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Post by Andarial Featherstone on Sept 2, 2010 19:12:00 GMT -5
The plan was in her head, both a beautiful little seed and a festering sore. She had been pacing in the library enough for the last few days that she swore she was going to wear a groove in the stone floor. She had somewhat watered the little plant and then bothered the sore until it was a huge idea that would not let her sleep peacefully. Constantly her mind was filled with the thoughts of her people's peace and what they would think of it. Would they support her? Could she even do this herself? Could she stop this war? Could she stop the hate that she had gathered in her heart toward her sister?
That last question was the most important. The hate had been all encompassing. Burying what she had left of her soul under a pile of sin. She still had a soul somewhere in there, like all her people did, it was just going to be hard to find and was going to be quite tainted with wrath and other sins. She lived in hate and lust, that was her entire life. What should she do? Could she really go back down the path of the light?
Her feet quickly carried across the entire scape of the room. Pausing only to turn and return to the other side. The servants and soldiers, visitors and nobles all could tell their Queen was agitated greatly by something and so smartly gave her a wide birth. She had her eyes focused on the ground, they had turned a deep crimson and showed her fury. Yet it wasn't so much as anger as confusion and fury at being confused. So the castle, which was made completely out of obsidian and ruby and therefore earth, was not shaking. It would bend to her will if she wanted, but she did not desire it, not at the moment. She just wanted whatever was in her head, that burning question and thought out of her mind!
Words: 337
Muse: Great
Song: Shakin' Hands- Nickelback
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Post by Seccom Masada-Sensei on Sept 2, 2010 20:49:56 GMT -5
Well, it was obvious to any servant that the Queen wasn't happy. For what reason, no one knew... and no one was stupid enough to question her. Well, except for one particular servant who happened to be wandering outside that day. Donovan had been quite content immersing himself in (no surprise) yet another book, this one of Carna Faulkner, his quadruple-great grandmother. It wasn't like he hadn't already read this particular book, but Carna has a strange prowess with her visions that the current archmage felt drawn to study her style over and over again.
After all, time was ticking. Soon enough his own children would be reading the same books.
It was about this time that he was almost shoved aside by a servant twice his age. Offended, Donovan sneered silently before a ball of flame lighted in his hand and the servant was soon sent running down the hall with his side on fire. Satisfied with his punishment, he continued walking in a self-assured manner and continued to read.
Aeolus hopped by his Rider's side at the moment, nipping at the child's neck and shoulder hungrily, sharp fangs almost piercing soft skin only to be pushed away by equally weak hands. "Is there something?" The mage asked without speaking.
"Your precious queen is upset about something or other again. Go to her." The winged deer snarled coldly before walking alongside his young rider towards where the queen was as current, pacing back and forth much like so many stressed and caged animals in the past, by the words of Battler Faulkner of so many generations ago. He shook his head of the information he had in his mind to focus on the task at hand.
"What seems to be ailing the Queen?" He asked, stepping into her chamber with a look of curiosity.
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Post by Andarial Featherstone on Sept 2, 2010 21:19:09 GMT -5
Her mind had been flying through all the possibilities so intensely examining each thought that she hadn't even hear his footsteps across the obsidian floor. She only heard him when he spoke and as her gaze flicked upward, a deadly shade of red, she thought for a second about cutting his head off for interrupting her thoughts. She shook her head and knew it was just her anger and frustration talking. Instead she motioned for him to sit on one of the chairs in the room. She didn't even wait for him to sit though before she was glancing around to make sure they were alone and launching into an explanation. Not that the queen needed to explain herself.
"I have been thinking of something as of late and it seems to have taken such a hold on my mind that it is like a cougar with a kill,"she was referring to the big cat because it was well known to go through hits on the head and other such injuries while it was attacking one of it's targets. And that was what this idea was like it was slowly creeping it's way into every crevice and wrinkle in her brain. It was driving her nuts, literally as she was now running on zero sleep for the past day. Which wasn't good for a Queen as she had to do things that were important like think up battle strategies and such.
She kept pacing, her eyes fixed to her path on the floor. In annoyance, she bit her lip and clenched and unclenched her fists. She hadn't made a royal decision at all in the past day which was seriously troubling as she practically ran the place. She accepted people into her fold, made sure that they were transformed over to the dark safely. She did the war strategies and peasant complaints. Yet how could she be expected to do all that when she wasn't even able to act normally, anger sure, but no lust.
Words: 347
Muse: Great
Song: N/A
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Post by Seccom Masada-Sensei on Sept 2, 2010 22:25:59 GMT -5
"Is the matter so important she cannot come to her adviser?" Donovan spoke softly, polite and refined as he sat as he was told, eyes downcast not out of fear but out of knowing exactly how to act and when. He had even written down in his book, how to act around the queen should she survive and his child be forced to serve her. Speak softly, tread lightly, be the peryton of grace, be the peryton of blood and rage.
The archmage wouldn't dare step past his boundaries. However, his worry was obvious to his Beast. He could hide nothing from Aeolus and the peryton chewed on his neck, affection but at the same time deadly. The bloodthirsty creature asked plainly with every nibble. Do you want me to kill her? Do you wish her body at your feet? Do you wish to bathe in her blood as I wish to bathe in yours?
But the answer was no. No? Of course. He had no desire to crash a Kingdom down. The Faulkner family was always a lineage of royal mages, serving generation after generation. To tumble a kingdom was to destroy his lineage and so he stayed happily within his cage of obsidian, no different was this cage of obsidian than the cage of his blood and the cage of his lifetime.
His words were an invitation for the Queen to tell him what was wrong- if she chose to do so. If not, he could not force her and he in fact would simply allow her to speak to him as she pleased before dismissing her. She was one of the rare few who understood how precious time was to him- she would immediately dismiss him if she did not need him. It was one of her rare shards of kindness that Donovan alone knew of.
All it took was a few moments for her to make her decision.
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Post by Andarial Featherstone on Sept 2, 2010 23:18:47 GMT -5
She paused in her pacing as he spoke. He knew her well. When she needed to vent, when to avert his gaze, because she was much like a wolf and one did not look a wolf in the eyes unless you wanted a challenge. She killed those who were insolent to her, even if they were of her people. She wasn't afraid to, though she rarely did it and usually it was because she lost herself in a rage. It was near those times people learned to read her and her subtle changes in body language. It was either learn to do that or be killed. Though now wasn't one of those times.
Should she tell him the whole truth. The truth about meeting Reyn and the fact that it was him who spurred this thought into action. Who had destroyed her view on the world. It was him she wanted to do this for. She wouldn't tell him everything, no, not just yet. Instead she said, "I am thinking about throwing a ball with my sister. Making it a start to a truce." She didn't say anything about the fact that she hadn't even hinted at it to her sister.
She raked a hand through her white hair and sighed. The sigh was one of relief and disbelief at what she had said. Truly saying it meant she had, had agreed that this was not going away until she had made a decision. She wanted it to leave her so badly. For the first time in her life she wished she wasn't the Queen. She wished she was some lowly peasant who didn't have a care in the world but their family and when they had to eat. If they were going to eat. She on the other hand always had something to eat but had to worry about whether everyone else in her kingdom was eating too.
Words: 329
Muse: Good
Song: Seven Nation Army- The White Stripes
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Post by Seccom Masada-Sensei on Sept 2, 2010 23:57:12 GMT -5
A ball? The archmage's young face held a look of curiosity and confusion, but he did not question it. Perhaps the queen had begun to loosen from her rage and express her kindness not just to him, but to the world. To this thought he already had begun to mentally recite what he would write down in his little book of Donovan Faulkner.
But, as wonderful and warming as peace sounded, he understood the Queen's mental agony. Peace was stressful, because an official call of disarmament did not change or move the people. People who had suffered from war and who had lived on the thoughts of revenge- they would go unfulfilled and forever mistrustful, for the rest of their lives. They would even pass this hatred onto children. Peace was in some ways more difficult than war. It was easy to hate. It was exponentially harder to forgive.
The Queen who took on the world and took on all the responsibilities, one sole ruler... such a life was one full of stress. Of course, that was why advisers like him existed.
"It sounds like a good idea. However, have you sent word to the enemy about these plans? Do they even wish a truce?" He spoke plainly, as an adult having intelligent conversation with another adult over a glass of wine. Of course, Donovan didn't drink- he had no time for that.
Aeolus stayed peaceful and quiet, something very rare for the hardheaded peryton stag. His powerful head nuzzled the boy's hand and lay down around his chair, saying nothing. The shadows of the peryton were human as always, making it look like there were three humans in the room from shadows alone. The small shows of affection were reciprocated with just the subtlest of hand movements, almost subconscious as his Rider focused on other matters.
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Post by Andarial Featherstone on Sept 3, 2010 14:56:25 GMT -5
She laughed, an almost hysterical, broken down laugh. She had begun to feel tired. Not of the anger but of the war. Sure she loved to fight, but the constant having to protect her lands was wearing on her, making her exhausted. But alas, until she knew for sure what she was doing she had to continue with the battles and the turf wars. She never thought she would be tired of war. But perhaps there was time for a little truce, just enough so that they could relax, and if it didn't work out they could always go back to killing each other.
"No not really. Not yet anyhow. But Aria has always wanted a truce, at least since I last checked," that had been at least a month ago though. And though she was never one for anger, Aria could hold grudges like no other. If she was mad at Andee then Andee would know it. Wouldn't she? It was hard for Andee not to notice things even if they were as subtle as an emotional change. Andeee had people who told her things and she could read people pretty well. At least in her opinion she could.
Wulf could sense her anguish but he was far too big to be allowed in the castle. Wulf was huge compared to other Beasts, standing a 5 inches above Andee's head at the shoulder. He was so big she needed a mounting block usually to get up on top of him. His girth so wide, not because he was heavy just because he was large, that she needed a custom made saddle and cinch. So instead of being in the castle her Beast impatiently paced outside of the library window. He too affected by her anger.
Words: 304
Muse: Good
Song: Who Am I- Casting Crowns
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Post by Seccom Masada-Sensei on Sept 3, 2010 20:18:06 GMT -5
The Archmage waited patiently as his queen laughed in that way that chilled her bones. She was hiding something, it wasn't as it seemed on the surface... but he would not point it out. He did not want to be one of the small list of Faulkner who have died before their already-early time. And since he had not had children yet- it was particularly bad if he died.
When she spoke, he took a moment to think up of a reply. Should she push for the ball? For a moment, he shared her burden for one decision, lightening her crushing load by bearing some onto his own shaky legs. His eyes closed and his mind surged through the stories of his lineage and the current situation. And that blasted General. And the women he may meet at the ball. And the women he may /bed/.
"I do not think we are so into war that a truce, however temporary, is impossible. If the enemy is as willing as you say, I do not see how the ball may become problematic." He spoke softly. "However, should we go through with this decision, we should become very careful- fresh from a way, even though the officials call a truce, the citizens may still have war in their hearts and may try to cause trouble." He spoke wisely, making sure not to give eye contact.
What he was implying, in layman's terms, would be that it would be a good idea, but to remain ready to lash out regardless of truce or not. Queens may be trustable, but the masses were far less predictable. If she wanted, he could do all the planning, he could do all the invitations and decorations and finances, but he doubted she would let him carry such a burden along with his own- she tended to do things on her own.
He worried that her lone standing would crush her, although these worries were made without a bit of information the Queen he served kept in her bosom, deep where remnants of love and heart lay. Donovan was worrying for nothing, but he did not know that... yet.
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Post by Andarial Featherstone on Sept 5, 2010 12:45:06 GMT -5
She continued her pacing only to stop at what he said. He was right. The only way to do this was to go head first, like a bull charging. There was no simple way to go about this, no easy tender way. It was all politics and in politics you had to grab to bull by the horns and hold on for dear life. She hated politics, really, she much preferred leading her troops to battle and conquering the other team. But that so rarely happened in the world of the Queen. Instead they were forced to make nice behind false pretenses. It was awfully annoying.
"You're right, it is still dangerous. Though the people may follow me on the outside, on the inside they would still harbor ill will toward the others,"she pretty much just repeated what he said just to understand it better. Thinking deeply she said, "However, I shall send out a caller to my sister anyway. Or perhaps I will go to her myself, a gesture of good faith. And then we will talk it over." She glanced over at him and smiled gently, her heart suddenly felt lighter and her mind at ease as she had been able to talk to someone.
Wulf had settled down outside, laying down in the thick grass and placing his dual heads on his paws. Andee's eyes had cooled to a beautiful gold once again and she nodded at the pair in front of her. "So now that you have listened to me grumble about my annoyances, how have you been? Any good mysteries uncovered yet?" Her smile grew as she sat across from him in one of the armchairs. She enjoyed talking with Donovan about his studies and so on because they were quite interesting in her opinion. He always had something new to tell her.
Words: 322
Muse: Good
Song: Bang- Armchair Cynics
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Post by Seccom Masada-Sensei on Sept 5, 2010 20:11:42 GMT -5
Hmmm. Donovan thought a moment about whatever discoveries he had since they last spoke. He smiled in a manner mature, discreet, showing many emotions at once. Some could see hints of smugness, others may see nostalgia, and perhaps more could see simple joy. "I was letting out some rage in the forest the other day, there was a woman there. Her name was Melusine... I didn't know that other elves lived in the forest. She was more concerned as to the chaos I caused than my general presence."
He sighed softly and stroked the head of the his peryton friend in self-comfort than anything else. One would have to look for subtle hints, but the archmage was quite afraid of the queen- he had no desires for death yet, and so did what he could to avoid angering her. He wondered what else to say, remembering what happened the other night with that demon from hell. The idea suddenly sent a successfully repressed shudder through his body and he chose not to speak of it to the queen.
Not that she would believe him, of course. Who would believe that a demon from hell appeared in his room in women's clothing, who turned out to be a man entirely? It was about the same logic as if he said he found an angel. He would be immediately thrown out and called a complete lunatic. He sighed under his breath and decided to speak of other things.
"Would you like for me to write a letter, or shall you be going by yourself? Be sure to bring some guards with you- an enemy is an enemy, even when dealing with a blood relationship." He warned quietly, not in a chiding manner but more in a manner of a child who did not want his mother off to do something dangerous.
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Post by Andarial Featherstone on Sept 6, 2010 20:14:38 GMT -5
She grinned. Sometimes she really did forget how old he was. HE was so young and yet acted so old. She supposed it was because he had been forced to grow up so quickly. Knowing he was going to die could definitely ruin his childhood. She knew it would do that to hers. She shuddered to think of her life if she knew that Everyone knew that the neutral elves lived in the forest or near it. They had nowhere else to go pretty much and preferred being away from either side.
"There are many elves living in the forest. It's because they don't want to be involved with the war and are usually neutral," she smiled and rubbed at her naked bicep. "I really do forget how young you are sometimes."
He really shouldn't be worried about her, she sighed. She was the Queen after all and had better magic and weaponry skills than him. Maybe not plain just magic skills but she could meld both different forms of attack and use it better than he ever could, considering the fact he couldn't wield any sort of weapon at all. She supposed it was just normal for him to worry, as he always seemed to about her. Though it was justified as she didn't have a successor or a King to take her place.
"I will go with a few to guard me. A few special protectors whom I know I can trust," she grinned at him. "Perhaps you would like to come, not to protect me but to give me advice?"
Words: 282
Muse: Good
Song: If I die Young- The band perry
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Post by Seccom Masada-Sensei on Sept 9, 2010 9:57:11 GMT -5
The archmage's muddy eyes stared at the floor in embarrassment as his age was mentioned. Ah yes- his age was a cursed thing, something that brought him down and would never bring him up again, for he would be dead by the time he was old enough to gain any respect for maturity and age. Shaking his head of the worries, he felt his face grow a bit hot as a blush came upon his skin in bits and pieces of shame. Of course, he said nothing and allowed this gentle teasing- who would dare go against the Queen's words, no matter how hurtful?
Then, a lighter subject, away from him and onto her again. She would gather guards and travel, inviting him to take a few days' break from his constant work to do his duty and come with her for advice and, he was sure, revenge if they so tried to lift a finger against her. The moment anyone tried to lift a finger to harm her, that finger would be sliced, charred, frozen, and then crushed under the earth to the dust.
That was his duty as the archmage. At this offering his face became stone cold as it was when he arrived and he bowed with shoulders and head, never leaving the chair. "Of course." He spoke quietly. "I shall accompany you wherever you may need me." He offered a small smile, as acted as the face he wore. Aeolus licked at one spot on his wrist, tongue rough against his soft skin and causing a red mark. It took a moment for Donovan to notice, and he pulled away and placed his hand on the peryton's blue face once more. The stag was hungry again- he'd have to be fed after this.
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Post by Andarial Featherstone on Sept 9, 2010 17:54:45 GMT -5
He would accompany her. Good then all she needed was six others to protect her. Not that she needed protection. The Dark Queen could protect herself quite well in her opinion. But Donovan would insist she have a guard, or else she would be followed by the guard anyways. That would just make things look shifty and Andee couldn't afford that. So she would relent and allow seven people to come, one of those people being Donovan himself. She watched him with interest. Slowly she opened her mouth, shook her head and made a waving motion with her hand.
"Good, then I know I have someone I can trust with my life in the guard. But only six others should go," she stood and moved to stand beside the window, looking down at the sleeping Wulf. She smiled lovingly at him, a rare sight that was only saved for the Beast. Though Reyn did receive something pretty close to that. He received a smile of caring and friendship, something so close to love that she was surprised he didn't notice. Though she herself didn't notice she gave it. "You may leave and go back to whatever you were doing, Donovan," she said, caressing his name with sensuality as she looked up, a strange heated look in her eyes. She found him attractive but would never sleep with him. But then again she saw every man attractive, only seeing him as a friend though.
Words: 246
Muse: Good
Song: Hit Me Up- Gia Farrell
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