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Post by ehela on Jun 30, 2017 12:16:48 GMT -5
hehe yeah )
Leyda looked up at Hýril and smiled brightly. She appreciated her encouragement. It made her feel better. Leyda was not one to reply to negative reinforcement. She was a bit too sensitive for that. If someone wanted to, they could easily bring her down with words. Of course, no one dared pushing her around, because then they would have to face the rather of her overprotective brother. She nodded, feeling a bit more determination and she flattened her hand. She pushed it forward, feeling the sack dent a bit further than when she threw her punch. Leyda studied her form before imitating it, hitting the middle of the dummy's face. "Like that?"
Tanzil's eyes never left Anton's. He searched for an ounce of mistruth(honestly idk if this is a word but oxford dictionary says it is). Tanzil had already avowed his trust in the male but he still couldn't help his paranoid nature. As a prince, there were limited people who he could trust. To an extent, he didn't know who wanted him alive or dead. There was always a chance. And peoples' loyalties were so easily swayed through money or pain--Tanzil never liked using torture, it was only to be used in extreme situations, but others did. "Yes... she did. Did she speak to you about it?" He hadn't recalled Hýril making her suspicions public. Speaking of her, the memories he wanted to erase pushed themselves to the surface. He fought any trace of his feelings off his expression though. Even though Anton confided in his longing, didn't mean Tanzil was going to do the same. Tanzil was unfazed, he couldn't be seen as heartbroken, and he wouldn't. "She was an orphan, found just outside the castle. The king took her under his wing, since her and Leyda got along so well as children. She soon rose to the top rank in the king's guard, and here we are."
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Post by Lostwhisker on Aug 12, 2017 14:58:34 GMT -5
"Exactly like that. I knew you'd learn quickly." Hýril knew Leyda was tough for a princess - the knight having met many wimpy ones - but she was surprised by how physically tough she was. A sense of pride warmed her heart but she went on with barking out other moves, "another way to stun your opponent is to bring your fingers together and flatten the thumb to the side. You use both hands and hit your palms against their ears. This could quite possibly burst their eardrums but at least they'd be busy worrying about their hearing rather than chasing you down when you run." The knight cracked a grin, "and, of course, there's the crotch which can harm anyone but mostly males. a good snap-kick with the top of your foot-" she flicked her foot up and her toes were pointed so, if someone had been there,they would have received the full force of the movement "or knee them." She faced the practice dummy and gripped the shoulders, driving her knee upward.
Anton kept his expression difficult to read and he lifted his shoulders before dropping them unceremoniously - a noncommittal shrug to show he wasn't particular interested. "You know how the castle staff talk. Things travel surprisingly fast in such a large place." It wasn't entirely a lie since many secrets and rumors reached the maids and butlers without the royals even knowing. I do hope that my business hasn't been working it's way through the rumor-mill. The dark-haired male listened to Tanzil's tale of how the knight came to be. His head shifted from side-to-side as he mulled this over before meeting the Prince's gaze, "sounds as though you have a very powerful woman on your side. You are quite lucky to have her loyalty." He was attempting to read the other male's expression but he was quite good at hiding his thoughts from others - it's a trick every man must learn early or they may find their head on a chopping block. He respected the man before him but didn't dare voice it.
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Post by ehela on Sept 6, 2017 14:05:09 GMT -5
Leyda smiled brightly at the compliment. She flattened her hands and whacked them against the sides of the dummy, before stepping back and observing the knight. She then repeated what she did, and giggled. "That must hurt." Those moves she learned easily, perhaps it came naturally. "Is there anything else I can learn right now?" Some baby hairs had escaped her tight knot, and so she pushed them away from her face. She felt droplets of sweat. Leyda wasn't one to exercise regularly, she was more of a sit around and read or write. Sure she took a lot of walks, but nothing physically exhausting. She was then reminded of Anton. Suddenly, she had a fleeting moment of happiness when she thought of his confession, but her emotions quickly crashed as she remembered her reality. She looked up at the knight and smiled at her sweetly, hoping her friend could end the session now so she could face Anton now while she had the guts to.
"Well they have nothing better to do," Tanzil muttered under his breath, but voiced it loud enough for Anton to hear. "You'd be amazed what you could find out by being a servant. Easily it's the best spot for a spy. Even better than if one were an official. Quite odd, isn't it?" he leaned back slightly in his chair, allowing himself to relax as he gazed around the room. "I do." His gaze lazily drifted back to the imposter. "She's one of the smartest people I know. It's hard to trust people being in the position I am, but Hýril is someone I know will never defect in my trust." Once again he found himself looking away from him, studying the drapery along the walls. He had gotten what he needed, and was beginning to get disinterested. Even though he was opening up to Anton, it was going to be a slow process to gain the prince's confidence. "I'll leave you to rest, and perhaps you'll be joining us at the ceremony tonight?" He pulled himself up, adjusting his top to straighten it out.
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Post by Lostwhisker on Nov 22, 2017 19:49:09 GMT -5
Hýril was bursting with pride for the Princess since it was rare to find a female royal willing to sweat even for a second. She walked towards Leyda and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, "you have done enough for today. I don't need you straining yourself in your first session." She turned away and hoisted the makeshift dummy from the soil, resting the stake against her shoulder. The Knight smirked at her dear friend, "go clean yourself up then you might just be able to slip in to see Anton." Her copper eyes held a teasing light before she busied herself with hiding the dummy where she had found it. I should probably search for Tanzil. I only gave a description of the dark haired male but he should know where I saw and interacted with him. The thought of that conversation loomed over her like a dark cloud -- it seems like he hates me. He probably won't even want to talk to me. As if to argue against that, her cheek warmed where Tanzil's lips once touched as he ran to a meeting with the King. Her heart was torn between the Prince, her duty to the crown, and the mysterious man with sapphire eyes that constantly challenged her (Rymadon). The elf turned back to Leyda and seemed reserved -- solemn -- "I'll see you this evening when I escort you to the ball." She found herself saddening at the fact she'd have to wear her armor rather than a beautiful dress like last time.
Anton found himself chuckling at Tanzil's comment about the servants. He smirked at the Prince when he mentioned a spy disguising themselves as an official, "well, that seems a bit more reckless since most are so well known." He sounded confident but he knew they had only been lucky that the man Arin was impersonating -- this Anton person -- hadn't been seen publicly since he was young. The young man set his eyes on Tanzil as he spoke about the knight but nothing was given away; everything said was matter-of-fact as any individual would say about a loyal guard. He sighed internally, this Prince is proving to be tougher to crack than I had originally thought. He was jolted back to reality when Tanzil stood, clearly bored of their conversation, and stated his leave. "Thank you and I do hope so. It is up to the doctor whether I can but I wish to make an appearance even if it's brief." He realized that was probably the most truthful thing he had ever said to the Crowned Prince -- no.. Leyda was appointed next in line. The thought of the engagement weighed on him heavily but he kept his outward expression light.
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Post by ehela on Jan 29, 2018 1:19:43 GMT -5
It was odd; Leyda felt energized. She was expecting to be slightly exhausted due to this being the first time in a long time exerting so much force, but she felt like pushing the limits. The only thing pulling her back was her heart; she was aching to see Anton. She grinned at her companion and bent down in a bow. "Thank you." Then, unable to hold in her excitement she pulled Hýril into a tight embrace, a little squeal escaping her lips. Letting go, she wasted no moment. She zipped out of the gardens, weaving her way through the cobblestone path. At the sight of the guards she contained her excitement and slowed to a brisk walk, yet the smile on her lips betrayed her. To all, she probably looked excited to finally be engaged. It was better that way, to let them believe that. She continued to her room in the same manner. I'll quickly wash up and throw something on, won't take more than five minutes. Her body tingled with elation. Then she opened the door to her chambers, which made her body freeze in shock.
Like a bee colony, the room was buzzing with rambles and frantic voices. Never had she seen so many servants in her room-- it was a wonder how coordinated they were in not running into each other. At the sight of the princess, some maidens sighed in relief while others, to put it plainly, freaked out.
"Where have you been, your highness!" "Look at you, you're a mess!" "The ceremony is in a couple hours, you should have been here earlier!"
The chatter of the maids bombarding her was alarming, but they did not notice. One maiden per hand, they dragged her into the bathroom to tidying her up. "No time to waste, we need every moment to make you the most beautiful maiden," an older lady crooned, starting to pull out her hair from the tight bun.
And just like that, the chances of seeing Anton flew out the window.
"We shall see," Tanzil smiled with a final nod and exited the room. While walking through the halls, his mind was swarming with thoughts. There was a frenzy from the servants around them, getting ready for tonight, but he had barely noticed. However, what his eyes did catch was a wine traveling on a platter with some fancy looking glasses. Most likely, it was going to a group of nobles. Well, they could wait a bit longer. "Ah, just what he needed." He stopped in front of her, picking the expensive bottle off the tray "Not bad," he grinned at her, automatically causing the maid to turn red in the face. "I'm sure the nobles won't mind. Get another bottle and let them know the prince personally picked it out for them." Although Tanzil got along well with the servants, not all of the nobles and higher ranks treated them with decency. This way, they could answer to him if they got impatient. The girl curtsied and walked back off in the opposite directions. He held a smile while walking back to his room. He loved how he could make females fall at his feet, but it is just a coping mechanism. Because the one girl he wants doesn't want him back.
He didn't open the bottle until he entered the silence of his room. Heaving a sigh, he sat at his desk, looking at all the papers. He took off his coat, loosening some of the buttons on his dress shirt as he thought of what to deal with first. At his age, princes were off in chateaus with fine women and unrestrained luxuries. This prince was stuck trying to bring down a rebellion with little help and little to no leads. The mystery man suddenly popped up in his mind. Something was very off about him, and Tanzil figured he couldn't lose anything from it. But this clue did involve Hýril. He went back and forth debating on it for fifteen or so minutes. Eventually, he caved, deciding not to be a slave to his pride. He requested for her presence in his chambers immediately.
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Post by Lostwhisker on Feb 28, 2018 16:03:58 GMT -5
The Knight was struck speechless when the Princess bowed before her; if anyone had witnessed the act, she would have found herself in a new pot of trouble. She flashed a pleased smile at her fairy-friend and returned the hug immediately. The smaller girl's excitement was infectious and had Hýril warmed to her core as though she had been bathing in a patch of sun. She watched Leyda run off and called after her: "be careful!" -- but she had already left the clearing behind. Hýril let out a content sigh, letting her shoulders relax, and became lost in thoughts of the ball tonight. She caught herself from daydreaming too far and shook her head as she scolded herself, "don't get distracted." She continued muttering to herself as she lifted the dummy's stake from the ground and returned it to its hiding spot.
Guard layouts and strategies swamped her mind as she too left the clearing behind. She had been planning to return to her men for further briefings for the evening but she was stopped by a maid with scarlet cheeks and a piece of parchment in her dainty hands. The elf plucked the letter from the girl and nodded when she curtsied respectfully before scurrying away. Hýril shook her head with a subtle smirk curling the corners of her lips but it vanished once the letter was opened. Recognition lit her gaze as she read the summons from Prince Tanzil; swallowing hard, she pocketed the parchment and entered the cool interior of the castle. The Knight hesitated outside of the Prince's quarters, biting the inside of her cheek, and jumping to attention when a guard cleared his throat beside her. She straightened her shoulders in response and nodded to him to which the guard responded with by opening the door. Once she entered, the heavy wooden door was closed firmly behind her and she bowed to Tanzil with a fist pressed over her heart. "You wished to speak with me?" She inquired once straightened, remaining by the door for the fear that he would hear her heart racing if she came close.
Anton returned the smile in his crooked, charming way then allowed the facade to drop once the Prince had left. He slumped back with his head resting on the pillow and feeling an ache from within: his heart rather than his mending body. That's it... Leyda is out of my reach and there's nothing I can do. He squeezed his eyes shut as his hand grasped at the shirt covering his chest in hopes to dull the pangs of loneliness. Being alone had never been a curse to him; he used to greet is like an old friend. Now... It pained him not to have the sounds of others moving around even if they weren't directly interacting with him. His eyes snapped open and he sat straight in his bed when the door opened but it was simply a nurse. The woman appeared shocked by his sudden movement before her face transformed into a pitying expression. Anton's head bowed and he watched her feet approach his bed from the corner of his eyes. She spoke to him as she fluffed his pillows but he barely registered them: something about the ball, healthy enough, high spirits, possible attack -- he didn't care. The male lifted his eyes to meet hers and he hid his bewilderment as he recognized her: a fellow rebel. Her amber eyes pierced his and she spoke in a low tone, "be ready for tonight," then she whisked herself out of the room as quickly as she had come. Panic made his heart beat wildly and his thoughts race but one thing was clear as he scrambled out of bed: he had to protect Leyda.
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Post by ehela on Jul 22, 2019 22:02:06 GMT -5
When Tanzil heard the doors open, he leaned over his desk to retrieve two wine glasses. He poured the wine, not acknowledging her presence. Without looking at her he replied. "Come." He held out a half-filled wine glass. "You look like you could use a drink." The prince looked slightly disheveled as he turned towards her. His golden-brown hair fell into his eyes and his blouse lay a bit wrinkled. He proceeded to take a sip from his own cup, before clenching his jaw in annoyance. He was staring into the eyes of the sketch. If I got my hands on this man... "I'm at a loss, I don't know what to do." He swiveled his chair back to face her. "Something doesn't feel right tonight. Look out for that man, and notify me immediately if you see anything suspicious."
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Post by Lostwhisker on Jul 22, 2019 22:18:57 GMT -5
Hýril watched the Prince from the corner of her eyes but stayed statuesque, her hands clasped behind her back. She fought the urge to fidget and wrinkle her brown at Tanzil as he offered her a glass of wine. "I shouldn't-" she blinked rapidly upon noticing his uncharacteristic, apparent haggard appearance, "of course. Thank you, Your Grace," she murmured as she grasped the stem of the glass between her fingers. She took the smallest of sips as she needed her wits about her and couldn't recall the last time she ate. The tang of the wine hit the back of her jaws and made her salivate slightly, I did really need that, she sighed inwardly then found herself taking a generous sip. She tilted her head curiously at his sudden statement then followed his gaze to the desk. The Knight's amber eyes found the sketch and she felt her stomach knot in a confusing way at the sight of the mysterious, dark-haired man. She swallowed hard as she felt her guilt clump there, "yes, of course. I will be diligent tonight and I have prepared my men." Any sheepishness she displayed earlier vanished as she lifted her chin to Tanzil and met his gaze fully, "we won't let you down." She found herself lifting the glass to her lips once again but thought otherwise and placed it on the desk as she cleared her throat, now avoiding the gaze of the gentleman before her, "any other orders, Your Royal Highness?"
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Post by ehela on Jul 22, 2019 22:40:56 GMT -5
His eyebrows raised slightly at her refusal, but he relaxed when she accepted it. While the knight spoke he continued studying the face. He made sure that he memorized everything about this mystery. "Good," he spoke quietly. In one gulp he finished half of the shallow cup. He really needed to relax; desperate times call for desperate measures.
It was when she asked him other orders when he broke his gaze. He looked up at her, studying Hýril for a moment. "Royal highness?" his tone was one of amusement. "I can't remember the last time you've said that." He cracked a small smile. He didn't know why he did. He was on such a great streak of difficulty. But when Tanzil looked at her, he couldn't fight the warm feeling in his chest. It had only been a couple of days, yet he missed her so much. Alas, he didn't know what to say. This was uncharted territory for the prince. How was he to try to be friendly with the lady that stepped on his heart? "I don't want to keep you from your duties. Go ahead and start preparing. I'll see you in the evening."
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Post by Lostwhisker on Jul 22, 2019 23:18:50 GMT -5
The Knight was concerned by how quickly Tanzil finished half his glass but whisked away any thoughts of comparing him to his father: they're nothing alike. They couldn't be more different. Though she couldn't deny that his recent coldness and the bitter glint in his eyes reflected the same as the King's. Hýril was startled when a teasing tone colored his voice and a smile touched his lips. Heat rose to her cheeks but she convinced herself it was due to the wine and lack of food in her stomach. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth but she didn't crack into a reciprocating grin, "I guess it does sound quite silly all of a sudden but with such a... repugnant guest within the castle I thought it'd be best to stick with formalities so as I don't get thrown in the dungeon." By the end of her statement her lips were tilted into her usual smirk when bantering with the Prince. Her eyes lingered a bit too long on his own and she felt her heart flutter, causing her to reflexively reclaim her glass and finish the wine before returning the glass to the desk. The elf placed a fist over her heart and bowed, ”until then,” she murmured and purposefully slowed her step so she didn't hurry from the room. I shouldn't have said that about the visiting royalty, a phantom of her previous smirk flickered, but it's not like I was wrong. Giving a small chuckle to her own thoughts, she went about readying her men and self for the festivities to come.
Anton laid in bed as the hours ticked by until the ball and he began to scheme of how he could possibly isolate the Princess with enough time to flee the castle prior to the attack. She didn't even tell me the time of the attack, his fingers grasped his pillow tightly until his knuckles turned white from the sheer force of his grip. Waiting was more agonizing then the pain of his body but there wasn't much he could do for Leyda now. I certainly can't tell Hýril as she will suspect me being a part of it. He wasn't daft enough to believe that the knight's friendly demeanor was completely genuine; she's Leyda's personal guard, after all. He buried his face in his pillow and suppressed the nearly undeniable urge to scream into it. She'll be safer here. The rebels shouldn't harm her... They're more likely to use her as a hostage to have their demands heard. Though it was a fate better than death, it made his heart ache to even think of his love fearing for her life and in the hands of strangers.
Casimir paced in his room muttering to himself: half dressed from earlier and partially dressed for the ball this evening. He ran a hair through his long golden hair and his hooded eyes rested upon his reflection in the ornate mirror across from him. The visiting Prince took a moment to straighten the lapels of his jacket and give himself a wink. A frown settled over his features before he returned to his pacings and hushed mutterings. Everything had to go perfectly at the ball this evening or it could be the means of the end.
(I was thinking it’d be interesting that maybe Casimir was an imposter and all of his men are actually rebels. Sort of like they intercepted the letters at the beginning and that’s how they plan to infiltrate the castle under the radar. What ya think?)
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Post by Lostwhisker on May 28, 2020 9:59:18 GMT -5
Boop.
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Post by ehela on Aug 1, 2020 21:02:09 GMT -5
Leyda didn't know when the last time was when she had been this pampered, perhaps it was a new record. Countless maids were buzzing around her room, their tones sounding worried or excited. Normally it would feel nice, but this situation was anything but. The whole time she sat in silence, eyes empty of emotion. Occasionally she would smile is a lady was talking to her, but she kept the conversations brief. Unfortunately, they did not get the memo.
At the end of the hustle and bustle, Leyda looked nothing short of an angel. She wore an emerald green off the shoulder long sleeve gown. It's bodice was fitted with ornate beading; its skirt seemed to shimmer and it was smaller than the average ballgown, but it was fuller than an A-line. Her face wore elegant makeup, yet her lips were painted a darker rouge than normal. With her pale pink, almost white hair tied up into a fancy bun, the princess looked a bit older for her age. This ceremony was to show that she had become a woman, and she had to look the part. The person looking back in the mirror looked so different to what she usually looked like. You need to stop pitying yourself. You're the princess, this is your duty to your country. Taking a deep breath, she picked up the tiara sitting on her vanity and placed it on her head. With the final piece in place, she left the quarters with her ladies in waiting, ready to face her fate.
Tanzil had been down in the ballroom for a while now. He had been greeting guests left and right with his father, and he was beginning to grow tired of it. Normally, the socialite would be loving the occasion. All he felt was worry, uneasiness filled his entire being. He felt like something wasn't right. Every person he conversed with could be an enemy. So the prince came prepared. He had his own spies, nobles and servants alike. They were all ordered to keep their ears open and to alert him of any activity out of the ordinary.
It took Rymadon a while to build up courage. To onlookers, he probably looked like a noble that was astonished by the rugged beauty of the castle. Yet the man's feelings were anything but. Truth is, he didn't know what to feel. Here he was, in front of what he was fighting his whole life against. To begin with, he felt a sense of pride. All the plans he and his father and countless other subjects were finally beginning to unfold. It had been a exhausting effort, and at times it seemed that overthrowing a tyrant was not possible. But hope could do wondrous things.
Nevertheless, the male was not free of anxiety. It was his first time at the castle, where he would be surrounded by all the people he despised the most. Everyone was counting on him and the others. If today failed, many lives would be lost, perhaps even his.
And finally, the last thing, or shall I say person, occupying his mind was the royal knight. Not a day went by that he hadn't thought of her, whether it was reliving the moments of nursing her back to health or being reminded of her when he would come across the blanket that had draped over her that day. However, she was the enemy, no matter. Perhaps in another world, he would have pursued her; in this world, he would have to manipulate her.
Rymadon felt both terrified and thrilled as he walked into the castle, blending in with some foreign party.
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Post by Lostwhisker on Aug 10, 2020 18:21:02 GMT -5
Hýril fidgeted with the ornate cape that was draped over her shoulders; as head of the guard, she thought it was only appropriate to dress in the finest attire. Her armor was freshly polished and shone as brightly as the moon. The metal was light enough to move about in but also strong enough to offer protection, though she made sure to have plenty of informally-dressed guards milling about the party and castle grounds at all times. She found herself fidgeting with the hilt of her sword which hung at her hip and quickly corrected her stance to have her hands clasped behind her back, feet shoulder-width apart. Music floated up the grand stairs from the ballroom that was already teeming with guests and staff alike. Her copper eyes peeked down to catch a glimpse of those filing in, who are you looking for? The Prince or the handsome rebel? A voice teased mercilessly. The elf scowled at her own thoughts, cheeks blazing red, but she recomposed when she saw Leyda approaching with her gaggle of maidens. The knight placed a closed fist over her heart, covering the royal crest branded there, and bowed deeply. "I will be escorting you ladies to the festivities." Her eyes probed the Princess's expression but found it difficult to read, and she offered her arm to the troubled young woman. Once far enough down the stairs from the others, she took a hushed tone, "you have a blade on you, correct? I don't want to expect the worst but it's better to be prepared." As she spoke, her eyes flitted from face to face, searching for any suspicious characters but they all appeared to be well-stuffed, snobby rich folk that were here to drink, flirt, and mooch from the King.
Casimir was dressed as those at the top of society should: the finest fabrics with jewels encrusting the collar and cuffs of his jacket; the candlelight from the chandeliers above made the stones dance colorfully without taking away from his own "charming," handsome self. The Prince flitted from person to person with charismatic ease which left women swooning and men respecting -- though, more likely they were secretly loathing the arrogant royal. He didn't wait around for his bride-to-be, yet rather danced with every eligible bachelorette that the festivities had to offer him. The only odd behavior that could be seen from anyone watching carefully, was that he refused to drink any alcohol offered to him; an excuse of why he shouldn't or to leave the encounter always seemed to present itself and shoo away any possibility of him consuming alcohol. In any other circumstance, it would seem rather normal but quite uncelebratory for the recently engaged man.
(I'll bring Anton/Aron in later)
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Post by ehela on Aug 10, 2020 21:34:14 GMT -5
The royal's heel clad feet felt heavy as she walked through the halls. Remaining stoic, she ignored the other maidens excitedly conversing, talking about how lucky she was that she was going to marry someone handsome and not some weird older man. Not even his looks can compensate for his personality, she thought, rolling her eyes. Leyda's features only softened when she saw her best friend. She nodded took the elf's hand graciously, quickening her pace to match hers. "Only you could made that armor look beautiful," she smiled, although is was not as big as it usually was. Leyda found it hard to match her usual personality this night, and it was probably going to stay that way by the looks it. At the mention of the blade, she nodded. "It was hard to slip in with the maids watching, but I managed to distract them by saying that Tanzil was out in the garden. They rushed to the balcony so fast." she laughed softly. "You'll stay close to me, right? You're the only one that can make this night bearable
Once they got to the top of the grand stair case, the musicians stopped playing. A man that stood at the top announced the princess' arrival, and the crowd bowed bowed. Once Leyda smiled and gave a nod of acknowledgement, the musicians continued and Leyda proceeded down the steps, still holding onto Hýril. Many still kept their eyes on the princess but she wasn't uncomfortable with it, this was what she was used to. "Do you see Casimir?" she murmured through the smile that stuck to her lips. He should have been waiting at the end of the stairs to greet her, but he was nowhere to be found.
Tanzil continued to mingle with the sea of people. Occasionally he would check on the king to make sure he was moderating his drink consumption. He had a glass so far, not even near enough to get him buzzed. He wanted to remain completely alert. When he heard the music stop he looked towards the entrance, seeing Leyda and Hýril. Tanzil smiled genuinely for the first time tonight, walking up to the entrance to greet them. As the two females neared closer, he noticed her fiancee hadn't appeared yet. He should have noticed the announcement and stopped dancing with the maidens by now. Tanzil had disliked the foreigner's attitude during the party. Deciding t take his place, he step forward when the two reached the bottom of the staircase. "You look beautiful, Leyda." He bowed, giving her hand a kiss. Standing back up he looked at the knight, nodding his head in respect. "You as well, Hýril." Looking back to Leyda, he held his arm out. "Come, let's see the king."
Rymadon had spent the night munching on appetizers and mingling with the guests. He was actually starting to enjoy himself, everyone was bubbly and flirty and his tongue had never tasted such magnificent flavors, he had seen fruits that he didn't even know existed. But he wondered if they had stolen those fruits from a poor farmer. How could he indulge in this? It was gluttony at its finest. People would take one bite of their food and give to the servants to throw away.
He also noticed how much gossip had spread, and one particular piece surprised him. The most recent guest at court, Anton, had taken a liking to the princess, and people were thinking that she maybe returned the feelings. Rymadon found this intriguing, but the rebel was not surprised. Aron had a way with the ladies, so it was befitting to woo the princess to get closer to the crown. There was no way Aron actually liked her... or so he thought.
Like the rest of the guests, his eyes had moved to the princess as they arrived. So she was just as beautiful as people said she was. When his dark blue eyes flicked to the person next to her, his heart stopped. She's next to the princess... how close is she to the royal family? His eyes followed the knight the whole time, heart mixed with infatuation and anger. For a moment, it was like they made eye contact, but he doubted that she actually noticed him. Still, he wasn't going to take any chances until he did some research. He disappeared into the crowd.
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Post by Lostwhisker on Aug 12, 2020 15:13:18 GMT -5
The Knight straightened her shoulders proudly at Leyda's compliment, "you're too kind, your highness," she paused for a moment to scan the couple that had just entered the castle, "it surprises me how you still outshine everyone here even in your dampened mood." She heard the small plea in the Princess's request to have Hýril by her side. She bit the inside of her cheek as she thought for a moment, "I believe I can arrange that but I will need to inform my men stationed in the area. I will return to you soon after," her tone sealed the statement as a promise. Unknowingly, the Knight gently squeezed her dear friend's hand at the sight of Tanzil as though physically mimicking the way her heart clenched in her chest. Her mouth was pinched into a thin, tense line and gave a curt nod to the strained compliment the Prince casually tossed in her general direction. As he offered his arm to Leyda, Hýril released her and repeated the bow she used to greet the royals; fist over her heart and bowing deeply, yet this one was a bit more stiff. She quickly turned away yet paused briefly as she thought she saw a familiar face in the crowd. The elf shook her head then bee-lined towards the first fellow-knight she spotted. A hushed conversation ensued to inform him of the Princess's request for her company.
Casimir heard the pause in the music which was his only cue that his fiancee was about to enter the party. He cursed under his breath in an odd tongue, one that made the current female he was dancing with to give him an incredulous look; with a quick bow and kiss to her hand, he made his way towards the entryway just as the music began to swell in the typical grandeur that could only mean royalty was in their midst. The Prince stood ahead of the crowd that was anxiously awaiting the first glimpse at his lovely bride-to-be. He fought the urge to fidget as eyes glanced in his direction, the onlookers undecided if they're going to watch his reaction first or set their eyes on the Princess. Ouh's and ah's commenced as the visage of beauty stepped into view of everyone within the ballroom on the arm of her brother. He could feel disapproval radiating from some of the older gentlemen, she should be entering on my arm, and he mentally berated himself as he flashed an iconic Princely grin and offered his arm graciously to Leyda, "you are more radiant than the sun and moon combined, my dear." He took her hand, more firmly than when they had first met, and kissed the back of her hand before leading her to the dance floor. "Shall we show our guests how beautiful we are together with a dance?"
Anton could hear the music drifting from the ballroom even though it was in the wing opposite of him. The band suddenly became louder and he recognized the same swell from the ball he attended and had danced with Leyda at. His heart ached to join them but, in his current state of health and lovesickness, he doubted he could handle putting on a brave face for the guests. Though these thoughts drifted through his mind, his body acted against them and pushed him from his bed. The young man made his way down the hall without a second-thought about his drab and scruffy appearance. Normally, he would feel silly peeking around a corner to get a glimpse at a fair maiden, but the Princess was worth making a fool of himself. The pace of his heart quickened as soon as he laid eyes on his love, my love..? Yes, she's absolutely the love of my life.
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Post by ehela on Aug 12, 2020 20:33:16 GMT -5
Leyda smiled. "You flatter me.
She grinned at her brother. "Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself." When her fiancee showed up, her grin faltered, but it was quickly replaced with a warm smile. It was fake, obviously, but one of the first things you learned as a royal was the art of feigning emotion. She held her hand up, smile unwavering. "Thank you, Casimir."
"You're late." Tanzil stated in a matter of fact tone. The prince didn't care about being nice.
"Don't mind him." Leyda piped up, although inside she was happy her brother said something. "We shall." She took his arm and headed to the middle of the ballroom, the guests clearing the way to watch the new couple have their first dance. Holding one hand with his and putting the other on his shoulder, letting him lead the dance. "Did you have a good day at the castle?" she asked. She was stuck with this man, so she figured she would atleast befriend. Her blue green eyes broke his gaze to scan everyone around her. She was looking for Anton.
Tanzil stared at Casimir with a deadpanned gaze, watching the two walk off. Now that the guests were enamored with Leyda and Casimir, he could slip away. He spotted Hýril and walked up to her. "Hýril, how are you? Is everything okay so far?"
Rymadon continued to mingle with people that would come up to him. They were all friendly to the newcomer, but he was starting to get annoyed. He walked through room, unable to spot Anton. Making sure no one was looking, he slipped into one of the hallways, and he got lucky, running into the frazzled man. "Anton." he scanned his friend. "You look horrible. Where have you been? I've been searching for you. Are you well?"
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Post by Lostwhisker on Aug 24, 2020 18:03:44 GMT -5
Casimir flashed a lazy grin at Tanzil, "ah, like you've never been distracted at a party before, Your Highness." It took every bit of willpower to not slap that pompous Prince in the face, I feel terrible for whoever becomes his brother-in-law, the visiting royal thought to himself. "Already forgotten, my Princess." He swayed to the music, remaining light on his feet, and holding Leyda in his arms. "My day? Hm, well, the journey here was certainly longer than originally expected-" due to all the carriage-jacking needed for me to be here "and the maids have been quite nosy ever since I had the chance to sit in the wonderful room your castle provides." The lack of attention as he spoke was blatant and he cleared his throat to bring the young woman's attention back to him, "enough of my day... Tell me more about this kingdom I'll be inheriting." His tone hinted arrogance and reeked of privilege only a royal could have; it was as though he was purchasing a shirt rather than marrying into becoming King of a new land.
The Elf nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard a voice behind her. Her mind took a moment to register that that voice belonged to Tanzil. She swallowed hard to ease the embarrassment that colored her cheeks then turned to face the Prince. Her heart gave way to a dull pang at the sight of him but she pushed the regrets and emotions aside. "Everything is fine. All of the guests check out and there are no cracks for someone to slip through." She didn't bother answering his first question as she wanted to avoid personal subjects; the last time they had spoke was still in the back of her mind, making her walls slam into place to keep Tanzil out. "Have you seen anyone suspicious? I can get word out for my men to keep an eye on whoever it is you have seen."
Anton ran a hand through his disheveled hair then ran his palm over the stubble that covered his chin, "I guess it looks as bad as it feels," he chuckled but stopped as soon as the movement made him wince. "I was outside the castle with the Princess and someone attacked us. He got some good hits in," a gross understatement but he didn't need his superior looking down on him nor was he in the mood for pity. "The medical knowledge within these walls is vast and I should fully recover." His eyes darted to search for any eavesdroppers or party-goers that might be in earshot but the ball was loud and they were the only two in the halls. "I wasn't told much of the plan, Rym... Just what is happening tonight?" His voice was even externally but he was panicked for Leyda internally.
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Post by ehela on Aug 29, 2020 18:59:41 GMT -5
Leyda's gaze snapped back to the male in front of her rapidly at the sound of him clearing his throat. Her already blushed cheeks turned a little pinker in embarrassment. She didn't mean to be rude, but she couldn't stop thinking about how Anton might be in the crowd watching the couple. "Yes, news travels pretty fast in these walls," she mused. She wasn't going to deny that the prince was handsome, a fresh face for mistresses to fawn over. The princess' smile faltered slightly at his nonchalant tone, but it was soon replaced with a brighter smile. "I'm sure you saw the views of the countryside during your passage." Leyda looked over his shoulder for a moment, before locking eyes with his again, her own softening. "And the people are kind. They always lend a helping hand, even if they're unfit themselves. The people and this land have a way of making you feel... home."
A ghost of smile passed Tanzil's expression when she turned around, seeing the familiar hint of red that often painted her features. His golden eyes remained unreadable as he listened to her update. "Good." He scanned the nobles around him. "Not yet." He clasped his hands behind his back and smiled. "I don't want to rob you of the festivities the whole evening. You can go ahead and get something to eat." Maybe it was the cup of wine he had earlier, but he couldn't stop himself from grinning. "Perhaps I can steal a dance later tonight." It was such an abrupt switch, from professional to a bit of flirtation, but he was Tanzil after all. He dipped his head before walking past her. "Sir Rowan! It's been to long." He approached an older man a few feet away.
Rymadon listened to the mage intently, before chuckling. "He is good. Well I apologize for that, few people know of your involvement in the castle so he must have thought you were one of them." He nodded in understanding. "That's good." He blinked at the question. "Could you be any louder," he muttered. He couldn't hear anyone, but he did not want there to be a chance of someone overhearing. He lowered his voice to a bare whisper. "We've rigged some of the tables and chandeliers. They go on my signal. It just meant to be a warning, not too many will get hurt." His dark blue eyes looked to his sides. "I don't want to risk any suspicion. So get proper and come join the party." He started to smirk. "I heard about the princess, good job. I'll send a servant to you later tonight and you can relay what you know to me."
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Post by Lostwhisker on Sept 6, 2020 15:25:25 GMT -5
The Prince listened to all that the Princess had to say about her land and the people. He mused at that for a moment, "ah, yes, your people do seem very fine; though, I always wonder if royalty knows how their people feel towards them." It was an odd thing to say but his tone kept the topic light, as if his own words didn't concern him at all. Each statement was meant to weasel its way into Leyda's mind like a hot poker to make her think and question her family and her duties. It wasn't discussed with Rymadon but I might as well dance her into circles of thoughts as well, Casimir beamed after he noticed the silence between them, "I'm sure its nothing and just my thoughts getting carried away. A Princess like yourself shouldn't concern herself with complicated things like dealing with commoners. That's a man's job, afterall." He parted from her briefly as the music eased its way into a close and he bowed low to kiss her hand before curtly turning away and leaving Leyda unsupervised.
Her expression remained neutral even at Tanzil's tipsy attempt of flirting. She placed a fist over her heart and bowed slightly, "you're as generous with your affection as ever." Her copper eyes bore into the Prince's own metallic gaze; a heat burned there but not even Hýril knew of the underlying cause - love? Lust? Irritation? The Knight was relieved when he walked away, distracted by another man with a title that he earned by being born instead of anything worthwhile. The elf took a deep, relaxing breath to clear her anger before heading towards the ballroom. Her gaze swept the hall and she thought she saw a shadow at the darkest part, Anton..? But it was gone as soon as it came. She paused for a moment, waiting to see if someone would peek around the corner but she was left to assume that her eyes were playing tricks. The Knight turned away and entered the festivities to find Leyda left alone on the dance floor. "Your Highness? Where is Prince Cassimir? You knew I didn't want you to be left alone," she kept her tone low to keep other's from eavesdropping.
Anton felt a bit hurt that a fellow rebel was the one that injured him, but even more so that Rymadon was sending men after the royals so blatantly - he decided to keep his mouth shut on this topic. The young man opened his mouth to speak before his eyes caught movement over the other man's shoulder. He clasped a hand on Rym's lapel and pulled him around the corner, out of sight, "Hýril. She's hunting you at this point. Why would you risk coming?" He sighed and released the rebel leader from his grip and leaned back against the wall for support. "I'll have to be careful.. A lot of people know my face and the recent rumor brewing could be detrimental to my relationship with the King and Prince." Such as them murdering me if they think I'll hurt Leyda. He met Rym's gaze momentarily and that was enough to crack him into a classic grin, "for you, I will pull myself together. I will find you again so wait until then and I will do anything I can to distract the guards right before the... chaos ensues."
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Post by ehela on Sept 12, 2020 0:48:20 GMT -5
Rymadon's eyes slightly widened at the abrupt pull, stumbling a bit and having to stable himself by planting a hand against the wall. The force made him slightly wince in pain. He started to rub his wrist as he looked around. He smirked slightly. "It's boring being on the sidelines. Besides, it keeps her on her toes." He was kind of hoping to run into her, although he still wasn't sure how she would react. Perhaps he would sneak in a conversation right before the commotion was set, or maybe after. Soon after his expression turned serious. "This is the first serious step in our plan. It could cost lives. I have to be here to make sure that doesn't happen." Of course, there was one person that would take the fall. "There's Anton." He mirrored the fellow male' s expression, patting his shoulder. "Go ahead, don't take long."
"Yes..." her voice trailed off as she considered his words. She was reminded of the boy she had seen the day her and Anton went into the village. That must have been a single incident, right? She would have to speak to Tanzil about it. The guards couldn't treat children that way. "A man's job?" She echoed, watching him go. A misogynist, she shouldn't have been surprised. Well, that might be a stretch, but that's how it was for the princess. No one dared to say anything to her directly, it all came in backhanded compliments and veiled flattery. Like any other female, she hated it. Everyone underestimated her. She was just as strong and determined as anyone else. She wanted to be involved in the court, but her brother and the king kept her far away from it. Unfortunately, she couldn't fight back. But Tanzil taught her to be strong and to not let anyone tell her she was inferior to the opposite sex. She broke out of her trance at the sound of her knights voice, and she smiled at her. "I am started to hate him." she spoke through her teeth so only Hyril could here.
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Post by Lostwhisker on Sept 12, 2020 14:56:44 GMT -5
He hid a wince when Rymadon patted his shoulder and nodded, leaving the rebel leader without another word. He thought it'd be difficult to sneak back to the chambers originally given to him when he first arrived at the castle, but every member of the staff was too busy to pay any attention to Anton. A sigh of relief escaped past his lips once he was safe within the walls of his room; there wasn't any time to enjoy the moment of peace as he began to bathe, dress, and groom himself to blend with the fabulously wealthy and highly titled guests that filled the castle presently. His fingers straightened his waistcoat as his eyes studied his own face in a mirror, when can I go back to being Aron instead of Anton? Will Leyda ever accept me.. let alone forgive me? His brows creased with worry and his heart felt heavy as he left his chambers looking like a new man: freshly shaved, styled hair, and the comforting scent of honeycomb and walnut clinging to his skin. The handsome young man - spy, deceiver - pulled on a sapphire blue long coat that complimented his complexion and eyes. Music touched his ears once more as he approached the ballroom and he only entered after taking a deep breath to calm his nerves. "Time to find Leyda," he murmured to himself.
Hýril's expression fell into a deep frown before returning to its usual neutral, calm expression, "I'm glad we're on the same page about that," she replied in a similar tone. She was about to ask her friend to accompany her in getting some food before she noticed the shift in conversation around her. Heads were turned towards the entryway of the ballroom and the knight's body was on full alert, ready for an attack. She only relaxed when she saw a familiar face enter the crowd, "looks like someone couldn't stay away." Her copper eyes trailed after Anton briefly before turning back to the Princess, "this will certainly be interesting, especially if he runs into the Prince of Sunshine and Kindness," her words were drenched in sarcasm and she couldn't resist rolling her eyes. She saw an older, wealthy woman gawk at the knight's unladylike behavior and she simply shrugged off the disapproval. Hýril placed a gentle hand behind Leyda's elbow to steer her away from the center of the room and onlookers, "I don't know how you have the patience to deal with all of these stiffs... I applaud you, honestly."
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Post by ehela on Sept 13, 2020 18:14:48 GMT -5
ngl honeycomb and walnut sounds so good ._. )
Hýril's sudden shift caught her attention and she turned her head in the same direction the others did, and her breath stuck in her throat. Her heart started to race as she took in the sight. He looked drastically different from the last time she had seen him; but she couldn't help but feel a bit worried. couldn't possibly be fully healed. She broke her gaze swiftly, not wanting to be seen as staring. Leyda looked back at the female beside her, her mind taking a bit longer to process what she had said. The princess hoped they wouldn't meet, but she didn't know if Casimir had heard. She couldn't help but giggle at the knight's remark. "Lot's of practice."
Tanzil had to admit, he was surprised Anton ended up coming. He walked over. "Anton, you clean up well. I need to introduce you to prince Casimir. He has to meet everyone on the king's counsel." He smiled, starting to lead the way. He knew of his feelings, but the noble still had to to meet Leyda's fiancee, as all the high ranked officials did. "A word of advice. If you want to send a message, don't write it down. Chances are it won't s" He found Leyda and Hýril and walked up to them, eyes furrowing in confusion. "Where is Casimir?" Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair. "For heaven's sake. Come on." He weaved through the people, looking for the prince. At this point, he wanted to put a leash on the man. About twenty feet away he spotted the back of Casimir's head. "Casimir," he acknowledged. "It's hard to track you down." His tone was friendly though there was an icy edge to it due to his annoyance that he didn't care to hide. "This is Anton, his family is a part of the king's counsel."
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Post by Lostwhisker on Jan 31, 2021 16:51:43 GMT -5
Casimir regarded Tanzil over his shoulder as if the other prince and the man trailing behind him had interrupted some important business he'd rather attend to; a young woman, that had been indulging in hushed conversations with the recently engaged royal, removed her gloved hand from Casimir's lapel and gave a sharp-toothed smile to the newcomers. "I will be awaiting you, your highness," she said to the golden-haired man with tone lilting in hopefulness. The woman's smile only broadened when her dainty hand was grasped and kissed by Casimir, then sashayed away after giving Tanzil and Anton another once-over with her gaze. The groom-to-be shifted to face the other gentlemen, "ah, yes, it's always pleasant to see you, brother." His tone mirrored the disdain the Tanzil has in his. Casimir's eyes glanced to Anton with apparent disinterest, easily hiding the fact he recognized the rebel spy, and he scoffed when his attention returned to his betrothed's sibling. "I appreciate the clear effort in acquainting us but the counsel will be..." He trailed off as though procuring the proper phrase, "undergoing refinement once I am crowned." He didn't bother facing Anton as he addressed him once more, "it was an obligation to meet you." With that, the extremely aggravating male took his leave and began his search for Leyda but remained at a distance, simply keeping her close for when the diversion began.
Anton had followed Tanzil reluctantly and wished he had trusted his better judgement to slip into the crowd to vanish from sight. The Prince's words would have worried the spy if he had written down any of his observations while stationed within the castle. The young man simply nodded as they approached a man with hair the color of the sun, the stranger's back to them. He openly showed his disapproval of how transparent Prince Casimir was in his flirting regardless of his engagement. The sense of loathing melted - but only slightly - when he recognized the man dubbed Casimir. Anger burned through him but he kept his face stoic; why wouldn't Rym clue me in? What is his plan? Anton barely had the chance to give a proper bow before the imposter played his role of a pompous, disrespectful brat perfectly. A sigh of disbelief expelled through his nose and he looked to Tanzil, "good luck with that one. I pity your sister wholeheartedly." Even at his own mention of the princess, his gaze flitted along the crowd until he found her loveliness and his entire being softened. "It seems we are doomed to forever pine for things that are out of reach," he spoke absentmindedly.
Hýril cracked a smile at Leyda's remark and she took a moment to shed her knightly front to that of a warm friend, "would you like to speak with him? I don't fully trust his intentions but, from the last incident, it is clear he will protect you rather than harm." She glanced over and saw Tanzil and Anton speaking to Casimir - things did not seem to be friendly on that side of the ballroom. "Casimir seems plenty capable of distracting himself and I can certainly intercept your brother if he notices your absence." It wasn't something the knight would typical offer but she understood the sense of longing for something unattainable.
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