard holding together and pasting on a smile when her heart was breaking, yet she had no reason, nor claim on the child, save that of a loving heart of a mother... Once in Issac's room she settled him in bed looking down at him with Loving eyes " you will soon legally be our Son. Nic's and Mine... we will be a family..." covers were tucked up close to his chin as she kissed him soflty " Do you mind if I stay with you a while.. tonight..." hiding out.. dam right...
Nicholas: The bottle of lotion was handed over to Shaden, a grin curling his lips as Issac squirmed and giggled to the lotion being applied to his skin, it didn't help that Nicholas was tickling his sides through the whole process. A laugh left his lips at Issac outburst, smart kid, brave kid...in the face of the General. As Shaden lifted the boy out of the bed, a swat went to the little boys bottom. He wasn't a fool and likely to sit there long as he soon followed Shaden out of the room to tuck Issac in, leaving the General and his wife and their son alone.
Ealora: "Maahes..It wasn't really poison and even then, it is long gone out of my system. My milk is fine.."She retorted though softly. It wasn't that she wanted to deny her sister any more attachment to Ra but she wanted to nurse her own son, knowing well she could. Then again, though she argued, her voice belittled that she would not argue the welfare of their son with him, not if Maahes strongly forbid against it. "Besides, Nicholas is right, even if your not sure of using my milk, goats milk is the next best thing.." Her fingers curled over his own, her head against his shoulder turned as Issac began to twitch on the bed in a vain attempt to scratch an itch he could not reach. A grin curled on her lips as a hum of a laugh left them at the thrashing about but the laugh...the smile died upon her lips, all color falling from her face as the nightshirt was pulled up to reveal the birthmark. Even if she lived thousands of years, she would never forget that mark. Her heart began to drum in her ears, drowning out the words Shaden was speaking until she lifted up the little boy and carried him from the room shortly followed by Nic. Slowly she rose to her knees, crawled to the end of the bed, watching till the little boy was taken out of sight. Those eyes...that look in his face. "oh my God.."The words were a harsh whisper from her lips as her knees shook, gave out an she bounced against the mattress. Lids slid closed as her hands cupped her mouth, unable to say the name as it ached tightly within her chest. Shaden had said his name was Issac, that he had been in the caves with her, that her and Nicholas were going to adopt him. How could this be so. "My son..."Her words were mumbled by her hands before they slid off her mouth to her stomach. "He's my son..Issa...my son..."
Maahes:The small boy would warrant a laugh from the belly of the Beast, but that would be all. Maahes would not argue a child, for their ideas of the world were very different, and that boy has been through so much. Yet, his wife's heart was breaking and everything he had suspected had come to pass. Ra would be wrapped up in the blanket very carefully, and they would talk of feeding the child when he woke once again, but for now it seemed their would be a whole new set of broken dreams come to pass. When they were alone, he would watch her struggle and bend to aid her back to her feet, "Ealora..My love.." He whispered being the rock in the moment, just as she had before, "They love that child. That boy.." As when he had said that he had her eyes, he did not mean Ra. As any man who knew his wife's soul as this one, knew the color of sea glass was very rare. Meeting her's with the cool amber, glass that had been heated by flames, burnt by the sun. "He is safe..and happy, and was tortured by beings that are dead now. Shaden lost her daughter because of that battle..she has suffered so much." He knew what he was asking, and would stand by her no matter what she wanted. "Let it go until morning.." The tiny infant would start to struggle under the blankets, rooting around with a little nose and thick lips parting to make little sounds; and though Maahes would let one hand capture the arm struggling to be free of the blanket it would not soothe the cry that came. Ra's whole face got red when he was mad, and his father would only grin as that face he knew all too well. "He looks like your sister when he does this." A small chuckle would leave him, as always he thought it too cute for words.
Ealora: Celadon eyes rose to meet Amber ones as he held her up, aiding his arm around her like the rock each of them had to be throughout their marriage, throughout knowing one another. She at one time, him at another and he was her rock now. Was he really asking her to give up her son? She had given him up once and then lost him, thinking him dead and now she knew he was alive, in the very next room. Her throat squeezed tightly, guilt tripped her heart like a wire string. She knew she was taking Ra from her sister, that it must be aching her heart as much as loosing her daughter. She was no idiot, she saw how attached her sister had become to her child. It was a blessing, if she had not...Ra would not of survived. The only thing that pulled her out of it was Ra's screaming cry as his face turned beet red with his frustration. Even Ealora could not help but grin as she captured a tiny flailing arm within her own. "Hey now, you've got your daddy's pipes on you, but how about your mothers cool eh?" She teased down to the small baby as she let out a laugh. "I don't believe Shaden's face ever got this red, but yes...he does kind of remind me of Shaden.." Her head dipped to kiss the tiny forehead of their son. "He is perfect.."Slowly she leaned up again"The best parts of us Maahes...our little Ra..our little sun God.."
Maahes: He knew how hard it would be for her, but yes in many ways he was asking her to give up her son. The baby was so small up against Maahes, but held that man just as he held his finger. Their Prince would want of nothing, ever. "He is hungry. He pulls on me when he is, trying to eat my finger." Gerda would come in the sack of milk in hand, having prepared and waited for this night. "If you plan of feeding that boy, child you need to get that milk a goin'. If not. Here. You will need this either way," Maahes would thank her as he stood to bounce the baby a little to calm him knowing if he got too frustrated it would be a task to feed. "Do you want to try?" He asked with his back to Ealora, a quiet tone..worried. There was much a man in Maahes, but over all his love for the woman who wore his ring--there was greater for his children.
Ealora: She was perhaps not going to sleep tonight, for one on returning to her family, for two thinking of the little boy in the rooms nearby, the one she thought she lost and what Maahes was asking her to do. Sufice to say, she was going to think long and hard on it. Celadon eyes turned up to Maahes face and then Gerda and then back. Her lip was slowly worried between her teeth as her thumb ran over the small back of Ra's hand. So tiny, just a little bigger then her thumb really but still...so small. Her hand dropped as Maahes turned from her. "Um well..."The truth was she was terrified, she hadn't even gotten to feed Issa. What if Ra wouldn't feed from her? "Yeah...yes..I want to try.." She moved around his front, reaching out to take their son into her arms. Bouncing him softly, she hummed as she moved to sit on the edge of the bed . "I promise you...I will not hurt our child, if I thought for one second it was unsafe, I would not do it..."She soothed to the worried tone of her husband as she shifted Ra into the crook of her arm while she uncovered. Her heart was pounding wildly within her chest as she positioned him just so. Little lips puckered and sucked till he latched onto her breast. Ealora's face momentarily twisted, this...was a very odd sensation though her lips curled into a grin as she cooed down softly though she was hard pressed to move. This was still, very very new for her.
Maahes:He had remembered the talk when Tommy started to breastfeed, how there wasn't milk at first. That the baby would refuse if the Mother was tense, so he would move to sit behind her. A bath was being brought up..to Shaden's room it seemed..they had switched, and he would be quick to get in. The blood and muck from the day would wash away quickly. The salt in the water keeping it clean, he would then rise wrapping the cloth around his hips to return to his wife and child. Shaden's bed was something he would never get used to, all the lavish plush decorations..lace..frille, but somehow it was a comfort. "She has been so good with our son, but what would she say if we made our daughter in her bed." He chuckled pressing out on his back, coming down to earth then from his high. Life was good again, complete, and Maahes would be a new man from this day forward. A better husband.
Ealora: As he climbed in behind her, she relaxed a bit allowing Ra to feed as she pressed her thumb into her breast to get her milk to flow for one and keep flowing for two. It was probably going to get easier as she went but nothing in the world would compare to the feeling she had now. Completely connected with her son as if he were still rolling and moving within her belly. How she missed that feeling. She kept an eye on her husband as he bathed but her attention was mostly focused on Ra, promising silently to always look out for him, always protect him, always...always love him. As Ra's suckling began to taper off as his eyes closed, she shifted on the bed, lifting Ra to her shoulder and patting gently at his back to get him to burp. It was perhaps the only thing she knew about babies without caring for them herself, that babies needed burping. Her eyes followed Maahes as he lay out beside her, a laugh escaping her lips as a single slender brow rose in question. "our daughter? You want another so soon?" Though the look on her face was very much teasing, she was in a sense quite serious too. "I don't believe Shaden would be pleased and besides, have you ever thought that her and Nic have not been trying to do the same thing in this bed?" Things seemed to fall back into place, as no time had been missed at all. At this time, with her husband laying beside her and her son now being laid down beside his papa as she stretched out on the other side of the baby, everything in the world was perfect.
Maahes: Rolling to one side he would stretch on his side reaching out to hold them both against him. "Do you not wish to have another?" He would take one foot to touch her own, wanting to be as close to her as he could. In every way he longed for her. Perhaps it was the time apart, or the sun that had changed her, but he noticed. He noticed how vibrant her eyes were, how her hair seemed to glow..her skin..her scent. Ra would fall asleep, half full no doubt, but he was thankful for it wouldn't matter whose bed they were in, if that child was moved he would pounce. Pressing his head against the pillow he knew he should be tired, knew he should sleep..but couldn't. He was afraid he would miss her. Maahes had fallen in love all over again with his wife, as she returned to her rule over him. "But we will wait til you are ready. I will respect your wishes." Now would be a good time to get that white horse out of him, at this moment he would do anything she wished.
Ealora: "Well yes I would love to have another one, I will...carry as many of your children as God see's fit and love each one. I just did not expect you to want another one this soon." She shifted to lift her elbow and lay her head within her hand. She was no fool, she knew Maahes could see a change within her. Was she going to discuss it right now though? Of course not especially when he did not seem bothered by it. She couldn't get enough of him, he was eye candy, an addiction, a drug and she was hooked. Shifting again on the bed, she gently moved the baby further up the bed. With Shaden's large bed, there was more then enough room to spare. Especially since it fit four adults and two four year olds and a baby only an hour or so before. Wiggling across the bed, she lay across him, pushing him to his back as she covered his body with her own. A grin pulled across her lips. "When this war is over, we go home..but we should go on a trip...we talked about going around the world, taking a trip back to Egypt...when this war is over, how about we sail around the world hmm?" Her fingers lazily traced a pattern across his chest as she wiggled her eyebrows at him with a teasing grin running across her lips. "We could always try for another baby while we sail...What do you think?"
Maahes: Pressed on his back he would turn his head to make sure Ra was safe before settling his gaze back on that tease of his. "After the Spring, you name your..Mmm..place. I will sail with you anywhere." He returned her smile laying his hands across her thigh's. "You tease me anymore, we make a baby right here." Maahes would sit up then wrapping his arms around the lower back palming the meaty part of her behind. "You are a wonderful mother, and make me a great man." Broken English rolled in his heavy accent. "Your man." Up her spine his fingers would chase brushing through the ends of her hair, "What took you so long to return..where were you?" Questions that still had no answers.
Ealora: Ra was safe, pillowed at the top of the bed with no way to fall off, not that he could roll yet. A gentle hum of a laugh left her lips at the look of pure bliss on his face, not to mention his answer. "ohhh now is that a promise?" she teased as she brushed her lips against his own. As he sat up, she moved to straddle his waist. Her lips curled into a grin once more. "I love you Maahes..."Fingers laced behind his neck as she locked her legs about his waist. His question though brought a long silence, a pause as she wasn't sure about telling him everything yet. Though he didn't seem to mind the change in her, he didn't really know why. "I was dying Maahes..when I awoke, I had an infection...and what I did...was because I love you..because I didn't want to leave you.."Slowly her fingers unlaced from his neck as her thumbs brushed against his cheeks. "When I promised you...that I was not going to leave you ever again, that I would never die on you..I meant it Maahes.."Her heart was thundering in her chest, smells and sounds were heightened, she was starving but more frightened then she had ever been in her life of telling him the truth. "When I...awakened, my memories...were gone. It took this long to get them back."
Maahes:"Is that what the infection did to you?" He questioned darkly as a silence fell over him, and any passion that spurred between them stilled. His hands lightened their hold. This woman was to be his death, but guilt pained him, "I had asked him to help you..I took your body to him..he laughed at me, told me to put you in the ground..So I did." The pain clear, and his eyes closed. "I don't want to talk about this..not now." He felt himself growing angry, "I just got you back..I don't want to be mad..or afraid for your soul. Please.." He begged, "Let's get our life...in order then talk of this?" He squeezed his lids closed trying to block all images out of his mind, and even let his forehead fall against her shoulder. "You are my wife, pirate queen, black knight. Nothing more."
Ealora: "The infection would of killed me..."Her lips pressed tightly together, slowly she inhaled a deep breath, held it till it ached in her lungs before releasing it. She had known before being turned, that this might upset him but she had been prepared to accept whatever came in order to still walk beside him, to still love him. "All right..we won't talk of this now, but know that I love you Maahes, know what I did...was for love..because I loved you to greatly to be parted from you, to be parted from our family." Slowly she folded him into her arms as he pressed his head against her shoulder and her lips moved to press a gentle kiss against his forehead. "I will always be your wife, the pirate queen, the black knight..but first and foremost your wife, as you are first and foremost in my heart..."Her hands squeezed at his back, pulling him tightly against her before her fingers began to work in slow massaging circles. He was always tense, that she remembered now too. Always needing a massage. "My soul...has always been yours Maahes, bounded together, remember...always yours.."
Maahes:"Mmmmm." He purred against her as she ran her hands over the tender stops on his back, and frankly forgot what they were even talking about. Yes, Peregrine would know that, but in the end they would be all they had of each other. What he gave her was more precious then any jewel any queen wore. She would not feel the pains of life, or have to turn away from the sun, she did not need the blood of another, and could live a normal life...save for one thing--she would live forever. His eyes were closed as he relaxed against her using her shoulder as a pillow. "You can stay mine..forever." It was clear the wear of the day had taken it's toll, wanting more then he had to offer, but such was life. However, it was complete. "Keep that up." He tried to hide his grin in the dip in her neck. "We'll go on our honeymoon after Spring, all the lambs will be born, and we will make our new baby. But until then..How do you not con..con-ce-ive?" A very important question!
Ealora: She hummed in another laugh as he purred against her neck, a grin curled her lips as she knew she had won. Well at least with affection. "I promise...forever.."She purred against his ear as she continued to massage his back letting out a full blown honeyed laugh as he told her to keep it up. and talked of going on theit trip in spring but it was his question, even as serious as it was that had her pressed her face against his head to keep from laughing. Her husband was not a stupid man, he was very smart but in these things, he was not and rightly so. Never married, never intimate before marriage, how could he be? She found it endearing even as she found it mildly amusing but she wouldn't treat him like an idiot, he was not one. An honest question deserved an honest answer, just as he had come up with the courage one day to ask if maybe their reason for not conceiving might be his fault and what he could do to change it. "Well I only know two ways, pulling out before you release or no love making at all...I've heard of a herb Healers can give to make sure a woman does not conceive as well but I've never tried it myself...I guess it depends on the person which way they go.."Fingers pressed and moved in small circles, in gentle push and recedes working his muscles from their tension. "I guess we could always sustain from love making.."Oh how she teased, was she bluffing or serious? The grin wide across her lips might say it all but she was hiding it against his head.
Maahes:He chuckled as if she were joking, "Then the herb it is..I cannot pull away from you.." Raising his face to meet her own he rose a very arched dark brow, "Then we will stop, all love making." He dared her to agree as Maahes would hold to it, and as eyes narrowed into her own he continued, "But know I will be a very mean hateful man. More so.." Would she notice the change in him? How lighthearted he had become, even with the war. Maahes would remain a very changed man, as he knew what it was like to live without her, and now would do anything to keep her. "Easily tempted somewhere else.." Now that was a lie, of all men on this Isle he was one of the few who believed in only sharing his body with his wife. No matter what.
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